May 31, 2003
Carbo Loading
New York Times by Jason Epstein:
My apologies to readers who may have been seduced by my euphoric example when I announced my conversion to Atkinsism in these pages nearly a year ago. The diet worked. My conversion failed. In half the time it took to lose 20 pounds, I gained 12 back, not because my will is weak but because my temptations are strong, especially for my daughter-in-law Susie Norris's homemade chocolates, hamburgers at the Corner Bistro, Maida Heatter's ginger biscotti and long, slow dinners accompanied by Leslie Rudd's smoothly complex cabernet/merlot blend.
I've always thought that the Atkins diet was too strict in restricting carbohydrates. I prefer the Zone diet, which is more moderate in terms of carbohydrates.
-Tim
Help! I'm Stuck in Quarantine, and I Can't Get Out!
New York Times by Donald G. McNeil Jr.
As I write this -- it's Sunday, May 25 -- I am in quarantine because of SARS.I'm at home in Manhattan, it's voluntary, and I'm perfectly healthy. My temperature is 97.2 (low normal for me) while the first symptom of severe acute respiratory syndrome is a rise to 100.4.
I'm doing it only because people are irrationally terrified of the disease, and I don't want my co-workers marching on my cubicle with torches and garlic, or my children's teachers' panicking.
Globalization Hits a Political Speed Bump
But the politics of globalization are subtly shifting, and the turnabout has helped to slow to a crawl the integration of the world's economies....
From the orange groves of Brazil to the rice fields of Southeast Asia, meanwhile, poorer nations have become more insistent that the next round of agreements allow them to benefit equally from globalization. That argument is pushing the politically toxic, multibillion-dollar farm subsidies of Europe and the United States to the center of the debate. The disagreements have been aggravated by diplomatic conflicts over the war in Iraq and by measures taken to fight SARS and terrorism. And many government officials around the globe have become worried.
Takes New Steps to Build Transparent Government
Shanghai , 's largest city and economic hub, is introducing an unprecedented "spokesperson system" to its local government, legislature, court and prosecutor's office.
According to a recently-issued decree, the Shanghai Municipal Government will take the lead by holding press conferences on government work once every two weeks ...
Schoolgirl Dawn is Scotland's youngest high flier
Edinburgh Evening News (Scotland):
An East Lothian schoolgirl has become the youngest ever person in Scotland to win her private pilot licence.The fifth-year-pupil became Scotland’s joint-youngest person in the country to fly solo last year.
Now the teenager has won her full licence just days before she turns 17 - although she won’t be able to use it until her birthday.
More steeples doing double duty
The Newsmagazine of Texas Baptists:
About 1 percent of all cell phone towers in the United States are housed in church steeples, according to the New York Times.Cell phone companies that have looked to expand their coverage areas often pay churches between $1,000 and $3,000 a month to rent space in church steeples, said Jim Fryer, a cell phone analyst in Landsdown, Pa.
Why business fears Giscard d'Estaing
The former French president has presented his draft for a new European constitution. It seeks to enshrine in law social and economic rights which would seriously constrain UK plc. Grant Ringshaw and Mary Fagan report.
With Wireless, an English City Reaches Across Digital Divide
Three years ago, Shirley Hughes lived a life of dreary routine, collecting welfare checks, bringing up two children as a single mother, passing her evenings in front of the television.Today, she teaches her neighbors how to use computers at a local college while studying for a teaching certificate. At home, she skips "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in favor of the Internet, which she surfs avidly, downloading patterns for patchwork quilts, her favorite hobby.
Ms. Hughes's computer is connected to the Internet "24/7," as she puts it, through a technology known as Wi-Fi.
Key to stem cell's youthfulness found
The principal gene responsible for the youthful state of embryonic stem cells has been discovered, reported journal New Scientist.The breakthrough is likely to contribute to turning ordinary adult cells into those with the properties of human embryonic stem cells (ESC) and would phase out the need to destroy embryos to harvest the cells for new medical treatments.
Feature: Gene therapy could treat deafness
The Washington Times: United Press International:
University of Michigan researchers say they have made a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for human deafness and age-related hearing loss -- they used gene therapy to grow auditory hair cells in a mammal subject.
The Debate Over Designer Fish
California's Fish and Game Commission, trying not to hinder scientific research or the state's burgeoning biotech industry, plans to grant permits, based on its own reviews, for each new transgenic species as it emerges under new rules that took effect in May. West Coast commercial fishermen are pushing California to ban genetically altered fish, arguing that the potential threat to wild salmon and other native species is far too great.
May 30, 2003
White-Collar Blues in a 'Jobless Recovery'
Observers say the downturn that began in 2001 has hit college-educated, middle-class professionals harder than previous recessions. Some Jewish vocational agencies reported a tripling in the numbers of Jewish professionals and managers coming to them for help finding jobs since the beginning of the recession.
