20091105   

Michael considered fate at 00:15   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

        20091104   

Peticare

Michael considered fate at 21:55   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

How many groups, agencies, and institutes (both public and private) does it take to diagnose H1N1 in a house cat? Apparently, many:

The 13-year-old indoor cat in Iowa was brought to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where it tested positive for the H1N1 virus. The diagnosis is the culmination of collaborative efforts between IDPH, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Advanced Host Defenses, Immunobiotics and Translational Comparative Medicine, USDA, and IDALS Animal Industry Bureau.

Well, I'm glad that's settled then.

“Two of the three members of the family that owns the pet had suffered from influenza-like illness before the cat became ill,” said IDPH Public Health Veterinarian, Dr. Ann Garvey. “This is not completely unexpected, as other strains of influenza have been found in cats in the past.”

Ahh, pet insurance here we come. Now that they've figured out how to infect your pets with the same cold that you get, bingo. Peticare and Peticaid.

No worries, though,

Both the cat and its owners have recovered from their illnesses.

phew.

Also of note, H1N1 confirmed in commercial swine herd in Indiana.

Clash of the Titans: Portishead vs. Velvet Underground

Michael considered fate at 10:59   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

Oh, Henry.. always under the foot.

Michael considered fate at 02:03   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

        20091028   

Learning! Genetics!

Michael considered fate at 13:41   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

The University of Utah has a pretty great online genetics learning center. Especially fun is this zoom-able comparison of various tiny things (from a coffee bean down to a carbon atom). Neat!

        20091022   

Michael considered fate at 20:06   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

        20091020   

Michael considered fate at 11:00   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

        20091014   

Michael considered fate at 13:39   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

        20091012   

Michael considered fate at 16:09   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

        20091009   

Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize hours before bombing the moon

Michael considered fate at 10:36   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

Or at least that's what the cheeky comment on metafilter had to say about it.

Joking aside, this is a bit of an odd turn isn't it? As the Carpenters would say, "we've only just begun."

Asked why the prize had been awarded to Mr Obama less than a year after he took office, Nobel Committee head Thorbjoern Jagland said: "It was because we would like to support what he is trying to achieve".

So, basically, the Nobel prizes (at a sweet $1.4m a pop) have become like pro sports contracts - pay for potential.

        20091008   

Michael considered fate at 02:08   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

        20091002   

Dictatorship in the USA

Michael considered fate at 13:21   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

Gore Vidal, who predicts a dictatorship in the US soon, is a real spit and vittles kind of guy. If you've read any of his stuff you know he's a straight-out with it sort of guy, and says it like it is. In the article linked above he makes excellent points about the dim-witted-ness of the American populace, complaining that Obama is giving his audience too much credit (he really needs to talk down to them, Vidal thinks).

So is he right? Here is an anecdotal experiment - go to google and type in "can a human " into the search. You will get a drop down of suggestions based on common searches including your terms.. You may be shocked by what is on the top of the list.


For those too lazy, here is a screenshot (via c-dunx):



insert man's best friend joke here