Monthly Archives: January 2013

British scientists announce breakthrough in turning DNA into data storage

"Scientists in Britain on Wednesday announced a breakthrough in the quest to turn DNA into a revolutionary form of data storage. A speck of man-made DNA can hold mountains of data that can be freeze-dried, shipped and stored, potentially for thousands of years, they said. The contents are 'read' by sequencing the DNA — as is routinely done today, in genetic fingerprinting and so on — and turning it back into computer code. To prove their concept, the team encoded an MP3 recording of Martin Luther King’s 'I Have A Dream' speech; a digital photo of their lab; a PDF; a file of all of Shakespeare’s sonnets; and a document that describes the data storage technique." Continue reading →

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3-D Printing Revolution: Printing Human Hearts

"Creating a solid, three-dimensional object from a printer sounds like science fiction but it’s very real. 3-D printing has created prosthetic legs, racing-car parts, customized mobile phones and more. 'These were experimental technologies for decades and now they’re commercial,' says Josh Brown, vice president of Fusion Analytics. 'And the applications essentially cut across every vertical from health care to defense to aerospace to manufacturing to oil and gas. There is nothing that’s not going to benefit from some of these newly commercialized 3-D technologies.'" Continue reading →

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Thousands of armed protestors gather at state capitols in pro-assault rifle rallies across the country

"The size of crowds at each location varied - from dozens of people in South Dakota to 2,000 in New York. Large crowds also turned out in Connecticut, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington state. Some demonstrators in Olympia, Wash., Phoenix, Salem, Ore., and Salt Lake City came with holstered handguns or rifles on their backs. At the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort, attendees gave a special round of applause for 'the ladies that are packin'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThousands of armed protestors gather at state capitols in pro-assault rifle rallies across the country

What’s An American To Do?

"The decision by Reed Exhibitions to ban modern sporting rifles, their documentation, any pictures or even brochures of these 'products that in the current climate may attract negative attention' has caused a maelstrom of outrage. A boycott of sponsors, vendors and the NRA has grown quickly, and now virtually no major gun manufacturers will be exhibiting or participating in this year’s show. A ‘Virtual Sports Show’ has been set up to allow companies choosing to opt out of the exhibition in support of our rights under the second amendment can still connect with customers wishing to support them and purchase their products and services." Continue reading →

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Central Banks Repatriate Gold: How Will This Affect Investors?

"Germany made an even bigger splash than Japan in the gold market recently with its surprise announcement last week that the Bundesbank would begin repatriating gold reserves held overseas. The central bank said it wanted to keep more than 50% of its gold reserves at home, up from slightly less than one-third currently. With that in mind, the Bundesbank will move all its gold reserves now held in Paris back to Germany, and reduce its reserves held in New York City. And Germany isn’t alone. There’s talk that the Netherlands and Azerbaijan will also repatriate gold reserves." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCentral Banks Repatriate Gold: How Will This Affect Investors?

ECB’s Weidmann: pressure on central banks risks FX competition

"Loading central banks with more tasks and pressing them to pursue more aggressive monetary policies could risk a round of competitive devaluations, European Central Bank policymaker Jens Weidmann said on Monday, citing pressure on the Bank of Japan. Weidmann is the latest in a string of policymakers worldwide to warn of the threat of a 'currency war' as central banks pump out cash to support their economies, reducing their value in the process." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingECB’s Weidmann: pressure on central banks risks FX competition

China’s Securities Regulator Says Stock Intervention Needed at Times

"China’s securities regulator said intervention in the nation’s stock market is necessary at 'key moments' because it isn’t mature. 'Volatility is high and don’t forget, China is still a developing country,' Xinhua quoted China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Guo Shuqing as saying at a national securities and futures supervision meeting. Net share purchases by China’s social security fund were 42.8 billion yuan ($6.9 billion) last year and totaled 42.7 billion yuan by qualified foreign institutional investors, Xinhua cited Guo as saying. They were the biggest net purchasers, Xinhua reported." Continue reading →

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SEC Bars Egan-Jones From Rating The US And Other Governments For 18 Months

"It is refreshing to see that the SEC has taken a much needed break from its daily escapades into midgetporn.xxx and is focusing on what is truly important, such as barring outspoken rating agency Egan-Jones from rating the US and other governments. From the SEC: 'EJR and Egan made a settlement offer that the Commission determined to accept. Under the settlement, EJR and Egan agreed to be barred for at least 18 months from rating asset-backed and government securities issuers as an NRSRO. EJR and Egan also agreed to correct the deficiencies found by SEC examiners in 2012." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSEC Bars Egan-Jones From Rating The US And Other Governments For 18 Months

BitPay Surpasses 10,000 Bitcoin Merchant Transactions, Zero Cases of Payment Fraud

"The key benefit that companies are starting to realize with bitcoin is the fraud mitigation. With credit cards, one out of every 167 transactions turns out to be fraudulent for domestic orders, and for international orders the rate is one out of every 50 transactions (source: Cybersource 2012 Online Fraud Report). Every day, more companies are starting to see the value that bitcoin can bring to their business, whether it’s reducing risk, expanding international sales, or improving efficiency." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBitPay Surpasses 10,000 Bitcoin Merchant Transactions, Zero Cases of Payment Fraud

Google reports ‘steady increase’ in gov’t requests for user data

"Google on Wednesday reported a 'steady increase' in government requests to hand over data from Internet users in the second half of 2012. The Web giant’s semiannual 'transparency report' showed the most requests came from the the United States, with 8,438 requests for information about 14,868 users. In releasing details of requests in the United States, Google said 68 percent of the requests it received from government entities were through subpoenas, which 'are the easiest to get because they typically don’t involve judges,' according to Salgado." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle reports ‘steady increase’ in gov’t requests for user data