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We've been told its all our fault that antibiotic drugs are losing the arms race to bacteria. We tend to over use the drugs, and the bacteria tend to develop immunity.
However, a story in Ars Technica suggests we aren't just one step ahead, we may actually be a couple steps behind the bacteria:
Genetic analyses of 288 bacterial isolates collected between 1911 and 1969 from 31 countries show that Salmonella developed resistance to an antibiotic several years before that drug even hit the market. The finding suggests that the diarrhea-causing bacteria were somehow primed to withstand the semi-synthetic antibiotic ampicillin before doctors could prescribe it in the early 1960s. Thus, overuse in humans didn't drive the emergence of that resistance.
Instead, the authors speculate that overuse of a related antibiotic—penicillin G—in animals may be to blame.
[...] "Although our study cannot identify a causal link between the use of penicillin G and the emergence of transmissible ampicillin-resistance in livestock, our results suggest that the non-clinical use of penicillins like [penicillin G] may have encouraged the evolution of resistance genes in the late 1950s," Weill said in a press statement.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Tuesday December 05 2017, @03:49PM (12 children)
Don't worry, it'll be a self-correcting problem.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by CoolHand on Tuesday December 05 2017, @04:14PM (11 children)
Yeah, I know, THAT is what I'm worried about..
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job-Douglas Adams
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Tuesday December 05 2017, @05:02PM (10 children)
I thought Zaphod Beeblebrox was a great president. A lot better than several recent ones.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday December 05 2017, @05:35PM
While Zaphod could sign executive orders without reading or understanding them, at least Zaphod could speak in complete sentences.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Sourcery42 on Tuesday December 05 2017, @05:57PM (8 children)
That just gave me a quick vision of realDonald going full Zaphod. He steals Air Force One and defects to Russia once the investigation starts works its way up the chain to him. Maybe he'll even sprout another head without that weird orange thing going on. What do you think? Hmmm, another random thought: Melania Gallumbits.
(Score: 4, Informative) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday December 05 2017, @06:39PM
Maybe he'll even sprout another head...
Well, he certainly has enough chins to support additional heads.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday December 05 2017, @08:02PM (6 children)
I want to see Trump do the "president Clark" thing from Babylon 5.
Dissolve Congress. Send the military to secure the capitol building, evict all congress and their staffs, and surround and blockade the building.
Bring the judiciary branch under the executive branch and bound by its tweets which shall have the force of law.
Get rid of burdensome laws such as statutory rape.
Get Bannon to rewrite the constitution. Because Trump can't read or write for himself.
That would be a good start. I'll get the popcorn.
Seriously. I do not look forward to government failure. God help us all.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Tuesday December 05 2017, @08:28PM (5 children)
"Every nation gets the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre
(Score: 3, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday December 05 2017, @08:41PM (4 children)
That is bullshit and you know it. Are you telling me that, for example, Chile *deserved* Pinochet? Because, if you know your history, that little debacle was caused by US interference.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2, Disagree) by Grishnakh on Tuesday December 05 2017, @08:56PM (2 children)
No, it's not bullshit at all, it's completely true. There are few exceptions, mainly nations where a much more militarily powerful nation actually invaded and occupied the place. In that case, the people of the nation can't really be blamed because they didn't choose that government, a bunch of hostile outsiders did. In every other case, the people chose the government one way or another.
Yes, Chile deserved Pinochet. He wasn't installed there by the US military during occupation was he? No. He was Chilean, and he was kept in power by many other Chileans who either actively worked to keep him in power and do his bidding, or at least tolerated him. It is like this for every government that isn't some foreign puppet government.
The only time you have a real gray area is when there is foreign military involvement, for instance with the Iraqi government after the fall of Hussein (as that government was in fact set up by the occupiers), up until the US pulled out, and possibly now as long as there's some US military presence. This simply is not the case with many other autocrats: Pinochet (AFAIK) was not installed by US military intervention, Spain's Franco was completely a product of internal dealings, Hitler too was entirely the German peoples' fault, same with Stalin, same with Pol Pot, etc.
People who dispute this statement are people who refuse to accept responsibility for a problem they had a hand in creating.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 05 2017, @09:33PM (1 child)
Pinochet dropped commies from helicopters. He and Franco were the only two notable non-leftist dictators in modern history.
Trump has 3 personal helicopters, plus all the military ones, but does he use them? Barely! Antifa should be getting helicopter rides. Obama and his entire cabinet needs helicopter rides. Sotomeyer and Kagen need helicopter rides. Half of congress needs helicopter rides. Also one for aristarchus.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday December 06 2017, @08:27PM
This is a poor troll. I would suggest you get a helicopter ride for it, except I'm pretty sure the poor whirlybird wouldn't be able to take off with you in it...
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by unauthorized on Wednesday December 06 2017, @01:54AM
Unless the government is violently imposed through violent conquest, yes.
Political apathy and ignorance are the primary reasons terrible governments rise in the first place. I preach a lot about the important of political consciousness because I believe this is the cornerstone of free and liberal[1] society, yet everywhere I turn I get dismissive "common sense" responses about how "we can't do anything" or "that doesn't directly impact my life". People who hold such attitudes deserve any government they get, because they allow said government all the power it can usurp.
There are only two currencies with which you can buy freedom - eternal vigilance or blood. If you don't choose the former, you will have to pay the later sooner or later, least you lose yours. Maybe not you specifically, but your descendants certainly would.
[1] Since I'm speaking to a bunch of Americans, I should point out that I mean "liberal" as in the political science term, not the ass-backwards US colloquialism.