Category: Uncategorized
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Making O’Reilly Animals
Like many others, I, too, have wondered about the reasoning behind O’Reilly Media’s animal-themed book covers. While it doesn’t reveal all, this article describes the history of, and the creative process behind, O’Reilly’s iconic covers. Lorrie tries to imbue her illustrations with the historical, somewhat less-than-accurate style of the old Dover engravings. Her technique has…
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Is Unlimited Vacation a Good Thing?
With a number of companies beginning to offer unlimited vacation time, Alison Lobron of The Boston Globe asks whether unlimited vacation is really a beneficial perk for employees. Because of technology’s reach, some activists rightly worry that “unlimited vacation” is nothing more than corporate-speak for “no vacation at all.” They worry that employees without a…
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Dopamine and the Social Brain
In a recent article for Seed, Jonah Lehrer writes about new research from the neuroscientist Read Montague linking dopamine to complex social phenomena. There is so much great stuff in the article that I find it difficult to quote just one piece. I’ve decided on this anecdote that I happen to find slightly amusing: The…
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The Lazarus Sign
The Lazarus Sign; something I have never heard of, and hope I never see. Occasionally, brain-dead patients make movements, owing to the fact that the spinal reflexes are still intact. The most complex, and presumably the most terrifying, is called the Lazarus Sign. It is where the brain-dead patient extends their arms and crosses them…
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Freudian Projection: An Evolutionary Explanation
Some interesting research has been attempting to give an evolutionary psychology explanation for psychological projection. Using Silence of the Lambs, Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead and Koyaanisqatsi, no less. We project emotions on others based on our own emotional state, but those projections are functional: We don’t project fear if we’re afraid…
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Keith Olbermann on Proposition 8: A Chance at Permanence
Keith Olbermann’s Special Comment on the passage of Proposition 8; eloquent and persuasive using nothing but common sense and good judgement. Some quotes I particularly enjoyed: If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not understand. Why does this…
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On Being a Young CEO
Inc. Magazine profiles 18 entrepreneurs/CEOs, all of whom are under 30. This generation, at nearly 80 million strong, is poised to be the largest, the most educated, and the most diverse in American history. That gives its members special insight into the largest, the most educated, and the most diverse market in history. They are…
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Esoteric Programming Languages
A few interesting esoteric programming languages: Shakespeare Chef Brainfuck Whitespace LOLCODE As you may be able to guess, LOLCODE is my favourite. Here’s ‘Hello World’: HAI CAN HAS STDIO? VISIBLE “HAI WORLD!” KTHXBYE
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The 23 Toughest Challenges in Mathematics
According to DARPA, that is. The Dynamics of Networks: Develop the high-dimensional mathematics needed to accurately model and predict behavior in large-scale distributed networks that evolve over time occurring in communication, biology and the social sciences. via Kottke
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The Origins of Progress
In order to find out what our world will look like in the not so distant future, Kevin Kelly questions what drives progress? What is the origin of our progress? There are several factors but chief among them is the invention of what we loosely call science. The ancient world accumulated many fabulous inventions [that]…