“You can put it on a wine bottle, a gold watch, a painting—whatever.
The label needn’t be larger than a comma. And, it is impossible to copy
because the probability that two items share the same fingerprint is
nil.
The fingerprint, or “tag,” consists of a bit of transparent ink
containing various microparticles that researchers can spray on a bar
code on paper, for example. The researchers based their system on PUF
technology (physical unclonable function). Like a scattered handful of
sand, the particles form a random, completely unique pattern of tiny
white dots when applied. As there is no chance of creating identical
patterns using this method, as it is impossible to copy."
Link
Showing posts with label z. Show all posts
Showing posts with label z. Show all posts
Knuckleduster
A Micronesian knuckleduster I obtained a few years ago from either Truk [now Chuuk] or Pohnpei.
The body is about 255mm long [10 inches] and carved from wood. Not sure about the spikes. Not metal, maybe fish teeth.
A modern reproduction of a nasty close quarters weapon.
The body is about 255mm long [10 inches] and carved from wood. Not sure about the spikes. Not metal, maybe fish teeth.
A modern reproduction of a nasty close quarters weapon.
Can you read?
Reading involves parsing meaning from symbols [e.g. on paper or a screen]. If you are writing down speech you are drawing sounds.
If someone asked you if you could read you might well reply; "Damn your eyes you impudent scoundrel. Of course I can."
I would have replied thus. Then I read Alberto Mangual's A History of Reading [1997]. He advances a rather wider definition of reading. One that made me consider just how well I can read.
I can read a sentence written in English using the English alphabet but I cannot
read a sentence written in another language. Cuneiform or Cyrillic make my head ache.
That does not worry me. My ancestors put a great deal of effort teaching Johnny Foreigner to speak English and I have exploited that by not wasting my time learning a foreign language [they understand English if you shout at them loud enough, don't you know].
Mangual asks about other symbols. Can I read music or mathematical symbols?
Can I read a map or a painting?
Could I read winds and currents to navigate between remote Pacific islands? The Polynesian and Micronesian navigators of the past had to be able to parse these subtle symbols if they didn't want their their boats to be lost in the great expanse of the Pacific.
Can I read the mood of a friend or the tells of gamblers?
The dangers of reading
In 'Concerning the Horrible Danger of Reading' Voltaire identified the political dangers of literacy.
"Books dissipate ignorance, the custodian and safeguard of well policed states."
He was right. Look at the case of the printing press, Luther and the reformation.
Change books to information and its still true. That is why states try to censor the internet.
If someone asked you if you could read you might well reply; "Damn your eyes you impudent scoundrel. Of course I can."
I would have replied thus. Then I read Alberto Mangual's A History of Reading [1997]. He advances a rather wider definition of reading. One that made me consider just how well I can read.
I can read a sentence written in English using the English alphabet but I cannot
read a sentence written in another language. Cuneiform or Cyrillic make my head ache.
That does not worry me. My ancestors put a great deal of effort teaching Johnny Foreigner to speak English and I have exploited that by not wasting my time learning a foreign language [they understand English if you shout at them loud enough, don't you know].
Mangual asks about other symbols. Can I read music or mathematical symbols?
Can I read a map or a painting?
Could I read winds and currents to navigate between remote Pacific islands? The Polynesian and Micronesian navigators of the past had to be able to parse these subtle symbols if they didn't want their their boats to be lost in the great expanse of the Pacific.
Can I read the mood of a friend or the tells of gamblers?
The dangers of reading
In 'Concerning the Horrible Danger of Reading' Voltaire identified the political dangers of literacy.
"Books dissipate ignorance, the custodian and safeguard of well policed states."
He was right. Look at the case of the printing press, Luther and the reformation.
Change books to information and its still true. That is why states try to censor the internet.
Parliament fails us again
Under pressure from the Conservative Party whips MPs fail yet again to mitigate the disastrous consequences of Brexit.
"The government has survived an attempt by pro-EU Conservative MPs to change its post-Brexit trade strategy. The MPs wanted the UK to join a customs union if it does not agree a free-trade deal with the EU.
But the government won by 307 to 301.
