What: The signature file, better known as the "sig file" -- a few lines of text appended to email messages
When: Circa 1980
Where: Probably somewhere on FidoNet, or some other early online bulletin boards that gave way to Usenet
Who: Unknown. Sig files are so easy to create, no self-respecting nerd has stepped forward to claim parentage.
If email is the Internet's killer app, the signature file represents the assassin's initials etched on the bullet. Sig files describe who the sender is -- job title, phone number, and so on. But they also reveal what the sender is about, because the essence of a sig file is the digital sound bite affixed below one's coordinates. Some choose an inscrutable observation: "Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time." Others go for inspiration: "All people smile in the same language."
Standing at the juncture of the oldest instinct for self-expression and the newest zeal for self-promotion, the sig file is a perfect embodiment of the new economy. Sig files signify status. In the egalitarian world of cyberspace, nobody knows whether you're a dog or a CEO. The sig file tells where you stand. And those little quotations, seemingly so benign, reflect a deeper human yearning in the tradition of "Kilroy was here," which scrawled out proof that you existed.
The sig file is also a killer business strategy. Hotmail -- one of the pioneers of free, Web-based email -- attracted more than 12 million subscribers in its first 18 months thanks to its effective use of the sig file. The ploy, now aped by nearly everyone on the Net, was ingenious: Hotmail's sig file enlisted users as unpaid endorsers of the service and allowed the service to market itself merely by being used. Today, Hotmail, now owned by Microsoft (natch), has more than 60 million subscribers.
-- Daniel H. Pink
You can find quotations for your own sig file (http://www.siglets.com or http://www.coolsig.com) on the Web.
What: The lab mouse
When: First documented use as a research tool in 1909
Where: An undergraduate dorm room, Harvard College
Who: Clarence Cook Little
There is no category of Nobel Prize called "best supporting researcher." But if there were, it would surely be awarded to the unassuming lab mouse. Last year, the distinguished British scientific journal Nature concluded that 17 Nobel Prizes have been awarded for research in which a lab mouse was indispensable.
Why are mice so nice for biological research? They are small and easy to care for -- and, in 12 months, a pair of mice can produce the equivalent of a century's worth of human descendants. Plus, "mice basically have the same genes as humans," says Joyce Peterson of the Jackson Laboratory, the premier breeder of research mice. "Mice have the same systems as humans, all the same little organs, plus a couple more. They get the same diseases for the same reasons."
The lab mouse has a long history. Clarence Cook Little was an undergraduate at Harvard College when he started breeding mice in his dorm room as a way of testing his theory that some kinds of cancer might be hereditary. Little became president of the University of Maine, and then the University of Michigan. Ultimately, he returned to research, founding the Jackson Laboratory as a cancer-research center, using money from auto moguls he met while in Michigan, including Roscoe B. Jackson, head of Hudson Motorcar Co.
Since then, the mouse has helped discover penicillin. Vaccines for a range of ailments, from polio to rabies, were developed using mice. Much of what scientists and physicians know about the immune system comes from working with mice -- including techniques that have made the transplants of kidneys and hearts routine.
And mice are big business. The journal Science has estimated the total market for research mice at more than $200 million a year, in excess of 20 million mice. Manipulation of mice genomics has become routine, and the mapping of the human genome is expected to lead to an explosion of demand for mice to test new drugs, new theories about disease, and new methods of treatment.
Cutting-edge research on Alzheimer's, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, almost all kinds of cancer -- even heart disease -- relies on mice. "The mouse is in the vanguard of research," says Robert Jacoby, a veterinarian and research scientist who heads Yale University's Animal Resources Center. "The mouse is at the fulcrum of understanding how genes actually operate in whole living systems."
-- Charles Fishman
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Recent Comments | 9 Total
November 10, 2009 at 3:47am by hqconverter hqconverter
DVD Video Copier (DVD Copier) is the best DVD to DVD copier tool, that can copy DVD to DVD, such as copy DVD 5 to DVD 5, copy DVD 9 to DVD 9, shrink DVD 9 to DVD 5, and copy DVD to ISO image file or DVD folder to be stored on computer, it also helps burn DVD folder or ISO files to DVD disk.
