Posts
I'm taking a break for a few days, so have fun exploring the dozens of videos on this site.
http://wimp.com/knownuniverse/
http://www.wimp.com/universecomparison/
http://www.wimp.com/drinkingbird/
Dec 23, 2009
The Known Universe
If you like the "Powers of 10" video, you'll also enjoy this. It's a visually beautiful and mind-stunning 6-minute look at the scale of the known universe. Flash video. The site this is on is an aggregator - so some of the other videos on there are likewise interesting videos - like the universe size comparison (second link). While I've looked at some of the others - there's another interesting one about how the "drinking bird" toy works (third link) - but not all of them are educational like that. :)
I'm taking a break for a few days, so have fun exploring the dozens of videos on this site.
http://wimp.com/knownuniverse/
http://www.wimp.com/universecomparison/
http://www.wimp.com/drinkingbird/
I'm taking a break for a few days, so have fun exploring the dozens of videos on this site.
http://wimp.com/knownuniverse/
http://www.wimp.com/universecomparison/
http://www.wimp.com/drinkingbird/
Dec 22, 2009
Get Your Walk Score
[Steve's note: What I found fascinating about this tool was how many things it listed near me that I simply was unaware of... because I always drove past them.]
http://www.walkscore.com/
The Walk Score mission is to promote walkable neighborhoods. We believe walkable neighborhoods are one of the simplest and most effective solutions to halt climate change, improve our health, and strengthen our communities.
Our vision is for every property listing to read: Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Walk Score: 84. We want walkability and transportation costs to be a key part of choosing where to live.
[This text is taken from the website]
http://www.walkscore.com/
The Walk Score mission is to promote walkable neighborhoods. We believe walkable neighborhoods are one of the simplest and most effective solutions to halt climate change, improve our health, and strengthen our communities.
Our vision is for every property listing to read: Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Walk Score: 84. We want walkability and transportation costs to be a key part of choosing where to live.
[This text is taken from the website]
Dec 21, 2009
HOWTO write effective Thank You notes
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/06/16/how-to-write-an-effective-thank-you-note-for-any-occasion/
Frankly, though, thank you notes can be a big source of anxiety for many people and it's often something that's put off until later because of that anxiety. To help get through that anxiety, here's a guide to thank you notes, covering when they're appropriate to send and how to assemble an effective one.
[This text is taken from the website]
Frankly, though, thank you notes can be a big source of anxiety for many people and it's often something that's put off until later because of that anxiety. To help get through that anxiety, here's a guide to thank you notes, covering when they're appropriate to send and how to assemble an effective one.
[This text is taken from the website]
Dec 18, 2009
Flipbook Printer
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/FlipbookPrinter/index.html
Flipbook Printer is a program that lets you make your own printed "Flipbooks" from avi movie files using business cards.
A gift from DonationCoder.com especially for the holidays, and especially for the young at heart. Makes a great present - have the kids send a flipbook of them waving hello to the grandparents, or send your loved one a movie of you smiling or blowing them a kiss. It's the ultimate in low-tech movie making!
[This text taken from the website]
Flipbook Printer is a program that lets you make your own printed "Flipbooks" from avi movie files using business cards.
A gift from DonationCoder.com especially for the holidays, and especially for the young at heart. Makes a great present - have the kids send a flipbook of them waving hello to the grandparents, or send your loved one a movie of you smiling or blowing them a kiss. It's the ultimate in low-tech movie making!
[This text taken from the website]
Dec 17, 2009
World Wide Telescope
http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/Home.aspx
WorldWide Telescope (WWT) enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope, bringing together imagery from the best ground and space-based telescopes in the world. Experience narrated guided tours from astronomers and educators featuring interesting places in the sky.
A web-based version of WorldWide Telescope is also now available for preview. This version enables seamless, guided explorations of the universe from within a web browser on PC and Intel Mac OS X by using the power of Microsoft Silverlight 2.0.
[This text taken from the website]
WorldWide Telescope (WWT) enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope, bringing together imagery from the best ground and space-based telescopes in the world. Experience narrated guided tours from astronomers and educators featuring interesting places in the sky.
A web-based version of WorldWide Telescope is also now available for preview. This version enables seamless, guided explorations of the universe from within a web browser on PC and Intel Mac OS X by using the power of Microsoft Silverlight 2.0.
[This text taken from the website]
Dec 16, 2009
Too Much
[Steve's note: Given the holiday season, I thought this was appropriate...]
http://www.toomuchonline.org/
Every week, Too Much offers stats, research, and analyses that help explain how massive income and wealth divides are impacting everything from our health to our happiness. See for yourself.
