Obama is pushing a 2010 budget that, among other things will increase for the NIH, Department of Energy, NASA, and EPA. The EPA will get a 35% boost, the National Science Foundation will get a 8.5% boost, NASA will get a $700 million boost, and the Department of Energy will get a $2.4 billion boost.
Other places where money is focused is in climate research and in green industry.
There also will be a 12.8% education budget increase from 2009.
I applaud Obama for his action and in his realization that investment in education and science will pay off in the future with increased technological, medical, and and general innovation.
Via Wired.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
TF2 scout update
Steam released an update for the scout in Tf2 the other day. It is half-off, or $9.99 until Friday.
The new update includes:
The Sandman, a stun baseball. It stuns in a fast-paced FPS like Tf2 don't work. It can be used to stun uber pairs, which in my opinion detracts from the medic's role which already is tough and under appreciated. Now, sentry farming is even more effective and
It does make the game more team-dependent because the rest of the team has to cover for the stunned player until he recovers.
With this, it is impossible to double jump, which is good because it would allow for baseball sniping from double-jumped-to places.
The ball can either be picked up after it bounces or it will recharge after a few seconds.
Now, I believe it is possible to perma-stun a person if he is hit repeatedly with these. Steam will hopefully patch this soon.
A knockback gun, the Force-a-Nature that fires two shots quickly, reloads quickly, and does slightly less damage per shot. Because the knockback is so large, it will propel you opposite in the direction you are facing if you fire. This can be used in conjunction with the existing double jump to add a third jump or with the Sandman to attain a double jump.
In many of the original alpine-set arena maps, there are places where you can knock away enemies to get an environmental kill.
A scout powerup, the Bonk Atomic Punch that is effectively a mini-uber and a speed boost. It lasts for 6 seconds followed by a 6 second slow.
Three new maps, all community made. There are Arena_watchtower, a beautiful Alpine themed one, Cp_Junction set indoors and full of cramped spaces, and Cp_Egypt.
A quicker spy backstab: Now, with the recent cloak pickup change, the spy is a very potent killer. The hit registers instantly, though after the kill there is a quick blade flick animation to stall to prevent fast chain stabs. However, it requires you to get closer to the enemy for the stab to register, making leaping, flick, or sidestabs harder. This would separate the new spies from the "elite" even more than now. Now, the engineer is sorely in need of teammate's help because it is so easy to stab-n-sap.
Disguising: Now, the spy can choose which weapons to wield and can change them while disguised. I feel this is unnecessary after the faster backstab because the spy doesn't need any additional boost and it adds clutter to the disguise menu.
A new game type: If you look carefully in the background, there appear to be a red and a blue cart side by side. It looks like a sort of race game wherein the objective is to push the team cart to the finish while stalling the enemy's cart.
Images via Tf2wiki.
The new update includes:
The Sandman, a stun baseball. It stuns in a fast-paced FPS like Tf2 don't work. It can be used to stun uber pairs, which in my opinion detracts from the medic's role which already is tough and under appreciated. Now, sentry farming is even more effective and
It does make the game more team-dependent because the rest of the team has to cover for the stunned player until he recovers.
With this, it is impossible to double jump, which is good because it would allow for baseball sniping from double-jumped-to places.
The ball can either be picked up after it bounces or it will recharge after a few seconds.
Now, I believe it is possible to perma-stun a person if he is hit repeatedly with these. Steam will hopefully patch this soon.
A knockback gun, the Force-a-Nature that fires two shots quickly, reloads quickly, and does slightly less damage per shot. Because the knockback is so large, it will propel you opposite in the direction you are facing if you fire. This can be used in conjunction with the existing double jump to add a third jump or with the Sandman to attain a double jump.
In many of the original alpine-set arena maps, there are places where you can knock away enemies to get an environmental kill.
A scout powerup, the Bonk Atomic Punch that is effectively a mini-uber and a speed boost. It lasts for 6 seconds followed by a 6 second slow.Three new maps, all community made. There are Arena_watchtower, a beautiful Alpine themed one, Cp_Junction set indoors and full of cramped spaces, and Cp_Egypt.
