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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on July 6, 2004, at 14:21:24
We needed to get *everyone* involved here again, so here's a new topic to get us started:
Unexpected Consequences
This subject has been much on my mind lately, for a variety of reasons, but it seems as if every time I open a magazine or read the newspaper or turn on the TV news, something related to it comes up. Obviously, since the topic itself is on my mind, I'm gonna be more aware of anything related to it, but I'm wondering what other people are seeing that fits into this catagory -- funny or serious, trivial or profound -- and if anyone has any Stunning Wisdom to offer on any subject within the Solar System of Unexpected Consequences.
Here are a couple of examples I've seen recently that fit into the catagory, just to get us started:
1. New "Clean Water" regulations to reduce chlorine in tap water have been very successful in reducing the chlorine coming out of the faucets in the Northeastern US. The lead levels, though, have risen dramatically. Seems the new process used to reduce the chlorine has dissolved the lead scales in the lines coming off the mains, which has created dangerously high levels of lead in the drinking water.
2. In San Jose, CA, there's an ordinance governing trees on the sidewalks: they gotta be male trees, because female trees are too messy with dropping their seeds. The UC? Pollen levels in the environment are over the top, with an epidemic of allergic reactions and a real asthma problem taking the area by surprise. Male trees don't drop their seeds -- they puff pollen all over the place instead.
3. After the Mad Cow problems in Europe, in an effort to reduce the risk to the food supply, some sheep ranchers over there are breeding flocks of sheep that are genetically immune to scrapie. UC? They're much, much more susceptible to BSE (Mad Cow). Now, there's no evidence whatsoever that scrapie poses any risk to humans who are exposed through eating sheep products. Heheheh, BSE, on the other hand...
So, add your own, and offer any thoughts you have, and if I get inspired, I'll add some more and some of my own thoughts -- and I'll try very, very hard not to bring Wittgenstein into it, promise.
Posted by NikkiT2 on July 6, 2004, at 16:06:55
In reply to New Topic to wake us up: unexpected results, posted by Racer on July 6, 2004, at 14:21:24
Interesting topic.. Love the one about male / female trees!! *l*
I can't think of any right now.. Must go wrack J's brain!
Posted by Shar on July 7, 2004, at 0:08:10
In reply to Re: New Topic to wake us up: unexpected results, posted by NikkiT2 on July 6, 2004, at 16:06:55
Ever since I read 'Jurassic Park' which put into a nicely succinct package the human folly of fooling with nature, I've been sort of alert to these types of things. The book (more than the movie) is rife with examples.
Salmon. They are diminishing rapidly in the U.S. Anybody want to guess why? (Human dams, and then intervention, then 'salting' diminishing supply).
Plastic test tubes--made of recycled materials, which, coincidentally change the outcome of scientific experiments because (being recycled) they contain remnants of their former selves that can (chemically) interfere with whatever experiment is being run in the present moment.
Ebola virus and similar virii were not around to they extent they are now until ... yes...humans started messing with nature. I'm pretty much convinced now that someone is going to cough on an airplane (with recycled air), and an airborne virus will become pandemic. Anybody read the Red Zone? Or, is it Hot Zone? Dang my memory!
Can't think of any others right off the bat--I just know that I am always suspect of solving a scientifically created problem with a scientifically created solution. Chaos theory reigns supreme, because we can never predict the outcomes.....until they happen, and then the scientists go out of their way to solve the current problem (while...wait for it...creating at least one more).
Good topic,
Shar
Posted by Racer on July 7, 2004, at 0:51:59
In reply to Re: New Topic to wake us up: unexpected results?, posted by Shar on July 7, 2004, at 0:08:10
No, that was MonkEY pox, not MonkEE pox -- nothing at all to do with Davy Jones.
Now that smallpox has been wiped out in the wild, guess what's happening in Africa? Monkey pox is evolving very quickly to become a growing threat to humans. The outbreak in the US a while back was no big deal, in terms of death and mutilation, but in Africa the encroachment of humans on the monkey's habitat is creating a very different story. The virus is become more virulent in humans, and some researchers think that it's about to become the new smallpox -- complete with wiping out half of the population of the globe.
And I could go on -- but not tonight. Not feeling well, and getting lower and lower in mood this afternoon. Can I come be Shar for a while? You can take on my life for a while. I'm tired of it again. (But I'm keeping my promise. The Shar Challenge: hang on until at least 50. I've signed on, and will try not to drop out.)
I'm glad you like this topic. I'll try to offer up a few others that I just don't have energy for right now.
Posted by allisonm on July 14, 2004, at 19:13:10
In reply to New Topic to wake us up: unexpected results, posted by Racer on July 6, 2004, at 14:21:24
I guess my favorite example is that re' air bags in cars:
Seems that air bags are saving so many lives of people who otherwise would have died, that the insurance companies are paying through the nose in hospital bills. Those gruesome cases of crushed legs and all sure do get expensive....much more than for funeral expenses don'cha know.
This is the end of the thread.
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