New Ideas On New Pages

Here are some of the most recent pages on my web sites:

Ciphers or Cyphers?

Ciphers, also spelled "cyphers," are the same as "codes" in common usage. However, there is a technical distinction used by cryptographers. A code is something that works at the level of meaning. In a coded message, for example, "big daddy" might refer to a person or a boat, or anything else. An otherwise meaningless string of letters or numbers, like "wwx23" could represent a word or a whole phrase, such as, "Meet me at the usual place." (Because of this, codes can actually shrink the length of a message, or the space and time needed to create it.)

A cipher (or cypher), on the other hand, works at the level of individual letters or at least small groups of letters, or even bits of information in the case of modern computer encryption. A simple substitution cipher, for example, might replace each letter with a two-digit number (a=11, b=47, etc). Using both ciphers and codes in the same system makes messages even harder to decipher.

The problem with codes is that...

Continued here... http://www.increasebrainpower.com/ciphers.html

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A Sense Of Humor And Brainpower

Does a sense of humor make for a more powerful mind? Perhaps. There are certainly many creative and intelligent people who also like to have a good laugh. Consider the following two examples.

American physicist Richard Feynman was a joint recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, for his work on quantum electrodynamics. He is credited with the concept and early exploration of quantum computing. He also had a very well developed sense of humor.

Here is how he is described in Wikipedia: "As well as being an inspirational lecturer, bongo player, notorious practical joker, and decipherer of Maya hieroglyphs, Richard Feynman was regarded as an eccentric and a free spirit. He liked to pursue multiple seemingly independent paths, such as biology, art, percussion, and lock picking." An unusual character, to say the least.

Another example of the combination of a very creative mind with a sense of humor is found in Albert Einstein. You may have seen one of the more famous photos of him, in which he is...

Continued here... http://www.increasebrainpower.com/sense-of-humor.html

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Drug Research Lies

Do you think that the drug research done by pharmaceutical companies is honest? Think again. The Guardian newspaper recently reported on many systematic reviews which demonstrate that pharmaceutical industry studies show positive results far more often than those funded by independent sources. Coincidence? They just happen to get more of the results that they want? Not Likely.

It is also unlikely that drug companies directly tamper with clinical drug trials in any criminal way. They aren't likely to change the reported results afterwards either. This kind of dishonesty is probably very rare in drug research, because it isn't necessary. There are more subtle ways to get the results you want.

First, a company can design a study in a biased way. For example, even if a study is theoretically double-blind, a company could create procedures which let doctors...

Continued here... http://www.99lies.com/drug-research.html

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Good Luck Test

Are you a lucky person? Answer the following questions as honestly as you can, and then tally your score according to the simple directions at the bottom of the test.
In general, do good things happen to you?

1. Almost never
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Very often

Are you doing something you enjoy for a living?

1. No
2. Sort of
3. Yes

Are you generally happy with the relationships you have?
1. No
2. Not sure
3. Yes

How often do you say...

Continued here... http://www.goodlucksecrets.com/luck-test.html