from SciTech Daily:
mind_mapping site
Organizing knowledge as a concept map means you have to understand what you're mapping
update, June 3: I was particularly interested in using this as a possible site map tool (for a website), because it can automatically create web pages out of the tool. However, I've since decided that it will not help me enough because (1) it is not very flexible in shape styles, etc., and (2) it forces the page that comes up to come to a new browser window. I needed the resulting page to be in the same frame. I will be using image maps.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Monday, May 30, 2005
things that make you go hmmm
from Arts & Letters Daily:
Suppose they invent a drug that enables your child to learn to play piano quickly and easily. Would you give your kid the piano pill?... more»
My opinion rests only with whether or not to give these things to kids. I would vote no, because it is during the childhood years that all of those brain cells are developing. We don't know what all the side effects are. If we want to mess up as a grown up and end up with some side effects, that's one thing. But if we subject our kids to possibly bad side effects and cause them to suffer later in life when, given the "natural" methods, they simply would have worked towards their talents, then it is irresponsible parenting.
Suppose they invent a drug that enables your child to learn to play piano quickly and easily. Would you give your kid the piano pill?... more»
My opinion rests only with whether or not to give these things to kids. I would vote no, because it is during the childhood years that all of those brain cells are developing. We don't know what all the side effects are. If we want to mess up as a grown up and end up with some side effects, that's one thing. But if we subject our kids to possibly bad side effects and cause them to suffer later in life when, given the "natural" methods, they simply would have worked towards their talents, then it is irresponsible parenting.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
split infinitive
My father hates split infinitives. He can get passionate in his discussions about them. I've smiled and nodded, but have not been sure what they are. So, here are the results of my research:
Here's a link to the definition. So, apparently, an infinitive is something that is one word in many languages (but two in English --> to + verb). In the definition, they mention Latin and Greek, but my memory of French and Spanish (and, I would guess, all romance languages) recalls that all of those infinitives are one word.
So, I guess that the person who objects to them being split in English has just been so well trained in languages that have them as one word that it is almost a molestation (or, substitute a less delicate word) of the infinitive to have an adverb stuck in the middle of it.
eh. It is as it is.
Here's a link to the definition. So, apparently, an infinitive is something that is one word in many languages (but two in English --> to + verb). In the definition, they mention Latin and Greek, but my memory of French and Spanish (and, I would guess, all romance languages) recalls that all of those infinitives are one word.
So, I guess that the person who objects to them being split in English has just been so well trained in languages that have them as one word that it is almost a molestation (or, substitute a less delicate word) of the infinitive to have an adverb stuck in the middle of it.
eh. It is as it is.
abracadabra
learn something new every day (from bartleby.com) . . .
abracadabra - magical formula used by the Gnostics (see Gnosticism) to invoke the aid of benevolent spirits to ward off disease and affliction. It is supposed to be derived from the abraxas, a word that was engraved on gems and amulets or was variously worn as a protective charm. Handed down through the Middle Ages, the abracadabra gradually lost its occult significance, and its meaning was extended to cover any hocus-pocus.
abracadabra - magical formula used by the Gnostics (see Gnosticism) to invoke the aid of benevolent spirits to ward off disease and affliction. It is supposed to be derived from the abraxas, a word that was engraved on gems and amulets or was variously worn as a protective charm. Handed down through the Middle Ages, the abracadabra gradually lost its occult significance, and its meaning was extended to cover any hocus-pocus.
makes me think about my son
'nuther, from Arts & Letters Daily:
Mathematicians move around in a reality parallel to the rest of us: they see numbers where we see words, equations where we see poetry... more»
Mathematicians move around in a reality parallel to the rest of us: they see numbers where we see words, equations where we see poetry... more»
thinking about the rest of the world
one way we can think about the rest of humanity and its welfare is to keep up to date with what the UN is doing.
Friday, May 27, 2005
thinkin' about the world
This article got me thinking about how we hope for people. It can also be called "crossing your fingers" or even praying for someone. Here's a portion of that article, translated for a more universal audience:
When you hope for good things to happen to others, remember to do so on a global scale. Rather than limit your hopes to family and friends, reach out in peace. Enfold the people throughout the world, including world leaders, in your peace-filled thoughts. Envision that each person is guided by love and peace in order to find the right ways to live in love and peace with others. Although distance separates you from these people, hoping for them, or "crossing your fingers" for them, bridges the gap toward unity and peace brings you together in harmony.
