Advancement in modern technology brings a wave of ethically debatable topics to the public's attention. Among others, genetic manipulation and eugenics are taking this spotlight and it is clear that the topic is subject to deep ethical analysis. Intense social class segregation and the transformation of human life into a business are all by products of eugenics.

In a possible not-so-distant future, eugenics will be widely available and will grow to become a common practice among us. When a life altering procedure becomes open to the public, people in positions of power will search for the best way to make a profit off the masses and bring wealth to their pockets. This means that the possible genetic engineering of a human child would not be free; we would be fueling large eugenics corporations. The rise of eugenic science will lead to yet another way for unemployment rates to rise and economies to drop while a select few carry most of the population's wealth. Child birth has always been a natural process in which a baby is born into the world based on the genes of his or her parents (be that good or bad genes). Corporations and political entities could very easily take control and monopolize the technology and shape it to fit their needs and political agendas. After all, you need to have a perfect body right? This simple question leads us to the second ethical concern: How do we define perfection and to whom will we give the responsibility to decide this?

As stated above, if eugenics becomes a widely available technology, it is nearly certain that powerful entities will control its use. "With great power, comes great responsibility" (A Spiderman quote, I think). In shaping genetic engineering to their liking, corporations will create a model for the ideal human being – the perfect person (Opening any history book and researching World War II will reveal similar motives). Trends will begin to emerge and by simply altering the public's view on perfection, people will be paying more to remove the "less popular genes". This raises the question that if we, as a society, are moving towards attaining perfection, what will become of the aspects of humans that make us unique and differentiate us from one another? The drive for perfection would change the ideology of the people by bringing them to a genetically equal equator. Of course, as explained above, you can't be perfect if you don't have the money. This raises the final ethical concern towards eugenics: The creation and extreme segregation of genetically defined social classes.

Because not every family in the social hierarchy has sufficient funds to give birth to the legendary "perfect person", the spectrum of social classes will shift and become genetically biased. There will be a literal rip in the fabric of human equality, which could easily be lead to excessive violence. By creating genetic social classes, we would be infusing monetary social classes with other classes (skin color, for example), thereby bringing two groups of "haters" (like the KKK) together hating the same people. This would lead to genetically inferior individuals experiencing intense segregation and abuse.

All three concerns stated above are all by-products of the shift of eugenics to become a common practice. A vicious circle would emerge and monetary gain would prevail over the wellbeing of a population. The "slippery slope" is very real and can be avoided if we simply walk the other way.

Assume we are asked to find the maximum area of a box subject to the fact that the total area of the box is equal to 128 units squares. Lagrange theory states that a the gradiant of a function is equal to the restriction function multiplied by a constant lambda:

< fx , fy , fz > = λ< gx , gy , gz >

In this case, we are trying to maximize the volume of a box which we all know to be: base x height x width. This can we rewritten using variables as:

f(x,y,z) = xyz

That takes care of our first function. Now we need to find a functional representation for the restriction applied in this question. We need to maximize the volume of the box BUT we need the total area of that box to remain 128 units. This restriction can be rewritten as:

g(x,y,z) = 2xy + 2yz + 2zx
128 = 2xy + 2yz + 2zx
64 = xy + yz + zx

We now have the function we want to maximize and the functional representation of the restriction applied. Plugging all the information we found into the Lagrange formula above, we get a set of 4 equations to solve:

yz = λ(y+z)
xz = λ(x+z)
xy = λ(y+x)
64 = xy + yz + zx

To not get lost in the equations, keep in mind that we want to find values for x, y and z such that the volume of the box is at a maximum under the restriction above. We can simplify the above equations by multiplying the first three by the only variable missing in each of the equations. We then get this:

xyz = λ(xy+xz)
xyz = λ(xy+yz)
xyz = λ(yz+xz)
64 = xy + yz + zx

We then set the first two equations equal to each other and solve.

λ(xy+xz) = λ(xy+yz)
λ(zx-zy) = 0
λ = 0
z = 0
x = y


The three conclusions above cannot all be valid. We know that λ cannot be equal to 0, if it was we would have a volume also of 0. Therefore this equation can be thrown out. Following we get z= 0, which also could not be valid seeing as it would also lead to a volume of 0. The final equation is the one that matters. We have proven that the x and y sides of the box must be equal. Moving on, we will set the second and third equations from the original set equal to each other and solve once again.

λ(xy+yz) = λ(yz+xz)
λ(xy-xz) = 0
λ = 0
x = 0
y = z


Once again, we are found with three equations, two of which are invalid (λ = 0 and x = 0). We are then left with y = z. Now we know that the dimensions of the box must be all the same for it to be a maximum, therefore we have a cube:

x = y = z

But this is not enough, we need to consider the restriction function and find actual numerical values for the dimensions. Substituting what we know into the restriction formula we get:

xx + xx + xx = 64
x = ± √(64/3)
x = √(64/3)

We may throw out the negative value for x seeing as we are dealing with positive dimensions. Answering the question we get that the dimensions for the box that has the largest possible volume, yet has a total area of 128 are:

x = √(64/3)
y = √(64/3)
z = √(64/3)

Its as simple as that! You now know how to optimize in three dimensions using Lagrange Multipliers.

