Promising HIV Vaccine Results

[Dry Observer]

I just thought this (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002576494_hivvaccine22m.html) was cool. Scientists say this experimental AIDS vaccine (http://www.seattlevaccines.org/) is "the most promising in 20 years," and they've doubled the number of people in the experiment worldwide from 1,500 to 3,000.

Personally, I find such developments interesting from a scientific as well as a humanitarian point of view. Gregory Stock has already explained in Redesigning Humans (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/061806026X/futureimperat-20/002-8429733-4772038?%5Fencoding=UTF8&camp=1789&link%5Fcode=xm2) how ordinary scientific research in a variety of areas is creating "dual-use" technologies that will one day permit "human augmentation" -- thus enabling the creation of de facto superhumans.

Imagine the kinds of technological strides humanity is going to make in coming years because of the pressures to deal with calamities such as AIDS and emerging pandemics (such as avian flu). The kind of research and funding these challenges are generating, as well as the scientific initiatives of philanthropists such as Bill and Malinda Gates, will almost inevitably drive the creation of augmented humans as a side effect -- first people who have had their obvious genetic defects eliminated, but eventually individuals who are clearly superior and/or different from the common run of humanity.

Not that something like this would create any challenges...

It's an interesting time to be alive.

Ralph

[Briareos]

I really hope this works.

[TCJohnson]

I really hope this works.


Really? That surprises me. I thought you would be rooting for the deaths of homosexuals.

[Noah Johnson]

Really? That surprises me. I thought you would be rooting for the deaths of homosexuals.
Oh, come on, that's a bit of a cheap shot.

Yes, he's in favor of torturing innocent people, but he's not completely indiscriminate in his inhumanity.

[kingdom2000]

America is the only place in the world that looks at AIDS as a homo disease despite stats that prove otherwise. This is also why the US has a lack of support in research as its not Chrisian or PC to support homo diseases that are doing god's work (not that I am aware of any current religion's god that does that type of work). Everyone else in the world knows that the disease doesn't care about orientation.

[Lester C.]

Both Briareos and TC Johnson are very nice guys in ninety nine percent of YABS threads. It’s just that the political thread can get nasty, as is often the case with normal people discussing politics, so I think we should lay off of both these guys as they are good people. I’m fairly certain TC is going to apologize so for me this is a non issue.

[TCJohnson]

Oh, come on, that's a bit of a cheap shot.

Yes, he's in favor of torturing innocent people, but he's not completely indiscriminate in his inhumanity.


Well, according to Briareos all democrats are bigots because of one bigoted article that appeared on a liberal blog. He also states that everybody who is against the war wants to see american soldiers dead because of a sign at a war demostration that says soldiers should kill their officers. He also says that everybody who is against torture also wants to see American soldiers die. He apologizes for some of these remarks, but then keeps on making them and then expects the people he just flamed to treat him with respect and welcome him around here.

I have seen conservatives and republicans say that gays should burn in hell. Therefor, by Briareos's logic, it is safe to assume that all conservatives and republicans are homophobes who want to see gays burn in hell. After all, I don't see Briareos denouncing these critics of homosexuals. Therefor, using his own logic, Briareos is a homophobes who want to see all gays burn in hell.

So it surprises me that Briareos would want to see a cure for AIDs.

[Justin D.]

So it surprises me that Briareos would want to see a cure for AIDs.

Then, maybe you should view it as a good thing and something to praise and not an opportunity to take a cheap shot. Besides, your first post makes you look quite uneducated since this is not a purely "gay disease".

[TCJohnson]

I never said it was. Seen a lot of homophobes say it is.

[Justin D.]

I never said it was. Seen a lot of homophobes say it is.

Really? That surprises me. I thought you would be rooting for the deaths of homosexuals.

I think you're applying your prejudices to other people to imply their prejudices.


On another topic related to the first post, I have quite the odd discussion about HIV antibodies and evolution happening on the Community board in a thread about a man who "cured" himself of HIV.

[Iangould]

Really? That surprises me. I thought you would be rooting for the deaths of homosexuals.

Y'know, even I think that's unwarranted.

[Iangould]

Everyone else in the world knows that the disease doesn't care about orientation.

Actually every country has it's fair share of stupid.

Like Australia's own Reverend Fred Niles who apparently believes you can catch AIDS from a toilet seat - and was successfully elected to the NSW Upper House. (Not that this is much of an achievement - with statewide proportional representation and preferential voting its pretty easy to get elected to the NSW upper house.)

[Briareos]

Of course its not a "gay" disease it impacts... no wait...

*grabs a bag of soft batch cookies*

continue on

*sits on really comfy sofa and watches*

:D

[TCJohnson]

Y'know, even I think that's unwarranted.

It's about on the same level as most of the shit briareos posts.

[Justin D.]

It's about on the same level as most of the shit briareos posts.

So, you think he's a jerk, and that means acting like one back is the right response?

It really comes off like, "Hey, stop being such a jerk, you asshole."

[Cam63]

What is the right response ?

[the4thpip]

What is the right response ?
Using a rubber.

[TCJohnson]

Forget it. Not worth being banned for disagreeing with a mod.

[Cam63]

Mods don't allow you to disagree with 'em ?

[TCJohnson]

That was phrased wrong. I should have said getting into a fight with them.

[Cam63]

Using a rubber.

A rubber what ?

Boot ?
Doll ?
Lip ?

[Cam63]

That was phrased wrong. I should have said getting into a fight with them.

They don't do the " rock, paper, scissors " thing first ?

[YoGo]

I've been shot by a mod. I wont say who, but the name sounds like Hail He Moans.

That's all I'm sayin.

[Cam63]

Dale Gimbone shot you !?

The bastard.

[WhiteRose]

Hail He Moans

Sounds llike a pornstar. A pornstar shot you, YoGo? That's terrible!

[Justin D.]

That was phrased wrong. I should have said getting into a fight with them.

This has already been taken to PM, but I need to say that there is no them. There is just me, and you can't get banned for disagreeing with me.