An interesting book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," by Rebecca Skloot deals with the subject of who owns the right to your cells/genes/DNA. Henrietta Lacks was a poor black woman living in the south during the 1950's. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Some of her cells, gotten during her hysterectomy, were sent to the lab for diagnosis. Some were placed in a growing medium and much to everyone's delight the cells grew and multiplied. Up to that time scientists were not successful in the reproduction of human cells. Well, Henrietta's cells grew and grew. They were the basis of much research, they led to the development of many medicines. Once of the things that resulted was the polio vaccine.
While many people and companies profitted from Henrietta's cells, her family remained poor and uneducated.
There is a great deal more in the book. You might want to Google, Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot, HeLa cells. The book is a very interesting read. It is probably available in the library. I got my copy at Costco.
Pat, I am not sure that we should have left Brooks alone. However, I am sure that we should have paid more attention and examined more closely the Rim Country Water proposal. Their numbers were wrong from the getgo. Rim Country Water used emotions to cover up the weakness of their case. PSWID Board has continued to try to cover up. The idea of purchasing the Milk Ranch Well at full asking price, without an appraisal and after spending 100/s of thousands of dollars fixing it up was idiotic. Drilling two more sandy deep wells without addressing the sand problem is just plain nuts.
Like it or not we are stuck. All we can hope is that we finally can get more than one person on the PSWID board to listen to common sense, recognize and respect the public's right to have input.
PSWID is ruining the good will that Tommie Cline Martin built at the town hall meeting. Raising water rates and property taxes after the town hall meeting when so many complained about the current rates is just PSWID Board slapping the public in the face once again.
Tom, I find it interesting that you have kept your connection with New London through its newspaper. Have you family still living there? Have you ever lived there after you left as an adult?
:-)Tsk, tsk, Fred. "I may be entirely wrong, but it seems that once a woman has children, she tends to put her husbands satisfaction at a low priority." You might be right but------------------ some would say that remark is sexist. :-) However, you must be aware that there is another theory that says lack of sexual satisfaction just might be the fault of the male. But then again, that remark could be regarded as equally sexist. :-)
Pat is right. Raising children is very demanding physically and emotionally. Speaking from experience I was run ragged. One of the many things my husband did to ease my burden happened after dinner. He would read stories to the children or if weather permitted, would take them outside. I was then free to clean up after dinner without interruptions. When I was through we could all sit down together and share. I was and am eternally grateful for all the help and support my husband gave me.
Deb, do you have any suggestions about what can be done to avoid the additional debt that the PSWID budget creates for the public? What about those water rate increases?
A recall can't be done before the budget is approved. Besides we learned just how expensive recall elections are when Rim Country Water had theirs several years ago.
Pat, as strange and as dangerous as it seems to us, many young people post their names on "dating sites." You have probably seen adds for various dating places on TV. One that comes to mind is Christian Mingle. I also think I saw an add for a Jewish dating site. There are probably many others.
Young people do it. My grandson met a girl on some kind of website. All of his family was alarmed. However, when we met her, we were very impressed. She is very sweet, kind, thoughtful, etc. Now we wonder what her family might think of our grandson. :-)
Even though my grandson has had a good experience, I would not recommend dating websites. It is something I regard as inherently dangerous. People are not always truthful as illustrated by the Ward case.
Tom, just about everyone I know would say that the employees of PSWID are polite and hardworking. We would also say that we are glad we have them.
Unfortunately, PSWID Board members do not get the same praise. Maybe CH2M (or whatever the name is) employees should give the board members lessons in courteous behavior.
PSWID -- something has to be done about it. Last year, according to figures presented at its last meeting, it spent $90,966 for board/legal fees. That attorney at every meeting sure does seem to be expensive!! Do you know of any other fire district, sanitary district, school district, water district, board of supervisors meetings that pays an attorney to be at every meeting?
Now in its proposed budget for 2013-14 they want a water rate and property tax increases. Also, on page 17 of the Pine-Strawberry Watger Improvement District Budget Alternatives FY 2013-2014 they have an interesting item "Establish Line item for 'Potential Bonding'". Do they want a bond issue? What about the $7 million debt PSWID already has.
Hey guys time to remember that they are in Strawberry-Pine, Arizona not Washington, D.C.
We all appreciate the improvement in water availability, but it is time for PSWID to be reasonable about expenses.
Bernice Winandy 2 weeks, 3 days ago on 207 Is patenting human genes right?
207 Is patenting human genes right?
An interesting book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," by Rebecca Skloot deals with the subject of who owns the right to your cells/genes/DNA. Henrietta Lacks was a poor black woman living in the south during the 1950's. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Some of her cells, gotten during her hysterectomy, were sent to the lab for diagnosis. Some were placed in a growing medium and much to everyone's delight the cells grew and multiplied. Up to that time scientists were not successful in the reproduction of human cells. Well, Henrietta's cells grew and grew. They were the basis of much research, they led to the development of many medicines. Once of the things that resulted was the polio vaccine.