A quicker spy backstab: Now, with the recent cloak pickup change, the spy is a very potent killer. The hit registers instantly, though after the kill there is a quick blade flick animation to stall to prevent fast chain stabs. However, it requires you to get closer to the enemy for the stab to register, making leaping, flick, or sidestabs harder. This would separate the new spies from the "elite" even more than now. Now, the engineer is sorely in need of teammate's help because it is so easy to stab-n-sap.
Disguising: Now, the spy can choose which weapons to wield and can change them while disguised. I feel this is unnecessary after the faster backstab because the spy doesn't need any additional boost and it adds clutter to the disguise menu.
A new game type: If you look carefully in the background, there appear to be a red and a blue cart side by side. It looks like a sort of race game wherein the objective is to push the team cart to the finish while stalling the enemy's cart.
Images via Tf2wiki.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Time for decriminalization?
Marijuana is only minimally bad for health: it is nonaddictive, has roughly the same amount of carcinogens as tobacco, leaves few lasting effects on brain function, and even has medicinal value. That it is used recreationally, only occasionally and in small doses makes it even safer. THC itself is a less potent drug than many other legal ones such as caffeine or alcohol, and as such it is nearly impossible to overdose on marijuana.
Marijuana has many medicinal uses, such as reducing nausea, helping people with glaucoma, and reducing muscle spasticity. Although it is possible to get THC in a pill form, it is less effective than just smoking marijuana. California has legalized medicinal marijuana, but its use is still done in secrecy because federal agents can still seize the marijuana.
By creating a blanket ban on seemingly arbitrarily-defined (see pic below) "bad" drugs, the War on Drugs alienates recreational users of marijuana who hurt nobody with their use and do little to keep drug bosses in power. By making marijuana use illegal, the War on Drugs creates an underground market for it that increases prices and fosters other illegal activities, as was the case during the Prohibition of the early 1900's. If marijuana use was legalized, the drug dealers would be replaced by legal shops that could distribute cheaper and safer fare. Since marijuana can be easily grown in the US, legalization would produce a new crop to farm akin to tobacco or tea. While now, some of the money spent funnels away to Mexico or Canada, from where it is smuggled into the States. If production were legalized, it would produce a new sector in agriculture that could provide jobs and income and keep money within the US.
In the Netherlands, marijuana is legalized and freely available to those of age. Unlike here in the US where drug use is shrouded in secrecy and rarely discussed, there is a culture of transparency and openness. More frank and realistic discussion of this over the complete ban posed by the War on Drugs would help to instill societal norms that would probably work to self-regulate marijuana usage. By this I mean that if marijuana use becomes typical, there is no hype associated with taking it; it would be just as uneventful drug-wise as drinking coffee.
As indicated by the election of a president who has admitted to his fondness for the drug and favors decriminalization and by the proposal of legalization to legalize marijuana in New Jersey, attitudes towards marijuana use are changing. Although there still a stigma associated to smoking marijuana, there is less of one than before. Part of this stems from increased knowledge about marijuana's potency. Now, although children are educated to not take drugs, peer-to-peer contact spreads information widely available on the Internet that marijuana is actually not as dangerous as it is made out to be and that it is not very addictive. Each successive generation becomes more friendly towards the cause of decriminalization and legalization.
Legalization and regulation would provide a taxable and regulated commodity that could be used to pull in money for government. According to Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of California, a tax of $50 per ounce could bring in around $1 billion. Legalization too would make medicinal marijuana more available to those who actually need it. This moral dilemma alone should be enough to warrant legalization: Why deny peace and comfort to those who are suffering just to keep a scientifically-proven generally safe drug out of the hands of people?
Marijuana has many medicinal uses, such as reducing nausea, helping people with glaucoma, and reducing muscle spasticity. Although it is possible to get THC in a pill form, it is less effective than just smoking marijuana. California has legalized medicinal marijuana, but its use is still done in secrecy because federal agents can still seize the marijuana.
