Johor MB asked to explain "new island" off Tanjung Kupang

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Gelang Patah parliamentary member Lim Kit Siang has called on Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Khaled Nordin to lead a study tour of all 56 Johor state assembly members to the new island Pulau Ubah which sprung up off Tanjung Kupang in past two weeks and to understand the serious threat to the eco-system caused by mysterious massive land reclamation.

Lim said on Feb 15, accompanied by the DAP Johor state assemblyman for Pengkalan Rinting, Cheo Yee How, and Pakatan Rakyat leaders from PAS and PKR, he had discovered and visited a new island off Kampung Pendas.

In a statement Feb 16,Lim pointed out that the island is growing every day and will eventually be some 10 or 20 times bigger than its present size when its fully completed.

"This is a man-made island and is not to be found in any of the maps in the country, and I believe even Khaled is not aware of the new island's existence," he said.

Lim said the island was named Pulau Uban during the visit.

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Johor MB asked to explain "new island" off Tanjung Kupang

I, Cyborg

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There is an existential unease lying at the root of theInternet of Things a sense that we may emerge not less than human, certainly, butotherthan human.

So, if were going to be cyborgs, argues Breseman, lets be competent, sophisticated cyborgs. For one thing, its now in our ability to upgrade beyond the screen. For another, being better cyborgs may make us paradoxically more human.

Im really concerned about how we integrate human beings into the growing web of technology, says Breseman, who will speak at OReillys upcomingSolidconference in San Francisco in May. Its easy to get caught up in the cool new thing mentality, but you can end up with a situation where the point for the technology is the technology, not the human being using it. It becomes closed rather than inclusive an app developers developing apps for app developers to develop apps kind of thing.

Those concerns have led Breseman and her colleagues at Technical Machine to the development of theTessel: an open-sourceArduino-style microcontroller that runs JavaScript and allows hardware project prototyping. And not, Breseman emphasizes, the mere prototyping of cool new things rather, the prototyping of things that will connect people to the emerging Internet of Things in ways that have nothing to do with screens or smart phones.

Im not talking about smart watches or smart clothing, explains Breseman. In a way, theyre already pass. The product line hasnt caught up with the technology. Think aboutepidermal circuits you apply them to your skin in the same way you apply a temporary tattoo. Theyve been around for a couple of years. Something like that has so many potential applications take the Quantified Self movement, for example. Smart micro devices attached right to the skin would make everything now in use for Quantified Self seem antiquated, trivial.

Breseman looks to a visionary of the past to extrapolate the future: In the late 1980s,Mark Weisercoined the term ubiquitous computingto describe a society where computers were so common, so omnipresent, that people would ultimately stop interfacing with them, Breseman says. In other words, computers would be everywhere, embedded in the environment. You wouldnt rely on a specific device for information. The data would be available to you on an ongoing basis, through a variety of non-intrusive even invisible sources.

Weiser described such an era as the age of calm technology, when technology recedes into the background of our lives That trope calm technology is extremely appealing, says Breseman.

We could stop interacting with our devices, stop staring at screens, and start looking at each other, start talking to each other again, she says. Id find that tremendously exciting.

Breseman is concerned that the Internet of Things is seen only as a new and shiny buzz phrase. We should be looking at it as a way to address our needs as human beings, she says, to connect people to the Internet more elegantly, not just as a source for more toys. Yes, we are now dependent on information technology. It has expanded our lives, and we dont want to give it up. But were not applying it very well. We could do it so much better.

Part of the problem has been the bifurcation of engineering into software and hardware camps, she says. Software engineers type into screens, and hardware engineers design physical things, and there have been few if any places that the twain have met. The two disciplines are poised to merge in the Internet of Things but it wont be an easy melding, Breseman allows. Each field carves different neural pathways, inculcates different values.

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I, Cyborg

Are You a Competent Cyborg?

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An anonymous reader writes "Beyond your smartphone screen lies an infinitely more interesting world, if only you could get past the myopic app view you're currently bound to. Glen Martin ponders the existential unease lying at the root of the Internet of Things: 'We're already cyborgs: biological matrices augmented by wirelessly connected silicon arrays of various configurations. The problem is that we're pretty clunky as cyborgs go. We rely on screens and mobile devices to extend our powers beyond the biological. That leads to everything from atrophying social skills as face-to-face interactions decline to fatal encounters with garbage trucks as we wander, texting and oblivious, into traffic. So, if we're going to be cyborgs, argues Breseman, let's be competent, sophisticated cyborgs. For one thing, it's now in our ability to upgrade beyond the screen. For another, being better cyborgs may make us paradoxically more human.'"

