Revere’s Recent Comments

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  The virus was already part pig and bird

  Just a clarification. The swine background (5 segments of the 8) were themselves a triple reassortant of avian, swine and human genes. The new reassortant reported here adds three more avian genes: 2 from mallard ducks (but 2 different avian virus subtypes) and a blue-winged teal. It's not just pigs that have mammalian and avian receptors. So do quails. This kind of reassortment is going on continually. What it means in this case is not known.On No holiday cheer from the meat industry posted 1 year, 11 months ago 1 Response

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  Stand-off

  I'm afraid we will not come to agreement on this issue. I agree with Patrick on the Committee issue. I testified in front of this committee once upon a time and on balance would rather have more democrats in the Senate than a "good" republican on one committee, as important to my issues as that committee is. It is a short sighted view but clearly we see this differently.

  The LCV and Sierra Club don't seem to care about any issues but their own, to the detriment of their own issues in the last analysis (IMO). Moreover they are alienating many natural allies in the progressive movement by their attitude.

  I take a back seat to no one on environmental issues, having spent more than 40 years fighting for a safe environment on the public health side. It is dismaying to see important segments of the conservation movement support Senators who toss them a crumb but then take away the whole meal through the judiciary.On More on Chafee, believe it or not posted 3 years, 7 months ago 8 Responses

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  Faulty analysis

  I don't quite get why option four is bad. If Chafee loses, he will lose to a Democrat, so we come out ahead by narrowing their majority in the event they retain control. The LCV and Sierra Club are being (typically, alsa) myopic. Even if their reasoning on environmental issues was sound (I don't think it is), there is much more involved on the other issues. I believe the same principles we have learned from the environmental sciences apply here, policy issues are not hermetically sealed from each other and what happens in other policy areas reflects back on environmental ones (such as monies devoted to the environment, regulatory policy, etc.). Almost anytime we can reduce Republican control of Congress we come out ahead.On More on Chafee, believe it or not posted 3 years, 7 months ago 8 Responses

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  Right on target

  Thank you, thank you, thank you. It is time to say this loudly and clearly.

  I don't care what a person's religious beliefs are as long as they keep it to themselves. It's none of my business. And don't tell me I have to take care of the earth because god wants us to. Next week they'll be telling me to do something else because god wants us to. I'll put my faith in rationality and feelings of solidarity with others. I want no part of doctrines that divide people, that set people apart, that make invidious distinctions because of a person's belief. Doesn't it ever occur to them their beliefs are largely an accident of birth? It is like nationalism and all other tribalisms: Americans think this is the best country, Italians think Italy is the best country, Kyrghiz likewise. All those gods out there--and THEIRS is the true one?

  So, yes, come join us in making this a better place to live. I'm happy to have you along. But leave your religion at home. It only gets in the way of everyone else.On Is there tension between them? posted 4 years, 6 months ago 41 Responses

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  On the other hand . . .

  . . . his biography of Woody Guthrie is one of the best biographies I have ever read. On TIME columnist feels safe endorsing energy independence now that the cool kids are on board. posted 4 years, 6 months ago 2 Responses