poptech:

These vignettes draw comparisons between software and medicine — in their dual capacities to heal and to hurt. They explore the nature of addictive technologies in relation to business, the power that software designers are presently wielding over the masses, and a new way of imagining companies: as medicine men for the species. I hope these vignettes will help to inspire the engineering community to adopt a common set of ethical principles to guide the evolution of software (which, in turn, will help to guide the evolution of our species).

via Jonathan Harris (PopTech 2007) on his new project, Modern Medicine, a series of vignettes, which can be found on Farmer & Farmer

npr:

nprfreshair:

hwentworth:

Internet’s over, people.  Maurice Sendak just won.

Fresh Air remembers Maurice Sendak

Higher praise there could not be. —Wright

pbstv:

“That manic kid in that silly wolf suit has made my life pleasurable.”

In 2002, the PBS NewsHour’s Jeffrey Brown talked to Maurice Sendak about his roots as an artist and his interest in exploring children’s perceptions of everyday life.

Read the interview and read Maurice Sendak’s full biography.

poptech:

A few tips from PopTech 2010 Science Fellow Sean Gourley, CTO and co-founder of Quid, a company that builds software to capture, structure and visualize vast amounts of data, helping clients find a better, more informed way forward.

1. Don’t ignore your power to shape the future: Technology has given us the power to more rapidly predict future events. But without humans to shape those predictions and encourage them down one path or another, these predictions will just pass into the night.
2. The future is already here — it’s just not widely distributed: With the dramatic rise of data storage, we are now in a place where we can see more then ever, and the future is beginning to be seen more quickly, and more clearly than before.
3. Ideas need technology, and vice versa: We need to understand the ecosystem, the interplay between technology and ideas. They shape and create each other, and can’t exist in a vacuum.

nprfreshair:

May the Fourth be With You, Internet. (Happy International Star Wars Day!)

Related: George Lucas on Fresh Air

James Earl Jones on Fresh Air

Carrie Fisher on Fresh Air

Ewan McGregor on Fresh Air

Hopscotch (by Stéfan)

#starwarsday

museumofusefulthings:

40 Uses for WD-40:

1. Protects silver from tarnishing.

2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.

3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

4. Gives floors that ‘just-waxed’ sheen without making them slippery.

5. Keeps flies off cows. (I love this one!)

6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.

7. Removes lipstick stains.

8. Loosens stubborn zippers.

9. Untangles jewelry chains.

10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.

13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.

14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.

15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.

17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.

18. Removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor - Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn’t seem to harm the finish and you won’t have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.

19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!

20. Gives a children’s playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers…

22. Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.

23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open..

24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.

27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans

28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.

29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

31. Removes splattered grease on stove.

32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.

33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.

34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

35. Removes all traces of duct tape.

36. Spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.

37. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it’s a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.

38. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

39. Removes crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

40. If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start. 

The basic ingredient is Fish Oil. Saw Picture here. Uses found here.

#wd40

Here’s a quick look at the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, with the full details at ThinkProgress.

• CISPA’s broad language will likely give the government access to anyone’s personal information with few privacy protections.
• The bill completely exempts itself from the Freedom of Information Act.
• CISPA gives companies blanket immunity from future lawsuits.
• Companies can already inform the government and each other about incoming cybersecurity threats.
• Most Republicans support CISPA, while most Democrats oppose it, and President Obama threatened to veto it.
• The internet is fighting back.

think-progress:

humanscaled:

thiscitycalledearth:

accidentalism:

by EUROVIZION. Paris.

Now that’s how you make a boulevard.

A true city street