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merge.
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Sun, 13 Oct 2013 12:09:05 -0400
parents 86b9eb9afc3e 036fe1b13120
children ed7d0ca99c55
comparison
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68:86b9eb9afc3e 69:2097f7685a3b
31 getting credit. 31 getting credit.
32 #+end_quote 32 #+end_quote
33 33
34 - aurellem shirt :: I should make an aurellem star symbol tee-shirt. 34 - aurellem shirt :: I should make an aurellem star symbol tee-shirt.
35 35
36 - high school science :: this is a lesson in scientific ethics. The
37 goal is to calculate /g/, the local gravitational
38 acceleration. The students are told that the textbook says it's
39 /exactly/ 9.81 before they start the experiment. See how they
40 doctor their results to get closer to the textbook value. It's
41 neat because for any given school, /g/ is probably *not* exactly
42 equal to 9.81, because that is just an average!
43
44 - opencourseware subtitles :: there are ladies who type up lectures
45 while they are being given. These recordings should be kept and
46 given to OCW for subtitles. If the timestamps of keys are
47 recorded, then it is easy to make subtitles.
48
49 - screen locking timing :: you use your computer camera to see if you
50 are sitting in front of the computer. If you are, then the screen
51 will never lock. If you are, then the screen will lock with a
52 30-40 second timeout. It's an extension of using inactivity to
53 initiate the countdown, just with more information.
54
55 - mirror toilet :: a toilet with a square basin made or mirror instead
56 or porcelain. That way, you can see how good of a
57 wipe job you have done / watch how your excretion
58 system works.
59
36 - test dummies :: why don't we clone encephalic humans and use then to 60 - test dummies :: why don't we clone encephalic humans and use then to
37 test /in vivo/ human organ systems and drugs? It 61 test /in vivo/ human organ systems and drugs? It
38 would be ethical as long as there are women who are 62 would be ethical as long as there are women who are
39 willing to host the clones, and it would be a 63 willing to host the clones, and it would be a
40 trememdous resource for studying the human body. I 64 tremendous resource for studying the human body. I
41 see nothing wrong with it morally, since no one is 65 see nothing wrong with it morally, since no one is
42 suffering, and it stands to save many lives throught 66 suffering, and it stands to save many lives throughout
43 more advanced technology. 67 more advanced technology.
44 68
45 - X-ray telepresence :: given that a doctor is operating on a patient 69 - X-ray telepresence :: given that a doctor is operating on a patient
46 via telepresence, one cool things you can do is shine X-rays into 70 via telepresence, one cool things you can do is shine X-rays into
47 the patient to view the insides during real time. If the system 71 the patient to view the insides during real time. If the system
48 was coupled with a baysean model of the layout of the structure, 72 was coupled with a Baysean model of the layout of the structure,
49 and the x-rays were only fired whenever the uncertaintity of the 73 and the x-rays were only fired whenever the uncertainty of the
50 model reached a certain threshold, then the radiation damage 74 model reached a certain threshold, then the radiation damage
51 and surgery risk could be minimized. 75 and surgery risk could be minimized.
52 76
53 - superfluid vascular system :: I wonder what would happen if you 77 - superfluid vascular system :: I wonder what would happen if you
54 replaced the blood in a human with a superfluid. What would the 78 replaced the blood in a human with a superfluid. What would the
56 vasculature, or would it ignore it and travel through the cells, 80 vasculature, or would it ignore it and travel through the cells,
57 or something else entirely. Since superfluids need to be cold to 81 or something else entirely. Since superfluids need to be cold to
58 retain their superfluidity, how would the dynamics change during 82 retain their superfluidity, how would the dynamics change during
59 perfusion of a superfluid, where the fluid gains and looses 83 perfusion of a superfluid, where the fluid gains and looses
60 superfluidity as it goes deeper into the body and is cooled by 84 superfluidity as it goes deeper into the body and is cooled by
61 superfluid from upstresm. In summary there are two things to 85 superfluid from upstream. In summary there are two things to
62 simulate 1.) replace all blood in human with superfluid 86 simulate 1.) replace all blood in human with superfluid
63 instantly. 2.) perfuse superfluid into human. 87 instantly. 2.) perfuse superfluid into human.
