Mereja

Author: Sean Patterson

  • Katy Perry: In Drag With Moustache on Ellen

    Ellen Degeneres celebrated her 55th birthday last week, and Katy Perry was on-hand to liven up the Ellen show. Instead of singing for the president however, Perry covered her famous bosom with a vest as she dressed in drag.

    Perry donned a Richard Dawson-esque suit and bowtie as she impersonated a game show host, complete with creepy 70s moustache. She and Degeneres invited audience members to play “Grab Ellen’s Bust,” a simple quiz show that tested contestants’ knowledge of Ellen trivia.

    Though a cross-dressing Katy Perry might sound entertaining, the highlight of the event is actually one of the audience members invited to be a contestant. Watch as she loses her mind when Degeneres touches her in an attempt to prevent her from falling over:

  • Hefner’s Secretary Dies: Mary O’Connor Worked at the Playboy Mansion For Over 40 Years

    Mary O’Connor, the longtime secretary of Hugh Hefner, has died. Hefner is the publisher of the popular men’s magazine Playboy. O’Connor worked at the Playboy mansion for over 40 years.

    The specific cause of O’Connor’s death has not been released, but it appears that she had been sick in the days leading up to her passing. On January 26 Hefner tweeted that his wife, Crystal, was visiting O’Connor, who was “not doing very well.”

    Hefner then announced late last night that O’Connor passed away:

    It’s clear that O’Connor was well-loved by the many girls who passed through the doors of the Playboy mansion. Current and former playmates are tweeting their condolences and expressing their love for O’Connor:

    In addition to her work for Playboy, O’Connor made multiple appearances on the reality show The Girls Next Door:

  • Hip Implants Trial Against Johnson & Johnson Begins

    The first of many lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson over the company’s 2010 recall of hip replacements has begun in Los Angeles.

    According to a Reuters report, 66-year-old Loren Kransky is alleging that Johnson & Johnson subsidiary DePuy knew their implants could release metal into patients’ bodies. DePuy contends that Kransky was a life-long smoker with diabetes and kidney cancer, and that the company’s tests did not find that their implants released enough metal to be a health problem.

    Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about all-metal hip implants. Those types of implants can release small bits of metal particles when patients walk or run while using them. The particles can cause damage to the soft tissue and bone around the implant and joint. The metal debris can also cause adverse reactions in some patients, causing the implant to fail and requiring surgery to replace it. The agency warned doctors against all-metal implants, suggesting instead that alternative hip implants, such as metal-on-polyethylene, ceramic-on-polyethylene, ceramic-on-ceramic, or ceramic-on-metal implants, be used instead.

    Opening arguments in the trial began on January 25. According to Reuters, more than 10,000 lawsuits have been filed since the hip implants were recalled. The recall was a voluntary one by DePuy, and the company also set up a patient reimbursement program to pay for patients’ medical bills and other costs related to the recall.

  • Sugarfoot Bonner Dies: Ohio Players Frontman was 69

    Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner, the frontman for the Ohio Players, has died at the age of 69. The Ohio Players were a funk and R&B band popular in the 70s. The band is most famous for its number-one hits “Love Rollercoaster” and “Fire.”

    Bonner is reported to have passed away “quietly” in his hometown of Trotwood, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton. Bonner was a current member of Sugarfoot’s Ohio Players, a spinoff band billed on its Facebook page as “a 9 piece band with 3 horns, lead and background vocals, keys, bass, drums, guitar, and a whole mess of funk.” The Facebook page is also where Bonner’s family announced the news of the death. From the announcement:

    Yesterday, Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner passed away quietly in his hometown of Trotwood-Dayton, OH. While his family, friends, colleagues, and fans mourn his passing they celebrate fondly his memory, music, and legacy.

