Ambitious Plans to Store Genome Data Online Closer to Reality

Ambitious Plans to Store Genome Data Online Closer to Reality

Moore’s Law say that which is impossible today will likely be outdated tomorrow. Human Genome project took 15 years and $3 billion just to do the first genome sequence. Today, it can be done for a $1000 within 24 hours.

Acting accordingly to Moore’s Law, the researchers from Google are trying to store all humans genome online; however, Google Drive currently cannot cope with entire copies of the genome.

Google estimates that around 100 gigabits are needed to store all six billion nucleotide letters, which isn’t much. The problem, however, starts when we multiply this capacity for every person on the planet. For example, you’ll need more than 1.2 million terabit just to build a DNA database of everyone living in Moscow.

The problem is not about storage capacity; it is about searching and indexing, experts say. Google search index currently has limit at 100,000 terabit. The catch is that people’s DNA is 99.1 percent identical, so actually less than one gigabit is needed to store our essence on the cloud.  

Nevertheless, why would we want save our genome sequence online? [continue reading]

An Arab Sheikh Offered $1mn for Vintage VW Beetle

An Arab Sheikh Offered $1mn for Vintage VW Beetle

Uruguay’s president, José Alberto “Pepe” Mujica Cordano, became famous for his unconventional presidency. When he visits the doctor to check his health, he sits in the waiting room of the public hospital, waiting for his turn. When he goes to work, he rides in his 1987 VW Beetle for which he got a $1million offer from an Arab sheikh.

“Human beings have a bit of fetishism; we need certain material symbols,” said Mr. Mujica, adding that he still keeps his father’s old hammer and shovel: “They [material symbols] are little things to the world, but are worth a lot to you.” he said.

Mexico’s ambassador to Uruguay told BBC News it was he who suggested that Mujica sell off the car. According to an anonymous source within the embassy, the ambassador and President Mujica joked that they could buy ten 4WD trucks for the money. Mr. Mujica, however, could not care less.

“I didn’t give it any importance,” the humble ex-guerilla leader told a news conference, after the Uruguayan weekly Busqueda broke the story. He has “no commitment to cars”, however, if he really sells his Beatle for a $1 million, Mujica plans to donate the entire proceedings to a housing support program for the homeless. If he gets trucks, he will donate them to the country’s public health office, or to his campaign workers, he said.

Major Flaw Detected in New Chip-n-Pin Cards

Major Flaw Detected in New Chip-n-Pin Cards

A new microchip allow users to swipe a card without punching in the security code. This allows users to quickly and comfortably pay a bill up to $31, however, that is the root of the major flaw, experts said.

Newcastle University researchers presented on Monday, at ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, a report that showed the chips do not recognize limits with foreign currency transactions.

According to researchers, all it takes is a bump against another person’s pocket, where the card can communicate with something like a smartphone.  There is a $31 limit, however, any foreign currency transfer is limitless.  Researchers demonstrated the action proving that it takes less than a second for that transaction to be approved.

The purpose of the research is too find the holes and fix them before they can be exploited by criminals, said Professor Aad van Moorsel head of Newcastle University’s School of Computing Science and author of the report, as quoted by Wired.

He said that if they can find flaws, criminals will be able to do that as well. Magnetic strip cards still represent the best security since they required terminal authentication therefore is less vulnerable. The microchip can be accessed without contact and the card is always “on,” meaning accidental communication with other devices is possible, said Aad van Moorsel.

Researchers warned that there might be hundreds of criminal companies located anywhere in the world with multiple attackers across the world collecting small transactions of perhaps €200 at a time.

“This previously undocumented flaw around foreign currency, combined with the lack of POS terminal authentication and the ease of skimming contactless credit cards, makes the system more vulnerable to high-value attacks,” Martin Emms, the lead researcher on the project, said in a Newcastle University press statement.

So called EMV system (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) with Chip-n-Pin cards, are scheduled to be rolled out in the United States in 2015 as part of an effort to bring security to a higher level, however, Emms warned that US officials have not tested the back end of the system.

