Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
[Off Topic] What Should Americans Do After the ObamaCare Ruling?
Off topic: PJMedia has posted my latest OpEd on the Supreme Court ObamaCare ruling,
"What Should Americans Do After the Supreme Court ObamaCare Ruling?"
My three takehome points:
"What Should Americans Do After the Supreme Court ObamaCare Ruling?"
My three takehome points:
1) American health care will be in deep trouble in just a few years.
2) There are plenty of good ideas for free market health care reform.
3) ObamaCare must be defeated politically.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Intravenous Oxygen Delivery
"Injecting life-saving oxygen into a vein: Microparticles could deliver oxygen when breathing is impaired"
Upcoming SF&F Movies That Aren’t Remakes, Sequels or Prequels
"Upcoming Science Fiction and Fantasy Movies That Aren’t Remakes, Sequels or Prequels"
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Just Don't Call It Makeup
The power of clever marketing: "Market booms for men's cosmetics -- but don't call it makeup"
Russian Nuclear Launch Code Backup Procedure
Russian Nuclear Launch Code Backup Procedure: A sledgehammer.
Robot Wins RPS 100% of the Time
"Robot Hand Beats You at Rock, Paper, Scissors 100% Of The Time"
Key: The robotic hand is tied to a visual detector. Here's the video, including slow-motion.
Hence, "[i]t only takes a single millisecond for the robot to recognize what shape your hand is in, and just a few more for it to make the shape that beats you, but it all happens so fast that it's more or less impossible to tell that the robot is waiting until you commit yourself before it makes its move, allowing it to win 100% of the time."
All together now: "I, for one, welcome our robotic rock-paper-scissors overlords!"
Key: The robotic hand is tied to a visual detector. Here's the video, including slow-motion.
Hence, "[i]t only takes a single millisecond for the robot to recognize what shape your hand is in, and just a few more for it to make the shape that beats you, but it all happens so fast that it's more or less impossible to tell that the robot is waiting until you commit yourself before it makes its move, allowing it to win 100% of the time."
All together now: "I, for one, welcome our robotic rock-paper-scissors overlords!"
Kinect and Surgery
"Kinect: A surgical revolution?"
From the article:
From the article:
Last month, Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital began trials of a new device that uses a Kinect camera to sense body position. Just by moving his arms, a surgeon can consult and sort through medical images, such as CT scans or real-time X-rays, whilst operating.
Maintaining a sterile environment in the operating room is of utmost importance but scrubbing in and out to sift through images mid-operation can be protracted and break concentration. To avoid leaving the table, many surgeons rely on assistants to control the computer on their behalf, which can prove a distracting and frustrating process.
"Up until now, I'd been calling out across the room to one of our technical assistants, asking them to manipulate the image, rotate one way, rotate the other, pan up, pan down, zoom in, zoom out," says Tom Carrell, a consultant vascular surgeon, who led an operation to repair an aneurism in a patient’s aorta. With the Kinect, he says, "I had very intuitive control".
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Care and Feeding of Software Engineers
"The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)"
Monday, June 25, 2012
Dramatically Titled Neuroscience Story
Heh!: "Dramatically titled neuroscience story". (Via Eric D.)
Ghost Ship
"'Ghost' Ship Emerges from Stealth Startup".
From the article: "We're basically riding on two supercavitating torpedoes. And we’ve put a boat on top of it..." (Via Howard R.)
From the article: "We're basically riding on two supercavitating torpedoes. And we’ve put a boat on top of it..." (Via Howard R.)
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
History of the Fork
Interesting history of the dinner fork.
At times, it was regarded an uncouth, uncivilized utensil. At other times, it was considered "unsettlingly effeminate".
At times, it was regarded an uncouth, uncivilized utensil. At other times, it was considered "unsettlingly effeminate".
Annoying Business Jargon
"89 Business Cliches That Will Get Any MBA Promoted And Make Them Totally Useless".
Related: "The most annoying business jargon".
Related: "The most annoying business jargon".
Apple Vs. Google Update
Why Apple Is Going 'Containment' Not 'Thermonuclear' Against Google In iOS 6". (Via Marginal Revolution.)
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Origins of "Hello" For Answering Telephone
From the NYT archives: "Great 'Hello' Mystery Is Solved". (Via Susan Dawn Wake.)
Simple Cancer Diagnostic Innovation
Forbes, 6/18/2012: "Wait, Did This 15-Year-Old From Maryland Just Change Cancer Treatment?"
(I love that he was savvy enough to note: "I got a really fierce patent lawyer right after I won ISEF".)
(I love that he was savvy enough to note: "I got a really fierce patent lawyer right after I won ISEF".)
McDonalds Food Photo Vs. Reality
"Why does McDonald's food look so much better in the ads than at the restaurant?"
Official video response from McDonald's Canada:
As Kottke notes, "The burger at the restaurant is optimized for eating and the photo burger is optimized for looking delicious."
Official video response from McDonald's Canada:
As Kottke notes, "The burger at the restaurant is optimized for eating and the photo burger is optimized for looking delicious."
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Why NBA Teams Botch the Last Shot
WSJ: "Why NBA Teams Botch the Last Shot".
The long shadow of Michael Jordan's heroics still affect the game today.
The long shadow of Michael Jordan's heroics still affect the game today.