Ahead of the vote, Tory MPs were told a defeat would lead to a vote of no confidence in the government" (and so they might lose their cushy jobs in the subsequent general election).
These pathetic losers remind me of the Norman Davies remark about an earlier group of Conservative politicians.
"Under pressure from the ruthless, the clueless combined with the spineless to achieve the worthless."
"The government has survived an attempt by pro-EU Conservative MPs to change its post-Brexit trade strategy. The MPs wanted the UK to join a customs union if it does not agree a free-trade deal with the EU.
But the government won by 307 to 301.
Ahead of the vote, Tory MPs were told a defeat would lead to a vote of no confidence in the government" (and so they might lose their cushy jobs in the subsequent general election).
These pathetic losers remind me of the Norman Davies remark about an earlier group of Conservative politicians.
"Under pressure from the ruthless, the clueless combined with the spineless to achieve the worthless."
Hotel booking sites
It has just been announced that hotel booking sites are to be examined by the UK's competition watchdog. This is long overdue.
I have only used Booking.Com so my comments only relate to that site.
I have used Booking.Com to book hotels in the UK and overseas. Being able to book hotels through one site and compare prices, locations and reviews is very useful.
Recently they have been using pressure selling techniques to get bookings. Messages are constantly appearing giving the impression that if users do not book immediately [IMMEDIATELY!!!] they might have to reconcile themselves to sleeping in a cardboard box. Research and careful consideration are not encouraged.
It did not use to be so but now the ethos seems like that of a used car lot and not that of a trustworthy e-commerce site. Booking.Com is no Amazon.
Describing an hotel as 'Fabulous' happens far too often. To my mind an hotel has to be extraordinary to be described as fabulous. Recently I stayed in one that Booking.Com described as 'fabulous' but I would describe as no more than OK. Its price would have been justified if it had been fabulous, but it was not.
The problems at Booking.Com must lie with senior management. Perhaps the company needs to bring in someone capable of building a trusted brand. Uber had to make changes. Booking.Com needs to do so voluntarily before they are forced to change their ways.
I have only used Booking.Com so my comments only relate to that site.
I have used Booking.Com to book hotels in the UK and overseas. Being able to book hotels through one site and compare prices, locations and reviews is very useful.
Recently they have been using pressure selling techniques to get bookings. Messages are constantly appearing giving the impression that if users do not book immediately [IMMEDIATELY!!!] they might have to reconcile themselves to sleeping in a cardboard box. Research and careful consideration are not encouraged.
It did not use to be so but now the ethos seems like that of a used car lot and not that of a trustworthy e-commerce site. Booking.Com is no Amazon.
Describing an hotel as 'Fabulous' happens far too often. To my mind an hotel has to be extraordinary to be described as fabulous. Recently I stayed in one that Booking.Com described as 'fabulous' but I would describe as no more than OK. Its price would have been justified if it had been fabulous, but it was not.
The problems at Booking.Com must lie with senior management. Perhaps the company needs to bring in someone capable of building a trusted brand. Uber had to make changes. Booking.Com needs to do so voluntarily before they are forced to change their ways.
Good riddance to both of them
Israel to join US in quitting UNESCO.
Good riddance to both of them.
Yet another example of the Israeli tail wagging the American dog. I wonder when it is going to dawn on the US public that corrupt politicians are spending US lives and gold to serve the interests of another country.
Perhaps it has already occurred to them.
I suppose they are no great loss to UNESCO. Israeli tail wagging over the Iranian nuclear deal is much more serious. Why would the US behave so irresponsibly? I suspect payments to corrupt politicians, and not only from Israel.
Saudi Arabia has recently agreed to spend $15 billion to buy Thaad missile systems from a consortium consisting of Lockheed Martin Space Systems [as prime contractor] and Raytheon, Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Honeywell, BAE Systems, Oshkosh Defense, MiltonCAT and the Oliver Capital Consortium. Lots of interested parties in that deal. Lots of money to spread around.
Mrs May as Violet Elizabeth Bott
Theresa May, the UK's Primer Minister has threatened to be 'a bloody difficult woman' if she does not get her way in Brexit negotiations with the EU.