The Russians Could Control Vital US Infrastructure through Smartphone, DHS Says

The Russians Could Control Vital US Infrastructure through Smartphone, DHS Says

According to the Department of Homeland Security, a ‘Doomsday’ scenario like the one we have seen in a blockbuster Die Hard 4 could become a reality. In a movie, the group of domestic terrorists led by the rogue FBI agent took control over US electrical power grid and many other vital systems wired to the central network.

In reality, DHS sources blame Russian hackers for planting the destructive malware program years ago. According to the Department of Homeland Security, a “Trojan Horse” malware program has penetrated the software that runs much of the nation’s critical infrastructure.

Describing it as a very serious threat that could cause potential economic catastrophe, DHS source told ABC News they believe they have evidence that hackers sponsored by the Russian government planted the software.

Who ever the cyber-attackers are, it is chilling thought that it’s even possible for someone to remotely take control of vital national infrastructure by hacking the software that, according to DHS source, control complex industrial operations like oil and gas pipelines, power transmission grids, water distribution and filtration systems, wind turbines and even some nuclear plants.

DHS said in a bulletin that the hacking campaign has been ongoing since 2011, but no attempt has been made to activate the malware to “damage, modify, or otherwise disrupt” the industrial control process. US officials only recently became aware the penetration, however, they don’t know where or when it may be unleashed.

6 Ways The Cops Can Tell that You're Texting While Driving

6 Ways The Cops Can Tell that You're Texting While Driving

Texting is among the most dangerous forms of distracted driving, however, there are lots of drivers who think that they are too good and safe behind a wheel. Texting while driving is illegal in most states but it is difficult for highway patrol to spot if someone texts from behind a wheel.

“If a person is hiding their electronic device in their lap or other less than obvious place it can be hard for an officer to observe them texting,” says Technical Sergeant James Cleary, spokesperson for the New York State Police.

According to Insurance.com, however, there is a six 6 ways the cops know you’re texting.

1. The panhandler on the corner, at least if you live in Canada.

Canadian cops often dress up as panhandlers in order to get up close to inspect drivers. Drivers who are texting while waiting traffic light to go green, might get the ticket from panhandler-looking cop.

2. Elevated vehicle or the truck in the next lane

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo spent $1 million on elevated Chevy Tahoes for the police because they give officers a bird’s-eye view of a driver’s hands. That move raised the amount of issued distracted driving tickets to 5,553 within a two months, from 924 in the same period last year.

Cops in Tennessee are going even higher, cruising 18-wheelers to peer into passenger cars, however, they only spot the offenders and report them to a patrol that does the ticketing.

3. The spotter on the overpass

An overpass is the perfect vantage point for police to spot a driver who text messages. Intersections, stop signs and stoplights are common stalking grounds, according to Insurance.com, when the officer observes a violation, he radios waiting officers who issue the citation. Spotters can clearly describe not only details of the car and drivers, also the model and color of the phone, even in which hand drivers were holding it in.

4. Your own cellphone records

If the police believe texting led to an accident, they will check your phone records, trooper Jeff Petucci of the Pennsylvania State Police told CentralPa.com.

“It’s not an automatic thing, but at the same time if it’s a crash that causes serious injury and death we’re going to look at that angle if someone has been texting and driving,” Petucci says.

5. You, staring at your own lap

According to Omar Jaleel, an attorney in Oak Brook, Illinois, behavior of an driver can lead to a ticket. Officers are trained to recognize head and face characteristic movement of those who are texting messages from behind the wheel.

6. The texting detector

This is not yet a meter of reality, but the police soon may have a new tool that can detect if drivers were texting when they shouldn’t have been. A new radar gun-like device developed in a Virginia based company ComSonics could, not only detect radio waves from the cellphone, but also could distinguished calls from texting.

The detector is still in the early phase of development process and how soon the gun will be in the hands of police officers is anyone’s guess, yet it can become reality sooner than we think. 

