Historical
The Last Cat
It had happened so fast. Within a year every cat (but one) on the face of the earth was either dead or in the process of dying. The newly discovered virus, Feline Leukemia Virus - variant AB.8 (FLV-Ab8), was found to be responsible for the deaths. Most scientists believed the virus had arisen naturally, a mutation or series of mutations of the commonly circulating Feline Leukemia virus, which, though often fatal, is not all that transmissable, and for which a highly effective vaccine exists. A small but vocal minority of scientists were convinced the virus was the result of a bioweapons research program. They claimed the virus had managed to escape its home lab either by acccident, or that it had been released intentionally. Most pointed the finger at Russia and China as both were known to have or have had active bioweapons research programs, and they remain two of the very few countries where laboratory research using cats (domestic cats) as test subjects is still allowed and fairly common. In truth, the bioweapons crowd had some strong arguments in their favor. There were elements of the FLV-Ab8 genome that had sequence signatures indicative of human intervention. Most troubling however was the speed and mechanisms by which the virus mutated within the infected host to evade its' immune system. This was something that had never seen in a naturally occuring virus before. Virologists and molecular biologists would be studying and learning from this virus for a very long time to come. In the now however, the virus' impact was devastating and every cat was affected equally. By every cat, I mean every cat, from the most common domestic to the most exotic wild species, each and every one of the 37 cat species comprising the family Felidae was gone or soon to be gone, forever. This included, among others, cheetahs, pumas, jaguars, leopards, lions, lynxes, tiger, and domestic cats, living in any region of the world, and cats are native to almost every region on Earth, with the exception of Australia and Antarctica. I say forever because all attempts at cloning had failed, and though each species' genetic material had been saved and frozen in cryogenic storage, it would be hundreds, perhaps thousands of years before technology would advance to the stage where this material could be used to produce the cats again. The ecological impacts were significant and mostly just beginning to be felt. Rodent populations had boomed out of control in many important agricultural regions resulting in untold levels of crop destruction, starvation, and putting several countries on the brink of war. Resource competition between countries contributed to greatly rising tensions world wide. Diseases the rodents transmit such as plague and hanta were on the rise, and there were many more predicted impacts, along with surely many, many more that remained unforseen. The earth, however, would persevere, it would adapt, we would adapt, we would survive the loss of the cats, as painful as it might be.
By Everyday Junglist4 years ago in Fiction
Top 10 World's Most Expensive Luxuries
Top 10 World's Most Expensive Luxuries: Antilia, Mumbai: $2 billion - The world's most expensive home, owned by Mukesh Ambani, a billionaire businessman from India. The History Supreme yacht: $4.5 billion - This 100-foot luxury yacht is made of solid gold and platinum, and is considered the most expensive yacht in the world. The Graff Pink Diamond: $50 million - This 24.78-carat pink diamond is considered one of the most expensive diamonds in the world. The Card Players painting: $250 million - A painting by Paul Cézanne, considered one of the most expensive paintings ever sold. The Blue Moon of Josephine: $48.5 million - A 12.03-carat blue diamond considered one of the most valuable diamonds in the world. The Pink Star: $71.2 million - A 59.6-carat pink diamond that was sold at auction in 2017. The Oppenheimer Blue: $50.6 million - A 14.62-carat blue diamond that was sold at auction in 2016. The Pink Promise: $32 million - A fancy intense pink diamond that was sold at auction in 2017. The Bulgari Blue: $15.7 million - A 9.87-carat blue diamond that was sold at auction in 2017. The Perfect Pink: $23.2 million - A 14.23-carat fancy intense pink diamond that was sold at auction in 2010.
By Honor White Angel4 years ago in Fiction
The Sanibel Island Mystery
Noah had always been fascinated by the mysteries of the unknown and when he heard about the strange occurrences on Sanibel Island, he knew he had to investigate. As a journalist, he was determined to uncover the truth and expose whatever was causing the strange events on the island.
By Jagatheesh M4 years ago in Fiction
"Imagination Unleashed: The Battle for Reality"
Once upon a time, in a far-off land, there lived a young man named Jaxon. He was a rebel hero, fighting against the tyrannical rule of Emperor Zarek, who had taken over the land with his army of loyal soldiers. Jaxon was different from the other rebels; he had a unique power - the ability to bring his imagination to life.
By Techy Maker4 years ago in Fiction
"The Sleuth and the Syndicate "
Detective John Smith had been on the force for over 15 years, and in that time, he had seen it all. From petty thefts to brutal murders, he had handled it all with a level head and a steady hand. But there was one case that had been gnawing at him for years, one that he had never been able to solve: the case of the ruthless gang known as the Black Suns.
By Ajin C Jose4 years ago in Fiction
Jung_E(2023) Review
Contemporary sci-fi blockbusters often draw inspiration from past films in the genre, but Jung_E, the latest Netflix project from Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho, takes this to a new level of derivativeness. The film, which has big screen ambitions but is ultimately viewed on small screens, feels cobbled together from various recent sci-fi efforts, offering nothing new or original. The film borrows elements from Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium, Edge of Tomorrow, and I, Robot, and despite its dystopian premise, it has nothing to say about the devastating effects of climate change on Earth. The story takes place in 2194, where the rich have fled to intergalactic colonies to escape an uninhabitable Earth, leaving the poor behind. Despite the presence of a complicated mother-daughter relationship, the story is underwritten and fails to make the audience care about the characters or their stakes. The action sequences, however, are well-staged and exciting.
By Bharath Gopalswamy4 years ago in Fiction
Marvel Studios Box Office
About Marvel Studios: Marvel Studios is a American motion picture studio known for producing superhero films based on characters from Marvel Comics. The studio was founded in 1993 and has produced films such as the Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Avengers, and Spider-Man franchises, as well as Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Ant-Man.
By Honor White Angel4 years ago in Fiction
