Chloe: Critic Girl/Renaissance Woman

The Independent is carrying a story about British scientists demanding that the UK lift its ban on sex selection in test tube babies.

Now, I wasn’t a test tube baby, but in the interest of a slippery slope argument, if I had been one, I wouldn’t be born. For the first two years of my life, I was dressed in blue. My mother laments the gorgeous pink dresses that were bought for me and remained in boxes with tags on. Until, as I said, I turned two. It wasn’t the terrible twos that made my father realize that having a little girl wasn’t so bad, however. My brother was born.

So, having made my full disclosure about fear of never having been born, I can’t say that I know how this development makes me feel. I have a vague idea of the order in which I’d like to have my children (I always wanted an older brother and often treat my younger ones like older ones). I am also not entirely unconvinced that I would try old-fashion rhythm method style gender selection techniques.

But IVF is so final. You have embryos and they will become boys or girls and you pick this one or that one. On its face, this doesn’t seem all that detrimental. But that, I believe, is the privileged view of a citizen of the Western world. This could be the spark needed to end Chinese females for all time (or until China realizes that sons will be no longer without mothers to bear them). Genetic testing on these embryos could lead to the sort of genetic engineering that has crippled critics with fear since WWII.

Maybe my suspicions are vague hysteria, but I do believe that with every step towards new technology, the ethics of both the proposed technology and the “next steps” if you will must be critically examined. Ultimately, we must ask: What social benefit does choosing the sex of your IVF embryo serve? I can’t see that it serves a necessary function other than giving couples their dream baby. The risks and floodgates opened may not be worth allowing Jane and Dick to choose their Bobby or Susie.

science,
genetics,
technology

When the internal debate between the hippie in me and the diva in me started raging (coincidentally (?) at the same time I began to enter the pre-teen/teen-age world of knowing everything despite raging hormones indicating otherwise), I gladly justified shaving my legs because *I* liked the result and not because anyone on television or in society told me otherwise.

And I maintain this to this day. If I may quote India. Arie, “…sometimes I shave my legs, and sometimes I don’t.”

On the other hand, this other voice in me likes the result of a lot of things. I’ve recently decided that paying for a pedicure is much better (and perhaps even more frugal considering how long the job lasts and the pleasure I get from peeking at my well painted toes) and may even make a habit of it. As summer approaches, there are all sorts of waxing and tweezing concerns that warrant money.

And stress. How great is it to pay someone else to knead away the stress in my muscles that I didn’t get rid of any other way? Great.

So I find it easy to allow myself these indulgences, since I can justify them as being true to myself. But it all adds up. It is this truth that perhaps might be the most dangerous to balancing my other interests.

If it were as simple as reconciling a diva and a hippie, I could try to move towards an Alicia Silverstone or other celebrity vegan type. But I have goals that require saving my money and putting it towards future events and the elimination of student debt. So it isn’t just a hippie, but a frugalista. A frugalista with expensive tastes that I aspire to be.

So I scheduled the pedicure because I am in the midst of a 48 hour writing competition and darn it - I *deserve* to have my feet rubbed and painted. And there ain’t no waxing like a salon style waxing…so that will get scheduled too. I may have to skimp on the massage, beg the boyfriend for one and bank the cash.

Is that a fair compromise? My toes think so.

I don’t think I could look myself in the mirror if I pretended to be able to critique the memoir of Jacques Pepin. I also probably couldn’t wait until I got all the way through to come up with one piece on the many experiences of this fascinating man. And so, I’ve decided to cook my way through the book at Jacque’s direction.

Eggs Jeannette: An original by Jeanne Pepin, Jacque’s formidable mother.

Apart from the tedium of boiling eggs to prepare, this dish is remarkably simple and tastes exactly that way. Though I’m used to more flavor with my eggs (I’m always adding this sauce or that ingredient), the combination of the garlic, herbs, and the crisp brown filling is refreshing and comforting. It is easy to see how this is the Pepin household’s version of sunday gravy or fried green tomatoes. Eggs Jeannette is also an opportunity for adventure - just as there are so many different versions of “deviled” eggs, there could be as many variations on this theme. Adding heat or spice - nutmeg or chilis or different herbs - could yield an equally satisfying treat that is dinner party worthy and not just a perfect family brunch treat.

