Pen-Elayne on the Web

Anyone Seen John Poindexter Lately?

Via Anne Zook, "Economists at the University of Iowa have created an electronic influenza futures market that could let health officials track future flu outbreaks." Apparently the purposes include "help[ing] vaccine producers ensure enough supplies without too much waste" and "let[ting] health officials track future flu outbreaks." It sounds a bit skeevy (not to mention beside the point, in that there's evidence that the vaccine shortage was artificially manufactured by the pharmas in the first place - remember back in June '03 when they said they had plenty?), but I'm actually more fascinated by this Forrest Nelson character who came up with the idea. His picture here doesn't look anything like his picture here. Or here, for that matter... oh no, wait, that's someone else. It's a conspiracy, I tell you...