Links for2009-07-28

"I'm trying to come up with a list of bedrock principles that apply across all online contexts, and I keep getting bogged down in my lawyer tendencies. So what would you say are the fundamental, applies-anywhere minimum requirements of human decency when it comes to online interactions?"

"Although the dark flash gives a crisp image without disturbing those in the picture, the results have an odd colour balance that looks like a view through a night-vision scope.

To give the pictures more normal hues, Krishnan and Fergus used colour information from a brief, flash-free photograph of the same scene taken quickly after the dark flash image."

"[L]ike many other observers, I think this is as much about policing and authority as it is about race. I'm not the only one to have seen a connection between the Gates arrest and the case of Philadelphia police officer Alberto Lopez Senior last week. Though the cases are very different in scope and scale, they underscore the extent to which police power in many instances is arbitrary and the extent to which police unions with tremendous political influence will successfully shield their own employees from oversight. "

"The fact is, science is subtle and writing a two-page article that completely describes the search for the the origin of the universe is a near-to-impossible task. But there are things we can do to try to make sure that the science is right. Or at least, not wrong."

This is a dangerous blog for me to read-- there are all sorts of publishing quirks I didn't know I ought to be worried about...

"Of course, wherever great thinkers gather you will also find physicists. This year's global conference included several physicists, astronomers, mathematicians and inventors in their lineup. It's only fitting; what could be more daring, innovative, and "out there" than quantum computing or energy from plasma fusion? "

"Mr. Ellison has subsequently apologized to Ms. Bradford and she has accepted his apology. We do not wish to address what has now become a private matter between the two. However, since the problematic post was made in public and thus was published in full view of the SF community, the Carl Brandon Society wishes to define some basic principles of discourse which were put into question as a result of this exchange. We hope community members will consider and respect these principles in future debates and disagreements."