That puerile threat reminded me of Violet Elizabeth Bott, a character in Richmal Crompton's 'Just William' series of children's books. Link
The lisping spoiled daughter of the local nouveau riche millionaire, Miss. Bott forced a reluctant William and his Outlaws to allow her to join them on their adventures, by threatening: "I'll thcream and thcream and thcream 'till I'm thick" if she did not get her way.
Since Mrs. May has almost no bargaining chips to use in her negotiations with the EU perhaps her strategy will involve being sick over Jean-Claude Juncker.
That puerile threat reminded me of Violet Elizabeth Bott, a character in Richmal Crompton's 'Just William' series of children's books. Link
The lisping spoiled daughter of the local nouveau riche millionaire, Miss. Bott forced a reluctant William and his Outlaws to allow her to join them on their adventures, by threatening: "I'll thcream and thcream and thcream 'till I'm thick" if she did not get her way.
Since Mrs. May has almost no bargaining chips to use in her negotiations with the EU perhaps her strategy will involve being sick over Jean-Claude Juncker.
"Jobby" Johnson steps in it again
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson continues his role as the Conservative Government's 'King of Gaffes'.
"Politicians from across the spectrum have rounded on Boris Johnson for suggesting the UK could join any US military action against the Syrian regime without parliamentary approval." Guardian.
It was funny when he used to play the clown on light entertainment programmes on the television. Its not funny any more.
"Politicians from across the spectrum have rounded on Boris Johnson for suggesting the UK could join any US military action against the Syrian regime without parliamentary approval." Guardian.
It was funny when he used to play the clown on light entertainment programmes on the television. Its not funny any more.
Obama - in as a hero, out as an ass-clown
The Obama Democrats tried to smear both Russia and Trump with the absurd and unsubstantiated election hacking story and the expulsion of Russian diplomats. Instead, Putin has made them look like a troupe of clowns by acting moderately and sensibly.
Obama regime decides to end on a sad and sour note
The Obama regime decides to end on a sad and sour note by accusing Russia and its demonic leader of hacking the US election. Hint: Clinton only lost because Trump was helped by Satan Russia.
No evidence has been produced and nobody claims the emails that were revealed were untrue. Its just that the public were not supposed to see behind the curtain.
Nobody, apart from a few whining Democrats, thinks that the emails had any effect on the election.
Get over it, you crybabies. You lost and most of what you did is going to get undone.
All, all of a piece throughout;
Thy chase had a beast in view;
Thy wars brought nothing about;
Thy lovers were all untrue.
'Tis well an old age is out,
And time to begin a new.
The Secular Masque By John Dryden
No evidence has been produced and nobody claims the emails that were revealed were untrue. Its just that the public were not supposed to see behind the curtain.
Nobody, apart from a few whining Democrats, thinks that the emails had any effect on the election.
Get over it, you crybabies. You lost and most of what you did is going to get undone.
All, all of a piece throughout;
Thy chase had a beast in view;
Thy wars brought nothing about;
Thy lovers were all untrue.
'Tis well an old age is out,
And time to begin a new.
The Secular Masque By John Dryden
Queen Theresa speaks on Brexit
Greetings my subjects
I am fighting to take my country out of the European Union and restore our sovereignty.
Of course, sovereignty is best exercised by a wise and benevolent ruler.
I have therefore decided that -
1. Parliament will not be allowed a vote on the [advisory] referendum. They would only get it wrong and if I do not implement Brexit Boris the Roundhead may topple me off my throne.
2. All negotiations will be conducted in secret. It would only make my subjects unhappy if they knew what was going on.
3. Parliament will not be allowed a vote on whether to accept or reject the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. See 1. for my reason for this decision.
I am fighting to take my country out of the European Union and restore our sovereignty.
Of course, sovereignty is best exercised by a wise and benevolent ruler.
I have therefore decided that -
1. Parliament will not be allowed a vote on the [advisory] referendum. They would only get it wrong and if I do not implement Brexit Boris the Roundhead may topple me off my throne.
2. All negotiations will be conducted in secret. It would only make my subjects unhappy if they knew what was going on.
3. Parliament will not be allowed a vote on whether to accept or reject the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. See 1. for my reason for this decision.
