Just thought I'd plug the new release of Ubuntu Linux: Version 8.10, Intrepid Ibex.  Ubuntu Linux is the linux distribution that I use on my work laptop and three PCs at home.  In my view it's a fully featured and fully functional operating system, and well worth investigating. The press release is here.

I choose Ubuntu for a number of reasons, including ease of installation, software installation and upgrades. And of course it's open source and a free download  I'm well aware of the numerous alternative versions of Linux out there, and that some of those may better suit other users.  check out the distrowatch site for more information.   Many thanks to all the developers that together enable the distribution of so many flavours of Linux.

Update: I upgraded a laptop from 8.04 to 8.10 last night, and it seems to have gon pretty smoothly.  One disapointment is the non-inclusion of OpenOffice.org 3.0 in this release (but see these instructions for installing it).  The other three 8.04 machines will be upgraded over the weekend.

We've had another paper on the WRN exonuclease homologue accepted for publication.  In it we demonstrate that DmWNexo is a 3'-5' exonuclease, and describe a new EMS allele. Here's the abstract:

The premature human ageing Werner's syndrome is caused by loss or mutation of the WRN helicase/exonuclease. We have recently identified the orthologue of the WRN exonuclease in flies, DmWRNexo, encoded by the CG7670 locus, and showed very high levels of mitotic recombination in a hypomorphic PiggyBac insertional mutant. Here, we report a novel allele of CG7670 , with a point mutation resulting in the change of the conserved aspartate (229) to valine. Flies bearing this mutation show levels of mitotic recombination 20-fold higher than wild type. Molecular modelling suggests that D229 lies towards the outside of the molecule distant from the nuclease active site. We have produced recombinant protein of the D229V mutant, and assayed its nuclease activity in vitro, and compared activity with that of wild type DmWRNexo and a D162A E164A double active site mutant we have created. We show for the first time that DmWRNexo has 3′ -5′ exonuclease activity and that mutation within the presumptive active site disrupts exonuclease activity. Furthermore, we show that the D229V mutant has very limited exonuclease activity in vitro. Using Drosophila , we can therefore analyse WRN exonuclease from enzyme activity in vitro through to fly phenotype, and show that loss of exonuclease activity contributes to genome instability. 

The citation for the preprint is:

Ivan Boubriak, Penelope A. Mason, David J. Clancy, Joel Dockray, Robert D. C. Saunders, Lynne S. Cox (2008). DmWRNexo is a 3′-5′ exonuclease: phenotypic and biochemical characterization of mutants of the Drosophila orthologue of human WRN exonuclease Biogerontology DOI: 10.1007/s10522-008-9181-3

The BBC reports that measures to prevent undesirables gaining access to the UK are to be strengthened, under measures to be introduced by our not-so-libertarian Home Secretary.

At least the plan is to announce who's on the the list of over 230 individuals considered to be a threat to the UK.   The measures  are as follows:

To create a presumption in favour of exclusion for people who have engaged in fostering, encouraging or spreading extremism and hatred (but what level of proof is required for a government that regards 42 day detention without charge to be a laudable aim?)

To put the burden of proof on individuals to show they have renounced previous extremist views (and here we have a presumption of guilt, don't we)

To allow for the exclusion of nationals from the European Economic Area before they travel to the UK (...mmm, interesting, presumably this needs her to get the rest of Europe on board)

To increase co-operation with other agencies to improve the evidence base underpinning exclusions (which other agencies?)

To allow for the "naming and shaming" of excluded people (Well, at least we'll know who they are!)
 

Ms Smith said it would now be up to the individual concerned to prove they would not "stir up tension" in the UK. 

Not content with pushing for 42 day detention without charge (fortunately ditched by the Lords) and not content with proposing highly invasive communications snooping, Jacqui Smith has now proposed that people the Government deems a threat or undesirable wil now need to prove they won't "stir up tension".  This is a bit odd.  Firstly, these individuals need to prove their innocence, but furthermore they need to prove their innocence of future behaviour!

Check this site out for a description of three phases of extremist tactics.  It's a little concerning that my website is pretty much Phase 1 Extremist behaviour.  What have we become where lawful activity can be regarded in this way?

On the plus side, I look forward to ace terrorist George W. Bush being denied a visa in the future.

The British Humanist Association have teamed up with Richard Dawkins to push a message on London buses. 

It's apparently in response to previous pro-religion bus advertising (see Ariane Sherine's comment article at The Guardian). You can donate to the campaign here.   Fund raising has exceeded expectations - perhaps the campaign with run and run (round and round?).  As of 28/10/08:

Fundraising target: £5,500.00

Donations so far: £ 110,877.00 

Perhaps the message could have been a bit more strident, but I understand from reports on BBC Radio 4 that the wording might be intended to avoid hassle from the Advertising Standards Authority.