RE: I hope this war puts an end to PC nonsense
-----Original Message----- That so many millions of children are programmed to mutter about how "bigotry is our most important problem" and "terrorism comes from our hearts" shows how far we've sunk into the miasma of political correctness. I hope if nothing else good comes from recent events, at least we see the death of crap like this. --Tim May In addition to destroying Pop Culture (at least temporarily) the attack has put a lot of nonsense into perspective. As I said to some one the other day, "If this is war no smoking regulations. SWmoke 'em if nyou've got 'em." DCF.
On Monday, September 17, 2001, at 11:54 AM, Duncan Frissell wrote:
-----Original Message----- That so many millions of children are programmed to mutter about how "bigotry is our most important problem" and "terrorism comes from our hearts" shows how far we've sunk into the miasma of political correctness.
I hope if nothing else good comes from recent events, at least we see the death of crap like this.
--Tim May
In addition to destroying Pop Culture (at least temporarily) the attack has put a lot of nonsense into perspective.
As I said to some one the other day, "If this is war no smoking regulations. SWmoke 'em if nyou've got 'em."
I wonder if the GenXers (and younger) will be taking out their nose rings, tongue studs, and other bits of metal stuck through their bodies, primitive-style. (And not just so they can pass through metal detectors...) I wonder if the white suburban kids wearing gangsta baggies down to their ankles and listening to gangsta rap and pretending like they're inner city negroes will drop these pretensions... Naw, never happen. People will cheer when the U.S. sends cruise missiles to kill Afghan women and children, then they'll go back to nose piercings and gangsta rap. And when the militarized smallpox from Biopreparat hits.... --Tim May
Tim said: :And when the militarized smallpox from Biopreparat hits.... Aside from taking out their noserings, is there anything that anyone would be able to do about it? To save themselves, I mean. Y2K has arrived, it's just a little late. Did everyone save their supplies and noserings and have their survival procedures ready? Not that they would be all that effective, anyway. .. Blanc
On Monday, September 17, 2001, at 01:09 PM, Blanc wrote:
Tim said:
:And when the militarized smallpox from Biopreparat hits....
Aside from taking out their noserings, is there anything that anyone would be able to do about it? To save themselves, I mean.
Y2K has arrived, it's just a little late. Did everyone save their supplies and noserings and have their survival procedures ready? Not that they would be all that effective, anyway.
I had _my_ supplies in place, not surprisingly. A few words on possible threats. Anthrax is a minor issue, except in big cities or other soft targets. (It could kill tens of thousands, but probably only in the aerosol wake.) My real fear, so far unrealized, is a smallpox or influenza attack. Smallpox killed 300 million in the 1900s (hard to believe, but this is what experts are saying) and the flu in 1918 killed many millions just in the U.S. (including some of my relatives). (The 1917-18 worldwide outbreak was believed to have been spread worldwide by returning troops from WW I. Note that the disease vectors of today are far more efficient.) If I hear the slightest hint of an outbreak of any virulent disease, anywhere, I'll head out to the nearest supermarket, buy $300 worth of groceries, and then hunker down to ride it out. As always, this is not a _prediction_, this is a statement about my personal approach to insurance and preparedness. --Tim May
At 02:21 PM 9/17/01 -0700, Tim May wrote:
My real fear, so far unrealized, is a smallpox or influenza attack. Smallpox killed 300 million in the 1900s (hard to believe, but this is what experts are saying) and the flu in 1918 killed many millions just in the U.S. (including some of my relatives).
(The 1917-18 worldwide outbreak was believed to have been spread worldwide by returning troops from WW I. Note that the disease vectors of today are far more efficient.)
20 million
If I hear the slightest hint of an outbreak of any virulent disease, anywhere, I'll head out to the nearest supermarket, buy $300 worth of groceries, and then hunker down to ride it out.
As always, this is not a _prediction_, this is a statement about my personal approach to insurance and preparedness.
--Tim May
Tim, see _Science_ 7 Sept 01, vol 293, p1773-1777 "The Origin and Control of Pandemic Influenza" and related research. Summary: you want to stockpile specifically anti-influenza drugs like 'Relenza' or 'Tamiflu'. They impede viral replication by messing with an enzyme it uses to release itself. The genetic engineers have been figuring out what makes virulent strains, and where they come from. Basically bird flu mixes with human flu. Damn chinese chickens. Hey, at least wearing masks in public will become socially acceptable, as it now is in south NYC...
At 01:09 PM 9/17/01 -0700, Blanc wrote:
Aside from taking out their noserings, is there anything that anyone would be able to do about it? To save themselves, I mean.
Teddy K. had the right idea.. I hear the antarctic station takes volunteers..
Y2K has arrived, it's just a little late.
If you listen to the nitpicking fencepost counters who point out that 2001 is the first year of the 21st century...
Did everyone save their supplies and noserings and have their survival procedures ready? Not that they would be all that effective, anyway.
Gotta get some KI for my kid... ....... The basic choices you have for regulating people's behavior in society are talking to them, not talking to them, or beating them up. -Bill Stewart
At 12:07 PM 9/17/01 -0700, Tim May wrote:
I wonder if the GenXers (and younger) will be taking out their nose rings, tongue studs, and other bits of metal stuck through their bodies, primitive-style. (And not just so they can pass through metal detectors...)
I wondered that when I left my penknife and corkscrew behind in my Silly Valley cube, flying home Friday eve. My glasses didn't set them off; I don't think finger-rings, earrings, etc. exceeded the thresholds they set then. In fact, they didn't search my luggage and since I was reasonably metal-free the only delay present was an extra 15 seconds of paperwork (show your itinerary to get past the passenger-only point). *Monday* I was swabbed for nitrates. I spent a minute thinking about how to use my laptop as a shield. Wondering how much a drink-cart weighs. Wondering if the skymarshalls always get aisle seats. Realizing the next attack is a different mode. And they still made me pay for a beer on the plane.
At 05:28 PM 9/17/01 -0700, David Honig wrote:
I spent a minute thinking about how to use my laptop as a shield. Wondering how much a drink-cart weighs.
I was thinking of what would be available and somewhat effective as an improvised weapon on a hijacked aircraft since we've been deprived of guns and decided that laptops fit the bill best. No Sony Vaios. Something a bit heavier. Held in front of you it could deflect an edged weapon. Slammed around it could make a short, blunt club. And laptops are certainly available. Even though your laptop would probably not survive the experience; if *you* did, you could probably get the manufacturer to give you a replacement in exchange for the good publicity. DCF ---- Tank: What do you need -- besides a miracle? Neo: Guns. Lots of guns. -- Marcus Chong to Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix"
participants (4)
-
Blanc -
David Honig -
Duncan Frissell -
Tim May