Tim Sinclaire, Author at Rush Times

Best Buy announces deals for Cyber Monday

November 30, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

Shoppers who missed out on Black Friday still have at least one more day to enjoy big savings on products, especially tech gadgets. And while Best Buy’s Cyber Monday deals, as shown on its recently released ad, aren’t as exciting as its Black Friday deals, you’ll still have more than enough to choose from when it comes to popular mobile gadgets, laptops, and other tech items.

Best Buy has lightened up on its iPad deals for Cyber Monday, but you can still save $50 off the price of the first-generation iPad Air. Other than that, the deals are largely limited to budget tablets like the 7-inch DigiLand Android tablet, which costs $39.99, and the Insignia 10-inch Android tablet, which comes straight to us from Best Buy itself and costs just $129.99, a dirt-cheap price on a tablet that large. And while it’s more of a hybrid device than a pure tablet, Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 configuration with Intel Core i3 processor and 128GB storage is selling for only $699.99.

While we’re still in the 2-in-1 tablet category the Surface is a part of, you can also save some money on devices like the 11.6-inch Toshiba Satellite Radius, which comes with an Intel Pentium processor, 4GB RAM, and a 500GB hard drive – that’s only going to cost you $399.99. The HP Pavilion X2 10 is also discounted, with the 32GB version selling for $229.99, and the 64GB version costing $279.99. Both variants are powered by an Intel Atom processor and run on Windows 10.

2-in-1 laptop deals include a Dell laptop with 13.3-inch Full HD display, Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB SSD for $649.99, an Acer sporting a 14-inch Full HD display, Intel Core i5/8GB RAM power, and a 256GB SSD, also for the same price. And if you’re willing to pay more than that, Dell has another 2-in-1 laptop with 15.6-inch, 4K display, Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB RAM, and 1TB hard drive – this configuration costs $929.99, and is probably best recommended for so-called “power users.”

Apple’s MacBook line of laptops is also part of Best Buy’s Cyber Monday push, as some configurations can be purchased for $100 less than full retail, but the retailer somehow doesn’t mention which models are discounted on its advertisement. That also applies to its iMac all-in-one line. You may, however, want to check out the retailer’s traditional Windows laptop and desktop deals.

These Windows laptop specials include a 15.6-inch Lenovo configuration with AMD A8 chip, 8GB RAM, and a 1TB hard drive ($299.99), a Toshiba config with 15.6-inch display, Intel Core i3 chip, 6GB RAM, and 1TB hard drive ($369.99), and a 13.3-inch Asus touchscreen laptop with Core i3 processor, 6GB RAM, and 500GB hard drive ($499.99).

Finally, in the Windows desktop category, Best Buy’s Cyber Monday ad shows products such as an HP all-in-one with 23-inch touchscreen monitor, Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, and 1TB hard drive. That will set you back by $649.99. Alternately, you can opt for a Lenovo desktop with 23.8-inch touchscreen, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, and 1TB hard drive. This option will cost you $999.99 despite having similar specs to the former desktop, save for the more powerful CPU.

New research could mean big things for Alzheimer’s treatment

November 30, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, sufferers typically aren’t aware that they are ill, and neither are their loved ones. This is generally a symptom-free stage of the disease, but new research claims that our brain’s synapses, or the connections that help us form memories and learn things, are slowly dying at that point.

A study from the University of New South Wales in Australia explains that synapse loss, or the loss of the connections between brain neurons, is a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease. According to lead author Dr. Vladimir Sytnyk from the UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, synapse loss is one of Alzheimer’s first changes, happening very early into the disease and long before the death of our nerve cells.

Syntyk and his colleagues examined a brain protein called NCAM2, or neural cell adhesion molecule 2 – this is just one protein in a larger group that connects synapse membranes, thus maintaining connections between neurons. Based on the team’s analysis of brain tissue from deceased people who had Alzheimer’s and those who didn’t, it was shown that synaptic levels of NCAM2 in the hippocampus were at low levels in those who had the disease. Through a separate study of mice, Sytnyk’s team found that NCAM2 was broken down by beta-amyloid proteins, or the unusual buildup in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

“We have identified a new molecular mechanism, which directly contributes to this synapse loss,” said Sytnyk, “a discovery we hope could eventually lead to earlier diagnosis of the disease and new treatments.”

