The Fount of Useless Information
Your place for useless information that just might possibly be interesting.
How to demolish the oligarchy in 3 easy steps
American democracy has been tainted by lobbying and corporate interests. How do we fix it? Blow it all up
http://www.salon.com/2015/04/24/how_to_demolish_the_oligarchy_in_3_easy_steps/
This is a nice clean summary of some of the pivotal …
Semantic battle among physicists forces a restatement of their stance on climate change
http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060016675
Semantics is very important in science and I agree that the 2007 version was non-scientific:
…The evidence is incontrovertible: Global warming is occurring. If no mitigating
Passphrases That You Can Memorize — But That Even the NSA Can’t Guess
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/03/26/passphrases-can-memorize-attackers-cant-guess/
This is sort of a re-tweet, but having studied a bit of the science behind cryptography over the years (I once ‘invented’ an encryption algorithm and …
Diet and exercise not enough, obesity experts say
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/diet-exercise-treatment-for-obese-patients/
There is increasing evidenced that many chronically obese people are that way because of the gut flora (e.g.), so if this is a medically treatable condition, what distinguishes it …
Missing Mouse Mojo
Cracking the case of laboratory mice that suddenly stopped reproducing involved a little chemical sleuthing
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/41943/title/Missing-Mouse-Mojo/
The abstract from the article:
…Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are antimicrobial disinfectants commonly used in commercial and household settings. Extensive
Will HSBC Deal Come Back to Haunt Loretta Lynch?
Deal to save HSBC’s American office looks very bad in retrospect
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/will-hsbc-deal-come-back-to-haunt-loretta-lynch-20150209
Got to be read to be believed, but the gist of the matter is the ‘punishment’ that our so-called …
Samsung Privacy Policy: Watch What You Say Around Your Smart TV
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/samsung-privacy-policy-watch-smart-tv/story?id=28829387
Not terribly surprising to me given that with the proper malware installed on your phone anyone can listen to any nearby conversation and that people can also turn …
The World’s Email Encryption Software Relies on One Guy, Who is Going Broke
Werner Koch’s code powers the email encryption programs around the world. If only somebody would pay him for the work.
http://www.propublica.org/article/the-worlds-email-encryption-software-relies-on-one-guy-who-is-going-broke
Also interesting comments here.
It …
The propagandists have won: What Fox News and the pornography revolution have in common
Truthiness has replaced truth. Now that we all have our own facts, we may rue the day we personalized the news
http://www.salon.com/2014/12/21/the_propagandists_have_won_what_fox_news_and_the_pornography_revolution_have_in_common/
I rant about ‘…
Free speech and state power: Americans shouldn’t feel complacent about French hypocrisy
Yeah, the French look like merde arresting a comedian for a Facebook post. But we’re free-speech hypocrites too
http://www.salon.com/2015/01/17/free_speech_and_state_power_americans_shouldnt_feel_complacent_about_french_hypocrisy/
Another thoughtful article on Salon; though to be fair, …