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Are You a Competent Cyborg?

One-of-a-Kind Beaches for Winter Getaways

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A nice beach can make a vacation, and there really doesnt have to be much more to it than soft sand, clean water, and plenty of space to spread a towel. But a truly special beach is harder to come by; it has to have that little something extra that makes it and your vacation one-of-a-kind. Here are seven beaches around the world that wowed us.

A national natural landmark, Bioluminescent Bay (also know, much less prettily, as Mosquito Bay) glows a breathtaking neon blue. A tiny micro-organism that sparkles when disturbed gives the bay its beautiful luminescence, and many tours take kayakers and divers out at night to watch the waters glow. Stay at W Retreat & Spa Vieques Island. This hotel has the modern, funky feel of the W brand with a tropical twist its right on its own private beach, the lobby and rooms feature bright colors and concrete floors, and the infinity pool overlooking the ocean has a pool bar serving up poolside drinks and meals.

The white-sand beaches of Playa del Carmen are popular nesting grounds for turtles, and tourists often go on boating and catamaran trips to swim with them. Some lucky vacationers can even watch turtles hatch and then scuttle out to the ocean. Stay at Esencia. The former estate of an Italian duchess, the ultra-luxurious Esencia oozes Mediterranean elegance and style. The hotels white-sand beach, complete with turquoise waters and thatched cabanas, is the nesting grounds for turtles, and hotel staff alerts guests when the eggs are hatching.

Accessed by an unmarked road, Pfeiffer Beach is one of the most beloved beaches in Big Sur, not only for its calm, remote location, but also for its unique purple sand. Pretty rock formations make for gorgeous photographs. Stay at Ventana Inn & Spa. Situated on more than 200 acres of picturesque oceanfront land, the Ventana Inn & Spa looks like a rustic cabin nestled in the woods yet it features 62 luxurious, streamlined rooms with wooden accents, refreshing pops of color, and modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Pfeiffer Beach.

An ancient volcano eruption is to thank for Northern Irelands eerily beautiful Giants Causeway, a collection of basalt columns forming cliffs that plunge down into the chilly waters below. Stay at Bushmills Inn. The quaint Bushmills Inn in Antrim is quintessentially Irish in every respect: There are fireplaces burning peat or wood throughout the property, a fantastic restaurant serving locally sourced cuisine, Irish music performed certain nights at the Gas Bar, which is lit by traditional gaslight, and 41 cozy, cottage-style rooms. It is also a convenient spot for visiting Giants Causeway, which is only a 5-minute drive away.

Bermuda is known for its pink-sand beaches, and Horseshoe Bay Beach is perhaps the most stunning. It is ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and is located in Southampton Parish, a gorgeous area with plenty of beaches, golf courses, restaurants, and resorts. Stay at Fairmont Southampton. Built in the early 1970s, the iconic Big Pink Lady on the Hill is easily the most recognizable hotel in Bermuda and, following a 21st-century renovation, its still one of the nicest.

Costa Ricas wildlife can be found freely roaming the beaches in the countrys many national parks, including Manuel Antonio. Visitors often spot sloths, howler monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, and exotic birds. Stay at Arenas Del Mar Beach And Nature Resort. This propertys lush rainforest, two beautiful white-sand beaches on site a rarity in the area and diverse wildlife allow guests to truly connect with the nature that the resorts design so painstakingly preserved.

Maui has its fair share of gorgeous beaches, but Koki Beach with its red sand and epic waves is unique. The sand get its color from a red cinder hill nearby. Stay at Travaasa Hana. The Travaasa Hana, overlooking Hana Bay, delivers rustic luxury in the middle of Mauis lush, secluded east coast. The hotel does not have direct beach access, but offers a free shuttle service to Koki Beach.

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One-of-a-Kind Beaches for Winter Getaways

Town seeking options to keep beaches public

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YORK, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- While it is far from beach weather we've been having lately, Ronald Nowell, Chairman of the York Board of Selectmen, is anxious about future access to the town's beaches.

"It takes one private property owner to stake out his property and put up a sign and a fence, it is as simple as that," stated Nowell. "Any of those private property owners could fence off the sections of the beach, and there is not a thing we could do about it."

Nowell has been concerned about the situation for decades, but a recent ruling by the Maine Supreme Judicial Courtin favor of property owner's rights to limit access to Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunk has him looking for options to keep public access to the beaches in his community.

He says closing the beaches would not just be an inconvenience, but devastating to the local economy.

He says the town is already involved in a battle to restore access to the Cliff Walk, a path along the shore used by thousands each year, until a large section of it was blocked off by fences by two property owners.

