Scientists revive largest virus yet from 30,000-year-old permafrost

Up until recently, the line between viruses and cells seemed pretty simple: cells were big and carried everything they needed to live and grow. Viruses were tiny and only carried the genes they needed to take over their host cells; they relied on their hosts for most essential proteins.

That line got a bit blurry as we found parasitic and symbiotic cells with very stripped-down, minimalist genomes that wouldn’t let them survive outside their hosts. But it’s nearly been obliterated by the discovery of giant viruses—some of these have genomes that are larger than those of bacteria and carry many of the genes needed to copy DNA and translate it into proteins.

Scientists have now identified yet another giant virus, this time using a technique that sounds like it’s straight out of a sci-fi horror flick: they thawed some 30,000-year-old permafrost and allowed any viruses present to infect some cells. Fortunately, the cells were amoebas, and this virus is overwhelmingly unlikely to present a threat to human health. But the fact that viruses could apparently survive so many centuries in the Siberian permafrost does lead the authors to suggest that the melting Arctic may pose an emerging disease risk.

The rest of the article:
http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/03/scientists-revive-largest-virus-yet-from-30000-year-old-permafrost/

I take no credit for this article but endorse ArsTechnica.com.

Hammer time from Government: Online Downloads Now Illegal

Seeing how New Zealand has been plagued with earthquakes, failing economy and a government which operate under a left agenda.

Last Thursday the decision has been made that a “emergency” decision must be taken against illegal downloading.
This new law was passed at 9PM with a day notice.

The previous government has tried this but on top of the users standing in resistance even ISPs joined in.

Thank you Katrina Shanks:

The same night the law was passed Hauraki presenters described her as someone that should not be allowed to drive or have direct contact with normal everyday public due to being thick as pig $(*&.
Seems they hit the nail on the head!

And thank you thick Tony Eaton, and an extended thank you Jonathan Young, we couldn’t have done it without you:
3News

Scum, Scum, Scum – from their back teeth to their BUM!

Please read on (TVNZ Coverage):

Praise for govt’s copyright abusers plan

Published: 7:57AM Thursday December 17, 2009 Source: ONE News

o Copyright abusers to get three warnings

Internet New Zealand wants people to stop their illegal downloading from the internet before being caught.

The government’s receiving praise from the online community for clamping down on illegal downloading, introducing legislation next year, for a three-step infringement notice system.

In the three stage warning notice approach, ISPs will issue three notices to those they feel are involved in illegal downloads, before action is taken.

After three such notices have been issued, the victim can then seek a fine of up to $15,000.

Internet New Zealand policy director Jordan Carter says it’s a better idea than the previous law that was put in place by the last government

He says that’s because it sets up a process around who has to send the notices and the responses people have to make.

Carter says the move appears to be about educating people rather than trying to catch them out and hopes the new move works.