US supported Israel seeks final solution to Gaza problem
Sometimes, when trains arrived at the Auschwitz concentration camp, some of the Jews would be armed and would start shooting at the guards, using the other Jews as human shields.
After such terrorism, of course the guards had to kill all the 6,000 or so people on the train. What else could they do? The Jews should not have opened fire but passively accepted their fate.
The terrorists in Gaza have killed three Israelis with their rockets. So, of course, the Israeli government must kill several thousand Palestinians. What else can they do? They have to seek a final solution to the Palestinian problem.
After such terrorism, of course the guards had to kill all the 6,000 or so people on the train. What else could they do? The Jews should not have opened fire but passively accepted their fate.
The terrorists in Gaza have killed three Israelis with their rockets. So, of course, the Israeli government must kill several thousand Palestinians. What else can they do? They have to seek a final solution to the Palestinian problem.
US supported Israel is killing children in Gaza
Guilt by association
Since the media is doing guilt by association with the Ukrainian rebels always referred to as the pro-Russian rebels I thought I should do the same for the pro-American Israelis. After all, the USA is giving money and arms to the Israeli terrorists.
Sanctions
UK Prime Minister David Cameron, acting consistently as always, called on the EU to impose harsh new sanctions on the USA for supporting and arming Israeli child killers.
Since the media is doing guilt by association with the Ukrainian rebels always referred to as the pro-Russian rebels I thought I should do the same for the pro-American Israelis. After all, the USA is giving money and arms to the Israeli terrorists.
Sanctions
UK Prime Minister David Cameron, acting consistently as always, called on the EU to impose harsh new sanctions on the USA for supporting and arming Israeli child killers.
42 photographs from Gaza
42 photographs from Gaza. Don't worry, nothing evil going on. Just dealing with a few human shields.
Link
Link
A Greater Love
Prime Minister David Cameron has sacked his friend Michael Gove as Education Secretary in a cabinet reshuffle. Gove was thought to be doing a good job but was apparently seen as unpopular asnd therefor an electoral liability.
Greater self love has no man that he layeth down the career of a friend to save his own arse.
Greater self love has no man that he layeth down the career of a friend to save his own arse.
 |
| Gove tries to spot the coming head shot |
UK Prime Minister David Cameron to do honourable thing?
The BBC reports
"Tomorrow members of the National Union of Teachers will walk out in a long-running dispute over performance related pay, pensions and workload – forcing many schools to close.
Mr Cameron told Prime Minister’s Questions the NUT’s strike ballot had taken place in 2012 on a 27% turn out.
"I think the time has come for looking at setting thresholds in strike ballots.
"How can it possibly be right for our children's education to be disrupted by trade unions acting in that way? It is time to legislate and it will be in the Conservative manifesto."
Dave is right, 27% is not enough. That is why I know he is going to resign.
He became Prime Minister after the 2010 General Election in which his party got 36.1% of the vote on a turn out of 65.1%.
36.1% x 65.1% = 23.5%
I know that if Dave the Dim really believes in thresholds he will realise that he cannot be Prime Minister when only 23.5% of the electorate voted for his party. That is well below any legitimacy threshold.
Obviously he will now do the honourable thing and resign.
"Tomorrow members of the National Union of Teachers will walk out in a long-running dispute over performance related pay, pensions and workload – forcing many schools to close.
Mr Cameron told Prime Minister’s Questions the NUT’s strike ballot had taken place in 2012 on a 27% turn out.
"I think the time has come for looking at setting thresholds in strike ballots.
"How can it possibly be right for our children's education to be disrupted by trade unions acting in that way? It is time to legislate and it will be in the Conservative manifesto."
Dave is right, 27% is not enough. That is why I know he is going to resign.
He became Prime Minister after the 2010 General Election in which his party got 36.1% of the vote on a turn out of 65.1%.
36.1% x 65.1% = 23.5%
I know that if Dave the Dim really believes in thresholds he will realise that he cannot be Prime Minister when only 23.5% of the electorate voted for his party. That is well below any legitimacy threshold.
Obviously he will now do the honourable thing and resign.
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