To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Edupage items (9/10/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 09:48:10 +0000

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

Y2K GLOBAL PICTURE TO UNFOLD ON INTERNET
The International Y2K Cooperation Centre, supported by the United
Nations, will monitor the effects of Y2K in New Zealand at midnight on
New Year's Eve, keeping other time zones that have not yet made the
date change informed of the impact. New Zealand will be the first
industrialized nation to change over to 2000, with Greenwich Mean Time
13 hours behind, and the U.S. East Coast 17 hours behind. The group
will gather data from 170 or more national Y2K coordinators, and will
use its Web site to report on the status of energy, communications,
financial services, government services, and transportation. The
group's site will allow Net users to follow the effects of Y2K region
by region. In the event of Y2K-related problems, one possibility is
that the group will establish regional help desks using experts who
will be able to talk others through necessary repairs. (Reuters
09/08/99)

FREE COLLEGE NOTES ON WEB: AID TO LEARNING, OR LAZINESS?
Internet startup StudentU.com is paying students at 62 U.S.
universities to take notes in up to 50 core classes per campus as part
of a free note offering at the company's Web site. The notes taken by
the students are posted on StudentU.com's Web site, within 24 hours.
The service launched yesterday and notes from some university courses
are already available. The site's creator, Oran Wolf, says he will
depend on advertising to provide revenues. Although Wolf says the
site is meant as a service to students, he acknowledged the potential
abuse, such as students skipping class, it could cause. Critics are
assailing the site as another affront to a proper education. Boston
University professor Peter Wood says the university could file a
lawsuit to keep Wolf's site from using its classroom notes. Wolf is
offering students up to $300 per semester to take the notes that are
posted on the site. (New York Times 09/09/99)

YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT THIS PRICE
Although Linux has been the focus of much recent publicity, other free
programs called FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD have quietly helped keep
the Web running for years. The three Unix-based operating systems
originated at the University of California at Berkeley, emerging from
code written in the late 1970s and early 1980s. A recent survey found
that BSDs are used on almost 15 percent of servers connected to the
Internet. Yahoo!, which owns the world's most heavily trafficked Web
site, relies on FreeBSD to serve close to 80 million users per month.
After trying a number of different operating systems, Yahoo! chose
FreeBSD and has since become a key sponsor for the program.
Meanwhile, Microsoft uses FreeBSD rather than its own Windows NT for
the Hotmail e-mail service. FreeBSD continues to gain new users, and
is sometimes favored over Linux because its license allows users to
include the software in commercial products, while the Linux license
requires users to make all uses of the software available for free.
(Wall Street Journal 09/10/99)

NORTH AMERICA'S ELECTRIC SYSTEM PASSES Y2K TEST
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) performed
year 2000 (Y2K) computer bug drills between Wednesday and early
Thursday morning, with much success. Over 500 utilities,
electric cooperatives, power pools, and power plants across the
continent participated in the simulation. Most of the tests were for
backup communications systems and to assess contingency strategies.
Only a few minor problems were reported; in fact, the biggest problem
was caused by a computer hacker who tried to penetrate the
communications system at the Bonneville Power Administration, where
DOE Secretary Bill Richardson was stationed to observe the Y2K tests.
The hacker's presence was detected before problems were caused, but
the hacker is still on the loose and being sought by the FBI. Other
minor setbacks included storms that caused some power losses to a
substation in San Francisco and the New York Power Pool. However,
Richardson cautioned the utility industry from being overly confident
after the drill, pointing out that there is still a small percentage
of power companies that are not compliant. (Wall Street Journal
09/10/99)

