In 2013, a revolutionary discovery unlocked the capability for editing of the human genome in ways that was previously thought to be science fiction. Though the benefits that it provides seem endless, it may perpetuate an already inevitable threat to humanity. CRISPR-Cas9 CRISPR-Cas9 is a modern day miracle. The composition of molecules that comprise CRISPR allow a precise and non-destructive editing of DNA. Part of it's molecular composition allow it to be guided to a specific area within the DNA chain, and cleanly cut it to either remove unwanted DNA, or insert a newly desired DNA sequence. With this technology,…
Alexa Guard – What it is, and how to use it.
If you currently have Amazon Echo devices, or are considering your first foray into the smart home / voice enabled world, you should be aware of Alexa Guard. What Is It? Alexa Guard is one of the most useful features to be added to the Echo/Alexa platform recently. With it enabled, it adds the ability for your Alexa Echo devices to listen for smoke/Co2 alarms and glass breaks, as well as enable automated smart lighting controls to simulate your lighting patters to make it appear as though you're home, when away. While these features were attainable before Alexa Guard, they…
Extracellular Matrix: A Promising Regenerative Therapy for Limb Regrowth and Beyond
Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of proteins and molecules that provide structural support and communication between cells. Recent studies have shown that ECM therapy can be used to repair damaged tissues and even regrow limbs in certain animal species. In this article, we will explore the incredible potential of extracellular matrix regenerative therapy for limb regrowth and beyond. Limb Regrowth with Extracellular Matrix Researchers have been studying the use of ECM for regrowing limbs in various animals, including salamanders and mice. Salamanders are known for their remarkable ability to regrow lost limbs, and scientists have discovered that ECM…
Microsoft Just Missed It – MS Forms Edition
I don't like to think of myself as someone who spends their time ranting about things that frustrate them. Generally if my ranting produces nothing valuable, I try to keep it to myself. All that being said....I'm blatantly defying those pragmatic philosophies with this post, so you've been forewarned. The Microsoft Problem I can't be the only person in the world that constantly finds themselves interacting with Microsoft software, and realizing how close it is to being full featured and great...but always falling short in some key way/s? It happens so often, I know it's gonna come up again, so…
2 Tools to Help you Troubleshoot Network Bandwidth Issues
I recently wrote a post about the reasons folks should stop submitting their speed test results to their IT helpdesk, so I thought it might be useful for anyone out there on the IT side of things to know how I troubleshoot bandwidth related complaints. Keep in mind, there a ton of tools out there that might help with this kind of troubleshooting, but these two are my favorite, and usually get the job done. LibreNMS LibreNMS is an open source (FREE!!!) SNMP network monitoring solution. It runs on Linux (more FREE!!! software) and pretty much just works out of…
Please Stop Submitting Your Speed Test Results to IT
I know it's tempting. You're trying to be productive at work, and whatever task is at hand just isn't moving along as quickly as you think it should. Something doesn't seem right, so you hop on your favorite speed test site and marvel at the horror of what you perceive to be ridiculously slow speeds. A screenshot of those results shortly finds it's way into the inbox of your IT helpdesk. This might seem helpful, but I'll go out on a limb and say your IT folks don't see it that way...and they have their reasons. You may not know…
Monoprice Hook and Loop Cable Ties
Get them Here: Monoprice -or- Amazon Death to cables and wires! I HATE CABLES! nobody likes them. I can't say that I've ever heard anyone say "wow that spaghetti junction really adds a lot of charm to your work space", and i'm confident I never will. After years of trying to tame disgraced and neglected office wiring closets, I stumbled on the 7th wonder of the wiring world from Monoprice. Obviously the Monoprice cables ties i'm speaking of weren't the first "hook and loop" (Can't use the name that rhymes with "Smell Crow" without shelling out some benjamins) type organizers…
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – What Does the Edge Offer?
For the purpose of this article i'm not going to spend a lot of time pouring over all of the performance details of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Samsung produces hardware with very solid performance specs. Instead I want to focus on that alluring design element that Samsung has introduced to the world of mobile phones; the edged screen of course. If you place the standard S6 and the Edge side by side and simply compare their visual aesthetics, I think most people would agree that the Edge, has the "edge", over the standard S6. There's something about the…
Microsoft Hololens: Future or Fad??
There have been a lot of Microsoft Hololens videos flying around the web since it was showcased during Microsoft's recent Build conference. I have to say, many of these videos are impressive. So impressive that you forget for a moment that to get this effect you have to don an awkward headset that looks like a beefed up pair of sunglasses that the elderly would find attractive. I also have to say, if the hololens could deliver such an immersive experience as the video demonstrations suggest, I would be happy strut around my house and office looking like Lieutenant Commander…