[This text is taken from the website]
http://www.toomuchonline.org/
Every week, Too Much offers stats, research, and analyses that help explain how massive income and wealth divides are impacting everything from our health to our happiness. See for yourself.
[This text is taken from the website]
Dec 14, 2009
Immigrant & Ethnic America
[Steve's note: This collection is of relevant Harper's columns from the period]
http://immigrants.harpweek.com/
Harper's Weekly called itself the "Journal of Civilization." It lived up to its name by chronicling life in countries throughout the world and by presenting a composite portrait of American society.
This website will make it possible to take a detailed look at the various immigrant and ethnic groups that were a vital part of American culture during the second half of the 19th century.
[Through the text of Harper's columns from the time]
http://immigrants.harpweek.com/
Harper's Weekly called itself the "Journal of Civilization." It lived up to its name by chronicling life in countries throughout the world and by presenting a composite portrait of American society.
This website will make it possible to take a detailed look at the various immigrant and ethnic groups that were a vital part of American culture during the second half of the 19th century.
[Through the text of Harper's columns from the time]
Dec 11, 2009
Printable Paper
http://www.printablepaper.net/
Hundreds of papers you can download and print for free. We've got graph paper, lined paper, financial paper, music paper, and more. (Or get them all on CD-ROM for $39.)
[This text is taken from the website]
Hundreds of papers you can download and print for free. We've got graph paper, lined paper, financial paper, music paper, and more. (Or get them all on CD-ROM for $39.)
[This text is taken from the website]
Dec 10, 2009
Flowcharts for PC Repair
http://www.fonerbooks.com/pcrepair.htm
This page offers links to flowcharts for PC diagnostics, excerpted from my book. The non-active links are for charts that are included in the book but not available online. The published book contains seventeen flowcharts for computer diagnostics plus a short text for every chart expanding on the decision points. The troubleshooting process is the same for an expensive Sony or IBM, or a downmarket eMachines or Gateway. Dell and HP (who purchased Compaq) manufacture PC's in a wide range of price points, but you have to go through the same troubleshooting steps for the cheap ones as the expensive ones if you want to correctly identify and repair the failure.
[This text is taken from the website]
This page offers links to flowcharts for PC diagnostics, excerpted from my book. The non-active links are for charts that are included in the book but not available online. The published book contains seventeen flowcharts for computer diagnostics plus a short text for every chart expanding on the decision points. The troubleshooting process is the same for an expensive Sony or IBM, or a downmarket eMachines or Gateway. Dell and HP (who purchased Compaq) manufacture PC's in a wide range of price points, but you have to go through the same troubleshooting steps for the cheap ones as the expensive ones if you want to correctly identify and repair the failure.
[This text is taken from the website]
Dec 8, 2009
Watch Public Domain Treasures and Save Them (via boingboing)
[Steve's note: Not only is the access to the videos cool, but it's for a good reason. Read the rest of the post at boingboing for the links and continued rationale.]
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/04/watch-americas-publi.html
If you want to watch videos from the National Archives today, they try to talk you into buying a DVD from the official government partner, Amazon.Com. The government web site has a 320x240 2 minute preview, using an old Microsoft codec, and all the search results encourage you to purchase from "our partner, Amazon.Com."
I've got nothing against Amazon selling this stuff. It is public domain, after all. But, I do have a real problem when the government deliberately cripples itself by not making video available to all. To demonstrate to the Congress that if we liberated this wonderful content people would really care, I forked over $251 for 20 DVDs and posted them on-line.
I'll be counting the number of views and reporting that information in my testimony.
[This text is taken from the website.]
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/04/watch-americas-publi.html
If you want to watch videos from the National Archives today, they try to talk you into buying a DVD from the official government partner, Amazon.Com. The government web site has a 320x240 2 minute preview, using an old Microsoft codec, and all the search results encourage you to purchase from "our partner, Amazon.Com."
I've got nothing against Amazon selling this stuff. It is public domain, after all. But, I do have a real problem when the government deliberately cripples itself by not making video available to all. To demonstrate to the Congress that if we liberated this wonderful content people would really care, I forked over $251 for 20 DVDs and posted them on-line.
I'll be counting the number of views and reporting that information in my testimony.
[This text is taken from the website.]
Dec 7, 2009
Diagram Designer
[Steve's note: I used this free Windows software to do some mind-mapping over the weekend. It is fast and easy to use, with lots of presets from flowcharts ready to go. It has a minimal learning curve, which is something I cannot say about most "mind mapping" software.]
http://logicnet.dk/DiagramDesigner/
Simple vector graphics editor for creating flowcharts, UML class diagrams, illustrations and slide shows.