By creating a blanket ban on seemingly arbitrarily-defined (see pic below) "bad" drugs, the War on Drugs alienates recreational users of marijuana who hurt nobody with their use and do little to keep drug bosses in power. By making marijuana use illegal, the War on Drugs creates an underground market for it that increases prices and fosters other illegal activities, as was the case during the Prohibition of the early 1900's. If marijuana use was legalized, the drug dealers would be replaced by legal shops that could distribute cheaper and safer fare. Since marijuana can be easily grown in the US, legalization would produce a new crop to farm akin to tobacco or tea. While now, some of the money spent funnels away to Mexico or Canada, from where it is smuggled into the States. If production were legalized, it would produce a new sector in agriculture that could provide jobs and income and keep money within the US.
In the Netherlands, marijuana is legalized and freely available to those of age. Unlike here in the US where drug use is shrouded in secrecy and rarely discussed, there is a culture of transparency and openness. More frank and realistic discussion of this over the complete ban posed by the War on Drugs would help to instill societal norms that would probably work to self-regulate marijuana usage. By this I mean that if marijuana use becomes typical, there is no hype associated with taking it; it would be just as uneventful drug-wise as drinking coffee.As indicated by the election of a president who has admitted to his fondness for the drug and favors decriminalization and by the proposal of legalization to legalize marijuana in New Jersey, attitudes towards marijuana use are changing. Although there still a stigma associated to smoking marijuana, there is less of one than before. Part of this stems from increased knowledge about marijuana's potency. Now, although children are educated to not take drugs, peer-to-peer contact spreads information widely available on the Internet that marijuana is actually not as dangerous as it is made out to be and that it is not very addictive. Each successive generation becomes more friendly towards the cause of decriminalization and legalization.
Legalization and regulation would provide a taxable and regulated commodity that could be used to pull in money for government. According to Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of California, a tax of $50 per ounce could bring in around $1 billion. Legalization too would make medicinal marijuana more available to those who actually need it. This moral dilemma alone should be enough to warrant legalization: Why deny peace and comfort to those who are suffering just to keep a scientifically-proven generally safe drug out of the hands of people?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Walking cube
A cube walking along a desert landscape synchronized with Ghost Love Score by Nightwish:
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/7564/c068de69cb7475120c8387eoq1.swf
Pure awesomeness, hilarity, and win.
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/7564/c068de69cb7475120c8387eoq1.swf
Pure awesomeness, hilarity, and win.
Game pricing
In a recent article from Edge.com, Valve's video game pricing system was looked into as an experimenting ground to test the maximization of games sold versus price. At first it seems like a simple two-variable maximization: the lower the cost, the more units sold. However there are many other factors involved that will require more testing.
This is subject to diminishing returns, of course. Valve cut L4D's cost by half and got a 3000% increase. If the price was cut by 1/4, there wouldn't be a 6000% increase but more like a 4000% or 5000% increase.
It is impossible to completely eliminate piracy. People will either "try out" a game or be too stingy to part with their money. Lowering the price of a game will reduce piracy, but can never eliminate it until the game is free.
When people see that something is on sale, they are more likely to buy because of the urgency the sale presents. If the game was always cheap, then the actual increase in sales would be lower than the one-weekend 3000% increase Valve saw.
My view is that in the long term, lowered game pricing could possibly work. As games become more specialized and cater towards specific gaming populations, the number of total games will increase. Because there would be so many games, each one would take a smaller percentage of the total gaming population. In addition, the the cost to produce the big-ticket games increases as players expect higher quality. So, the price to program games would go up while percentage of the total that buys would drop.
Of course, it's not this simple. People can own more than one game and play more than one actively. As the plugged-in culture matures and more people become accustomed to spending time on the Internet and playing games, Also, the gaming population is increasing, so although each game may have a smaller percentage of the total, the number buyers would increase. In the end, it is possible for game producers to make money by reducing the price of games.
This is subject to diminishing returns, of course. Valve cut L4D's cost by half and got a 3000% increase. If the price was cut by 1/4, there wouldn't be a 6000% increase but more like a 4000% or 5000% increase.
It is impossible to completely eliminate piracy. People will either "try out" a game or be too stingy to part with their money. Lowering the price of a game will reduce piracy, but can never eliminate it until the game is free.
