Stiction, stands for "static friction" or Haftreibung, conveniently sounding a bit like "sticki". It is the amount of force needed to start to move an object. Usually higher than is needed to keep the same object moving at a content rate.

Place a block on one end of a board. Lift the end with the block until the slope of the board is sufficient for the block to begin sliding downward. Then lower the board slightly.
Placing the block again at the top, it will not begin to slide on its own. However, it will begin and continue to slide if given a small initial push. The push adds the necessary force to overcome stiction. Once the block is moving, it no longer requires the larger force.

Johannes first brought my attention to this powerful term in relation to humans. We too experience stiction. Everyday. Like, for example, in the morning when you wake up. Getting on our feets seems so much harder than jumping on that tree when you are already running.

Now the subject got me again. While thinking about migration (I'm writting my masters thesis about migration). I thought about stiction. I'm building this simulation of migration where workers and firms move around based on wages in various locations. Now stiction increases travel costs over time if an agent doesn't change location. This could help me model some of those soft facts like family, friends,...

Now, get over that stiction and start running.

Labels: Economics

The WEF in Davos used to be hyped quite a bit. I almost missed it. It seems like lost on page 6. But I wonder why. Some of those talks are worth there time. It's great listening, when our leaders talk about challenges and opportunities ahead.

• Opening Address by Angela Merkel
• Special Address by Zeng Peiyan by Zeng, Schwab
• China Goes Global by Adrani, Chu, Gadiesh, Roach, Tian, Sing, Bartiromo, Zhou
• Labour Migration: How Far Is Too Far? by Argüden, Evans, Kauppi, Ramphele, Rhinow, Luginbühl
• Next Steps for Africa by Brown, Bono, FitzGerald, Obasanjo, Wolfowitz, Anderson
• Digital 2.0: Powering a Creative Economy by Chambers, Gates, Schmidt, Zennström, Moore

Labels: Economics

The first one, looking at the traditional side of Japan, offers great hints on how to eat Sushi.

The second presents a snapshot of contemporary Japanese TV culture.

Labels: Asia, movies

Kerberos is an authentication service developed at the MIT. Brian Tung has a good introduction. For a recent presentation of the functionally of Kerbos I made the following diagram. I thought someone may like it. So here it is:

A PDF of Kerberos Functionality Diagram

Labels: TU

For Christmas, from my sister Pia. A seriously cool PATMAN shirt.

Labels: Patrick

Spare a minute and take a look at this article on presention style.

Simple, Subtle, Elegant, Suggestive, Natural, Empty, Still, Essential