Something More Than a Machine

inception - The movie, explained through C code

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:43:43 +0000

That’s right: karthick18’s ‘inception’ repository contains a 1900 line C program that simulates the plot of the movie Inception.

Money Won’t Buy You Health Insurance - NYTimes.com

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:14:00 +0000

TSA Source: Armed Agent Slips Past DFW Body Scanner | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:07:59 +0000

The source said the undercover agent carried a pistol in her undergarments when she put the body scanners to the test. The officer successfully made it through the airport's body scanners every time she tried, the source said.

What is they say about trading privacy for security?

Obama’s 2012 Budget Proposal: How It’s Spent - NYTimes.com

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 06:36:10 +0000

Interesting contrast between the increase in spending on military personnel and the decrease in spending on military family housing.

America's Drunkest Cities - Men'sHealth

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:22:32 +0000

Every major Texas city made the list, despite the blue laws and screwy approach to alcohol legislation.

PaNu - PāNu Blog - Acetaminophen and the War on Drugs

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:54:28 +0000

Choice quotes:

Now, just so you don't get confused and think this had something to do with safety, chemotherapy agents, warfarin and other very dangerous drugs are not on the schedule, but pretty much any drug someone might take at a party is. It was decided that drugs should be made more difficult to obtain based on their potential for "abuse". In keeping with the moralistic and authoritarian origins of all this, "abuse" means "getting high" and has little to do with how dangerous the given drug was to your health.

That is how you end up with unnecessary acetaminophen in your narcotic. The government figures it has a lower potential for abuse because you will be dissuaded from taking enough of it to "get high' by the potential for hepatotoxicity due to the added acetaminophen! The manufacturer responds to the incentives of the Drug Control act by adding the acetaminophen to get a schedule III classification. This makes it less onerous for the prescribing physician, and easier for the patient, resulting in greater sales for the drug company.

Make the potential party drug more toxic so it is less likely to be "abused".

The manufacturer goes to extra effort and expense to add poison with the sole purpose of escaping burdensome government regulation and taxation.

Price spike means electric retailer goes dark | Business | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:23:43 +0000

The plot thickens.

Video of 24 year old Steve Jobs prepping for his first Television appearance circa 1978

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:13:32 +0000

FaceTime really has come a long way...

Color Wheels are wrong? How color vision actually works

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:50:50 +0000

This isn’t adding up. Let’s turn to science.

Fake blueberries abound in food products - Los Angeles Times

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:41:34 +0000

Another of my notoriously difficult to find favorites (real blueberries, that is).

The nonprofit Consumer Wellness Center reported Thursday that its investigation found "blueberries" that were nothing more than a concoction of sugar, corn syrup, starch, hydrogenated oil, artificial flavors and -- of course -- artificial food dye blue No. 2 and red No. 40. The offenders are well-known manufacturers such as Kellogg's, Betty Crocker and General Mills, and the fakes were found in bagels, cereals, breads and muffins.

Perry: Fast-track abortion sonogram bill | Houston

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 04:07:43 +0000

Seriously, what the fuck?

The governor has previously announced four other emergency items for legislators to consider: eminent domain reform, ending "sanctuary city" policies that don't require police to check the immigration status of people they stop or arrest, a voter identification bill, and calling for an amendment to the US Constitution that would mandate a balanced federal budget.

Meanwhile, Texas is experiencing a budget shortfall...

America's Favorite Cities 2010 - Type of Trip - Travel + Leisure

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:29:16 +0000

No surprises here, Dallas/Ft. Worth is at the bottom of the list for both visitors and residents for "Type of Trip". In other words, out of 35 major cities in the US, there's pretty much no reason to visit Dallas/Ft. Worth if you can help it. Also of note, out of 35 cities, Dallas/Ft. Worth ranks 29th for Quality of Life and Visitor Experience, 25th for Intelligence, and 10th for Rudest. Although not covered here, I'd like to add that Dallas doesn't even make the top 50 for bicycles, according to bicycle magazine.

What Corruption Looks Like: 87% Of Congressional Reps Supporting Comcast/NBC Merger Got Money From Comcast | Techdirt

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 02:42:01 +0000

How croissants are made

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:06:34 +0000

I have a hard time finding a good croissant, this video shows why -- done right, it's hard work. I feel like a snob when I have to ask if they use butter or margarine.

Southwest Airlines pilot holds plane for murder victim’s family

oxtopus@gmail.com (Austin Marshall) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:32:00 +0000

...The pilot responded with, “They can’t go anywhere without me and I wasn’t going anywhere without you. Now relax. We’ll get you there. And again, I’m so sorry.”