This isn't "neurotic" and I'm not talking 'bout rats !

[annie at allthingspiano.com]

Viruses aren't alive, either.  And yet we have developed all sorts of ways
of dealing with them, whether by adapting or by defending.  (Eventually,
despite all our best efforts, we won't be alive, either.)

I won't chew my nails after using hide glue from now on, but I'm not going
to stop using it.  And I'm not going to worry about it, either.

But an apple sounds good, thanks.  Poor Alan!

Annie

> Thanks, Annie,
>    But I suspect that much of what you read is
> "Rendering Plant Propoganda". I, too have researched
> this ( read several complete books ) and the top,
> independent  BSE research scientists called prions
> "like something alien" for their ability to resist
> destruction, even by total incineration of affected
> flesh, or blasting with gamma rays ! Really! No
> kidding !!!
>      They're not "alive" so they can't be "killed".
>      And they're "transgenic" ( pass between numerous
> species, if exposed. ) The fellow ( Prusiner ? ) who
> recently won the Nobel prize for his research actually
> stole much of it from a  Hungarian chap ( if I
> remember correctly ) with very complex name who
> started back in the 30's, examining a  tribe that all
> came down with it, after the ritual of eating their
> dead relatives' brains. ( Blechhhhhh ! ) But
> spongiform encephalopies were recognized first, in the
> late 19th century.
>      His trials, conducted over decades, proved that
> it could pass from sheep, to cows, to fish, to birds,
> to humans, etc.. That "Scrapie", BSE, etc.. are all
> the same thing, basically.
>      And that it seems to spontaneously "pop up" in
> about 1 animal per million.  BUT, in the current
> practices of "Agribusiness" where the "slaughterhouse
> waste" of that one animal is ground up, and mixed with
> the feed of ( normally vegetarian ) other animals, it
> can spread to many, but not be detectable in any,
> because they're slaughtered before it has developed in
> their bodies in any apparent manner.
>      Though it still may be "infective".
>
> Peace,
> ( Go have an apple. )
> G
>
>
>       ____________________________________________________________________________________
> Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page.
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>