Awesomeosity

There was discussion of the Vorkosigan novels the other day (in the "what should Andy read next" discussion under the Culture poll). And I was debating picking up one of them when soon_lee alerted me that if I bought the latest one (Cryoburn) in hardback then it came with a CD containing ebook versions of all of the previous ones.

I can't possibly pass up a chance like that, so I've ordered it. £13.99 for a complete series of books makes it definitely worthwhile taking a chance on.

Delicious LiveJournal Links for 10-29-2010

• Housing benefit: the facts
  (tags: benefits housing government uk)
• Condorcet 101, or We Can Do Better Than AV
  (tags: voting)
• Apple has transphobic app on the iPhone.
  (tags: apps iphone apple)
• FTSE 100 executive pay rises 55%. I'd like to see a comparison to 2008.
  (tags: money income earnings uk)
• Create an Android smartphone to your liking. Are phones about to become as customisable as PCs?
  (tags: mobile_phones android)
• The Maturity Climb (as illustrated by some terribly cute goats)
  (tags: maturity adult learning)
• Why Obama is right on don't ask don't tell
  (tags: rights gay military)
• Child benefit cuts exposed as unworkable
  (tags: benefits uk government)
• The greatest science-fiction story ever written.
  (tags: scifi writing#)

Voting

Following discussions here in a post about Condorcet voting, I thought I'd ask people what voting system people would like for a single-winner voting system.

Let's say you have three parties:
Marmite, Vegemite and Peanut Butter

Vegemite lovers hate Marmite and vice versa. Peanut Butter isn't loved by as many, but isn't hated either.

You have 249 voters. Everyone ranks their preferences in order.

100 people vote marmite 1, peanut butter 2, vegemite 3
99 people vote vegemite 1, peanut butter 2, marmite 3
26 people vote peanut butter 1, vegemite 2, marmite 3
24 people vote peanut butter 1, marmite 2, vegemite 3

FPTP: Marmite wins, because only one vote per person counts, and more people voted marmite than anyone else (100->99->50).
AV: Vegemite wins, because after peanut butter is knocked out of the running, and the second-place votes are transferred, it has 125 votes to marmite's 124.
Condorcet: We compare each option to each other one, and see which one wins. Peanut Butter beats Marmite (149->100), Peanut Butter beats Vegemite (150->99), Vegemite beats Marmite (125->124). As Peanut Butter wins all of its battles, it's the victor, Vegemite is in second place.

[Poll #1637922]

I remain unconvinced by the safety of this

"CGI Student Academy Award Gold Medal Winner Short Film HD: "Dia De Los Muertos" from Whoo Kazoo" (Watch on YouTube)

via eatsoylentgreen