Blu-Ray Menus, Quick Access Band-Aids, and Easy Laundry

Readers offer their best tips for skipping the messages and disclaimers before your movie, having a Band-Aid with you at all times, and making laundry easier to do.

Every day we receive boatloads of great reader tips in our inbox, but for various reasons?maybe they're a bit too niche, maybe we couldn't find a good way to present it, or maybe we just couldn't fit it in?the tip didn't make the front page. From the Tips Box is where we round up some of our favorites for your buffet-style consumption. Got a tip of your own to share? Add it in the comments, email it to tips at lifehacker.com, or share it on our tips and expert pages.

Use Chapters to Skip Annoying Warnings on DVDs and Blu-Rays

Robdawg_303 ignores the barrage of splash screens in his movies:

I have a tip for making watching Blu-ray and DVD discs more enjoyable by skipping the anti-piracy messages and studio disclaimers. When you load a Blu-ray or DVD and get to the menu, instead of pressing "play", choose "chapter" and select "Chapter 2". The movie will immediately start on chapter 2, and then you can press "chapter back" on your remote to go to the beginning of the title sequence. Depending on the movie, this can save you anywhere from 10-30 seconds of piracy warning screens and studio disclaimers.

And to skip the trailers before the menu, just press stop-stop-play!

Keep Band-Aids In Your Wallet for Quick Access

Mark Sandford shares a little survival tip:

Years ago, a coworker had a minor cut and my boss pulled a band aid out of his wallet. I thought that was pretty clever, and have done so as well for years. What surprises me is how often people ask me why. I think it's pretty self explanatory, but just in case: They're flat, they're light, and they fit nicely alongside my credit cards. Some need to be folded slightly, or have the paper that extends past the actual bandage tucked in, but it's a great "just in case" supply. I might go two years without needing a band aid, but the cost of carrying one my wallet is negligible. And every now and then, I get to be the hero.

Photo by Svetlana Miljkovic.

Use a Suitcase to Easily Transport Laundry

William King-Lewis does away with hampers and baskets:

I was doing laundry in my apartment complex today and one of the other tenets came in using a huge rolling suit case for his laundry making me feel like an idiot having bought some weird laundry hamper removeable sorting bag ironing board combo. Just using a huge rolling suitcase you already have. So easy and simple that I could have never thought of it myself.

Check out our other tips for speeding up laundry, the world's most boring chore, while you're at it. Photo by Faruk Ate?.

Make Microsoft Office's Thesaurus More Readable

Orange Exige solves a minor Office annoyance:

This is a stupid simple tip that I just realized myself and found too awesome (I'm lame I know) to keep to myself. Nothing crazy, but solves something that always bothered me.

If you're like me and use MS Word* (particularly with a zoom that leaves unused side margins) and its Thesaurus** (Shift+F7) a lot, then read on...

It always bothered me when I'd pull up the thesaurus (which I do a lot) and my document would get pushed to the left to make room for the thesaurus toolbar, which is docked to the side by default. Then I'd close it and my document would get pushed to the right, back to the center.

Well, click that arrow next to the X in said toolbox and click "Move". Drag it to the side just a tiny bit and BAM! You got a floating thesaurus that stays in your margins and is completely unobtrusive. And it stays like that when you close it too.

It's not a huge deal, but it does add a bit more flexibility, particularly if you're like me and use the thesaurus/dictionary a lot (and are OCD to a very small degree).

*Office 2007 for me, should be applicable with others.
**Other "Research" tools too, but I don't know their shortcuts, I just get to them using Shift+F7

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/5KE9BJuJA5c/blu+ray-menus-quick-access-band+aids-and-easy-laundry

Diwali elmo nascar Kevin Clash Walmart Black Friday 2012 Paula Broadwell Tilted Kilt

The Criminal Law Ordinance 2013 on Sexual Assault ? Cut, Paste ...

Guest post by?PRATIKSHA BAXI?

Once the Criminal Law Ordinance 2013 was uploaded, circulated and read many times, an overwhelming desire to mark the ordinance to all one?s students as an example on how not to frame laws has grown. Yet, explain one must, why the current law on sexual assault is so bizarre, even if we do not bring in the so-called controversial elements and keep to the text of the ordinance.

