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/ 2 February 2005

Sex and the single robot

Scientists have made them walk and talk. There are even robots that can run. But a South Korean professor is poised to take their development several steps further, and give cybersex new meaning. Kim Jong-Hwan, the director of the ITRC- Intelligent Robot Research Centre, has developed a series of artificial chromosomes that, he says, will allow robots to feel lusty.

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/ 2 February 2005

Doh! Woman caught selling Homer’s beer

A woman pleaded guilty on Wednesday to selling on eBay three nonexistent cases of Duff brand beer — the favourite of cartoon character Homer Simpson. Tara Edith Woodford (28) pleaded guilty in the Mackay Magistrates Court in northern Queensland state to three charges of dishonestly gaining money by false pretences.

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/ 2 February 2005

Shi’ite group claims sweeping victory

The leader of a powerful Shi’ite coalition claimed ”a sweeping victory” in Sunday’s elections in Iraq but pledged to include minority groups, including Sunni Arabs, in the running of the country. Election officials were starting the second stage of a long vote-counting process on Tuesday and an official result is not expected for at least a week.

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/ 2 February 2005

Search and you shall find

In 1990, which is almost unimaginably long ago in internet years, the notion that computer scientists might one day create an artificial replacement for human memory was the stuff of science fiction. This notion gave birth to the idea that would come to change, at a fundamental level, the way we think. Its most feverish point was reached yesterday, with the launch of MSN Search, Microsoft’s long-awaited rival to Google.

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/ 2 February 2005

Cosatu: ‘Only the people can save Zimbabwe’

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is about to embark on its second fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe. The question is whether this mission will be a success or whether the group of about 20 delegates will be deported, as the first mission was in December last year. The <i>Mail & Guardian Online</i> fired 10 questions at Patrick Craven, the editor of Cosatu’s magazine <i>The Shopsteward</i>.

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/ 2 February 2005

What about Big Pharma?

Once again the health minister is at war. This time, in defence of her medicines pricing regulations, she recognises the need to garner public support. Billed as a struggle between the right of access to medicines and corporate greed, the battle for hearts and minds is not letting the facts get in the way. The need for regulation remains undisputed.

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/ 2 February 2005

Post your secrets on the ‘net

How to break chopsticks using your buttocks, interesting eBay items for sale, outrageous TV commercials, the new art of airigami, the global strategy of genocide by vaccines, how to speak American, prison penpals, and more … Ian Fraser brings you the weird and wonderful on the world wide web.