    Sugarfoot, or Foot, or Sugar, was the founding and cornerstone artistic talent of OHIO PLAYERS and the face and sound of the OHIO PLAYERS brand, which he knit together and launched in 1964 with former members of The Ohio Untouchables. With a career spanning 56 years, he passed barely short of his 70th birthday.

    Humble yet charismatic, soft spoken and of few words, the weight of his thoughts, lyrics, and music has influenced countless other artists, songs, and trends. He will be missed but not forgotten as his legacy and music lives on. More details and an official historical perspective of his career will soon be forthcoming.

    For those who don’t recognize the songs “Love Rollercoaster” and “Fire” by their titles, the performances below will instantly jog the memory of anyone over 15. The two songs have pervaded pop culture for decades, and a cover of “Love Rollercoaster” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers was featured prominently in the soundtrack to the movie Beavis and Butt-head Do America.

  • Shaun White Wins X Games Gold Again

    Though Shaun White has garnered a reputation as heavy partier when he’s not on the slopes, he’s still most famous for dominating the snowboarding competition at the X Games. White achieved a perfect score in his final snowboard superpipe run last year, and it seems as though he has kept up his skills, despite his other troubles.

    At this year’s X Games in Aspen, Colorado, Shaun White made history (again) by winning the snowboard superpipe competition for the sixth year in a row. White now has 15 X Games gold medals, including some for skateboarding in the summer X Games.

    White bragged about the accomplishment via Twitter:

    White’s superpipe run was the same one that received a perfect score at last year’s X Games. Though he only scored a 98 total this year, it was enough to put the gold medal out of reach for his competitors.

  • U.S. Death Rate From Cancer is Dropping Fast

    Though cancer hasn’t been completely cured, it’s clear that treatments for the disease have improved over the past two decades. A yearly report from the American Cancer Society has shown that the death rate from cancer in the U.S. is declining among all Americans and for the most common types of cancer.

    The report, published recently in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, shows that the death rate from all cancers combined has been falling since the early 1990. From 2000 to 2009, combined cancer death rates have fallen an average of 1.8% among men and 1.4% among women. Black men and black women saw the largest declines in cancer deaths from 2000 to 2009, though their cancer death rates from 2005 to 2009 were still highest when compared to other racial groups.

    Though death rates for cancers such as lung cancer , breast cancer, and colon cancer are declining, the rate of diagnoses for some cancers is increasing. The rate of new cases of pancreas, kidney, thyroid, liver, melanoma, and myeloma cancers have all increased in men from 2000 to 2009. For women, rates of new cases of thyroid, melanoma, kidney, pancreas, liver, leukemia, and uterus cancers increased during the same period. The report points out that excess weight and lack of physical activity are risk factors for many of these cancers.

    “The continuing drop in cancer mortality over the past two decades is reason to cheer,” said John Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society. “The challenge we now face is how to continue those gains in the face of new obstacles, like obesity and HPV infections. We must face these hurdles head on, without distraction, and without delay, by expanding access to proven strategies to prevent and control cancer.”

    A special section of the report highlighted trends related to human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. From 2000 to 2009, HPV-associated oropharyngeal (throat) cancer rates increased among white men and women, while anal cancer rates among all men and women increased. Rates of vulva cancer were up among women, though cervical cancer rates declined among all women except Native Americans. The report shows that fewer than one-third of girls aged 13 to 17 had received all 3 recommended doses of the HPV vaccine. Girls in the Southern U.S., those who live in poverty, and those who are hispanic were less likely to get all three doses.

    “While this report shows that we are making progress in the fight against cancer on some fronts, we still have much work to do, particularly when it comes to preventing cancer,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “For example, vaccinating against HPV can prevent cervical cancer, but, tragically, far too many girls are growing into adulthood vulnerable to cervical cancer because they are not vaccinated.”

  • Migraine Triggers Called Into Question by New Study

    A new study has shown that “triggers” for migraine with aura may not be as strongly associated with migraines as is commonly thought. Such triggers, including flashing lights and exercise, are often avoided by patients who suffer frequent migraines.

