In light of the holiday, and the fact the Dec 1 is World AIDS Day, I have considered informing the newstations local to me (I live in Pittsburgh, Pa) Of the WCG and the FA@H Project.

I dont know if they will 'bite', but I figured I had better ask before doing so.

IF they were to air this story, would WCG be able to handle the likely sudden UPshift in hits, especialy if more then one station covers it?

Would the WCG agent server be able to hande the (hopfully) sudden addintion of memebers?

Again, I am not going to hold my breath, but even in a large, 'higher profile' city such as the 'Burg', I have seen far less newsworthy items grace the airwaves. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh? At the same time I'd hate to see the WCG 'choke' on the potential traffic.

I wont proceed with this idea until I hear from a memeber 'in the know' from here.

Just an idea,

Scotchula

P.S. In case of any suggestions, I have posted the email I intend to send to the respective networks:

************************
20 Million Already Dead; 40 Million Infected; 16,000 NEWLY infected EACH DAY!

AIDS will ultimately claim the lives of more then all the worlds wars, natural catastrophes and diseases combined.

December 1st is WORLD AIDS DAY.

In light of these facts, I figured (Network Name) may be interested in the following information.

IBM, WORLD COMMUNITY GRID and THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE have joined forces to combat this disease:

"Working with the renowned Scripps Research Institute, a private, non-profit research organization engaged in basic biomedical science based in San Diego, World Community Grid will host its second major project -- the Internet-based FightAIDS@Home, an evolutionary research project dedicated to finding new AIDS therapies.

"The new World Community Grid initiative will deploy massive computer power to develop novel chemical strategies effective in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals in the face of evolving drug resistance in the virus. Developing new, more robust therapies to prevent the onset of AIDS in individuals infected with HIV will be the focus of the Olson Laboratory project at The Scripps Research Institute.

The computational challenges in approaching this problem are the vast number of possible mutations that may occur, and the huge number of possible chemical compounds that might be tested against them," said Dr. Arthur J. Olson, Anderson Research Chair Professor, Department of Molecular Biology at The Scripps Research Institute. "The new World Community Grid project will run millions upon millions of docking computations to evaluate potential interactions between compounds and mutant viral proteins."

"World Community Grid offers individuals and businesses, foundations, associations, universities, and not-for-profit organizations the opportunity to donate the idle and unused time on a computer by downloading World Community Grid's free software and registering at www.worldcommunitygrid.org. Fast, easy, safe and secure, more than 100,000 individuals are now volunteering power from 170,000 computers to help find a cure for AIDS through World Community Grid."


As you can see, I believe this is a very worthwhile story to cover. As a victim of HIV/AIDS I have a personal stake in this. Please look over the links I have provided and consider this for a piece on your network, or at the very least, your website.

If you choose to air this, I urge you to stress the cost free, secure, and simple nature of this project.

Thank you for your time,

*****

In the email I have included links to, of course the WCG, and the IBM and SRI's Newsletters on the subject.

Let me know if there is anything I should add or remove.