Stem Cells: I skimmed Stem Cell Now. The core lesson was the nature of the stem cell, its place in cell development, and thus its potential. The stem cell is just that -- a sort of "stem" that has the potential to grow into particular types of cells. The "embryonic stem cell" is most flexible in this respect, the adult stem cell much harder to deal with, even to find in the body in some cases.
The value here is best seen in regeneration -- let's say from some degenerative illness. The stem cells have the potential to kick things back in gear, just like it does early on, and in the body in various cases until adulthood. Are we to stop this out of some very literal definition of "life," which we generally destroy in other cases any way? [Some, including a chief ethicist used by ED, are at least consistent, and have voiced opposition to in vitro fertilization, but most do not have the guts or principled consistency to do so.]
Edwards: The next book up is Elizabeth Edwards' autobiographical work, Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers. [She obtained confirmation right after the election that she had breast cancer.] Showing one need not become a president first, her husband is currently involved in charity work, and also has a new book out entitled Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives. It is a collection of essays by both famous and regular sorts discussing their places where they grew up, and their understanding of "home." The proceeds will go to charity and JE was on C-SPAN (and around locally) promoting the book.
I find both of them appealing sorts. As I mentioned before, a gave a small donation to the campaign, obtaining a CD-ROM in return. Didn't think he would win, but favored him over Kerry. According to the book, seems like Dean did as well. 2008? Wouldn't doubt he would again make a good v.p., but he still seems to have too little executive experience. Rather him than HC, but I have a thing there, as we know.
Elizabeth Edwards also scans well -- she might have been a professional mom (the two met in law school) like HC and the wives of the other candidates, but she also -- like her husband -- comes off as a regular person. That anniversary tradition of meeting at Wendy's helped. Some stereotypes are in play here, but such is the case. EE if anything looks more mature/professional than JE, the book having a wedding picture of the two and hubby looks not too much different than he does now. Elizabeth looks more like someone with four kids, one lost thru a car accident.
[I have mentioned how -- a bit unfairly perhaps -- that loss actually helped since it shows they handled a serious crisis. Toss in actually succeeding on one's own in a profession that helps people, they sort of actually match up with the Deans too, who also share the same profession. EE is more political than Howard Dean's much more private wife, however.]
Anyway, only read the first chapter, but it starts well. She comes off as a no nonsense sort who is also clearly a wife, mother, and woman. It is not surprising that many people found her easy to talk to and confide in, and that she found such experiences powerful as well.