links for 2008-03-04

• A Disturbing Mosaic
  William Wulf's 2005 essay arguing that in the U.S. we are trading "the appearance of near-term security for the reality of long-term damage to our system of research and education—and hence to our real security."
  (tags: competition US globalization research education science X2)
• TR10: Modeling Surprise
  Combining massive quantities of data, insights into human psychology, and machine learning can help manage surprising events, says Eric Horvitz.
  (tags: context-awareness simulation microsoft urban traffic transportation prediction)
• Joseph Juran, 103, Pioneer in Quality Control, Dies - New York Times
  (tags: manufacturing)
• Helio: How To Lose Half A Billion Dollars In Three Years - Silicon Alley Insider
  (tags: mobility mvno)
• 1 in 100 Americans Are Behind Bars, Study Says - New York Times
  (tags: prison crime incarceration race demographics corrections state fiscal)
• Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists | The New York Academy of Sciences
  (tags: x2 young science awards NYC NYAS)

Comments

[Peter L]

What do you think of that TR10 Modeling Surprise article? I am pretty unconvinced, myself, with the key being that 'surprise' is too undisciplined a term to capture uncertainty into the future. I particularly find the 'find an anomaly, then backtrack 30 minutes to ascertain where the anomaly began' troubling in its post-hoc assumption about what will surprise us. But I'm curious what you think here.