United Devices and Bioterrorism

[Paul Watson]

Not sure whether to be against this or not... I see the need, but cancer is far more important a thing to devote cycles to. It feels very political and "lets us catch words like bioterrorism to get more users." Cynical maybe... Here is the email: Next week we will launch a new Internet-based research project using the LigandFit application to screen approximately 35 million potential drug molecules against several virus structures that could be used for bioterrorism. This project will run in parallel to the Cancer Research Project as a secondary task. If you do not wish to participate in this project, please go to the device management section of your member home page and select the device profile you are using. Near the bottom of the device profile you will find the project selections. De-select the secondary task (virus research project) and save your changes. Any device using that device profile will not be sent work for the new project. It should be noted that screening these virus structures will also generate new leads for anti-cancer drugs. Also, the funding for the project ensures the continuance of the highly successful Cancer Research Project. Many organizations have contributed to this new project, and we look forward to providing more detail with next week's launch Yes, I did read the last paragraph. It just makes you realise that they know that the idea could be contentious. In fact the last paragraph makes things worse. We have to support research on one of the worlds biggest killers by supporting a politically correct and trendy minor threat? As I said. Not sure how to feel about this, but it does feel fishy.

Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa

Roger Wright wrote: Using a feather is kinky; using the whole chicken is perverted!

[Paul Riley]

Paul Watson wrote: It feels very political and "lets us catch words like bioterrorism to get more users." Cynical maybe... Not really. They did the same with finding a cure for Anthrax when that was prevailant. That was supposed to be opt-in and random but it came up on my UD Agent without me asking for it and didn't give me a single cancer research test for weeks. Paul Pleasently caving in, I come undone - Queens of the Stone Age, No One Knows

[Paul Watson]

Paul Riley wrote: Not really. They did the same with finding a cure for Anthrax when that was prevailant I never got that email, but if I had I probably would have brought it up the same way I have brought this one up.

Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa

Roger Wright wrote: Using a feather is kinky; using the whole chicken is perverted!

[Paul Riley]

Paul Watson wrote: I never got that email, but if I had I probably would have brought it up the same way I have brought this one up. I suppose the reassuring argument is that if such cynical marketing techniques work then in the long term you are helping to fight both bioterrorism AND cancer. I doubt that many people would install it for one and then not leave it active when you revert to the other. More people are interested in searching the internet nowadays for stuff on terrorism than stuff on cancer, I guess, so it doesn't sound like such a bad idea. ... I think. :-D Paul Pleasently caving in, I come undone - Queens of the Stone Age, No One Knows