Month: March 2006

Bird Flu Defies Control Efforts

Los Angeles Times: Bird Flu Defies Control Efforts
The spread of avian influenza to at least 29 new countries in the last seven weeks — one of the biggest outbreaks of the virus since it emerged nine years ago — is prompting a sobering reassessment of the strategy that has guided efforts to contain the disease.

The speed of its migration, and the vast area it has infected, has forced scientists to concede there is little that can be done to stop its spread across the globe.

"We expected it to move, but not any of us thought it would move quite like this," said Dr. David Nabarro, the United Nations' coordinator on bird flu efforts.

U.S. Makes Seized Iraqi Documents Public

HoustonChronicle.com – U.S. Makes Seized Iraqi Documents Public
— The federal government is making public a huge trove of documents seized during the invasion of Iraq, posting them on the Internet in a step that is at once a nod to the Web's power and an admission that U.S. intelligence resources are overloaded.
The Web surfers have begun posting translations and comments, digging through the documents with gusto. The idea of the government turning over a massive database to volunteers is revolutionary _ and not only to them.

Alcohol, Red Bull, and perception of buzz

A new study of the popular youth drink for getting blasted on a combo of caffeine & booze reports:

Study results show that drinking alcohol and Red Bull together significantly reduces the perception of headache, weakness, dry mouth and impairment of motor coordination.
Red Bull does not, however, significantly reduce alcohol-related deficits on objective measures of motor coordination and visual reaction time. People who combine alcohol with energy drinks may be at even greater risk for problems such as automobile accidents because they believe they are unimpaired.

WIND ENERGY Cost Dropping Below Conventional Sources

March 22, 2006: WIND ENERGY DEMAND BOOMING: Cost Dropping Below Conventional Sources Marks Key Milestone in U.S. Shift to Renewable Energy
Three of the 50 states—North Dakota, Kansas, and Texas—have enough harnessable wind energy to satisfy national electricity needs. The cost of wind-generated electricity has fallen from 38¢ per kilowatt-hour in the early 1980s to 4¢ to 6¢ today, offering an almost endless supply of cheap energy.

Terrorist 007, Exposed

Terrorist 007, Exposed
For almost two years, intelligence services around the world tried to uncover the identity of an Internet hacker who had become a key conduit for al-Qaeda. The savvy, English-speaking, presumably young webmaster taunted his pursuers, calling himself Irhabi — Terrorist — 007. He hacked into American university computers, propagandized for the Iraq insurgents led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and taught other online jihadists how to wield their computers for the cause.

Rail Freight Tries to Catch Up

Reuters Business Channel | Reuters.com Rail Freight Tries to Catch Up

"If a ship is loading up in China, we should know what's being loaded, where it's headed and when it's going to enter our network,".

The pace of U.S. imports has seen double-digit growth over the past three years as more goods originate in rapidly developing economies such as China and India.Combined with high fuel prices and an acute shortage of drivers hurting the trucking industry, a rising tide of cargo is hitting the rails, leaving railroads scrambling to match demand.

Orchestras discover downloads

Orchestras discover downloads – Technology – International Herald Tribune
84 percent of young online consumers listen to music on their PCs.Probably few of them are grooving to Chopin or Brahms, but the 1.4 million downloads of free Beethoven symphonies offered by BBC Radio 3 last June proved that audiences for classical music might be larger than anyone thought.