    “People with migraine with aura are told to avoid possible triggers, which may lead them to avoid a wide range of suspected factors,” said Dr. Jes Olesen, author of the study at the University of Copenhagen and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “Yet the most commonly reported triggers are stress, bright light, emotional influences and physical effort, which can be difficult to avoid and potentially detrimental, if people avoid all physical activity.”

    The study, published recently in the journal Neurology, looked at 27 people with migraine with aura who reported that a migraine attack had been triggered by flickering light or vigorous exercise. The patients exercised for one hour, either biking or running, and reached at least 80% of their max heart rate. The were also exposed to flashing lights for 30 to 40 minutes. After their sessions, patients were observed for three hours and told to report any migraine symptoms.

    “Our study suggests that if a person is exposed to a suspected trigger for three months and does not have a migraine attack, they no longer have to worry about avoiding that trigger,” said Olesen.

    Only 11% of the patients reported a migraine with aura after their trigger exposure, and another 11% experienced a migraine without aura. None of the patients had a migraine with aura following light exposure alone.

    “Perhaps rather than triggers, these behaviors are a brain-driven response to the early phases of the migraine itself,” said Dr. Peter Goadsby of the University of California, San Francisco in an accompanying editorial. “Maybe people are driven to exercise as an early symptom and the association with light is simply the sensitivity to light that occurs with the attack itself?”

  • Short Skirts Risk Rape Comment Lands MP in Trouble

    British Tory Member of Parliament for Gloucester Richard Graham has come under fire from women’s rights groups for suggeting that short skirts and high heels could make it difficult for women to run away from potential predators.

    Graham’s words, as quoted by the Daily Mail:

    “If you are a young woman on her own trying to walk back home through a park early in the morning in a tight, short skirt and high shoes, and there’s a predator  .  .  .  if you are blind drunk wearing those clothes how able are you to get away?

    “Although we have a pretty heavy police presence, life doesn’t give you full protection from a predator all the time. You have got to help look after yourself as well.

    “It’s not about the impact of your clothes on a potential predator in my view – it’s about whether the clothes you’re wearing make it harder to get away from a predator.”

    There’s no doubt that drunkenness can make women easier targets for predators. However, by commenting on clothing choices, Graham touched a nerve with rape crisis activists in England. A common trope used by those who dismiss rape claims is that women are partly responsible if they wear provocative clothing. The assumption, presumably, is that men can’t be expected to exercise self control when presented with a glimpse of upper thigh.

    Graham wrote on his blog recently that he is sticking by his words, which he states have nothing to do with excusing rapists. From the blog:

    Encouraging a sensible approach to risk management in no way intimates ANY excuse for predatory behaviour, let alone rape, and I have asked The Citizen to clarify that and to apologise for claiming that I agreed with Ms Lumley’s views.

    As the father of a 20 year old daughter I rightly have strong views both on the importance of risk management and the hideousness of rape. Let no reader be any doubt about BOTH, and not misled by a misleading article and inappropriate editorial.

  • Stanley Karnow Dies: Vietnam Reporter Was 87

    Stanley Karnow, a journalist most famous for covering the entirety of the Vietnam War, has died at the age of 87.

    According to an Associated Press report, Karnow died in his sleep on January 27 at his home in Potomac, Maryland. Karnow died of congestive heart failure.

    Karnow served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II before beginning his career as a reporter. He soon after began reporting for Time, and briefly served as the magazine’s North African Bureau chief. Starting in 1959, Karnow became Time‘s Asia correspondent. He was present during the first American deaths in Vietnam that year.

    Karnow covered the war until its end in 1974. His reports were eventually used to write his most famous book, Vietnam: A History. In addition to that definitive take on the Vietnam conflict, Karnow authored several other books such as In Our Image: America’s Empire in the Philippines and Mao and China: From Revolution to Revolution.

