Disconnected Urbanism

A commentary on how cell phones draw us away from the experience of being where we are at that moment..."When you walk along the street and talk on a cell phone, you are not on the street sharing the communal experience of urban life. You are in some other place--someplace at the other end of your phone conversation."

Object Lesson: Disconnected Urbanism | Metropolis Magazine | November 2003
- posted by JW Walthall at 2:32 AM | Permanent Link | 0 comments

 
NOVA - Earth's Magnetic Field

Yet again PBS's NOVA tickles the intellect with a great topic from the realm of science. This week's program features studies on the earth's magnetic sphere, what purpose it serves, and what its significantly declining force means. Prominent geologists and geophysicists comment on relevant research, many concluding that the magnetic polarity will actually shift, meaning that a compass would then point south. All of this depends on the earth's core, which of course is not able to be directly observed. Instead, scientists look at lava flows as measures of past magnetic field strength and polarity and experiment with molten sodium in efforts to simulate the earth's iron core.

NOVA | Magnetic Storm | PBS
- posted by JW Walthall at 2:09 AM | Permanent Link | 0 comments

 
The Wonders of Austin

The city if Austin ranks well among the nation's best places for good looking people, best people, friendly cities, and places to meet someone new. (Thanks Kathleen)
Travel + Leasure Feature
- posted by JW Walthall at 6:31 PM | Permanent Link | 0 comments

 
Milton Friedman, Spot On

Federal Reserve Governor Bernake looks back at several controversial monetary propositions of Friedman in 1970, noting now that most all of them have been accepted today. Inflation is always a monetary phenomenon, and monetary policy only affects growth in the short run while long-term growth is the product of innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship.

Economic Scene: Rethinking Milton Friedman
- posted by JW Walthall at 9:47 AM | Permanent Link | 0 comments

 
More on String Theory

Scientific American: The Future of String Theory -- A Conversation with Brian Greene
- posted by JW Walthall at 5:03 PM | Permanent Link | 0 comments

 
America 24/7 - A Day in Pictures

This photo project, now a published book, makes me love photography. This idea empowered people to capture moments that communicated just a part of their life or a part of their day to the rest of the world as an American collective.

Fashion and travel photography is fun, but work like this that captures life is why I love the art so much.
(Thanks Kathleen for the link!!)

MSNBC: America 24/7




- posted by JW Walthall at 10:45 AM | Permanent Link | 0 comments

 
Humanities, Human Freedom Rewarded

The Library of Congress recognized Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski for his lifetime of contributions to the humanities. This year marks the first Kluge award of $1M, which rewards contributions to human and social sciences such as philosophy, history, religion, and sociology -- none of which are considered by the Nobel Prize committee.

Kolakowski has written extensively on human freedom and was instrumental on the freeing of Poland from the communists.

$1 Million Humanities Prize Goes to a Polish Philosopher
Philosopher Awarded Library's New Kluge Prize


- posted by JW Walthall at 5:15 PM | Permanent Link | 0 comments

 
String Theory and The Elegant Universe

NOVA episodes such as these make me wish I were a theoretical physicist. M Theory (coined by Dr. Edward Whitten of Princeton) describes how strings and membranes are the basis of the universe and further introduces multi-dimensional math. Dr. Whitten took the existing five versions of string theory and united them under one understanding, furthering the future and interest in this exciting field. I highly recommend browsing through the PBS site below and catching the NOVA series if possible.

NOVA | The Elegant Universe | PBS
- posted by JW Walthall at 9:44 AM | Permanent Link | 0 comments

 
Yummy Pumpkin Cheesecake

I used this recipe recently for a few occasions. I DEFINITELY recommend it!
Emeril Lagasse's Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

- posted by JW Walthall at 8:17 AM | Permanent Link | 0 comments

 
The Racial Achievement Gap

Yet another story about how races such as blacks and Hispanics are not receiving the quality education that more privileged students receive.
Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Ideas / Left behind

A somewhat related article by Lino Graglia in The Daily Texan protesting affirmative action.
The Perils of Defending Racial Preferences
- posted by JW Walthall at 3:25 AM | Permanent Link | 0 comments