10 Papers Every Programmer Should Read (At Least Twice)

http://blog.objectmentor.com/articles/2009/02/26/10-papers-every-programmer-should-read-at-least-twice

LaTeX Typesetting Language

Ever wanted to write .pdf files? How about typing up math the way it looks in textbooks? Check out LaTeX... it's what the pros use to write those math textbooks, nice looking resumés, and it's super simple to learn!

That sounded like a commercial, huh?

Anyway, details on distributions later... got to get to class!

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The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx

Awesome HTML5 Canvas Demos!

Someone pointed me toward some really cool apps earlier today.  All of them make use of HTML5 and it's Canvas element.  The Canvas element is accessible by JavaScript, and is supported by most of the major browsers already, although IE8 is not one of them.  Of course, if you use Chrome like I do, you'll have no problems!

The webpage lists 21 Canvas experiments that range from cloth simulations to innovative drawing tools.  Although each of the apps offers something to "ooo and ahhh" at, the drawing tools are particularly interesting.  The app is called Bomomo, and features many different ways of drawing - all of which involve some set of brushes moving in response to your mouse and various physics.

There is far more there than there is space here to write about it, so definitely check out the page that links to all 21 apps!  Also, here is a nice little HTML5 gallery showcasing sites that make use of HTML5 in general.

Cancer Cured Already?

Image via Wikipedia

THC

It would seem that back in the seventies, researchers discovered that several ingredients in the illegal substance marijuana (scientifically known as cannabis), namely delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC), delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta8-THC), and cannabinol (CBN), reduce the size of cancer tumors!


The research was published in the September 1975 issue of Journal of the International Cancer Institute, which can be found here on PubMed or here in full-text on United Kingdom Cannabis Internet Activist.


Moreover, this article is not alone. In 2010, an article entitled "Cannabinoids reduce ErbB2-driven breast cancer progression through Akt inhibition" was published in the Volume 9 of the Molecular Cancer journal, the full-text of which can be read here.  In summary, the authors conclude that "these results provide a strong preclinical evidence for the use of cannabinoid-based therapies for the management of ErbB2-positive breast cancer."  At the bottom of the article, you'll notice the many articles relating to cannabis and cancer on which the paper was based.

The two articles mentioned here are just a couple of the many that have been written on the subject.  Is it possible that cancer has a cure? Is it possible that the cure has been overlooked or ignored?

Renting a Car Could Be More Dangerous Than You Thought

Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

Apparently, no car rental business is required to "ground" cars currently affected by manufacturer recalls, as reported by Adam Goldfein here.  Yes, you heard correctly: you could rent a car that has been recalled, and it is entirely possible that the renter has not bothered to take the car in to be fixed!

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I Live Next Door... Can I Borrow a Cup of Numerical Recipes?

One thing led to another, and I stumbled across an online copy of "Numerical Recipes in C" (2nd ed., 1992)!  It covers topics ranging from sorting algorithms to numerical integration techniques.  Man I love the internet... not sure what people did before it, though.