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Seeing like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed
I'm currently reading the above-named book, by James Scott, and can already strongly recommend it for those who like that sort of thing. The online reviews (including, I suppose, this one) probably tell you as much about their authors as this book: you'll find everything from "a call to respect and incorporate disenfranchised groups in reform ( Read more... ) -
math puzzle
Right, we've wasted far too much time on this at work, so I'll inflict it on the rest of you ( Read more... ) -
Starcraft II
I've now had the (long-awaited) Starcraft II game long enough to finish campaign mode and play a couple of PvP games; my general impression is quite good, and anybody reading this who plays should look me up. :)
Some disorganized observations:
I like the persistent upgrades in the campaign - it seems like that adds considerable replay value, and it ( Read more... ) -
Scurvy, Science, and a boatload of FAIL
If you haven't read Maciej Ceglowski's brilliant blog post from a couple months back on the history of scurvy, you should go do it right now.
He got curious when reading about how Scurvy was a problem on so many of the Artic/Anartic expiditions at he beginning of the 20th century. Wait, scurvy? Yes, scurvy.
Now, I had been taught in school that ( Read more... ) -
the MacLeod Hierarchy
Ladies and Gentlemen, I think the Nobel Economics committee can take the next year off. This analysis of organizational dynamics is the most fascinating, and cynical, thing I've read in quite a while:
Sociopaths, in their own best interests, knowingly promote over-performing losers into middle-management, groom under-performing losers into ( Read more... ) -
SDI: Money well spent
From the WSJ:
[ ...] Nathan Myhrvold, a former Microsoft Corp. executive who now runs Intellectual Ventures LLC., a company that collects patents and funds inventions. His old boss, Mr. Gates, had asked him to explore new ways of combating malaria. At a brainstorming session in 2007, Dr. Wood, the Star Wars architect, suggested using lasers on ( Read more... ) -
paging Hugo Drax
I am pleased to note that the must-have accessory for the eccentric dot-com zillionare mogul is no longer the 100-foot yacht, but a private space program!
Currently in the lead would be SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, who made his gazillions starting PayPal and selling it to Ebay. They are building a family of boring but cheap traditionalish boosters ( Read more... ) -
it's never lupus
One of the great things about my job is how much, on a good day, it resembles an episode of House. But, you know, with less blood and screaming because we have computers for patients.
The amusing thing is how often the principles in TV show medicine apply. Dr. House can tell us a few things it's good to remember: ( Everything you need to know about computer systems analysis you can learn from listening to the esteemed Dr. House )