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| compos mentis. Concision. Media. Clarity. Memes. Context. Melange. Confluence. Mishmash. Conflation. Mellifluous. Conviviality. Miscellany. Confelicity. Milieu. Cogent. Minty. Concoction. |
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Consciousness, by Susan Blackmore |
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| Topic: Science |
10:25 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
Is there a theory that explains the essence of consciousness? Or is consciousness itself just an illusion? This groundbreaking book is the first volume to bring together all the major theories of consciousness studies--from those rooted in traditional Western philosophy to those coming out of neuroscience, quantum theory, and Eastern philosophy. Susan Blackmore, the author of The Meme Machine, was written a book about a wide variety of issues, including lucid dreaming, philosophy of mind, and cognitive neuroscience. Consciousness, by Susan Blackmore |
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Trust Management: First International Conference |
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| Topic: Technology |
10:21 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
This conference was held in Greece in May 2003. There are several papers of interest, including: Architecture and Algorithms for a Distributed Reputation System Hardware Security Appliances for Trust Trust Management Tools for Internet Applications Simulating the Effect of Reputation Systems on E-markets Trust Propagation in Small Worlds Trust Management: First International Conference |
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Analysis of Security Vulnerabilities in the Movie Production and Distribution Process |
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| Topic: Intellectual Property |
9:25 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
Our research attempts to determine the source of unauthorized copies by studying the availability and characteristics of recent popular movies in file sharing networks. 77% appear to have been leaked by industry insiders; consumer DVD copying currently represents a relatively minor factor compared with insider leaks. We analyze the movie production and distribution process, identify potential vulnerabilities, and offer recommendations. ... We hope you have enjoyed this tour through evidence of successful insider attacks against the movie industry and will be well equipped to watch out for it in future with utmost vigilance. The alert amongst you will already have discovered how to replicate all the observations made on this page in order to verify our results. We believe that analyses such as ours that have important consequences for policy and technology should be verifiable independently and encourage our readers to partake in this activity. Lorrie Faith Cranor is a co-author of this paper published in the proceedings of the 2003 ACM Workshop on DRM. Analysis of Security Vulnerabilities in the Movie Production and Distribution Process |
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| Topic: Science |
7:47 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
A lucid, pleasing chronicle of how genes construct the human mind. There is only a tiny genomic difference between humans and primates, but an immense one between their minds. There isn't one gene "for" some attribute, such as intelligence, which is implied when the human genome is compared to a blueprint. Instead, genes act in "exquisite harmony." The Birth of the Mind |
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From the Head of a Rooster to a Smiling Face Near You |
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| Topic: Biotechnology |
6:37 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
Hyaluronan may be the next big thing after Botox. It is extracted from the red combs of roosters and hens. In roosters, the comb, essentially a big flap of skin, swells with hyaluronan in response to testosterone. Pfizer has selectively bred roosters to have superhuge combs. At one point, the combs grew too big. "We stopped getting it bigger and bigger because all of the sudden the rooster couldn't keep his head up." In 1975, Jobs and Woz had the Homebrew Computer Club. In 2004, don't you think there should be Homebrew Biotech Clubs? From the Head of a Rooster to a Smiling Face Near You |
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Work starts on hypersonic vehicles |
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| Topic: Military Technology |
6:06 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
DARPA and the Air Force announced today that nine contractors have started work on FALCON, a hypersonic vehicle for attacking targets thousands of miles from the US. The Marines are working on SUSTAIN, a similar manned vehicle system, which is meant to deploy Marines anywhere around the globe in two hours without violating the airspace of countries along the way. Coming soon: precision guided munitions, delivered to the destination of your choice in thirty minutes or less, guaranteed! We offer a wide variety of "packages" to suit every occasion. Stop by our showroom today, or sign up online for a free trial delivery. On the road? Just press *PGM on your PCS mobile phone to speak with a delivery specialist. In this increasingly virtual world of ours, it's important to take the time to reach out and "touch" someone. Work starts on hypersonic vehicles |
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| Topic: Politics and Law |
5:30 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
The goal is global participation in creating a world where political institutions no longer perpetuate war and inequality. agoraXchange will serve as a dynamic repository, soliciting and displaying contributions, suggestions, and collaborations that will be used to design a massive, multiplayer online game world simulating an alternative to the present global order. While the game design and most game rules will be provided by participants of agoraXchange, all proposals must accommodate four initial decrees challenging present conventions for awarding nationality and wealth. agoraXchange will create an environment for participants to exchange ideas and work together on the rules, design, and the code to be used in building the game. Participation will be facilitated by techniques used in other successful large-scale online distributed collaborations, ranging from the open source software movement to self-regulating, peer-to-peer discussion groups. Rather than offering criticism of the world as it is, agoraXchange aims to create new possibilities. The site goes live on January 14. Are you in? agoraXchange |
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The Law of War in the War on Terror |
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| Topic: Society |
5:06 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
What are the boundaries of the Bush administration's "war on terrorism?" The language in use stretches the meaning of the word "war." The Bush administration has used war rhetoric precisely to give itself the extraordinary powers enjoyed by a wartime government to detain or even kill suspects without trial. In the process, the administration may have made it easier for itself to detain or eliminate suspects. But it has also threatened the most basic due process rights. The Executive Director of Human Rights Watch writes in the January/February 2004 issue of Foreign Affairs. This is just one of several excellent articles in the latest issue. The Law of War in the War on Terror |
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Spectrum Management for the 21st Century |
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| Topic: Technology |
4:45 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
New technologies and services have created explosive demand for radio spectrum. But spectrum is a finite natural resource, and under our current rules, demand is outstripping supply. Fortunately, the same technologies that create exploding demand can provide the solution to this problem, by letting more devices use spectrum than is now possible. More intensive use of spectrum would meet existing and potential demand and could be the basis for unprecedented economic growth. We have no choice as a nation but to exploit this technological opportunity, but in order to do so, our spectrum management system must change. The existing organization and legal structure, which we have inherited from an earlier technological era, blocks the development and adoption of the new spectrum technologies we need to move ahead. Spectrum Management for the 21st Century |
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Creating a Trusted Network for Homeland Security | Markle Task Force |
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| Topic: Society |
4:42 pm EST, Dec 23, 2003 |
On December 2, the Markle Foundation's Task Force on National Security in the Information Age released its second report, entitled "Creating a Trusted Network for Homeland Security." The report is available for download in PDF. The Markle Foundation is co-chaired by Zoe Baird and Jim Barksdale, with membership from Eric Benhamou, Jerry Berman, Ashton Carter, Wesley Clark, Wayne Clough, William Crowell, Esther Dyson, Amitai Etzioni, Dave Farber, Tara Lemmey, Gilman Louie, and many more. Creating a Trusted Network for Homeland Security | Markle Task Force |
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