Source: http://newswire.net/newsroom/news/00085872-5-1-ways-the-cops-can-tell-you-re-texting-while-driving.html

New Russian VIP Cars with 850 Horsepower Tsar Engine

New Russian VIP Cars with 850 Horsepower Tsar Engine

(Newswire.net — November 4, 2014)  – The national automobile and machine industry (NAMI) announced plans to produce a line of 6.0 liter V12-turbo engines with up to 850 horsepower capacity in the next couple of years.

New power engines will be designed for the “Cortege” project, which will produce, not only presidential vehicles, but other cars, SUV’s and vans in the presidential escort. The future engine will also be applied to military vehicles and even used in aviation.

“Our colleagues from the West, who participate in the project, have casually dubbed this V12 a ‘tsar engine’,” NAMI head Maksim Nagaitsev told Gazeta.ru.

Russia’s Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov told journalists that the project is designed to create modern Russia’s own car-manufacturing base, however, it has been reported that German automobile giant Porsche might take part in the Russian project.

For now, the design of the cars being developed by the Cortege project remain a secret, but should go public by the end of the year, officials said, however, a model of the presidential limo was unveiled by NAMI earlier this year.

Top Cortege vehicle, the Russian presidential limo will be the world’s first four-wheel drive official state car, according to NAMI head Nagaitsev. The design for the future president’s limo was chosen in an open contest, with international artists participating. Russian president Vladimir Putin will select two of the six finalists who were chosen among 80 different artworks.

“We started working on two concepts. One had historical references, and another resembled contemporary European [cars],” Nagaitsev told Za Rulem magazine, adding that a new Russian presidential limo is going to be the largest in the world.

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich announced last year that project costs are around $550 million.

JDM Plumbing Company in Ventura is Preparing for Another 33 Years

Ventura Plumbing Company Reaches Milestone, Prepares for Another 33 Years

“I'm very good at plumbing. I've been plumbing for over 33 years. Plumbing I know”, says David Barroso, owner of JDM Plumbing. “The business end is what I'm learning now.”

David recently took over the entire business. “I bought my brother out in November. So I'm kind of changing directions“, he said.

“I was always the one that was on the field doing all the work. Now I'm kind of doing both. I'm on the field still, but I'm trying to do the office work and maintain and running the office. That's the part I'm learning.”

“My son is getting ready to graduate from California Lutheran University with a business major. My hope is that he will take over the business later on if that's what he chooses to do.”

David is getting more help from family with the office duties. “My daughter takes care of my Facebook pagefor me. I'm not really that savvy on the Facebook stuff. So she helps me out with that and we go over it and I give her suggestions and she gives me suggestions. That's kind of like what her job is.”

David is looking out for his customers by posting weekly plumbing tips. “I try to post a helpful plumbing tip at least once a week. I try to find things homeowners can do on their own, something that saves them money in the long run.”

“Now that California in a severe drought, I try to show people how to save water.” says David.

Ventura Plumber Marks 33 Years

JDM Plumbing Facebook page hosts simple tips, such as how to fix a dripping faucet or leaking toilet. Both are very common problems and each can each cost the homeowner 3,000 gallons of water per year.

With California’s reservoirs at 20% capacity heading into the driest part of the year, higher water prices are inevitable. “You can spend 12 cents for a washer or $68 a month for wasted water”, says David “And we do offer a senior citizen discount.”

The water-saving tips are especially timely as Ventura County cities are facing ground water pumping restrictions to prevent sea-water intrusions into the county’s aquifers. More expensive imported water can make up the difference, but at a cost of several million dollars in each city. Those additional costs will be passed along to citizens through rate hikes.

The Camarillo City Council has already acted by adopting a stage 2 water conservation ordinance June 25. City water customers are now faced with fines starting at $100 for the first violation. Among other restrictions, the ordinance requires homeowners to fix irrigation and plumbing leaks.

“I expect these ordinances in each Ventura County city this summer”, said David.

Clearly Plumbing Vancouver and the BC Lions

Clearly Plumbing Vancouver and the BC Lions

Ambassadors of the BC Lions Football Club at many events, the Felions 35 talented and beautiful dancers made the cut to join the team by demonstrating a good work ethic in addition to their personalities, appearance and dancing skills. They are always proud to represent the Lions at community, charity and corporate events that help raise funds for various charities and initiatives while balancing full-time jobs, university schedules and other activities.

