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AIDS-Like Virus New Threat To Koala

Posted by timothy on from the poor-fellas dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A virus that may weaken the immune system of koalas, similar to HIV in humans, is a new 'wild card' among threats facing the species and nearly all koalas in the Australian state of Queensland could already be infected."

5 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. What's with the stupid hat? by Cimexus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Does anyone else feel mildly offended every time they see that stupid hat icon they use for Australian stories now? I mean seriously ... is this a serious news site? It'd be like using a picture of Speedy Gonzales for Mexican stories, or a fat man with a mustache saying "mamma mia!" for Italian ones.

    1. Re:What's with the stupid hat? by Michael+Kristopeit · · Score: 3, Insightful
      they still use a demonized picture of bill gates for microsoft stories...

      which is worse, personalized corporate attacks long after the person has left the corporation, or generalized cultural observations? or isn't there a difference?

    2. Re:What's with the stupid hat? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I thought it was a well known fact that American football is messed up?

      Now Australian Football... a sport of kings. :p

    3. Re:What's with the stupid hat? by fuzzix · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It just irritates me Americans just seem to instantly think of a 30 year old movie as the first thing that comes to mind when they think of Australia

      And that's the point, it's a useful piece of iconography on an American site to make 'em go "Australia". It's like having pictures on a menu so the unlettered folk can point at the food they'd like and grunt "four".

      I don't think there's an icon for Ireland but if there was, what would it be? Text now and win a prize!

      Text "A" for: A Leprechaun!
      Text "B" for: A Shamrock!
      Text "C" for: Government corruption and petty revenge!
      Text "D" for: A bishop covering up a priest's sexual abuse of altar boys!

      ENTER NOW!

    4. Re:What's with the stupid hat? by ElectricTurtle · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Australians are a race now? Americans are frequently stereotyped as cowboys, is that 'pseudo-racist' too? Or are you some racial positivist twit that thinks only white American males are capable of 'true racism' and therefore any discrimination against them isn't racist because they 'deserve it'?

      --
      I support the Slashcott and will not be reading or commenting from 2/10/14 to 2/17/14. Beta is steaming pile of dog shit