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A method of generating random numbers using a lava lamp was mentioned in this week’s “Security Now!”.
I was intrigued enough to find LavaRnd:
LavaRnd is a
cryptographically sound
random number generator.
At its heart, it uses a
chaotic source
to power the generation of very high quality random numbers.
As an added bonus, it’s open source.
Recenetly, I posted a list of old files.
Here’s the contents of one of those files — the abstract of my master’s thesis.
The concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficient of bovine serum
albumin (BSA) was determined using data from osmotic pressure measurements
and light scattering.
The results showed that hydrodynamic interactions had a larger effect
than was expected.
A description of the procedures used to make the measurements and the data
gathered are reported.
(from the WTF is quinoa? dept.)
Stolen from Tina’s Shark Tank:
- 1 Cup Quinoa
- 2 Cups apple cider
- assortment of sliced/diced/chiffonaded fall vegetables of your choice (I used sweet potatoes, parsnips, and Chinese cabbage), 1-2 cups, according to your personal taste
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- black pepper
- sea salt
In a skillet, brown the vegetables in canola oil. Add quinoa, cider, and spices (to taste). Stir and cover, cook 15 minutes until quinoa absorbs all the liquid. Would likely also be good with dried cranberries mixed in.
(via the DNRC newsletter)
People who are trying to decide whether to create a blog or not go through a thought process much like this:
- The world sure needs more of ME.
- Maybe I’ll shout more often so that people nearby can experience the joy of knowing my thoughts.
- No, wait, shouting looks too crazy.
- I know – I’ll write down my daily thoughts and badger people to read them.
- If only there was a description for this process that doesn’t involve the words egomaniac or unnecessary.
- What? It’s called a blog? I’m there!
The blogger’s philosophy goes something like this:
Everything that I think about is more fascinating than the crap in your head.
The beauty of blogging, as compared to writing a book, is that no editor will be interfering with my random spelling and grammar, my complete disregard for the facts, and my wandering sentences that seem to go on and on and never end so that you feel like you need to take a breath and clear your head before you can even consider making it to the end of the sentence that probably didn’t need to be written anyhoo.
If that doesn’t inspire you to read my blog, I don’t know what will. You can find the Dilbert Blog at
http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/.
Let’s not forget Dogbert’s take on the blogging phenomenon.
I’ve had a a continuous presence on the web for over 10 years . It’s pretty difficult to go that long without attracting some trolls,
kooks, and generally clueless people. I’ve recently created a new topic to consolidate guestbook entries, comments and emails from such people.
(more…)
(from the interesting juxtaposition dept.)
Tonight (2005-10-22), opposite the World Series, Encore Drama is showing John Sayles‘ Eight Men Out.
For those who aren’t familiar with this film, here’s a summary from the
IMDb:
A dramatization of the Black Sox scandal when the underpaid Chicago White Sox accepted bribes to deliberately lose the 1919 World Series.
Almost always amusing, but the Onion hits one out of the park with this one:
Philandering String Theorist Can Explain Everything
BATAVIA, IL—Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory physicist Laird Karmann, a noted string theorist and accused philanderer, said Monday that he can “explain everything” if his wife Elizabeth will just give him a chance. “Surely, anyone can see that, mathematically, the universe is composed of Riemann surfaces, having positive-definite metrics, across which the attached ‘loops’ or free ’strings’ have a (1+1) dynamic topology,” Karmann said. “But string behaviors are Lorentzian, meaning that they—like me—need an intense dual-phase Wick rotation now and then just to stay in rational space. I mean, it was just a blowjob.” Elizabeth refused to accept her husband’s theory, suggesting that he study the transformational loop dynamics implicit in her hurled wedding ring.
(via Pharyngula)
The Hovind Files: Lying for Jesus
An interesting summary of the bullshit Hovind spews…
My life is a patio of fun!
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