Before you dismiss his argument based on your personal belief in the "System", you should take the opportunity to see if his claim is valid. For example, you might read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal_controvers y
Mercury is present in most vaccine formulations, in at least "trace amounts". It seems that some people are able to process this without an issue, but there is suspicion that many of the vaccine-related issues that have been correlated to vaccinations may be a result of a lesser ability, or worse luck, in processing the mercury content. While this may end up being a red herring, considering that the FDA has recommended removing all but trace amounts of Thiomersal, I don't think we should ignore it. Best evidence for a dismissal is actually running the experiment on a nationwide scale, which is what we've done. Thimerosal has been phased out of nearly all vaccines* in the U.S., starting several years ago (Sometime around 2000-2002), so the "wave" of infants born around that time has reached and passed the ages at which autism should start to show up. Several countries phased out Thimerosal earlier than the U.S. as well. However, thus far Autism diagnosis rates have continued to climb.
*I seem to recall that the exceptions are multi-dose vials. They're not type used in a typical doctor's office, but more for mass-vaccination campaigns (quite rare nowdays in the US, usually carried out in the third world).
Yup, I have a couple of the Hybrio batteries (http://www.hybriousa.com/). Supposedly they are not quite as good as Eneloop (~70% after a year in storage is what I've heard), but still pretty decent as far as capacity and self-discharge goes. Very good in my digital camera -- I don't take pictures often so it tends to sit in storage for a couple of months between uses.
I think the actual point of this research is more interesting, and less alarming than it first appears.
We tend to think of the genetic code the same way we think of writing on a page of paper -- regardless of how much or little sense the letters are made, it has little impact on the way the "paper" works. However, in genetics, the DNA is both the medium, message, and part of the playback device all at once.
To put it in IT-geekspeak, there may be sequences that are like the "lace" punchcards of yesteryear (A punchcard with all punched-out spaces, thus making a fragile grid that would tend to jam the reader) -- a valid string of information, but which interact badly with the physical part of the apparatus. We already are well familiar with some of the genetic equivalants of punchcard lace, such as certain highly repetitive sequences which cause the "machinery" to jam and stutter (For instance, the repeat codon involved in Fragile X Syndrome), it would be interesting to know if there are more subtle sequences that "don't work".
Previous posters have noted density-dependent reproduction effects as preventing the recovery of a crashed stock. Another is replacement by a competitor.
One interesting occurence in modern times is the number of Jellyfish population explosions that have been occuring. While the exact reasons are still a matter of speculation, one of those speculations is that they are filling the ecological niche vacated by fish (Most consumed fish species are predatory, as are the jellyfish that are replacing them). So, we have two groups of animals competing for approximately the same niche, except one is highly vulnerable to a predator (us), while the other is almost completely ignored.
"As a purple hermaphroditic Jupitarian meteorological geek living on Europa, I find your comment distasteful and thoughtless. When are you going to learn, you narrow-minded Terrans?!?!"
Oh hey, glad you showed up on Slashdot. I've been meaning to ask a gas-giant dweller such as yourself something that has puzzled me greatly. What are those glowy bits?
I'd like to submit a proposal (RFC1170AD) "New Slashdot Meme". The Meme is to take the format of "Will no one rid me of this troublesome [Noun].
Examples: Stalin: Will no one rid me of these troublesome Kulaks? Palpatine: Will no one rid me of these troublesome Jedi? International Astronomer's Union: Will no one rid me of this troublesome Pluto?
Now I'd like to see the efficiency of feminine smiling eyes vs male concerned eyes.
From Science Magazine's short news article: "...A judgmental male pair, for example, elicited more donations than a flirtatious female sideward glance, they report online today in Biology Letters."
Ah yes, the classic Geek problem: Robovacuum or French Maid, Robovacuum or French maid... Fortunately, I already have a girlfriend, so I guess I won't be needing that robovacuum.
OK, have to ask... which one would be capable of generating more suction?
"How many people would be tempted to send their sticky bug thing to a friend in another country just to screw around with the data?"
