In a move sure to
encourage youth everywhere to keep their amps cranked up... to
eleven, scientists working on a cochlear implant have developed a
device that can actually help "reverse the death and degeneration of
hearing cells that occurs after prolonged deafness." A small electric
current releases specialized molecules that stimulate the nerve
regrowth. Professor Gordon Wallace tells Australian ABC:
We inject small amounts of electricity into the structure
and that causes the release of the molecules and makes them available
to the nerve cells.
The polymer controls the timing of release, and where the molecules
are released, to maximise interaction with nerve
cells.
The implications in assisting people with severe
hearing loss and nerve damage are obviously staggering, but even more
importantly, the technology isn't limited to hearing cells and
nerves—they mention spinal cord repair as well. Check the ABC
article for more details.
Vodafone Figures Out They Need To Encourage 3G Use
Vodafone Figures Out They Need To Encourage 3G Use07/16/2004 01:59 PM The various wireless carriers out there have a history of not having
the slightest clue when it came to pricing new services. They always
hope they can charge a premium for some brand new service. What
happens, of course, is very few people buy into it. You get the early
adopters, and no one else sees why they should bother. Instead, they
need to start realizing that there's a balance. You need to encourage
people to actually try the new service. Putting a huge upfront hurdle
doesn't help matters. So, it's a bit surprising that Vodafone appears
to (maybe? possibly?) have figured this out with their 3G datacard.
Instead of putting up a 300 Euro purchase price for the laptop card,
they're now selling the card for a single
Euro (that's right, one Euro is all it takes). In other words,
someone explained to them the concept of a loss leader. Sure, they're
losing money on each card sale, but the whole point of having a 3G
offering is not for the carrier to make money on selling phones and
cards, but off of the service. How else do you encourage people to
use the service than to make the upfront hurdle as cheap as possible?
It's similar to what they do with subsidized phones, of course, but so
far most carriers seemed so focused on how they could charge extra for
every bit of the 3G experience that it's still surprising to see this
happen. It's a smart move, even if the article goes on and on about
how it must mean they're having trouble getting people to adopt the
service. New services need promotions and low customer hurdles. That
seems to be exactly what Vodafone is going for.
Sony to accidentally encourage P2P, iTMS use06/17/2005 07:12 PM You'd think that after the fiascos with ATRAC, that Sony would've
learned about DRM that just annoys users and ultimately doesn't work.
Apparently not.
I think I’ve figured out why last week’s iPod FireWire
cable
hysteria struck such a nerve for certain Mac users. It’s an
unfounded fear that as the iPod succeeds, the Macintosh will —
somehow, in some unspecified but surely dreadful way —
suffer.
MMOs discourage heroism, FRPGs encourage it
MMOs discourage heroism, FRPGs encourage it08/07/2004 05:30 AM Very good Terra Nova post analyses the ways that Massively Multiplayer
games discourage the acts of heroism that made D&D so much fun to
play.
On one level, this tale highlights the plight of low levels in the
MMORPG. They pose the litmus test: do opportunities for heroism exist
for them in and amongst the treadmills? Is it ever possible for a
low-level to make a *real difference?* Perhaps, for some, an
exceptional stand by a NOOB ("newbie") party against MOB trains (large
flocks of NPC monsters) in some NOOB dungeon somewhere, qualifies. But
is there a more fundamental difference?
Consider. Can one make the argument that MMORPGs, as an adventuring
platform, have gone astray with player = single(few)-avatar
assumption? Because of the investment of time (read treadmills),
social and emotional capital, players are practically limited by the
number of characters they can play. Consequently, they are loath to
get in "over their heads" and virtual worlds are loath to offer dire
scenarios with only heroic exits for a few. Hardly a profound point,
but the question: is such a dynamic, in some guise, necessary for the
organic emergence of heroic narratives in an MMORPG?
Apple Stores, iPods Encourage Mac Attacks09/10/2004 11:58 PM "We believe the Street is underestimating the power of Apple's retail
strategy." By Forbes (via MyAppleMenu)
Kerry: Bush Policies Encourage Terrorism (AP)
Kerry: Bush Policies Encourage Terrorism (AP)08/02/2004 03:51 PM AP - Democratic candidate John Kerry accused President Bush of
encouraging terrorist recruitment with policies that have made the
world angry at the United States, a criticism that Bush dismissed as a
"ridiculous notion."
