How appropriate

Which OS are You?

The Rules of the Game

The Official Rules of Baseball

The universe is a giant quantum computer

In Markopoulou and Kribs's version of loop quantum gravity, they considered the universe as a giant quantum computer, where each quantum of space is replaced by a bit of quantum information.

You are made of space-time

The 9/11 Report as a Graphic Novel

is being excerpted by Slate this week (one chapter per day apparently -- there are two chapters up right now.) This looks very ambitious and an interesting use of the graphic novel format.

The excerpts are available here.

You can purchase a copy from Amazon here (hardcover) or (paperback).

(From Brian.)

An interesting bit of Civil War history

Lots of information in here I wasn't familiar with.

The Catholic Church and the Confederate States of America (two pages)

I'll be drawing the attention of airport security

This is almost exactly what my x-ray looks like for the most significant of the injuries I had in my bike accident back in the beginning of July. Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics contains much more information about what an intertrochanteric fracture is and how it's treated.

As for me, I still can't walk on it, until August 28, but am otherwise feeling fine now, and getting good at hopping around on crutches.

All done?

OK I think everything has been uploaded. Well except for a couple of small references to the operation of the old site that wouldn't have made sense over here.

The move is on

I'm moving this over to Blogger... I think. Now to try importing several months of posts from the old site.

New US Airport Screening Policies

Here is the US Government's description of what the actual rules are (rather than the rumors we have all been hearing.)

TSA Corrects Media on New Airport Screening Policies

The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) has corrected early media reports on two requirements of the new airport screening polices implemented Thursday:

Laptop computers, cell phones and other small electronic devices can still be carried on board.

Passengers at U.S. airports are NOT being required to sample baby formula, milk or beverages during the screening process. This process is being required only at foreign airports. However, baby formula must be submitted for inspection to a TSA security officer by passengers traveling with a baby.
Also still allowed to be carried on are prescription medicines that match the passenger’s name and essential non-prescription medicines such as insulin.

TSA is also maintaining an updated set of Questions and Answers on the new screening requirements.

(from about.com)

There is a lesson here

But the resistance of the garrison informed the Barbarians, that in the attack of regular fortifications, the efforts of unskillful courage are seldom effectual. Their general acknowledged his error, raised the siege, declared that "he was at peace with stone walls," and revenged his disappointment on the adjacent country.

-- History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol 2, Chapter XXVI, Edward Gibbon

This has to be real

OK, I don't really want to make a habit of posting articles from The Onion, but I couldn't resist.

Bush Grants Self Permission To Grant More Power To Self

(via Mark Shea)

Respect

"I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect."
--Edward Gibbon

The importance of, punctuation

Rogers Communications loses $2 million because of a misplaced comma in a contract.  (via Mirabilis)

Too much going on

all of it not good.  Check out this map of recent planned terrorist attacks, related arrests and other suspicious activities (Sticky Notes).

Music

Want some free sheet music?  Check out the Mutopia project.  There are sample MIDI files too (so you can hear what you're getting the sheet music for.)

OK this had better be a joke

A few weeks ago I was pointing out that you can print your own Monopoly money.

Turns out that the folks at Parker Brothers are keeping one step ahead of us.

Parker Brothers is phasing out the cash-based version's funmoney and replacing it with an "Electronic Banking" flavor that could leave Mr. Moneybags turning his pockets inside out as his stash is replaced by a magnetic strip. New kits are completely devoid of the famous multi-colored bills; instead, you'll find phoney Visa debit cards and a calculator / reader which keeps a running tabulation of your riches -- or lack thereof.

That ain't right.

(via The Cranky Professor)