Simple made easy

http://www.infoq.com/presentations/Simple-Made-Easy

It does reiterate the point that simple is not the same thing as easy -- simple can be hard.

Quote of the day -- George Bernard Shaw

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.

George Bernard Shaw

Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)

Shakespeare Hokey-Pokey

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke,
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from Heavens yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.
        -- by "William Shakespeare"

Written by Jeff Brechlin, Potomac Falls, Maryland, and submitted by Katherine St. John.


The poem is from the Washington Post Style Invitational contest that asked readers to submit "instructions" for something (anything), but written in the style of a famous person. The winning entry was The Hokey Pokey (as written by William Shakespeare).

via http://www.phantomranch.net/folkdanc/articles/hokeypokey.htm

Awesome HD Slinky Slow-Mo

The explanation that "it takes time for the bottom of the slinky to feel the change" might work ok, but it isn't the best.

Then why doesn't the bottom of the slinky fall as the top is let go? I think the best thing is to think of the slinky as a system. When it is let get, the center of mass certainly accelerates downward (like any falling object). However, at the same time, the slinky (spring) is compressing to its relaxed length. This means that top and bottom are accelerating towards the center of mass of the slinky at the same time the center of mass is accelerating downward.

(via @stevenstrogatz)

Quote of the Day -- James Dyson

I've always thought that schoolchildren should be marked by the number of failures they've had. The child who tries strange things and experiences lots of failures to get there is probably more creative.

The interview is in two parts:

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/115/open_next-design.html

http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2007/04/next-design-extra.html

CARGO CULT SCIENCE by Richard Feynman

http://www.lhup.edu/~DSIMANEK/cargocul.htm

John Carmack is making a Virtual Reality headset

I don't know whether it will work or not, but if anyone can do it, John Carmack can.

Quote of the Day -- T. H. White

The wizard Merlin finds the young King Arthur gazing mournfully into a fishpond, on the verge of succumbing to the temptation of self-pity.

"The best thing for being sad," Merlin says, "is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then—to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting."

T. H. White, The Once and Future King

NASA SDO - The Venus Transit

Additional plug for Vi Hart

She's really great.  Go watch her videos.

Ray Bradbury 1920-2012

Dark They Were and Golden Eyed

Quote of the Day -- Isek Dinesen

"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." 

In U.S., 46% Hold Creationist View of Human Origins

From Gallup:

PRINCETON, NJ -- Forty-six percent of Americans believe in the creationist view that God created humans in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years. The prevalence of this creationist view of the origin of humans is essentially unchanged from 30 years ago, when Gallup first asked the question. About a third of Americans believe that humans evolved, but with God's guidance; 15% say humans evolved, but that God had no part in the process.

Turn your driveway into a glowing wonderland

http://dvice.com/archives/2012/06/use-your-drivew.php

Yale Blue Book to be published for one more year at least

http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2012/apr/26/blue-book-returns-for-now/

Marina Keegan: The Opposite of Loneliness

The piece was written by Marina Keegan '12 for a special edition of the Yale Daily News distributed at the class of 2012's commencement exercises last week. Keegan died in a car accident on Saturday. She was 22.