Shark Tank: How to encourage a professional attitude
Shark Tank: How to encourage a professional attitude02/13/2004 12:47 AM It's the late 1990s, and this small group of mainframe programmers
working under a government contract is beginning to encounter PCs, the
Web, sound files -- and
Analysts Encourage Businesses to Look Again at Software Assurance
Analysts Encourage Businesses to Look Again at Software Assurance12/10/2003 07:50 PM Top IT analysts discuss feedback they’ve received on Microsoft
Volume Licensing and Software Assurance. The Microsoft forum, held in
November, helped businesses explore how to maximize their technology
investments.
Government to encourage open source development
Government to encourage open source development12/30/2003 11:12 PM The Israeli government also will encourage the development of
lower-priced alternatives to Microsoft software in an effort to help
expand computer use by the public.
To that end, the Finance Ministry has cooperated with Sun Microsystems
and IBM in designing the Hebrew language version of OpenOffice
software, a freely distributed open-source alternative to Microsoft
Office.
Thanks to a pinched nerve, my left arm feels like someone keeps
sticking a red hot poker through it, so right now typing is about as
much fun as major dental work. If I'm a little slower to reply to
support questions than usual, please understand that it's nothing
personal :)
Just wanted to let everyone know that the pinch
ed nerve in my neck is slowly getting better, but it continues to
make it very hard for me to type for any length of time. As a result,
I'm way behind on my email, and there are a number of
messages in my newsgroups that remain unanswered.
Unfortunately, given that I leave for SXSW tomorrow morning, it will probably be late next
week before I'll be able to catch up with everything, so please be
patient if you're waiting for a reply from me. Thanks :)
Is Biotechnology Losing Its Nerve?
Is Biotechnology Losing Its Nerve?03/06/2004 01:53 AM Biotechnology companies appear to be taking fewer chances lately,
raising concerns that there will be fewer breakthrough drugs in the
future.
Harney launches campaign to encourage internet usage
Bush plan could encourage more schools to drug-test (USATODAY.com)
Bush plan could encourage more schools to drug-test (USATODAY.com)01/28/2004 08:39 AM USATODAY.com - President Bush's call for a tenfold increase in federal
spending for drug testing at schools could boost the number of schools
that conduct random tests of students, experts say.
Treatment hope for nerve disease05/26/2004 09:21 PM
Scientists have developed a potential gene therapy treatment for the
most common form of motor neurone disease (MND).
Cellphone text-messaging technology used to encourage young people to vote
salon.com/news/feature/2003/10/31/fox/index.html track this
site | 4 links
Army to Begin Destroying Deadly Nerve Gas (AP)
Army to Begin Destroying Deadly Nerve Gas (AP)06/09/2004 01:59 PM AP - In a cavernous, pipe-filled structure known simply as the Utility
Building, Army contractors are getting ready to destroy a Cold War-era
concoction so lethal it could kill untold millions.
The digital camera revolution need not snap your nerve
The digital camera revolution need not snap your nerve05/28/2004 06:27 PM Independent,UK-52 minutes ago ... A search on Google for your card
format - chosen after you pick the camera - together with the words
"UK price" should give you plenty of links to sites ...
Nerve.com's "Future of Marriage" survey
Nerve.com's "Future of Marriage" survey06/07/2004 11:37 PM Tomorrow, "Literate Smut" online magazine Nerve launches a two-week
"Future of Marriage" special issue. Included: the results of a "future
of marriage poll" which canvassed 2082 readers for some interesting
trend data and pithy quotes ("A good marriage needs blow jobs."...
"Have failed at it three times, but I am in love once again, so I
still have hope." ... "Would rather not die alone.")
New trends among our readers (primarily educated urban men and women
in their twenties and thirties): 32%, for example, think cheating
begins with a raunchy IM session. Fidelity is a priority for them
(close to 80% are pro-monogamy), but they're laissez-faire about the
lifestyles of others (97% think having children out of wedlock is
okay). There's just one thing on which they refuse to compromise: 59%
think bad sex is grounds for divorce.
Link to
poll results (yeah it's Nerve, but at-work-surfers can chill -- no
boobies are exposed in poll data results)
Push for anti-nerve agent drug
Push for anti-nerve agent drug05/02/2004 07:36 PM Scientists say enzymes that neutralise nerve agents could form the
basis of new drugs to protect civilians against chemical attack.
