tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post5969996677839947428..comments2024-03-29T05:59:55.834-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: People Who Don't "Get" Transparency or Positive Sum GamesDavid Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-12718448479270406782011-11-12T16:19:17.451-08:002011-11-12T16:19:17.451-08:00Security through obscurity, such as that described...Security through obscurity, such as that described in the paper you mention above (admittedly, I haven't read it), is mostly considered a joke from any half-bright programmer's perspective simply because when you distribute obfuscated code in binary form, you are in effect distributing the keys with the lock, and trying to hide the fact that you did so. The most it can buy you is time, because not only does the enemy know the system, but the enemy HAS the same system in their possession. It seems important to remember who "the enemy" is under all circumstances and to consider what kind of game you are playing with him/her...<br /><br />From a consumer perspective, that of a consumer who is also a programmer, this is often insulting and obnoxious -- but hardly a true deterrent. Does anyone here remember the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeCSS" rel="nofollow">DeCSS controversy</a>? It was (and still is) enough to make one want to turn off the DVD player and pick up a good book.Jack L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06147079093869552430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-45544254795948535112011-10-12T21:59:47.507-07:002011-10-12T21:59:47.507-07:00They always said the South will rise again...
Why...They always said the South will rise again...<br /><br />Why now? Probably because there's no longer any external commie threats to distract them from the internal ones (China not being openly belligerent like the USSR was)<br /><br />The current situation in Australia is... bizarre: a minority government propped up by three independents. Greens hold balance in the Senate.<br />Howard was unable to totally wreck the checks and balances (possibly due to the preferential voting system). His successor (Abbott) is trying the same nah tactics as the GOP, but the independents don't buy it. <br /><br />Believe me, the carbon tax just passed had *everything* thrown at it. If you followed the News (ltd.) you would be forgiven for assuming that Gillard's about-face on the issue was tantamount to high treason. News polls have her as being as popular as the bubonic plague.<br /><br />Interestingly, though, the popular turnout at rallies tells a different story (the yes rallies pulled about 10 times the number!!) Whether this would translate to votes at an election, with other issues to weigh, is a moot point.<br /><br />I believe there are 'occupy' rallies starting in Australia this weekend. We've so far weathered the GFC reasonably well, so how much support they get remains to be seen.Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-7323958872447054892011-10-12T17:54:02.659-07:002011-10-12T17:54:02.659-07:00duncan cairncross:
Why do you put up with it? - i...duncan cairncross:<br /><i><br />Why do you put up with it? - in any other country a party deliberately sabotaging the economy would lose their deposits at the next election - not be re-elected in larger numbers (2010)<br /><br />Why is American politics so different?<br /></i><br /><br />A lot of it is because the news media is all corporate owned. There are large segments of the population who get all they know from right-wing sources. They really think that Obama is a socialist who wants to punish the rich "job creators".<br /><br />I think Dr Brin also has it right that the old Confederacy is really trying to rise again, and they're in FAVOR of oligarchy.<br /><br />And one thing that makes American politics different from anywhere else is our system of electoral votes for president, which give small rural states disproportionate power.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-27802125108922472902011-10-12T10:22:00.038-07:002011-10-12T10:22:00.038-07:00Duncan, it's because they convince everyone th...Duncan, it's because they convince everyone that it's the fault of the Democrats. The efforts to "sabotage" the economy, even though that's what they are, are passed off, instead, as efforts to save the economy that just happened to fail because the GOP wasn't allowed to go far enough because of the Democrats.<br /><br /><br />How do they get away with it? As Tim says, the Evangelical Christian movement is very powerful here, and comprises a massive portion of our population.<br /><br />These are people who, in more than 75% of cases, reject evolution, so how likely do you think it is that this vast majority will listen to logic or reason on anything else? They're also infatuated with the right wing, because they think they represent the "Christian", "Moral" party.<br /><br />What remains of the Christian movement, while not inherently Republican (Catholics used to be one of the most solidly Democratic groups, for instance), are drawn in by issues like abortion and gay marriage, and so, to avoid the cognitive dissonance that comes with the possibility that they might be supporting very wrong things on every other issue over what basically boils down to legislated morality, they uncritically adopt the entire right wing platform.