Sunday, August 12, 2012

Aug. 12 - Aug. 18 Discussions

In the comment for Sunday, August 12 on my web, I mentioned that I haven't received any responses from the literary agents I recently queried.  But, I think it may just be because it's August in New York City and everyone is either on vacation or their contacts and associates are on vacation.  I also mentioned again the problems I currently have in producing the 6x9 book size pdf file I'll need if I decide to self-publish my book.  I may have to buy a new computer to safely solve all those problems.  I need a backup computer anyway.

But, the major portion of my Sunday comment was about my decision to delete all further posts to this blog by the person who identifies himself here as "Anonymous" and on Lew Weinstein's blog as "DXer."  There no longer seems any value to allowing his posts to go through.  He just argues the same nonsense over and over, and there's clearly malicious intent to his posts claiming no publisher will ever represent my book.  I asked him why Laurie Garrett had to self-publish her book "I Heard The Sirens Scream" even though she almost certainly already had an agent, but he didn't respond.  And, I just got tired of the implied threats in the posts by Anonymous where he says I can be sued for agreeing with the Department of Justice's finding that Bruce Ivins was the anthrax killer.

"Anonymous" attempted to post one message this morning which I deleted.  It was the same old thing: He doesn't approve of what I read and don't read. 

Ed          

12 comments:

  1. Hello from Spain.

    If you want a new computer is certainly you also need to purchase new software. Surely your software has become obsolete.

    I prefer XP and I am accustomed to old computer programs that are still useful and fun, but for surfing the internet I use windows 7 for security reasons.

    When melted my XP computer, literally, I decided to buy one already used by another person. This decision can be dangerous but never I will connect to the internet with this computer XP.

    Have you thought about buying some Apple software or hardware products? May be more appropriate for your goals.

    Bye, I go on vacation.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Joseph from Spain,

    I'm not interested in Apple products. I've never had any, and now's not the time to change.

    I run Firefox as my browser. I also have Internet Explorer 6. It probably came with the computer when I bought it. But, I never use it because I always use Firefox. Firefox is a lot safer for browsing the Internet than Internet Explorer.

    I don't think there's much of a problem with upgrading from Internet Explorer 6 to Internet Explorer 7. But, I don't really know.

    I'm not worried about my "obsolete" software. If it works, don't fix it. That's my motto. And, everything works fine -- except that I can't create the right size pdf file. That one small problem doesn't seem worth a total overhaul.

    Windows XP is an operating system. It runs programs.
    Windows 7 is an operating system. It runs programs.
    Internet Explorer 7 is a browser for surfing the Net.
    Firefox is a browser for surfing the Net.

    I use Widows XP as my operating system to run my browser Firefox.

    Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello from Spain:

      -Sometimes the simplest is the best.
      -Others say Google Chrome is the best browser for surfing the net.

      Who knows?

      "I use Widows XP as ..."
      -Sometimes the widows, they become Windows and Gates no. All may depend on the Bill.

      -Let's have fun with what gives us the modern world without forgetting the f.... instruction manual.

      Bye.

      Delete
  3. Joseph from Spain,

    I also have Google Chrome. I didn't install it. I think Google somehow installed it without asking me. I've never used it. One day it just showed up as an available program on my start-up screen.

    Ed

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mr. Lake,

    If one is exposed to aerosolized anthrax, do you think that hanging out in the hot, humid air of a sauna might tend to deactivate the anthrax?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous,

    I'm assuming you are NOT the same "Anonymous" who previously posted here as "Anonymous" and as "DXer" on Lew Weinstein's web site.

    Answer:

    First of all, a sauna is hot, DRY air. A steam room has hot, humid air. So, I can't be certain exactly what you are asking. But, the answer either way is: No, I don't think a sauna or a steam room will deactivate anthrax. Just the opposite is more likely to happen.

    A sauna is the perfect place for an anthrax spore - hot and dry. There's nothing to cause any effect on the spore.

    A steam room adds moisture, but that creates something like what you find in an incubator. And anthrax grows faster in an incubator than at room temperature.

    And, your question doesn't say where the "anthrax" is. If the spores are on the outside of someone's body, the sweat might wash the spores away. If not, showering when you get out of the sauna or steam room would wash the spores away.

    If the spores have already entered the lungs, the heat of the sauna or steam room shouldn't raise the body temperature enough to affect the spores and prevent them from germinating. If anything, the slight increase in body temperature should speed up the germination process. But, since no one spends a whole day in a sauna or steam room, the effect on anthrax from 20 minutes in a steam room or sauna is probably negligible.

    If high enough, the heat and humidity would kill the person before it would harm the spore.

    That's my understanding.

    Ed

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous,

    An autoclave used to kill spores in a laboratory does use heat and moisture (and pressure) to sterilize the spores. However, it cooks the spores at above boiling temperature and under high pressure for at least 20 minutes. It's nothing like a steam room. An autoclave will kill any living thing.

    Ed

    ReplyDelete
  7. Would use of steam (at the temperature of a steam room) for a prolonged period be effective to disinfect dried spores on a surface -- such as a ship?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous,

    If the temperatures are bearable by humans, the temperatures can certainly be bearable by spores.

    To kill spores you need to destroy the DNA inside the hard internal core. That can be done with disinfectants like bleach, it can be done by radiation, or it can be done by COOKING them at temperatures over the boiling point for at least 20 minutes.

    I would think the best way to disinfect some part of a ship would be to use bleach. Mix bleach with hot water and spray the place down (while wearing breathing protection to make sure you don't kill yourself in the process).

    I'm not an expert. This is just what I understand. So, you really should check with some expert on how to DISINFECT a ship. Steam won't do it alone. High temperature won't do it alone. Bleach WILL do it alone. And the bleach can even be mixed with water.

    Something just occurred to me. On an ocean-going ship, you might have a way to produce steam from salt water. Salt-water steam MIGHT do it. But, you need to consult an expert to be certain.

    Ed

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous,

    Click HERE to go to an article which says salt water will kill spores IF the water has been zapped with electricity to scramble the ions in the water.

    Ed

    ReplyDelete
  10. Even without obvious physical damage to spores using hot, humid air (which as you say contrasts with pH-adjusted bleach decontamination) published research show that hot, humid air effectively inactivates B. anthracis ∆Sterne and B. thuringiensis Al Hakam spores. (used as surrogates for b.anthracis).

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous wrote: "published research show that hot, humid air effectively inactivates B. anthracis"

    Now you are starting to argue like the "Anonymous" who posts as "DXer" on Lew Weinstein's web site.

    If you have such "published research," why don't you quote from it and provide the source? Why just make a claim? Why argue the subject at all if you already believe you have the answer?

    You seem to be quoting from the article located HERE.

    The abstract says, "No spores survived the harshest test run (77°C, 90% RH, 7 days) while >6.5 logs of spores survived the mildest test run (60°C, 60% RH, 1 day)."

    So, at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, most spores survived for a full day. Can humans survive at that temperature for the same period?

    At 170 degrees, the article says that all spores were killed. No human can withstand that temperature for a prolonged period. So, your comparison to a steam room was deliberately misleading. The same with comparing it to a room in a ship. Plus, when you have temperatures in a steam room of over 150 F, you should not stay in there for more than 15 minutes or so.

    So, it appears that prolonged exposure to hot humid air in the range of 170 degrees for 7 days will kill all the spores.

    And, it appears you knew the answer before you asked the question. So, I'll be more careful next time I respond.

    Ed

    ReplyDelete