These two should be fired, they should lose their grants, and they should never work in this industry again. Why? Either they are:
a) The biggest idiots in the world. If you’ve spent years researching a cure for cancer you would be backing up/copying/archiving your data on a regular basis. The sole copy wouldn’t be on one device you carried around with you. And if you had a possible cure, something that would make you famous beyond belief, undoubtedly rich, and most likely win a Nobel Prize even if you didn’t backup/copy/archive your data you would carry the laptop with you everywhere you went.
b) Lying through their teeth. This the is modern day “my dog ate my homework” routine. They’ve spent years or work/money with nothing to show for it, and their laptop with all of their research and data is conveniently stolen from the car. Guess they don’t have to go in front of the review board now and justify their salaries.
Something in my gut tells me the real story here is version (b). Think about it, what would you do with a winning lottery ticket? Personally I’d put it in a zip lock back and then duct tape it to my chest. What do you think?
Computer Stolen Containing Research To Cure Prostate Cancer
An Oklahoma couple is urging thieves to return a stolen computer they say has the power to save millions of lives.
Last Sunday, Sook Shin was carrying a possible cure for cancer on a small Apple computer with years worth of data.
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Unfortunately, most of the data was never backed up, a mistake Shin said could be a major setback in the fight against cancer.
via Computer Stolen Containing Research To Cure Prostate Cancer – News9.com.