<br /><br /><br />So basically, no matter how much BS the GOP is peddling, ~40% of the nation will buy it. That's an awfully big lead to start with, which means they have to screw up EXTRA badly for the nation to actually elect Democratic politicians.Coreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06487646409063141004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-35598221535450068482011-10-12T09:46:37.414-07:002011-10-12T09:46:37.414-07:00There's an interesting article in National Geo...There's an interesting article in National Geographic about jellyfishes - it seems that when they swim up from the depths, they drag cold, nutrient-rich waters with them to the surface, and then pull warmer water into the depths. In short, the massive jellyfish blooms happening as we overfish are causing a cycle to occur that is increasing the fertility of the oceans for microorganisms and krill... and perhaps alleviating to a small extent global warming. <br /><br />Though Dr. Brin's idea of geoengineering through pulling up nutrient-rich water from the depths to encourage new fisheries and the like is still valid, and likely less damaging than jellyfish ultimately are.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-83574552776250685482011-10-12T03:45:07.181-07:002011-10-12T03:45:07.181-07:00Duncan, as much as anything, it's the churches...Duncan, as much as anything, it's the churches, mostly conservative (Or what passes for conservatism these days.), conflating their religion and politics.Tim H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-72435661347219862482011-10-12T02:20:52.922-07:002011-10-12T02:20:52.922-07:00Hi Guys
I have been watching your politics thinkin...Hi Guys<br />I have been watching your politics thinking <br />- it took English voters a long time to see through Maggie Thatcher -<br /><br />Then I realized - I have never seen such dog in the manger politics anywhere!! <br />Republicans openly sabotaging your economy to regain power <br /><br />Why do you put up with it? - in any other country a party deliberately sabotaging the economy would lose their deposits at the next election - not be re-elected in larger numbers (2010)<br /><br />Why is American politics so different?duncan cairncrossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-65850446021905717862011-10-12T00:03:37.920-07:002011-10-12T00:03:37.920-07:00I like the Kraken story, even though it doesn'...I like the Kraken story, even though it doesn't come with extraordinary evidence.<br /><br />Switeck disses it without disproving it.<br /><br />In other news...<br />Australia's 'Carbon Tax' legislation has been passed in the lower house.<br /><br />Boston's Green square was cleared of protestors with the minimum of fuss.<br /><br />- twitter reports were rapid, and somewhat, umm melodramatic at times (maybe rename to 'twitcher'?)<br />- to date, far less 'brutality' in cameras than in tweets. Police seemed fair but firm (daresay there's a few exceptions, as there were in NYPD at the weekend)<br />- Simply dumping the entire contents of the camp into waiting dump trucks is malicious damage to property, isn't it? (Ironic, since the police supposedly moved in to protect the newly installed shrubbery!)<br />- what the media *does* show is a helluva lot of cops loaded with heavy tackle arresting occupiers peacefully, in the wee small hours of the morning... having ordered all media to be shut down!? Which suggests real pride in their job! I think that this is a more telling image of authoritarian over-reaction than over-hyped claims of abuse.Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-16750798815124259662011-10-11T21:16:09.261-07:002011-10-11T21:16:09.261-07:00The only problem with the Kraken story is: that is...The only problem with the Kraken story is: that is all it is. Brian Switeck of wired comments here:<br /><br /><a href="http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/10/the-giant-prehistoric-squid-that-ate-common-sense.ars" rel="nofollow">The giant, prehistoric squid that ate common sense</a>Brendanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12290731721638936110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-46066747627693581472011-10-11T13:04:53.219-07:002011-10-11T13:04:53.219-07:00@Doug -
"...even winning a war (between natio...@Doug -<br /><i>"...even winning a war (between nations) became a money-losing proposition..."</i><br />Sure, because plunder of goods just isn't that profitable anymore, especially when goods are sold into an international market. But change your unit of analysis from the nation to the nation's decision-makers, for whom going to war can be VERY profitable, because, as Dr. Brin pointed out ...<br /><br /><i>"...war can be an EXCUSE to go zero-sum. e.g. Bushite use of emergency clauses to grant contracts directly to pals...."</i><br /><br />...isn't it more efficient to use the Afghans as an excuse to plunder our Treasury than to try to extract gold from the Afghans?<br /><br />@Tony Fisk's Kraken link is wonderful; It's a good thing prehistoric kraken couldn't use fire. Imagine an industrial revolution, space travel, diverting comets, an industrial accident: no more dinosaurs!