I believe the designations have to do with birthrates, which are a reflection of social and economic stability. Third world nations have high birth rates and low life expectancy. First world nations have high life expectancies and low birth rates. I don't really ever hear much about the "second world", but I think that referred to the old Soviet bloc. Apparently, there is now a "fourth world" as well: http://www.cwis.org/fourthw.html .
This isn't really new news. AIDS infects by entering a receptor on T-cells which are part of our immune systems. I believe the great plague of the middle ages used this same mechanism. Fortunately, there are variations in the gene that causes variations in the structure of this receptor. Some of the people who survived the plague had this variant of the gene and therefore it's frequency in the population was increased and passed on. It's not surprising that after several hundred years this variant has found its way into different ethnicities, although it is probably most abundant in Europeans.
Do prions misfold in a consistent manner? If so, now that they have more or less been established as the culprit for these types of diseases, shouldn't we be able to develop antibodies to them? That would seem like the logical next step to me.
Indeed, it's likely that founder's effect, along with environmental conditions, explains why Germans and other Europeans, despite being descended from Africans 40,000 years ago, are white rather than black: being white is bad under the Africa sun, as, unprotected, it will lead to skin cancer and death by about age twelve. But being black in the weaker sunlight of Europe prevents the metabolization of vitamin D, leading to the weakened bones of rickets. In Africa, mutations that lead to less melanin production and whiteness also lead to death -- but in Europe it allowed a longer, better life.
Actually, this isn't quite right. Skin color is based on the balance between several factors. Cancer as a selective pressure doesn't kick in quickly enough. The problem with being light skin near the equator has to do with UV rays breaking down folate, which is critical to embryonic development. No folate means no healthy babies. Skin cancer doesn't rear it's ugly head until the twenties or thirties, so therefore doesn't exert as much selective pressure. There was an article about this in Nature (IIRC) a couple three years ago.
I don't see how the two are closely related. IMO, more broadband will increase freedom because it will give more people more access to larger amounts of information. Also, an "always on" connection will encourage more people to host their own websites and share even more information. As the threat from viruses increases, those who don't take the time to learn about and protect themselves from the risks will be removed from the pool of people participating. I think people will quickly learn to buy virus software and click the "yes, I want to install that update" button. The internet is too great a resource for people not to invest the time and effort to maintain their link to it.
Seriously, why the all the whining?
on
Melting Europa
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· Score: 1, Insightful
Aren't we supposed to debate the issue, not the poster? Or were they too afraid nobody would take notice of a cause they feel so passionately about... Can we just get a straight recitation of the facts and not all the whiny editorialism, please?
...people will think twice about doing stupid shit like this. This guy has ruined it for everybody else who wants to pull an otherwise harmless prank. I think he should go to jail for a long time. What shmuck would choose 911 for their prank?
While I agree that insurers probably shouldn't be allowed to discriminate based on genes, I don't see why in certain situations employer's shouldn't be able to screen applicants. Let me explain. There are many jobs, especially those that involve exposure to reactive substances, that people of a certain genetic background shouldn't be allowed to do. For instance, there are people who are genetically predisposed to become extremely ill when exposed to levels of berrylium that would cause no harm to a person who has a different allele of that gene. It only takes one gene and you can't screen for the gene by looking at a person or talking to them or looking at their resume. There are also people who are immune to HIV. They'd make excellent doctors and nurses in an AIDS ward. So while this legislation sounds great, it's nothing more than political grandstanding...
He's just doing it to get some votes. If M$ came along and offered him money, he'd say Windows is great, too. This guy is a politician, first and foremost. Let's not get carried away.
What's insightful about this comment? Just because it's the first comment doesn't mean it has to be modded up. Plus, bashing the current administration doesn't take any particular talent or skill. C'mon people, think.
Beyond all that, this guy utterly failed to actually provide any aid to the Taliban, and it seems unlikely that he'd undertake any "true" terrorism
What an incredible statement. The guy tried to get into Afganistan by hiking through China. If that doesn't take some commitment, I don't know what does. What could possibly make you think that he wouldn't try and blow something up? Really, some of you people live in your own warped world...
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I believe the designations have to do with birthrates, which are a reflection of social and economic stability. Third world nations have high birth rates and low life expectancy. First world nations have high life expectancies and low birth rates. I don't really ever hear much about the "second world", but I think that referred to the old Soviet bloc. Apparently, there is now a "fourth world" as well: http://www.cwis.org/fourthw.html .
