23 and Me

I am coming as close today to having my genome sequences as is feasible for a few hundred bucks ( at least for the next few years) using the SNP genotyping service provided by 23andme. 23 and me examines nearly 600,000 SNPs for under $400. Of course only a few of these SNPs have verified (or at least published) medical, phenotypic, or other interesting qualities. I am certainly interested about what this will reveal about my ancestry. I have almost zero ethnic affiliation (typical for schizoid personalities I understand); but it should be interesting.

I am at many times frugal, passing on some of the other toys I want, but this was an exception. First of all, it is illegal (or possibly illegal) for me to have this genotyping done in New York State. Apparently there are various ethical/legal issues that upset NY's Attorney General, and there was/is the fear that NY residents might not be able to use this service at all. So rather than wait for the 23 and me service to be off-limits, I cashed in my 5-gallon dH20 jug of coins ($412 + dollars) and was off to New Jersey, where anything goes.

I decided to make a day of it, and took the ferry from the world financial center to Hoboken; a frontier town on the wrong (?) side of the genetics Mason-Dixon Line, and the closest I could get to not being in New York, while not venturing too deep into the Jersey wilderness.

I apprehensively boarded the floating ferry dock, which was part circus tent and part rusted out dumpster. As the waves buffeted the heap, I was partly comforted that once I had provided a sample of my DNA, it would be recorded and could live on if I didn't make it back. Crossing the icy Hudson, it was a quick trip to the other side. To find the Fed-Ex Kinko’s, where I would send back the pre-paid envelope.

"Inside the beast"

Ignoring the Fed-Ex drop-off boxes (decoys from the NJ eugenics ministry??? Not sure, but I could not sense any malevolent thoughts from the locals), I found the Kinko's a block away, where I felt sure my sample would make it safely to the lab.

Spitting into a tube on the open street and placing into a biohazard bag and mailer was at once undignified, and possibly suspicion arousing. So from the local park, I produced a saliva sample (as I approached way points along my route, the ferry, the train stations, the Kinko’s, I felt it increasingly easy to salivate) and mixed it with the preservative provided. Into the mailer, and into the Kinko’s drop-box.

A few weeks from now, I will be getting my results which I hope to share and make into lesson plans. Getting home was now an easy task, though belabored. The NY Waterway calls themselves the “civilized commute,” and boasts surprise free commutes. Due to the ice, the boat (the Peter R. Weiss, whoever that was) was late, and when it did arrive was unable to dock back at the WFC due to ice. They said they would send a larger boat, and fortunately the Senator Frank Lautenberg raced into port at a speed it I was sure would push the dock off its moorings. The senator promptly left without taking on a passenger. The Weiss eventually transported us to some other NJ station, where finally we boarded the Empire State which saw us all home. Now to wait for the results.

"looking over into the NY police state"

P.S. New York may be a police state, but the Financier Patisserie at the WFC has make a great "Opera" torte.

Discrimination / Species profiling - Hudson river plane crash

Fortunately no one was killed or seriously injured in the recent Hudson river plane crash. But unfortunately I can't believe the easy handed species profiling the Media is engaging in by accusing Canadian geese for the accident. No mention, of "alleged", or "suspected", not even evidence that a Canada goose did this. I can't speak to the moral turpitude of every Canada goose (the same can be said about people), but I find the type of profiling unwarranted. While some reporters are saying a flock of "birds" its clear what they are inferring. Computer animated images clearly show a Canada goose, implicating it in the accident. We don't know this for sure people! I thought innocent until proven guilty still carried weight.

I am glad the damage was minimal, but could we be more careful about our reporting. I don't know what the potential impact (no pun intended) on the goose community will be, but be sure to check out canadageese.org these next few weeks for action alerts.

Why the species profiling, did they have to draw in a Canada goose?

From Bach to Bartók

Last night was spectacular at the Harvard Club for a program, "From Bach to Bartók" with Elizaveta Kopelman (piano) and the up and coming Anastasia Khitruk. The setting of the club itself was of course beautiful, however the acoustics of Harvard hall (too big, ceilings too high, ect.) diminished, if only slightly, what I could hear.

Walking into the club, I quickly noticed several surrealistic features that make all situations beyond my bedroom and workspace somewhat unfamiliar and humorous. My favorite was the "NO TIPPING" sign placed several feet above arms length in the window of the coat check, which was of course also written in braille. Imagine a blind person, who in his error, might decide to give a tip to the persons checking his coat. Would he carefully search out the walls looking for improbably located signs warning against the folly or tipping? Perhaps the coat check occasionally guide the hands of blind patrons to reassure and convince him that he really can not accept their tips.

In any case, the evening consisted of Tartini, Bach, Frank, and Bartók. Anastasia framed the evening as a discussion of the evolution of the violin, from the lonely herdsman's instrument to the most expensive item per ounce on the planet. She connected with a mixture informative anecdotes and sharp humor. Her playing was very passionate but always completely under control and with all the confidence of a world class player. She started every piece with historical context and a personal story that prepared the audience for listening. Unfortunately the hall was booked for another performance and the Bartók almost did not happen. The audience pleaded for it, and we got it, but without the introduction.

Her style was just so full of power as she played the Romanian folk dances (Sz. 68 Recommended Recording ) and the harmonics in the No.3 dance were in the stratosphere, the best I've ever heard. We didn't get a chance to hear her intro, and I didn't ask her later, what she would have said about her Bartók, but to leap from these various styles of music, into a piece and performance of such emotion; alas music is not in need of words.

Thanks to Michael Pochna for the invite, and of course Anastasia, who later asked if I was still practicing my cello. I told her I was keeping my cello warm, although the last few days that is because it is too close to the radiator. I know Anastasia is destined for further great

interpretations.

Anastasia at the club

Mind Games

This cool new game looks like a great meditation aid. For $80 its defiantly something everyone can try. It won't be long before a more sophisticated readout may allow persons to substantially control their states of mind.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/video-mattel-mind-flex-hands-and-heads-on/