Blog Feed: In it what is in it

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die

Published on 2010-06-15 23:26:19

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) has been an outstanding source of thought-provoking talks. This non-profit's "Ideas Worth Spreading" conference was the original source. Now, it has evolved to many conferences and projects, to the po > read more

Music of the planets

Published on 2010-05-30 14:01:43

I like SolarBeat by WhiteVinylDesign -- a virtual music box of the planets. Each time an orbit is completed, a note is struck. The planets, of course, do not have circular orbits -- but it is in keeping with the spirit of Kepler's, "...the movem > read more

Three cool apps for the iPhone and iPad (free!)

Published on 2010-05-20 21:10:05

...And the winners are: Pocket Pond, Soundrop and Use Your Handwriting. All are available free from iTunes. I have picked them more for their design brilliance than their usefulness. I should add that they all reside on my iPhone, but I can see that > read more

One man's tê is another man's cha

Published on 2010-05-12 21:55:43

How different are the names for tea around the world? Not very, I was surprised to find. It turns out that just two Chinese pronunciations form the roots from which almost all the world has learned to name tea. From the Hokkien dialect came tê. The > read more

How to flip a mattress

Published on 2010-05-04 21:51:23

Finally, a new use for mathematics in the bedroom! (Modesty forbids talking of the older uses :)). Steven Strogratz in Group Think in the on-line Opinionator for the New York Times explains how Group Theory can be applied to the task of flipping a ma > read more

What are MEMS?

Published on 2010-04-25 12:38:43

MicroElectroMechanicalSystems [quite different from memes which we covered earlier]. MEMS rhymes with “hems” if you are into sewing or “Dems” if you are into abbreviated US politics. They are the new wave of highly miniaturized sensors and ac > read more

The iPad as a new way for children to learn?

Published on 2010-04-17 20:04:38

First, I want you to see a YouTube video about a 2.5 year old's first encounter with an iPad. Is there any doubt that this device is meant for the newest generation? A colleague introduced me to Dr. Seuss's ABC on an iPad. Remarkable simplicity: a fr > read more

Tony Hoagland -- a poet for the times

Published on 2010-04-14 23:02:08

few days ago at the library I picked up the unusually named, "Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty". A great discovery! Turned out to be Tony Hoagland's fourth full-length poetry collection and a stunner. Clear, witty, insightfu > read more

Using shame for social change

Published on 2010-04-08 21:42:46

hat shame is a powerful force for creating good behavior is known to every parent. All those "I am sorry"s accompanying returning the other kid's toys or not pulling the cat's tail come from a genuine desire to distance oneself from the bad > read more

Is the iPad the first non-personal computer?

Published on 2010-04-05 21:52:42

onsider the following scenario at home. An iPad on the table in the den where you watch TV, another in the kitchen. American Idol is not really moving, so you pick up the iPad and take a look at the New York Times. Kid comes in and wants to know when > read more