The Criminal Law Ordinance 2013 begins with the definition of sexual assault as a gender-neutral offence. It does not make an exception to state that women do not rape men in everyday contexts under s. 375. Since such an exception is not added, and the ordinance specifies that ?sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under sixteen years of age, is not sexual assault?, we are faced with a confounding and deeply misogynist legal consequence. Wives, we are told cannot prosecute husbands for sexually assaulting them. But since sexual assault is gender neutral without any exceptions and the marital rape exemption is not extended to husbands, now husbands can accuse wives of sexual assault but wives can never prosecute husbands for sexual assault!?

To retain the marital rape exemption strikes at the heart of women?s bodily autonomy and integrity. However, to limit the exemption to wives, and allow husbands the legal remedy to file criminal complaints against their wives on the ground of sexual assault is absolutely absurd, if not totally misogynist.

The Justice Verma Committee (JVC) report had come up with a clear formulation of rape and sexual assault. Rape in everyday contexts was not gender-neutral viz., perpetrators. It specified perpetrators of rape as men, and identified victims as gender plural (any person irrespective of gender or sexual orientation). In the instance of sexual assault, gangrape and aggravated rape [under s. 376 (1) & (2)], were constructed as gender-neutral offencesviz, perpetrators and victims. Furthermore, the marital rape exemption was deleted and it was recommended that marriage should neither be the basis for presuming consent nor should any third person than wife be allowed to lodge such a complaint (to address the misuse issue). In everyday contexts, especially in intimate relationships and marriages, this definition is sensitive to the power dynamics between men and women; while recognising that in prisons, police stations, custodial homes, hospitals, in fiduciary relationships and gang rape women may be perpetrators. It is critical to understand why this definition is important breakthrough in the debates on gender neutrality so far. This definition not only recognises the bodily autonomy of women but also recognises the bodily integrity of men (irrespective of sexual orientation or gendered identity) and transgendered persons. It does not split the victims into distinct categories based on identity and therefore avoids the medicalization of sexual identity. Given the heated debates on gender neutrality, the JVC managed to define rape as a crime of patriarchy, which is not limited to women as victims, although women have predominantly the target of sexual violence.

Some may argue that this definition still leaves out certain forms of violence, which find place in intimacy of a same sex relationship, or essentializes women. But remember, the JVC does not recommend the deletion of s. 377 IPC, nor do other forms of criminalisation of same sex relationships find redress. For instance, Modi (2011) describes lesbianism as tribadism and says ?lesbian women can be so morbidly jealous of such woman with who they are inverted in love, that they are sometimes incited to commit even murder? (Modi 2011:684). These are statements of prejudice, which construct lesbians as a ?criminal type?. And these find no redress.

The?Criminal Law Ordinance 2013also juxtaposes gender neutrality with the retention of s. 377 IPC. To retain unnatural sexual offences in the IPC means to blur the distinction between consent and lack of consent, to validate the damning judicial discourse on sodomy and validate heterosexist bias against sexual minorities. Not to include the repeal of s. 377 in the ordinance, just because the JVC does not do so, and even though the 172^nd Law Commission recommended such a deletion in 2000 is a scandal. It is unintelligible since s. 377 IPC characterises sexual assault as unnatural sex and does not allow any person to consent to ?unnatural? sex. If the prime concern is with expanding the definition of consent; and ensuring bodily autonomy or providing protection from sexual assault to all persons, naming the experience of sexual violence as unnatural sex, or calling consensual sex, unnatural is illogical, if not ideologically violent.

Further, sexual assault is defined without any gradation of different offences, in terms of severity of violence or the nature of violence. Section 375 (a-c) defines as sexual assault as the penetration of bodily parts or other objects into bodily orifices without consent. Section 375 (d) holds that a person commits sexual assault if s/he ?applies his mouth to the penis, vagina, anus, urethra of another person or makes such person to do so with him or any other person? without consent. Section 375 (e) holds that when any person ?touches the vagina, penis, anus or breast of the person or makes the person touch the vagina, penis, anus or breast of that person or any other person? without consent, it amounts to sexual assault[note that the cut and paste job, evident from the word ?he? to designate the perpetrator]. These are all forms of sexual assault ?except where such penetration or touching is carried out for proper hygienic or medical purposes?.

