The Sanctity Of Marriage

My Wife, My Family

Interrogation Inc.

World-famous cryptologist/security expert Bruce Schneier, on self-enforcing protocols:

There are several ways two people can divide a piece of cake in half. One way is to find someone impartial to do it for them. This works, but it requires another person. Another way is for one person to divide the piece, and the other person to complain (to the police, a judge, or his parents) if he doesn't think it’s fair. This also works, but still requires another person -- at least to resolve disputes. A third way is for one person to do the dividing, and for the other person to choose the half he wants.

That third way, known by kids, pot smokers, and everyone else who needs to divide something up quickly and fairly, is called cut-and-choose. People use it because it’s a self-enforcing protocol: a protocol designed so that neither party can cheat.

....

Here’s a self-enforcing protocol for determining property tax: the homeowner decides the value of the property and calculates the resultant tax, and the government can either accept the tax or buy the home for that price. Sounds unrealistic, but the Greek government implemented exactly that system for the taxation of antiquities. It was the easiest way to motivate people to accurately report the value of antiquities.

I like.

Ve Haf Vays Of Making You Poop

MSNBC:

Police say Davis, 37, was lured to a hotel room in Stockbridge, Wis., late last month, where he was met by his lover of three months, Therese Ziemann. After tying Davis up with the promise of a sensual massage, she then called for her sister, Michelle Belliveau; Davis’ other lover, Wendy Sewell, and his estranged wife, Tracy Hood-Davis. The four allegedly taunted Davis and then inflicted the ultimate insult, using Krazy Glue to affix his manhood to his body.

Investor's Business Daily is stupid and wants you to be stupid too:

The U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) basically figures out who deserves treatment by using a cost-utility analysis based on the "quality adjusted life year."

One year in perfect health gets you one point. Deductions are taken for blindness, for being in a wheelchair and so on.

The more points you have, the more your life is considered worth saving, and the likelier you are to get care.

People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.

Stephen Hawking is British, and lives in the UK, of course.

Maybe We Shouldn't Bother

The Terrible Secret Of Space

Dude, Baaaa!