I thought that this was a particularly poignant message for folks who get very caught up in nationalism, or for people who feel drawn to the slogan, "God bless the good guys". It is so easy to get caught up in that at the expense of hoping for peace between the nations. It can be seen in the media most especially.
The original excerpt from the article:
"When you pray, remember to do so on a global scale. Rather than limit your prayers to family and friends, reach out in faith and love. Enfold the people throughout the world, including world leaders, in your faith-filled thoughts. Envision each person divinely guided in finding the right ways to live in love and peace with others. Although distance separates you from these people, prayer bridges the gap toward spiritual unity and peace brings you together in harmony."
When you hope for good things to happen to others, remember to do so on a global scale. Rather than limit your hopes to family and friends, reach out in peace. Enfold the people throughout the world, including world leaders, in your peace-filled thoughts. Envision that each person is guided by love and peace in order to find the right ways to live in love and peace with others. Although distance separates you from these people, hoping for them, or "crossing your fingers" for them, bridges the gap toward unity and peace brings you together in harmony.
I thought that this was a particularly poignant message for folks who get very caught up in nationalism, or for people who feel drawn to the slogan, "God bless the good guys". It is so easy to get caught up in that at the expense of hoping for peace between the nations. It can be seen in the media most especially.
The original excerpt from the article:
"When you pray, remember to do so on a global scale. Rather than limit your prayers to family and friends, reach out in faith and love. Enfold the people throughout the world, including world leaders, in your faith-filled thoughts. Envision each person divinely guided in finding the right ways to live in love and peace with others. Although distance separates you from these people, prayer bridges the gap toward spiritual unity and peace brings you together in harmony."
Thursday, May 26, 2005
The Darwinian vs. God Contest
a joke from Beliefnet.com:
One day a group of Darwinian scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one Darwinian to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The Darwinian walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the Darwinian was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest." To which the Darwinian happily agreed.
God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.
"The Darwinian said, "Sure, no problem," and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"
One day a group of Darwinian scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one Darwinian to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The Darwinian walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the Darwinian was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest." To which the Darwinian happily agreed.
God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.
"The Darwinian said, "Sure, no problem," and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"
sarcasm science
from SciTech daily:
Oh, you're being sarcastic are you? Sorry, I didn't get it...
newscientist.com
guardian.co.uk
Oh, you're being sarcastic are you? Sorry, I didn't get it...
newscientist.com
guardian.co.uk
no virtual orchestras allowed!
from http://www.andante.com:
American Ballet Theatre and Musicians' Union Reach Deal to Ban 'Virtual Orchestras'
Associated Press - 24 May 2005
Read Article
American Ballet Theatre and Musicians' Union Reach Deal to Ban 'Virtual Orchestras'
Associated Press - 24 May 2005
Read Article
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Brand "Hillary"
By crafting an evolving politics that's uniquely her own,Senator Clinton has won supporters in unlikely places.
http://www.alternet.org/story/22086/
http://www.alternet.org/story/22086/
sorry, H.G. Wells
from SciTech Daily:
For budding time travellers, the future (or should that be the past?) is starting to look bleak
the article . . .
For budding time travellers, the future (or should that be the past?) is starting to look bleak
the article . . .
Wal-Mart vs. Target
Found this blurb at the Buy Blue site:
In Crain's New York Business, Wal-Mart whines about not being welcomed with open arms into New York City even though Target is doing well there
In Crain's New York Business, Wal-Mart whines about not being welcomed with open arms into New York City even though Target is doing well there
SLA
I watched the Patty Hearst special this week. The group she'd been "abducted" into was the SLA - the Symbionese Liberation Army. There were underpinnings in the footage taken of the SLA, mentioning how our government is run by fascists. This rang a bell with me, since my brother runs a site which is dedicated to that idea. I'm hoping you're working on being an activist in peaceful ways, bro'.
church meets state
New York Times: Church Meets State
By MARK LILLA
Published: May 15, 2005
excerpt:
EVERYONE, it seems, wants to get religion. Since the re-election of George W. Bush our magazines and newspapers have been playing catch-up, running long articles on the evangelicals and fundamentalists, an alien world the press typically ignores. Anxious Democratic strategists have issued pleas to find common ground with the religious center on issues like abortion, and elected officials have dutifully begun baring their souls in public. This is a media bubble, and like all bubbles it will burst. Far more interesting and consequential has been the effort to reinterpret history to give religion a more central place in America's past -- and, perhaps, in its future.