Cablevision, Time Warner Gear Up For Initial VoIP Rollouts
The moves by Time Warner and Cablevision also come as such independent IP telephony firms as Vonage Holdings surge ahead in the nascent Voice over IP (VoIP) market. In its latest pronouncement late last month, Vonage said it just activated its 25,000th VoIP line, up from 10,000 earlier in the year. The company said it's now adding 1,000 lines to its network each week, with call volume tripling since the first quarter.
Picture This: Biometric ID
Picture this: A photosensitive screen that can take pictures of objects placed on its surface could be used to provide biometric identification for secure mobile e-commerce. Toshiba, the screen's developer, claims it can capture the detail of a human fingerprint sufficiently for it to be transmitted for authentication.
Shoe firms joust for junior jocks
THE OUTRAGE STARTED soon after Nike signed Freddy Adu, the 13-year-old soccer star to a reported $1 million multi-year deal, an unheard of amount for such a young soccer player in the U.S. Just the week before the athletic shoe giant signed a stunning seven-year, $90 million contract with James, the Ohio high-school phenomenon who has yet to play a single professional basketball game."Perhaps next Nike will sponsor a newborn," quipped the headline of one sports column.
The Storage Market Continues to Defy Predictions
Storage vendors have been forced to become more hardware neutral as the storage business becomes increasingly commoditized. In a strategic move that would have been unheard of two years ago, EMC has moved to an open-software model, with products that will run other companies's software, and vice versa. In addition, most hardware manufacturers are now trying to expand into the higher margin storage software industry sector.
Frugal Japanese Dig Into Savings
Frugal Japanese Dig Into Savings
Breakthrough paves way for studies into human cancer
As significant as his breakthrough is for the horse industry, Prof Gordon Woods says he is most excited by the potential impact of his studies on cancer research.
Prosthetic breakthrough cuts surgery time to the bone
A prosthetic mesh implant that allows bone, blood vessels and collagen to grow around it like plants on a garden trellis promises to improve recovery time and minimise infection rates for patients needing a bone replacement.
Gene discovery could lead to new melanoma treatment
Restoring the function of the PTEN gene may provide a breakthrough treatment in the battle against malignant melanoma, say a group of US researchers.Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer and is on the increase – it is projected that the condition will affect one in 50 people in the US by 2010.
Eastern Europe: 'No Tobacco Day'
Tomorrow is World No Tobacco Day. The event comes on the heels of the World Health Organization's (WHO) approval of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC is a landmark international agreement calling for a halt to tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
'Virgin birth' method promises ethical stem cells
The phenomenon that leads to "virgin births" in some species looks like a promising source of embryonic stem cells. Researchers are on the brink of obtaining human stem cells this way for the first time, and animal experiments suggest such cells are indistinguishable from normal stem cells.
Stem cell 'immortality' gene found
The key gene that keeps embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in a state of youthful immortality has been discovered.The breakthrough may one day contribute to turning ordinary adult cells into those with the properties of human ESCs. This would end the need to destroy embryos to harvest the cells for new medical treatments.
Pinpoint Weather
Cheap computer power and high-tech observation systems mean precise forecasts, offering consumers personalized reports and saving weather-sensitive businesses millions
Quite an advance from the days when 24-hour weather forecast models took more than 24 hours to run on the supercomputers of that time!
-Tim
Mule is first in horse family to be cloned
Scientists have succeeded in cloning a baby mule, a gangly-legged creature named Idaho Gem -- brother of the world's second-fastest racing mule and the first successful clone of any member of the horse family.Idaho Gem's creation, a collaboration between scientists at the University of Idaho and Utah State University, raises the possibility that valuable competition horses or endangered equine species could pass on their genes even if they are sterile or dead.
Makes me wonder if Secretariat's DNA is floating around somewhere...
-Tim
Phone giants announce standards for faster Internet deployment
The nation's three biggest regional phone companies announced an agreement Thursday to standardize the construction of residential fiber-optic networks, in hopes of getting ultra-fast Internet connections to homes more quickly and less expensively.
Obesity Epidemic Set to Get Worse
Obesity has spiraled into a worldwide epidemic affecting 250 million adults but a leading nutritional expert believes the worst is still to come.Overweight adolescents are on course to fuel an even bigger global health problem as they mature into obese adults, he says."The younger generation, the generation after us, will be even more obese than we are, which doesn't make the future look very promising," Dr. Mikael Fogelholm said in an interview.
Assembly OKs bill limiting use of cell phones while driving
A bill that would require motorists to use hands-free devices when talking on cell phones passed the Assembly by one vote today.The Assembly approved the bill on a 41-26 vote, sending it to the Senate. If it becomes law, California will follow New York, the first state to require handsfree use of cell phones by drivers.
