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Interventionism and Democracy (Blog Entry by Farhad2000)
I'm curious Doc_M - what about tweaking an existing virus like Ebola, and making it more deadly?
It's still extraordinarily complicated. The world's understanding of what makes certain viruses deadly is limited. Figuring out a single detail that makes a virus more deadly than another similar one is worthy of a paper in a TOP journal for sure. Heck, you might very well get a Nobel Prize if it's a slow year. Making certain viruses more dangerous is not trivial, but it is of course possible. BUT, only a completely insane person would want to do it for any reason other than research. (BTW, people actually DO this to some viruses for research, but the safety regulations and precautions used are pretty serious and safe).
Using a "good" virus, that being one that replicates and spreads well, doesn't work well as a weapon simply because it doesn't do much in a small time frame and it would likely spread globally. Using a really deadly virus such as Ebola wouldn't work well simply because it kills so fast that it can't spread well and is EASILY contained, see Africa... every year. The bottom line is that the world has become such that no virus could ever be used as a weapon simply because you'd either kill no one or everyone, everywhere. So don't worry about viral attacks from anyone. It is just too risky and complicated. Recombinant viruses honestly make better medicine than they do weapons. Don't believe "I am Legend"-style rumors. lol.
Bacteria on the other hand... scary crap.
Hidden Camera Prank Goes Bad
I'm guessing that each of these TV studio-supported shows pay big bucks for each clip to keep the victims from suing the companies for millions.
Interventionism and Democracy (Blog Entry by Farhad2000)
The concept of the completely KILLER virus to a human population is DEAD? This can certainly be, but you'll be hard-pressed to find the ENORMOUSLY HIGH number of incredibly talented virologists needed to develop this particular strain. You have NO F-ING IDEA how complex virolgy IS!! And mutation?! That is RANDOM my friend. Good luck with that. Thank God for all this complexity.
BIGFOOT FOUND DEAD!!! - Fox News
BIGFOOT FOUND DEAD!!! - Fox News
"Turns out Bigfoot was just a rubber suit. Two researchers on a quest to prove the existence of Bigfoot say that the carcass encased in a block of ice - handed over to them for an undisclosed sum by two men who claimed to have found it - was slowly thawed out, and discovered to be a rubber gorilla outfit."
"SearchingforBigfoot.com owner Tom Biscardi had paid an "undisclosed sum" — Internet rumors put it at $50,000 — to Georgia residents Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer for their frozen "corpse" and the privilege of trotting them, but not the body, out in front of TV cameras."
Steve Kulls apparently examined the "beast" and found it to be a fraud (almost immediately upon thawing). He was [f-ing] PISSED. Suit has been filed in court, but the culprits fled with the "undisclosed sum" of $$. Another big surprise. What a bunch of morons.
The good news is that these frauds' names are known and that they are now fugitives from the federal law in the US. OOPS!
PWND!!! Good luck dudes! The LAW got cho' arses caught biznitches.
LHC synchronization test successful (Science Talk Post)
Data burns Dr. Pulaski
If it is singular, as in one bit of information, it is a "Dattum," but almost no one ever uses that word even when it is proper.
Plural, it is "Data." ... and that's "DAYTAH" as the android says it (in the scientific community in general). And EVERYONE uses that word for everything. lol.
But what about collective form?? It's still "Data," to EVERYONE (though improperly used). Most people use "data" as a collective in fact. Quote the scientist, "This bit of data supports my hypothesis that..." WRONG dude. But... no one cares... and I don't care either. The grammar has changed by usage.... Deal with it.
How can you have a word that has a singular, a plural, AND a collective?
I'll tell you... scientists. I love science so much...
The Films of Stanley Kubrick
Neil Peart of Rush - Amazing Drummer
Neil Peart of Rush - Amazing Drummer
My New Haircut - Senior Citizen Edition
Interventionism and Democracy (Blog Entry by Farhad2000)
You are damn right that interventionism has been on the hot seat lately and no one wants to touch it with a ten-foot pole and especially when it comes to messing with a superpower like Russia... a country with more thousand nukes than I have fingers.
(sidenote)
I AM in fact a nationalist, not because I was born here and think it is innately superior for that reason... that's just ridiculous, but because I LIKE it here and I respect it most of the time above what I see elsewhere. I don't have a problem with that attitude. If you like your country, its [at least foundational] ethics, and its freedoms, don't be afraid to cheer for it... say at the Olympics for example. ahem.
I do think you're right about China and the Chinese in general as well Farhad. China is oppressive, but increasing economic prosperity and popular control should blunt the blade of their government. Still, at the moment, their treatment of the "usual folks" and their treatment of those who believe in a particular faith other than is approved by the government is detestable. I have a very close friend who worries sickly for his missionary friends who risked going there to offer Christianity to those who wanted desperately to find out more about it.
The world government idea is problematic mostly due to issues like African warlords and Islamic theocracies... as well as Catholic theocracies for that matter. I don't see Vatican City teaming up with Iran in other words any time soon, but specialization sounds like a reasonable idea. The US specializes in technological development, science, and innovation. China specializes in production. Korea is in tech as well. The UK is in... jeez I don't know, surveillance camera tech? Canada could be in oil shale and land. Most of the desert countries in sun power? Problems arise with destitute countries, but those regions could be supported by us (correction, you) rich folk. There is hope yet, just distant. First we gotta stop killing each other.
What if the US donated its missile defense rockets and its laser-equipped missile-defeating jumbo jet tech to the UN to universalize it so-to-speak to keep the thought of at least nuclear war impossible? That might ease tension... a sort of universal deterrent to ANY ICBM launch. That or all these countries could just trade more and whine less. Team up against obvious terrorists (or if you want, mass murderers in general) maybe, but otherwise communicate FAR more. Get to know each other. Learn to speak a common language on common terms.
In my opinion, the LARGEST barrier to peace is that people simply have different RULES to live by in this world. Some are faith-based. Some are science-based. Some are philosophy-based. They are not often compatible and no one has the authority but a real GOD to say what rule systems are acceptable and what are not. And don't blame just religion for it. If you do, you need to study philosophy for a bit and you'll find that religion is by far not the only obstacle to agreement on "rules of life." That my friends is the problem on this planet.
Best thing that could happen is a freaking alien attack at this point lol. Team our shit up.
That or simply let economic development go as it is going... Have you seen the talks on the increasing GLOBAL prosperity?!! They are VERY hopeful! At the rate we are going, things may get better before they get worse. Charity is often a good way to have an effect btw.
Spaghetti Cat makes a mysterious TV appearance
Rama - A Cylindrical World - stunningly beautiful views
Mr. Bungle - Goodbye Sober Day
Still, the screaming/whining was lame. The audience obviously agreed.