CHOLERA OUTBREAK COULD BE COMING
A new virus and worm combination called Cholera has appeared on a
hacker site in Germany, and experts are now working to prevent the
virus from spreading. Computer Associates International discovered
the virus and labeled it a medium threat, but will raise its warning
to a high threat if Cholera shows up on user systems. Like the
earlier Worm.ExploreZip virus, Cholera is able to transmit itself
through e-mail, targeting all e-mail addresses found on a system. For
this reason, the virus could overload e-mail servers, causing them to
fail. Cholera is also able to work with any e-mail platform.
Although experts have learned that Cholera leaves a virus file on the
systems it attacks, they are still trying to determine the virus'
payload, if any. Users that receive the virus see a smiley face in
the text and an attachment called setup.exe that appears to be a
self-extracting setup program. When the user reboots, Cholera infects
the system, inserting keys into the win.ini file and the Win9x
registry. (PC World Online 09/09/99)

via: EDUPAGE@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Russia Today items (9/11/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 09:51:25 +0000

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

U.S. AND RUSSIA STILL AT ODDS OVER AMENDMENTS TO ABM TREATY
AUCKLAND -- The United States and Russia remain at odds over
Washington's proposal to amend a key strategic defense treaty with
Moscow unconvinced the changes do not represent a threat to its
security, a senior U.S. official said here Saturday.
http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=91618&text

COHEN TO GRAPPLE WITH ARMS CONTROL ISSUES AND KOSOVO ON RUSSIAN VISIT
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen heads to Moscow
Sunday to try to revive U.S.-Russian military cooperation despite
sharp differences on a range of prickly security issues, from arms
control to Kosovo. http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=91617&text

U.S. AND RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTERS TO SIGN Y2K PACT
WASHINGTON -- U.S. and Russian defense ministers will sign an
agreement next week to jointly monitor missile early warning data to
safeguard against Y2K computer failures over the New Year, a senior
defense official said Friday.
http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=91616&text

RUSSIA, LIKE U.S, HAS AXE TO GRIND WITH ALLEGED TERRORIST BIN LADEN
MOSCOW -- Russia may be joining forces with Washington against alleged
terrorist Osama bin Laden, who tops the U.S. "wanted" list and is
accused of bankrolling the Moslem insurgency in Dagestan and also
suspected of being behind terrorist bombings.
http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=91614&text

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - U.S. Complicity in E. Timor
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 12:47:58 -0500

From: owner-bpr@philologos.org

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: September 8, 1999
Contact: Danielle Veith at dveith@thenation.com or 212-209-5426.

US Complicity in East Timor

Allan Nairn reports from Dili

Allan Nairn--believed to be the only US journalist remaining in
East Timor--reveals US complicity in the unfolding crisis in
East Timor and in Indonesia's failure to rein in the militia
thugs. Although the US government has publicly reprimanded
Indonesia for the militias' campaign of terror, the US military
has, behind the scenes and contrary to Congressional intent,
been backing the Indonesian Army.

In an upcoming editorial, "US Complicity in Timor," from the
September 27, 1999 issue of The Nation, Allan Nairn reveals the
continuing U.S. role in the conflict. Nairn reports that Admiral
Dennis Blair, the Commander-in Chief of all US military forces
in the Pacific region, failed on several occasions to tell
Indonesian General Wiranto to shut the militia operation down.
According to a classified cable on the meeting obtained by
Nairn, he instead offered Wiranto a series of promises of new US
assistance. Indonesian officers who spoke with Nairn said
Wiranto was delighted by the meeting. They took this as a green
light to proceed with the militia operation.

Allan Narin is a frequent Nation contributor and award-winning
journalist. In 1991, after being badly beaten by Indonesian
troops while witnessing the massacre of several hundred East
Timorese, he was declared a "threat to national security" and
banned from the country. He has entered several times illegally
since then.

For further information, please contact Danielle Veith,
Director of Publicity, at 212-209-5426 or dveith@thenation.com.

Editorial found at:
http://www.thenation.com/issue/990927/0927nairn.shtml

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Hospital gives new parents DNA samples
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 18:49:59 +0000

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

From Daily Southtown,
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsnews/113nd2.htm
-
Hospital gives new parents DNA samples

Saturday, September 11, 1999

SPRINGFIELD (AP) _ Barbie Gold got a brand-new baby boy this week. She
also got a tiny sample of her son's blood, providing a record of
Hunter's DNA.

