Thursday, December 31, 2009
Perfect New Year's Eve invention: Synthetic alcohol, without hangovers.
Plus, "[t]he new substance could have the added bonus of being 'switched off' instantaneously with a pill, to allow drinkers to drive home or return to work."
Plus, "[t]he new substance could have the added bonus of being 'switched off' instantaneously with a pill, to allow drinkers to drive home or return to work."
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
"Top Secret" clearance doesn't mean the same thing throughout the US government.
Update: One reader informs me that, "CIA DOD clearances have been fully reciprocal since at least 2003. Access are different though."
Update: One reader informs me that, "CIA DOD clearances have been fully reciprocal since at least 2003. Access are different though."
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
"How Fanboys See Each Others' Operating Systems".
And the related, "How Programming Language Fanboys See Each Others' Languages". (Via Found On The Web.)
And the related, "How Programming Language Fanboys See Each Others' Languages". (Via Found On The Web.)
Monday, December 28, 2009
Off topic: In ESPN fantasy football, the GeekPress Generals had a mediocre regular season in the "John Galt League" -- but had a red-hot playoff stretch to win the league championship tonight.
What I've been reading about the recent TSA security snafu:
Rand Simberg, "Some Thoughts on the Latest Man-Caused Disaster Attempt"
Randy Barnett, "TSA Security Directive SD-1544–09-06"
And this joke:
Rand Simberg, "Some Thoughts on the Latest Man-Caused Disaster Attempt"
Randy Barnett, "TSA Security Directive SD-1544–09-06"
And this joke:
How many TSA employees does it take to stop a terrorist? Nobody knows, they've never done it.
More restaurant menu psychology. "Those aren't the appetizers you're looking for..."
One tidbit on the four types of restaurant customers, as described by menu consultant Gregg Rapp:
One tidbit on the four types of restaurant customers, as described by menu consultant Gregg Rapp:
...The customers he calls "Entrees" do not want a lot of description, just the bottom line on what the dish is and how much it is going to cost. "Recipes," on the other hand, ask many questions and want to know as much as they can about the ingredients. "Barbecues" share food and like chatty servers who wear name tags. "Desserts" are trendy people who want to order trendy things.(Via Marginal Revolution.)
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Why Amazon has to collect sales tax in 5 states but not the other 45.
Includes an explanation of the legal technique called "entity isolation".
Includes an explanation of the legal technique called "entity isolation".
Saturday, December 26, 2009
"Los Alamos National Laboratory Researchers Accidentally Blow up Building with a Cannon". (Via VA Viper.)
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
"Facebook Responsible For 20 Percent Of Divorces".
Of course, those doing the actual cheating on their spouses might bear a portion of the responsibility as well...
Of course, those doing the actual cheating on their spouses might bear a portion of the responsibility as well...
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
"Is the Secret Service responsible for keeping the President from getting drunk?"
The short answer: "No".
The short answer: "No".
Friday, December 18, 2009
Video of the day: "The Known Universe".
From the description:
From the description:
The Known Universe takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang. Every star, planet, and quasar seen in the film is possible because of the world's most complete four-dimensional map of the universe, the Digital Universe Atlas that is maintained and updated by astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History.Or as Kottke says, "'Like Powers of Ten', but astronomically accurate".
Even though invisible cloaks are still just theoretical, scientists have started working on anti-cloaking technology.
Gift idea of the day: A Calabi-Yau manifold.
(Note: Only 3 of the 6 spatial dimensions are included!)
(Note: Only 3 of the 6 spatial dimensions are included!)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
"Why Tablets Will Kill Netbooks". Mike Elgan lists the following 7 critical factors:
1. Touch instead of pen
2. Cell phone operating systems
3. Cheaper components
4. App stores
5. The rise of e-books
6. Faster mobile broadband
7. HD video on demand
How a married couple lives in 175-square-foot "microstudio" apartment in NYC.
But that's absolutely spacious compared to this 55-square foot NYC apartment.
But that's absolutely spacious compared to this 55-square foot NYC apartment.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Peter Jackson's upcoming Hobbit movie will include Ian McKellen as Gandalf:
Jackson is hard at work prepping a return to Middle-earth with "The Hobbit" and has revealed to us that three -- and only three -- of the "Rings" actors will be returning for the family reunion.