Yes, but they use the same pathway for infection. The both hijack T-cells. http://personals.galaxyinternet.net/tunga/AIDS.htm
This isn't really new news. AIDS infects by entering a receptor on T-cells which are part of our immune systems. I believe the great plague of the middle ages used this same mechanism. Fortunately, there are variations in the gene that causes variations in the structure of this receptor. Some of the people who survived the plague had this variant of the gene and therefore it's frequency in the population was increased and passed on. It's not surprising that after several hundred years this variant has found its way into different ethnicities, although it is probably most abundant in Europeans.
If it's wireless like mine, that's going to be where the lag is.
The term blue moon actually comes from the fact that in old almanacs the second full moon in a month was colored blue on the calendar.
Do prions misfold in a consistent manner? If so, now that they have more or less been established as the culprit for these types of diseases, shouldn't we be able to develop antibodies to them? That would seem like the logical next step to me.
and it crashed each time I tried to browse to my computer to open a file. I'd give a it a POS rating.
C'mon people, it's not that hard. Hate to be the grammar Nazi, but the poster did it several times...
Indeed, it's likely that founder's effect, along with environmental conditions, explains why Germans and other Europeans, despite being descended from Africans 40,000 years ago, are white rather than black: being white is bad under the Africa sun, as, unprotected, it will lead to skin cancer and death by about age twelve. But being black in the weaker sunlight of Europe prevents the metabolization of vitamin D, leading to the weakened bones of rickets. In Africa, mutations that lead to less melanin production and whiteness also lead to death -- but in Europe it allowed a longer, better life.
Actually, this isn't quite right. Skin color is based on the balance between several factors. Cancer as a selective pressure doesn't kick in quickly enough. The problem with being light skin near the equator has to do with UV rays breaking down folate, which is critical to embryonic development. No folate means no healthy babies. Skin cancer doesn't rear it's ugly head until the twenties or thirties, so therefore doesn't exert as much selective pressure. There was an article about this in Nature (IIRC) a couple three years ago.
A super baby born in Berlin, Germany? And it only took them about 60 years...
I am all for doing things in a professional, well thought out manner, but if you don't like my pictures, don't look at them.
Friends of people who work for Google had first crack about two weeks ago. Just in case anybody wants to be jealous.
I don't see how the two are closely related. IMO, more broadband will increase freedom because it will give more people more access to larger amounts of information. Also, an "always on" connection will encourage more people to host their own websites and share even more information. As the threat from viruses increases, those who don't take the time to learn about and protect themselves from the risks will be removed from the pool of people participating. I think people will quickly learn to buy virus software and click the "yes, I want to install that update" button. The internet is too great a resource for people not to invest the time and effort to maintain their link to it.
Aren't we supposed to debate the issue, not the poster? Or were they too afraid nobody would take notice of a cause they feel so passionately about... Can we just get a straight recitation of the facts and not all the whiny editorialism, please?
...people will think twice about doing stupid shit like this. This guy has ruined it for everybody else who wants to pull an otherwise harmless prank. I think he should go to jail for a long time. What shmuck would choose 911 for their prank?
Lesser?
but user created CD's will be around for a long time.
While I agree that insurers probably shouldn't be allowed to discriminate based on genes, I don't see why in certain situations employer's shouldn't be able to screen applicants. Let me explain. There are many jobs, especially those that involve exposure to reactive substances, that people of a certain genetic background shouldn't be allowed to do. For instance, there are people who are genetically predisposed to become extremely ill when exposed to levels of berrylium that would cause no harm to a person who has a different allele of that gene. It only takes one gene and you can't screen for the gene by looking at a person or talking to them or looking at their resume. There are also people who are immune to HIV. They'd make excellent doctors and nurses in an AIDS ward. So while this legislation sounds great, it's nothing more than political grandstanding...
My dad uses it all the time. I can get him to switch to anything else.
has the linux counter been /.'d?
He's just doing it to get some votes. If M$ came along and offered him money, he'd say Windows is great, too. This guy is a politician, first and foremost. Let's not get carried away.
What's insightful about this comment? Just because it's the first comment doesn't mean it has to be modded up. Plus, bashing the current administration doesn't take any particular talent or skill. C'mon people, think.
because I know that Georgia is buying a 256 node cluster and at least some of them will be G5's from IBM running linux.
...would never let me play this one. Then again, who needs a wife when your living digitally...
Beyond all that, this guy utterly failed to actually provide any aid to the Taliban, and it seems unlikely that he'd undertake any "true" terrorism
What an incredible statement. The guy tried to get into Afganistan by hiking through China. If that doesn't take some commitment, I don't know what does. What could possibly make you think that he wouldn't try and blow something up? Really, some of you people live in your own warped world...