Alan Zweibel

Wow. No one follows a procedure that's 70 years old. There's some might argue that a 70 year old procedure might possibly be obsolete. From AI: Virologists have developed and adopted sophisticated cell culture and molecular techniques that have superseded the original, foundational methods used by John F. Enders and his colleagues in the mid-20th century [1]. The evolution of these methodologies, including modern molecular biology techniques and advanced imaging, allows for more precise and accurate virus isolation, identification, and characterization than previously possible [1]. Modern virology practices follow rigorous, internationally recognized procedures designed to confirm the isolation and replication of viruses. These often involve: Cell culture: Growing viruses in specific cell lines to observe characteristic changes (cytopathic effects) and amplify the virus [1]. Molecular techniques: Using methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect specific viral genetic material [1]. Imaging: Employing advanced microscopy, such as electron microscopy, to visually confirm the presence and structure of virus particles [1]. The current standard procedures for virus isolation are well-documented in scientific literature and are a cornerstone of both research and clinical diagnostics. Far from being "false," these modern claims are built upon a continually evolving scientific consensus and refined, verifiable methodologies.

Yes, it would logically follow that if something doesn't exist in the natural world it can't be identified. As a logical proposition your reasoning is flawless. As a rational proposition, it's ridiculous.

Fact Check: SARS-CoV-2 has been isolated and its complete genome has been sequenced An interview with a late Canadian writer has resurfaced on social media and shows him making several false claims about COVID-19. Among them, he questions the existence of coronaviruses by saying they have never been isolated. This is not true, and such a claim reveals the writer’s lack of understanding of virology. https://www.reuters.com/article/fact-check/sars-cov-2-has-been-isolated-and-its-complete-genome-has-been-sequenced-idUSL1N2LS27P/

riclag has a predilection for quoting Republican government press releases, whether from Congress or the White House, and treating them as though they are valid news sources. It is to laugh.

The problem with this video is the same one that has plagued the indictment from the start. Comey replied to a question from Ted Cruz about whether he authorized Andrew McCabe to leak. Which Comey denied. But the prosecution in its push for inidictment made it about Daniel Richman instead. Which is a lie. usnh has just joined the silent majority. "Silent' at least to riclag. And riclag puts people on "ignore" in such a s****y passive aggressive way.

Much more likely to reflect that state of Candace Owens nowadays.

You sure about that? A Visual Breakdown of the Trump Birthday Letter to Epstein An analysis of the text and drawing long hidden in a 2003 birthday book https://archive.ph/Bwq64 Probably just a massive coincidence that the Trump administration has been showering Ghislaine Maxwell, who compiled these birthday messages into a book, with all sorts of special privileges.

Right. His non-reciprocal imposition of tariffs worldwide has made him a rock star in the international community. Who doesn't love being put at a competitive disadvantage? U.S. Image Declines in Many Nations Amid Low Confidence in Trump https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/06/11/us-image-declines-in-many-nations-amid-low-confidence-in-trump/

Like France's nuclear power plants, Germany's depended heavily on subsidies. For example. Nuclear waste disposal. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_17_1669 Here's what the Fukushima cleanup cost from a report dated Nov. 28, 2016. Japan Fukushima nuclear plant 'clean-up costs double' Japan's government estimates the cost of cleaning up radioactive contamination and compensating victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster has more than doubled, reports say. The latest estimate from the trade ministry put the expected cost at some 20 trillion yen ($180bn, £142bn). The original estimate was for $50bn, which was increased to $100bn three years later. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38131248 It's no wonder that private insurers will only insure a small fraction of the potential liability. And given that the Green party in Germany was and is a smallish minority party, it couldn't have shut down the plants. In fact, at the time it was a popular move in the wake of the Fukushima incident.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) remain largely theoretical. Better? China is also building them and has a few in operation. But nothing i could find about whether or not they make actual economic sense.

It's always important to provide links. Not because I don't believe the story isn't true but I would like to find out what if anything it says about what the electricity it produces is going to cost. Here's a link to an article from the Canadian government which is supporting these power plants. From what I read there, it looks like costs are going to be a lot higher than they are for renewable energy even with battery backup. https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2025/market-snapshot-canadas-role-in-small-modular-reactor-smr-technology.html#:~:text=This builds on Canada's decades,America and among OECD countries.

But thanks for the clueless piece of irony.

