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Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a
nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a
"Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed
considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense
initiatives more successful? Can such an application of
science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable,
necessary or impossible?
Read Debates, a new
Web-only feature culled from Readers' Opinions, published
every Thursday.
(11299 previous messages)
fredmoore
- 04:42pm Apr 15, 2003 EST (#
11300 of 11500)
Robert .....
"How many people in America could be hurt, and hurt badly,
by a phone call, or a simple manipulation from someone in
power? Maybe an untraceable manipulation?"
Of course no one can tell about the true extent of freedom
we may or may not have. I think it helps to see it in the
context of history. We are, as a civilisation , as a culture,
palpably growing in the ability to tolerate a wide range of
freedoms and viewpoints in a way that strengthens all of us.
If that were not true folks like Almarst, LP4 and others would
be toast by now. Their pessimism and bias during the darkest
moments of recent history are a testament to the resilience of
the freedom we espouse. Further their views are a powerful
counterpoint to any naivety that may surround current events.
All in all Their posts are as important as anyone elses
despite some obvious situationl bias. Without them, how would
people in other countries know that these forums reflect true
free opinion?
As for your personal concerns, the moment these and other
forums lose the color and variety of their free thought is the
moment the US ceases to be blessed. When you find the problem
with your emails please let us know.
:-) smile ....
lchic
- 03:04pm Apr 16, 2003 EST (#
11301 of 11500) ~~~~ It got understood and exposed
~~~~
"" Mr Blair is to be admitted to the grandest of American
halls of fame. He has been given a bit part in “The Simpsons”
... recording his voice to go with his cartoon character
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=1721240
http://www.economist.com/
lchic
- 03:09pm Apr 16, 2003 EST (#
11302 of 11500) ~~~~ It got understood and exposed
~~~~
SARS
"" A cluster of SARS patients in Hong Kong with unusual
symptoms has prompted concern that the virus causing the
disease is mutating. Doctors fear the changes are making the
disease more severe.
Scientists in Hong Kong are now urgently sequencing key
genes from recently isolated coronaviruses to reveal any
changes. New Scientist has learned that the changes in
symptoms mirror those already seen when animal coronaviruses
have mutated.
Microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung, at the University of Hong
Kong, said on Wednesday that the 300 patients from a SARS hot
spot, the Amoy Gardens apartment complex, were more seriously
ill than patients who acquired the infection elsewhere. ...
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993637
lchic
- 03:12pm Apr 16, 2003 EST (#
11303 of 11500) ~~~~ It got understood and exposed
~~~~
The first type of SARS had a 5% kill ( 1/20 ) ... ?! ....
what now ?!?
lchic
- 03:16pm Apr 16, 2003 EST (#
11304 of 11500) ~~~~ It got understood and exposed
~~~~
Pro bono publico
Mar 13th 2003 From The Economist print edition
The evolution of punishment explained
HUMANS, unlike most other animals, often co-operate with
individuals to whom they are unrelated. That puzzles
evolutionary biologists. It means they have to explain the
spread of genes which cause an individual to engage in
altruistic activities that are costly to perform, and yet
benefit only others. The usual assumption is that favours will
be repaid. The question is how, given the number of cheats and
freeloaders around, that repayment can be relied on. And one
of the answers is to punish the cheats.
However, imposing punishment, too, is costly—often, it
seems, more costly than an individual's own interests could
justify. So the problem is merely pushed back a step. There
still needs to be an explanation for the evolution of this
so-called altruistic punishment. ...... more
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993637
lchic
- 03:17pm Apr 16, 2003 EST (#
11305 of 11500) ~~~~ It got understood and exposed
~~~~
correction - see here
http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=1632073
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