Elliot's Tumblelog

The Great Debaters: 1935 Debate vs. USC

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:19:45 -0400

Wiley debated USC in 1935, but on what topic?

Debating the Merits of the Underdog Movie Formula

This might be the best link about the debate at the University of Southern California: Tolson, Farmer intertwined by Wiley debate team

Modestly Yours: Bratz Backlash

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:04:15 -0400

Modestly Yours: Bratz Backlash

Talked with Ron at Citibank

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:37:02 -0400

For the Citi mtvU Card Redemption Form, I can submit anything that shows my name, my school’s name, and my grades (e.g. USC’s STARS report).

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you...

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:53:08 -0400

Remember Gandhi, first they ignore you; then they laugh at you; then they attack you; then you win. Go Dr. Paul. Remind everyone what it truly is to be American.

http://www.dailytrojan.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticleComments&ustory_id=86045b1a-8e58-4923-85bc-bf67a827ace8

High Gas Prices

Tue, 13 May 2008 03:30:28 -0400

High prices would encourage conservation better than any environmental regulations. Entrepreneurs would race to develop viable alternate fuels if gas prices rose too much.

What can Congress do to provide Americans with some relief at the pump? First it can suspend federal gas taxes, which would save consumers nearly 20 cents per gallon. In the long term, Congress must pass legislation like HR 4004, which I introduced earlier this month. HR 4004 takes a comprehensive approach by allowing offshore drilling, eliminating regulations that restrict refining, and suspending harmful tax rules that discourage domestic oil production. If we hope to have a stable, affordable supply of gas, we must allow the free market to operate.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/articles/853/a-free-market-in-gasoline/

jaytee: Everytime I see this, I still laugh.

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:01:24 -0400

jaytee:

Everytime I see this, I still laugh.

jaytee: mikefranklin: iPhone unpacking (via ntr23)

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:01:12 -0400

jaytee:

mikefranklin:

iPhone unpacking (via ntr23)

Miracle Berry

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:55:30 -0400

Miracle Berry

Cause of high yield - Nuclear Bombs

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:52:38 -0400

The yield of 15 megatons was two and a half times what was expected. The cause of the high yield was a laboratory error made by designers of the device at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

It was expected that lithium-6 isotope would absorb a neutron from the fissioning plutonium, emit an alpha particle and tritium in the process, of which the latter would then fuse with deuterium (which was already present in the LiD) and increase the yield in a predicted manner.

The designers missed the fact that when the lithium-7 isotope (which was considered basically inert) is bombarded with high-energy neutrons, it absorbs a neutron then decomposes to form an alpha particle, another neutron, and a tritium nucleus. This means that much more tritium was produced than expected, and the extra tritium in fusion with deuterium (as well as the extra neutron from lithium-7 decomposition) produced many more neutrons than expected and induced more fission of the uranium tamper, increasing yield.

This resultant extra fuel (both lithium-6 and lithium-7) contributed greatly to the fusion reactions and neutron production, and in this manner greatly increased the device’s yield. The test used lithium with a high percentage of lithium-7 only because lithium-6 was (at the time) scarce and expensive; the later Castle Union test used almost pure lithium-6. Had more lithium-6 been available, the usability of the common lithium-7 might not have been discovered.

Google a privacy risk?

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:59:00 -0400

My reply to Daily Trojan Article

Of course Google has a blog. Google owns and runs one of the best blogging services around: Blogger.com.

In fact, collecting user data does allow Google to be very innovative. Already they’ve added many interesting, useful, and time-saving features for users willing to share data. For example, it’s very compelling to see graphs of my search trends over time. What I’ve searched for, and when.

Google is keeping ahead of the curve by analyzing large amounts of data very quickly. You can be sure that if Google doesn’t do it, someone else will.

For instance, why are you concerned about Google, who merely has your search queries, when there exists Facebook, a huge privacy concern that has nothing to do with Google? Facebook actually does have your personal data, and you can rest assured they will be exploiting it more and more, with targeted ads and personalized sponsor messages. These sponsored “news items” are already appearing in my News Feed.

And, of course, you can always opt-out. Clear your cookies after each session, don’t search while logged into a Google Account, and Google won’t know who you are. Then, search queries are used in aggregate, and aren’t tied to a personal identity. Unlike AOL, Google has never publicly released user search queries.

Also, Google is not the only company collecting your data. I’m sure DailyTrojan.com is, too. Whether the DT is smart enough to put the data to good use is a different issue. Therefore as a plea to humans everywhere, Googler or otherwise: Don’t be stupid.

I’ve worked for Google, but the views presented in this comment are entirely my own (they do not represent the company in any way).

USC vs. UCLA Tomorrow

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:05:46 -0400

Come out tomorrow to watch the #4 USC Men’s Tennis Team take on #5 UCLA at Marks Tennis Stadium at 3:00 PM. Both teams are undefeated in Pac-10 play, so this regular season finale is for the conference championship.

All 7th Man members with their shirts will receive free In-N-Out and Red Bull. If you don’t have a shirt yet, they will be available for only $5. The Trojan Marching Band and Song Girls will be performing at the match, as well!

Is a mortgage freeze a good idea?

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:27:00 -0400

Looks like most say no.

Why mortgage interest rates are lower than loans

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:03:00 -0400

We must be very careful about helping people who are losing their homes due to increased mortgage payments. The reason why the mortgage’s interest rate is low is that the house is collateral, and is sold for the bank to recoup their investment if the payments cannot be made. Allowing people to fail in meeting this financial commitment will come back to unintentionally (but very seriously) harm other, typically more responsible, people.

Why the Government Loves Inflation

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:00:52 -0400

Sue Says:
October 28th, 2007 at 8:25 am
The most important reason why you shouldn’t pay off your mortgage, is chances are your fixed interest rate is probably lower than the current level of inflation. Inflation helps debtors and destroys savers. Uncle sam is the biggest debtor of them all and inflation is his favorite tool. My father bought his house for 80,000 in 1984, its now worth 650,000. The house didn’t increase in value, its the same house, the value of money has decreased in value. And if you really think housing is a great investment just ask someone in Florida.

jaytee: 3am parody - PHD Comics style :)

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:46:01 -0400

jaytee:

3am parody - PHD Comics style :)

Confusing Verse

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:45:23 -0400

How didn’t I notice this before? From the account of Jesus’ crucifixion in Luke 23:6-12…

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

What does this mean, why did they become friends, how is that significant?

3/14 is Pi Day and Einstein's Birthday

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:32:00 -0400

We know that you know March 14th is fast approaching. We expect that you know March 14th is internationally recognized as Pi day and also the birthday of the dude after which the chemical element ninety-nine was named - the one with the hair (not the element, the dude). We fear you know not, however, that March 14th is also the 14-year anniversary of the Linux kernel version 1.0.0. Mere coincidence? We have no clue. We just sit here minding our own business, scouring the planet for things we hope you will enjoy, then we parade them in front of you not unlike this…

One thing I really want to do— maybe over Spring Break— is learn Cantonese.

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:31:45 -0400

One thing I really want to do— maybe over Spring Break— is learn Cantonese.

The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:50:15 -0400

The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill

"Two of the most famous products of Berkeley are LSD and Unix.I don’t think that is a coincidence."

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:47:54 -0500

“Two of the most famous products of Berkeley are LSD and Unix.
I don’t think that is a coincidence.”

- The UNIX-HATERS Handbook