By MARK LILLA
Published: May 15, 2005
excerpt:
EVERYONE, it seems, wants to get religion. Since the re-election of George W. Bush our magazines and newspapers have been playing catch-up, running long articles on the evangelicals and fundamentalists, an alien world the press typically ignores. Anxious Democratic strategists have issued pleas to find common ground with the religious center on issues like abortion, and elected officials have dutifully begun baring their souls in public. This is a media bubble, and like all bubbles it will burst. Far more interesting and consequential has been the effort to reinterpret history to give religion a more central place in America's past -- and, perhaps, in its future.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
The Universal Language
from christianitytoday.com:
If Latin died in our mouths, we'd just stop talking.
Reviewed by Preston Jones
Latin a "dead" language? Don't say that anywhere in the vicinity of B&C contributing editor Preston Jones. "If Yiddish were erased from contemporary English," Jones writes, "we'd have a hard time talking about bagels, pastrami, klutzes, and schmucks. If we dumped Dutch, we'd be without cookies, Yankees, bundles, and booms. If we bid au revoir to Hindi, we'd be at a loss when contemplating bandannas, cheetahs, jungles, and shampoo. If we said aloha to Congolese we'd have a tough time ruminating on funky gorillas, zebra zombies, and mojo boogie. Sans Arabic, we wouldn't know about algebra, algorithms, and almanacs. But if Latin died in our mouths, we'd just stop talking; or, at best, we'd be left mostly with monosyllables bequeathed to us from the Angles and Saxons—requiem aeternum dona eis, Domine." Jones is reviewing our Book of the Week, Tore Janson's A Natural History of Latin (Oxford Univ. Press).
more
If Latin died in our mouths, we'd just stop talking.
Reviewed by Preston Jones
Latin a "dead" language? Don't say that anywhere in the vicinity of B&C contributing editor Preston Jones. "If Yiddish were erased from contemporary English," Jones writes, "we'd have a hard time talking about bagels, pastrami, klutzes, and schmucks. If we dumped Dutch, we'd be without cookies, Yankees, bundles, and booms. If we bid au revoir to Hindi, we'd be at a loss when contemplating bandannas, cheetahs, jungles, and shampoo. If we said aloha to Congolese we'd have a tough time ruminating on funky gorillas, zebra zombies, and mojo boogie. Sans Arabic, we wouldn't know about algebra, algorithms, and almanacs. But if Latin died in our mouths, we'd just stop talking; or, at best, we'd be left mostly with monosyllables bequeathed to us from the Angles and Saxons—requiem aeternum dona eis, Domine." Jones is reviewing our Book of the Week, Tore Janson's A Natural History of Latin (Oxford Univ. Press).
more
some blogs
Here are blogs of folks who have commented on the misccubed blog:
Just Call Me Charles and Pias at Home - a recent commenter and his fiancee
the pansi files - another commenter; mostly strange barbie pictures
Robyn - yet another; blogs of a practicing witch
G - and another
SwissToni - yep, another
Dr. Forbush - 'nuther
Iraq pictures - ditto
Just Call Me Charles and Pias at Home - a recent commenter and his fiancee
the pansi files - another commenter; mostly strange barbie pictures
Robyn - yet another; blogs of a practicing witch
G - and another
SwissToni - yep, another
Dr. Forbush - 'nuther
Iraq pictures - ditto
9 out of 10 historians agree
Yes, it's Alternet, a group that is inherently not a fan of Bush, but this article does "peek" my interest:
Bush: Worst. President. Ever.
Sure it's like hearing that ice is cold, but when 4 out of 5 historians agree, ears perk up. The author writes: "HNN [a project of George Mason U.] surveyed 415 historians and, without hanging chads or un-auditable electronic voting machines, the answer is at hand. Yes. Yes he certainly is [the biggest failure in history]." Want specifics? Historians wrote: "In terms of affable incompetence the worst since Harding...In terms of general lassitude and cluelessness, the worst since Coolidge..." (News For Real)
Bush: Worst. President. Ever.
Sure it's like hearing that ice is cold, but when 4 out of 5 historians agree, ears perk up. The author writes: "HNN [a project of George Mason U.] surveyed 415 historians and, without hanging chads or un-auditable electronic voting machines, the answer is at hand. Yes. Yes he certainly is [the biggest failure in history]." Want specifics? Historians wrote: "In terms of affable incompetence the worst since Harding...In terms of general lassitude and cluelessness, the worst since Coolidge..." (News For Real)
intriguing
from SciTech daily:
article: Physics was the superstar of the sciences, but that was sooo last century
article: Physics was the superstar of the sciences, but that was sooo last century
Monday, May 23, 2005
alchemy
here's something I may look into (from scitech daily):
CSMonitor:
"Put scientists, humanists, artists and countercultural explorers together and you get a New Alchemy."