Troops 'foil Iraq nerve gas bid'07/02/2004 01:15 PM Polish troops say they have thwarted militants trying to buy warheads
containing a deadly nerve agent.
Fat Tissue Turned Into Functional Nerve Cells
Fat Tissue Turned Into Functional Nerve Cells06/01/2004 06:34 PM “Two years after transforming human fat cells into what appeared
to be nerve cells, a group led by Duke University Medical Center
researchers has gone one step further by demonstrating that these new
cells also appear to act like nerve cells. The team said that the
results of its latest experiments provide the most compelling
scientific evidence to date that researchers will in the future be
able to take cells from a practically limitless source…”
Blair urges party to hold nerve
Blair urges party to hold nerve06/11/2004 04:10 PM Tony Blair urges the Labour Party to hold its nerve after it suffers
its worst local election results in living memory.
nerve.com/regulars/quickies/democrats track this
site | 5 links
Sarin Nerve Agent Bomb Explodes in Iraq (AP)
Sarin Nerve Agent Bomb Explodes in Iraq (AP)05/17/2004 10:25 AM AP - A roadside bomb containing sarin nerve agent exploded near a U.S.
military convoy, the U.S. military said Monday. Two people were
treated for "minor exposure," but no serious injuries were reported.
Bomb containing sarin nerve agent explodes in Iraq
Nerve-y X-mas: human cupcakes and pornstar yule orgies
Nerve-y X-mas: human cupcakes and pornstar yule orgies12/22/2003 11:15 PM
Two seasonal goodies on Nerve.com for your clicking pleasure. First, a
photo gallery with holiday-themed contributions from some of the
online zine's regular contributors -- including a terrific X-rated
cupcake shot from Siege
(cropped thumbnail at left), whose work has been blogged here on
BoingBoing before. The gallery is thankfully devoid of naughty Santas
because, according to photo editor Whitney Lawson, the "treacly
tradition... fall[s] into the same category as spiced rum and Kenny
G's holiday album." Link
(sorry, but paid registration or someone else's password required).
Next up, the latest experiment in Nerve regular Grant Stoddard's "I
Did It for Science" series: "To attend a porn star's Christmas party."
The party was an orgy in LA (yes, an actual orgy), hosted by a
well-known adult entertainment biz couple. My dear BoingBoing readers,
let it be known that I refuse to be outdone in the realm of party
invites. I, too, received an Evite to this very same Christmas
clusterfuck. I did not attend, but I can tell you (swear on a stack of
mid '90s Wired Magazines) that said invitation included a
very thorough FAQ with the line, "Q: Can I bang [female co-host's
name]? -- A: Sure!" Li
nk.
Hamilton Holds Nerve to Win British Open (Reuters)
Hamilton Holds Nerve to Win British Open (Reuters)07/18/2004 01:41 PM Reuters - Little-known American Todd
Hamilton beat world number two Ernie Els in a four-hole playoff
to clinch the British Open on Sunday and win the $1.34 million
first prize, easily the biggest payday of his career. Grok Description matches for New Cochlear Implants Encourage Nerve Growth GrokA matches for New Cochlear Implants Encourage Nerve Growth
From Bandai comes a new iteration of the ever-popular "Tamagotchi"
virtual pets, called the "Chibi Tamagotchi." They take after the
original Tamagotchis (from 1996) in form factor and characters. But
beware of the size — "chibi" is Japanese for something small and
cute. Indeed, the Chibi Tamagotchis are 66% the size of the original
Tamagotchis.
They
won't hit the rest of the US stores until this Sunday, but the new
Tamagotchi Connection virtual pets were released ahead of schedule
yesterday in New York and Los Angeles. The main difference between the
new and old Tamagotchi is the inclusion of wireless links that will
allow different Tamagotchi pets to marry and have children. Think of
it as an important introduction of children to the perils of online
dating, without so much of the rashes.
Jason Piper shares his impressions of the hottest new virtual pet
(okay, pretty much only virtual pet) in town: the new Tamagotchi
Connection. You might not give a flying flip, but I adored my original
Tamagotchi for at least the first 8 to 10 hours.