Memorial Medical Center has started giving the DNA samples to new
parents, just in case they are ever needed for identification.

"It's just another safety precaution, like having your kids'
fingerprints taken," said Gold, 29.

Hospital spokeswoman Becky Garretson said the Illinois State Police
I-Search Clearinghouse, which handles information on missing children,
suggested providing the DNA samples. Garretson said Memorial is the
only Illinois hospital she knows of that is providing such samples.

In the event a child is kidnapped or becomes the victim of a violent
crime, a DNA sample could provide authorities with a positive
identification.

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the basic genetic material of all
living things. It is in all living tissues, including blood.
Scientists say _ with the exception of identical twins _ each person's
DNA is unique.

Getting the blood sample is simple. After delivery, a nurse blots a
tiny amount of blood from the heel of a newborn's foot onto special
paper.

"We only need a couple of drops of blood," said Becki Roth, nurse
manager for family maternity and pediatrics at Memorial.

After the blood dries, the paper is labeled with the child's name and
goes into a foil pouch, which then goes into a plastic bag. Finally,
the plastic bag is sealed in an envelope. It should be kept in a safe
place and at room temperature, Roth said. Nurses write the baby's name
on the envelope.

"If the envelope is kept closed, the sample should be good for life,"
Roth said.

The service is free to parents of newborns at the time they are
delivered at Memorial, she said. The hospital is working out the
details of a plan to expand the service to children up to age 18, but
that is not available yet.

Neither Memorial nor the state police keeps blood samples from the
newborns.

Gold said she and her husband decided they wanted the DNA sample after
hospital staffers mentioned the program.

"No parent wants to think that anything bad could happen to your
child, but it could happen," she said.

via: isml@onelist.com

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Blueprint for creation of life about to be unveiled
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 18:54:39 +0000

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

From http://www.lineone.net/express/99/09/11/news/n0100splash-d.html
-
11 September, 1999

THE NEW GENESIS
BY TOBY MOORE IN NEW YORK
AND MICHAEL HANLON IN LONDON

A BLUEPRINT for the creation of life is about to be unveiled by
scientists.

The mystery of creation, which took nature hundreds of millions of
years, may now be accomplished by Man within five years.

A leading genetics researcher has worked out the process to create a
synthetic bacterium. Scientists say it is only a short step to the
creation of much more complex lifeforms.

It raises the prospect of humans ultimately being able to create new
species of plants and animals. Dr Craig Venter revealed at a US
science conference in January that he planned to investigate the
possibilities of making bacteria using artificial DNA. The production
of a written blueprint for creating a synthetic organism so rapidly
will confound sceptics.

It will make human beings the creators of other living forms far
sooner than expected, possibly just a few years into the new
millennium.

The blueprint is now being submitted to the prestigious journal
Science and will astound the world of genetic research.

Professor David Magnus, a scientist at the University of
Pennsylvania's Centre for Bioethics, said that it would be "a short
step" from making a basic bacteria to creating animals and plants.

The ethics expert, a world authority on the new genetic sciences, has
called for a measured response to the breakthrough, which will renew
the debate surrounding genetic engineering.

"I'm hoping that we will avoid the hysterical tone that exists in
discussions about cloning or genetically modified foods," he said.

The work appears to have the blessing of much of the religious
establishment, which has reacted with caution to the development.

When Dr Venter first outlined his plans, Bishop John Jukes, a Catholic
spokesman on bio-ethics, said that his Church would object to any
deliberate design "intended to supplant God the Creator".

But yesterday, Dr Helen Watt, a philosopher and bio-ethicist working
for the Catholic Church in London, said that "provided the motivation
is right", then creating a bacterium is acceptable.

"God creates human beings with intelligence and if they can use this
intelligence to create a bacterium then that's fine," she said.

But she said the Catholic Church would not countenance the creation of
higher lifeforms - or even of bacteria if the motivation was to do
harm.