The use of the word hygienic is totally mysterious, and dangerous?since it allows a crafty defence lawyer to convert the experience of sexual assault into a sanitized lesson in hygiene. Further, to allow penetration for medical purposes and not even minimally mention that a doctor must take the informed consent of the person prior to penetrating or touching is violative of elementary medical ethics. Nor does the ordinance delete the two-finger test. Therefore what it does is, it permits the insertion of two fingers in the survivor?s anus or vagina for medical purposes without seeking the consent of the survivor, which even Modi?s first volume on medical jurisprudence and toxicology would not advocate. The JVC recommends the prohibition on the two-finger test and introduces a whole new chapter on what kind of medical protocol should be introduced to deal with rape survivors sensitively. Rather than moving towards a therapeutic jurisprudence, the ordinance re-inscribes the two-finger as a medical procedure, disregarding what Modi says in the early days of colonial medicine, that a doctor should never insert two fingers in the vagina without consent lest he be accused of sexual assault!

To unravel the costs of cut and paste jurisprudence, we must note that the consequences of clubbing together different forms of sexual assault in the same sentencing structure. Hypothetically speaking, if a person is convicted of an offence under section 375 (e) which holds that when any person ?touches the vagina, penis, anus or breast of the person or makes the person touch the vagina, penis, anus or breast of that person or any other person? without consent twice, then such a person could be sentenced to life (natural life) or even death. Assuming such an accused is tried by a ?hanging? judge, you have a situation where there is no gradation made between different kinds of sexual assault in relation to severity and nature, viz., sentencing. What is to prevent more severe punishment to a hijra, found to be a repeat offender, given the colonial legacy of charactering certain kinds of bodies as ?criminal types?? There are no provisions to provide fair treatment to, and prevent stereotyping of sexual minorities or women in the sentencing structure.

The only instance where such gradation viz., sentencing is maintained is in relation to marital rape. Hence, section 376B IPC holds that ?whoever commits sexual assault on his own wife, ? shall be punished with imprisonment of either description, for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine?. The ordinance is clearly protection of husbands, even those husbands who rape their ex-wives. This is also evident in the section,describing repeat offenders, which clearly excludes husbands.

Section 376E holds ?whoever has been previously convicted of an offence punishable under section 376 or section 376 A or section 376 C or section 376 D and is subsequently convicted of an offence punishable under any of the said sections shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean the remainder of that person?s natural life or with death?. So the ordinance is clear that whoever else may get life imprisonment till s/he dies in prison or is hanged by the state, a husband should never be jailed for life or hanged. But the irony is, if a man accuses his wife of sexual assault, and if she is found to be a repeat offender by a court, she is liable to life or death penalty. One may argue that this is far fetched for why would a woman live with a man who has accused her of sexual assault but technically what this ordinance does, it makes wives vulnerable to sexual assault charges by their husbands and exposes them to prison sentences, if not death.

The cut and paste job gets even more bizarre for the JVC recommendations are added to s. 354 IPC rather than displacing the colonial law on outraging modesty. Section 354 (a) describes sexual harassment (gender neutral offence), section 354 (b) describes any person forcibly disrobing a woman, section 354 (c) describes voyeurism (victim is woman here) and section 354 (d) describes stalking (gender neutral). And section 509 IPC, which should be made redundant is retained.

It does not make sense to retain the idea that something amounts to violence only when the modesty of women is outraged, and not the bodily integrity of all women, irrespective of modesty. This is the point behind deleting the past sexual history clause and fighting against the characterisation of survivors as habitu?s: please do not judge women by whether or not they are modest. What we wear, who we sleep with, where we go, what work we do?is not relevant to proving sexual assault.

And then mistakes of an exhausted and overwrought JVC find their way into the ordinance, yet another cut and paste jurisprudential disaster. In s. 370, which describes trafficking, we are told that:

?The expression ?exploitation? shall include, prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the forced removal of organs.?

The JVC possibly forgot to add the words ?exploitation of? prostitution, while mistakenly dictating the UN protocol 2000, going against the UN Protocol signed in 2011. The trafficking clause, due to exhausted dictating, criminalises all forms of sex work, including in trafficking voluntary and consenting sex workers who are now unionised and been fighting for right to live with dignity. This provision has been enacted in the name of fighting sexual assault?and is totally unacceptable. Perhaps the JVC should issue an erratum?and re-publish its 650 pages after careful proof reading!

