Article

2005-06-18 -Short Attention Span Theater-

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Posted by trailing wife 2005-06-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 good lord! released by accident in Brazil in 1958 ... this is worse than the cane toad invasion of Australia by far!

Genetic engineering of species-specific viruses (eg: calicivirus that wiped out Australian rabbits) is DEFINITELY the way to go.

Needs thorough testing though to be sure it can't jump species.

Posted by anon1 2005-06-18 05:32|| 2005-06-18 05:32|| Front Page Top

#2 Wonder if these guys can survive the Vampire Mite, if so it could be a good thing.

Posted by Shipman 2005-06-18 08:14|| 2005-06-18 08:14|| Front Page Top

#3 Anon, the Calicivirus wasn't genetically engineered. It was a naturally occurring virus out of Central Asia, IIRC. Nor did it wipe out the rabbit, more's the pity. My guesstimate of rabbit numbers in Central Australia is that they have stabilised at 10 to 20 percent of pre calici numbers.

Posted by Grunter 2005-06-18 08:43|| 2005-06-18 08:43|| Front Page Top

#4 they've been here in So Cal for a couple years now...no huge problems. The occasional death when a mower hits a pipe with a hive in it, but....

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-06-18 10:52|| 2005-06-18 10:52|| Front Page Top

#5 our wabbit hives are out of control..please buzz someone.

Posted by spemblebumblebees 2005-06-18 13:03|| 2005-06-18 13:03|| Front Page Top

#6 details details! It certainly decimated the rabbit population. I'm happy to call a 90% kill rate wiped out.

You are right, I checked calicivirus is a natural mutation of a rabbit virus. A virus that suddenly got extremely deadly for European rabbits. First official case: China.

Biological control is very effective, wish we could make some viruses to wipe out cane toads, killer bees, funnel webs and box jellyfish.

Posted by anon1 2005-06-18 13:32|| 2005-06-18 13:32|| Front Page Top

#7 This needs an SNL graphic. How does one insert an image into a comment?

Posted by xbalanke 2005-06-18 21:40|| 2005-06-18 21:40|| Front Page Top

#8 Just this once, heh: Just stick the URL of the graphic in the quotes. Make sure it's no more than about 500 pixels wide, lol. Preceed this with a hard return, just to be safe - i.e. put it on a line by itself - I don't think you want to be doing text-wrapping, just yet. And, of course, I could add the code for forcing the image size, but that would confuse non-HTLMers enough to guarantee someone would hose it and waste RB layout, lol!

Posted by .com 2005-06-18 21:46|| 2005-06-18 21:46|| Front Page Top

#9 LOL!

Posted by Shipman 2005-06-18 21:47|| 2005-06-18 21:47|| Front Page Top

#10 ima think magic number is around 300 pixels....

Posted by Shipman 2005-06-18 21:48|| 2005-06-18 21:48|| Front Page Top

#11 Lol - I forgot to code so it would be readable, not interpreted as an actual image link, lol!

first char: < character
then IMG SRC="" stick the URL between the quotes
close with: > character

Lol - sorry!

Posted by .com 2005-06-18 21:50|| 2005-06-18 21:50|| Front Page Top

#12 Ima looking for a train wreck.

Posted by Shipman 2005-06-18 21:54|| 2005-06-18 21:54|| Front Page Top

#13 I'm hoping to see some Belushi SNL pix, heh.

I like the Samurai better though....

Posted by .com 2005-06-18 21:57|| 2005-06-18 21:57|| Front Page Top

#14 Thanks for the info, .com. Here goes...

Posted by xbalanke 2005-06-18 23:28|| 2005-06-18 23:28|| Front Page Top

#15 Hmmmm, I know the image is small enough (100x73) and the URL is right. Oh well...

Posted by xbalanke 2005-06-18 23:28|| 2005-06-18 23:28|| Front Page Top

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