[SeafoodGumbo]

LGF's description of this story:

“A man” (that’s how the media are identifying him right now) is comatose and in critical condition in Las Vegas, and presumptive tests indicate that a substance found in his hotel room is the deadly poison ricin.

[ladtx]

“A man”? More like a corpse I’d say.

[pissant]

Work related accident, I assume.

[Jeff Chandler]

Two possibilities come to mind.

1. A terrorist had used the room and this poor "man" is an innocent victim.
2. More likely-based upon the lack of identification of the "man"-this guy IS a terrorist hoisted on his own petard.

[Vigilanteman]

FBI has announced this has nothing to do with terrorism,
do NOT profile Muzzies.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

This sounds like...not being able to call Obama “Hussein”...

A man? Smells like terrorist to me. You just dont go around someplace carrying ricin

[Diogenesis]

Some say he is a dedicated physician who was forced to do oncologic research in his '"Extended stay America" suite.

Alternative hypotheses including things that should make an inquiring mind go "hmmmmmm"

Found in Iraq:

* New research on BW-applicable agents, Brucella and Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF),
and continuing work on ricin and aflatoxin were not declared to the UN.

---

Still missing based on the UNSCOM report to the UN Security Council in January 1999,
when the UN inspectors left Iraq in 1998, they had been unable to account for:

• up to 360 tons of bulk chemical warfare agents, including 1.5 tons of VX nerve agent

• growth media procured for biological agent production (enough to produce
over three times the 8,500 litres of anthrax spores Iraq admitted to UN inspectors to having manufactured);

[xroadie]

It’s a great day to be in Las Vegas. I had a colonoscopy a few months ago (guess where), and this motel is a few blocks from where I work.
Sheesh!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

A man is in critical condition after exposure to ricin at a Las Vegas, Nevada, hotel.

John "Hussein" Doe?

[Dasaji]

several countries have investigated links between suspect extremists and ricin...

Don't'cha just love the PC term for terrorist??

[mkjessup]

C'mon y'all, this is just a case of mistaken identity:

[girlangler]

In case there is any new information crop up this thread thing ping.

[cripplecreek]

Interesting twist.

[wolfcreek]

We’ve got Castorbean plants growing all over here in Texas.

We saw one in full blooms out near Pecos river in W. Texas and took some of the *beans* home to plant not knowing what they were. (never did plant them because we put them in the kitchen window to dry and they exploded). (think they’re related to Mexican Jumping beans).

Seen them in many locals in the Austin/San Antonio area.(mostly along waterways and in people’s yards). A lot of people use them to shade their gardens due to the fact they grow up to 15 ft.

[OCC]

There have been other reported cases involving ricin in the United States. In January 2005, the FBI arrested an Ocala, Florida, man with no known ties to terrorists or extremists after agents found ricin in the home he lives in with his mother.

Hmm.. missed that story. Must have been overshadowed by a Paris Hilton DUI or Britney Spears beaver flashing incident.

[Yaelle]

Las Vegas Hotels

Extended Stay America

We really liked this hotel. For the price, we had a very clean room and the sheets were crisp and fresh. The TV worked nicely and the lady behind the front desk was very helpful. We were not able to use the pool because of the cold weather, but that was really the only problem we had. We would highly recommend this place if it weren't for one thing that I almost hesitate to mention. I suddenly became very sick one night and had to be rushed to the ER. The police say that the deadly poison ricin was found in our hotel room. We were very surprised. If I pull through I will write a more thorough review later.

[cricket]

He had been in hospital since Feb/14th. .. so why do we not yet have his name. Could be something exotic. . .or could be 'Tony' . . .I suppose.

They mentioned 'a dog died'. He had a dog with him in this motel/hotel/suite or. . .what?

Meantime whatever; the lips are sealed!

[DBrow]

The guy has been ill since the 14th and just now toxin gets found in his motel room? How very odd.

[Scarchin]

I know for a FACT that the terrorists have been working on a ricin attack for some time now. Vegas would be a PERFECT target.

My source is impeccable on this.

I’ve got a very bad feeling in my gut...

[the invisib1e hand]

I forgot what ricin is, anyway. Is it the poor-man’s Polonium?

[jimbo123]

Flashback: Al-Zarqawi believed to be behind ricin plot

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/27/1043533989987.html