U.S. health officials have quarantined an airline passenger who may have exposed others to a potentially dangerous form of tuberculosis. The unusual decision... more

U.S. health officials have quarantined an airline passenger who may have exposed others to a potentially dangerous form of tuberculosis. The unusual decision was made after the passenger took flights from the U.S. to Europe, then to Montreal, Canada before reentering the United States. The man has what's called 'Extremely Drug Resistant' tuberculosis. Passengers and crew from both flights have been urged to be tested for the infection. XDR-tb is an especially virulent form of the disease that is resistant to standard drug treatment. The World Health Organization says about nine million people around the world have TB and 1.6 million die from it every year. The greatest burden is in South and East Asia, followed closely by Africa and the Western Pacific regions, all adding up to 85 percent of the world total. But TB persists and mutates into drug-resistant strains harder to cure because many patients fail to finish taking their medicine. For years, the World Health Organization has promoted directly observed therapy by local health care workers who go to patients' homes to make sure they take their pills. But in poor countries with weak health systems, health workers to do this are in short supply. As a result, bacterial resistance to at least two common TB drugs is spreading, requiring newer, more expensive, and more toxic compounds to do the job. "One of the biggest challenges is we know it's out there, but we don't know how much of it is out there," says Joann Carter. She is with the non-governmental group RESULTS, which helps fund medical projects in developing countries. She notes that an even more dangerous TB strain has developed recently. The bacterium has mutated further into a form resistant to most of the older and newer drugs. This so-called extremely drug resistant strain, or XDR tuberculosis, was first noticed in South Africa, fueled by the HIV epidemic that weakens patients' ability to fight such diseases. less

A movie I made in June 2003 of my 303 and 606. Just playing through a few patterns, mainly to test out the audio recording on my Sony Clie. This used to be on my website which is no longer up so I put it here for posterity.

A movie I made in June 2003 of my 303 and 606. Just playing through a few patterns, mainly to test out the audio recording on my Sony Clie. This used to be on my website which is no longer up so I put it here for posterity. less

Quick jam with a 303 and an R-8 with an electronic sound card.

Quick jam with a 303 and an R-8 with an electronic sound card. less

TB UBMH

TB UBMH less

This is a little demo using Microkorg and a Roland TB-303

This is a little demo using Microkorg and a Roland TB-303 less

One of my TB-303's, bought as a wreck and modded, just a quick demo showing some of the new sounds available, sorry about the audio quality but it gives an idea of what it can do.

One of my TB-303's, bought as a wreck and modded, just a quick demo showing some of the new sounds available, sorry about the audio quality but it gives an idea of what it can do. less

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A quick oldschool style acid track I did for a bit of fun, enjoy :)

A quick oldschool style acid track I did for a bit of fun, enjoy :) less

don't know what to say.. Just a little twiddling on these old ladies :-)

don't know what to say.. Just a little twiddling on these old ladies :-) less

just listen to what I've done this evening. Knob Twiddling is soooo nice!

just listen to what I've done this evening. Knob Twiddling is soooo nice! less