Vanish is a web-based service/system designed to enable the user to set a finite lifetime on data, i.e., after a certain specified period of time (has to be 8 hours or multiples thereof due to the implementation detail that uses the BitTorrent protocol+network to ensure evanescence of data) the message is destroyed and irretrievable. I am going to put up a self-destructing post in a few minutes. [Vanish]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Vanish
Thursday, August 6th, 2009Happy Birthday, Barack Obama!
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
Billionaires lose money
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009…except Michael Bloomberg, who gained the most wealth among anybody in the world, because everybody’s looking at their Bloomberg terminals and Bloomberg.com to check out by how much money they’re losing by the minute. [Forbes]
Statistical Mechanics
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009We’ve been gone for a while—since the last post, we went home for winter break, came back, and had fall term exams. Now it’s spring semester, and we’re already accumulating some interesting stories like this one:
The first lecture of the statistical mechanics class featured a remarkable demonstration, which went like this: first we start with some hot water and ice cubes, which were transported to the hall from their respective sources in thermos bottles. The first step is to pour some hot water into a cup; then you dunk in some ice cubes. After a few minutes, the ice melts (don’t forget to take a vote on whether the ice will melt or grow in size). It was a barrel of laughs.
…and in news which is not particularly notable, goats steal cars in Africa. [AP/YAHOO]
Spike Lee’s Obama shirt
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
How to Choose the Democratic VP
Monday, August 11th, 2008
A competition held once a week, Barack Idol will narrow the field of contenders until the grand finale in front of thousands at the Democratic National Convention and millions watching from home. In every episode the potential nominees will give a ten-minute speech on a policy issue, participate in an impromptu press conference, and have the opportunity to ask each other challenging questions. The last event will be a free-style round where the contestants can do whatever they want to impress the audience. Each show will end with Barack Obama giving a fist jab to the contestants advancing to the next part of the contest.
But that’s not all, America! Our cameras will follow the VPs as they live together and campaign in a different swing state every week. Watch them pander and flip-flop as they try to become Obama’s No. 2.
The best part is that for the first time in history, America, you get to vote for the actual candidates (unless you are from Michigan or Florida). After each show you can text your choice to (866) 675-2008 or e-mail the campaign here. Not only will a contestant be voted off every week, there is an undercover Republican in the midst, and it will be up to you to eliminate him on time. The final choice will be sent to you via text message or e-mail as soon it is available if you sign up on the Obama ’08 website.
Can Hillary Clinton make a comeback? Will John Edwards show the result of his paternity test live on air? Is Joe Lieberman the secret Republican?* Find out on Barack Idol, the show where YOU get to vote (but not for Ron Paul).
*Yes.
And the Chinese said, “Let there be Olympics”
Friday, August 8th, 2008Gregory Mankiw: Now in ASCII
Thursday, August 7th, 2008Speaking of Greg Mankiw, I took his infamous “Ec 10″ class as a freshman. One night I made an ASCII of his recent profile picture, but I haven’t been able to show it to him. Here it is (click to enlarge):
Who says conspiracies don’t exist?
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008I found this while browsing through Harvard’s online course book:
Where is Gregory Mankiw when you need him?
Caturdia Gigante
Saturday, July 5th, 2008
Happy Caturday!
-M.