mind-meld

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.

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.

nature-deficit disorder

from SciTech Daily:

Save our children from nature-deficit disorder.
the article . . .

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.

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.

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»

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.

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."

the sun in moderation

sunlight can be good for you (duh...)
here's the article

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!"