Comment Re:If they can do this for Influenza... (Score 3, Interesting) 205
Because the common cold is actually over 100 different strains from at least 3 different virus families. After a cold, you develop protective immunity to that strain, but there are so many other strains circulating that its just a matter time before you get infected by a "new" (to you) strain.
There is development on vaccines which will carry the conserved regions in the cold viruses, but it's a MUCH bigger task.
Comment From behind the paywall (Score 1) 205
Comment Derailing the data-driven (Score 1) 64
Lets just be careful we are not overly reliant on pure data in the first place.
Or you become susceptible to these (http://pastebin.com/p2HfGx1L) techniques.
P.S. Sorry for the pastebin link, but it looks like Venkat took down his online email archives...
Comment This explains a lot (Score 1) 156
Like why I can't seem to be able to tan at all...
Comment There is always this option... (Score 1) 421
Comment It is about time (Score 1) 1
The autisitic have always been known to be briliant in there own fields.
It makes sense that someone would do this.
I for one welcome our Autistic Overlords
Comment Well (Score 1) 2
It is about time.
SCO Springs a Prospective Buyer 89
clemenstimpler sends a link to Groklaw, which has been following the proceedings dealing with the conversion of SCO's bankruptcy to Chapter 7 (i.e., liquidating the company). SCO has announced a prospective buyer. "...SCO has suggested it has a buyer. That doesn't mean it will avoid Chapter 7 of course, nor does it mean that the bankruptcy court will OK the suggested sale. But it likely does mean more delay, which is what this is likely all about. SCO very much wants to wait until the appeals court rules in SCO v. Novell. ... Hearing set for July 16 with backup for July 27. SCO has already moved to make it July 27. combo hearing on convert and sale. Frankly, it would not totally amaze me if the three entities that filed motions to convert were to appeal this. If not, SCO got its desired delay."
Comment Well in South Africa... (Score 1) 334
We have basically have 2 television broadcasters: The national broadcaster SABC (which is free) and a private satalite based system DSTV (+- 80$).
More and more local content is being made and is being broadcast mainly by SABC. It is mostly rubbish. DSTV, however licenses a bunch of American and British channels and content.
Due to the terrible state of broadband here (I wish I could get 50 GB a month. It is more like 3 GB on average.), watching TV is the only sustainable method of content delivery (that and leaching at lan parties).
Amazon Sued Over E-Book DRM Patent 84
I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "Discovery Communications, the parent company of the Discovery Channel, is alleging that Amazon's Kindle e-book reader infringes upon their patent for DRM-encumbered e-books (Discovery's complaint, PDF). The patent in question was filed back in 1999 and issued in 2007 — coincidentally one day after Kindle 1.0 went on the market — and has claims for DRM implemented with a great many particular symmetric key ciphers and key exchange algorithms, (the patent has 171 claims). Unlike most software patents, this one goes into quite a lot of detail about how the encryption is to be performed. But it will still be interesting to see if it can pass the 'machine or transformation' test now that In Re Bilski is being accepted as precedent. After all, it seems like all of these encryption and e-book distribution schemes could be run on a general-purpose PC, so is the 'invention' actually tied to a 'particular machine or apparatus' just because an e-book 'viewer' (not to mention 'home system', 'library', and 'kiosk') happens to be specified in the patent's claims? Or can the encryption of an e-book be claimed as some kind of 'transformation' when the law in that area is especially murky — when no one knows how In Re Bilski may affect the precedent of In Re Schrader?"
Apple Disclosures About Jobs To Face SEC Review 187
suraj.sun writes "US regulators are examining Apple Inc.'s disclosures about Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs's health problems to ensure investors weren't misled, a person familiar with the matter said.
The Securities and Exchange Commission's review doesn't mean investigators have seen evidence of wrongdoing, the person said, declining to be identified because the inquiry isn't public. Bloomberg News reported last week that Jobs is considering a liver transplant as a result of complications after treatment for cancer, according to people who are monitoring his illness."
Comment Processing.org (Score 1) 180
It is a language (based on Java) made for this sort of thing. Made together with one of the guys who wrote "Visualizing Data" (Ben Fry). It is fun to play with too.
