GroupThinkTank
Revolutionizing the world, one "I agree" at a time
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Mark Dixon, 8:04 PM:
Caltech Rubik's cube winner (video)
Ryan Patricio achieving the current one-handed 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube speedcubing world record during the Caltech spring competition 2006.
Mark Dixon, 8:33 AM:
Election rigging testimony in Ohio
Computer programmer Clinton Eugene Curtis of Florida testifies under oath before U.S. House Judiciary members in Ohio.
Q: Are there programs that can be used to secretly fix elections?
A: Yes.
Q: How do you know that to be the case?
A: Because in October of 2000, I wrote a prototype for Congressman Tom Feeney [R-FL] at the company I work for in Obedo, Florida that does just that.
Q: It would rig an election?
A: It would flip the vote, 51-49. Whoever you wanted it to go to and whichever race you wanted to win.
Q: And would that program that you designed, be something that elections officials on county boards of elections could detect?
A: They'd never see it.
Alternet has a longer video of Curtis' testimony.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Mark Dixon, 9:34 AM:
Behavior detection officers
Those of you who fly better work on your poker face.
According to the NYT, "behavior detection officers" are at a dozen airports nationwide, assessing "travelers’ facial expressions, body and eye movements, changes in vocal pitch and other indicators" to decide who should be pulled out of line for further interrogation as a possible terrorist.
Of course, it's all completely scientific. ""We have no basis other than the seat of our pants to know how many points should be given to any one thing."
Does it work? "It is like throwing a big fishing net over the side of the boat: You catch what you catch."
Monday, August 14, 2006
stephen, 11:48 PM:
Ian Bell on Cuba
I don't know this taught me anything new. But sometimes it reassures to read what I already thought, but hadn't said.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
David Bernat, 9:56 AM:
Cheep
A-Ahem-mong us, do you have a Times Select account? Without Maureen Dowd, I have to go to Ann Coulter for my red-headed nonesense, and we all know how painful that can be.