I recently read The Alchemist, and am now reading it with my son, who finds it quite interesting. He's in the middle of the Narnia books, and I just finished them. The Alchemist is of a similar style, though I don't know that its author was targeting children when he wrote it. It's real cool to have my son so interested in "pondering".
CSMonitor:
"Put scientists, humanists, artists and countercultural explorers together and you get a New Alchemy."
I recently read The Alchemist, and am now reading it with my son, who finds it quite interesting. He's in the middle of the Narnia books, and I just finished them. The Alchemist is of a similar style, though I don't know that its author was targeting children when he wrote it. It's real cool to have my son so interested in "pondering".
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Saturday, May 21, 2005
moulding/millwork
I'm browsing millwork sites for ideas in my own house. Here are some links I found:
Friday, May 20, 2005
shoe pedometer
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7395
Who needs Mom when your shoes can monitor your exercise and control your couch potato habit
Who needs Mom when your shoes can monitor your exercise and control your couch potato habit
Thursday, May 19, 2005
scouts n sex?
Here's an article I will be interested to read. However, I suspect that I will not entirely agree with the authors:
WARNING: WE DISCRIMINATE
Jennifer Gerarda Brown, Ian Ayres, AlterNet
Many people who might otherwise allow their sons to join the Boy Scouts might be less willing if they knew they had tosign a sexual orientation disclosure statement.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/22030/
WARNING: WE DISCRIMINATE
Jennifer Gerarda Brown, Ian Ayres, AlterNet
Many people who might otherwise allow their sons to join the Boy Scouts might be less willing if they knew they had tosign a sexual orientation disclosure statement.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/22030/
darn media
MILLION-WORD MARCH FOR MEDIA REFORM
Danny Schechter, MediaChannel.org
In St. Louis last weekend citizens met to discuss ways to'take back' a media beholden less to democracy than to thebottom line.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/22049/
MOYERS ADDRESSES PBS COUP
Bill Moyers, AlterNet
In this highly anticipated speech the veteran publicbroadcaster takes on the PBS coup and its right-wingengineers who are 'squealing like a stuck pig.'
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/22021/
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR MEDIA REFORM
By Grace Hanson, Utne.com
Journalists, politicians, activists, educators, and citizens participated in last weekend's National Conference on Media Reform. From the bloggers to Bill Moyers, much was said about the state of media and where to go from here.
Danny Schechter, MediaChannel.org
In St. Louis last weekend citizens met to discuss ways to'take back' a media beholden less to democracy than to thebottom line.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/22049/
MOYERS ADDRESSES PBS COUP
Bill Moyers, AlterNet
In this highly anticipated speech the veteran publicbroadcaster takes on the PBS coup and its right-wingengineers who are 'squealing like a stuck pig.'
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/22021/
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR MEDIA REFORM
By Grace Hanson, Utne.com
Journalists, politicians, activists, educators, and citizens participated in last weekend's National Conference on Media Reform. From the bloggers to Bill Moyers, much was said about the state of media and where to go from here.
Chapel of Glass
Most people associate stained glass with the colorful windows found in churches. And the name most widely associated with stained glass is Louis Comfort Tiffany. Now imagine a chapel built almost entirely of glass and that is exactly what Tiffany built in 1893.
site
site
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
cannabis & info-overload vs IQ
from SciTech daily:
The distractions of constant emails, text and phone messages are a greater threat to IQ and concentration than taking cannabis
the article
The distractions of constant emails, text and phone messages are a greater threat to IQ and concentration than taking cannabis
the article
Monday, May 16, 2005
gay bishop
Interesting docs regarding the Anglican Communion, and the current discussions regarding what the communion means, and whether the different churches around the world are remaining in it, with the ECUSA's blessing of a gay bishop (in August 2003).
On being excommunicated. Good quote: "In [Saint] Paul's thinking it does not seem possible that a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ can opt out of fellowship with his people, no matter how odd or different they may appear to be."
Sunday, May 15, 2005
my favorite "cartoon"
I'm thrilled to find out that my favorite "cartoon," Wallace & Gromit, will have a movie this fall. Here's the official website.