What may one say about the absences?those are too many to list! We wanted radical jurisprudence, to emerge from our protests and unending hard work (and unlike others, we don?t need anyone to applaud us). Instead, what we got is amortifying cut and paste jurisprudential disaster. We cannot sleep tonight, wonder how the Ministry of Law finds sleep tonight!

Pratiksha Baxi is Assistant Professor, Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://kafila.org/2013/02/05/the-criminal-law-ordinance-2013-on-sexual-assault-cut-paste-and-shock-pratiksha-baxi/

dad shoots daughters laptop brandon jennings the vow review luol deng culkin wooly mammoth no child left behind

Slickdeals' best in tech for February 4th: 55-inch Panasonic Viera 3D HDTV and Lumix DMC-GF3X

Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long.

Too busy relaxing and football watching to do any gadget shopping this weekend? Fret not! We've got a handful of tech deals to help you part with those hard-earned funds. The biggest discounts this time around slash the prices of a 55-inch Panasonic Viera 3D HDTV and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3X. Of course, there's more than just that duo to consider, so make the jump beyond the break for further inspection of all the goods.

Filed under: Cameras, GPS, Home Entertainment, Storage

Comments

Source: Slickdeals

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/04/slickdeals-best-in-tech-for-february-4th/

Fireworks 2012 4th Of July independence day BET Awards 2012 declaration of independence 4th Of July 2012 Zach Parise Spain Vs Italy Euro 2012

Video: Kerry: ?I have big heels to fill?

>>> it was a busy first day on the job for the new secretary of state, john kerry . and it started with a rousing welcome from hundreds of employees at the state department , and a nod to his predecessors.

>> here's the big question before the country and the world and the state department after the last eight years. can a man actually run the state department ? i don't know. as the saying goes, i have big heels to fill.

>> john kerry , referencing hillary clinton and condoleezza rice . before that, colin powell had the job. kerry is the first white man to hold the job of secretary of state since warren christopher 16 years ago.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50699311/

michael bay ninja turtles san antonio weather mike daisey nicollette sheridan apple dividend snow white and the huntsman snow white and the huntsman

Does probability come from quantum physics?

Feb. 5, 2013 ? Ever since Austrian scientist Erwin Schrodinger put his unfortunate cat in a box, his fellow physicists have been using something called quantum theory to explain and understand the nature of waves and particles.

But a new paper by physics professor Andreas Albrecht and graduate student Dan Phillips at the University of California, Davis, makes the case that these quantum fluctuations actually are responsible for the probability of all actions, with far-reaching implications for theories of the universe.

Quantum theory is a branch of theoretical physics that strives to understand and predict the properties and behavior of atoms and particles. Without it, we would not be able to build transistors and computers, for example. One aspect of the theory is that the precise properties of a particle are not determined until you observe them and "collapse the wave function" in physics parlance.

Schrodinger's famous thought experiment extends this idea to our scale. A cat is trapped in a box with a vial of poison that is released when a radioactive atom randomly decays. You cannot tell if the cat is alive or dead without opening the box. Schrodinger argued that until you open the box and look inside, the cat is neither alive nor dead but in an indeterminate state.

For many people, that is a tough concept to accept. But Albrecht says that, as a theoretical physicist, he concluded some years ago that this is how probability works at all scales, although until recently, he did not see it as something with a crucial impact on research. That changed with a 2009 paper by Don Page at the University of Alberta, Canada.

"I realized that how we think about quantum fluctuations and probability affects how we think about our theories of the universe," said Albrecht, a theoretical cosmologist.

One of the consequences of quantum fluctuations is that every collapsing wave function spits out different realities: one where the cat lives and one where it dies, for example. Reality as we experience it picks its way through this near-infinity of possible alternatives. Multiple universes could be embedded in a vast "multiverse" like so many pockets on a pool table.

There are basically two ways theorists have tried to approach the problem of adapting quantum physics to the "real world," Albrecht said: You can accept it and the reality of many worlds or multiple universes, or you can assume that there is something wrong or missing from the theory.

Albrecht falls firmly in the first camp.

"Our theories of cosmology say that quantum physics works across the universe," he said. For example, quantum fluctuations in the early universe explain why galaxies form as they did -- a prediction that can be confirmed with direct observations.

The problem with multiple universes, Albrecht said, is that it if there are a huge number of different pocket universes, it becomes very hard to get simple answers to questions from quantum physics, such as the mass of a neutrino, an electrically neutral subatomic particle.

"Don Page showed that the quantum rules of probability simply cannot answer key questions in a large multiverse where we are not sure in which pocket universe we actually reside," Albrecht said.

One answer to this problem has been to add a new ingredient to the theory: a set of numbers that tells us the probability that we are in each pocket universe. This information can be combined with the quantum theory, and you can get your math (and your calculation of the mass of a neutrino) back on track.

Not so fast, say Albrecht and Phillips. While the probabilities assigned to each pocket universe may seem like just more of the usual thing, they are in fact a radical departure from everyday uses of probabilities because, unlike any other application of probability, these have already been shown to have no basis in the quantum theory.

"If all probability is really quantum theory, then it can't be done," Albrecht said. "Pocket universes are much, much more of a departure from current theory than people had assumed."

The paper is currently posted on the ArXiv.org preprint server and submitted for publication and has already stimulated considerable discussion, Albrecht said.

"It forces us to think about the different kinds of probability, which often get confused, and perhaps can help draw a line between them," he said.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California - Davis.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Andreas Albrecht, Daniel Phillips. Origin of probabilities and their application to the multiverse. arxiv.org, submitted on 5 Dec 2012 [link]

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/bSRz4-Yi8TQ/130205151450.htm

jamarcus russell Lone Star College Sloane Stephens Beyonce Lip Sync Star Wars citizens bank Hansel and Gretel

Seven Devils...The Forbidden Game

Five teenagers, one witch and a forbidden game...do you dare to enter and find out what trouble you could get into?

Owner:

Game Masters:

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
This is the auto-generated OOC topic for the roleplay "Seven Devils...The Forbidden Game"

You may edit this first post as you see fit.

Naaw, whaddya mean there's no food...

Meesha

Member for 3 years

---

---

I absolutally love the song Seven Devils, you had me sold at the title.

I'd like to register my interest for the Barbie girl character.

"You played a good hand M'am." - Lawrence Dominic

"I played a very bad hand very well. There is a distinction." - Adelle DeWitt

Dollhouse, S01E06

LittleMissGeorgia

Member for 1 years

---

---

Post a reply

RolePlayGateway is a site built by a couple roleplayers who wanted to give a little something back to the roleplay community. The site has no intention of earning any profit, and is paid for out of their own pockets.

If you appreciate what they do, feel free to donate your spare change to help feed them on the weekends. After selecting the amount you want to donate from the menu, you can continue by clicking on PayPal logo.

Who is online

Registered users: -=Nemesis=-*, A.C., Addrinvan, AdmireAtStuff*, Aftershock, Ageha, Akita*, Alexander_Right*, Alise120*, Amarkov*, Andieland*, Aniihya, Arabella13, Arcayne*, Arch_Demon666, Arik223, Armageddon, arrowinmahknee*, Asher MstrImmortalis*, Asper*, AthenaUndying, AugmentationAudit*, AvidSmoker*, Balkans, bandgeek*, birdguard, Blackbird26*, Blackcat98, Blackfridayrule, blacksky, BleedingLover*, blueluckster, BOO!, Bosch*, boultinator93*, Bromander Shepard, Canibelle*, Captain Obvious*, caseums.xo, ceh12, Chalchiuhtlicue*, chaoticcarrot, ChaoticMarin*, ChinaSorrows*, ChristyLovesYou*, Chuckles*, claw*, ColeMaibara*, Comrade*, CriminalMinds*, Curtsive*, D.Angel*, Daakukage*, deathrisesagain, desire99600*, Digital_Muse*, DocBlargle*, DontBeMad*, Drygionas*, DuBois_Scarlett, DustAndEchoes, Eddy V. Sovorov*, Elrith Eldwind, EmbracingIllusions*, Emerald.x*, Essence, EverFidelis*, Exabot [Bot], ExoticEternity*, Fabricator*, fate0013*, Finalhazard3*, FizzGig*, Flexar*, Floorgan*, flying monkey child, Forget~Me~Not*, Fox in a Lab Coat, Foxxheart, Game Master Zero, Gamer_Templar*, gezzygezzy*, Ghost_Scar*, Gii_the_fallen*, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google Feedfetcher, Himekura*, Hinasil*, Hingyou, Horseygirl, Hydrall, iCat*, Igari*, Ikuto Tsukiyomi Fan*, Imagine That!, Insomniatic*, JayZeroSnake, Jo_Tunn*, Karu*, Kestrel, kingjpc, KiraArsenic, Kiyokojordie*, Kreator*, Lady Inali*, laxnchill20*, Lenyx*, Leonn*, Lingeringrepose*, Little Fox, LittleFox13, LittleMissGeorgia*, lostamongtrees*, LSunday, Lufia, LunaSpirit*, MaliceInWonderland*, marksmanoftruth*, MaskedCity, Mat_z6, MegaKooala12, Mela*, Midnightclub*, Miss_Dreamer, MissBrightside_, mistsong99, Monochrome*, MSNbot Media, mummydove*, nazerathe, Nevan, nightwolf, Nikolai*, Ninjagirl4ever15*, NotSoHeartless*, Nulix*, obeymycapella*, Oborosen, Odinson, Orion Vryce, PandaPrincess*, Phidius, phoenix_lynx, pieluver, Polarisbear12, Possibility*, punkwithflute*, RacoonMoon()*, Rem?us*, ReturnToSender*, RiPjAW 0x3*, Rozwell, Ruzuki Nakamora, sabrinalove3001, Saken*, SarcasticIrony, Sathandra*, Saxious*, Scarlet Loup*, Script*, Shadetree76, shadowflame777*, Shaodow*, Shugo Seikatsu*, SirLancelot*, SkullsandSlippers*, sleven_kelevra*, SlightlyIrregular, Sneakyrio*, Snow, Solomon Blank*, Sonata, spayce, Starlight77, Stella11, StitchSaysHi, StoneBasilisk*, Stormageddon, Sukrax*, SuperNinjaRoo, Susie Maddy Daison, Tainted Twinkee, Talisman*, Terrus, The*Lucky*Teacup, thebagel264*, tigerking1292*, Tiko*, tornadofan2*, True Grave, Tsukiakari, Ulfunn*, usernamesareadrag*, Venom0861, vilevixen, VitaminHeart*, ViviOrunitiaFF9*, WaltJRimmer*, Wanderer, WhatsUpWazza*, Witless*, wolfoftheage*, writergirl24, XavierDantius32*, XKanojoOokamiX, xoxMissClairexox*, xRoo*, XShishioX, XxEvil1xX*, XxsamXxtwilight, Ylanne, Yolo, zomgitsmarisa

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/1XxnOlFeIV4/viewtopic.php

cherry blossom festival nc state erika van pelt pat robertson hunger games trailer hunger games trailer in plain sight

Software may help predict cholera outbreaks

John Roach , NBC News ? ? ? 12 hrs.

New software under development aims to stop history from repeating itself by using old news and related data to warn of pending trouble in time to take corrective action.

The system could, for example, help international aid agencies assess the likelihood of a cholera outbreak in time to treat a population with a limited-duration cholera vaccine, explained Kira Radinsky, a researcher at Technion-Israel Institute.

?We?ve engaged with experts in the public health field who study cholera and we?re hopeful that systems stemming from this research might be useful one day for early warning about this disease and others,? she told NBC News via email.

Radinsky is developing the software in collaboration with Eric Horvitz at Microsoft Research in Redmond, Wash., as part of their exploratory efforts on ways to predict the future based on past information.

The researchers built their predictive model based on more than 20 years of historical news data from the New York Times. It examines past events with similar outcomes.

The software, which is nameless for now, also incorporates related contextual information pulled from LinkedData, a project that finds connections between hundreds of resources such as Wikipedia.

The combination allows the software to extrapolate from news of a cholera outbreak in Angola, for example, to predict a similar outbreak in Rwanda.

?Rather than be limited to the data about the details of an African country where a sequence of events and outcomes occur, the system learns to consider ?African country with certain level of GDP X, cities with population of Y, and geographical features Z,?? Radinsky explained.

When tested on historical data, the system?s warnings of disease outbreaks, violence, and other events were between 70 and 90 percent accurate, according to MIT?s Technology Review.

?We are continuing to refine the approach and one day can imagine making a descendent system available to international aid agencies and to the public in general,? Radinsky told NBC News.

? via MIT Technology Review

John Roach is a contributing writer for NBC News. To learn more about him, check out his website. For more of our Future of Technology series, watch the featured video below.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/software-may-help-predict-cholera-outbreaks-1B8242979

duggars peter facinelli bobby rush supreme court justices 19 kids and counting danny o brien alicia silverstone