Additionally, Sytnyk stressed that this discovery could be very important, as it could “open up a new avenue for research on possible treatments that can prevent the destruction of NCAM2 in the brain.”

Mosquitoes get genetic modifications as weapon vs malaria

November 29, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

Mosquitoes may be common household pests, not to mention the cause of many a disease, particularly tropical diseases like dengue fever and malaria. And while the latter disease does have a conventional form of treatment in some parts of Africa, these medicines are often in short supply, if at all available. But what’s making things worse is the fact that the mosquitoes that bring malaria are becoming tougher and tougher, becoming more resistant to medication.

A group of researchers from the University of California in Irvine have come up with a way to genetically modify mosquitoes so that they wouldn’t be able to spread the malaria parasite. But these modified insects do more than that – they also pass on the trait of not being able to spread malaria to almost all of their offspring.

Lead researcher Anthony James and his team used the controversial CRISPR gene editing technique to insert two genes into the mosquito’s genome, making them malaria-resistant. And since there’s also a high rate of inheritability involved here, James says that the technique allows the resistance to spread fast through a mosquito population after it’s introduced.

James’ team introduced modified mouse immune genes, which stick to the malaria parasites and make it impossible for the parasites to recognize their host and for them to move around properly. “You can think of it as (being) blinded,” he said. As a result, the parasite cannot get into the animal’s salivary gland and, therefore, doesn’t make it into humans when the mosquitoes bite.

There are, however, some issues with James’ use of CRISPR. As the technique has been used to edit human embryos, drawing great controversy earlier this year, the researchers are trying their best not to ruffle any feathers, given the moral objections to gene editing. James also admitted that more research needs to be done to make sure that the technique is indeed a viable way of fighting malaria. Still, he remains confident that the technique’s benefits outweigh the risks, making it a very promising potential solution against a disease that is estimated to strike over 200 million people this year alone.

Gunman storms Colorado planned parenthood clinic

November 27, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

A still-unidentified gunman attacked a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Colorado Springs Friday, engaging in a shootout that injured four police officers and a yet-undetermined number of civilians.

According to a police spokeswoman, Colorado Springs police responded to an emergency call reporting shots fired at about 11:30 a.m. Mountain Time. Officers were able to confront the gunman while he was inside the building soon after they arrived on the scene.

“The officers inside the building have encountered the individual,” said police department spokeswoman Lt. Catherine Buckley, speaking to reporters. “They were exchanging gunfire.” She added that four officers were injured in the shooting, while several other people were injured. Authorities have yet to release any information on the nature or extent of the civilians’ injuries.

Buckley added that not all of the injured individuals could immediately be taken to hospitals; at the time she spoke to the media, there was a possibility that some may have remained trapped inside the clinic, which is located some 70 miles south of Denver, on the northwest side of Colorado Springs.

A report from CBS News suggests that the apparently lone gunman started firing shots once he entered the Planned Parenthood clinic, which had security guards on duty, and that the police were worried that he may have also been dealing with explosives. Separately, a Colorado Springs man told a local publication that his daughter works at the abortion clinic and was “in the line of fire.” Officers said that they were “trying to get (the woman) out,” and informed the man that the assailant was using a high-powered rifle.

No details on the gunman’s identity or motive has been released as of presstime.

Is REI move to sit out Black Friday a wise one?

November 27, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

Consumers have been grousing about retailers and their Black Friday schedules for some time now. Some believe that holiday shopping is simply blown way out of proportion, while others, including some in the above category, feel that it takes away from the traditions of Thanksgiving, which involve spending time with family and staying home during an extended weekend. However, retailer REI decided last month to sit out Thanksgiving and Black Friday – good news for employees, who will be paid on both days, but what does it mean on a broader sense?

Last month, REI broke its long-standing tradition of being open on Black Friday by announcing it would be closed on that day, on top of Thanksgiving. It did, however, encourage employees and customers to embrace the outdoors and share photos and posts relating to these activities as part of its “Opt Outside” campaign. And while other major retailers will still be as busy as ever on Black Friday, REI has dared to go against the grain, which has been praised by marketing professionals for a completely different reason.

