Guesses At Nothing

From xkcd.com.  Fatalistic, but true perhaps.

This may be the only documented case of defensive biological warfare.  Those clever Poles scared some Nazis away during WWII by injecting themselves with a microorganism that renders false-positives on a typhus screening. Rather than risk infecting their concentration camps and guards with typhus, the Nazis left this group of Poles well enough alone. Ingenious!

Between Richard Branson's donation of 3bn towards bio-fuel and emission reducing technology, and California's largely symbolic lawsuit against automakers, the battle against climate change (aka global warming) has taken a great step forward this week.  Just about any time climate change makes the headlines it is good for the cause.  Politicians and policy-makers will have to do something about it despite the oil lobby if enough of the public considers it a hot topic.  But I wonder how much can be done with the amount of oil interest in the White House.

It seems amazing to me that there are still people who doubt the validity of the global warming phenomenon.  Maybe I shouldn't be that amazed.  Exxon Mobil has been creating phony grassroots campaigns (a practice called astroturfing) which try to create skepticism in the masses for years.  It should then come as no surprise that Philip Morris otherwise known as Altria is in on the act as well.  In fact Philip Morris invented the practice.  While seeking to discredit an EPA report on the ill effects of second hand smoke, the company hired a PR firm; which in turn created a phony citizens group that tried not only to discredit the second hand smoke study, but to also raise broader questions about government research and regulations in general -- including global warming.  This practice has to stop.  Multinational conglomerates like Philip Morris care more about your dollar than about being  responsible global citizens.  Here are a few Philip Morris brands..  Just think about corporate deceit  when you go to grab one off the shelf.  

• Miller beer
• Kraft
• Post
• Nabisco
• Maxwell House foods 

Not too much has been sizzling in the old brain pan.  I did receive some interesting feedback on a post from last month.  The Spearhead lyrics made it onto an Italian website that catalogues anti-war lyrics.  If you've got a sec, check out the site.  There are even free downloads of certain songs available.   

It is good to see that maybe some common sense will prevail in this world.  Bush's request for new legislation to deal with prisoners of war has been met with some resistance, even by a handful of Republican senators.  This is huge.  Since historical comparisons are the flavor of the day, I am reminded of FDR's attempt to stuff the supreme court with judges.  The elected representatives of that era kept the president in check and hopefully that will happen in this situation as well. 

 

Tips to Liz for encouraging me to take the time to learn about the Chilean Sea Bass.  Neither Chilean or a Bass, the Patagonian Toothfish was worth next to nothing until it was given its new fancy moniker.  Now a high ticket item at restaurants across the nation its trendiness has pushed it to the brink of extinction.  While it is a protected species illegal fishing still persists.  So next time you sit down for a bite, take a pass on Chilean Sea Bass.