What Is a Philosopher? - Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com
the philosopher is the person who has time or who takes time.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover | Video on TED.com
Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover | Video on TED.com
There are some ways to teach math that actually work.
We should support these.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Ben Casnocha: The Blog: What Makes Something Interesting?
Ben Casnocha: The Blog: What Makes Something Interesting?
Discussion plus links in comments. Meta ideas about "interestingness", "happiness", "wisdom vs intelligence". I intend to explore this link a bit more...
Discussion plus links in comments. Meta ideas about "interestingness", "happiness", "wisdom vs intelligence". I intend to explore this link a bit more...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Technium: 1,000 True Fans
The Technium: 1,000 True Fans
Micro success: all a creative needs are 1000 direct true fans to make a basic living.
Micro success: all a creative needs are 1000 direct true fans to make a basic living.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
How to Solve a Rubik's Cube (Easy Move Notation) (with pictures) - wikiHow
How to Solve a Rubik's Cube (Easy Move Notation) (with pictures) - wikiHow
This is the 30th anniversary of the cube! My dad loved to play with it and figured out a number of algorithms. This article has a guaranteed way to solve it that's fairly simple. It's not the fastest way but any cube can be solved by grinding it out by "layers"
This is the 30th anniversary of the cube! My dad loved to play with it and figured out a number of algorithms. This article has a guaranteed way to solve it that's fairly simple. It's not the fastest way but any cube can be solved by grinding it out by "layers"
Friday, April 09, 2010
Climate Change - Building a Green Economy - NYTimes.com
Climate Change - Building a Green Economy - NYTimes.com
Krugman with a pretty long and good article on economics of climate change.
Krugman with a pretty long and good article on economics of climate change.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Are We Zeroing In on the Hard Problem of Explaining Consciousness? | h Magazine
Are We Zeroing In on the Hard Problem of Explaining Consciousness? | h Magazine
Consciousness is the “hard problem” in mind science: explaining how the astonishing private world of consciousness emerges from neuronal activity... [there is growing] evidence for the “global workspace theory,” and may also offer clues to the “hard problem” of how patterns of electrical activity give rise to our complex internal lives.
Consciousness is the “hard problem” in mind science: explaining how the astonishing private world of consciousness emerges from neuronal activity... [there is growing] evidence for the “global workspace theory,” and may also offer clues to the “hard problem” of how patterns of electrical activity give rise to our complex internal lives.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Consumer Metrics Institute: Home of Daily Consumer Leading Indicators
Consumer Metrics Institute: Home of Daily Consumer Leading Indicators
A pretty good indicator. Unfortunately you need to join in order get the "best" stuff.
A pretty good indicator. Unfortunately you need to join in order get the "best" stuff.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Discovery of Global Warming - A History
The Discovery of Global Warming - A History
Much of what is known as well as acknowledgement of much of what is NOT known about global warming & related climate science.
Bottom line: pretty scary.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Scientific Case for Modern Anthropogenic Global Warming - Monthly Review
The Scientific Case for Modern Anthropogenic Global Warming - Monthly Review
A reasonable essay on the science & models. I like the distillation into chunks with remarks on which are pretty well settled and which have significant room for scientific disagreement.
A reasonable essay on the science & models. I like the distillation into chunks with remarks on which are pretty well settled and which have significant room for scientific disagreement.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Musical Predictions : The Frontal Cortex
Musical Predictions : The Frontal Cortex
The act of listening, it turns out, is really an act of neural prediction.
The model essentially demonstrated that statistical predictions based on our personal listening experience - because I listen to Bruce Springsteen, I'm able to predict the melodies of John Mellencamp - was much better at simulating the mind than a rule-based model, in which our expectations are fixed and inflexible.
music hijacks some very fundamental neural mechanisms. The brain is designed to learn by association: if this, then that. Music works by subtly toying with our expected associations, enticing us to make predictions about what note will come next, and then confronting us with our prediction errors. In other words, every melody manipulates the same essential mechanisms we use to make sense of reality.
music requires surprise, the dissonance of "low-probability notes". While most people think about music in terms of aesthetic beauty - we like pretty consonant pitches arranged in pretty patterns - that's exactly backwards. The point of the prettiness is to set up the surprise, to frame the deviance.