From Journal Entry for Specimen #642737: "Irregular medium-sized bug splat, white-ish in color. Upon microscopic examination... Ummm-- that's odd... this particular bug splat seems to contain a large number of spermatozoa. Well, moving right along to Specimen #642738 now..."
Actually, this is not entirely true. While the US is the leader in medical R&D, many drugs are released overseas first -- some recent examples include the cancer drug Iressa and the erectile dysfunction drug Levitra. Clinical trials are cheaper overseas, and recruitment of patients is often easier. Plus, most countries are not as litigious than the US, so companies can test market a drug with less financial risk.
A final reason is that the FDA has a well-earned reputation for being the most conservative medical regulatory agency in the world. This is not necessary a bad thing -- the FDA rejected thalidomide when it was widely approved elsewhere. The handful of US cases occured in women who either imported the drug or took it while overseas.
Still, the US is where every drug company wants to be, as it is the largest pharmaceutical market in the world.
"That sounds interesting but what happens if a vehicle doesn't *have* a card reader or the card reader is broken? What's the incentive for someone to have a functioning card reader in their car? I assume someone could be fined for not having a functional card reader but how are they caught?"
I've visited Singapore before, and the system seems to work quite well. The reader broadcasts a signal which indicates payment. This is quite similar to the RF toll transponder systems used in many places, except that the smart card simplifies the billing.
If you go through a checkpoint without a functioning reader, a camera snaps a picture of your plate, and you get a hefty fine (The Singapore government is quite fond of using fines as an enforcement tool). Since the card readers handle billing, the cameras can be set to only flag violators -- and so the number of shots is small enough that humans can do the reading, unlike the UK system. I don't know if they make exceptions for broken readers, but even if they do you could probably only use that excuse once or twice.
"As for the card-waving on the bus, what if you forget to wave your card getting on? Do you ride for free? What if you forget to wave when you get off, are you charged for riding the whole day?"
It's just like riding on a regular bus that takes coins. The driver catches you, and if he doesn't, then I suppose you get your free ride. I don't remember what happens if you forget swipe out, but the fee roughly corresponds to distance, so I suppose you could get charged the maximum (So there's your incentive for remembering).
It's simple, really... mountains are the new thing in pornography. People are snapping and posting so many pictures of naughty, erotically shaped rock formations that the number of mountain pics available worldwide on the net is rising by about 10,000 every 10 minutes.
Speaking of which, the Grand Tetons in Wyoming have an interesting French translation for their names.
"And what better way to say, "I love you" than with the gift of a heart-shaped... uh, heart."
In one of my biology labs, there was a story about a student who presented his fair lady with a heart shaped box one Valentine's day. But instead of chocolates, the box contained, well...
Let me digress for a moment with a bit of Biology trivia. A turtle's heart will continue to beat for a considerable length of time after being removed from the body. Thanks to it's low metabolic rate and stable SA (pacemaker) node, it can continue to pulse slowly for days, if kept moist with an appropriate salt solution.
So... this girl opens the box and there's a beating heart in there. Unfortunately, the story doesn't record her reaction. However, I have my doubts as to whether the fellow got anywhere with his gift.
Slashdot Mirror
Mercury is present in most vaccine formulations, in at least "trace amounts". It seems that some people are able to process this without an issue, but there is suspicion that many of the vaccine-related issues that have been correlated to vaccinations may be a result of a lesser ability, or worse luck, in processing the mercury content. While this may end up being a red herring, considering that the FDA has recommended removing all but trace amounts of Thiomersal, I don't think we should ignore it. Best evidence for a dismissal is actually running the experiment on a nationwide scale, which is what we've done. Thimerosal has been phased out of nearly all vaccines* in the U.S., starting several years ago (Sometime around 2000-2002), so the "wave" of infants born around that time has reached and passed the ages at which autism should start to show up. Several countries phased out Thimerosal earlier than the U.S. as well. However, thus far Autism diagnosis rates have continued to climb.
