Obtaining adequate computing power for Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo is sometimes a challenge. In 2001, Michael Brandt and I had the unique opportunity to collaborate with a company called Entropia whose business concept was to use the vast amount of computer processing power that sits idle most of the time. Entropia recruited over three million volunteers to participate in the program, which mainly supported nonprofit efforts, like mine and another doing AIDS research. Unfortunately, Entropia is no longer around, but both the grid computing system that they developed and our project received a fair amount of press.


Bigelow, Bruce V. "Entropia Helps in Professor's Pet Quest,"
San Diego Union-Tribune, April 13, 2001.

Oleck, Joan. "PCs of the World, Unite,"
Business Week, March 9, 2001.

Goldsborough, Reid. "Pooled PC Power Helps the Work of Worthy Causes,"
The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 25, 2001.

Goldsborough, Reid. "Viewpoint—Personal Computing: Supercomputing for Everybody,"
Industry Week, October 2, 2001.

Wilcox, Melynda Dovel. "Pin a Ribbon on Your Computer,"
Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, July 2001.