The act of listening, it turns out, is really an act of neural prediction.
The model essentially demonstrated that statistical predictions based on our personal listening experience - because I listen to Bruce Springsteen, I'm able to predict the melodies of John Mellencamp - was much better at simulating the mind than a rule-based model, in which our expectations are fixed and inflexible.
music hijacks some very fundamental neural mechanisms. The brain is designed to learn by association: if this, then that. Music works by subtly toying with our expected associations, enticing us to make predictions about what note will come next, and then confronting us with our prediction errors. In other words, every melody manipulates the same essential mechanisms we use to make sense of reality.
music requires surprise, the dissonance of "low-probability notes". While most people think about music in terms of aesthetic beauty - we like pretty consonant pitches arranged in pretty patterns - that's exactly backwards. The point of the prettiness is to set up the surprise, to frame the deviance.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Academic Earth | Online Courses | Academic Video Lectures
Academic Earth | Online Courses | Academic Video Lectures
Yes! If there are effective means to keep the content quality high, this could be a phenomenal site.
Yes! If there are effective means to keep the content quality high, this could be a phenomenal site.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
100 Awesome Open Lectures for Political Minds | Online College Tips - Online Colleges
100 Awesome Open Lectures for Political Minds
MIT and Johns Hopkins lectures. If you'd like to dive deeper into a topic than what you get from mainstream media or bloggers.
MIT and Johns Hopkins lectures. If you'd like to dive deeper into a topic than what you get from mainstream media or bloggers.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Economist Debates: China and the US
Economist Debates
An excellent forum for exploring complex issues. Moderated debates over extended periods (two weeks or so).
An excellent forum for exploring complex issues. Moderated debates over extended periods (two weeks or so).
Monday, November 23, 2009
Free Kindle Books, Amazon Kindle Book, Amazon.com Books � Kindle Review – Kindle 2 Review, Books
Free Kindle Books, Amazon Kindle Book, Amazon.com Books � Kindle Review – Kindle 2 Review, Books
So, Kindle app on the iTouch. Free books. Way cool. Not enough time to read/see/do everything.
So, Kindle app on the iTouch. Free books. Way cool. Not enough time to read/see/do everything.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Text analysis, wordcount, keyword density analyzer, prominence analysis
Text analysis, wordcount, keyword density analyzer, prominence analysis
Automatic quantification of "readability".
Automatic quantification of "readability".
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Schneier on Security: Beyond Security Theater
Schneier on Security: Beyond Security Theater
A great essay on the realities of terrorism and security.
A great essay on the realities of terrorism and security.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Cell Size and Scale
Cell Size and Scale
Outstanding interactive chart on size & scale, from carbon atom up to coffee bean. Oriented towards cells & genetics, but way cool.
Outstanding interactive chart on size & scale, from carbon atom up to coffee bean. Oriented towards cells & genetics, but way cool.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
MV=PQ: A Resource for Economic Educators
MV=PQ: A Resource for Economic Educators
Good source for illustrative explanations of econ stuff, aimed at teachers but useful for many.
Good source for illustrative explanations of econ stuff, aimed at teachers but useful for many.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Supply-Side Economics, R.I.P. | Capital Gains and Games
Supply-Side Economics, R.I.P. | Capital Gains and Games
Bartlett should be mainstream, but conservatives are aghast.
Here he describes and defends much of his thinking and points out Keynes (and FDRs!) essential conservatism. Keynes, in particular, was strongly anti-socialism. Macro economics appears to be in a very bad state - neoclassical & monetarists (and libertarians) are just wrong wrong wrong...
Bartlett should be mainstream, but conservatives are aghast.
Here he describes and defends much of his thinking and points out Keynes (and FDRs!) essential conservatism. Keynes, in particular, was strongly anti-socialism. Macro economics appears to be in a very bad state - neoclassical & monetarists (and libertarians) are just wrong wrong wrong...
The Gervais Principle, Or The Office According to “The Office”
The Gervais Principle, Or The Office According to “The Office”
Rather insightful look at how "the Office" illustrates principles from Whyte's classic "The Organization Man",
and effectively falsifies the bulk of management/business "theory".
Rather insightful look at how "the Office" illustrates principles from Whyte's classic "The Organization Man",
and effectively falsifies the bulk of management/business "theory".
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