Category Archives: General

Image via Wikipedia This looks like a great way of learning math: Khan Academy. I did calculus via a correspondence course and I found the most difficult part was actually doing it. There’s no lack of things to learn out … Continue reading →

We bought a new couch and loveseat last week.  Jaimie pointed out that we spent a long time debating about spending money on furniture.  Our last expense of similar scope was replacing Jaimie’s computer after a lightning strike and there … Continue reading →

photo credit: osde8infoI watched Mamma Mia yesterday. What a fun movie! Somehow this movie felt like a really well done amateur production. The actors were in character the whole time, but it felt as though they were just having a … Continue reading →

I ran across this quote from Buddha in a podcast Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything … Continue reading →

As we look at alternative sources of energy and the funding for developping them, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded How we subsidize fossil fuels – Boing Boing.

I found this video fascinating. The ideas that stuck out were: Sex is a way to allow for a win-win situation. If individuals in an asexual species compete, there must be a winner and a loser. Prosperity can be defined … Continue reading →

My parents have been birdwatchers for years.  Unfortunately my dad didn’t get a smartphone the last time he upgraded his phone, but next time I’m going to recommend that he look into this: For the Birds: Smartphone Field Guides — … Continue reading →

Our Internet either got hit by lightning or suffered a near miss yesterday.  Most of the Internet hardware was fried – radio, surge suppressor, power adapter.  Then our router got fried and Jaimie’s motherboard finished up the list of victims.  … Continue reading →

I find these kinds of experiments interesting: Coupon-clipper eats for a month on $27.08 – Boing Boing.  I don’t know if I’d be willing to put in the work to eat this cheaply, but it’s good to be reminded that … Continue reading →

We went to see Heather Dale as a family last night.  it was a fun evening.  Unfortunately there weren’t any new songs and the next album is going to be a re-recording of some of her previous songs.  One of … Continue reading →

This amuses me: Was There An Attempt to Bury Moore s “Radical Extremist” Comment.  How delusional do you have to be not to realize that there will be recordings of pretty much any public event?  Silly minister. I liked this … Continue reading →

I found David Byrne’s TED talk fascinating, but not ultimately convincing.  It had a bit of the feel of a Just So story.  Nevertheless it is fascinating to think about the ways in which architecture and audience helped shape different … Continue reading →

Make: Online : Enclosed Belgian recumbent tricycles look like fun.  I remember looking at cycles like these back when I was about 10 and wishing I could afford one.  Funny how things don’t change much.

Make: Online : How important are small businesses to the U.S. economy? has some interesting statistics on small businesses.  Their definition of small business is pretty big (< 500 employees) but it is worth noting that about half of the … Continue reading →

Johanna Blakley: Lessons from fashion’s free culture is yet another interesting talk from TED.   What particularly struck me was the graph around the 12 minute mark showing the gross sales from industries with little copyright protection versus those from industries … Continue reading →

I did the Couch to 5k again this year.  It went more smoothly than last year but it wasn’t as much fun.   I started considerably earlier than I did last year, so it was a lot colder as I ran.  … Continue reading →

I really enjoyed Dan Carlin’s latest Hardcore history podcast, Old School Toughness.  In this episode he discusses the problem that’s plagued many civilizations – tough barbarians take over, get weakened by civilization, and the next wave of barbarians takes over … Continue reading →

This 9 Chickweed Lane comic where Thorax discusses the moral vacuum most video game characters live in amused me. Bettering yourself by taking up home invasion homicide and robbery of morally-suspect non-humans (aka “Evil Monsters”) is what makes it D&D. … Continue reading →

This is pretty neat: Keeping tabs on Canada’s Parliament | openparliament.ca.  It lets you follow what MPs are up to and what was discussed in Parliament with greater ease.  Now all I need is a representative that represents me… (via … Continue reading →

I really hope that this TED talk by Jane McGonigal is correct. I find it interesting that the economist she quotes sees giving up the real world for a virtual world as a rational choice. My hope is that a … Continue reading →