2 strains of flu (pincher attack)

As most of my avid readers know, I am strangely obsessed with various strains of super viruses and diseases that have become prevalent over the past few years.  Recently I have been following two strains, the H7N9 Avian Flu, which is a beefed up version of the 2009 H1N1 Avain FLu that made everyone scramble to the vaccination booths, as well as the new strain of SARS that has appeared in Saudia Arabia and then on to Britain and France.   I have avoided really going into this, as some of these get elevated to “Pandemic” levels and are really not much of a threat at all (Both previous versions of said afflictions).  This case was a little different.  This article will update you on all that was said previously.   The thing that really got my attention was the article I read on how China is CREATING these various animal related viruses in vet labs.  They are looking for the most virulent strains, making them worse, and figuring out how to cross breed them with Human Influenza.  I can’t tell if this is just pure stupidity, wanton disregard for humanity, or a more malicious attempt at creating a bio-weapon.

Bird flu becoming Mammal Flu part deux

I have been thinking about his situation, not really sure how to respond.  I am totally on the fence.  The facts that are being presented are this:  There is a new strain of Avian Flu that is concerning China.  So much, that they are calling in experts from around the globe.  The medical term is N7N9.  Here are the numbers as of today:  13 deaths, in 41 known cases.  41 cases?  That hardly seems like a freak out number.  Not only that, but according to the latest articles, this Flu shows no sign of going from human to human.

As you can read, the typical irrational behavior is occurring, killing several thousands birds, and the refusal to eat chicken.  I do understand the precaution, however KFC is a little upset that this concern is cutting into their bottom line (that is a true story).

The United States pharmaceutical industry is already seeing the money signs.  They are hard at work on a vaccine.

The real problem in my eyes is that a Chinese Colonel is implicating the US as the culprit, in what they are calling a pre-meditated biological attack.  I don’t know if that is true, but I am pretty sure neither does he.

One of two scenarios is true:

1.  This is a WAY bigger problem then they are letting on, and China has a history of hiding extremely problematic situations.  The fact that they would bring in outside help for a few deaths seems like there is something MUCH bigger here.  We should totally worry

OR

2.  This is totally a bogus and overly sensationalized story.  This will be similar to the 2009 Avian Flu (Part 1) scare.  What was the death toll on that exactly?  Significantly less than the regular flu, which kills several thousand people each season. They had a vaccine ready, and the pharmaceutical companies made a killing.

As of right now I think this is totally concocted, but that may change.

The Strange Chinese Desert

If you haven’t read my article on the strange Chinese ghost towns that litter the China desert, you should catch up immediately.  If you have, well then this is an update for you.  It turns out, thanks to good ole Google Maps, and people with absolutely nothing constructive to do, a NEW Chinese structure has been found in the Kashgar desert.  It is described as containing “Extensive structures that are big and funny looking”, and apparently the entire place “went up in a big hurry”.  No one has a clue what the ^%@# this place is for.

I think it is safe to say this is Apple’s newest iPod factory?

Chinese Ghost Towns?

I don’t know if you guys are aware of this strange phenomenon, but China has, for some unknown reason, built several sprawling cities in the most remote sections of their country.  That part isn’t that strange by most standards:  America has several out of the way locations that house resort towns, getaways, summer homes.  We in America love to inhabit the harshest terrain that we can.  The VERY unsettling part is that these ready-made cities, built for 1.5-3 million people, are COMPLETELY EMPTY.  Check out this article in TIME on one such city Ordos.  It has pictures that look like something from Chernobyl.  The difference is that Chernobyl was EVACUATED.  These cities never had people to begin with.  This goes against everything I have come to believe about the evolution of cities.

If you take a look at all the major cities in the US, you see that each one grew around a need that was filled:  Detroit with cars, Los Angeles with the movie industry, Pittsburgh with Stelle.  Look at the port towns of New Orleans, Boston and New York.  With a large influx of people, there is an increased need to build more stuff (apartments, homes, shops, buildings, etc.)  That is the natural progression of city evolution.  So that begs the question:  Why is China continuing to build cities they don’t need?

Let’s take a look at the latest building project.  Basically they are going to level a mountain range in the desert to build a city that can house 3.6 million people…from scratch.  One there is one more problem:  no local water source.  Maybe they can take a page out of LA’s book, and hijack a major river.  This is a 2.2 billion dollar investment and yet, they haven’t filled ten’s of cities they have built previously.  So why do they have them, and what are they going to do with them?  You would think that with a country of one billion people, they could find 1 percent of their population willing to move into a brand new city.

There is one conspiracy theory that has been circling the internet that may answer those questions:  Fukushima.  The plant is still spewing radiation.  The cores are still melting down.  It is literally only a matter of time until Japan is uninhabitable or the population is wiped out.  The rumor is China has offered to move the population of Japan into these ready-made cities.  Given the history between these two countries that has spanned several thousand years, I find it hard to believe China would welcome their age old enemy into their backyard.

Who really knows.  All I know is that these cities are real, and it’s totally weird.

United States Security: Made In China

Let me piece this together for you, and I will try to keep the diatribe short:  We have suffered from several cyber attacks, originating from China.  These attacks targeted prominent businesses AND the Chamber of Commerce.  Then they infiltrated several US networks, stealing research, manufacturing data, and governemnt plans.  If that wasn’t enough (without the US government saying a thing), they hacked into our satellite system.  Of course the claims all say that officially there was no knowledge, or participation by the Chinese government.  Now Chinese backed companies have been caught faking identification cards!  This poses a huge security rick (like the others didn’t) because now people can “legally” enter the country.  Instead of reacting to this, we still pander to the Chinese because of the cheap products they provide to our precious corporations, and because of the amount of US debt they hold.  And in return, we still allow the TSA to pat our groins and grope our elderly in the name of real security.