The new version of Office 2010 has been leaked.

Magnet Url (magnet)
Torrent File (torrent)

From CNET:
The Microsoft Office 2010 technical preview is available today through invite only and--though it's not in its final form--there are plenty of feature enhancements to be excited about, if Microsoft can pull it off. According to Microsoft, the focus of this update was on three things: to make work flows more efficient; to effectively use Web applications to make your work available anywhere; and to make collaboration with others much easier. In this CNET First Take, we'll take a look at some of the notable feature changes across many of the applications. Microsoft says Office 2010 will let you use your PC, phone, and the Web to make your projects come together more efficiently. From what we've seen, they might be right and the Web applications might also give Google Docs a run for their money.
read more

Much has changed since Caesar's famous shift. The birth of the Internet and other security heavy services now require strong encryption protocols to secure the sensitive information. However, no amount of encryption allows for full and "impossible-to-crack" protection. It is not until the world of mathematics and physics merged to create the idea of Quantum Cryptography that ciphers have literally become unbreakable. Quantum Cryptography differs from conventional methods of encryption in that it utilizes our modern understanding of physics and particle/wave duality instead of the usual mathematical algorithm scheme to transmit sensitive messages across long distances.

The Cryptographic Process
To explain the process of Quantum Cryptography, we will use the Alice, Bob and Eve notation standard for simplifying the process.
Suppose we have a stream of binary digits (also called the "key") moving in a rectilinear fashion from Alice to Bob. In conventional cryptography, these bits would be placed through a set of rules to change their values before leaving Alice. Once arrived at Bob, the rules would be reversed and the original string of information would be unveiled. The downside of this method is that anyone who knows the rule (in this case, Eve) can also read the information before it reaches Bob. Unlike bits of data, Quantum Cryptography deals with charged photons (units of light) moving in a linear path but that are also vibrating along an axis. When the data is sent from Alice, the photons are polarized through a directional filter and sent on their way to Bob. A directional filter restricts the photon's movement to only one axis.

Once they have left Alice, the photons are charged the way she wants and they make their way to Bob. Properties of quantum systems state that if a system is disturbed, it changes fundamentally -- which is where the strength of quantum cryptography lies. Let us say that, for example, Eve wants to eavesdrop on the chain of photons. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that:

"In the quantum world, the accuracy with which we can know the position and momentum of an object such as an electron or a photon is limited. This introduces a reciprocal relationship between position and momentum. Thus, if the position of an electron is known to a high degree of accuracy, then the momentum of the electron will be very uncertain, and vice versa."

This means that the second Eve sees the stream of photons, the sequence changes; meaning that the message is lost forever and must be retransmitted anew by Alice. This is the ultimate power behind quantum cryptography: physically unbreakable code.

Polarizing Filters
Quantum directional filters allow a non-polarized photon (spinning in all directions at once) to be "tamed" to a certain direction. For the simplicity of this paper, we will assume that there are only two types of filters, rectilinear and diagonal, as seen below:

Let us, however, assume that Eve is out of the picture and that the beam of photons successfully gets transmitted to Bob without interference. This means that Bob, sitting at his home computer, receives a string of polarized photons … but what can he do with that? He first uses a random sequence of filters to measure the incoming photons. Based on probability, he will get some right and others wrong. This is when Alice and Bob must initiate contact to speak about the filter basis used to decode on Bob's side. Alice will then apply the same filters used by Bob and, seeing as there was no intrusion by Eve, they will end up with the exact same key sequence. This key can then be used as a unique and 100% secret key.

Quantum cryptography is still in its beta stages, meaning that it is, for the most part, theoretical. However, Toshiba's Research Team in Cambridge successfully transmitted quantum information over a distance of 50 kilometers at a speed of over 1 megabit per second. This simply proves that technology is advancing at incredible speeds and that, over time, the domains of mathematics and physics will have forever greyer borders. Quantum cryptography is a step in the right direction (no pun intended).

"It's all, or nothing."

This simple quote clearly depicts the vision the creators have of their animated show. If its not alright to laugh about something, then its not okay to laugh about anything. Lest we forget the parting of the character "Chef" (played by Isaac Hayes) form the show due to the mocking of Scientology in the episode "Trapped in the Closet". Hayes threatened to leave the show if they aired the episode, seeing as he is a devout Scientologist), but due to Parker and Stone's strong ideals, the show aired and Hayes left.

Muhammad has been portrayed in South Park before, in the episode entitled the "The Super Best Friends", and it seemed fine with everyone in general. It has only recently arose controversy seeing as Danish filmographer Theo Van Gogh.

