genomeboy.com

Well, I’m an oversharer — it’s not like I’m entirely reformed. But lately, online, I’ve found myself doing something unexpected: keeping the personal details of my current life to myself. This doesn’t make me feel stifled so much as it makes me feel protected, as if my thoughts might actually be worth honing rather than spewing.

- Emily Gould in the New York Times Magazine

You know, I’m not a prude. I’ve been known to tell an off-color joke or two. I don’t presume to exude good taste nor do I get squeamish easily. But my God, every day I have to purge the most disgusting and perplexing spam, full of acts I’ve either never heard of or else are physiologically impossible.

I just wanted you to know what you’re missing. That is all.

A Blog Around the Clock features an interview with my tremendously talented colleague, Kendall Morgan.

I recently took a course in mindfulness-based stress reduction through Duke Integrative Medicine. I think my biggest goal now is to find some balance in life and enjoy the moment.

Clearly she’s wise and well-adjusted, too.

Last week I had the good fortune of enticing three Beacons of the Bloggerati to the class I teach on Science and the Media. They are, left to right, “Abel Pharmboy” (Terra Sigillata), Sheril Kirshenbaum (The Intersection), and the inimitable Bora Zivkovic (A Blog Around the Clock). They are just as smart, funny and charming in person. Thanks, guys–let’s do it again soon!

…with The Gene Sherpa. At the risk of being accused of shameless blogf%@#, Steve Murphy is a remarkable guy and I expect he will loom large in the book I’m writing. We had a long rambling conversation about condescension toward genetics by physicians, condescension toward patients by geneticists, Google, personal genomics companies, informed consent, IRBs, Myriad Genetics, my disturbing lipid levels (as I blithely wolfed down a BLT and milkshake), Helix Health, G.I. Joe, Serpentor, and what an amazing time this is to be alive. I don’t always agree with him, but this guy is onto something. At the callow age of 31, he is living and thriving at the bleeding edge.

I am at the Sigma Xi Center in Research Triangle Park, NC at the NC Science Blogging Conference. I came last year with a fair amount of trepidation, but even a desultory and reluctant blogger like me found it hard not to drink the Kool-Aid. I suspect–and hope–it will only continue to metastasize.

At the moment Janet Stemwedel is leading a fascinating discussion on blog ethics and whether there is a need for a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval or some other uber-standard. As long as it doesn’t compromise my ability to traffic in rumor, innuendo and salacious gossip, I’m all for it…