Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Climate change catastrophe took just months
Climate change catastrophe took just months
Jonathan Leake, Science Editor
Six months is all it took to flip Europe’s climate from warm and sunny into the last ice age, researchers have found.
They have discovered that the northern hemisphere was plunged into a big freeze 12,800 years ago by a sudden slowdown of the Gulf Stream that allowed ice to spread hundreds of miles southwards from the Arctic.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Widetronix
Dr. Michael Spencer, co-founder & chief scientist
Semiconductor materials growth & device design
Widetronix was founded by Mike and several colleagues to commercialize innovative semiconductor technologies evolving from research at his lab at Cornell University. As a professor and director of Cornell's Wide Bandgap Laboratory, he investigates novel semiconductor materials growth and device applications in silicon carbide, gallium nitride, and graphene. Mike received BS, MS, and a PhD from Cornell University and has over 100 peer reviewed publications.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Self perpetuating welfare state...
The Dead Zone: The Implicit Marginal Tax Rate
To say that antipoverty programs in the United States are perverted may be an understatement. When you take into account the loss of means-tested benefits (e.g., cash assistance, food stamps, housing subsidies, and health insurance), and the taxes that people pay on earned income, the return to working is essentially zero for those in the lower two quintiles of the income distribution.
For many of the working poor, the implicit marginal tax rate is greater than 100 percent. The long-run consequence of undermining the positive incentive to work is, of course, the creation of an underclass acclimated to not working; the supplement of cash and noncash benefits with income from crime and the underground economy; and the government resorting to negative incentives such as mandatory work programs.
Read more and see graphs HERE
--------------------------------------------
From the marginal tax rate link...
The marginal tax rate is the rate on the last dollar of income earned. This is very different from the average tax rate, which is the total tax paid as a percentage of total income earned. In 2003, for example, the United States imposed a 35 percent tax on every dollar of taxable income above $155,975 earned by a married taxpayer filing separately. But that tax bracket applied only to earnings above that $155,975 threshold; income below that cutoff point would still be taxed at rates of 10 percent on the first $7,000, 15 percent on the next $14,400, and so on. Depending on deductions, a taxpayer might pay a relatively modest average tax on total earnings, yet nonetheless face a 28–35 percent marginal tax on any activities that could push income higher—such as extra effort, education, entrepreneurship, or investment. Marginal decisions (such as extra effort or investment) depend mainly on marginal incentives (extra income, after taxes).
"To Obama" in Japanese
« Security theater goes mainstream | Main | More on US presidents as Japanese words »
"To Obama" in Japanese
19 Oct 2009 04:05 pm
Last week the NYT ran a story about how Barack Obama's version of spoken English has become a huge hit in Japan, emerging as the new standard for language-learning. This rings true to the fad/blockbuster nature of many commercial and cultural phenomena in Japan. And, we can all think of worse versions of English for them to emulate. (Carville? Stallone?)But I thought that this item from the Ampontan blog, written by a foreigner in Japan, was more fascinating. It is about the way the invented verb Obamu -- オバむ, "to Obama" -- has gained currency among some Japanese youths. Explanation:
"obamu: (v.) To ignore inexpedient and inconvenient facts or realities, think "Yes we can, Yes we can," and proceed with optimism using those facts as an inspiration (literally, as fuel). It is used to elicit success in a personal endeavor. One explanation holds that it is the opposite of kobamu. (拒む, which means to refuse, reject, or oppose).
Building Robot Hands
Building Robot Hands with Compliant Under-Actuated Fingers
November 15, 2009 by Travis Deyle
Building capable robot end effectors, particularly high-complexity hands, can be a daunting challenge. In this article, we will examine the fabrication of a robot hand with compliant, under-actuated fingers that is rugged enough to bounce back from twisting, end-on and side impacts, falls, collisions, and even severe back-bending. The specific fabrication process explored is akin to shape deposition manufacturing using materials such as resins (epoxy / Delrin) and urethanes (a "rubbery" substance) of various durometer (hardness). This particular technique was used to build early hand prototypes for MIT's Nexi (or MDS) robot from the Personal Robotics Group, and further refinements resulted in the Meka Robotics H2 Compliant Hands, as seen on the Simon robot. Read on for details and pictures -- this should be of interest to robotics hobbyists and professionals alike.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
If all you have...
If all you have are Generals then everything looks like a military conflict.
- Papa
Facebook-Game Scams Appear on Phone Bills - TIME
Facebook-Game Scams Appear on Phone Bills - TIME
Are You Getting Scammed by Facebook Games?