    As recently as the year 2000, Karnow wrote a piece on the Vietnam War for Salon, calling the war ” a tragedy of epic dimensions for the United States as well as for Vietnam, where at least 3 million people, both soldiers and civilians, lost their lives.” Karnow was writing against modern arguments that sought to portray the Vietnam conflict as just and winnable.

  • Tablet Shipments Could Reach 145 Million This Year

    It’s already clear from multiple reports this month that tablets took a big bite out of PC sales during the 2012 holiday season. Now, a new report is showing that the tablet market is set to grow even stronger in 2013.

    Analyst firm ABI Research this week revealed its prediction that, worldwide, 145 million tablet devices will ship in 2013. It makes its prediction based on the number of new entrants in to the mobile market, the rising number of less expensive mobile devices, and increased mobile device adoption by businesses.

    “The rate of innovation is slowing as tablet vendors augment their product portfolios to meet the needs of market audiences,” said Jeff Orr, senior practice director at ABI. “The late 2012 launches of Apple’s iPad mini and a variety of slates based on Intel architecture and new Windows operating systems will only begin to show their progress this year.”

    ABI predicts that North America will receive over half of worldwide mobile device shipments. In addition, businesses are predicted to receive 19% of tablet shipments. Though ABI admits this could eat into PC sales, it also asserts that “the majority of new tablet opportunity comes from workers that have, until now, worked without the benefits of computing technologies.” The research firm also does not blame slowing eReader sales on the rise of tablet computing, and instead blames book publishers.

    “The facts are that the U.S. market continues to dominate eReader shipments and an aging Baby Boomer population looking to replicate the print reading experience is a waning audience,” said Orr. “If other world regions do not successfully organize digital publishing markets, the dedicated eReader market will go away without regard for adoption of tablets and other mobile devices.”

  • DayZ Standalone Gets a Huge Progress Update

    It turns out that the sparse info about the upcoming DayZ standalone game released earlier this month was just a small taste of what the developers have been working on. Today, Dean “Rocket” Hall took to the DayZ tumblr blog and provided a vast amount of details covering everything from the game’s new server architecture to customizing characters and weapons.

    First off, the game’s lighting system has been improved and a volumetric cloud system has been implemented, which Rocket says, “adds a sense of realism when compared with the previous result.”

    The game’s art assets are also being quickly completed, with new objects such as wrecked vehicles and buses already implemented. Buildings have been redesigned and some new buildings have been created, with new textures that make them seem more damaged.

    The inventory system is far enough along that players can put on and drop different clothing items, which can all carry diseases and have durability ratings. Weapons are now customizable, and even individual ammunition magazines are considered attachments and must be kept in serviceable shape.

    The developers also want to include ways to support social organization within the game, such as tattoos or markings on weapons or other in-game surfaces. They are also experimenting with having all of the zombies on one server spawn at the start of server initialization to eliminate the meta-gaming the presence of zombies previously enabled.

    The server architecture for the game has been completely redeveloped, with a style closer to an MMO-type game. Rocket stated that this should help deter hackers by having the servers control character behavior and send updates.

    Character customization has become a priority for the development team, and will be “really the entire focus of our efforts for the next few months, prior to starting on vehicle customization and finally on base building at the end of the year.”

    It’s unclear if “end of the year” might coincide with the release of the game, or whether early versions of the game will be released Minecraft-style, as was planned. Rocket stated, as he has in the past, that the developers will take their time to get the title right. From the blog post:

    I feel fantastic about the situation, more than ever I feel like we’re doing something really interesting with this development. Now is not the time to rush things, but we do need to ensure our pace is kept up. Our development blog and getting players in and testing as soon as possible will be key in ensuring we succeed in making this a great game.

    An internal closed test on the game has already begun. In addition, the developers are now working with Valve to develop an new browser system, which will utilize Steam. A more public beta test will have to wait until the game’s server/client architecture is in place.