<br /><br />@Tom<br />1. Put remote-controlled robot on moon - something like the Spirit rover, solar-powered with nice cameras ...<br /><br />2. Auction right to drive it for a while, with some minimal safety overrides...<br /><br />3. Internets go crazy!!! (Seriously. How much would YOU bid???)<br />...<br /><br />5. PROFIT!!!!rewinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14008105385364113371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-41573408299089442302011-10-11T09:33:13.757-07:002011-10-11T09:33:13.757-07:00Here's an article concerning a CNN report sugg...Here's an article concerning a CNN report suggesting bullying is a form of "social combat" where children jockey for social positioning. In short, we bully because of instinctual behaviors, much like wolves snarling at each other over who is submissive and who is dominant (though this is my interpretation, not what they said specifically in the article).<br /><br />http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/10/us/ac-360-bullying-study/<br /><br />http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/10/us/<br />ac-360-bullying-study/<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-34301590682362133412011-10-10T22:54:07.693-07:002011-10-10T22:54:07.693-07:00Occupy Boston is being evictedOccupy Boston is being evictedTony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-3358678784164272332011-10-10T22:11:27.950-07:002011-10-10T22:11:27.950-07:00Robert - I've suggested elsewhere that we give...Robert - I've suggested elsewhere that we give our kids the moon - literally. It's not like we adults are doing much with it...<br /><br />Bootstrap a robotic moon program, and transition control to kids - eventually, ideally, to the point that adults just provide the funding and maybe a little high level oversight. Use NASA to bootstrap the program, but aim to turn more and more operation and control over to kids as they grow up in the program.<br /><br />For a fraction of the cost of sending people back to the moon, and far less than we dump into the US educational system with relatively little impact, we could have a long-term inspirational program where kids can have an exciting real world impact.<br /><br />And when the kids get too old to take part in the lunar program, I'll bet there'll be a bunch that feel driven to move on the Mars or the asteroids...Tom Craverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13570100578983177926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-1137834639985789832011-10-10T21:06:17.712-07:002011-10-10T21:06:17.712-07:00In the Olden Days, war could be profitable because...In the Olden Days, war could be profitable because, if you won, you'd get to steal whatever your enemy had. The Romans got a lot of their wealth this way.<br /><br />This stopped being true some time around World War One. Ever since then, even winning a war (between nations) became a money-losing proposition. (Civil war can still pay, though; if you manage to take over a government, you can exploit the natural resources and tax the people.)Doug S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11918949543315280580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-33761983301448177322011-10-10T20:21:13.908-07:002011-10-10T20:21:13.908-07:00Paul Krugman hits another home run. This topic on ...Paul Krugman hits another home run. This topic on the motivations of those who vehemently criticize the "Occupy" protests:<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/opinion/panic-of-the-plutocrats.html?_r=3&src=tp&smid=fb-share<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/opinion/panic-<br />of-the-plutocrats.html?_r=3&src=tp&smid=fb-shareBCRionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955960949670858365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-57088612196296666452011-10-10T19:04:01.411-07:002011-10-10T19:04:01.411-07:00Here's an article on the 99% Protests that I t...Here's an article on the 99% Protests that I think you all will find interesting: http://howconservativesdrovemeaway.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupy-wall-street-vs-tea-party.html<br /><br />http://howconservativesdrovemeaway.blogspot.com/2011/10/<br />occupy-wall-street-vs-tea-party.html<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-5731727455475968662011-10-10T19:00:13.947-07:002011-10-10T19:00:13.947-07:00Tony, that might be a good illustration for "...Tony, that might be a good illustration for "First to be eaten", a "Chick tract" style document promoting The Old Ones.<br />"cerfibi", professional alibi service.Tim H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-4544250952903421022011-10-10T16:21:20.103-07:002011-10-10T16:21:20.103-07:00@Corey,
Not sure where you're going to get al...@Corey,<br /><br />Not sure where you're going to get all the tritium on the moon from, considering it is radioactive with a 12 year half life. More likely, you are referring to the stable helium-3 isotope that is in relative abundance in the lunar regolith and has uses in radiation detection here on Earth.BCRionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955960949670858365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-75304236266659686712011-10-10T15:11:45.825-07:002011-10-10T15:11:45.825-07:00Corey, yes, observation trumps assumption.
