A man entered an Indiana hospital on April 28th, after experiencing fever, cough and shortness of breath, the previous day, which are all symptoms of Middle East Respiratory Virus (MERS) . The man had came back from Saudi Arabia on April 24th. Because of his trip to Saudi Arabia, the health officials in Indiana tested him for MERS and sent the sample to the Center of Disease Control (CDC). The CDC tested the sample and confirmed that the patent has the virus.
Thermal senors that used in China and other countries to prevent ill travelers from entering the country are said not to be helpful. because of the virus' 14 day incubation period, so travelers will not be quarantined and stopped in time.
This has been the first case of MERS showing up in the United States, and it not be the last. The virus has a 14 day incubation period, so many will not know they have it until then and when the symptoms begin to show. The CDC doesn't know much about he virus, because the lack of cooperation with countries in the Middle East, where the virus is most prominent will not share their samples. The illness is said to come from bats and camels and passed on to humans.
Egypt also had their first case of MERS reported on April 26th, and so far since 2012 262 cases have been reported. So far researches do not know how the virus is spread, but as stated before believe there is a link between camel and human interaction. There is also no vaccine as of right now and the only way MERS can be treated is like a fever.
So stay well and wash your hands often.
Sources
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/02/us-usa-health-mers-idUSBREA410SN20140502?feedType=RSS
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/02/health/mers-5-things/?hpt=hp_t1
Sunday, May 4, 2014
War Expo
There are trade shows around the world for many things, cars, computers, video games, home appliances, you name it there is a trade show for it, even one of the most deadly things mean has created, war.
The Special Operations Forces Exhibition or SOFEX is held every two years in Jordan, hosted by the king. The most recent one in 2012 had 349 different companies, 300 delegates from 85 countries attended. The expo has high ranking military officers, like generals, form around the world attend, all seeking to look at the newest and greatest weapons and systems the world has to offer.
The expo allows these generals to look, buy and in some cases test out the new toy they have purchased. The expo has a built a training complex for any special forces to use train. They even use the training ground to hold a competition among the special forces of the world to see which one is best one of them all. To no surprise the United States has the most exhibitors present at the expo, beside the Jordan.
The companies that come to SOFEX are weapon manufactures from around the world. In the Vice documentary "The Business of War" they talk to many attenders and exhibitors at the expo. One man they talk to says that they sell not just weapons, but also kits. These kits can help mount weapons on to helicopters or planes. For example North Korea is not allowed to buy weapons because of sanctions, so instead they buy a commercial helicopter and buy a kit later to attach the weapons on.
It is very odd seeing all the worlds top generals walking around looking for new weapons to buy, while cit catting with other generals from other nations. As stated by one of the US marines attending the expo in 2012, he said that they are all their buy weapons to kill each other.
Near the end of the documentary an interesting point is brought up. Most the generals that attend are looking for homeland and border security defenses. Most of the weapons being bought are to fight a foreign power, but are to fight ones at home, like drugs gangs, terrorists, rebels, insurgents, you name it.
The next SOFEX is will be held in Jordan from May 6 - May 8 2014.
Sources
Vice Documentary- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL_3Qg-SADY
SOFEX website - http://www.sofexjordan.com/
The Special Operations Forces Exhibition or SOFEX is held every two years in Jordan, hosted by the king. The most recent one in 2012 had 349 different companies, 300 delegates from 85 countries attended. The expo has high ranking military officers, like generals, form around the world attend, all seeking to look at the newest and greatest weapons and systems the world has to offer.
The expo allows these generals to look, buy and in some cases test out the new toy they have purchased. The expo has a built a training complex for any special forces to use train. They even use the training ground to hold a competition among the special forces of the world to see which one is best one of them all. To no surprise the United States has the most exhibitors present at the expo, beside the Jordan.
The companies that come to SOFEX are weapon manufactures from around the world. In the Vice documentary "The Business of War" they talk to many attenders and exhibitors at the expo. One man they talk to says that they sell not just weapons, but also kits. These kits can help mount weapons on to helicopters or planes. For example North Korea is not allowed to buy weapons because of sanctions, so instead they buy a commercial helicopter and buy a kit later to attach the weapons on.
It is very odd seeing all the worlds top generals walking around looking for new weapons to buy, while cit catting with other generals from other nations. As stated by one of the US marines attending the expo in 2012, he said that they are all their buy weapons to kill each other.
Near the end of the documentary an interesting point is brought up. Most the generals that attend are looking for homeland and border security defenses. Most of the weapons being bought are to fight a foreign power, but are to fight ones at home, like drugs gangs, terrorists, rebels, insurgents, you name it.
