40443661
submission
Kittenman writes:
The BBC is covering the ins and outs of Flu vaccines. According to the article, the vaccine is approximately 60% effectice, and it is the World Health Organization (WHO) that decide what strains (to a maximum of 3) are prevalent each year, and recommend that to go into the vaccine. And surprisingly, (or not), the recommendations for each hemisphere of the globe can be different. So are you more likely to get the flu if you fly from London to Sydney after a jab?
39160021
submission
Kittenman writes:
After 38 years (1974-> 2012) the BBC's CEEFAX service has ceased transmission. The service gave on-line up-to-date textual information (albeit in condensed form) to TV viewers in the pre-Internet era and afterwards. An British ex-PM (John Major) states ..
"From breaking global news to domestic sports news, Ceefax was speedy, accurate and indispensable. It can be proud of its record."
38529511
submission
Kittenman writes:
Maine Republicans have discovered that the Democrat candidate, Colleen Lachowicz, plays an Orc rogue in World of Warcraft. They point out to readers of their website that her liking for back-stabbing and poison may make her 'unfit for office'.
37107813
submission
Kittenman writes:
NZ's Auckland daily is covering (partly as a TV promotion) the story of a Naturopath (in this case, an iridologist) who was consulted by a woman with a 'cyst' on her skull. After 18 months of 'treatments', the woman died of the 'cyst', which was actually a cancer. The woman left behind a letter stating that the naturopath advised against consulting a doctor — and the naturopath in turn states that she did request the woman to see a doctor.
What's amazing is that the naturopath cannot be 'struck off', as she is exempt from such treatment by being in the 'alternative medicine' field.
35834601
submission
Kittenman writes:
The BBC reports that the Apollo mission flags are still standing — with one exception. At Apollo 11 blast-off from the luna surface, the flag was knocked over (Buzz Aldrin reported this at the time). It's not known what sort of colours are visible in the flags owing to UV light exposure.
All in all, hopefully a blow to Moon Mission deniers?
33385227
submission
Kittenman writes:
The BBC has an article covering the so-far untold story between the 'Star Wars' canon and Wales. Did Chewbacca work in the mines? Was Han Solo in a choir in the Eisteddfod? In this case, the truth is not as strange.
32114957
submission
Kittenman writes:
India now tops the world in terms of spamming. Sophos advise that about 10% of all SPAM in the world originates from India. The US is in second place, with 8.3% and then South Korea, at 5.7%.
Is this change still more evidence for the US losing the position as a worldwide technology leader?
31887721
submission
Kittenman writes:
The NZ Herald (and no doubt many others) are covering the protest of a traveller, John E. Brennan, 49, who feeling disgruntled by the TSA intrusive pat-down, just continued to strip to the point of no return. He was arrested at Portland International Airport, and charged with Disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.
29998003
submission
Kittenman writes:
Private Eye (an English satirical/political watchdog magazine) have an abbreviated article on-line about HR abuses and investigative work at the Chinese 'Foxconn' plant. Apple picked the Fair Labor Association (FLA) over better-qualified labour review organizations for a critical review of the plant. Private Eye suspects this to be a political move by Apple, as the FLA "tends to like what it sees". Foxconn has seen multiple suicides by workers, a fatal explosion and 'slave-like' conditions — and yet the FLA president has said that the plant is "first class"
26476940
submission
Kittenman writes:
A "study" reviewing 30 people over 65 and 30 people between 18 and 49 found that the older age group used 100 words to tell the same story told in 70 words by the younger group.
This submitter finishes here.
24229768
submission
Kittenman writes:
US Programmer Jesse Anderson has taken advantage of Amazon 'Cloud' computing and used it to get programs (the virtual monkeys) creating the complete works of Shakespeare, by simulating random text entry until the Bard's words appear. The article comments that the virtual monkey creates a nine-character string, and then checks that string against the complete works — and that there are 5.5 trillion combinations possible in the English language.
One wonder how many "To be or not to be" sequences were produced.
23973370
submission
Kittenman writes:
Several media sources are covering the discovery of an exo-planet orbiting two suns. The planet has been nicknamed 'Tatooine', after the Star Wars planet that housed Luke Skywalker.
No mention of whether the discovery is linked to upcoming re-release of the Star Wars saga on Blu-ray.
22376992
submission
Kittenman writes:
The BBC website is covering comments from an 'online entrepreneur' (Charles Duncombe), who states that as a website has only about six seconds to grab the attention of a reader, it's important to make the page as correct and professional-looking as possible. A comment this Grammar Nazi totally agrees with (or rather, a comment with which this Grammar Nazi totally agrees).
21661982
submission
Kittenman writes:
SLATE is carrying some details of how eccentric treasure hunter Bill Warren is proposing looking for the body of Osama Bin Laden in the Arabian sea. Sonar will be used, and a submersible. Success seems unlikely, and expenses can only soar from the original US$1 million.
18822550
submission
Kittenman writes:
The "Sun", a UK tabloid is covering the invention of the smallest petrol engine. Various facts and figures are released with the data ("700 times more energy than a conventional battery"). The article cites that it could be replacing batteries within six years. This reader is dubious and wonders about filling it up at the local pumps.