*I seem to recall that the exceptions are multi-dose vials. They're not type used in a typical doctor's office, but more for mass-vaccination campaigns (quite rare nowdays in the US, usually carried out in the third world).
I believe this documentary provides an example of what the "Reverse" gear looks like.
"Wake me up when they've cured altruism."
:P
I have no idea when that will happen, but I highly suspect that the cure won't be given away for free.
Yup, I have a couple of the Hybrio batteries (http://www.hybriousa.com/). Supposedly they are not quite as good as Eneloop (~70% after a year in storage is what I've heard), but still pretty decent as far as capacity and self-discharge goes. Very good in my digital camera -- I don't take pictures often so it tends to sit in storage for a couple of months between uses.
"... grandfather liked it," said Chester, averting his eyes from a lithograph titled Rush Hour at the Insemomat."
I've always wondered about what exactly the Insemomat in your sig looked like. I have a mental picture now, and it's rather disturbing.
I think the actual point of this research is more interesting, and less alarming than it first appears.
We tend to think of the genetic code the same way we think of writing on a page of paper -- regardless of how much or little sense the letters are made, it has little impact on the way the "paper" works. However, in genetics, the DNA is both the medium, message, and part of the playback device all at once.
To put it in IT-geekspeak, there may be sequences that are like the "lace" punchcards of yesteryear (A punchcard with all punched-out spaces, thus making a fragile grid that would tend to jam the reader) -- a valid string of information, but which interact badly with the physical part of the apparatus. We already are well familiar with some of the genetic equivalants of punchcard lace, such as certain highly repetitive sequences which cause the "machinery" to jam and stutter (For instance, the repeat codon involved in Fragile X Syndrome), it would be interesting to know if there are more subtle sequences that "don't work".
Previous posters have noted density-dependent reproduction effects as preventing the recovery of a crashed stock. Another is replacement by a competitor.
One interesting occurence in modern times is the number of Jellyfish population explosions that have been occuring. While the exact reasons are still a matter of speculation, one of those speculations is that they are filling the ecological niche vacated by fish (Most consumed fish species are predatory, as are the jellyfish that are replacing them). So, we have two groups of animals competing for approximately the same niche, except one is highly vulnerable to a predator (us), while the other is almost completely ignored.
"As a purple hermaphroditic Jupitarian meteorological geek living on Europa, I find your comment distasteful and thoughtless. When are you going to learn, you narrow-minded Terrans?!?!"
Oh hey, glad you showed up on Slashdot. I've been meaning to ask a gas-giant dweller such as yourself something that has puzzled me greatly. What are those glowy bits?
"Will no one rid me of this troublesome chair?"
I'd like to submit a proposal (RFC1170AD) "New Slashdot Meme". The Meme is to take the format of "Will no one rid me of this troublesome [Noun].
Examples:
Stalin: Will no one rid me of these troublesome Kulaks?
Palpatine: Will no one rid me of these troublesome Jedi?
International Astronomer's Union: Will no one rid me of this troublesome Pluto?
Computer: Are you a happy burger flipper, citizen?
Employee: Yes Computer, I am a happy burger flipper!
Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
Now I'd like to see the efficiency of feminine smiling eyes vs male concerned eyes.
From Science Magazine's short news article: "...A judgmental male pair, for example, elicited more donations than a flirtatious female sideward glance, they report online today in Biology Letters."
[Scene: Inside a fighting game match]
From Megatokyo, my favorite online comic.
After watching this game, I think it's high time Maxis came out with Sim Dung Beetle.
"I tawt I taw a puddy cat... again"
Looks like somebody made a change in the matrix?
"Go ahead, mod me down as though I were some sort of nerd heretic."
Moderators--DON'T DO IT! He will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!
"Girl Scout cookies aren't made from real girl scouts either."
Not even the Chocolate-coated Soylent Green Delites?
LUKE: What's going on?
HAN: Our link is correct, except...no, Website!
LUKE: What do you mean? Where is it?
HAN: Thats what I'm trying to tell you, kid. It ain't there. It's been
totally blown away.