May 29, 2003
Sharon's Surprising Adaptability
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel has angered the Likud Party and stunned the opposition by his willingness to be a statesman. This man of war, this aggressor, this intractable promoter of expanding the Jewish West Bank settlements, has instead turned his attention sincerely to the prospect of peace.
SARS Makes Beijing Combat an Old but Unsanitary Habit
SARS Makes Beijing Combat an Old but Unsanitary Habit
As Mr. Liu sped along the path at Bei Hai Park here, the rumbling in his throat became louder and more intense. A restaurant cleaner, Mr. Liu had a dollop of phlegm to dispose of, and was rushing around the lake to go out the park's west gate.
RealNetwork joins online music fray
Technology companies are taking center stage in making the online music industry a pay-as-you-go marketplace, while the record labels are reduced to singing background.Still, the companies' biggest problem remains convincing users to pay for downloadable songs instead of swapping them for free. To make the argument, they're creating a range of online music stores that are almost as diverse as music itself.
Concerns over SARS mute joy of adopting babies from
The SARS epidemic is forcing changes in how families cope with adoption of children from .Some families quarantine themselves once they return while others go about their lives and keep a close watch on their health.
Last Concorde Flight to Mark End of Era
Playboys and potentates accustomed to arriving in New York before they left Paris will soon have to settle for ordinary, subsonic travel.Air France is retiring its fleet of Concordes after this week, and British Airways will follow suit in October, ending for the foreseeable future the era of champagne and caviar at Mach 2.
First Stem Embryonic Stem Cells Generated in Japan
Researchers at Kyoto University said Tuesday they have created human embryonic stem cells for the first time in Japan, opening a Pandora's box on the ethics behind culturing the potentially life-saving cells.Embryonic stem cells have the potential to be engineered to replicate almost any cell in the human body, and could be used to grow tissue for the treatment of numerous diseases and ailments, including Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, osteoporosis and strokes.
But as the name suggests, embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos, giving rise to controversy.
Playing video games not so mindless
All those hours spent playing video games may not be wasted time after all: A new study suggests action-packed video games like "Grand Theft Auto III" and "Counter-Strike" may sharpen your mind.
Roche Commemorates the 40th Anniversary of Valium
Inventor Leo Sternbach Turns 95 Years OldRoche today commemorates the 40th anniversary of Valium(R) (diazepam) Tablets, the nation's most prescribed drug between 1969 and 1982. Discovered by Roche scientist Leo Sternbach, who recently turned 95 years old, and approved by the FDA in 1963, Valium was one of the first blockbuster medications in the pharmaceutical industry. Valium is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety.
Any idea what the most prescribed drug on the market is today?
-Jen
Student Loan Interest Rates to Reach Lowest Levels in History
Student Loan Interest Rates to Reach Lowest Levels in History Based on Results of Today's T-bill Auction. Recent Grads Could Lock in Rates Under 3 Percent Through Student Loan ConsolidationInterest rates on federally guaranteed student loans will drop to historic lows this summer, potentially saving both new and current education loan borrowers thousands of dollars in interest over the life of their loans.
For all those parents with kids going off to college in the fall, this is good news.
-Jen
May 28, 2003
Telco uses SMS barrage to help man
An Indian mobile operator agreed to send out a SMS (Short Message Service) appeal to thousands after a distressed son pleaded with the company to help his father.According to Indian daily The Times of India, telco Bharti Airtel sent out a mobile appeal last week, urging subscribers with a rare A-negative blood type to step forward to help Harinder Choudhary.
His father had a life-threatening ailment which requires with two units of blood transfusion a day, the report said.
signs US$150b oil deal with Russia
has signed a US$150 billion landmark deal with Russia that would pave the way for a pipeline to export Siberian oil to .Under the agreement, Russia's largest oil producer, Yukos, will supply National Petroleum (CNPC) with some 718 million tonnes of oil for 25 years from 2005
Beijing Proposes Freight Charters across Taiwan Straits
Beijing Wednesday agreed to consider a proposed plan to operate freight charter flights across the Taiwan Straits in a bid to help Taiwanese investors reduce the economic damage caused by SARS.
Japanese F-15's make historic landing at Elmendorf
History was made on Elmendorf Air Force Base today after the arrival of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force last night.For the first time ever the Japanese have allowed their F-15's to leave Japan and come to North America to participate in war games.
Two suspected SARS patients quarantined in L.A.
Two passengers aboard a Cathay Pacific Airlines flight that originated in Hong Kong were quarantined upon arriving in Los Angeles Sunday after exhibiting symptoms associated with the deadly SARS virus, health officials said Wednesday.
Biotechs Bounce High
In fact, ever since I wrote Profit in the Biotech Bust two months ago, companies using biotechnology to make drugs or advances the drug development process have exploded.
A Venture Capital Rebound?
