Morning Lnkage (May 4)

Science:

Seattle is adopt­ing new math text books. Cliff Mass has some­thing to
say about it. You should too.
http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2009/05/seattles-big-math-decision.html

A study of zebra finch­es brings up new ques­tions about how bird song
is taught/learned. I nev­er feel com­fort­able with the broad conclusions
about the nature of cul­ture and cul­tur­al inher­i­tance that peo­ple want
to draw from these exper­i­ments. Nonetheless the results of this one
are fascinating.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/05/songbirdculture/

Centralia PA and it’s under­ground fires came up at the Fish Fry. I
spent time there on church spon­sored work par­ties as a teenag­er. (Link
to boing boing because the serv­er at teleport-city is overwhelmed.)
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/04/visit-to-a-smoulderi.html

Stuff:

Golfers are obses­sive (my Dad so would have had one of these)
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/05/03/doorstop-helps-improve-your-putting/

Things to do with a dumpster.
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/05/dumpsters_pool.html

Technology and Design:

How design can make a dif­fer­ence. Case study — Redesigning the IV
pole. Excellently writ­ten as well.
http://www.core77.com/blog/news/_core77_case_study_modos_iv_pole_for_cardinal_health_by_goo_sung_13354.asp

How Google scans a book with­out the page dis­tor­tion caused by the
cur­va­ture of the page. (Warning: Patent Info)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/library/2009/04/the_granting_of_patent_7508978.html

Art and Images:

World class sandcastles:
http://www.pinktentacle.com/2009/04/photos-world-sand-sculpture-festival-2009/

Stealth tromp l’oeil of an urban sort.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8030766.stm

Just because it made me a lit­tle hap­pi­er this morning.
http://sleepmachine.tumblr.com/post/102944001/miniatures-biccchi-qiring

more tomor­row,