Date: 06/25/2003 09:40 PM
From: Gary ([email protected])
Subject: Lightning Jets Blow Sky High
Discovery? I recall seeing film of this type of lightning years ago, and high-altitude pilots have known about it for ages ("Lightning Jets Blow Sky High," June 25 2003).
I think the program also mentioned the pilots that reported it were said to be "seeing things." So this is not a new discovery.
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Date: 06/26/2003 06:53 AM
From: Colin MacDiarmid ([email protected])
Subject: Science and Religion Cease Fire
The premise of your article suggests science and religion can somehow reconcile via scientists accepting the concept of faith("Science and Religion Cease Fire," June 26, 2003).
This is hypocritical and always has been -- faith in an unproven, unobservable force is (or should be) anathema to any scientist, whose job is to define an objective reality. To take anything on faith is essentially to admit defeat. This is what some in the biotech industry are apparently doing when faced with the implacable religiosity of the U.S. public, and some religions' insistence on the finality of anachronistic and often irrational moral principles.
Scientists should instead be proposing updated ethical principles based on individual responsibility, objective concepts of biology and humanity, and an understanding that there are often no black and white answers to moral questions.
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Date: 06/25/2003 01:20 PM
From: Dr. N. Johnson
Subject: Biotech Debate Centers on Africa
Is Wired News a part of the Bush administration? Not what I'd call balanced reporting ("Biotech Debate Centers on Africa," June 25, 2003).
Bush's arguments are weak (not unusual) and based on false premises (also not unusual). The EU imports more GMOs than the United States. The EU is not biotech unfriendly.
Furthermore, there is no shortage in terms of global food production. The problems are more those of distribution and access.
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Date: 06/25/2003 11:50 PM
From: laurent G [email protected])
Subject: Biotech Debate Centers on Africa
I would add that a threat to farmers all around the world is that the seeds of GM crops are protected by a license. Farmers can't use last year's seeds to sow their fields. They have to buy new seeds every year("Biotech Debate Centers on Africa," June 25, 2003).
It also ruins biodiversity by selecting a few kinds of corn around the world. I'm sure we could help Africa to fight against famine without sending the giant U.S. and European biotech firms their way.
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Date: 06/25/2003 10:52 AM
From: Lloyd Arnold ([email protected])
Subject: Biotech Debate Centers on Africa
The administration says Europe should accept genetically modified crops, or Africa will starve ("Biotech Debate Centers on Africa," June 25, 2003).
Brilliant! Take the mind off U. S. farm subsidies, with which African farmers cannot compete. Give agribusiness a new continent to sue, for patent infringement. Tell the customer what he or she wants.
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Date: 06/25/2003 04:48 PM
From: Matthew McKenzie ([email protected])
Subject: Story: RIAA Threatens Orgy of Lawsuits
I'd like to be the first to thank Cary Sherman and the RIAA for spurring the development of a new generation of file-sharing tools such as Waste ("RIAA Threatens Orgy of Lawsuits," June 25, 2003).
These tools, which will allow small groups to use interconnected, trusted file-sharing networks, could be the final blow for a bloated, corrupt, utterly incompetent industry.
So thanks, Cary. In a few months, millions of your ex-customers will be trading more content than ever before -- and this time you and your fellow geniuses won't be able to crash the party, because you'll never even know it's there.
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