When people see that something is on sale, they are more likely to buy because of the urgency the sale presents. If the game was always cheap, then the actual increase in sales would be lower than the one-weekend 3000% increase Valve saw.
My view is that in the long term, lowered game pricing could possibly work. As games become more specialized and cater towards specific gaming populations, the number of total games will increase. Because there would be so many games, each one would take a smaller percentage of the total gaming population. In addition, the the cost to produce the big-ticket games increases as players expect higher quality. So, the price to program games would go up while percentage of the total that buys would drop.
Of course, it's not this simple. People can own more than one game and play more than one actively. As the plugged-in culture matures and more people become accustomed to spending time on the Internet and playing games, Also, the gaming population is increasing, so although each game may have a smaller percentage of the total, the number buyers would increase. In the end, it is possible for game producers to make money by reducing the price of games.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Take APUSH
This post is aimed towards the sophomores at my school who have to decide between APUSH (advanced placement U.S. history) and normal history.
Although it says 5 hours of homework per week in the course catalog, APUSH really doesn't give that much. In reality, it probably only takes 5 hours of note taking to finish the homework for an entire 2-3 week-long unit. And, that's only if you take moderately good notes. Your notes are up to you--Mr. J mostly checks that you have done them, not exactly what you have written. To him, the notes are for you to learn the material. However, the better the notes you take, the better you do on your tests, pretty much guaranteed.
The multiple choice tests are the hardest I've ever taken. Nowhere else do I ever find questions where I can eliminate none of the options. The plain recall questions pale in comparison to the historical analysis ones. For example, putting disconjoined events in chronological order when the American Pageant, our textbook, throws information in some convoluted thematical progression is tough. Pairing people up with their ideas and matching quotes to people are other tough questions. There are answer choices that have a date intentionally different so as to make that choice invalid. Getting a 75ish% on this section equals a 5 on the AP test, so the actual AP test should be simple.
Essays are actually your friend on the AP test. Two in 70 or one every 35 minutes is not too bad (remember that the SAT asks for one in 25 minutes). As long as you can flow your ideas well and logically tie everything back to the thesis, you will do well. The third essay, a 60-minute section with a mandatory 15-minute reading period, is basically an essay with a cheat booklet that you can pull information from. Getting around a B+ on an APUSH class essay correlates with a 5 on the actual AP test.
Do not be put off by the application and summer work--those are supposed to scare you off and do not realistically show the actual workload.
The benefits of taking APUSH far exceed the hardships. From this class, I developed skimming and notetaking skills that will help in upper-level courses. I've learned to look at everything thematically. Your views of the world will be completely changed once you take the class. You'll not only gain insight into why the world works the way it does, but you learn about cyclic trends that are still recurring. Liberalism to conservatism, expansion to decline, boom to bust all are occuring today and are even more relevant as they cycle faster and faster as technological innovation in communication and transportation speed our world up. By looking at the way groups have behaved in the past, you'll see how and why people act and think the way they do today. To me, APUSH was a life-changing course.
Although it says 5 hours of homework per week in the course catalog, APUSH really doesn't give that much. In reality, it probably only takes 5 hours of note taking to finish the homework for an entire 2-3 week-long unit. And, that's only if you take moderately good notes. Your notes are up to you--Mr. J mostly checks that you have done them, not exactly what you have written. To him, the notes are for you to learn the material. However, the better the notes you take, the better you do on your tests, pretty much guaranteed.
The multiple choice tests are the hardest I've ever taken. Nowhere else do I ever find questions where I can eliminate none of the options. The plain recall questions pale in comparison to the historical analysis ones. For example, putting disconjoined events in chronological order when the American Pageant, our textbook, throws information in some convoluted thematical progression is tough. Pairing people up with their ideas and matching quotes to people are other tough questions. There are answer choices that have a date intentionally different so as to make that choice invalid. Getting a 75ish% on this section equals a 5 on the AP test, so the actual AP test should be simple.
Essays are actually your friend on the AP test. Two in 70 or one every 35 minutes is not too bad (remember that the SAT asks for one in 25 minutes). As long as you can flow your ideas well and logically tie everything back to the thesis, you will do well. The third essay, a 60-minute section with a mandatory 15-minute reading period, is basically an essay with a cheat booklet that you can pull information from. Getting around a B+ on an APUSH class essay correlates with a 5 on the actual AP test.
