Archive for May, 2006
Hate the thought of perishing in a bird-flu pandemic simply because the patent police, government ineptitude and the alignment of the planets has prevented you from having access to Tamiflu? If you fear that “the man” is trying to keep you down - six feet in a hole, There may be hope for you and the future generations you may live to sire…
(NOTE: you may have observed a hint of sarcasm above. See this post: HOW-TO: Bury a Corpse In Case of a Bird Flu Pandemic. I have a general dislike of fearmongering by the media.)
Researchers have developed a simpler, less expensive method for creating Tamiflu than patent-holder Roche currently uses. The research team has filed for a patent on the revised technique and has released it to the public domain.
Read the Recipe: A Short Enantioselective Pathway for the Synthesis of the Anti-Influenza Neuramidase Inhibitor Oseltamivir from 1,3-Butadiene and Acrylic Acid
Background information on the research: New Routes To Tamiflu Emerge
Links courtesy of Make magazine’s blog.
May 24th, 2006
To those who may have wondered why I’ve dropped from daily to weekly posts in the last month, I’d like to offer the following as an explanation:
No, that’s not a real newspaper! But the story is true. Through our company Disc of Light Media, Eve and I have released the first in a series of meditation and relaxation CDs. Currently we are wholesaling them to hospitals, clinics and other institutions, but we are putting together a retail version of these products as well. In the mean time, if you work for an institution who has a need for relaxation materials for your clients, please check out our woefully inadequate website, www.disc-of-light.com, for ordering details.
And now, the promised Link Blowout:
Wired: Fastest-Growing Plastic Surgeries excess skin removal following rapid weight loss.
Kuro5hin: How to cure your asthma or hayfever using hookworm Better health through parasitic infestation!
GizMag: BodyPad: new game controller represents another step in the evolution of the CHI Beef up DDR, etc. on your console.
Medgadget: ‘Brits have a screw loose when it comes to flossing’ Screwdrivers, Earrings, Needles, Keys and Paper clips - can you guess what they have in common?
May 18th, 2006
Chris Simmons, a British coder developed a nasty case of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) during an 8-hour programming jag. It seems he managed to work all eight hours at his desk without getting up to stretch at all. DVT is more commonly know for affecting people on long airplane flights, sometimes called “Coach-Class Syndrome”.
This is a good reminder to all desk jockeys everywhere: take a five minute stretch break every hour!
Read More:
Worker gets DVT sitting at desk [BBC]
Via Slashdot.
May 10th, 2006
While a Starbucks-style frappuccino may not be especially healthy, it is a relatively pleasant caffeine delivery system.
Blogger Derek Kurth documents his family’s recipe for the perky, sweet beverage that has a comparable flavor for a cost that ranges from about a third down to a fifth of the retail cost!
The nuts and bolts:
mix a pot of fresh brewed vanilla coffee with 6 cups of whole milk, 1 cup of sugar, and almost 1 tsp of powdered cocoa mix. Pour into sterile bottles and chill.
You may wish to substitute bulk Splenda for the sugar.
Read the full article:
Roll Your Own Frappuccinos
Via BoingBoing.
May 4th, 2006
This video [YouTube] shows a cool technique for adapting an adhesive bandage to better stay on a finger, even right over a knuckle. The technique involves making slits in the bandage before application.
The narration is in Japanese, but the demonstration is clear even with the sound off.
Enjoy!
May 1st, 2006
All original content covered under a Creative Commons license.