64 88
65 - projective guessing :: I think that we read and see things by 89 - projective guessing :: I think that we read and see things by
66 makeing a really good guess about what we're expecting to see, 90 making a really good guess about what we're expecting to see,
67 and then searching for our guess in what we see. If it really 91 and then searching for our guess in what we see. If it really
68 doesn't match, then we start to make more guesses / analyze the 92 doesn't match, then we start to make more guesses / analyze the
69 image from first principles, but most stuff is projective 93 image from first principles, but most stuff is projective
70 guessing. 94 guessing.
71 95
72 - Intestinal flora maintainence :: why not innoculate babies at birth 96 - Intestinal flora maintenance :: why not inoculate babies at birth
73 with "ideal" gut flora instead of whatever bullshit they 97 with "ideal" gut flora instead of whatever bullshit they
74 naturally get, thus giving them optimal digestive/nutrient 98 naturally get, thus giving them optimal digestive/nutrient
75 extraction capabilities. Might also be abot to make their farts 99 extraction capabilities. Might also be able to make their farts
76 not stink for life, too. 100 not stink for life, too.
77 101
78 - server culture : mirrors :: make a distributed system where people 102 - server culture : mirrors :: make a distributed system where people
79 can mirror the websites of people they like -- essentially cover 103 can mirror the websites of people they like -- essentially cover
80 the server costs of favored websites. This could make popular 104 the server costs of favored websites. This could make popular
81 websites run at no cost. The system would require that the 105 websites run at no cost. The system would require that the
82 mirrored content be the same as the official source. Sort of like 106 mirrored content be the same as the official source. Sort of like
83 bittorrent for websites. 107 bit-torrent for websites.
84 108
85 - map programming :: one problem with functional programming is that 109 - map programming :: one problem with functional programming is that
86 in order to remain functional, you have to pass up arguments up 110 in order to remain functional, you have to pass up arguments up
87 into each calling function to get the full range of behaviour 111 into each calling function to get the full range of behavior
88 from the lower level functions. Normally people come to a 112 from the lower level functions. Normally people come to a
89 compromize involving abstraction and sparing use of dynamic 113 compromise involving abstraction and sparing use of dynamic
90 variables to configure runtime behaviour. What would be the 114 variables to configure runtime behavior. What would be the
91 advantages of making a programming language where every function 115 advantages of making a programming language where every function
92 recieves one argument, a map, which contains all the symbol 116 receives one argument, a map, which contains all the symbol
93 bindings it would ever need? This map is passed on to all 117 bindings it would ever need? This map is passed on to all
94 subordinate functions. This way, you could replace functions on 118 subordinate functions. This way, you could replace functions on
95 the fly, and arrange for there to be sensible defaults, 119 the fly, and arrange for there to be sensible defaults,
96 etc. Might cause more harm than good but is an interesting idea. 120 etc. Might cause more harm than good but is an interesting idea.
97 121
118 temperature? Then, the whole system can be rapidly cooled and 142 temperature? Then, the whole system can be rapidly cooled and
119 vitrified. This method "severs the biological link" in that the 143 vitrified. This method "severs the biological link" in that the
120 fixatives are highly toxic, but current vitrification procedures 144 fixatives are highly toxic, but current vitrification procedures
121 do this anyway since there can be a lot of freezing damage. 145 do this anyway since there can be a lot of freezing damage.
122 146
123 - dialated security cmaera :: a security camera that would capture 147 - dilated security camera :: a security camera that would capture
124 full video footage of everything at 60fps but then decide to keep 148 full video footage of everything at 60fps but then decide to keep
125 only every 1 frame every 5 seconds unless there's something 149 only every 1 frame every 5 seconds unless there's something
126 "interesting" happening. 150 "interesting" happening.
127 151
128 - bitcoin wallet :: Part of "server culture", this would be something 152 - bitcoin wallet :: Part of "server culture", this would be something