A few years ago I saw a movie called Gattaca. It was haunting and prolific. It posed one simple question; what would society be like if parents could genetically modify their children? This wasn't just about changing a child's gender. The modifications were so intrusive that the new child would be free from disease. Except this in turn lead to a society where the "modified" were superior to the "unmodified," and a new class emerged.
It was a great movie that makes you think. Science has opened the door to many things, and fortunately it is eradicating some diseases. But should it be used to give them?

Three percent, or four clinics surveyed, said they have provided the costly, complicated procedure to help families create children with a disability.
Some doctors have denounced the practice; others question whether it’s true. Blogs are abuzz with the news, with armchair critics saying the phenomenon, if real, is taking the concept of designer babies way too far.
“Old fear: designer babies. New fear: deformer babies,” the online magazine Slate wrote, calling it “the deliberate crippling of children.”
But the survey also has led to a debate about the definition of “normal” and inspires a glimpse into deaf and dwarf cultures where many people do not consider themselves disabled.

If families want to have disabled children, then I'm sure that there are plenty of orphanages and adoption agencies who would be willing to help. But why oh why would you want to cause a child such grief. You can't shelter them from the teasing, from the discrimination. And as much as they come to accept that they're normal, it will never stop the stares. Can you prepare them for that? It's downright selfish and cruel.
Genetics shouldn't be messed with, period.
Edit: The link has been fixed.

The laptop is in surgery, and I'm typing from the tiniest resolution ever. I suppose I should be wearing my glasses, but right now I think I'm just happy my brother allowed me to lay hands on his Dell. That may not be the case tomorrow after he realizes that I've started messing with it. I can't help it. I'm lost without the Spanish keyboard. Besides, he rather owes me slightly. He's the reason why my laptop screen is now blank.
And I wonder why I can't delete the word 'apprehension' from my vocabulary.

An amendment has been added to the rules governing the administration of the Texas Bar Exam.

An Applicant may take no more than five (5) examinations. [Amendment signed December 12, 2006] However, for good cause shown, the Board at its discretion may waive this limitation upon such conditions as the Board may prescribe.

The conditions aren't listed, so I'm assuming it could be entirely subjective as to who is and isn't allowed to retake the exam. They can think an examinee is ugly, and bar that person from taking the exam.
Maybe this is why I received this letter from the board. My disABILITY automatically disqualifies me from a 6th time, unless they thought I was going to use it as an excuse? Oh, poor me. I'm lame. You use and abuse me, but you so aren't going to beat me this time.
For the record, this is the worst written amendment I've seen in a while.

It's dying! My sony laptop is fading into hardware hell (once I'm done with it)! I can get an hour of runtime before it shuts down, and then the waiting game begins. Fortunately, Goodwill opened up an internet cafe for the disABLED. It supposedly has all these nifty gadgets that make surfing the web ten times easier. Frankly, I think the whole purpose behind the cafe is great and about time.

I tried to make rice today, and I crashed and burned. One of these days.
Of course, I could just have faulty rice.

The Texas Board of Law Examiners sent me a letter today. I was secretly hoping it was a Christmas miracle, but apparently they thought I was old enough to have senior moments, or something.
"Dear Miss V.
You failed our super-duper evil exam four times. Fail it one more time, and we'll kick you out of Texas!"
But I love Texas and its uber conservative folk...
I'm supposed to call if I have any questions, but really, I'm just wondering why they're sending this now. I didn't receive a letter in July when I almost took the exam, and I knew it was my fifth time. Everyone taking the Texas exam is aware of the five time limit. This is just funny, though rumor has it that the rules are in the process of changing...

Feliz Cumpleaños, Stephen.
My fellow Sagi, and cool brother should be having a wonderful birthday right about now. He agrees with me. December babies rock! We also think that it's very uncool to give one present to a December baby just because it's so close to Christmas. You don't see that happening to an April baby, do you?
Anyway, Happy Birthday bro. May this year be extra special.

The trailers for the upcoming Eragon have not been flattering. Each new one makes the movie seem like a cousin to the much reviled Dungeons and Dragons movie than the Harry Potter series. I haven't read the book. The fact that I'm not really anxious to see this movie now, and now this review might spell doom for the movie. Then again FOX is notorious for messing with their franchises. X-Men 3 anyone.
Via Ain't it Cool.

Cute movie. For a while though I almost started to tape it because there were more commercials and not enough movie. I timed it! It was at times five minutes of commercials and then maybe 5 minutes of yummy Stamos. I almost killed the tv out of frustration.
I'm kinda glad I taped part 1 of The Lost Room

So I'm trying to plan the birthday party, and I'm realizing that it's going to be a little bit harder than I expected. I may not be able to have it Tuesday because I'm discovering that some friends can't show up, but if I move it up to the weekend then I'll run into the same problem. I still have some people to invite too.
I also can't decide where to dine.
Don Quixote, La Fogata, or Red Lobster. Why Red Lobster? I'm dying for their trout. So I'm weird. I'm actually really craving fish, and not craving Mexican at all. Don Quixote has the best salmon. They have the best Spanish food, period. It's just a tad salty. Have I mentioned that I haven't been to La Fogata since maybe, oh, graduation?
Decisions, decisions, decisions! I hate them. I should go by the desert. In that case HEB wins. They have the best cake.
Anyway, because I am turning another year older. Here's my wishlist. Not that the ten people who register on my sitemeter will get me anything...
If I know you, and we're buddies. Send me an email, or leave me a comment. I have an abundance of time apparently, and I'm sending Christmas cards too.