November 13, 2009 at 2:42am by hqconverter hqconverter
M4R Converter Mac, a smart iPhone ringtone maker and uploader, provides an all-in-one iPhone Ringtone solution for Apple Mac users. With this Mac M4R Converter, you can create your own M4R iPhone ringtones from all mainstream audio files such as purchased songs, itunes music and MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, OGG, M4A, RA, RAM, AC3, MP2. It can also extract m4r ringtone from all video files including AVI, MPEG, WMV, DivX, MP4, H.264/AVC, AVCHD, MKV, RM, MOV, XviD, 3GP.
m4r converter is also a M4R maker software, which is designed to convert video and audio files of any format to M4R file which can be directly set as iPhone ringtone. For example, it helps convert MP3 to M4R, AAC to M4R, M4A to M4R. If you are looking for a free MP3 to M4R converter for iPhone ringtones, please have a try with this one.
MP3 to M4R Converter is a perfect mp3 to m4r converter for iphone ringtones. It is easy and direct to convert mp3 ringtones to m4r and upload to iPhone directly. Delete iPhone Ringtone feature is added.
M4R to MP3 Converter is an excellent m4r to mp3 converter. It will assist iPhone users to convert M4R to MP3 format. The M4R can be iTunes iPhone ringtone music which are protected M4R, and also can be unprotected M4R created from some iPhone Ringtone Maker programs.
With the development of digital products, convert m4a to m4r for iPhone Ringtone is very popolar in iPhone users. M4A to M4R Converter is the best assistant to make ringtone for your iPhone, iPhone (3G) from your own video and audio sources.
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iPhone Ringtone Manager is a pefect iphone ringtone manager tool. It has all the features of M4R Converter, iPhone Ringtone Maker, Creator, Converter, iPhone Ringtone Transfer and could do more editing job than them.
iPhone Ringtone Maker, a smart iPhone ringtone tool, provides all-in-one iPhone Ringtone solution. With the iPhone ringtone maker, you can create your own ringtones from all popular videos and audios, transfer them to iPhone directly. Furthermore, the iPhone ringtone maker can also trim video/audio to get the segment and make it your ringtone.
November 18, 2009 at 4:04am by bodom bodom
QuickTime Converter for Mac, known as Mac quicktime converter, has powerful function of converting between all conventional video and audio formats, such as MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, Divx, MPEG-1/2, 3GP, 3G2, VOB etc. What's more, the Mac quicktime mov converter can also convert video to audio formats, such as MP3, AAC, AC3 and so on.
Have you ever dreamed of making movies by yourself? If you want to realize the beautiful dream, let me show you the wonderful tool---QuickTime Movie Converter for Mac. The quicktime converter for Mac can convert all different formats of movie, such as MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, Divx, MPEG-1/2, 3GP, 3G2, VOB etc. Furthermore, with the help of quicktime media converter os x, you could edit the video files according to your own need.
QuickTime File Converter for Mac, is the multifunctional file converter quicktime for mac, which can perfectly convert all popular video and audio files between AVI, MP4, MOV, MKV, WMV, DivX, XviD, MPEG-1/2, 3GP, 3G2, VOB Video, MP3, AAC, and AC3 Audio etc. Not only can it convert QuickTime files, but edit perfectly the files for you.
Convert QuickTime to MP3 for Mac, as the literal meaning, can convert QuickTime to MP3 for Mac. In fact, its functions are far more than this. The file converter quicktime to MP3, can also convert between almost all video and audio files on Mac, such as AVI, MP4, MOV, MKV, WMV, DivX, XviD, MPEG-1/2, 3GP, 3G2, VOB Video, MP3, AAC, and AC3 Audio etc. So it's really very easy for the software to convert QuickTime to MP3.
Convert QuickTime to MPEG for Mac, also known as Mac QuickTime to MPEG converter, is professionally designed for Mac users. It can convert QuickTime to MPEG for Mac quickly with high quality.
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Convert QuickTime to WMV for Mac is a all-in-one Mac QuickTime to WMV converter, which has abundant functions. The most basic one is to convert QuickTime to WMV, with fast conversion speed and amazing output quality.
Convert QuickTime to MP4 for Mac, which is an ideal, simple-to-use and popular video converter for Mac users, can easily and quickly convert QuickTime to MP4 for mac with high output quality.
November 20, 2009 at 2:26am by bodom bodom
iPhone 3G Ringtone Maker, the best ringtone maker expert, enables you to make whatever ringtone you like. The powerful 3G iPhone ringtone maker, can convert a variety of video and audio formats like AVI, MPEG, WMV, MP4, FLV, MKV, H.264/MPEG-4, DivX, XviD, MOV, RM, RMVB, MP3, WMA, AAC to iPhone Ringtone M4R and transfer to iPhone directly without iTunes.