Do not be put off by the application and summer work--those are supposed to scare you off and do not realistically show the actual workload.
The benefits of taking APUSH far exceed the hardships. From this class, I developed skimming and notetaking skills that will help in upper-level courses. I've learned to look at everything thematically. Your views of the world will be completely changed once you take the class. You'll not only gain insight into why the world works the way it does, but you learn about cyclic trends that are still recurring. Liberalism to conservatism, expansion to decline, boom to bust all are occuring today and are even more relevant as they cycle faster and faster as technological innovation in communication and transportation speed our world up. By looking at the way groups have behaved in the past, you'll see how and why people act and think the way they do today. To me, APUSH was a life-changing course.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Why study language arts?
Language arts is the study of expression. Having knowledge in history, math, and science is one thing, but being able to explain it is another. Now, because of the growth in knowledge, there is increasing specialization. Because of this, there needs to be more people proficient in explanation to bridge the knowledge gap between specialties. Using the right words in the right place is the core of language arts; this, when applied to oratory or literature, is a powerful tool that has been used to sway entire populations.
One of language art's strengths is the ability to paint a picture of a situation. Literature does a good job of this, creating an alternate reality that a reader can visualize. This is essential especially in history, when it is impossible to truly understand the world at a certain time period without being immersed in it. Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby teaches me about the Roaring 20s as much as my APUSH textbook does. As well as being enjoyable, literature can introduce topics in a well-flowed manner that typical readers can comprehend and internalize.
The Internet culture is full of people who are busy, checking blogs during their lunch break or multitasking, posting, surfing, and listening to music at the same time. The language we use indicates our rushed, terse way of life. While it is readable to us, it is a foreign language to those still in the pre-Internet age. This divergence between liberal Internet users and conservative traditionalists will be one of the greatest divisions in our modern society. And all along the way, the differences between the language we use will illustrate the parting.
Even fiction novels have significance. An author does not live in a vacuum-- his writing reflects the views and attitudes at the time it was written. His novel's popularity indicates how controversial its themes are or how well the people connect with it at the time. Its topics show what is on people's minds at the time. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, although it was fictional, reflected the anti-slavery mindset of Northerners in the Antebellum. It served to unify them and eventually swayed the nation to confront slavery. Even fiction writing, used as a didactic vehicle to convey greater ideas, can be used to sway readers' opinions.
By studying language arts, you study expression of meaning and explanation. This subject defines the border between book and street smarts; the three others, science, math and history are useful only when they can be communicated effectively to others. By studying writing and applying the themes, ideas, and concepts to oratory and your own prose, you can develop this skill and look better in the eyes of others.
One of language art's strengths is the ability to paint a picture of a situation. Literature does a good job of this, creating an alternate reality that a reader can visualize. This is essential especially in history, when it is impossible to truly understand the world at a certain time period without being immersed in it. Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby teaches me about the Roaring 20s as much as my APUSH textbook does. As well as being enjoyable, literature can introduce topics in a well-flowed manner that typical readers can comprehend and internalize.
The Internet culture is full of people who are busy, checking blogs during their lunch break or multitasking, posting, surfing, and listening to music at the same time. The language we use indicates our rushed, terse way of life. While it is readable to us, it is a foreign language to those still in the pre-Internet age. This divergence between liberal Internet users and conservative traditionalists will be one of the greatest divisions in our modern society. And all along the way, the differences between the language we use will illustrate the parting.
Even fiction novels have significance. An author does not live in a vacuum-- his writing reflects the views and attitudes at the time it was written. His novel's popularity indicates how controversial its themes are or how well the people connect with it at the time. Its topics show what is on people's minds at the time. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, although it was fictional, reflected the anti-slavery mindset of Northerners in the Antebellum. It served to unify them and eventually swayed the nation to confront slavery. Even fiction writing, used as a didactic vehicle to convey greater ideas, can be used to sway readers' opinions.
