Democrat Socialist Party

Democrat Socialist Party

I am a Democrat only because the GOP has sold it's soul to the devil (neocons and loons like rush limbaugh).

If they were serious about the ideas they promote, I would probably be a liberal Republican (not to be confused with a fascist Republican).

I actually wrote a post listing and discussing the things I admire about Republicans. Needless to say, from my perspective they flunk every category. That is why I have moved to the left. Similar "say one thing, do another" issues have caused me to reject organized religion.

Let me end this rant with my idea to rename the Republican Party: Fascist American Theocratic Party. FAT for short. If you add Republican, you can even change it to FART. However, I think we should keep the "Republican" open for a group who speak and act on Republican principles (low taxes, small effective government, self sufficiency, respect for life).

Patented Genes

Patented Genes

Did you know that 20 percent of all distinctly human genes have been patented?

Yeah, it surprised me too.

I understand that patents allow for a company to profit from the research and development that go into the patented item. I have no problem with that.

However, the idea of patenting human DNA bothers me.

I think the fact that human DNA is inherent to all human life, it should be used for the benefit of ALL MAN KIND, not only those who can afford to pay a royalty fee.

I think this could also open the door to companies patenting human beings which have been genetically altered. For example, DNA could be manipulated in such a way that the child would have increased aggression, better reflexes, reduced empathy, and a mindset to follow orders without question. The DNA could be patented and sold on a "per unit" basis. The result would be a human being (a "unit") who's DNA is owned by the military.

Since DNA is the basis of life, we would basically revert to servitude and slavery. Afterall, what else do you call it when a person is "owned"?

I have a message for these companies that want to patent my DNA:

**While holding a plastic spiral DNA model, and giving a stern look like Charlton Heston at an NRA meeting***

FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!

Slumdog Millionaire Star's Home Demolished

Authorities tear down 'Slumdog Millionaire' child star's illegal shanty home

I feel horrible that this happened to this poor child. But if we look at the parents, we will see the cause of this poverty.

I have been unable to find a reliable source to tell me the number of siblings he has. So, I will look at the family of his co-star Rubina Ali.

Rubina Ali, is a neighbor, who co-starred in slumdog, has 6 siblings. That means her parents have 7 children. SEVEN CHILDREN!

I cannot understand how two adults could ever expect to support 7 children on the salary of a carpenter.

If they had stopped with one or two children, they would have been able to provide adequately for their children. Their children deserve to have 3 meals a day, a roof over their heads, and an effective education.

I am sad to say, these parents have failed their children. That is, unless their goal was to perpetuate poverty in their children.

The parents work, and I'll bet they work hard. But no amount of work will allow them to overcome the crippling poverty caused by their unwillingness to slip on a condom.

I certainly feel bad for the kids, but not for their parents. I absolutely refuse to feel bad for someone who is living the life they built for themselves.

If they want to do right by their kids, they should adopt them to families who have the common sense not to breed themselves into poverty.

Texas police will return cash in case that prompted lawsuit

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/06/texas.police.seizures/index.html

Am I the only one who thinks these officers and prosecutor should be thrown in prison? It's one thing to seize drug money. It is entirely another thing to unreasonably seize cash and property in blatant violation of the fourth amendment of the United States Constitution.

I personally think the lawsuit should proceed. If the local yokels in that hick town are so backward and apathetic as to allow this type of corruption, they deserve the public humiliation that would ensue from such a trial.

Paranoia over swine flu H1N1

I must first admit that I am not a Physician, so my opinion should in no way be taken as medical advice. Now, on with the opinion.

Let us look at the facts about "regular flu", the one that comes around a few times a year to make us all miserable:

• The seasonal epidemic flu infects 3 to 5 million people world wide, killing nearly 500,000 every year. Even with 3 million infections and 500,000 deaths, that is a mortality rate of 0.17%. If the infection count is raised to 5 million, the mortality rate drops to 0.10%.
• Most of those who die (directly or indirectly) from the flu every year are children, elderly, and those who are immunocompromised.

There are some differences in this strain of flu (swine flu). Let's discuss the differences:

• It kills people in all age groups, but seems to have a preference for individuals who are young and healthy (not children, elderly, or immunocompromised).
• The infection rate is difficult to know because of a difference in "confirmed cases" and "suspected cases". Confirmed cases are where the DNA of a virus is verified to be the same strain as the "swine flu". Suspected cases often turn out to be "regular flu", as discussed above.

One thing which might make this flu more deadly is the "over reaction" of a healthy immune system, also known as a Cytokine storm. A Cytokine storm, in basic terms, is when your immune system mounts an over active response to an infection. Cytokine cells taking part in your immune response call for reinforcements. Your body responds by sending more immune cells to the infection site. Normally, your body keeps this reaction in check. Sometimes, for reasons that are not well understood, your body is unable to keep this reaction in check, and it results in a Cytokine storm. If prompt medical care is not received, the lungs can fill with fluid, and the oxygen exchange mechanisms (alveoli) can be permenantly damaged.

In certain instances a healthy immune system can actually be a liability, which is why some strains of flu kill more young healthy people.

Now that we have some information, what are we to do?

For myself, I am going to go about my business. I will be careful to avoid crowded places, and I will wash my hands often. I will keep myself hydrated, and eat healthy foods. In the event that I start having flu symptoms (fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, body aches) I will seek medical care immediately. Once I start feeling ill, I will quarantine myself from others. I will follow the doctors orders, without deviation.

My guess is that this first outbreak will be mild, but I think it will return in the fall. We need to study the mortality rates in "confirmed cases" to determine how deadly this virus is, and this needs to be done in the next 2 - 3 months.

If it is determined that this will have a high mortality rate, we must put in place contingency plans which will allow isolation (quarantine), social distancing, and medical treatment to minimize the human and economic cost of a pandemic in the fall / winter.

If we fail to prepare, or prepare inadequitly, we will find ourselves overwhelmed by this flu. Our already fragile economy could be pushed into deeper recession, possibly even another great depression.