The iPhone 3G Ringtone Maker for Mac, professionally designed for Mac users, can create all kinds of ringtone for iPhone owners. If you are one of the owners, the iphone 3g ringtone maker for mac is the best choice for you to make dulcet and unique ringtone by yourself.
With the iPhone Ringtone Converter 3G, you are allowed to clip any segment of the video or audio files and convert it to iPhone. It's a good idea to clip the most wonderful part and convert it to iphone 3g ringtone. Using the software, you are free to edit the added iPhone ringtone by removing it or renaming it directly. Besides, it is very easy to operate. All you need to do is just a few clicks to convert iphone 3g ringtones.
With 3G iPhone Ringtone Creator, you will be able to select any video and audio files, including AVI, MPEG, WMV, MP4, FLV, MKV, H.264/MPEG-4, DivX, XviD, MOV, RM, RMVB, MP3, WMA, AAC and transform it into 3G iPhone Ringtone. What's more, you can also choose any part of the song you want.
iPhone 3G M4R Converter, also known as M4R converter for iPhone 3G, is an excellent software to convert almost all video and audio formats to M4R formats. The powerful input video and audio formats are beyond your imagination, such as, AVI, MPEG, WMV, MP4, FLV, MKV, H.264/MPEG-4, DivX, XviD, MOV, RM, RMVB, MP3, WMA, AAC etc.
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M4A to iPhone 3G Ringtone Converter is designed specially to convert M4A to iPhone ringtone. Besides, it can also convert the other audio formats, such as MP3, WMA, AAC etc. to M4R as the ringtone for iPhone 3G. So you can use it not only to convert M4A to iPhone 3G ringtone, but also can easily convert your favorite MP3 or WMA songs to M4r as your ringtone.
Most people get their favorite ringtone by paying on the Internet every month. But now, we have an excellent creator which could free provide you any ringtone you want. The creator is MP4 to iPhone 3G Ringtone Converter.
November 20, 2009 at 2:31am by bodom bodom
MKV Converter is the best mkv video converter software that created to help you convert mkv video files to MP4/MKV/WMV/AVI and other popular formats such as: MP4, H.264, AVI, MP3, WMV, WMA, FLV, MKV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, 3GP, 3GPP, VOB, DivX, Mov, RM, RMVB, M4A, AAC, WAV, etc with high speed and excellent sound/image quality.
MKV Converter is powerful and useful MKV Converter that make you Convert MKV File a enjoy thing, it is produced to help you convert MKV file to MP4, H.264, AVI, MP3, WMV, WMA, FLV, MKV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, 3GP, 3GPP, VOB, DivX, Mov, RM, RMVB, M4A, AAC, WAV, etc with high speed and excellent sound/image quality.
With MKV Converter, you can conveniently Convert Video to MKV as well as crop the play region or cut any part of the video into MKV(Matroska Video) video clips by setting up the start and end time after preview. While the image quality is high, the conversion speed is very fast.
MKV Converter for Mac is a excellent Mac MKV Converter. This versatile MKV Converter Mac can convert between MKV and all popular video, HD video and audio formats with super fast conversion speed and satisfied output quality. In addition, the MKV converter for Mac can also extract audio from video file and convert video to MP3, AC3, and AAC… as you want.
MKV Video Converter is the Best Video Converter software that invented to help you convert MKV to AVC H264 with high speed and excellent sound/image quality.
MKV to HD Video is designed to convert .bdmv and m2ts file, it can convert the BDMV files to MKV format. BDMV folder and .bdmv files are mostly seen in the Blu-ray disc (BD) content and AVCHD video folder. There usually is a index.bdmv file in the root directory, while BDMV folder contains video, audio, menu, subtitles, playlist and other stream.
MKV to Portable Devices is the protable player video converter software that created to help you convert MKV to all the popular iPod formats such as: iPod Video, iPod Touch MPEG-4, iPod Touch, iPod Touch for TV, iPod Nano, iPod Classic, etc. with high speed and excellent sound/image quality.
MKV Editing Software is the Best Video Joiner software that created to help you join MKV files and and then convert them to other popular formats such as: MP4, H.264, AVI, MP3, WMV, WMA, FLV, MKV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, 3GP, 3GPP, VOB, DivX, Mov, RM, RMVB, M4A, AAC, WAV, etc with high speed and excellent sound/image quality.
