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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

This looks cool



NIST's new optical atomic clock uses two magnetic coils (red rings) and an optical lattice (red laser beam), as well as intersecting violet lasers to cool ytterbium atoms, slowing their motion.

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"Be patient and jump on them like a fat kid on a cupcake when they become available." -- EVGA forum

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me@rescam.org

. . . from a Friend

Serenity

A reflection upon a process of loss that is tragic yet optimistic; based on real events.


“I don't want to leave you, I'm sorry, I love you.”

That was the last thing she said, with tears flowing along her cheeks into the dull cream sheets. She could not bear looking at me, so I held her hand to let her know that I was there, to say I love her most. The lamps dimmed and the path came to a crystal end.

“Be at peace”, I whispered.

The doctor said she would try her best, that there was hope. I lived in Toronto, five hundred miles away, and nonetheless we were happy. Hours on the phone, letters, and notes kept us close. The same phone that had been the vessel of her voice was pouring bitterness into my heart. I was young and she was my life. Nothing else mattered now. I put down the phone and within five minutes, I packed my duffle and flew down on the next flight.

Wearing her favourite amethyst butterfly hairpin in her perfect hair she met me at O'Hare. As we waited for my bag, she leaned herself into my left shoulder. I had not told her why I came, doctor's orders. All that mattered was that she was happy.

We had plans, of marriage, of children. As a young couple, we were dreamers. Every Sunday for two months, hand in hand, we walked along the shores of Lake Michigan. Every Sunday, our path became shorter. Ignoring the clock, we smiled and looked at each other every time we passed a couple with a stroller. We felt hopeful that our dreams might still be realized. Every morning while she slept, I sat at my desk and recalled the perfect glass road we walked for the past year. It was beautiful. Something deep in my consciousness tugged at my heart and so I cried with tears augmenting the morning's dew.

A month ago, we had dinner at Kamehachi in Old Town as we always had on Fridays. Upon returning to our apartment, we sat down on our bed in the dark. I heard sobs and knew what was happening. She knew what was happening. She told me she was not afraid that things were brighter than ever.

That night, I called a taxi and we went to Bernard A. Mitchell Hospital. I did not know what was wrong and felt impotent at my helplessness. They tried everything. I could tell. After a week of the closest seconds we ever had, she was slightly better. As I promised a week after I met her, I pushed her on a borrowed wheelchair along the lakeshore once more. This was the last time, but neither of us cried, neither of us felt regret.

I still stand at the end of the road gazing back at the pristine glass path.

The most beautiful path of all is the one I never wanted to end.

I remember every step of that last walk.

Serenity.

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it's releases.

A.
A billion seconds ago it was 1959..

B.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive..

C.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.

D.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth.

E.
A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

If anyone wants to check the math, go ahead; I passed this along 'as is' when it arrived on my desk.

The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it's releases.

A.
A billion seconds ago it was 1959..

B.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive..

C.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.

D.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth.

E.
A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

If anyone wants to check the math, go ahead; I passed this along 'as is' when it arrived on my desk.

Can we safely postulate then that ALL OF US are engaged in low income careers?

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Classic WU= 7,237 Classic Hours= 42,079

. . . 'Chilling Effects' - Monitoring the Legal Climate for Internet Activity

The Chilling Effects Clearinghouse collects and analyzes legal complaints about online activity,

helping Internet users to know their rights and understand the law.


Chilling Effects welcomes submission of letters from individuals and from Internet service providers and hosts.


These submissions enable us to study the prevalence of legal threats and allow Internet users to see the source of content removals.



Chilling Effects aims to support lawful online activity against the chill of unwarranted legal threats.

We are excited about the new opportunities the Internet offers individuals to express their views, parody politicians,

celebrate favorite stars, or criticize businesses, but concerned that not everyone feels the same way.


Study to date suggests that cease and desist letters often silence Internet users, whether or not their claims have legal merit.


The Chilling Effects project seeks to document that "chill" and inform C&D recipients of their legal rights in response.



The Chilling Effects Clearinghouse is a unique collaboration among law school clinics and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Conceived and developed at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society by Berkman Fellow Wendy Seltzer, the project is now supported

by clinical programs at Harvard, Berkeley, Stanford, University of San Francisco, University of Maine, George Washington School of Law,

and Santa Clara University School of Law clinics, and the EFF . . . read more

. . . Question: What are the elements of a defamation claim?


Answer: The party making a defamation claim (plaintiff) must ordinarily prove four elements:


1. a publication to one other than the person defamed;

2. a false statement of fact;

3. that is understood as


a. being of and concerning the plaintiff; and

b. tending to harm the reputation of plaintiff.


4. If the plaintiff is a public figure, he or she must also prove actual malice.




Question: What defenses may be available to someone who is sued for defamation?


Answer: There are ordinarily 6 possible defenses available to a defendant who is sued for libel [published defamatory communication].


1. Truth.

This is a complete defense, but may be difficult to prove.


2. Fair comment on a matter of public interest.

This defense applies to "opinion" only, as compared to a statement of fact.

The defendant usually needs to prove that the opinion is honestly held and the comments were not motivated by actual "malice."

[Malice means knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth of falsity of the defamatory statement].


3. Privilege.

The privilege may be absolute or qualified.

Privilege generally exists where the speaker or writer has a duty to communicate to a specific person or persons on a given occasion.

In some cases the privilege is qualified and may be lost if the publication is unnecessarily wide or made with malice.


4. Consent.

This is rarely available, as plaintiffs will not ordinarily agree to the publication of statements that they find offensive.


5. Innocent dissemination.

In some cases a party who has no knowledge of the content of a defamatory statement may use this defense.

For example, a mailman who delivers a sealed envelope containing a defamatory statement, is not legally liable for any damages that come about from the statement.


6. Plaintiff's poor reputation.

Defendant can mitigate [lessen] damages for a defamatory statement by proving that the plaintiff did not have a good reputation to begin with.

Defendant ordinarily can prove plaintiff's poor reputation by calling witnesses with knowledge of the plaintiff's prior reputation relating to the defamatory content

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

. . . William Shatner : "I am Canadian"

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - I AM CLOSING MY THREADS - G'BYE

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .