Comments on: Comments on 5683

Post number 5683

hijinx — Mon, 05 Feb 2001 06:20:55 -0800

A new strain of the HIV virus has been discovered and may already be spreading.

By: Dreama

Dreama — Mon, 05 Feb 2001 08:29:23 -0800

And Zero Transmission by 2000 was just a passing motto. . . dammit.

By: Mo Nickels

Mo Nickels — Mon, 05 Feb 2001 09:47:43 -0800

What I don't get is how the new version can have "a totally different gene structure." Then it's not HIV, is it?

By: dhartung

dhartung — Mon, 05 Feb 2001 10:28:45 -0800

Well, the article suggests that it's a sub-strain of HIV-1. But it could also be an HIV workalike that originated in the same way as the others, possibly by SIV (Simian) jumping from monkeys to humans. This virus may have existed in a very isolated area for years, but like AIDS, economic activity has only recently allowed it to reach the rest of the world. HIV is just a name for a class of viruses. It already has two main strains (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and each strain has several subtypes identified. It may seem scary, but paradoxically, it's actually better to know that the virus is evolving. That suggests it's having to try hard to survive and spread.

By: Mars Saxman

Mars Saxman — Mon, 05 Feb 2001 22:03:52 -0800

Just to be nitpicky, "HIV virus" is as redundant as "PIN number". I'm getting tired of seeing the latter and want to prevent the former from gaining a foothold. :-) -Mars

By: hijinx

hijinx — Tue, 06 Feb 2001 04:22:11 -0800

oops, Mars. :) I'm sorry, but when I inputted my PIN number into the ATM machine the other day from the A/C conditioning of my SUV vehicle, I didn't think twice about it.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Tue, 06 Feb 2001 08:08:20 -0800

Does "NIC card" bother you, too?

By: kindall

kindall — Tue, 06 Feb 2001 12:01:21 -0800

Did that ATM machine have an LCD display?

By: Aaaugh!

Aaaugh! — Tue, 06 Feb 2001 13:20:32 -0800

Now that this thread is thoroughly off track, my favorite redundant name is DSW Shoe Warehouse. That's right: Designer Shoe Warehouse Shoe Warehouse.

By: bradlands

bradlands — Tue, 06 Feb 2001 14:23:14 -0800

Please consider this a Cease & Desist & Cease & Desist order from the Department of Redundancy Department.

By: rodii

rodii — Tue, 06 Feb 2001 17:10:06 -0800

"I'm sorry, but when I inputted my PI number into the AT machine the other day from the A/ conditioning of my SU vehicle, I didn't think twice about it." "Did that AT machine have an LC display?" Uh-uh.

By: Mars Saxman

Mars Saxman — Tue, 06 Feb 2001 19:25:11 -0800

Oh geez. I'm sorry. This *was* an interesting article. -Mars

By: Tin Man

Tin Man — Tue, 06 Feb 2001 20:42:28 -0800

I think I'll just go visit the La Brea Tar Pits. (That would be the The Tar tar pits.)