Futurism at JHU

by Nicholas  Disclaimer : this post discusses topics that may be triggering or overwhelming for some. This is an extension of my post on human nature. I stopped by a street vendor earlier today to grab a cold Snapple Lemon Iced Tea. The guy asked me "how much money?" and I replied, "how much money do you charge?" He said $4, which I countered with $2. I was NOT paying $4 for something that he likely got for less than 50 cents (a carton of 20 for $10 perhaps?). Anyways, I keep saying $2, and even $2.50 (to which he says Apply Pay does not take 50 cents) -- which I have never done before, I hardly ever negotiate anything -- and he eventually goes to $3. I was still not paying $3, so I offered $2 again, which he declined. I said "forget it" and the guy got pissed, grabbing the cold bottle back from me with disgust. He then proceeded to say "screw you" and "go away", which was plain lovely. I ended up getting the same drink for $3 from anot

by Nicholas    I strongly believe we need to develop universal vaccines. Screw COVID and the bagillion mutations and strains of the Sars-Cov-2 virus, let's get a vaccine that will fully protect against it no matter what mutations it goes through. And let's get flu, cancer, and every other disease while we're at it. And let's stop the biggest disease of all - aging (which leads to death - and screw that more than anything else).  Links below to an article/paper on a potential universal flu vaccine:  Article: https://www.science.org/content/article/innovative-universal-flu-vaccine-shows-promises-it-first-clinical-test  Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-1118-7 

by Nicholas   Disclaimer : this post discusses a deep topic that may be triggering or overwhelming for some. I just finished watching Swan Song (2021) with my best friend since middle school (admittedly, he fell asleep halfway through due to a 12+ mile run earlier in the day - I nearly spontaneously combusted after one mile trying to keep up with him). Anyways, the movie ROCKS. The Martian has always been my favorite book (and movie), but this is now my new favorite! Basically, it's all about a guy who is terminally ill and has two choices -- tell his family and die soon with them knowing and living with the pain, or be replaced by a perfect clone copy of him (with his memories transferred -- I question the technology/science of how they did this, but it's an interesting concept) so that his family does not have to suffer. I'll *try* not to spoil the movie too much (no promises) so that you can watch it yourself, but it really got me thinking about life, death, love, family