  • Splinter Cell: Blacklist Collector’s Edition Comes With an RC Airplane

    Ubisoft disappointed Splinter Cell fans earlier this month by announcing the release of Splinter Cell Blacklist has been delayed until August 20. It wasn’t an unexpected announcement, but it still means fans of the series won’t be able to get their hands on the title before the crowded (and possibly next-gen laden) 2013 holiday season.

    Today IGN revealed something that might make up for the extended delay. The “Paladin Collector’s Edition” of Splinter Cell: Blacklist will come with a fully working remote-controlled airplane. The “Paladin” aircraft is modeled after a similar vehicle featured in the game. That’s quite a step up from the statues found in most other games’ collector’s editions, and similar to the drone that was included in some collector’s editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops II.

    According to IGN, the “Paladin” edition of the game will cost $170 and will be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. In addition to the RC airplane, those who buy it will get a graphic novel titled Splinter Cell: Echoes (a prequel to Blacklist), an in-game co-op map called the “Billionaire’s Yacht” , and the “Upper Echelon Pack” DLC, which includes the “Dead Coast” map, an “extra suit” for Fisher, and “Gold Sonar Goggles.”

  • Melanomas Often Mutate in Two Specific Ways, Shows Study

    A new study has shown that 71% of melanoma tumors have two specific mutations. The mutations were found in an area of the cancer genome where cancer-related mutations have not been found previously.

    “This new finding represents an initial foray into the ‘dark matter’ of the cancer genome,” said Dr. Levi Garraway, senior author of the study and an assistant professor of medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “In addition, this represents the discovery of two of the most prevalent melanoma gene mutations. Considered as a whole, these two TERT promoter mutations are even more common than BRAF mutations in melanoma. Altogether, this discovery could cause us to think more creatively about the possible benefits of targeting TERT in cancer treatment or prevention.”

    The study, published this week in the journal Science Express, shows that the two mutations take place in regions of non-coding DNA. Non-coding DNA refers to the large regions of DNA that do not contain genetic instructions for making proteins. Though non-coding DNA makes up 99% of a cell’s genome, the information was previously dismissed as meaningless.

    The researchers found that the mutations affect affect a promoter region adjacent to the TERT gene, which contains a “recipe” for creating telomerase reverse transcriptase – an enzyme that can make cells “virtually immortal.” Promoter regions in DNA control the rate of a gene’s transcription. It is presumed that the mutations can kick the TERT gene “into overdrive” and contribute to the development of melanoma.

    “We think these mutations in the promoter region are potentially one way the TERT gene can be activated,” said Dr. Franklin Huang, co-author of the study.

    The mutations were found by analyzing whole-genome data. Huang and his colleagues also found that the same mutations are present in other cancers, and could be common in bladder and liver cancers.

  • Verizon Wireless Sells Spectrum to AT&T For $1.9 billion

    According to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, AT&T has agreed to acquire spectrum licenses from Verizon Wireless for $1.9 billion. The 700 MHz Block B licenses will cover 42 million people in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

    The deal also includes AT&T handing over to Verizon Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum licenses in markets such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, Fresno, and Portland, Oregon.

    The transaction is subject to regulatory approval by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), but AT&T expects the transaction to be completed sometime in the second half of 2013.

    The transaction is part of a 700 MHz spectrum sale that Verizon announced last year. The sale is part of an agreement made with U.S. regulators so that Verizon could acquire spectrum from cable companies such as Comcast and Time Warner.

    This spectrum acquisition comes just after AT&T announced this week that it will buy Alltel for $780 million. Alltel is a smaller wireless carrier that serves around 585,000 subscribers in the rural areas of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, and Idaho. AT&T announced last year that its goal is to provide 300 million Americans with access to its 4G LTE network by 2014.

  • NASA Joins Euclid Dark Universe Mission

    NASA announced this week that it has joined the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid mission. The mission will investigate dark matter and dark energy throughout the universe.

