I don't eat brocchli because it makes me rock out.

Here's the first post of Jump Up Ugly, my personal scientific/political/philosophical/whatever-the-hell's-got-my-blood-pressure-up-today blog. It'll be updated sporadically, and it purely for my own amusement. However, arguements are amusing, so if you oppose my viewpoints, please, I'd be happy to discuss them with you.

For a little background, I'm a biologist in my early 20's with an interest in genetics, ecology and politics. I want to eventually run my own lab, perhaps repurposing bacteria into more useful roles. Since bacteria are effectively small chemical factories capable of manipulating matter on the atomic scale, they can convert any organic compound into something useful. They can turn PCB's into ethylene, crude oil into sugars, poisons into cures. They are the next industrial revolution, a modern-day alchemy that works. if coupled with bioremediation, gold, uranium, cadmium and a hundred other useful heavy metals can be extracted from contaminated dirt, converting wastelands into short-term mines and long-term farms. The country that can exploit this technology the best can solve their pollution and population problems, freeing up resources for whatever suits thier needs best.

As for my politics, they are moderately liberal. I believe that we should keep the government's hands out of our homes, and focused on providing a scientifically strong and philosophically rational, secular education. Furthermore, I believe that the best way to keep us from being attacked is to minimize the number of people who view us as a negitive force in the world. A Marshall Plan for the middle east, starting with Darfur, would increase the respect and cooperation of arabic nations, and might help to expand our influence in the region. No matter how strong a wall is, it can be circumvented and defeated. The only way to stop attacks is to cut off the supplies available to the enemy. In this, we need to effectively sell ourselves to the people of the midle east. We have enough money to do this if we cut back on military operations, and still have plenty left over to greatly increase the quality of our education system.

However, our economics should be as free as possible, with the government only stepping in to prevent alignment of established interests, monopoly and other forces that promote stagnation. If Ford can only produce cars that can't compete in forgien markets, then our laws should not be changed to accomodate thier laziness. If energy manufacturers are not capable enough to switch to nuclear and renewable power, then thier interests should be ignored, and others should be found who can do the job.

I also believe that the long-term objecive of America should be to become the base upon which space exploitation is built. Our culture is one of the best on Earth, and a space-faring humanity whose culture base is mostly compiled from our nation would be much better off then many of the alternatives.

Whew... anyway, there it is. Have fun poking holes in my thinly-supported convictions and rose-colored sensibilities.

Mood: 50-67-9