The next SOFEX is will be held in Jordan from May 6 - May 8 2014.
Sources
Vice Documentary- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL_3Qg-SADY
SOFEX website - http://www.sofexjordan.com/
Will the Future Understand the Past
Scientist may have found out how the ancient Egyptians moved large stones across the dessert. They theorize that the ancient Egyptians put the stones on a sled and dragged across the sand and had one man in front of the sled pours water in front of it so that the sled can glide across. Scientist have tested this on small scale and it works well, but there is another thing that helps prove their theory true. There is a hieroglyph made by the ancient Egyptians that depicts this process, and not until now do we think we know what it means. The hieroglyph shows a statue on a sled begin pulled, with a man in front of it pouring water out of a jug.
The ancient Egyptians left all types of messages and for the hope that the future could understand them, but as seen in the recent discovery it is hard to interpret the messages of the past. All ancient civilizations have left messages, and we today struggle to interpret what they mean. So could this happen to our current modern civilization, could our messages today become hard for the future to understand.
Scientists have found a problem when it comes to our nuclear waste storage and its not how we store, but how we label it. How do we label it to make sure that future generations understand it is dangerous. In 1991 Sandia National Laboratories hired 13 linguists, scientists, and anthropologists to create a system of makers that would last 10,000 years. One of the first things they ruled out was the use of a "keep out Sign, or any sign that used written language, because even if English survives 10,000 years into the future, there is no way it will be spoken the same then as it is now. We today know what the radiation symbol means, but in the future will it still have the same meaning and be understood. Even using the skull and crossbones could be troublesome. Most people would agree that the skull and crossbones would be the universal symbol of death, but it can still be misunderstood today. In Latin America the symbol is used to celebrate the day of the dead. The symbol is also used to repentant the stereotypical pirates to many small children today, and many would associate the symbol with treasure.
But whatever symbol or writing is used to communicate to the trespassers to keep out, and they understand the message, they probably will not follow the directions. Many ancient Egyptian tombs had an equivalent to keep out signs, some describing the horrible actions the gods would inflict on the trespasser if they were to continue on. But the archaeologist that found this tombs did not have the same faith as the ancient Egyptians and so they did not believe the warning, took it as superstition and carried on with their venture. So if in 10,000 years from, who knows what the future generations will know, will they believe the warnings of the past, or just shrug it off and continue their exploration of possibly dangerous sites.
Sources
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/solved-how-ancient-egyptians-moved-massive-pyramid-stones-n95171
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/green_room/2009/11/atomic_priesthoods_thorn_landscapes_and_munchian_pictograms.html
The ancient Egyptians left all types of messages and for the hope that the future could understand them, but as seen in the recent discovery it is hard to interpret the messages of the past. All ancient civilizations have left messages, and we today struggle to interpret what they mean. So could this happen to our current modern civilization, could our messages today become hard for the future to understand.
Scientists have found a problem when it comes to our nuclear waste storage and its not how we store, but how we label it. How do we label it to make sure that future generations understand it is dangerous. In 1991 Sandia National Laboratories hired 13 linguists, scientists, and anthropologists to create a system of makers that would last 10,000 years. One of the first things they ruled out was the use of a "keep out Sign, or any sign that used written language, because even if English survives 10,000 years into the future, there is no way it will be spoken the same then as it is now. We today know what the radiation symbol means, but in the future will it still have the same meaning and be understood. Even using the skull and crossbones could be troublesome. Most people would agree that the skull and crossbones would be the universal symbol of death, but it can still be misunderstood today. In Latin America the symbol is used to celebrate the day of the dead. The symbol is also used to repentant the stereotypical pirates to many small children today, and many would associate the symbol with treasure.
But whatever symbol or writing is used to communicate to the trespassers to keep out, and they understand the message, they probably will not follow the directions. Many ancient Egyptian tombs had an equivalent to keep out signs, some describing the horrible actions the gods would inflict on the trespasser if they were to continue on. But the archaeologist that found this tombs did not have the same faith as the ancient Egyptians and so they did not believe the warning, took it as superstition and carried on with their venture. So if in 10,000 years from, who knows what the future generations will know, will they believe the warnings of the past, or just shrug it off and continue their exploration of possibly dangerous sites.
Sources
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/solved-how-ancient-egyptians-moved-massive-pyramid-stones-n95171
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/green_room/2009/11/atomic_priesthoods_thorn_landscapes_and_munchian_pictograms.html
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