The future isn't what it used to be

A fascinating story was told the other night on NBC Nightly News. As of this Friday, if you take 20 dollars into your local Walgreens, you can walk out with a lot more than the usual rubbing alcohol, acetaminophen and cookies in a tin. You will be able to get a genetic profile test from the good people over at Pathway Genomics. Imagine! You will know if you are genetically predisposed to developing Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer, diabetes and other ailments. "The test also claims to offer a window into the chances of becoming obese, developing psoriasis and going blind. For those thinking of starting a family, it could alert them to their risk of having a baby with cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs and other genetic disorders," according to the Washington Post.

Predictably enough, debates are already stirring among the people involved with debating ethics for our nation. Both of them are troubled. Points made range from a possible increase in abortions, people making ill-informed decisions about their futures based on misinterpreted data, and of course the very real possibility of a merry mixup when you get the results intended for someone from Kentucky with the same name as you.

Don't even tell me that can't happen!

I would not be interested. Half the time, I can't get my family gathering photographs developed on time at the drugstore, and now they want me to shell out money for a look at my future?

And also...can you imagine the buzzkill for your weekend if you get the results in the mail on a Friday? Eat, drink and be merry, buddy boy! You just found out you're going to come up a little short on your three-score-and ten years? Well, that's rough, but TGI Friday's has that three-course dinner for $12.99!

That ought to even things out nicely, huh?