    In 2020, the mission will launch the Euclid space telescope, which will spend six years mapping and measuring as many as 2 billion galaxies that cover one-third of the sky. The hope is that Euclid will be able to provide insight into the evolution of the universe and the influence of dark matter and dark energy.

    “ESA’s Euclid mission is designed to probe one of the most fundamental questions in modern cosmology, and we welcome NASA’s contribution to this important endeavor, the most recent in a long history of cooperation in space science between our two agencies,” said Alvaro Gimenez, ESA’s Director of Science and Robotic Exploration.

    Though NASA’s part in the Euclid mission is still being developed, the agency will be providing 16 infrared detectors and four spare detectors for one of Euclid’s science instruments.

    The Euclid spacecraft will be launched into orbit around the sun-Earth Lagrange point L2, a point where the gravitational pull of the sun and Earth can help the satellite maintain a stationary position behind the Earth. The spacecraft will map dark matter, using precise measurements of distant galaxies.

    Dark Matter makes up around 85% of the universe. It is called dark matter because it does not interact with light, and is made up of unknown particles. It does, however, interact with known matter through gravity, binding galaxies together. Dark energy, on the other hand, is accelerating the expansion of the universe. Even less about dark energy is known than about dark matter.

    (Image courtesy ESA/C. Carreau)

  • Origin For Mac Alpha Client Released

    EA today announced that the Origin client for Mac is coming along, and an alpha test of the software has begun. Gamers with a Mac can download the alpha today, though it will be available to only “a few thousand users” in North American and the U.K. Though it’s kind of odd, the Origin for Mac alpha can be found for download through Origin website, and is found on the site’s demos section.

    The alpha client does not yet have access to EA’s store, and the Twitch.tv live-streaming is also disabled. Instead, EA is encouraging Mac gamers to add non-Origin titles to the service and use the Origin overlay in-game.

    Of course, a broken client doesn’t sound appealing, so EA is giving away copies of PopCap’s Bookworm with every alpha download. EA promises that the complete version of Origin for Mac will have all of the features of the PC client, including auto-patching, cloud saves, and a friends list.

    Though criticized poor customer service and aggressive DRM, Origin has many of the same features of other PC gaming stores. The thing that sets Origin apart is that it is the only place EA games can be downloaded for the PC. Ubisoft’s new Uplay client is similar, and though the publisher does make Uplay necessary for its newer PC titles, it doesn’t restrict the sale of its PC games to its own storefront. Ubisoft titles can still be found through Steam and GOG.

  • Sony Revamps the Online PlayStation Store

    Last year, Sony revamped its storefront on the PlayStation 3. Though the interface was clean and intuitive, it also somewhat resembles the tile-based interface Microsoft had adopted for its Xbox 360 consoles. It features large images of new releases and popular games.

    This week, Sony has rolled out a revamp of the PlayStation Store on the web, tuning it to more closely resemble the store on the PlayStation 3. The interface features a similar blocky interface, along with large ads for new titles or deals at the top of most pages. Users who log into the website with their PlayStation Network or Sony Entertainment Network accounts will be able to purchase content and see it appear on the “My Downloads” section of their consoles. The service isn’t able to automatically download content remotely to a PlayStation 3 or Vita console, but Sony stated that feature and others are on the way.

    For all the inevitable complaints that Sony will get due to the change, the interface actually is an improvement. Information on titles is clearly displayed, including any PlayStation Plus discounts available. It is also easy to organize titles with the filters on the left side of the page to find a selection of games or movies that are tailored to individual tastes or needs.

    Sony released a video detailing the new interface, but it’s all pretty self-explanatory.

  • Samsung Reports Record Fourth-Quarter Profits

    Samsung Electronics today announced its fourth quarter earnings. As expected, the company pulled in record fourth-quarter profits, taking in 7.04 trillion won ($6.5 billion) in net profit. That’s a 7% increase over their third-quarter earnings, and an over 75% increase from its profits in the fourth quarter of 2011.

