Andrew Hill, jazz pianist of elegant fractured melodies, angular dolphy-n rhythms, asks: “Am I confusing you? Does the truth confuse you?”

Link:

• Andrew Hill: One Man’s Lifelong Search for the Melody in Rhythm
  

EU regulators declined to approve a new drug produced in the milk of genetically engineered goats. No, it’s not the spidergoat. This is a human protein, secreted by goats who have had human genes inserted into their cells. The protein can then be purified and used in drugs — in this case as an anticlotting agent in in people who lack the protein.

The rejection was based largely on clinicial trial issues, rather than the fact that the drug was made in a goat instead of a test tube. The company, GTC Biotherapeutics, has sworn to return with new trials later. Other companies are pursuing similar procedures in the United States, but the GTC trial would have been the first to have been approved.

It’s difficult to imagine that European consumers fearful of GMO corn would accept drugs made from modifed goat-human DNA. Medical necessity could change minds in a way that ordinary store-shelf cereal boxes can’t, however.

Link:

• Europe Rejects Genetically Engineered Drug – New York Times

How many days has Roberts been on the Supreme Court? And already we have South Dakota passing an all-out ban on abortion, with the intention of forcing the Court to revisit Roe v. Wade. The governor there has vetoed a similar bill in the past, but is viewed by both sides as unlikely to do so this time.
Just as perspective: SD has alll of one clinic for abortions. Where they have to bring doctors in from Minnesota.

Links:

• South Dakota passes abortion ban – Yahoo! News

I am home sick today, a computer on my lap in bed, and two cats curled up for warmth in front of me. It seems a good time to begin experimenting.

This is meant to be a place to share experiences as I move overseas. Eurotech will be the more professional page, where I will post news and articles. This will be the rest of my life — writing, music, politics, and the sights and sounds of Berlin.

And for god’s sake, don’t get too serious about all this. You hear?