General Discussion

If you are looking for a nice set of games that model world-wide pandemics then look no further than New Pandemic. There are two different games that both model worldwide pandemic transmission. You can adjust the lethality and transmission of the virus to try and infect the whole world. I will admit that this seems a bit disturbing (and if you play it you are probably put on some kind of FBI watch list), but the biological principles of plagues and pandemics are pretty good. It could be a good teaching tool or a way to waste a few minutes between time points.

There is an interesting series of articles in The Seattle Times from a few months ago about researchers leaking results of clinical trials to analysts and hedge funds on Wall St. This may not seem like a big deal at first, but these funds are making millions on getting confidential information before it is officially released. I was shocked at how prevalent this practice seems to be. I'm not sure if I'm more mad at the Wall St. types for doing this sort of underhanded thing, or at the doctors who should definitely know better. I finally decided that the doctors who are giving away information are really the ultimate bad guys in this whole thing. They have signed agreements that they won't release info. What do other people think?