The Pennsylvania Progressive

Adult Stem Cell Study Panned

A research study equating the effectiveness of adult stem cells with embryonic stem cells has again been exposed as junk science.  The conclusions derived by Catherine Verfaillie of the University of Minnesota was cited by Congressman Joseph Pitts in a debate last year as an argument against expanding research into embryonic stem cells.  It has been cited by innumerable right wing sources as reason to allow life saving research which could save millions of lives and improve tens of millions.

PA Renewable Energy Festival

It was a very busy weekend.  The local Oley Valley Community Fair, Reading's Riverfest and the Pennsylvania Renewable Energy Festival were all scheduled at once.  I made it to the Oley Fair a couple evenings and had some great eats.  The crowd was enormous and it appeared those volunteering at the Democratic Party tent were busy handing out yard signs.  I wanted to get to Riverfest Sunday but my body said no.  I wound up with a splitting headache all day. 

I spent much of Saturday at the Energy Festival.  The second year of the event was as successful as the first in spite of some rain Saturday morning.  The tents were filled with folks learning how to live with a smaller ecological footprint and with sustainable living ideas.  A hybrid car was raffled off and a woman from Bethlehem was the winner.  Congratulations. 

The festival is organized by the Mid Atlantic Renewable Energy Association and is actually the stepchild of two men, Sam Yoder and Archie Follweiler.  These two organize and run the event along with a host of volunteers.  It's held at the Kempton Community Park every September.