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| compos mentis. Concision. Media. Clarity. Memes. Context. Melange. Confluence. Mishmash. Conflation. Mellifluous. Conviviality. Miscellany. Confelicity. Milieu. Cogent. Minty. Concoction. |
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NASA plans to read terrorist's minds at airports |
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| Topic: Technology |
4:51 pm EDT, Aug 17, 2002 |
Airport security screeners may soon try to read the minds of travelers to identify terrorists. Officials of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have told Northwest Airlines security specialists that the agency is developing brain-monitoring devices in cooperation with a commercial firm, which it did not identify. NASA plans to read terrorist's minds at airports |
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Record Labels Want 4 Internet Providers to Block Music Site |
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| Topic: Intellectual Property |
12:31 pm EDT, Aug 17, 2002 |
Testing out a tactic to combat online piracy, a group of record companies asked a judge yesterday to order four major Internet service providers to block Americans from viewing a China-based Web site that offers thousands of copyrighted songs free of charge. The 13 record labels that filed the suit in Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan say the site, Listen4ever.com, is "even more egregious" than the music-sharing service Napster, which was shut by a court order. Through the AT&T network, the following comment appears on an otherwise blank web page: "No web site is configured at this address." Record Labels Want 4 Internet Providers to Block Music Site |
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Shake-Up Sought At WorldCom |
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| Topic: Telecom Industry |
11:56 am EDT, Aug 17, 2002 |
Two WorldCom board members are urging other directors and creditors to fire chief executive John Sidgmore, saying his vision for bringing the telecommunications company out of bankruptcy is flawed and the company should instead be shopping itself to potential buyers. Sources said the board members have met with creditors in recent weeks, seeking their support to replace Sidgmore. One source said a group of creditors and some directors had already interviewed a potential replacement for the chief executive. Shake-Up Sought At WorldCom |
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Toward Distraction-Free Pervasive Computing [PDF] |
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| Topic: High Tech Developments |
8:32 pm EDT, Aug 16, 2002 |
The most precious resource in a computer system is no longer its processor, memory, disk, or network, but rather human attention. Project Aura aims to minimize distractions on a user's attention, creating an environment that adapts to the user's context and needs. This article was published in the April/June issue of IEEE Pervasive Computing. It is available here from the Project Aura web site. Toward Distraction-Free Pervasive Computing [PDF] |
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Robot Grass Cutter Cuts Through Tedium of Mowing |
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| Topic: High Tech Developments |
6:51 am EDT, Aug 16, 2002 |
Tired of mowing the lawn? New Zealand researchers say they have a device that could make your neighbors green with envy. It's a lawnmower operated via the Internet. "The next step is an automatic vacuum cleaner." Robot Grass Cutter Cuts Through Tedium of Mowing |
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New clues about what gives caffeine its kick |
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| Topic: Science |
9:33 pm EDT, Aug 15, 2002 |
From Nanochick: This is an article that talks about how caffeine works. It's pretty interesting stuff. I think I have somehow overloaded my DARPP-32-like-protein, because I can drink caffeine right up until I fall asleep. Me, too! And yet it still works as desired in the morning. Why is that? New clues about what gives caffeine its kick |
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Agere to Cut 4,000 Jobs and Exit Optical Components |
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| Topic: Telecom Industry |
6:52 am EDT, Aug 15, 2002 |
Communications equipment maker Agere Systems will cut 4,000 jobs, or more than a third of its work force, and exit the optical components business. "Reality has set in that the telecommunications market is not going to recover for some time." Agere to Cut 4,000 Jobs and Exit Optical Components |
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Language Gene Is Traced to Emergence of Humans |
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| Topic: Science |
6:47 am EDT, Aug 15, 2002 |
A study of the genomes of people and chimpanzees has yielded a deep insight into the origin of language, one of the most distinctive human attributes and a critical step in human evolution. The analysis indicates that language, on the evolutionary time scale, is a very recent development, having evolved only in the last 100,000 years or so. NYT covers the Nature publication. Language Gene Is Traced to Emergence of Humans |
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Molecular evolution of FOXP2, a gene involved in speech and language |
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| Topic: Science |
6:33 am EDT, Aug 15, 2002 |
Language is a uniquely human trait likely to have been a prerequisite for the development of human culture. The ability to develop articulate speech relies on capabilities, such as fine control of the larynx and mouth, that are absent in chimpanzees and other great apes. FOXP2 is the first gene relevant to the human ability to develop language. Subscription required for full text. Molecular evolution of FOXP2, a gene involved in speech and language |
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| Topic: Science |
6:31 am EDT, Aug 15, 2002 |
Gene explains dumb apes; Great apes lack nuts and bolts of language gene. Chimpanzees lack key parts of a language gene that is critical for human speech, say researchers. The finding may begin to explain why only humans use spoken language. More importantly, now we know how to make talking apes! Gene explains dumb apes |
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