OMRF scientist finds missing protein stops immune cell development

"In a paper published Sunday in the journal Nature Immunology, OMRF scientist Jose Alberola-Ila, M.D., Ph.D., found that a single missing protein in mice makes their immune systems unable to produce a potent defensive cell. The findings could be key to a deeper understanding of autoimmune disorders like type I (juvenile) diabetes."

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Flagship Initiatives Shine in Open Government Plans

Ever since Open Government Day – the 120 day deadline in the Open Government Directive when agencies had to release Open Government Plans – I’ve been pouring over them hoping to get a better understanding of how openness is going to be implemented. If we are to judge government openness by the barrage of documents we received last Wednesday, then we open government advocates ought to be very happy! But what are these documents made of, anyway? A word cloud illustrates it quite well – all the buzzwords that you would expect: Information, government, data, open, public.

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No Cops in the Cloud Without a Warrant

What do Google, Microsoft, AT&T, Intel, Americans for Tax Reform, ACLU, the American Library Association, the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have in common?

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Dial-Up Law in a Broadband World

The Internet has given the government powerful 21st-century tools for invading people’s privacy and monitoring their activities, but the main federal law governing online privacy is a 20th-century relic. Adopted in 1986, it has had trouble keeping up with technological advances and is now badly out of date.

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Green up!

Recycle your mobile phones and find out what to do with your old phone books:

• April 5-11 is National Mobile Phone recycle week!
• Thinking about upgrading to an iPhone or Droid? Recycle your old phone: http://bit.ly/aQAjoo 
• Last year, Americans turned in approximately 11.7 million mobile phones for reuse and recycling.
• The energy saved by recycling even one mobile phone is enough to power a laptop for 44 hours.
• If Americans recycled the 130 million mobile phones tossed each year, enough energy would be saved to power more than 24,000 homes.
• Where can I turn in my mobile phone for donation or recycling? Mobile phone collection programs can be found here: http://bit.ly/c5ko9u
• Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program collects used wireless phones & accessories to support victims of domestic violence. http://bit.ly/c2mrH3
• Have you gotten your 2010 phone book yet? Approximately 540 million phone book directories are delivered to our front steps every year.
• Though many are 40% post-consumer recycled, phone books still require enormous quantities of paper, oil and ink.
• Opt out: Visit PaperlessPetition.com to request that your name and address be removed from the Yellow Pages printed directory mailing list.
• Get Just One: If you still want to get one phone book, not 10 at a time, then call the individual titles directly to let them know.
• What can you do with your old phone books? Recycle them of course! Find out where: http://bit.ly/aGAklT
• According to the EPA, 500 recycled phone books saves 7,000 gallons of water, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, 24 trees & 4,100 kWh of power.
• 500 recycled books provides 6 months enough power for an average home. Thanks to Eco-Chick for the tips! http://bit.ly/c4dmlY

Read the original post here.

The Courts Can't Take Away Our Internet

Megan Tady, Huffington Post

The ruling for Comcast by the D.C. Circuit Court could be the biggest blow to our nation's primary communications platform, or it could be the kick in the pants our leaders need to finally protect it. Either way, the future of the Internet, the fight for Net Neutrality, and the expansion of broadband are hanging in the balance.

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CDT Reaction to Comcast v. FCC Decision

"Either the FCC or Congress is going to have to go back to the drawing board and reconsider the authority that the agency can exercise over 'last mile' providers of Internet access."

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Elegant Readings with Michael Ian Black: Taco Party

I find this amusing.

Four Days to Defend the Open Internet

Only four days left to debunk the telco lies about Net Neutrality. Take action http://bit.ly/cLAIBP

AT&T Apologizes for Luke Wilson Ads

By Megan Tady

AT&T this morning apologized for their advertising series featuring once-credible actor Luke Wilson. The ads, which began in early November, show Wilson awkwardly touting the company’s 3G network – which the company admits would be difficult role for any actor, given the network’s terrible reputation.

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Goodyear Develops Tires Made of Renewable Rubber

The future of tires could mean using rubber made from plants, and it could happen within the next five years, according to TechNewsDaily.

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Support Clean Air and Greener Cars

The EPA is poised to announce new clean cars standards this week, but some members of Congress want to take away the EPA's Clean Air Act authority to set vehicle standards. I just sent a message to my representative to support clean cars, and you should too! Check it out:

http://action.sierraclub.org/caa