South Park creators Parker and Stone have both received death threats from Muslim extremist groups, however they successfully mock Muhammad in their latest episode.

Out.

Problem: Your roommate(s) using your things (accidentally or on purpose)

Solution: Mark your territory. This way they won't confuse their food with yours (it happens) or so you can figure out WHO is using WHAT and flat out tell them not to (instead of nobody fessing up to the crime and you being left empty handed with no evidence to catch the nasty perpetrator).

Foods
*Mark all of your food (especially meats and other generic things). This is as simple as putting your initials on the cover/box/plastic.
*If your food are portioned (cookies, crackers, fruits etc.) you can easily count the number of portions left, or the number of portions eaten. If something is fishy, you know someone's eaten some of your stuff.
*Keep your pantry and your fridge area organized, so you can quickly see if something is missing or moved.

In the shower
*To know if someone used your shampoo/conditioner, you can clean the nozzle after you use it. If you go to use it again and the nozzle has shampoo or stuff around it, its obviously been used.
*If you can, keep your soap out of the shower and only bring it in when you're about to take shower. If you can't, when you're done using your soap, make a small engraving on the curved side with your nail. If its used, the engraving will be faded or gone completely.

In your room
*If you're lucky enough to have your own room, lock it at all times (duh).
*If you share a room with someone else, chances are the door will be open most of the time. To keep your things safe (money, papers etc), keep a small safe (anything that you can attach a lock too -- a school bag with small hoops in the zipper even) somewhere out of sight.
*If you own a computer, lock it every time you get up to do something. This is a good habit to have period. In Windows, all you have to do is press Win+L (windows key and then the L key) to lock your screen.

That's all I can think about at the moment. I'll edit this post if anything else comes up. Keep your shit safe people!

Out.

SZ: Slow Zombies
FZ: Fast Zombies
M: Medium Gore
H: Heavy Gore
CM: Comedy
HY: Hollywood
B: B-Movie (Low Budget)
A: Animation/Cartoon

(always start with the oldies, you'll see how zombie movies change over time)
- Night of the Living Dead (1968) [SZ,M]
- Dawn of the Dead (1978) [SZ,M]
- The Evil Dead [H,B]
- The Evil Dead 2 [H,B,C]
- Dead Alive [H,B]
- 28 Days Later [FZ,H]
- 28 Weeks Later [FZ,H,HY]
- Dawn of the Dead [FZ,H,HY]
- Day of the Dead [FZ,H,HY]
- Shaun of the Dead [FZ,H,HY,CM]
- Resident Evil Extinction [FZ,H,HY]
- Resident Evil Degeneration [A]
- Zombieland [FZ,M,CM,HY]

I thought I'd finish off with a bit of comedy (even though I didn't think Zombieland had enough gore, but that's just me).

Hope you enjoy it.

Seeing as I'm a syntax whore myself, I started up with Python learning simple loop functions and variable definitions. I quickly felt ill with all the UGLY syntaxing. So I killed that project.

I read up on Perl and decided to look at that last.

I moved onto Ruby, and that's where I'm at right now.
I've downloaded the libraries from the website (linky) and I'll post some code up when I get a chance. I might define how to make and call custom functions or something like that.

If you've got an opinion on the Perl vs. Python vs. Ruby debate, please let me know what you think so I can refine my fiddling.

When presented with an RLC circuit, follow these steps to solve for the current, voltage and impedance through the different components.

*First you need to identify if you're dealing with components in series, parallel or a mix of the two.

SERIES
Write up a table that looks like this:

Fill in the values according to the variables I put in the table above. You'll notice that the values for the current across the resistor, inductor and capacitor are the same. This is obvious seeing as current remains the same in a series circuit. All of the values are in complex form (a + bj), so they can be easily added, subtracted and multiplied.

I'll write up another short tutorial for parallel and mixed circuits.

Wordpress is (by far) the most amazing blogging utility. However, the user interface of the admin panels isn't up to par with others. I needed to find a way to use Wordpress to power my blog AND find another way to post to it. I went through some WP settings and discovered that I could post to my blog through either email or a third party software.

Email seemed too simple and would probably prove too much of a hassle to add images and format the posts the way I wanted. So I looked into the third party applications that could run from my computer without having to log into my admin panel.

Then I ran across BlogDesk....

From their website:
"BlogDesk is totally free of charge and optimized for the blog systems WordPress, MovableType, Drupal, Serendipity and ExpressionEngine.

Whether it's grandma & grandpa or the corporate blogger, whether it's an online diary or a high traffic blog, they all will profit from BlogDesk. And sure enough, their readers will, too. "

I did try other publishing software before BlogDesk, but it's the only one that had everything I needed. Every post I've put up on this blog has been published using BD and I haven't been disappointed yet.

To read about the features of BlogDesk, go here
Download BlogDesk ...... for free!