“REI earned a great deal of brand acquisition with a press release and a huge graphic on the homepage of their website,” said ReputationManagement.com president Bill Fish. “The story was covered by just about every media outlet out there. Guess what, they sell outdoor products, and they are asking that instead of shopping, you spend time with family and friends outdoors. That is by no means a coincidence.”

Indeed, REI’s move was a popular one, as 49 percent of consumers said that they aren’t in favor of stores being open on Thanksgiving in a recent poll from the University of Connecticut; in that poll, 34 percent were neutral, while a mere 16 percent were in favor.

REI has not been without some criticism. One Redditor said during CEO Jerry Stritzke’s recent Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) that the move was “BS,” sympathizing with REI employees who took to the AMA to complain about poor wages and benefits. Still, REI did emphasize that the feeling generated by its decision has been “warm,” and the fact remains that it isn’t as reliant on Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales as other companies are. That said, Fish and other experts believe that its move isn’t likely to inspire larger retailers to do the same and sit out two of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Fitbit bands get auto exercise tracking through new update

November 26, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

The latest Fitbit update now allows users to track their exercise activities faster and better than before.

Both the Fitbit Charge HR and Surge fitness bands now come with the Smart Track feature, which automatically senses when a user begins exercising. It will even sense what type of exercise you had started – in other words, if you’re running, biking, walking, playing certain sports, or even taking Zumba classes, your Fitbit band will know exactly what you’re doing. All information is sent back to your Fitbit app, may it be the smartphone app or PC/laptop program, without requiring you to go through menus.

A second new feature for the Android and iOS versions of the Fitbit app is Exercise Goals. This allows users to set weekly targets and get daily updates on their progress. So if you’re on a specific training schedule or have a certain amount of weight you want to lose by a certain point in the year, your Fitbit will remind you about that and help you effectively set your goals.

The update also comes with a revamped version of PurePulse, which allows for better heart rate monitoring during intensive workouts. This should help users in determining whether they’re doing the right exercise at the right level of intensity.

T-Mobile Black Friday initiative – switch from Sprint, get $200 credit

November 26, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

The Black Friday deals recently announced by T-Mobile not only offer customers some nice savings to start off the holiday season, but also allow switchers to get a generous credit to join the Uncarrier’s fold.

T-Mobile announced Wednesday that it will be allowing any Sprint customer, or anyone previously with Sprint’s prepaid Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile brands, to switch over to T-Mobile and get a $200 credit to their bills. This adds to the $650 T-Mobile has promised to pay for early termination and other related fees associated with switching from one carrier to another. And this time, customers won’t have to turn in their old phones in order to take advantage of the offer.

“I cannot think of any wireless customers in more desperate need of some holiday cheer than those Sprint customers still hanging on over there,” said T-Mobile CEO John Legere in one of his trademark rival-bashing statements. “Those poor people have put up with the nation’s slowest and smallest LTE network.”

The above offer is just one way T-Mobile is celebrating Black Friday, but the carrier’s Uncarrier Unwrapped campaign also includes three months of free 4G LTE for qualifying Simple Choice customers, with this deal running effectively from December 1, 2015 through March 1, 2016. You won’t have to pay either for the Alcatel OneTouch Pixi 7 tablet or the Samsung Galaxy S6 with 32GB storage, though there are catches to these deals; for the first, you need to be on a qualifying data plan, and for the second, you need to trade-in an eligible device.

Additionally, Uncarrier Unwrapped will allow buyers to save $100 off on the cost of any Samsung tablet in the form of a prepaid MasterCard from the company, and save $100 off the price of a UE Boom Bluetooth speaker, which will see its price slashed to $99.

After Chipotle, Costco in hot water over E. coli outbreak

November 24, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

The controversy over the Chipotle E. coli bacteria outbreak has yet to die down fully, but another leading American company is now in trouble with government health officials.

Retail giant Costco is now being investigated by the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, as its chicken salad is being blamed for 19 people in at least seven states falling ill to E. coli. Five people have been hospitalized so far, while two have developed severe kidney failure, a distinctive complication for this specific strain of the E. coli virus. No fatalities have been reported following this new outbreak.