While many people and companies profitted from Henrietta's cells, her family remained poor and uneducated.
There is a great deal more in the book. You might want to Google, Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot, HeLa cells. The book is a very interesting read. It is probably available in the library. I got my copy at Costco.
Bernice Winandy 2 weeks, 5 days ago on PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
Pat, I am not sure that we should have left Brooks alone. However, I am sure that we should have paid more attention and examined more closely the Rim Country Water proposal. Their numbers were wrong from the getgo. Rim Country Water used emotions to cover up the weakness of their case. PSWID Board has continued to try to cover up. The idea of purchasing the Milk Ranch Well at full asking price, without an appraisal and after spending 100/s of thousands of dollars fixing it up was idiotic. Drilling two more sandy deep wells without addressing the sand problem is just plain nuts.
Like it or not we are stuck. All we can hope is that we finally can get more than one person on the PSWID board to listen to common sense, recognize and respect the public's right to have input.
PSWID is ruining the good will that Tommie Cline Martin built at the town hall meeting. Raising water rates and property taxes after the town hall meeting when so many complained about the current rates is just PSWID Board slapping the public in the face once again.
.
Bernice Winandy 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 203 What do you think about this?
203 What do you think about this?
Tom, I find it interesting that you have kept your connection with New London through its newspaper. Have you family still living there? Have you ever lived there after you left as an adult?
Bernice Winandy 2 weeks, 6 days ago on 203 What do you think about this?
203 What do you think about this?
:-)Tsk, tsk, Fred. "I may be entirely wrong, but it seems that once a woman has children, she tends to put her husbands satisfaction at a low priority." You might be right but------------------ some would say that remark is sexist. :-) However, you must be aware that there is another theory that says lack of sexual satisfaction just might be the fault of the male. But then again, that remark could be regarded as equally sexist. :-)
Pat is right. Raising children is very demanding physically and emotionally. Speaking from experience I was run ragged. One of the many things my husband did to ease my burden happened after dinner. He would read stories to the children or if weather permitted, would take them outside. I was then free to clean up after dinner without interruptions. When I was through we could all sit down together and share. I was and am eternally grateful for all the help and support my husband gave me.
Bernice Winandy 2 weeks, 6 days ago on PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
Deb, do you have any suggestions about what can be done to avoid the additional debt that the PSWID budget creates for the public? What about those water rate increases?
A recall can't be done before the budget is approved. Besides we learned just how expensive recall elections are when Rim Country Water had theirs several years ago.
Bernice Winandy 3 weeks ago on 203 What do you think about this?
203 What do you think about this?
Pat, as strange and as dangerous as it seems to us, many young people post their names on "dating sites." You have probably seen adds for various dating places on TV. One that comes to mind is Christian Mingle. I also think I saw an add for a Jewish dating site. There are probably many others.
Young people do it. My grandson met a girl on some kind of website. All of his family was alarmed. However, when we met her, we were very impressed. She is very sweet, kind, thoughtful, etc. Now we wonder what her family might think of our grandson. :-)
Even though my grandson has had a good experience, I would not recommend dating websites. It is something I regard as inherently dangerous. People are not always truthful as illustrated by the Ward case.
Bernice Winandy 3 weeks ago on PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
Tommie Cline Martin did such a good job of creating an "able to work with atmosphere" at the town hall she led. I fear that PSWID is just blowing it.
Please try to attend the budget/water rate hearing being held on May 18 at 10 a.m. in the Pine Cultural Center.
Let's give another try to getting the PSWID Board to listen to the public.
Bernice Winandy 3 weeks, 1 day ago on 221 PSWID just made my day.
221 PSWID just made my day.
Tom, just about everyone I know would say that the employees of PSWID are polite and hardworking. We would also say that we are glad we have them.
Unfortunately, PSWID Board members do not get the same praise. Maybe CH2M (or whatever the name is) employees should give the board members lessons in courteous behavior.
Bernice Winandy 3 weeks, 1 day ago on PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
I forgot to mention that that Establish Line item for Potential Bonding listed $7,500,000.
Bernice Winandy 3 weeks, 1 day ago on PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
PSWID hasn't learned their lesson YET!
PSWID -- something has to be done about it. Last year, according to figures presented at its last meeting, it spent $90,966 for board/legal fees. That attorney at every meeting sure does seem to be expensive!! Do you know of any other fire district, sanitary district, school district, water district, board of supervisors meetings that pays an attorney to be at every meeting?
Now in its proposed budget for 2013-14 they want a water rate and property tax increases. Also, on page 17 of the Pine-Strawberry Watger Improvement District Budget Alternatives FY 2013-2014 they have an interesting item "Establish Line item for 'Potential Bonding'". Do they want a bond issue? What about the $7 million debt PSWID already has.
Hey guys time to remember that they are in Strawberry-Pine, Arizona not Washington, D.C.
We all appreciate the improvement in water availability, but it is time for PSWID to be reasonable about expenses.