By studying language arts, you study expression of meaning and explanation. This subject defines the border between book and street smarts; the three others, science, math and history are useful only when they can be communicated effectively to others. By studying writing and applying the themes, ideas, and concepts to oratory and your own prose, you can develop this skill and look better in the eyes of others.
Partial victory for the Pirate Bay
The prosecution, lead by Håkan Roswall, has decided to drop the charge of aiding the copying of the material. Everything connected to reproduction was removed from the claim. However, it will still continue with the reproduction of torrent files and making available copywritten works.
The problem was that Håkan Roswall couldn't explain the bittorrent technology adequately and show an actual link to the Pirate Bay.
Via Torrentfreak.
The problem was that Håkan Roswall couldn't explain the bittorrent technology adequately and show an actual link to the Pirate Bay.
Via Torrentfreak.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Facebook clarification
The Facebook response to the allegations by saying that even when the information is kept after closing your account, it will be covered under the privacy settings you had in place when your account was working:
Edit (2/19/08): Facebook has removed the new terms of service, indicating that it is very willing to respond to user feedback.
We are not claiming and have never claimed ownership of material that users upload. The new Terms were clarified to be more consistent with the behavior of the site. That is, if you send a message to another user (or post to their wall, etc...), that content might not be removed by Facebook if you delete your account (but can be deleted by your friend). Furthermore, it is important to note that this license is made subject to the user's privacy settings. So any limitations that a user puts on display of the relevant content (e.g. To specific friends) are respected by Facebook. Also, the license only allows us to use the info "in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof." Users generally expect and understand this behavior as it has been a common practice for web services since the advent of webmail. For example, if you send a message to a friend on a webmail service, that service will not delete that message from your friend's inbox if you delete your accountFrom Consumerist.
Edit (2/19/08): Facebook has removed the new terms of service, indicating that it is very willing to respond to user feedback.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Bad Facebook
Not only was Facebook stolen by Zuckerberg from his former classmates, but it can now hold on to your information after you quit and if you're still in, it may sell your information. 
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Escape from City 17
Although it was a little short and they were lacking a Gordon look-alike, it was definitely worth watching.
Vaccines do not cause autism
Just on Friday the 13th, a special court severed the link between autism and vaccinations (Read here). Finally! A triumph of real science over pseudoscience and reason over speculation.
What pisses me off about those attacks are that they target one of the greatest medical defense networks in place today. With an entire population vaccinated, there is no place for a disease to take root and begin spreading, so it is essentially denied from the population. However, once even a few people are left out of this vaccination net, there is place for the disease to begin to infect people. These then can spread it on to others who, although they may have been vaccinated, may have diminished immunity several years after taking the vaccine.
What we're seeing now is a resurgence in diseases that were once virtually eradicated: whopping cough, measles, and others that are easily prevented.
By continuing to tout the autism-vaccination "link," parents who feel that they are protecting their children are in fact doing the opposite, hurting their children, themselves, and society.
They are attacking the vaccination system are hypocrites as they are damaging a system that has benefited them passively.
What pisses me off about those attacks are that they target one of the greatest medical defense networks in place today. With an entire population vaccinated, there is no place for a disease to take root and begin spreading, so it is essentially denied from the population. However, once even a few people are left out of this vaccination net, there is place for the disease to begin to infect people. These then can spread it on to others who, although they may have been vaccinated, may have diminished immunity several years after taking the vaccine.
What we're seeing now is a resurgence in diseases that were once virtually eradicated: whopping cough, measles, and others that are easily prevented.
By continuing to tout the autism-vaccination "link," parents who feel that they are protecting their children are in fact doing the opposite, hurting their children, themselves, and society.
They are attacking the vaccination system are hypocrites as they are damaging a system that has benefited them passively.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to my blog and thanks for visiting.
My aim is to post at minimum on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, usually later in the day once I get home and on the computer.
While most posts will simply be links and a few sentences, I hope to include well thought-out analysis and commentary at least once a week.
My aim is to post at minimum on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, usually later in the day once I get home and on the computer.
While most posts will simply be links and a few sentences, I hope to include well thought-out analysis and commentary at least once a week.