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 [F] New York Times on the Web Forums  / Science  /

    Missile Defense

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.


Earliest Messages Previous Messages Recent Messages Outline (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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 [F] New York Times on the Web Forums  / Science  / Missile Defense