If you...Corey, yes, observation trumps assumption.<br /><br />If you wanted to engage the megaphonically gifted gent directly, you could try the human microphone technique.<br /><br />Speaking of fossils...<br /><br />Iaa!<br /><br />According to an... interesting... new hypothesis, it may just be that <a href="http://t.co/2LuyIf9C" title="Cthulhu home crafts!?" rel="nofollow">HP Lovecraft knew a little more</a> about the Earth's past than we think.<br /><br />Sleep well, kiddies!<br /><br />carcinge: ancient Cthulhu craftworkTony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-12366785179433037952011-10-10T13:51:08.229-07:002011-10-10T13:51:08.229-07:00@David
I like your thinking :)
@Robert
That co...@David<br /><br />I like your thinking :)<br /><br /><br />@Robert<br /><br />That could give surprising payoff, because that would allow make for easy exploration for other potentially valuable resources, like tritium.Coreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06487646409063141004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-61960764915907369532011-10-10T11:30:19.563-07:002011-10-10T11:30:19.563-07:00Actually, isn't war a Negative-Sum game? Think...Actually, isn't war a Negative-Sum game? Think on it: almost no nation ever comes out of a war better than it began because it's inevitable people die, economies suffer some level of upheaval, and uncertainty causes damages to all parties involved. <br /><br />------<br /><br /><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gUaFVGwpLgZG-LGetPCO6It0HKAA?docId=CNG.c459d708126a3237192e78eb56363b63.231" rel="nofollow">I found an interesting article</a> concerning titanium on the Moon. While I know Dr. Brin rails against returning to the Moon, I think there may be a case for a limited return. Just... not a <i>manned</i> return.<br /><br />Think, for a moment, of the possibility of a robotic mining facility set up in pieces on the Moon's surface to start harvesting titanium, oxygen and iron from the Moon. Railguns could be used to transport the iron and titanium back to the Earth (either with some form of parachute system after reentry, or just letting it smack into the planet - if small enough bits are sent, then the damage from impacts will be minimal). And best of all, it becomes a test bed on how to build a robotic facility on a distant body, while remaining close enough that it's pretty much real-time.<br /><br />This could either be a multi-corporation project or a multi-nation one, with each party sharing in the costs and profits from the operation. And considering the price (and relative rarity) of titanium, it would likely prove profitable, given time. The ecological effects would likely be far less than mining it from the Earth as well.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-4505629098942546102011-10-10T11:13:49.208-07:002011-10-10T11:13:49.208-07:00Corey, is there a railroad cut through sedimentary...Corey, is there a railroad cut through sedimentary rock anywhere near campus? A geologist who'd be willing to take folks there on a "tour through the ages?<br /><br />If so, you could stand in front of the doofus with a placard offering weekly "Tours of God's Rock of Ages... and the true ages of God's rocks!"<br /><br />When people stroke with their own hands the layers and are told the rate that sediments form... and chip out fossils of extinct SEA creatures who could not have been drowned in Noah's flood, it does change them.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-19265027647590868952011-10-10T11:08:15.375-07:002011-10-10T11:08:15.375-07:00Duncan the core point of my article is that IP can...Duncan the core point of my article is that IP can fail in either direction. <br /><br /> (1) if it is inadequately defended from major thieves. (e.g. Elon Musk does not patent any of the rocket advances by SpaceX because a certain country will just steal them and ignore requests for royalties. That country routinely lures western companies into "joint ventures" demanding crown jewell IP, then squeezes them out.<br /><br />(2) if it is too heavily defended by patent trolls who forget why IP exists. Which is to help ideas spread by offering a decent income, not a stranglehold. Some countries have "compulsory licensing" where the patent holder MUST make several (not just one) license deals and if some time passes, the price gets imposed lower.<br /><br />Sociotard, I consider the Mickey Mouse Law to have been absurd. A blatant betrayal of the meaning of IP.<br /><br />Rewinn, war can be an EXCUSE to go zero-sum. e.g. Bushite use of emergency clauses to grant contracts directly to pals.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-40690326835316472862011-10-10T10:54:42.072-07:002011-10-10T10:54:42.072-07:00On a peripherally related topic, a blustery religi...On a peripherally related topic, a blustery religious figure has appeared on the App State University campus with a loudspeaker and a sign that reads "Evolution is a LIE" (among a few others).<br /><br />Normally I wouldn't worry at a highly rated university with a student body of thousands of trained skeptics, but this is the South, where religion tugs strongly on many, and a lot of people who may not have the education to tell fact from fantasy on the subject, who are being told that "following God" DEMANDS rejecting science, might be persuaded.<br /><br /><br />More than that, it's the principle of the matter that really gets me.<br /><br /><br />In a civil debate, in an open forum, I could tear these peoples' logic limb from limb, but they're standing out there with a loud speaker, which is basically a way of censoring anyone who doesn't have a loud speaker.<br /><br />A have to admit being more than slightly annoyed.Coreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06487646409063141004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-10213511384315276962011-10-10T10:08:17.833-07:002011-10-10T10:08:17.833-07:00War lasted four years, unless it lasted 116 years....War lasted four years, unless it lasted 116 years.<br /><br />A bigger problem is the expanding definitions of war (drugs, terror) and uses for military force.sociotardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697154298087412934noreply@blogger.com