    “Despite uncertainties in Europe and concerns over the U.S. fiscal cliff creating a difficult business environment, we did our best this quarter to achieve strong earnings based on a strategic focus on differentiated and high value-added products as well as our technological competitiveness,” said Robert Yi, Head of Investor Relations at Samsung. “Heading into this year, we are expecting a slow recovery in the component business due to reduced capital expenditures, while competition in the set business will intensify further as demand slows and the mid- to low-end market expands.”

    Samsung’s fourth-quarter revenues of 56.1 trillion won ($52 billion) rose on the strength of its mobile device and mobile component sales. Sales of the company’s flagship Android phones, the Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note, have reached tens of millions of units worldwide. Samsung did mention, however, that sales of DRAM for PCs are down – a sign of the declining PC market itself.

    Samsung expects its growth to remain stable throughout 2013, though it cites a “tepid global economy” and increased competition in the mobile device market as possible challenges. The company believes its growth will be driven by its LED TV sets, and expects the market for TVs over 60 inches to grow in 2013.

  • Assassin’s Creed III “King Washington” DLC Coming February 19

    Since the launch of Assassin’s Creed III, all fans have been waiting for is the provocative DLC that depicts George Washington as a power-hungry tyrant. Today, Ubisoft finally announced that “The Tyranny of King Washington” will be released on February 19 for Xbox 360 and PC. PlayStation 3 owners will be able to download the update starting February 20.

    The DLC released at that will actually be the first of a “three-part tale,” according to Ubisoft. The first installment will be titled “The Infamy,” and show that George Washington has been crowned the king of the United States of America. The other two parts of the story will be coming as their own individual DLC add-on, and will have to be purchased separately.

    “The Tyranny” will cost $10/£8 or 800 Microsoft Points via Xbox LIVE. Assassin’s Creed fans who bought the Season Pass DLC bundle will be able to download the new content as soon as it is available, and all episodes of “The Tyranny of King Washington” will be included in the Season Pass.

    Ubisoft did not set a date for any upcoming DLC for the Wii U version of Assassin’s Creed III. It did, however, promise that all Assassin’s Creed III DLC will be coming to the Wii U in the future.

  • Potential AIDS Cure Could Make HIV Dormant

    A new study published this month in the journal Human Gene Therapy has shown that a modified protein from the HIV virus itself could someday be used to prevent AIDS.

    “This is like fighting fire with fire,” said David Harrich, co-author of the study and an associate professor at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research’s (QIMR) Molecular Virology Laboratory. “If this research continues down its strong path, and bear in mind there are a many hurdles to clear, we’re looking at a cure for AIDS.”

    Harrich runs the only research laboratory in Queensland that works with the HIV virus. The protein he and his colleagues discovered, named “Nullbasic,” was formed by mutating an existing HIV protein over many generations. The researchers are confident enough in their findings that animal trials are set to begin this year.

    Patients infected with the HIV virus currently take large doses of expensive drugs to subdue the virus. “Nullbasic” treatments wouldn’t eliminate HIV from patients’ bodies but, according to Harrich, it could significantly reduce the cost of treatment for HIV.

    “I have never seen anything like it. The modified protein works every time,” said Harrich. “You would still be infected with HIV, it’s not a cure for the virus. But the virus would stay latent, it wouldn’t wake up, so it wouldn’t develop into AIDS. With a treatment like this, you would maintain a healthy immune system.”

    Harrich has been studying HIV since the early 1980s, when the very first cases of AIDS began to be diagnosed. He began as a research assistant at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

    “I’ve come close to giving up in the past,” said Harrich. “But today I’m so encouraged. I feel very fortunate because not a lot of scientists are able to stay in the same game long enough to see these sorts of developments.

    The video below was released by QIMR. It features Harrich discussing his team’s “Nullbasic” findings.