Category: Links Dump

Corruption in textbook-adoption proceedings: ‘Judging Books by Their Covers’ Richard Feynman on the idiocies of the textbook selection process. (tags: science math education books politics culture publishing) What does it all mean — Crooked Timber "There are two big economic ideas that look substantially less appealing in the light of the current crisis." (tags: economics… Continue reading links for 2008-10-27

5 Presidential Elections Even Dumber Than This One (Somehow) | Cracked.com Hard as it may be to believe… (tags: politics history comedy US silly internet)

Roe vs. Wade? Bush vs. Gore? What are the worst Supreme Court decisions? – Los Angeles Times Legal experts weigh in. (tags: law politics us history society) Quantum Hyperion | Cosmic Variance Is Saturn’s moon there when nobody’s looking? (tags: science quantum physics astronomy planets) …My heart’s in Accra » Woices, and weird windows on… Continue reading links for 2008-10-25

Good Math, Bad Math : Credit Default Swaps: Gambling as Insurance "Credit default swaps are interesting – in the same way that a Rube Goldberg device is interesting. They are in a fundamental sense very simple, but the structure that’s built up around them is so bizarre, so ridiculous on the face of it, that… Continue reading links for 2008-10-24

Introduction to the work energy theorem | Dot Physics "I think it is interesting to look at how most textbooks define energy: Energy is the ability to do work This is really a stupid definition. Kind of circular logic, if you ask me. " (tags: physics education science energy academia) Powell Endorses Obama | The… Continue reading links for 2008-10-22

Physics – From atoms to molecules (and back) "Atoms colliding in a magnetic field can form weakly bound states called Feshbach molecules. These states have now been used in combination with advanced laser techniques to create tightly bound ground-state molecules close to quantum degeneracy." (tags: physics molecules atoms experiment science news low-temperature) The Cartoon Lounge:… Continue reading links for 2008-10-21

Michael Nielsen » The most remarkable graph in the history of sport "It may not be obvious at first glance, but it’s a remarkable graph, even if you don’t give a fig about cricket" (tags: sports statistics) The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.: On Being Skipped Notes from the sausage factory. (tags: books publishing… Continue reading links for 2008-10-20

Don’t scrap the squiggle! — Crooked Timber "My only complaint about the crawler is that CNN removes it from the screen when the debate finishes. I absolutely wish that they continued to show the favourable/unfavourable reactions of the dial-testing focus group to the talking heads on the news afterwards; you’d be able to see the… Continue reading links for 2008-10-18

Physicists set new entanglement record – physicsworld.com "Researchers in China and Europe have entangled a record-breaking 10 quantum bits — an important breakthrough in the quest to develop practical quantum computers." (tags: physics quantum computing science news experiment optics) Ananova – Rabbit wins half marathon Don’t tell Emmy. (tags: animals silly dog sports)

Fafblog! the whole world’s only source for Fafblog. "Okay okay but who is Barack Obama, really, while I am playing scary music and flashing this terrifyingly desaturated image of Barack Obama in a turban across your television screen? "Oh my god I have no idea, who is this mysteriously radical mystery radical!" Giblets is glad… Continue reading links for 2008-10-15