"In itself it's an interesting piece of scientific research. But it
depends on your motivation. If you are trying to prove the
non-existence of God that's one thing, but if you are just carrying
out an experiment that is quite another.

"Obviously if you were trying to create bacteria for germ warfare that
would be very wrong."

She added: "If it's just a bacteria, that's fine. But it's a long way
from a bacteria to a human being."

Prof Magnus said: "In the end, when we weighed the risks and the
benefits of the technology, what we concluded was that you couldn't
draw a line and say this technology should never be developed.

"It's got the risk for abuse and misuse as well as the potential for
great benefit, both scientifically and technologically. But we have to
proceed cautiously and I think that's what's being done."

Like a modern-day Dr Frankenstein, Dr Venter hopes to use parts
salvaged from dead bacteria to create his artificial bug.

He says the synthetic "designer bacteria" could have positive
applications. Scientists could learn how to produce customised genes
that could help build organisms for eating radioactive waste or
cleaning up after oil spills, for example.

They could also be programmed to produce a whole new generation of
powerful drugs.

Dr Venter runs the Institute for Genomic Research, a private company
based in Maryland which is taking part in the international Human
Genome Project - the unravelling of human DNA.

Using the super-computers and gene sequencing techniques used to
decipher the human genetic code, Dr Venter and his scientific
colleagues have worked out a blueprint for a living organism. Using
artificial DNA, Dr Venter believes that it is possible to build up a
DNA molecule, gene-by-gene, that will form the foundation for a
synthetic lifeform.

He and his team worked out the basic number of genes necessary to
sustain life after dissecting the DNA of a simple bacterium,
mycoplasma genitalium, which is found in the human genital tract.

The scientists discovered that as few as 350 of the bacteria's 470
genes were necessary to sustain its life.

They think that now they know the minimum number of genes which will
make a cell "work", they can build the first artificial living
organism - something able to eat, move, grow and reproduce.

Dr Venter says that his discussions with the world's major religions
had not deterred him.

"They have said there is nothing in their scriptures to prevent us
from making life artificially," he told a meeting of scientists.

A 15-strong panel of religious leaders and philosophers, set up under
the chairmanship of Prof Magnus, will assess the ethical implications.

"There are some serious implications," Professor Magnus conceded. "A
major worry is the effect on the environment of unleashing something
totally new into nature.

"The second concern is that this makes possible biological weapons
research and especially biological terrorism in a way that hadn't
existed before.

"It becomes possible to have designer organisms from scratch or where
all you need is the published sequences of smallpox to artificially
create it, instead of having to break into somewhere to steal
cultures."

Prof Magnus said that his committee believed official regulation
should not precede developments, but run alongside.

The late 20th Century was about discovering genes and tinkering with
them. The next century, he predicted, "is going to be about designing
them".

c Express Newspapers Ltd

via: isml@onelist.com

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - HIV cases in Russia soar 70%
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 18:58:19 +0000

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

HIV Cases in Russia Soar 70 Percent

.c The Associated Press

 MOSCOW (AP) - The number of HIV-positive cases registered in Russia jumped
by 70 percent in the first eight months of 1999 as the disease spread
rapidly among drug addicts, a news report said Saturday.

Health Minister Yuri Shevchenko said the majority of new HIV cases
were registered among Moscow drug users, according to the Interfax
news agency.

``Residents of Moscow and the Moscow region account for the
unprecedented growth in HIV infection,'' he said. ``HIV hit the circle
of the capital's drug users and the infection skyrocketed.''

Although he said cases were up 70 percent, Shevchenko did not give any
figures for how many people in Russia have HIV, the virus that causes
AIDS. But the Health Ministry said in early July that the country had
15,819 HIV cases.

Russian officials warn that the actual number of HIV cases may be up
to 10 times higher than reported. The country has been slow to
implement comprehensive diagnostic and treatment programs and is
focusing on more immediate economic problems.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19990911/wl/russia_hiv_1.html

via: End_Times_News@onelist.com