The CDC’s initial investigations show that a rotisserie chicken salad made and sold in Costco Wholesale branches in multiple states may be to blame for the outbreak. Officials have yet to determine a specific ingredient in the salad that is to blame for the people falling ill. 14 out of 16 people had either purchased or ate the chicken salad from Costco about one week before they became sick. The retailer’s rotisserie chicken salad has a suggested shelf life of three days.

Most of the cases have been reported in Western states, with the most cases coming from Colorado, Montana, and Utah. Other states affected by the outbreak include California, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington.

In a statement made to health officials, Costco said last Friday that it has removed all of the remaining chicken salad from its stores, and it will stop producing any more until further notice. Meanwhile, the CDC is also advising consumers to throw away any rotisserie chicken salad sold by its stores on or before November 20.

Brain tumor of baby kissed by Pope Francis is shrinking

November 23, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

When Pope Francis visited Philadelphia in September, several children were brought to the Popemobile, including one-year-old Gianna Masciantonio, who was suffering from a rare brain tumor. And while her parents had spent a lot of time in the cancer ward in the weeks that followed, little Gianna’s tumor appears to have shrunk dramatically in the past week. Reporters are now calling the phenomenon the “Miracle on Market Street.”

In a report from Philly.com, Joe Masciantonio said that the tumor was “basically gone” following rounds of surgery and chemotherapy. After blood cells attacked Gianna’s brain stem mere weeks after she was born last year, a tumor developed, and it had come to the point where it was declared to be inoperable. “They said go home, enjoy the last weeks, maybe months, that you have with her,” said Joe, speaking to Philly.com. He added that his wife Kirsten insisted that they have Gianna meet Pope Francis, despite his earlier objections.

With the help of a friend, FBI agent Donny Asper, the Masciantonios were informed that the Pope would be visiting Philadelphia on September 26. And while Joe expressed concern that Gianna’s immune system would suffer even more after a long day at a public event, the child’s doctor advised them it would be okay to proceed. They were able to make it from their hometown of Warrington to Philadelphia in 40 minutes, as police officers waved the Popemobile over to the couple and their ailing child.

And, in an interesting twist, Vatican City security head Domenico Giani brought Gianna to Pope Francis, who then kissed her on the head – Giani’s name turned out to be a combination of the Masciantonio children’s names, as their four-year-old son is named Dominic.

“Sometimes coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous,” commented the FBI’s Philadelphia chaplain, Monsignor Mike Mannion. “The fact that they were literally able to flag the pope down, he stopped and blessed the baby . . . it’s very special.”

Did ISS’ Scott Kelly spot a UFO? Experts say he did

November 21, 2015 By Tim Sinclaire

A new photo tweeted by International Space Center astronaut Scott Kelly has been getting quite the buzz as of late, and it’s because of what might be in the photo, emphasis on might.

Kelly’s photo, tweeted on Thursday, shows what many have been claiming could be an unidentified flying object moving on the upper right side. “In the upper right of the photo you can clearly see a large object with two lights on each end,” claims UFO hunter and YouTuber sonofmabarker. “It also appears to be very large and constructed.” But he’s not alone in thinking that he may have seen some sort of ship, as another self-styled enthusiast chimed in with his own observations, complete with measurements.

Scott Waring of UFO Sightings Daily also believes that the strange object could be what many people think it is. “Scott Kelly likes to send out photos of the view from the windows of the space station … and they look cool,” said Waring. “This one however has a cigar shaped glowing UFO with a metallic body in it.” He claims that the object measures about 82 feet long, and may have been between 492 and 981 feet away, and that Kelly was “trying to hint at the existence of aliens.”

This comes on the heels of another purported UFO sighting, as several Los Angeles residents claimed earlier this month that they had spotted such an object. Navy representatives, however, clarified that they had actually been running a test flight for a deactivated missile, which caused most, but not all of the buzz to die down; some people still believe that their sighting was actually that of a UFO.

Then again, Kelly’s “sighting” could merely be a piece of space debris that hasn’t been cleaned up yet. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, after all, had made a recent statement saying that more efforts should be made to clean up space debris.