Friday, March 10, 2006

Mary Worth. Michael Howard over at Microsoft, has a great post, on why security analogies are usually wrong, that has a beautiful analogy of his own that aptly makes his point. Also, note that Ed Felten, is currently teaching a class, InfoTech & Public Policy, at Princeton. Students are required to post weekly, and non-students are encouraged to read and post comments. Finally, short on cash? Phishing taking to long? Don't feel like kidnapping and holding up a bank? Try explosives. [Emergent Chaos] 11:00:12 PM    comment []

A courteous and respectful debate between a theist and atheist. Mark Frauenfelder: Paul Vallee says: "This delightful written debate between Daniel Dennett of Darwin's Dangerous Idea fame and Richard Swinburne of Is There a God? fame (hint: he answers Yes!) is a delightful and respectful read, no matter which side of the argument you agree with. I recommend it primarily because, as well-trained philosophers, they quickly get down to the nub of the issues at hand in what it would take to convince each other of the other point of view, but without any sign of disrespect of belligerence that so often characterizes this type of conversation." Link [Boing Boing] 11:00:05 PM    comment []

Me or Your Lying Eyes?. Remember, both his feet in reality are flat on the pavement -- Impact Lab - Amazing 3D Sidewalk Art Photos [AMERICAN DIGEST] 9:35:23 PM    comment []

Zero to 60 Mph in 3.4 Seconds. How Porsche and Lotus re-engineered small, street-legal engines to rival the world's most expensive sports cars in raw power for a fraction of the price. (No, that doesn't make them cheap. But it does make them cool.) Bruce Gain reports from Geneva, Switzerland. [Wired News: Top Stories] 7:37:16 AM    comment []

Wirelessly-enabled wine glasses. David Pescovitz: MIT Media Lab students Jackie Lee and Hyemin Chung have designed wireless-enabled wine glasses (actually, big tumblers) so couples can imbibe "together," even when they're geographically apart. From New Scientist: When either person picks up a glass, red LEDs on their partner's glass glow gently. And when either puts the glass to their lips, sensors make white LEDs on the rim of the other glass glow brightly, so you can tell when your other half takes a sip. Following tests in separate labs, Lee says the wireless glasses really do "help people feel as if they are sharing a drinking experience together". They'll present their work at the CHI (Computer Human Interaction) 2006 conference next month in Montreal. Link (Thanks, Vann Hall and Greg Benjamin!) [Boing Boing] 7:37:04 AM    comment []

The coffee wars. Pejman Yousefzadeh tells us why war, coffee, fair trade and show business are all intertwined. "Some people need their caffeine intakes reduced ... Intrigued? Of course you are. Read it all." [Pajamas Media] 6:38:06 AM    comment []