So, why has convicted sex-offender Ghislaine Maxwell has been shown such extraordinary deference and been afforded special privileges by the Trump administration? Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump. The leather-bound book was compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell. The president says the letter ‘is a fake thing.’ https://archive.ph/fAhIM

You keep on wishing for that. Maybe Santa will deliver. Until then, ponder this: Why a Texas nuclear power plant stopped producing electricity Friday Enough electricity to power almost 250,000 homes disappeared from the Texas grid Friday. ERCOT tapped a newly-created reserve system to prevent an emergency. A problem at a Texas nuclear power plant Friday caused a sudden dip in electricity supply, forcing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to tap a brand new reserve system to stabilize the grid... Some nuclear power came back online gradually Sunday, an indication normal operations are resuming. https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-nuclear-power-plant-stopped-producing-electricity-friday-not-clear-why/287-351a43c9-8073-45af-afb6-e3fac2a18c8f There's plenty more like that.

NuScale cancels first-of-a-kind nuclear project as costs surge he country’s first expected commercial small modular reactor was scrapped by NuScale Power on Wednesday, delivering a major setback to the advanced nuclear industry. NuScale and the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS), a group of local electric utilities that had agreed to purchase power from the project, mutually decided to terminate what was known as the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP), according to a news release. NuScale is the only U.S. developer with a design approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a small modular reactor (SMR). https://www.eenews.net/articles/nuscale-cancels-first-of-a-kind-nuclear-project-as-costs-surge/ Now it's got a deal with the TVA, a quasi -governmental agency. I see that solar and battery demand is still increasing despite Trump's enmity with private energy suppliers. Will the TVA, be allowed, like the utilities, to pass on the costs of building these things before they actually come online? And if they fail, will ratepayers still be liable for the costs incurred? That's the case now due to legislation passed by some states. For decades we've been hearing promises that cheap nuclear power is around the corner. But the fact is that the one power source getting cheaper and cheaper is renewables.

DOJ probing NY City College interfaith event marred by claim of ‘openly antisemitic rhetoric’ The U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into an interfaith event at City College where the director of a Jewish campus organization said another speaker, an imam, berated him with “inflammatory and openly antisemitic rhetoric,” before directing students to walk out. The Hillel director Ilya Bratman’s written account of last week’s incident in Harlem, circulated to students and faculty in a newsletter, soon went viral, prompting the Justice Department to respond on social media. “This is deeply concerning,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Justice Department’s civil rights division, wrote Thursday on X. “[An] investigation was opened yesterday and is ongoing.” https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/national/doj-probing-ny-city-college-interfaith-event-marred-by-claim-of-openly-antisemitic-rhetoric/article_a54c543b-4306-5727-a873-7658ada05895.html As Jesus 2.0 (formerly known as Charlie Kirk) once remarked: "Hate speech does not exist legally in America," he wrote on X last year. "There's ugly speech. There's gross speech. There's evil speech. And ALL of it is protected by the First Amendment." https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-charlie-kirk-free-speech-first-amendment/

"It's all subjective." First an all purpose meme to justify unwillingness to engage with facts and now a 3 word sentence to do the same.

Because you like really really expensive electricity that comes from huge cost overruns? That private industry refuses to build without government imposed guarantees? The renewable energy industry has made huge progress in the latest years, way ahead of schedule with prices still going down. Unlike nuclear power plants which almost always get built way over schedule and way over cost.

Close. I would say your comments are done for.

Apparently, for you, disagreeing is self-righteousness and offering counter evidence is a form of trolling. Do you post stuff in this forum in the expectation that in response to your post members will just say "Amen"?

I've offered you a link to a detailed rebuttal of the claims made in the documentary, and this is all you've got? An all-purpose meme?

Michael Moore's movie has long been thoroughly debunked. The only thing I recall from it was that it claimed an absurdly low conversion factor for solar energy. Something like 8% Apart from it's badly dated. Batteries have come way down in price since then as as have solar and wind. Particularly solar. Anyway, here's a link to a thorough debunking of this silly documentary: https://sashaleidman.medium.com/a-minute-by-minute-breakdown-of-all-of-the-misinformation-in-michael-moores-planet-of-the-humans-900371710444

Nuclear power’s “cheap, clean, and secure” promise is breaking down. Small modular reactors (SMRs) remain largely theoretical, with the only advanced U.S. project cancelled over high costs. Renewables and storage now dominate energy economics, offering faster build times, flexibility, and lower prices. https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Nuclears-Costly-Comeback-Meets-Harsh-Market-Reality.html

She may be nasty, but opportunistic and unprincipled? How, exactly?

Falsely means they got it wrong. It doesn't mean they lied.