"Who wants a common person walking across in front of their $5 million property? That's all it is about. It is a type of class warfare," said Nowell.

He says the situation with the path is different because each property along the path has a clause in itsdeed that guarantees public access.

He says the town will be meeting with its lawyers soon to determine how they will proceed to restore access to the path. An overwhelming majority of voters approved creating a legal fund to fight the closure last year.

"Nobody ever thought, over the last 300 years, that somebody would block the shore path," Nowell explained, and says it is part of his reasoning to investigate the beach access issue. "Nobody ever thought that, but they have."

He says the town has options, which may include buying the beaches, andso far he has not heard of any beach owner looking to block access, but says now is the time to start having that conversation.

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Town seeking options to keep beaches public

An Explanation of Odd & Irregular Shapes of Asteroids : Space & Astronomy – Video

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An Explanation of Odd Irregular Shapes of Asteroids : Space Astronomy
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Astro-Physics – OPT Telescopes

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OPT is thrilled to be able to offer our customers Astro-Physics mounts and accessories. Astro-Physics is legendary in the astronomical community, and has been developing and building telescopes and accessories since 1975.

Astro-Physics mounts, such as the Mach1, 1600, and 3600GTO models, are designed for solid stability under a variety of observing conditions. At the same time, these mounts are truly portable so that they can be transported and set up quickly and accurately. AP mounts break down into manageable sizes, but when set up, they are extremely rugged and steady platforms. A very accurate worm gear set was designed to insure smooth, effortless tracking of celestial objects for all visual and photographic purposes.

AP accessories, including piers, saddle and dovetail plates, counterweights, and a wide range of adapters are designed for functionality and tested in the field under actual observing conditions. The OPT telescope staff is expert in matching the proper accessories to a telescope system for optimal performance. You can choose from any of the categories below to find quality Astro-Physics equipment, and if you need help or advice, just give us a call, start a chat, or send an email.

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Astro-Physics - OPT Telescopes

A Creepy New Startup Wants To Create Living Avatars For Dead People

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Can a robot help you live forever? Not exactly, yet, but it might be able to help you talk to loved ones from the other side of the grave. Thats the creepy premise behind a new startup called Eterni.me, which says that after sorting through all of your Facebook posts, emails, photos, and chats, it can use artificial intelligence to create an avatar that acts "just like you."

As the website explains:

It generates a virtual YOU, an avatar that emulates your personality and can interact with, and offer information and advice to, your family and friends after you pass away. It's like a Skype chat from the past.

Eterni.me founder Marius Ursache says that the idea for the company has been on his mind for some time, fed by ideas like Ray Kurzweils singularity and brain download, chatbots, and shows like Black Mirror and movies like Her.

It all took shape after realizing a use which would actually be beneficial for people--beyond the obvious cool sci-fi effect, he says. For us, the idea that we can preserve a part of ourselves beyond death, and that someday this will make possible to preserve the knowledge of entire generations of humanity, is a big enough dream.

He points to the possibility that someday we could virtually interact with avatars of historic figures, along with former family and friends. But for now, its still very much an idea rather than a reality. The team is fresh out of MIT's Entrepreneurship Development Program and just beginning to look for funding and to develop the technology.

There are clearly a lot of issues to work out. While the service promises to keep everything you do online so its never forgotten, its not clear that most people would want all of that information to live forever, or that surviving relatives would get over the inherent weirdness of pretending to talk with someones who dead. Still, days after the website launched, 3,000 people had signed up.

For the company, the next steps will be developing the artificial intelligence needed to make everything work. Eventually, if all goes as planned, the program will begin gathering information for its first set of users--using both access to online accounts and by directly talking to the people themselves.

In order for this to be accurate, collecting the information is not enough--people will need to interact with the avatar periodically, to help it make sense of the information, and to fine-tune it, to make it more accurate, Ursache says.

The team hopes--perhaps optimistically, considering the scope of the technology that is still yet to be developed--to have a beta version of the service ready by 2015. Whether or not this particular company survives, it raises some questions: For generations that now document every meal on Instagram and every thought on Twitter, what do we want to happen to that information when we're gone? And if artificial intelligence can impersonate us when we're dead, what other more sinister programs might do the same thing while we're still alive?

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A Creepy New Startup Wants To Create Living Avatars For Dead People

stem cell therapy treatment for right brachial plexus by dr alok sharma, mumbai, india – Video

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stem cell therapy treatment for right brachial plexus by dr alok sharma, mumbai, india
improvement seen in just 5 days after stem cell therapy treatment for right brachial plexus by dr alok sharma, mumbai, india. Stem Cell Therapy done date 21/...

