The Morning After

A nice little tune.

USA - USA - USA!

This really isn't in the category of America-Hating but I've been reading alot about this lately. The USA ranks 15th in the world in broadband penetration, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Yessir, we rank right after Estonia!

I get about 600 kbs at home using cheap ($14.95) DSL from Verizon. The FCC defines broadband as anything 200 kbs and over. Sad. In Europe and Asia they probably pay a bit more than that to get over 25 Mbs. Why is this?

Through lack of competition. As the Congressional Research Service puts it, U.S. consumers face a "cable and telephone broadband duopoly." And that's more like a best-case scenario: Many households are hostage to a single broadband provider, and nearly one-tenth have no broadband provider at all.

No matter how patriotic or nationalistic you may be, no matter how much you love the USA....we are NOT number one in a lot of areas. Too many areas. The World Economic Forum ranks the USA number 6 in global competitiveness. The Center for Global Development ranks the USA 19th in quality of aid to other nations. How sad is it that the only worldwide power on earth cannot be first in health, education, jobs, etc.

We have a lot of work to do.

HERV's

No not pervs....HERV's....Human Endogenous Retroviruses. These pieces of DNA are 'fossil's' of retroviruses that incorporated into the human germline DNA over thousands to hundreds of thousands to millions of years. They make up about 1% of the human genome. The first HERV was identified in 1981. So far, at least 20 HERV families have been identified (find free text article by M. Tristem here). There are lots of things cool about HERV's. First, they may be involved in the pathogenesis of some diseases, such as cancer, Sjogren's syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple sclerosis or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, to name a few.

HERV's have been classified into 3 groups based on sequence identity with animal retroviruses.

Class I HERV's share sequence homology with infectious mammalian type C viruses. Examples would be porcine endogenous retrovirus, murine leukemia virus and baboon endogenous virus.

Class II HERV's share sequence homology to mammalian type A, B and D related retroviruses. HERV-K is a member of this group and is one of the most active HERV's. HERV-K can actually form virus-like particles.

Class III HERV's are foamy virus related HERV's and include only HERV-L. This is the oldest known genus of Retroviridae and more can be found about them here.

Why have HERV's been so successfully maintained in our genome? This person has one hypothesis. Is is possible that HERV's somehow serve the needs of the host? Also here.

Science fiction novelist Greg Bear has a series of novels in which HERV's play an important role in evolution.

Saddam Will Hang

Ok, I know I'm one of those "hate America" liberals but here's the thing. Saddam got convicted for crimes that

occurred 15 months before Donald Rumsfeld, then the special envoy to Iraq, met with Hussein in Baghdad to develop an alliance between the administration of Ronald Reagan and that of the murderous Iraqi dictator.

That's why Saddam was tried in Iraq and not in an International Court. It's also unlikely an International Court would have given Saddam the death sentence. Life in prison would have been much more likely.



Rumsfield really needs to go. Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, Generals, the American people agree. The "Decider" needs to decide now.



One question though. When hanging Saddam will they use the "short drop", "standard drop", "long drop (measured drop)" or "suspension" hanging (currently used in Iran)? Above is a picture of Tom Ketchum being hung (from Wikipedia). His head came off.

The last hanging in the USA was in Delaware in 1996. For the morbidly curious of you, more info complete with drop tables can be found here.

Celebrate - But There is Also This

"Americans can always be counted upon to do the right thing - after all other possibilities have been exhausted" - Winston Churchill

Course, this is from the guy that actually created the country of Iraq.

Sweet Victory Spongebob

I guess this pretty much says it all this morning.


UPDATE: Victory isn't really so sweet. We got rid of the psycho Katherine Harris down in FL, but we are still stuck with Mean Jean Schmidt.

Fool Me Once

"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in New York, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."

People in this country have been fooled more than once so shame on them and you (GW). But you can't get fooled again. (I hope)

Bye-bye John Sweeney

Maybe your buddy G.W. Bush has some job waiting for you. He really appreciates loyalty.

UPDATE: I'm proud of the voters in North Elba. A majority voted for Gillibrand (2202 vs 1996).

Ten Commandments

Thanks to stupidevilbastard for this:

1. Thou SHALT NOT believe all thou art told.
2. Thou SHALT seek knowledge and truth constantly.
3. Thou SHALT educate thy fellow man in the Laws of Science.
4. Thou SHALT NOT forget the atrocities committed in the name of god.
5. Thou SHALT leave valuable contributions for future generations.
6. Thou SHALT live in peace with thy fellow man.
7. Thou SHALT live this one life thou hast to its fullest.
8. Thou SHALT follow a Personal Code of Ethics.
9. Thou SHALT maintain a strict separation between Church and State.
10. Thou SHALT support those who follow these commandments.

Read more detail about these commandment HERE.

Rep. John Sweeney - Liar, Big Time

You can click here to see the outright lies Sweeney has told about Gillibrand.

We are still waiting for the release of that police report about the 9/11 call. Oh that's right, you changed your mind.

Hunting with Dick Cheney

Proof of a Miracle?

Ted Haggard's Sun. Oct. 29th sermon:

"Heavenly Father give us grace and mercy, help us this next week and a half as we go into national elections and Lord we pray for our country. Father we pray lies would be exposed and deception exposed.

Be careful what you ask for.

THE BEST WAR EVER

Refresh your memory by watching this before you vote tomorrow.

Rumsfield Should Resign

Editorials in the Army Times:

Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large. His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt.

Also being published in the Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times.