Links for 2010-07-24

"The nitrogen-vacancy defect center (N-V center) is a promising candidate for quantum information processing due to the possibility of coherent manipulation of individual spins in the absence of the cryogenic requirement. We report a room-temperature implementation of the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm by encoding both a qubit and an auxiliary state in the electron spin of a single N-V center. By thus exploiting the specific S=1 character of the spin system, we demonstrate how even scarce quantum resources can be used for test-bed experiments on the way towards a large-scale quantum computing architecture."

"Say you want to implant the idea "I feel like grapefruit for breakfast" in the mind of your subject or "The Mark." Our inception specialist, or "The Break-and-Enterer," will wait outside the Mark's house until he or she is asleep, and then--drawing on his extensive understanding of window breakability--will enter the Mark's home, kneel gently at his or her bedside, and murmur phrases such as "A little Vitamin C sounds like just the ticket," or "Grapefruits ... mmmmm!"

After six to eight hours of such dream manipulation, our specialist will get up and exit the way he came in, explaining away the presence of broken glass by leaving a dead bird or a threatening note attached to a brick."

Almost exactly the opposite order from my ballot, except I'm putting "No Award" in the #2 slot.

"Spectra is already an outstanding hit. That's not too surprising, but one thing that is surprising is that every one fanatically loves our Tesla comics. When we describe how the righteous Nikola Tesla battles the evil, dastardly Thomas Edison at the world fair, people swoon. While the grown up's love us, the kids go crazy for our "throwies." We help them build a little LED light using only a battery, bulb, magnet and a Laserfest sticker; which they can wear around on their badges."

"Giving ugly animals their day in the sun. We avoid the simply tragic, diseased, or maimed. Rather, these creatures are only as hideous as nature- or their owners- intended."