Recipe as used from the book:

Eggs Jeannette

6 Jumbo Eggs (preferably organic)
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2-3 tablespoons whole milk (I did cheat and use skim)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Dressing:
2-3 tablespoons leftover stuffing
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon water
Dash of salt and finely ground black pepper

Put the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with boiling water. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 9 to 10 minutes. Remove eggs to a bowl of ice water and chill for 15 minutes.

Peel the eggs under cold running water.

Split the eggs lengthwise and scoop out the yolks gently. Mix the yolks with the milk, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture back into the hollows of the whites, reserving 2-3 tablespoons for the dressing.

Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet. Place the stuffed eggs face down and cook for 2-3 minutes, until crispy brown on the open face side.

For the dressing, mix all ingredients together and drizzle on top of the egg halves. Serve lukewarm.

tags: recipes, jacques pepin, books, cooking

I found this at the Kinky Librarian…

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next three sentences on your blog, along with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it. Just grab what is closest.

Here’s mine: I’m reading The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pepin.

“He was polite, remembering names and acting attentive and concerned. At the same time, he was stately and imposing in stature and voice, which made it difficult to feel completely at ease in his presence.

Although I took orders from Aunt Yvonne for all private meals, for formal government dinners, I dealt with a State Department protocol officer through an attache to the president.”

I haven’t gotten to page 123 yet - in fact I’m in the first chapter. But Monsieur Pepin is talking about DeGaulle. I plan on working my way through this book on the blog, so we will hear from him again.

tags: books, blogs, blogging, food, jacques pepin

So, when I first read in the BBC that we’ve invented robots with the capability of reproducing themselves, I had an immediate freak out flash forward to 2019 where the country is overrun by these near-human robots who just multiply to the point of squashing us all into oblivion. Call it Payback of the Dodo or the Dinosaur. The eternal extinction karma wheel will have finally brought our own human rapid reproduction to roost.

Then, there is a discussion of the implications of creating chimeras or animal-human hybrids.

When did life become a sci-fi novel? When did I start feeling like my childhood already fits into a historical novel?

Tags: science fiction, robots, chimera

Well, I’ve got 50 Gmail invites to use up…

Send request to chloe dot critic at gmail dot com.

gmail

Today marks the 60th anniversay of V-E Day - the celebration of Victory in Europe in World War II. Celebrations in Europe abound.

It also marks the 26th anniversary of my birthday. Celebration too will abound, although far less European action.

Have a cocktail for me. And Europe, while you’re at it.

Tags: birthday, Europe, history, WWII, celebration, raise a glass

per·pe·tu·i·ty n. pl. per·pe·tu·i·ties

1. The quality or condition of being perpetual.
2. Time without end; eternity.
3. Law.
1. The condition of an estate that is limited so as to be inalienable either perpetually or longer than the period determined by law.
2. An estate so limited.
4. An annuity payable indefinitely.

While I am currently drowning myself in definition number three, it is interesting to see that this rather hellish word has a nicer meaning. I don’t know that anyone still uses this word, or at least in any common context, but the use of “perpetuity” instead of “forever” is a change that I would gladly welcome. Once I am done withe Rule of Perpetuities as referred to in definition number three.

Ironically, or maybe not, my property exam is also number three in a string of four soul crushing endeavours that leave me with nothing but the hope of being allowed back next semester clinging by a string.

Tags: words, law school, property, perpetuity

Irregardless: Regardless. (Probably a blend of irrespective and regardless)

Usage Note: Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. . . it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir- prefix and -less suffix in a single term. - Dictionary.com

In fact, this word has always driven me crazy. I don’t think anyone should ever use it.

Apparently, a fellow NPR listener agreed when she pointed out that Bill Gates used the word when he was discussing the need for training more American engineers (he did not comment on all of those who are out of jobs after tech downturns). She also pointed out that Microsoft’s own Encarta calls the word an illogical double negative.

The final kicker is that Encarta does agree with me. As such an illogical double negative, Encarta reports, it shouldn’t be used. It should in fact be forgone for the much more appropriate word: REGARDLESS.

Apparently, trademark infringement.

Crystal clear to Chloe.