Image via Wikipedia The accidental release of live avian flu (H5N1) virus could result in dire consequences. Could this happen? Let’s hope not, but on February 25, 2009, the Canadian press reported that Baxter International Inc. made an “experimental virus material” based on a human flu strain, but accidentally contaminated it with the H5N1 virus….
Image via Wikipedia Philosophers and psychologists call the question of “common sense” the nativism-empiricism debate. Nativists (e.g., Plato, Descartes, Chomsky, Pinker) believe that people are born with innate perceptual abilities, and empiricists (e.g., Locke, Hume, Quine) believe that perceptual abilities are all learned abilities subject to adaptation. Philosophers argue about these questions, and psychologists conduct…
The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo. This is an excellent introduction to the credit crisis and an outstanding use of graphics.
Image via Wikipedia When VIPs want to tour ongoing construction projects, here’s what I’d suggest:–Tour requests will be granted on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Risk Manager and/or Construction Site Manager/Construction Site Safety Officer.–Prior permission is required for any construction site visit due to safety, security, liability, and legal reasons.–Individuals or groups…
Here’s an interesting story from NPR:http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=94071193&m=94071189
Image by Getty Images via Daylife Sworn police operate under the color of public authority. They may constrain a citizen’s personal freedom largely at their own discretion, and they are granted wide latitude in exercising the state’s monopoly over the legitimate use of violence. Allowing moonlighting cops takes policing into the marketplace, and it transgresses…
A listserv I read was discussing the subject of ethics waivers in government. The term, “ethics waivers,” is often used as a synonym for conflict of interest waiver under the Ethics in Government Act. Interestingly, waivers are mentioned 61 times in the House Ethics Manual (see http://ethics.house.gov/Media/PDF/2008_house_ethics_manual.pdf ). There are many–routine and special–circumstances where such…
I would be very careful about such expense recovery related to public safety officer injuries. Indeed, as a matter of standard policy, I’d recommend seeking restitution only from those convicted of crimes, arsonists, etc. (current Firefighters’ Rules typically allow this, e.g., California Civil Code Section 1714.9 ). An unintended consequence of such expense recovery is…
Image via Wikipedia The new administration plans to be “focused on preventing terrorist attacks on our homeland, preparing and planning for emergencies and investing in strong response and recovery capabilities.” The Obama administration plans to approach strengthening the “against all hazards -– including natural or accidental disasters and terrorist threats — and” ensuring “that the…
A group led by a UW-Madison researcher may have discovered what made the 1918 flu pandemic so deadly — three genes that let the virus invade the lungs and cause pneumonia. See http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2008/12/29/0806959106.abstract . Image via Wikipedia