By Belinda Luscombe Friday, Nov. 06, 2009
Facebook's FarmVille game
Facebook games — Mafia Wars, FarmVille, Restaurant City — have become surprisingly effective at diverting time wasters among the social-networking crowd. More than 63 million people alone play FarmVille. But now accusations have surfaced that the games can lead some more gullible players, including children, into Internet scams, especially if they have a cell phone.
Here's how it works. You join FarmVille, a game on Facebook in which you can create a virtual farm by growing crops and livestock and tilling the earth. Through your toil, you earn virtual money, but to farm more efficiently or quickly, you can also invest real cash (through PayPal or a credit card) to buy virtual goods, such as seed or a tractor. Should you not have any real cash to spare on things that after all do not actually exist, you can instead accept an offer from one of the advertisers on the game site and get virtual cash in return.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
10 Geeky Laws...
10 Geeky Laws That Should Exist, But Don’t
- By Matt Blum
- November 10, 2009 |
- 8:00 am |
- Categories: Everything Else
10 geeky laws (axioms) that should exist, but don’t … at least, they didn’t until now:
xkcd © Randall Munroe
1. Munroe’s Law: A person in a geeky argument who can quote xkcd to support his position automatically wins the argument. This law supersedes Godwin, so that even if the quote is about Hitler, the quoter still wins.
2. Lucas’s Law: There is no movie so beloved that a “special edition,” prequel or sequel cannot trample and forever stain its memory.
3. Tolkien and Rowling’s Law: No reasonably faithful movie adaptation of a book will ever be quite as good as the book it adapts. Thus great movie adaptations can only be made out of truly amazing books.
4. Somers and McCarthy’s Law: There is no dangerous unscientific theory so preposterous that no celebrity will espouse and advocate it.
5. Jobs’s Law: No matter how well last year’s cool tech gadget still works, it will seem utterly inadequate the moment the new version comes out.
6. Savage and Hyneman’s Law: Blowing stuff up is fun. Blowing stuff up in the name of science is AWESOME.
7. Starbucks’ and Peet’s Law: C8H10N4O2, better known as caffeine, is the most wonderful chemical compound known to humankind. If the field of chemistry had never identified or produced a single other useful compound, caffeine alone would be justification enough for its existence.
8. Wilbur’s Law: Bacon makes everything better.
9. Comic Book Guy’s Law: There is no detail of a movie too brief or inconsequential to become the subject of an hours-long diatribe.
10. The Unified Geek Theory: At present, the President of the United States, the wealthiest person in the United States, and the most trusted newscaster in the United States are all geeks. At the same time, movies based on comic book characters are routinely taking in hundreds of millions of dollars. The only reasonable conclusion is: We’ve won!
RNC insurance plan covers abortion for their employees - Feministing - Sent using Google Toolbar
RNC insurance plan covers abortion for their employees - Feministing
RNC insurance plan covers abortion for their employees
For those of you who haven't already heard, let me repeat that: the Republican National Committee (RNC) has a health insurance plan for their employees that covers abortion. Now, this shouldn't even be surprising, despite my out-loud laugh half in amazement, half fury when I found out arriving home last night. Because as Amie and Cecile Richards say - of course their plan covers abortion! It's a standard health benefit plan any employer would want to offer their employees, yes?
But as Politico points out, for a committee whose platform that says abortion is "a fundamental assault on innocent human life," and its members just voted for the Stupak-Pitts Amendment attacking the very existence of abortion coverage in health insurance plans (along with enough anti-choice and cowardly Dems) in the recently House passed health care bill, this is pretty incredible to hear.
“The supreme accomplishment ...
“The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.” - Arnold Toynbee
Friday, November 13, 2009
World's Cheapest Laptop
posted by David Adams on Fri 13th Nov 2009 18:16 UTC
Techvideoblog has a video review of the Menq Easypc E760, an $80 ARM-based laptop that runs Android. From the looks of it, I don't think this is a very good gadget, because it's slow (less powerful than an iPhone 3GS, but of course also a lot cheaper), but I agree with the Techvideo guy: the Easypc is important because it's the vanguard of a likely wave of cheap, ARM-based devices that will very soon have the necessary power for a pleasant and productive web browsing experience. Once that happens, a sizable portion of the current laptop and netbook userbase will move downmarket, and some of the constituents that the OLPC program was trying to serve (young students and the lower economic stratum) will have a network communication device available to them that's more accessible.