This is something many Wall Street watchers have been waiting for: signs that venture capital activity may be on the rebound. An MSNBC story that includes feedback from several firms suggests that 11 straight quarters of decline in VC funding may finally end when new numbers are released in a few weeks.
CCL claims breakthrough in automotive radar
Cambridge Consultants Ltd (CCL) claims to have made a breakthrough in the development of anti-collision systems for automotive applications through the development of a small, standalone pulsed radar module that works in the 5.8GHz band.
The Simplex Solution
The mission to improve the widely used simplex-method algorithm showed instead why it works so well
Sprint to transform network to move calls in data `packets'
Sprint announced Tuesday that it has begun transforming its telephone network so voice calls are transmitted in ``packets'' -- the same way data moves over the Internet. The move is designed to lead to a wide range of improved services for consumers, such as online voice-mail management.
Canada proposes change to pot laws
The Canadian government introduced legislation Tuesday to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana but set stricter penalties for those apprehended for trafficking in the drug.
Study finds new hormone dangers
Women already skittish about hormone replacement therapy have another reason to worry: New evidence suggests that women over age 65 who take a common hormone combination are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or other kinds of dementia.
May 27, 2003
Bush signs $15 billion law to fight Aids
George W. Bush, the US president, has signed legislation that launches a $15 billion emergency plan to fight HIV/Aids in parts of Africa, including South Africa and the Caribbean. Bush says the US has a "moral duty" to help tackle the disease.
Unprecendented Drop in Airline Travel
World air passenger traffic plunged 18.5 percent in April against the same month last year and by 44.8 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, the global airlines body IATA said Friday.
A Radio Tuner Remembers Which Songs You Loved
Like most mobile audio players, the Kenwood KTC-H2A1 Here2Anywhere is small enough to carry in one hand. But the Here2Anywhere is a satellite radio tuner that works only when it is resting in a somewhat less portable docking station. When it is plugged in, the Here2Anywhere becomes a broadcast node for the Sirius satellite radio service, which for $13 a month gives subscribers access to 100 streaming stations.
Police, Dressed As Homeless, Give Tickets
Homeless advocates are outraged by an operation where undercover police officers dressed as vagrants, observed drivers running red lights or committing other traffic violations, then radioed ahead to other officers who stopped those cars and wrote tickets."Operation Vagrant," a sting operation involving the Florida Highway Patrol, Kissimmee police and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, nabbed 171 drivers — most of whom ran red lights, a violation that carries an $83 fine
Sounds like the City of Kissimmee is getting creative in their efforts to enhance city revenues.
-Tim
Drone research looks at traffic applications
Pilotless planes, which the U.S. military has used to snoop out Iraqi tanks and assassinate an al-Qaida terrorist, will be tested in Ohio to see whether they can battle a more down-to-earth hazard: traffic jams.
Oscar Winning Actress Speaks At UNH Graduation
As one of the first women to attend Dartmouth College, actress Meryl Streep had some words of femine wisdom today for graduates of the University of New Hampshire.Attending a drama class about 30 years ago, she said she was one of 60 intrepid women on a campus of about six thousand men. She noted that today's U-N-H graduating class is two-to-one women. She said the challenge now for women is the glass ceiling that holds many back from top positions in business and politics.
From PlayStation to Supercomputer for $50,000
As perhaps the clearest evidence yet of the computing power of sophisticated but inexpensive video-game consoles, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has assembled a supercomputer from an army of Sony PlayStation 2's.
On the Seventh Day, a New Retail Option
On the Seventh Day, a New Retail Option
For the first time since Prohibition, liquor stores in New York were allowed to open for business on a Sunday. For generations, states across the nation banned the sale of liquor on Sundays with so-called Blue Laws, stubborn reminders of a time when demon drink was considered a scourge, the chief cause of society's ills. Even as the temperance movement passed into the history books the laws remained, and they might have remained in place still if hard-pressed state governments did not believe that allowing people to buy liquor on Sunday would send money pouring into state coffers.
Smallpox may help give immune system edge over malaria
A new vaccine approach may deliver a one-two punch against malaria by boosting the immune system, researchers say.The two-pronged method uses DNA from the malaria parasite as well as a booster from a modified smallpox virus
I look at a DVD player for $42.99 and worry
Could rapidly shrinking prices for technology products contribute to a dangerous downward spiral? Are we heedlessly snatching up bargains while the world collapses around us?
May 26, 2003
Bucking the Trend
One Polish community thinks prosperity is the real thing.
A decade ago, Niepolomice was just another cash-strapped Polish municipality struggling to make the transition from communism to capitalism. The four state-owned enterprises based in the area were collapsing; the best and brightest young people were fleeing to the big cities; unemployment was climbing. Mayor Stanislaw Kracik was desperate. Realizing that "one can't build capitalism without capital," he decided to find some people who had it.