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Biotech

Scientists Identify a Potentially Universal Mechanism of Aging 359

cybergenesis2008 points us to a summary of research out of Harvard Medical School in which a set of genes known to affect aging in yeast was found to affect aging in mice as well. The genes, called sirtuins, perform two particular tasks; regulating which genes are "on" and "off," and also helping to repair damaged DNA. As an organism ages, the frequency of damage to DNA increases, leaving less time for the sirtuins' regulatory tasks. The increasingly unregulated genes then become a significant factor in aging. Realizing this, the researchers "administered extra copies of the sirtuin gene [to the mice], or fed them the sirtuin activator resveratrol, which in turn extended their mean lifespan by 24 to 46 percent." We discussed the plans for this research a few years ago.
Security

Submission + - Domains May Disappear After Search 1

Ponca City, We Love You writes: "A perfect domain name pops into your mind, a quick check at your registrar reveals that the domain is available, you put off the registration a few minutes and when you come back to register the domain, it's taken by someone else. How much time has elapsed between the search and the attempted registration — in one case, less than 90 seconds. Daily Domainer has an interesting story alleging that there may be a leak that allows domain tasters to intercept, analyze and register your domain ideas in minutes. "Every time you do a whois search with any service, you run a risk of losing your domain," says one industry insider. ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC ) has not been able to find hard evidence of Domain Name Front Running but they have issued an advisory (pdf) for people to come forward with hard evidence it is happening. Here is how domain name research theft crimes can occur and some tips to avoiding being a victim."
Software

Submission + - Nokia claims Ogg format is "proprietary" 2

a nona maus writes: Several months ago the WHATWG workgroup of the W3C decided to include Ogg/Theora+Vorbis as the recommended baseline video codec standard for HTML5, against Apple's aggressive protest. Now, Nokia seems to be seeking a reversal of that decision: they have released a position paper calling Ogg "proprietary" and citing the importance of DRM support. Nokia has historically responded to questions about Ogg on their internet tablets with strange and inconsistent answers, along with hand waving about their legal department. This latest step is enough to really make you wonder what they are really up to.
It's funny.  Laugh.

Journal Journal: Universexuality: The New Sexual Revolution

When Robert Stewart was found at the Aberley House Hostel in south west Scotland, desperately trying to have sex with his bike, he couldn't possibly have foreseen the immense effects of his deviant act. Although critics told the case off as "absurd" and "impossible," Robert's case would turn out to be just a small drop in the ocean of a growing trend in our modern society: universexuality.
OS X

Apple 10.4.11 Update Can Brick Macs With Boot Camp 425

g-san writes "Some Mac users are having problems with the latest 10.4.11 update, yours truly included. The problem seems to be caused by the presence of a Boot Camp partition and renders the Mac unable to reboot after the update fails. Note the Geniuses at the Apple stores are recommending a full disk wipe; but data can be recovered via Firewire." MacNN has a note up that if you fall victim to this "known issue" and need to reformat the disk, you can't reinstall Boot Camp because it is no longer available to OS X 10.4 Tiger users.
Democrats

Submission + - Democrat candidate uses rifle to attack GOP leader

Anon E. Mouse writes: Given the level of hysteria that is constantly being whipped up by the Democrats, many have worried for a while that someone is going to get hurt. Cases of voter intimidation and violence against Republican campaign headquarters were widely reported during the last election cycle. A Democratic poster recently went to the home of a Republican campus leader and assaulted him, resulting in criminal charges.

Most recently, a Democrat and former political candidate named Matthew Hunter Kramer has been arrested for threatening the executive director of the Republican Party of Nevada with a rifle, tearing photos of President Bush and Vice-President Cheney off the wall of the party's headquarters, threatening staffers at the Republican Party's office, and "warning that he would be back if President Bush vetoed an emergency war spending bill being considered by Congress."

It's no secret that Democrats are trying to force their way back into power. But bullying with rifles — as well as "swords, knives, a flare gun, a shotgun and shells," which also were found in Kramer's car, ups the ante considerably. I'll say it again: if the Democrats keep up their campaign of hate, someone is going to get hurt.
The Courts

Submission + - MicroSoft sues LinuxFest NW

Anonymous Coward writes: "With LinuxFestNW, (http://www.linuxfestnorthwest.org/) scheduled to start this Saturday, April 28th, in Bellingham, WA., M$ took an unprecedented step to stop the conference in its `backyard'. A spokesperson for M$, who declined to be identified, told us that their beef wasn't with Linux, but instead was about the lunch menu to be served on Saturday and Sunday.

M$ claims to have a patent on macaroni and cheese mixed with ketchup, and the trademark, `Southwest Style Mac&Cheese'. "It's an egregarious violation of our intellectual property", the spokeperson says. Not only are they using the term `west', but there are several references in their flyer about 'mac', and their use of 'mouse' is an obvious pointer to cheese.

The two-day Linux festival has offered to change their luncheon menu to BBQ'd fresh salmon but thinks that the use of `west' in linuxfestnorthwest is fair usage. M$ counters with the suggestion that BBQ salmon contributes to global warming, making Linux fair game for Sheryl Crowe. Karl Rove declined to comment on this breaking news story."
Mozilla

Submission + - Must-Have Extensions for Thunderbird 2.0

Operator writes: While Firefox has been in the spotlight for some time now, Thunderbird has yet to enjoy the same wide adoption or glowing praise despite being an excellent email client. It's no surprise that a popular topic has been Firefox's best (and worst) extensions while Thunderbird add-ons have gone largely unnoticed. In celebration of the recent release of Thunderbird 2.0 here are the best extensions for the program along with some honorable mentions.
Education

Submission + - pc games in languages besides english

devinv writes: I'm trying to improve my Spanish by playing video games in Spanish, but it's hard to find out which games are available in Spanish, aside from buying them. I'm wondering if anyone has found a convenient source for this kind of information, or has tried this and can comment on its effectiveness.
The Internet

Submission + - North America Broadband Rankings Nosedive

An anonymous reader writes: The OECD has just released its annual broadband rankings for its 30 member countries and North America continues to sink like a stone. The U.S. dropped from 12th to 15th in broadband subscribers, while Canada ranked 29th out of 30 countries in broadband growth.
United States

Submission + - Articles of Impeachment Submitted Against Cheney

Watson Ladd writes: Dennis Kucinich has reveled his articles of impeachment for Cheney. They are for lying about Iraq's prewar nuclear abilities, lying about the relationship between Saddam and Osama, and for trying to do the same to Iran. The text of the charges and a ton of supporting material are available here.

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