Political Compass - Take the test
The Political Compass
Economic Left/Right: -6.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.03
Take your own PoliticalCompass testThursday, November 12, 2009
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Applause for the SmartHand
American Friends of Tel Aviv University: Applause for the SmartHand
Applause for the SmartHand
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
TAU's man/machine interface is essential link in groundbreaking prosthetic hand
 |
In one sense, our hands define our humanity. Our opposable thumbs and our hands' unique structure allow us to write, paint, and play the piano. Those who lose their hands as a result of accident, conflict or disease often feel they've lost more than mere utility.
A new invention from Tel Aviv University researchers may change that. Prof. Yosi Shacham-Diamand of TAU's Department of Engineering, working with a team of European Union scientists, has successfully wired a state-of-the-art artificial hand to existing nerve endings in the stump of a severed arm. The device, called "SmartHand," resembles — in function, sensitivity and appearance — a real hand.
"The Red Wheel Barrow"
So much
depends
upon
a red
barrow
glazed withrain
water
beside
the white
chickens. -- William Carlos Williams, "The Red Wheel Barrow"
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
If you aren't hungry enough to eat...
402. If you aren't hungry enough to eat an apple, you aren't hungry.
P.S. Go buy Walker Lamond's book
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
We do live in interesting times ... be careful what you wish for.
The Monday Fix: Palin joins conservatives opposing Republican candidate
from Wash Post Politics by Chris Cillizza
Sarah Palin's decision late last week to endorse the Conservative Party candidate over the Republican nominee in a special U.S. House election in Upstate New York is the latest example that the former Alaska governor's allegiance is to her conservative principles rather than the party's edicts.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
In pictures: The noughties - a decade of lost species
In pictures: The noughties - a decade of lost species | Environment | guardian.co.uk
The noughties: a decade of lost species (10 pictures)
How to Save the World - Dave Pollard
Dave Pollard:: How to Save the World
(Click on picture and "View Image" or follow the link to the article.)
| Long-Term Intention | Long-Term Practices | Short-Term Intentions (Exercises & Projects) | Hrs/day now | Hrs/day intended |
| Reconnecting with All Life on Earth, Instincts & Emotions | Appreciation (1) Presence/Paying Attention (2) Heart-Opening/Letting Go (3) | 10am to 1pm: personal/group - Forest/ocean walks - Presencing exercises - Gratitude exercises - 'Breathing through' meditation | 0 | 3.0 |
| Increasing Capacity & Competency (Personal and Collective) | Understanding How the World Works (4) Capacity-Building (6) | 2pm-6pm: learning/exploring: - presentation/conversation skills - demonstration skills - creative writing exercises - SSUQIOC exercises - balance and empathy practices | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Dismantling Civilization | Activism (7) | 2pm-6pm: - Open Space: Stopping the Tar Sands - Open Space: Ending Factory Farms | 0 | 1.5 |
| Creating Models of a Better Way to Live and Make a Living | Model-Building (8)
| 2pm-6pm: - novel: The Only Life We Know - film: Earth 2200: A Travelogue - workbook: Finding Your Sweet Spot - unschooling: personal practice guide | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| Joy, Understanding | Self-Knowing (5) Being Myself (9) | 8pm-12pm: - reflection/questioning exercises - blogging - play: drawing, photography, with animals (original play) | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| (activities not directly related to any of my intentions -- my Y-stuff) | other hours: - self-care (sleep, exercise etc.) - networking; serendipitous reading - self-management (gardening etc.) | 19.0 | 13.0 |
Nobody Knows Anything - Did the Zen Master teach...
Cacō Ergo Sum
Cacō Ergo Sum
Like other unfortunate side effects of modern philosophy, voiding one's bowels helps ground the sufferer by causing all senses to work in harmony and gives tangible proof of one's existence.
Existential Angst - Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
Friday, October 23, 2009
What? No rights in prison?!?
A foreigner’s life in a Beijing jail
Posted on 2009/10/23, 16:42, by Jeremy Goldkorn, under Crime.
A foreign man who spent the last seven months in jail sent Danwei this description of his daily life at the Beijing No. 1 Detention Center after his release last week.
If I were a Chinese person and not a foreigner, a crime like mine would have been dealt with on the “city district” level, as opposed to the “municipal” level which is much tougher.
The other people incarcerated at Beijing No. 1 Detention Center were all facing life sentences or death sentences, at least as a possibility, so it’s not a place where detainees are given a lot of slack. It’s the site of Beijing’s newly constructed hi‐tech lethal injection chamber.
It was boring as anything, and the rules were strict.
Danwei II » Blog Archive » A foreigner’s life in a Beijing jail
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