While we can certainly offer 24 hour emergency plumbing, we don’t have the dance skills of the Felions, and likely wouldn’t be considered quite as attractive either. We do share in the commitment to community and hard work as we strive to offer the people of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland the best local plumber around.

Millennium Hair Restoration in Woodland Hills Gets Website Make-Over

Millennium Hair Restoration Studio in Woodland Hills Gets Responsive Website

Millennium Hair Salon, leading southern California non-surgical hair replacement studio, has a new responsive web site thanks to Mike Taylor, Camarillo marketer. The new site supports smart phones as well as laptops and tablets. The new site will handle the large number of mobile searches the hair salon gets.

Millennium Hair Salon in Woodland Hills CA has a new responsive web site. "The new site retains the look of the original Millennium web site, but now it is a ‘responsive’ web site", said Mike Taylor. ‘Responsive’ means the website responds to your device by reshaping itself to fit your screen.

"I had to call in a specialist to modify the theme to make it match 100%", said Mike.

“We are very particular about appearance at Millennium”, said Laura, hair salon manager. “Appearance is what we do. We insisted the new website look just like the original site. But when we looked at our old site on a friend’s smart phone, we were appalled. Nothing worked”.

Millennium Hair Salon specializes in a unique and invisible hair replacement system. “We take a sample of your own hair and match it with real human hair for texture, color, length and wave pattern. We create a virtually undetectable foundation and every hair is attached to it by hand, one hair at a time, to achieve the right density, pattern and direction.

“It really is a natural looking hair replacement system and you have to see it to believe it” said Laura, “but you just couldn’t see it on a phone.” When they installed tracking, it was clear half of their visitors found them on cell phones. Grace said, “It was upsetting to know our web site looked like it did to so many people.”

Mr. Taylor said, "Millennium’s old website developer was ‘un-responsive’ to requests to make the site mobile friendly. They also were unresponsive to making the site more findable in searches." It took a new design team at http://InTheNewPR.com to duplicate the site and make it both findable and viewable on all devices.  

“It was a lot of work, but now, our site looks good on tablets and phones and is a lot easier to find. We are showing up in some surprising places we never did before”, said Laura.

“Not only did we keep the look of the old web site, but we suddenly started showing up in Google, Yahoo and Bing. We even had the developers add new features, like driving directions and click-to-call. We are quite pleased with the result.”

Canada's Oilfield Directory Opens Dubai Office with Tank World Expo Coverage

Canada's Oilfield Directory Opens Dubai Office with Tank World Expo Coverage

Oilfield Directory, Canada's largest Energy Sector Directory, opens Middle East office. Dubai correspondent Renu Gihar met with Dr. Matar Hamed Al Neyadi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy, UAE to debut AE directory at Tank World Expo 2014

The last two years have seen Oilfield Directory fight its way from 3rd place to become the largest Energy sector “Yellow pages” in Canada. They are maintaining that momentum and this year marks their expansion from Canada to the Middle East with the opening of a new office, web site, mobile apps and print publication in Dubai.

“No sooner had we set up our Dubai operation than the Tank World Expo promoters approached us to help publicize their upcoming conference, Tank World Expo 2014”, said Scott Steele, Oilfield Directory CTO. “They came to us because of our prominence in the energy sector, which is primarily based on our web sites and mobile applications. It was rather ironic when the promoters asked us to supply printed copies of the directory for the Expo.”

The “Tank World” conference was held at Sheikh Maktoum Hall, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Dubai, UAE (aka the Dubai World Trade Centre). The event brought together over 1,600 attendees and 70 exhibitors in the Tank Storage industry for 2 days of content, workshops and meetings.

Oilfield Directory’s Dubai correspondent Renu Gihar attended the Expo to introduce the company’s UAE web-based directory during the Tank World Expo 2014.

Keynote speaker Dr. Matar Hamed Al Neyadi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy, UAE, shown here with Ms. Gihar, was gracious enough to take a moment to examine and endorse Oilfield directory’s AE print publication, “Oil Gas News”.