When the first Tamagotchi was introduced in the 1998 was an instant
hit but just as quickly turned into a parent's nightmare. The new
keychain based electronic pet would "cry" (translates to a lot of
beeping) for attention non-stop for the first few hours. This for some
children was unnerving and soon discredited the product. Many parents
found themselves taking the child's toy to work to maintain its health
and keep the pet alive to avoid the disturbing news that their kids
pet had gone away.
Tamagotchi reborn as an adult
Tamagotchi reborn as an adult02/10/2004 02:47 AM Japanese toy firm Bandai is to relaunch Tamagotchi but the new version
of the egg shaped robot will be able to marry and have babies.
Barrier Therapeutics to Present at Pacific Growth Equities 2005 Life Sciences Growth Conference
Safa On Online Ads, Search: Growth, and More Growth
Safa On Online Ads, Search: Growth, and More Growth06/02/2004 09:36 PM Source: John Battelle's Searchblog - Safa Rashtchy's weekly newsletter
makes two good points: first, online advertising will grow faster than
most think, as major spenders migrate to the web in the next year, and
second, paid search has become a...
LynuxWorks Announces Consecutive Year Over Year Growth and Profitability; Company’s Fourth Quarter Success Fuelled by Growth in the Military/Aerospace Market
In October this site had 1774 unique visitors. In November this site
had 4302 unique visitors. Although this is no big
deal for most sites, I can't believe it. Thanks for visiting this
weblog, and please continue to do so. I hope next month I have even
more visitors. If you want to check out my site statistics, head over
to noeljackson.com/webalizer.
Pay Up for Growth
Pay Up for Growth08/17/2004 11:23 AM Legg Mason's Mary Chris Gay knows when to pay for growth and when to
sell a stock.
Q&A: Red Hat CEO looks outside U.S. for growth
Q&A: Red Hat CEO looks outside U.S. for growth06/06/2005 12:04 AM Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik this week discussed his company's software
stack strategy with Computerworld, saying that the best opportunities
for the open-source software right now are in Europe and Asia.
Supporting Growth
Supporting Growth04/16/2005 03:00 PM Wall Street and Technology Apr 16 2005 6:56PM GMT
Funny thing is, I live in a state that'll vote for Bush, no matter
who I vote for, and I'm also not educated enough (about politics) to
know if the president can actually do anything about that graph or
not...
Bed Bath & Growth06/24/2004 01:05 PM Bed Bath & Beyond starts its new fiscal year off right...but not all
is rosy.
BCE forecasts growth
BCE forecasts growth12/17/2003 09:34 AM globetechnology.com Dec 17 2003 8:38AM ET
Renal Growth 1.0
Renal Growth 1.012/20/2003 03:48 PM A tool for radiologists to plot kidney size against age and weight.
Renal Growth 2.2
Renal Growth 2.204/22/2004 09:08 AM A tool for radiologists to plot kidney size against age and weight.
Gmail Growth
Gmail Growth04/01/2005 02:20 PM Soon after Yahoo announces they're giving away 1GB of storage, Google
replies by upping Gmail to 2GB: G is for growth Storage is an
important part of email, but that doesn't mean you should have to
worry about it. To celebrate our one-year birthday, we're giving
everyone one more gigabyte. But why stop the party there? Our plan is
to continue growing your storage beyond 2GBs by giving you more space
as we are able. We know that email will only become more important in
people's lives, and we want Gmail to keep up with our users and their
needs. From Gmail, you can expect more. But wait! There's more......
Report: DSL growth best ever05/11/2004 05:59 PM DSL providers added the greatest number of new residential customers
in history last quarter but only marginally gained market share
against cable rivals, says a new study.
Looking to China for Growth
Looking to China for Growth07/22/2004 04:46 PM The Harbin Brewery purchase proves that growth in the beer industry
will come at a price.
CVS Prescribes Growth
CVS Prescribes Growth05/05/2004 12:44 PM The future leader of the drugstore retailers continues to impress.
FP-Growth-Tiny 1.4.0
FP-Growth-Tiny 1.4.009/09/2004 10:21 PM A memory-optimized frequent itemset mining algorithm.
In a move sure to
encourage youth everywhere to keep their amps cranked up... to
eleven, scientists working on a cochlear implant have developed a
device that can actually help "reverse the death and degeneration of
hearing cells that occurs after prolonged deafness." A small electric
current releases specialized molecules that stimulate the nerve
regrowth. Professor Gordon Wallace tells Australian ABC:
