April 2012
22 posts
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Are Colloquial Titles for Legislation Ethical? →
This article is an attempt to provide two points of view on the question, heavily leaning in support of colloquial titles. To me, such titles are intentionally manipulative and are meant to play on public ignorance and mob mentality. Even if a politician reads a bill, their reelection depends on the public’s understanding of the bill. But the public is not likely to read a 500-page document...
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“We can see success or we can see failure. We can choose. The right choice is to...”
– Penelope Trunk, Savor Success, Forget Failure | Penelope Trunk Blog
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“Since any text in the placeholder attribute is only available to the user when...”
– The HTML5 Placeholder Element Is Not A Substitute For The Label Element | 456 Berea St.
NOTE: Are you reading this, tumblr log-in form?
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White Board Wall Clock →
This is what I need! There are no numbers at all, and you can write whatever you want around the edges. Because it still has traditional hour and minute hands, you can only put in 12 hours, but they can be called things like, “Eat something!” and “Work out, you lazy nothing.” Despite this freedom, there is no reason that it should cost over $100.
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Is NIMBYism Democratic? →
The Prime Minister of Italy and the European Commission are eager to put a high-speed rail between Lyon, France and Susa, Italy; but Susa citizens feel taken for granted and disrespected. Protests against the project have turned violent and dangerous. Protesters say that the technocrats are not listening to their constituents, and so their only realistic recourse is popular revolt. But the...
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Push To Switch To Public Transportation →
Leipzig, Germany is giving free public transportation to individuals and families who have driver’s licenses for one week in an effort to cut down on traffic congestion. They hope that the week will encourage commuters to make a permanent switch.
Germans complain about commute time, petrol prices, and traffic jams.
What would you recommend to help this city’s transportation woes?
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“Bottlenose dolphins and sea lions lack working copies of the gene encoding...”
– No Sweetness for Meat-eaters | Nature
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Hacker School in NY →
I just found out about Hacker School because of their partnership with Etsy. I’m pleased with their active interest in encouraging women in technology. It would also be the perfect solution for those months when I’m in the USA between school years…
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The Guide to Sleeping in Airports →
It’s the Yelp of taking naps in airports. Seriously funny. And helpful!
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Ender's Game: November 1, 2011 →
Roberto Orci announced the release date for Ender’s Game: November 1, 2013. I wonder when it will come out in Spain?
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Who Owns The Past? →
The article is titled Who Owns The Past? and purportedly discusses the controversy over giving 10,000-year-old bones that have been kept for research at University of California - San Diego to a local tribe. Who does own things that are 10,000 years old? Is this the same as a nation requesting items from museums that were taken during war? Is there a time period after which it’s no longer...
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“Definitions, to me, are useful purely for communication and not end-all Truth...”
– Mattie Brice, An Apology For RPGs | Alternate Ending
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Digital Books Are Clearly Taking Over Traditional... →
“Adult book sales also grew from 66.6 million e-books sold in January 2011 to 99.5 million sold in January 2012.”
This is just 1 of 9 sourced observations on the growing trend of e-book reading and specialized e-book device ownership.
So now that we’ve sold 66.6 million e-books in one year, can we stop hyphenating e-book?
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“I do not mind that you are a girl, but the main thing is that you yourself do...”
– Einstein, according to Maria Popova, Women in Science: Einstein’s Advice to a Little Girl Who Wants To Be A Scientist | Brain Pickings
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The New Yorker tries CouchSurfing →
Patricia Marx tries CouchSurfing for The New Yorker. Although her overall experience didn’t seem negative, she doesn’t end her piece eager to try again. While she remains skeptical, her anecdotes sound realistically adventurous and enticing to me.
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9-year-old Boy Builds Cardboard Arcade -> Flash... →
A 9-year-old boy builds an imitation arcade out of cardboard one summer in the spare garage of his father’s auto shop. His first customer happens to be a filmmaker. Impressed, the filmmaker coordinates a flash mob to surprise Caine with even more business. Now, there’s a short film about the event, and you can donate to Caine’s college fund at the website. Impressive little...
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“‘It’s definitely been a purposeful decision and it means a lot to...”
– Zak Stone, How One Design Festival Made Itself Less of a Bro Fest | GOOD
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One of my favorite passages from Jane Eyre
Mr. Brocklehurst: Do you know where the wicked go after death?
Jane Eyre: They go to hell.
Mr. Brocklehurst: And what is hell? Can you tell me that?
Jane Eyre: A pit full of fire.
Mr. Brocklehurst: And should you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there for ever?
Jane Eyre: No, sir.
Mr. Brocklehurst: What must you do to avoid it?
Jane Eyre: I must keep in good health, and not die.