American English
My Linguistic Profile: |
| 40% Yankee |
| 35% General American English |
| 15% Dixie |
| 10% Upper Midwestern |
| 0% Midwestern |
Drawn!
from Yahoo!Picks:
Drawn!
For those who enjoy spending time in just two dimensions, this one's a must. A collaborative blog "devoted to illustration, art, cartoooning, and drawing," Drawn! functions as a sort of Picks for visual artists. Each post describes one or more sites, and is archived in such categories as comics, film and TV, animation, and design. (Some days as many as five sites are listed.) Among this cornucopia of links you'll find Calvin & Hobbes, Spiderman, The Office's Ricky Gervais (as a teddy bear!), Norman Rockwell, Walt Disney's Oswald the Rabbit (the precursor to Mickey Mouse), and an isometric pixel art tutorial. But keep browsing; whether you're interested in the highbrow, lowbrow, or no brow, you're bound to find something you like. (in Weblogs)
Drawn!
For those who enjoy spending time in just two dimensions, this one's a must. A collaborative blog "devoted to illustration, art, cartoooning, and drawing," Drawn! functions as a sort of Picks for visual artists. Each post describes one or more sites, and is archived in such categories as comics, film and TV, animation, and design. (Some days as many as five sites are listed.) Among this cornucopia of links you'll find Calvin & Hobbes, Spiderman, The Office's Ricky Gervais (as a teddy bear!), Norman Rockwell, Walt Disney's Oswald the Rabbit (the precursor to Mickey Mouse), and an isometric pixel art tutorial. But keep browsing; whether you're interested in the highbrow, lowbrow, or no brow, you're bound to find something you like. (in Weblogs)
Friday, May 13, 2005
yahoohoo
The UnGoogle
Which Web powerhouse was started by two Stanford geeks as a simple search page with a silly name and became the biggest thing on the Internet? Nope, not them. Try again. The invisible giant turns 10.
By Michael S. Malone
Which Web powerhouse was started by two Stanford geeks as a simple search page with a silly name and became the biggest thing on the Internet? Nope, not them. Try again. The invisible giant turns 10.
By Michael S. Malone
mmmm, video games . . .
Dome Improvement
Pop quiz: What's behind the surprising rise in IQ? (Hint: Stop reading the great authors and start playing Grand Theft Auto.)
By Steven Johnson
Pop quiz: What's behind the surprising rise in IQ? (Hint: Stop reading the great authors and start playing Grand Theft Auto.)
By Steven Johnson
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Hillary and Newt
Oddly, Hillary and, Yes, Newt Agree to Agree
By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ
Newt Gingrich has been talking up Hillary Clinton's presidential prospects in 2008, to the chagrin of conservative loyalists.
By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ
Newt Gingrich has been talking up Hillary Clinton's presidential prospects in 2008, to the chagrin of conservative loyalists.
international relations
A GLOBAL GOOD NEIGHBOR ETHIC FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
By Tom Barry, Salih Booker, Laura Carlsen, Marie Dennis, and John Gershman, International Relations Center
Quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan have led many at home and abroad to question the effectiveness of a US foreign policy based on military domination. An alternative, according to a group of foreign policy strategists, is to abandon unilateralism and adopt an approach based on old-fashioned cooperation and Roosevelt-era common sense.
By Tom Barry, Salih Booker, Laura Carlsen, Marie Dennis, and John Gershman, International Relations Center
Quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan have led many at home and abroad to question the effectiveness of a US foreign policy based on military domination. An alternative, according to a group of foreign policy strategists, is to abandon unilateralism and adopt an approach based on old-fashioned cooperation and Roosevelt-era common sense.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Thursday, May 05, 2005
brain vs reading
Learning to read triggers certain universal brain accommodations, no matter what the language
Read more . . .
Read more . . .
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Hitchicker's Guide celebration
As Douglas Adams taught us, we all need to keep a sense of proportion about our place in the universe
Read more . . .
Read more . . .
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
what is normal?
from SciTech Daily:
What is normal when it comes to brains, behaviour and emotional life?
Read more . . .
Depression is a disease that damages body organs, not a character-building creativity generator
Read more . . .
We’ve come a long way since we thought mood disorders were about cells talking to each other. Now we know it’s about cells talking to each other.
Read more . . .
What is normal when it comes to brains, behaviour and emotional life?
Read more . . .
Depression is a disease that damages body organs, not a character-building creativity generator
Read more . . .
We’ve come a long way since we thought mood disorders were about cells talking to each other. Now we know it’s about cells talking to each other.
Read more . . .
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