Comment FOSS Patriot (Score 1) 166
Nothing would make me more patriotic than seeing NZ have the guts and foresight to install FOSS on government computers!
Government Microsoft usage is the worst tax of all.
Comment Re:DNA Databases are good (Score 1) 203
To some extent a methamphetamine addict for example, is no longer exactly on the right emotional level to really be classified as human by the way you explain it.
In my country though most murderers are out of prison after 10 years. A person can commit hundreds of burglaries and they are being treated harshly if they get even a year in prison. From that perspective, criminals are getting off pretty lightly as is.
Having said that when you compare a prisoners rights in respect of search and fingerprinting, how is compulsory DNA after arrest any more invasive? Once arrested their person can be searched pursuant to arrest, there homes and vehicles even if the circumstances are such. Their finger prints are automatically taken and not disposed of... That is all accepted and has been for decades.
I fail to see how a DNA database is more invasive than a fingerprint database.
Comment Re:DNA Databases are good (Score 1) 203
As far as I am aware, the voluntary is stored indefinitely because it is voluntary. The forced, where the person is found not guilty is destroyed.
The DNA is stored by a separate agency to those prosecuting.
This is my country though, I'm not sure what happens elsewhere.
Comment Re:DNA upon arrest and those awaiting trial (Score 1) 203
But if you are innocent your DNA is not very likely to be there. If you have a reasonable excuse as to why it may have been there, the DNA is automatically useless.
When some one is killed violently and your DNA is found under their nails, through their clothes, etc. Further investigation reveals there DNA on your clothing etc... How do you explain that?
Comment Re:DNA Databases are good (Score 1) 203
Yes Voluntary.
As in "Would you like to give us a sample of your DNA to put on record for identification purposes?"
For some reason a significant amount say yes... I can't understand why one would if they have already committed some terrible crimes, but they seem to.
There is definitely no coercion or strong selling, but having said that, the lure of cigarettes turn hardened criminals in to teddy bears.
Comment Re:This is how it is in the UK now (Score 2, Interesting) 203
Fingerprints are taken on arrest, how is this so much worse?
Comment DNA Databases are good (Score -1) 203
DNA databases solve cases.
In my country it is voluntary or forced for certain crimes such as rape. Voluntary DNA for petty crimes has helped solve open rape cases.
Victims rights should always be more important than that of criminals, who are often scum.
A locked up criminal is the best way of preventing further offences.
Microsoft's New Multiple-Browser Tester 221
Z80xxc! writes "Microsoft recently announced a new product called Expression Web SuperPreview, which lets developers view their web pages in any browser installed on their system, as well as in different versions of IE, all from the same interface. The product has one genuine innovation — a built-in tool for overlaying the rendering from one browser over another to compare (referred to as 'onion skins'). There are also HTML debugging aids and other helpful tools for web developers. A beta version is available for download. However, the current build only has support for IE — it will compare rendering in IE6 with either IE7 or IE8, whichever is installed. An internal build shows Firefox and Safari on Windows as well. The final product will appear as part of MS Expression Web Studio 3 when it is released later this year. (It will not be available in the Expression Mac suite.)"
Nintendo DSi Software Will Be Region Locked 148
aliquis writes with news that software made for the recently announced Nintendo DSi will be region-locked. Nintendo's reasoning is that the DSi "embeds net communication functionality within itself and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for each region." It's also been discovered that accounts with the DSi's online store won't be linked with the Wii store, so points for one won't work with the other. Nintendo has stated that they don't intend for digital distribution to replace retail sales. We discussed the DSi's announcement last week.
Training Bacteria To Deliver Drugs? 29
Hugh Pickens writes "While it may seem unlikely that single-celled organisms could be trained to salivate like Pavlov's dog at the sound of a bell, researchers say that bacteria can 'learn' to associate one stimulus with another by employing molecular circuits. This raises the possibility that bioengineers could teach bacteria to act as sentinels for the human body, ready to spot and respond to signs of danger. As with Pavlov's dog, the bacteria in the model learn to build stronger associations between the two stimuli the more they occur together. Now called Hebbian learning, it's often expressed as a situation in which 'neurons that fire together wire together.'" (More below.)
Comment Re:I just got 2.4! (Score 1) 639
Check out mah Gnu Pimp?
AIDS Virus Now Estimated To Be 100 Years Old 316
ChazeFroy writes "A new study estimates that the AIDS virus, HIV, started to circulate in the human population between 1884 and 1924, with a more focused estimate at 1908. This is much earlier than the previously-held estimate of 1930. 'The new result is "not a monumental shift, but it means the virus was circulating under our radar even longer than we knew," says Michael Worobey of the University of Arizona, an author of the new work.' The article also speculates that HIV first began to spread in Kinshasa, Congo."
Strong Methane Emissions On the Siberian Shelf 582
rrohbeck writes "The Independent reports brand-new results of high concentrations of methane — 100x normal — above the sea surface over the Siberian continental shelf. A large number of methane plumes have been discovered bubbling up from the sea floor. This is probably due to methane clathrate, buried under the sea floor before the last ice age, breaking up as higher water temperatures melt the permafrost that had contained it."
Submission + - Pandora Console Ready for Preorders 3
Croakyvoice writes: Finally months after the official announcement 3000
lucky people can now preorder Pandora, the Worlds fastest handheld console
that boasts a processor capable of up to 900MHZ, PowerVR 3D Graphics, a large
800x480 LCD Touchscreen, Wifi, Bluetooth, USB, Dual SD Card Slots, TV Out, Dual
analogue and digital controls, a clamshell DS Lite style shape and a 43 button
mini keyboard.The Console already boasts an amazing amount of ready to be released
software such as Ubuntu
and many full speed emulators for systems such as Snes, Amiga,
Megadrive and many more
that are not publically announced yet. The Console is as powerful as original
Xbox and on a par with the Nintedo Wii, Those Interested should visit OpenPandora.Org
the home of the Pandora Console.
For the full history of news about the Pandora from start until now check out
the Pandora Homebrew Site