[This text is taken from the website]
http://logicnet.dk/DiagramDesigner/
Simple vector graphics editor for creating flowcharts, UML class diagrams, illustrations and slide shows.
[This text is taken from the website]
Dec 4, 2009
Debt in Focus
http://www.debtinfocus.com/Welcome.aspx
Brought to you by the nation’s credit unions, this free and anonymous service will help bring your debt into focus. After answering a few questions about your income and current debts, a simple financial analysis will provide a wealth of information – debt to income ratios, debt payment schedules, and suggested personal action strategies to help keep your finances moving forward.
[This text is taken from the website]
Brought to you by the nation’s credit unions, this free and anonymous service will help bring your debt into focus. After answering a few questions about your income and current debts, a simple financial analysis will provide a wealth of information – debt to income ratios, debt payment schedules, and suggested personal action strategies to help keep your finances moving forward.
[This text is taken from the website]
Dec 3, 2009
Resource: Giving Experiences (via the Simple Dollar)
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/11/13/giving-experiences-not-things-this-holiday-season/
The holiday gift-giving season is upon us once again. For many of us, that means stress. What gift can we give to the people we care about that actually means something? Why do the holidays have to be so expensive after we buy gifts for everyone on our Christmas list? Then, on Christmas Day, we have to find polite things to say about the unwanted gifts we get and we find ourselves with a bunch of additional stuff to take care of whether we like it or not.
All of these problems can be solved by one simple change in your perspective about gift-giving this year: give experiences instead of things.
[This text is taken from the website]
The holiday gift-giving season is upon us once again. For many of us, that means stress. What gift can we give to the people we care about that actually means something? Why do the holidays have to be so expensive after we buy gifts for everyone on our Christmas list? Then, on Christmas Day, we have to find polite things to say about the unwanted gifts we get and we find ourselves with a bunch of additional stuff to take care of whether we like it or not.
All of these problems can be solved by one simple change in your perspective about gift-giving this year: give experiences instead of things.
[This text is taken from the website]
Dec 2, 2009
Don't Pay to Self Publish
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/11/23/quick-note-on-self-publishing/
http://jimhines.livejournal.com/313073.html
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/alerts/#PA
John Scalzi is a successful writer (fiction and nonfiction). Jim Hines is a successful fantasy writer. Their books are great reads. Further, both also blog regularly - and have some pretty good insights when they do so.
Self-publishing became a bigger deal to homeschoolers after Eragon was touted as a self published success by a homeschooler. There's nothing wrong with self-publishing, per se - but these two authors have put together some pretty cogent explanations and warnings about how you can get burned with self-publishing schemes... and how you can "succeed" at it (for certain values of success). Those two links are above.
The third link is to Writer Beware. It directly links to the entry for Publish America, but the whole page is worth bookmarking. There are lots of folks out there ready to take your money. Forewarned is forearmed.
When in doubt, follow the cardinal rule: Money flows *toward* the author.
http://jimhines.livejournal.com/313073.html
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/alerts/#PA
John Scalzi is a successful writer (fiction and nonfiction). Jim Hines is a successful fantasy writer. Their books are great reads. Further, both also blog regularly - and have some pretty good insights when they do so.
Self-publishing became a bigger deal to homeschoolers after Eragon was touted as a self published success by a homeschooler. There's nothing wrong with self-publishing, per se - but these two authors have put together some pretty cogent explanations and warnings about how you can get burned with self-publishing schemes... and how you can "succeed" at it (for certain values of success). Those two links are above.
The third link is to Writer Beware. It directly links to the entry for Publish America, but the whole page is worth bookmarking. There are lots of folks out there ready to take your money. Forewarned is forearmed.
When in doubt, follow the cardinal rule: Money flows *toward* the author.
Dec 1, 2009
Word Web
[Steve's note: This is Windows Freeware. I link below to the Portable Freeware site, where the comments are rather useful (as are the other programs featured)]
http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=1467&ts=1258914741
WordWeb is a one-click English thesaurus and dictionary for Windows that can look up words in almost any program. It works off-line, but can also look up words in web references such as the Wikipedia encyclopedia. It includes full dictionary and thesaurus for American, British, Canadian, Australian, Indian, and global English.
[This text is taken from the website]
http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=1467&ts=1258914741
WordWeb is a one-click English thesaurus and dictionary for Windows that can look up words in almost any program. It works off-line, but can also look up words in web references such as the Wikipedia encyclopedia. It includes full dictionary and thesaurus for American, British, Canadian, Australian, Indian, and global English.
[This text is taken from the website]
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