"Gandalf, being a 2,000-year-old wizard, is still around and plays a major role in 'The Hobbit,' and we're having Ian McKellen reprise," explained the filmmaker, who is executive-producing the flick and writing the screenplay. "There's a couple of other characters: Elrond, who was played by Hugo Weaving [in the original films], and there's a possibility of Galadriel, who was played by Cate Blanchett."
"Typing text into a mobile phone is fiddly enough in English. How do handsets and their users manage in other languages?"
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Off topic: Today's edition of PajamasMedia has published my latest health care policy OpEd, entitled "ObamaCare: Tightening the Noose Around Private Health Care".
Monday, December 14, 2009
Beyond E-Ink: "New displays for e-readers"
(The Pixel Qi system mentioned near the end is often mentioned as a possible component of the rumored Apple Tablet.)
(The Pixel Qi system mentioned near the end is often mentioned as a possible component of the rumored Apple Tablet.)
Is AT&T getting an unfairly bad rap for iPhone problems?
Randall Stross, the author of the NYT article (and a Verizon customer) notes:
Randall Stross, the author of the NYT article (and a Verizon customer) notes:
When I set about looking for independent data, however, to confirm the superior performance of Verizon's network, I was astonished to discover that I had managed to get things exactly wrong. Despite the well-publicized problems in New York and San Francisco, AT&T seems to have the superior network nationwide.
Why the US military makes inexpensive Linux supercomputers out of Sony PlayStation 3s. And a related story.
Robots and the Law: "What happens if a robot crushes your foot, chases your cat off a ledge or smacks your baby?" (Via SciTechDaily.)
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Monday, December 07, 2009
Off topic: The December 7, 2009 Wall Street Journal has printed my LTE in support of Dr. Richard Lindzen's December 1 OpEd, "The Climate Science Isn't Settled".
My LTE is the 4th one down on the page entitled, "The Science Behind the IPCC Climate Report Is Sound":
This is also my new record for LTE brevity -- 30 words!
My LTE is the 4th one down on the page entitled, "The Science Behind the IPCC Climate Report Is Sound":
If a respected MIT scientist like Mr. Lindzen argues that "the science isn't settled," and other scientists disagree, then doesn't the very dispute itself prove that the science isn't settled?(The title applies to the first letter on the page, not to mine.)
Paul Hsieh
Sedalia, Colo.
This is also my new record for LTE brevity -- 30 words!
Jeff Bezos reads in the bathtub by putting his Kindle in a one-gallon Ziploc bag. (Via @jasoncrawford)
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
"A new infrared image of the galaxy Centaurus A reveals the gassy, ghastly bones of a galaxy that it consumed several hundred million years ago."
Thursday, December 03, 2009
"Note to Law Enforcement Personnel: If you arrest a suspect for bank robbery, and you find the stick-up note in his pocket, don't put the note on the car near the suspect. The note might not be there when you're done the search incident to arrest."
Of course there's a video.
Of course there's a video.
"Groom Whips Out Phone at Altar to Switch Facebook Relationship Status".
Includes video. (Via HotAir.)
Includes video. (Via HotAir.)
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Will monkeys really type Shakespeare if given enough time?
After putting the question to an empirical test, some UK university students discovered that:
After putting the question to an empirical test, some UK university students discovered that:
...The theory is flawed. After one month - admittedly not an "infinite" amount of time - the monkeys had partially destroyed the machine, used it as a lavatory, and mostly typed the letter "s".(Via Marginal Revolution and BBC News.)
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
"The Psychology of Being Scammed". Bruce Schneier summarizes some of the standard techniques from a recent security paper, including:
The full paper can be found here (PDF format): "Understanding scam victims: Seven principles for systems security".
The distraction principle. While you are distracted by what retains your interest, hustlers can do anything to you and you won't notice.The paper also discusses a dozen con scenarios, which are both informative (and entertaining).
The social compliance principle. Society trains people not to question authority. Hustlers exploit this "suspension of suspiciousness" to make you do what they want.
The herd principle. Even suspicious marks will let their guard down when everyone next to them appears to share the same risks. Safety in numbers? Not if they're all conspiring against you.
The dishonesty principle. Anything illegal you do will be used against you by the fraudster, making it harder for you to seek help once you realize you've been had.
The deception principle. Thing and people are not what they seem. Hustlers know how to manipulate you to make you believe that they are.
The need and greed principle. Your needs and desires make you vulnerable. Once hustlers know what you really want, they can easily manipulate you.
The full paper can be found here (PDF format): "Understanding scam victims: Seven principles for systems security".
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