LUKE: What? How?
Ah yes, the classic Geek problem: Robovacuum or French Maid, Robovacuum or French maid...
Fortunately, I already have a girlfriend, so I guess I won't be needing that robovacuum.
OK, have to ask... which one would be capable of generating more suction?
"How many people would be tempted to send their sticky bug thing to a friend in another country just to screw around with the data?"
From Journal Entry for Specimen #642737:
"Irregular medium-sized bug splat, white-ish in color. Upon microscopic examination... Ummm-- that's odd... this particular bug splat seems to contain a large number of spermatozoa. Well, moving right along to Specimen #642738 now..."
"that six monkeys and one computer will produce a computer that has been smashed with a rock, urinated upon, and four pages worth of the letter 's.'"
So, it took six monkeys an entire month to accomplish the above.
I've seen some users that could probably do all that in the space of a few minutes -- obviously we're the more advanced species.
"Medical drugs - AIDS, cancer and Biotech drugs"
Actually, this is not entirely true. While the US is the leader in medical R&D, many drugs are released overseas first -- some recent examples include the cancer drug Iressa and the erectile dysfunction drug Levitra. Clinical trials are cheaper overseas, and recruitment of patients is often easier. Plus, most countries are not as litigious than the US, so companies can test market a drug with less financial risk.
A final reason is that the FDA has a well-earned reputation for being the most conservative medical regulatory agency in the world. This is not necessary a bad thing -- the FDA rejected thalidomide when it was widely approved elsewhere. The handful of US cases occured in women who either imported the drug or took it while overseas.
Still, the US is where every drug company wants to be, as it is the largest pharmaceutical market in the world.
"Dang, gotta Brenda is having like a total breakdown over her break up with Steve. I never did like Steve..."
Yes, I heard AOLTimeWarner is having similar feeling about Steve, too.
"That sounds interesting but what happens if a vehicle doesn't *have* a card reader or the card reader is broken? What's the incentive for someone to have a functioning card reader in their car? I assume someone could be fined for not having a functional card reader but how are they caught?"
I've visited Singapore before, and the system seems to work quite well. The reader broadcasts a signal which indicates payment. This is quite similar to the RF toll transponder systems used in many places, except that the smart card simplifies the billing.
If you go through a checkpoint without a functioning reader, a camera snaps a picture of your plate, and you get a hefty fine (The Singapore government is quite fond of using fines as an enforcement tool). Since the card readers handle billing, the cameras can be set to only flag violators -- and so the number of shots is small enough that humans can do the reading, unlike the UK system. I don't know if they make exceptions for broken readers, but even if they do you could probably only use that excuse once or twice.
"As for the card-waving on the bus, what if you forget to wave your card getting on? Do you ride for free? What if you forget to wave when you get off, are you charged for riding the whole day?"
It's just like riding on a regular bus that takes coins. The driver catches you, and if he doesn't, then I suppose you get your free ride. I don't remember what happens if you forget swipe out, but the fee roughly corresponds to distance, so I suppose you could get charged the maximum (So there's your incentive for remembering).
It's simple, really... mountains are the new thing in pornography. People are snapping and posting so many pictures of naughty, erotically shaped rock formations that the number of mountain pics available worldwide on the net is rising by about 10,000 every 10 minutes.
Speaking of which, the Grand Tetons in Wyoming have an interesting French translation for their names.
"And what better way to say, "I love you" than with the gift of a heart-shaped... uh, heart."
In one of my biology labs, there was a story about a student who presented his fair lady with a heart shaped box one Valentine's day. But instead of chocolates, the box contained, well...
Let me digress for a moment with a bit of Biology trivia. A turtle's heart will continue to beat for a considerable length of time after being removed from the body. Thanks to it's low metabolic rate and stable SA (pacemaker) node, it can continue to pulse slowly for days, if kept moist with an appropriate salt solution.
So... this girl opens the box and there's a beating heart in there. Unfortunately, the story doesn't record her reaction. However, I have my doubts as to whether the fellow got anywhere with his gift.