Stephen Colbert adopted the persona of a senior citizen on Monday to highlight Rep. Donna Edwards’ (D-MD) disagreement with President Barack Obama on whether to cut Social Security benefits. “Imagine I’m an old woman in your district,” Colbert proposed to Edwards, who…
Test-Tube Baby Pioneer Robert Edwards Dead at Age 87
British researcher Robert
Edwards and his collaborator Patrick Steptoe developed in vitro
fertilization which brought the first “test-tube baby,” Louise Joy
Brown, into the world back in 1978. Since then some 5 milion babies
have been born by means of the IVF techniques he pioneered. As I
explained in my column, “From
Yuck to Yippee” on the occasion of Edwards being finally
awarded the Nobel Prize in 2010:
The public (and makers of public policy) initially reacted to
Edwards’ research with moral horror. However, once he and Steptoe
had succeeded in producing a healthy baby girl, revulsion swiftly
turned into wide approval and ethical acceptance.
In 2001, when Roberts was given the prestigious Lasker Award for
medical research, biochemist Joseph Goldstein quipped, “We know
that IVF was a great leap because Edwards and Steptoe were
immediately attacked by an unlikely trinity—the press, the pope,
and prominent Nobel laureates.” Edwards’ scientific career traces
out the ethical arc that characterizes reaction to much
technological progress during the last century—initial fear and
loathing followed by a warm embrace. Yuck followed quickly by
yippee.
Edwards was a warm, wonderful and witty man. I had the privilege
of spending time with him at a conference put on by one America’s
leading IVF clinics, Genetics and
IVF Institute in Fairfax, Va. When I introduced Edwards to my
wife, she quipped, “I hear that you’re the wizard.” Edwards charmed
back, “Well, I hope that I am a good wizard.” As indeed he
was.
Ms. Brown, the first beneficiary of Edwards’ research,
generously observed
to the BBC:
“His work, along with Patrick Steptoe, has brought happiness and
joy to millions of people all over the world by enabling them to
have children.
“I am glad that he lived long enough to be recognised with a
Nobel prize for his work, and his legacy will live on with all the
IVF work being carried out throughout the world.”
Let us mourn the death of a great and compassionate man. … Read More
Father of in vitro fertilization Robert Edwards dies at 87
Robert Edwards, the British scientist awarded a Nobel prize for his pioneering work in developing in vitro fertilisation (IVF), died on Monday aged 87, his university announced. “It is with deep sadness that the family announces that Professor Sir Robert Edwards, Nobel prizewinner, scientist…
Banning Bikini Baristas, Big Dogs, and Energy Drinks! (Nanny of the Month, March 2013)
They make it their business to mind your business, and this
month America’s busybodies have been working overtime.
Lawmakers are no longer loco for just one
brand of energy drink. Illinois State Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago)
has
penned a bill that would make it illegal “to sell, offer for
sale or deliver” just about any kind of energy drink to anyone
under age 18 (Arroyo’s championing another top-tier issue–outlawing
lion steaks).
Meanwhile, dog lovers in Oklahoma are sounding off against a
plan cooked up by State Sen. Patrick Anderson (R-Enid) to allow
cities to ban specific breeds of dogs (stay tuned for the surprise
twist!).
But this time the Nanny of the Month comes to us from Shelton, WA
where city commissioners and townspeople alike have united against
a threat of bikini baristas!
Follow “Nanny of the Month” on Twitter (@NannyoftheMonth) and
submit nanny nominations!
“Nanny of the Month” is written and produced by Ted Balaker.
Research by Matt Edwards. Opening animation by Meredith Bragg.
To watch previous “Nanny of the Month” episodes, go here.
To check out Quickie’s music video “Bikini Barista,” go here.
Scroll below for downloadable versions and subscribe
to ;ReasonTV’s
YouTube Channel ;to receive notifications when new material
goes live. … Read More
Setback in Attempt to Win Free Speech Rights for D.C. Tour Guides
Some discouraging news out of the Institute for Justice today on
one of their cases, Edwards v. D.C., ;challenging the
District’s demand for a license they issue to guide tours, that is,
to talk about the city as you move around it with an audience.
IJ’s Bob Ewing informs me this morning that the judge in the
case:
issued an order granting judgment for the District. ; The
case had been pending, with fully briefed motions for summary
judgment, for about a year and a half without any action from the
court.
The judge hasn’t issued an opinion yet, but I assume he’s basing
his decision on grounds he articulated earlier in the case—namely,
that he thinks D.C.’s regulations are restrictions on conduct, not
speech, and so the First Amendment doesn’t really apply.
This is incorrect—D.C. doesn’t make it illegal to rent Segways
to tourists and ride around town with them; it makes it illegal
to ;communicatewith those tourists while you’re
riding. ; That’s protected speech, and we plan to appeal this
decision to the D.C. Circuit. ;
I blogged
about the case in 2010.
IJ’s dedicated site on the
case.
IJ’s video about the case:
; … Read More
UK comic uses English to get laughs in Gothenburg
The Local chats with British comedian Paul B. Edwards about Swedish humour, the problems with anti-comedy, and the launch of his new English-language comedy show in Gothenburg. … Read More
