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Biotech

Submission + - Hidden Viral Gene CaMV IV in GMO Crops Discovered by Researchers (independentsciencenews.org)

Jeremiah Cornelius writes: Researchers with the European Food Safety Authority discovered variants of the Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S in the most widely harvested varieties of genetically-modified crops, including Monsanto's RoundupReady Soy and Maze. According to researchers, Podevin and du Jardin, the particular "Gene IV" is responsible for a number of possible consequences that could affect human health, including inhibition of RNA silencing and production of proteins with known toxicity. The EFSA is endorsing "retrospective risk assessment" of CaMV promoter and its Gene VI sequences — in an attempt to give it a clean bill of health. It is unknown if the presence of the hidden viral genes were the result of laboratory contamination or a possible recombinant product of the resultant organism. There are serious implications for the production of GMO for foodstuffs, given either possibility.

Submission + - Mit.edu hacked by Lulzsec (mit.edu) 2

balbus000 writes: "The mit.edu domain has been hacked by Lulzsec and replaced in memory of Aaron Swartz. The paragraph on the hijacked site now states: "R.I.P Aaron Swartz / Hacked by grand wizard of Lulzsec, Sabu / GOD BLESS AMERICA / DOWN WITH ANONYMOUS"."
Businesses

Submission + - Former Microsoft VP: Steve Ballmer Bullies And Ousts Rivals (ibtimes.com) 1

redletterdave writes: "Former Microsoft executive Joachim Kempin opened up about his experience working with current CEO Steve Ballmer on Tuesday, criticizing his former boss for the dubious way in which he protected his CEO seat, by continually and intentionally ousting any rising managers or executives that had potential to unseat him. Kempin cited Ballmer behind the departures of several prominent Microsoft employees including Richard Belluzzo, Kevin Johnson, Stephen Elop, Ray Ozzie, and most recently, Steven Sinofsky."
Firefox

Firefox OS Smartphones Arriving For Developers 124

Nerval's Lobster writes "For quite some time Mozilla has been working on Firefox OS, a lightweight mobile OS built in HTML5. Now it's whipped the curtain back from the first developer preview phones. The developer preview phones are unlocked, requiring the user insert their own SIM card. If those specs seem a little underpowered compared to other smartphones on the market, it's because Firefox OS is intended for lower-end smartphones; target markets include developing countries such as Brazil and China. (The first developer preview phones will be available in February.) The Firefox OS (once known as 'Boot to Gecko') is based on a handful of open APIs. The actual interface is highly reminiscent of Google Android and Apple iOS, with grids of icons linked to applications." The specs really aren't that bad; reader sfcrazy points out that they include the usual features baked into medium- and high-end phones these days: Wifi N, light and proximity sensors, and an accelerometer (though no mention of NFC).
Microsoft

Submission + - MS Won't Release Study Disputing Munich's Linux Outcome (itworld.com)

itwbennett writes: "As previously reported in Slashdot, in November of last year, the city of Munich reported savings of over €10 million from its switch to Linux. Microsoft subsequently commissioned a study (conducted by HP) that found that, in fact, 'Munich would have saved €43.7 million if it had stuck with Microsoft.' Now, Microsoft has said it won't release the study, saying that '[it] was commissioned by Microsoft to HP Consulting for internal purposes only.'"

Comment Re: (Score 1) 7

"None of those things are possible in truly free market capitalism through voluntary exchanges without force."

What a valuable insight. To which I might add the following:

"None of those things are possible in the realization of God's kingdom on earth, where every man, woman and child are born again in Christ, and living in the light of divine grace, forgiven of original sin."

Television

Journal Journal: "The means by which we live..." 12

"The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power.

We have guided missiles and misguided men."

-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, 1963

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