November 23, 2009 at 8:58pm by bodom bodom
TOD Converter Mac is a professional TOD converter to convert high definition video files captured by JVC TOD Camcorders, ie: GZ-HD7, GZ-HD3, GZ-HD5, GZ-HD6, GZ-HD30, GZ-HD40 etc. These HD files can be converted into MPG, AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, RM, FLV, SWF and more, which delights many JVC TOD Camcorders.
TOD File Converter Mac supports trimming, cropping and you also can add effect and special effects in synchronization with conversion. Those functions of TOD File Converter Mac could better adjust converted files to portable mediaplayers you have and make it more satisfying to your needs.
To solve the inconvinience of .TOD files, I strongly recommend you TOD Editor Mac which is all-round, multiprofile-supporting, free trial, virus-free, easy-to-use. So it is easy to understand why TOD Editor Mac is popular in JVC camcorder users.
We introduce you a powerfull Convert TOD To AVI Mac Converter, which can trim, crop tod files, add effect or special effect to tod, take snapshots from tod movie...Smoothly converting, easy-to-use, mutual-convert-supported, Convert TOD To AVI Mac can fullfill your needs.
Convert TOD To MPEG Mac enables you convert .TOD to other common formats like avi,mpg,mp4,mov that denefinitly supported by iMovie and FCP. The Converter (TOD To MPEG) uses least time and give out highoutput video quality. You can also extract audio from .Tod and take snapshots at will.
Convert TOD To MOV Mac will convert high definition video files captured by JVC TOD Camcorders, ie: GZ-HD7, GZ-HD3, GZ-HD5, GZ-HD6, GZ-HD30, GZ-HD40 etc. TOD file formats cannot usually be edited with consumer video editing programs such as Windows Movie Maker, Apple Movie or Sony Vegas but iOrgsoft TOD Converter can.
Convert TOD To MP4 Mac utility, which is powerfull TOD converter, could convert TOD to MP4 on Mac freely on your will. You can also take snapshots and store them in different image formats: jpg, bmp, png. Convert TOD To MP4 for Mac has professional editing functions like trimming, adding effects, adjusting aspect ratio, croping,etc.
Convert TOD To FLV Mac program can convert between many formats like MPG, AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, RM, FLV, SWF and more. Being accepted by iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, Blackberry, Gphone, PSP, Zune, Creative Zen, iRiver and any other MP4 players, Convert TOD To FLV Mac can output files with unpreceded compatibility.
November 23, 2009 at 9:01pm by bodom bodom
MP3 Converter Mac is an excellent Mac MP3 converter tool that can convert video files and audio files to MP3 on Mac OS. If you are looking for MP3 file converter for Mac users, it is the ideal one.
MP3 Editor Mac is designed to help you edit MP3 files on Mac OS. It is the best Mac MP3 editor tool, that can function as Mac OS X MP3 splitter and MP3 joiner Mac.
If you want to convert WMA into MP3 on Mac OS, this WMA to MP3 Converter for Mac will be your best tool. With professional codecs integrated, it can finish all conversions with fast speed and excellent sound quality.
If you want to convert WMA into MP3 on Mac OS, this WAV to MP3 Converter for Mac will be your best tool. With professional codecs integrated, it can finish all conversions with fast speed and excellent sound quality.
Is there a Mac CDA to MP3 converter to convert CDA to MP3 files on Mac OS? Surely yes, this CDA to MP3 Converter for Mac is exactly this kind of tool. Free download CDA to MP3 converter Mac and have a try.
AAC to MP3 Converter for Mac can help you convert AAC to MP3 files on Mac OS, so that you can enjoy AAC music on your portable MP3 players. It is the most powerful and easy to use Mac AAC to MP3 converter.
As the best Mac M4P to MP3 converter, M4P to MP3 Converter for Mac can help you convert M4P files to MP3 on Mac OS with fast speed and high sound quality. It can accomplish all M4P to MP3 conversion tasks on Mac.
FLAC is the more and more popular lossless audio format, which is typically reduced to 50–60% of it original size while 100% keeping the source audio quality. While lots of devices and media players don't support the playback of FLAC files. To enjoy FLAC files more freely on Mac, you need this FLAC to MP3 Converter for Mac tool to convert FLAC to MP3 with customized encoding settings. You are also allowed to edit FLAC files as you like.
December 7, 2009 at 4:30am by wonengxing131207 li
MOV Converter Mac,