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stem cell therapy treatment for right brachial plexus by dr alok sharma, mumbai, india - Video

ARA’s BioGears(TM) Presented at Medicine Meets Virtual Reality Conference

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Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) February 18, 2014

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) will present BioGears(TM) at the Medicine Meets Virtual Reality Conference(MMVR) in Manhatttan Beach, California.

BioGears(TM) is a $7M, multi-year program that will deliver an open source, comprehensive, extensible human physiology engine that will drive immersive medical education and training technologies. The BioGears(TM) project will enable the public to develop medical simulations that will benefit military as well as civilian medicine. Dr. Bryan Bergeron, a consulting medical doctor and a researcher working on BioGears(TM), said this project represents the next stage in the evolution of modern physiology computing. It's logical, accessible, extensible, and open. What else could you ask for?

BioGears(TM) physiology modeler, Mr. Rodney Metoyer, will present the four main thrust areas of the program at MMVR. At program maturation, BioGears(TM) will include: 1. An open source physiology engine, 2. An open source common data model, 3. Extensive documentation to enable integration and model extension, and 4. A website that will promote community involvement and contributions.

Mr. Metoyer is a former Army combat medic and understands the importance of advancements in medical training technologies. He said, BioGears(TM) will be a powerful tool because our open source engine and common data model will allow a wide variety of users to create accurate simulated physiology that fits the needs of the medical simulation and training community.

The BioGears(TM) research team is planning the first mini build release of the engine and the full website launch in Fall 2014 with the beta build release in Fall 2015. The mini build will include showcase scenarios that demonstrate the degrees of patient customization, the numerous insults and injuries, and the various assessments available in the engine. The showcase scenarios will serve as a framework to enable community discussions about how to contribute to the project.

One of the showcase scenarios will simulate a healthy adult male who is dehydrated and performing work at high altitudes. This scenario will demonstrate our energy balance system that Mr. Metoyer and Dr. Bergeron are developing jointly. Mr. Metoyer said, The energy system will allow us to model nutrient consumption and heat production, heat flow, the physiological effects of exercise and rest, dehydration, and fed or starved states. It will provide the ability for our simulated humans of various body states to interact with and react to differing environmental conditions.

Rodney Metoyer will present BioGears(TM) for the Military Medical Simulation Session at MMVR on Wednesday, February 19 2014, at 1:20 at the Manhattan Beach Marriott Hotel. This session will inform the public of developments within the military medical simulation community, share ideas and engage the research community in advancing simulation goals.

If you are interested in the BioGears(TM) program and plan to attend MMVR, please stop by our booth or contact Jenn Carter (jcarter(at)ara(dot)com) to set up a meeting with our team.

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ARA's BioGears(TM) Presented at Medicine Meets Virtual Reality Conference

The American Chestnut’s Genetic Rebirth

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See Inside

A foreign fungus nearly wiped out North America's once vast chestnut forests. Genetic engineering can revive them

In 1876 Samuel B. Parsons received a shipment of chestnut seeds from Japan and decided to grow and sell the trees to orchards. Unbeknownst to him, his shipment likely harbored a stowaway that caused one of the greatest ecological disasters ever to befall eastern North America. The trees probably concealed spores of a pathogenic fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, to which Asian chestnut treesbut not their American cousinshad evolved resistance. C. parasitica effectively strangles a susceptible tree to death by forming cankerssunken areas of dead plant tissuein its bark that encircle the trunk and cut off the flow of water and nutrients between the roots and leaves. Within 50 years this one fungus killed more than three billion American chestnut trees.

Before the early 1900s the American chestnut constituted about 25 percent of hardwood trees within its range in the eastern deciduous forests of the U.S. and a sliver of Canadadeciduous forests being those composed mostly of trees that shed their leaves in the autumn. Today only a handful of fully grown chestnuts remain, along with millions of root stumps. Now and then these living stumps manage to send up a few nubile shoots that may survive for 10 years or longer. But the trees rarely live long enough to produce seeds because the fungus almost always beats them back down again.

2014 Scientific American, a Division of Nature America, Inc.

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The American Chestnut's Genetic Rebirth

January 5 speech to Pattaya City Expat Club about anti-aging medicine – Part 1 – Video

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January 5 speech to Pattaya City Expat Club about anti-aging medicine - Part 1
Tired of waiting for a magic potion that will make you look and feel 20 years younger? Hang on. Scientists have discovered what causes the body to age and ar...

By: Dr Olivier Meyer

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January 5 speech to Pattaya City Expat Club about anti-aging medicine - Part 1 - Video