Today is 'International Speak Like a Pirate Day'. I must give my favorite quote from the modern day pirate singer, Jimmy Buffett.
Haul the sheet in as we ride on the windArrrgh!
That our forefathers harnessed before us
Hear the bells ring as the tight rigging sings
It's a son of a gun of a chorusSon of a Sailor
No doubt when the developers of today grew up is it. This one is a little more realistic.
Here's a new dictionary site called Wordia. They let users upload videos of their own definitions of the words (right now, most of the videos are of British people - practice your Monty Python accent). Definately makes for some interesting posts.
Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you. Dennis
These courses look interesting, and a good way to elaborate on a self-taught fascination.
All is well here in the land of the Pears. We've discovered many things during this storm and its aftermath; however, one amazing realization is how a difficulty brings a community together. We've met and 'raised a glass' with so many neighbors during the last several days. It is amazing what being forced to eat dinner on your front lawn does for the community.
The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum. Frances Willard'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. Abraham Lincoln
I took this screen print from a program which lays the hurricane path over Google Maps. This shows the project path on 9/11/08 at 0900, the orange dot is our home in Pearland.
Sounds fun and interesting. Not sure how far off-shore I want to trust a homemade boat?
These incredible pictures were taken from space. They show various hurricanes.
Just wanted to post a short note regarding the absurd shouts heard from the Republican National Convention last week of "Drill Baby Drill." There are many commentaries regarding this ridiculous shout available; however, I just wanted to make one connection.
We miss Lance in the Tour De France.
As noted, we love pictures of smiling people. Check out this artist's rendition of a popular theme.
Found this quote in my Monday reading. It seems especially resonate after a beautiful weekend with my family. Must check out this writer. Careful! 'We are dangerous!"
We are dangerous. We are daring and immortal. Fog whips up from under the cliffs and billows over the highway. Blue breaks from beyond the fog and sun suddenly screams from the blue.
Hulu is a new service which streams TV shows and Movies online. I haven't looked at it, but wanted to give it a go later.
We had earlier discussed haptic devices, those which deal with kinesthetic touch. Here's a brief interview with Vint Cerf, often called the father of the Internet, where he discusses haptic devices using a network.
I expect to see much more interesting interactions, including the possibility of haptic interactions - touch. Not just touch screens, but the ability to remotely interact with things. Little robots, for example, that are instantiations of you, and are remotely operated, giving you what is called telepresence. It's a step well beyond the kind of video telepresence we are accustomed to seeing today.
This image of little robots is different from the typical autonomous robot you see in the AI world. They could be sitting in a conference room, representing me -- not autonomously, but allowing me to be in more than one place at the same time. They can move around, interact with things, talk to people, see like everyone else can.
We had an outstanding visit to Isaac's school last night. The new program he's in seems to put a huge emphasis on problem solving and creative thinking.
BTW: I'm not sure how he qualified to be in this program, I don't believe they tested him or anything. Maybe he was referred from his last teacher? I'll have to ask his current instructor during a meeting.However, it happened, it will be an excellent opportunity. Even UIL problem solving competitions and a mandatory science fair.
A recent discussion sparked my interest regarding the question of learning and education. My example, when should academic preparedness (was more specifically 1 hour of bedtime) be sacrificed for the thirst for knowledge and history?
I guess another question arises, which event is worthy of this sacrifice? A baseball game, a meeting with a friend, an impromtu science experiment, a political speech??
Certainly a difficult question. While academics are certainly important, my hope is that learning never stops. We are destined to spend more of our lives outside of the classroom than in it.
As a homework assignment for life, we watched this incredible lecture this weekend. Though, just over an hour in length, I would highly recommend it. Brick walls are not put in our path to stop us, but to make us work harder.