[Off topic] Hsieh Forbes OpEd: The Dangerous Synergy Between The Nanny State And Universal Health Care
[Off topic] The 6/18/2012 edition of Forbes has posted my latest OpEd, "The Dangerous Synergy Between The Nanny State And Universal Health Care".
A couple of excerpts:
A couple of excerpts:
The recurring theme: The government must limit our freedoms to limit overall medical costs. But this issue can only arise in "universal" health systems where taxpayers must pay for everyone else’s medical expenses...
It's a short step from the government assuming responsibility for your diet to assuming responsibility for your overall health. Today, the government decides what you can or cannot eat. Tomorrow, the government decides what medical care you can or cannot receive...
Monday, June 18, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Elevator Buttons
"Why Don't Elevators Allow You To Toggle Whether They Stop At A Floor?" (Via Alex Knapp.)
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Self-Adjusting Eyeglasses
"Self-Adjusting Glasses Ready for Distribution to Developing Nations"
"...[E]ach lens in a pair of Eyejusters actually contains two lenses. Turning a dial on one of the temple arms causes the lenses to slide across each other, changing the overall spherical surface and thus changing the prescription. It works for those with myopia or presbyopia, and the glasses can be adjusted by the users themselves or anyone with very basic training."
Update: Some adjustable liquid-based eyeglasses.
"...[E]ach lens in a pair of Eyejusters actually contains two lenses. Turning a dial on one of the temple arms causes the lenses to slide across each other, changing the overall spherical surface and thus changing the prescription. It works for those with myopia or presbyopia, and the glasses can be adjusted by the users themselves or anyone with very basic training."
Update: Some adjustable liquid-based eyeglasses.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Man Becomes Musical Genius After Head Injury
"Head injury turns man into musical savant". (Via @bderms.)
Monday, June 11, 2012
Prometheus Movie and Christianity
Was "Prometheus" based on Christian themes of self-sacrifice?
The author of this essay makes a pretty plausible case, including that this was deliberately intended by director Ridley Scott. (Note: Contains lots of movie spoilers.)
The author of this essay makes a pretty plausible case, including that this was deliberately intended by director Ridley Scott. (Note: Contains lots of movie spoilers.)
Trick Shot Quarterback Signs With KC Chiefs
Alex Tanney was undrafted by the NFL after a stellar quarterback career at Monmouth College. He's most famous for this 2011 video of amazing quarterback trick shots.
The Kansas City Chiefs have just signed Tanney as a free agent. I hope he makes the team and gets a chance to play!
The Kansas City Chiefs have just signed Tanney as a free agent. I hope he makes the team and gets a chance to play!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
How Insecure Is Your Password?
"How many seconds would it take to break your password?" (Via Dr. John Drake.)
Joggobot
"Joggobot, The Companion Drone That Makes You Run Faster, Longer, Harder"
For the record, these Joggobots look nothing at all like the Terminator hunter-killer drones. Nor are they made by CyberDyne:
For the record, these Joggobots look nothing at all like the Terminator hunter-killer drones. Nor are they made by CyberDyne:
Turtle Divorce
Two giant turtles get divorced after 115 years together, due to irreconcilable differences.
Classic Feynman: Light and Neptune
Vintage Richard Feynman clip on how the theory of gravity led to the discovery of the speed of light, and how knowledge of the effect of gravity on planetary orbits led to the discovery of the planet Neptune.
Thursday, June 07, 2012
What Bad Guys Do With Stolen Passwords
"What Do Hackers Do With Stolen Passwords?"
Some possibilities: "Add them to dictionaries, trade them on the black market, and use them for 'spear phishing.'"
Some possibilities: "Add them to dictionaries, trade them on the black market, and use them for 'spear phishing.'"
Stolen Laptop Snaps Photo Of Thief, Leads To Arrest
"A stolen laptop took a picture of the thief and sent it to a security website, leading to his arrest"
Watch Where You Put That Thing
"Untreatable gonorrhoea spreading around world". (Via @MatthewBowdish.)
Bra Holster
Two words: Bra. Holster.
I, for one, am damned glad to live in a country that can invent something like this.
You don't see Cuban or North Korean women packing heat in bra holsters, do you?
(H/T: @AriArmstrong.)
I, for one, am damned glad to live in a country that can invent something like this.
You don't see Cuban or North Korean women packing heat in bra holsters, do you?
(H/T: @AriArmstrong.)
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Questions Kids Always Ask About Animals
"Questions Kids Always Ask About Animals"
Some adults might find this interesting as well! (Via @debbywitt.)
Some adults might find this interesting as well! (Via @debbywitt.)
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Monday, June 04, 2012
Morrill: Don't Waste a Single Moment
Internet entrepreneur Danielle Morrill: "Don't Waste a Single Moment".
I especially liked section 4 on management and communications techniques.
I especially liked section 4 on management and communications techniques.
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Brick-And-Mortar Bookstore Thrives Because of Amazon
"The Man Who Took on Amazon and Saved a Bookstore"
Simberg: The Success Of The Dragon
Rand Simberg: "What Does the Success of the Dragon Mean?"
In a nutshell, "America has returned to space."
In a nutshell, "America has returned to space."
Cheating In Online Courses
As online education proliferates, students are finding new ways to cheat in online courses.
Venus Transit Update
SteveInCO has posted an update to his earlier blog post on the upcoming Venus transit.
In particular, he notes that it will occur on the evening of June 5 in North America (not June 6)!
In particular, he notes that it will occur on the evening of June 5 in North America (not June 6)!