Cross Section Views of Leica Lenses

From PetaPixel

Books

Books -- That is exactly how they work

Anatomy of an A+: A Look Inside the Process of One of the World’s Most Efficient Studiers

Repost from Study Hacks.

However, the real reason I posted was for the beautiful visual for present value.

Where are they now: the cast of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Boing Boing

http://boingboing.net/2011/05/17/where-are-they-now-t.html?utm_source=feedburner

Update on Kahn Academy

Now with badges when I've learned something.

Out of Phase Pendulums

The best 1:45 you'll spend all day.

How do you quote a passage that has used '[sic]' mistakenly?

Excellent grammar meta-question:
How do you quote a passage that has used '[sic]' mistakenly?

I find your lack of faith disturbing

The Galactic Empire Times:

In a late-night appearance in the East Room of the Imperial Palace, Lord Vader declared that "justice has been done" as he disclosed that agents of the Imperial Army and stormtroopers of the 501st Legion had finally cornered Kenobi, one of the leaders of the Jedi rebellion, who had eluded the Empire for nearly two decades.

Robots learning to share

Enjoying the moment

So next time we’re washing the dishes, why not actually find enjoyment in washing the dishes? It can be a very relaxing activity. When we’re trying to reach inbox zero, why not enjoy the great conversations we are having and have some gratitude for the amazing people we are in touch with and the fact we can communicate so easily. When a customer gets in touch with a question about our product, instead of seeing it as a necessary but unenjoyable task, why not be thankful that they care enough to get in touch, and look for something we can learn from them?

from joel.is

To Amazon.com, It's Still Day #1

Amazon's 2010 and 1997 annual letters to shareholders.

More grim news about Ph.D.s -- Short version: oversupply

Education: The PhD factory

From nature.com

Women in Science

This article by Philip Greenspun is about anyone in science (not just women), and suggests that it is a tougher road than even those who champion it as a career would suspect.

Quote of the day -- Calvin Trillin

"When I'm trying to impress Alice, for instance, I remind her that I have resolutely ignored drinking fashions for twenty-five years, steadily knocking back Scotch whiskey the entire time. They turned to wine; I drank Scotch. They smoked pot; I drank Scotch. They ordered Perrier water; I drank Scotch. They snorted cocaine while naked in a hot tub discussing real estate; I drank Scotch. I like to think that late on some Saturday nights Alice can point to me - slumped in the corner, sodden with scotch - and say, 'There sits a man of principle. Inert.'" 

~ from Uncivil Liberties by Calvin Trillin

via The Atlantic

The Status Game

An interesting thought experiment, or possibly a provocative class exercise:

A stack of card was shuffled face down on a table, and each person was asked to choose a card without looking at it. Then the instructor asked us to get on stage, and raise our cards against our foreheads so that they are facing the rest of the group. Each person was automatically assigned a “status” corresponding to their card. Then the instructor suggested a business situation for us to enact in a way that helps each person guess the number on their forehead correctly. How would we do that? By changing our postures and tone of voice to match our estimated status and how it ranks against the status we see on other people’s forehead. For instance, if I am guessing the card on my head to be a 8, and I meet with a queen, I’d lower my voice and stand in a way that reflect the other person’s status dominance over mine. And if I meet a 5, I’d assume a higher posture and voice and may be give an order or two. If the person suddenly assumed a different posture and voice, it could mean that either she or I have the wrong guess. The goal wasn’t to challenge each other, but to help each other make the right guess.

from Hacking the Status Game

Snap Together Trebuchette

The projects supported by Kickstarter are getting better and better.

Another attempt to embed video + railguns

Experiment with embedding vimeo video

2011/03 Mike Monteiro | F*ck You. Pay Me. from SanFrancisco/CreativeMornings on Vimeo.

Review of German Expressionist Art Exhibit

Walking through the German Expressionism exhibit really messed me up. All of them either killed themselves or fell down the stairs drunk to their deaths, and it was only, like, 1926, and you’re all ‘God, you have no fucking idea how much worse things are about to get, you poor people.’ The glorious shitshow of the 20th century has barely started, and you’re already painting elongated haunted torsos with exposed viscera.

Rambling bits that start out as book reviews and then turn into more general ruminations. Good stuff

-- Lazy Self-Indulgent Book Reviews

Understanding Congress’s solution to the federal deficit problem

We have a family that is spending $38,200 per year. The family’s income is $21,700 per year. The family adds $16,500 in credit card debt every year in order to pay its bills. After a long and difficult debate among family members, keeping in mind that it was not going to be possible to borrow $16,500 every year forever, the parents and children agreed that a $380/year premium cable subscription could be terminated. So now the family will have to borrow only $16,120 per year.

From Philip Greenspun's Weblog