Climate solutions
Looking at pg.39, states lacking climate action plans (Sep 2007) are just the states which had higher temperatures than normal in July 2006 (pg. 19 Earth the biography)
Aug 23, 2009
Net Galley Challenge
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Top of the stack
Best American magazine writing 2007
He Knew he was Right - Ian parker. I began reading thinking its the same as the movie, not that I am dissapointed that it isnt. Very enjoyable read. A good example for profile writing. I hope to get to read more such.
Murdering the Impossible - Caroline Alexander. Having seen a documentary on Messner, I really appreciated this essay.
May 24,2010
He Knew he was Right - Ian parker. I began reading thinking its the same as the movie, not that I am dissapointed that it isnt. Very enjoyable read. A good example for profile writing. I hope to get to read more such.
Murdering the Impossible - Caroline Alexander. Having seen a documentary on Messner, I really appreciated this essay.
May 24,2010
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Real time
Looking at an ad in which many young men and women sing and dance in coordination at a shopping mall. It has to be the nth time after rehearsal.
Theatrical plays.
Theatrical plays.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tomatoes
I heard of Tomatoland on npr.
As kids my sister and I helped my grandparents pick tomatoes on their farm. At the end of the day, when it was time to pack them off to the market, we looked for odd shaped ones to keep and eat.
NYT review
review
Its dark knowing the horror stories of pickers who work on the tomatoland.
As kids my sister and I helped my grandparents pick tomatoes on their farm. At the end of the day, when it was time to pack them off to the market, we looked for odd shaped ones to keep and eat.
NYT review
review
Its dark knowing the horror stories of pickers who work on the tomatoland.
I picked up Milk, to see if I can find an explanation behind antibiotics role in damaging the bacteria adults need to digest milk. I heard from my colleague that he became lactose intolerant after a dose of antibiotics.
This is not a first book on the history of milk. Milk: the surprising story of milk through ages.
This is not a first book on the history of milk. Milk: the surprising story of milk through ages.
Try this - traveling the globe without leaning the table. While flipping through the pages, I found the words 'Rachel Ray' and picked it.
Long time ago, I was trying to recall Paneer Lababdar, after having had it on a flight.
Authors site
The author while talking about British cuisine says that beer is the third most popluar beverae. I was curious to know what were the top two - water, tea, coffee. I chanced upon A History of the world in six glasses.
Soup dumplings, where the aspic inside melts into soup.
Mapo tofu
Lechon Asado
Arroz moro
Tostones
fufu - caribbean. The author says that cuban cuisine uses plantains like Americans use potatoes. But there are potato dishes like Papas rellenos in Cuban cuisine. A menu revealed Tostones rellenos. Are there any other kind of rellenos? Please stand up.
Pollo Manigua
I saw a video by Sanjay Thumma on how to make Rasmalai. The kneading and heating part of it sounds similar to the process explained by the author about making Mozzarella.
The author explains the emergence of american sushi like California roll and Philadelphia roll.
Robatayaki
perfection - sushi can be made to have the rice grains all in one direction
wagashi
The author explains that the reason for having around 150 banchan- side dishes in Korean food is to balance the hot,cols, spicy, sour,sweet according to yin-yang philosophy.
Long time ago, I was trying to recall Paneer Lababdar, after having had it on a flight.
Authors site
The author while talking about British cuisine says that beer is the third most popluar beverae. I was curious to know what were the top two - water, tea, coffee. I chanced upon A History of the world in six glasses.
Soup dumplings, where the aspic inside melts into soup.
Mapo tofu
Lechon Asado
Arroz moro
Tostones
fufu - caribbean. The author says that cuban cuisine uses plantains like Americans use potatoes. But there are potato dishes like Papas rellenos in Cuban cuisine. A menu revealed Tostones rellenos. Are there any other kind of rellenos? Please stand up.
Pollo Manigua
I saw a video by Sanjay Thumma on how to make Rasmalai. The kneading and heating part of it sounds similar to the process explained by the author about making Mozzarella.
The author explains the emergence of american sushi like California roll and Philadelphia roll.
Robatayaki
perfection - sushi can be made to have the rice grains all in one direction
wagashi
The author explains that the reason for having around 150 banchan- side dishes in Korean food is to balance the hot,cols, spicy, sour,sweet according to yin-yang philosophy.
I was taken by Finding Everett Ruess, right when I saw it on Amazon's Vine newsletter.
Authors interview
Chris Mccandles and Into the wild
I am reading Night of the Republic. A review said its accessible poems but I find them untenable, even though they are of common places and everyday situations like scenes from a department store. The poet does have his style of bringing out a pattern in the endless routine arrangement of commodities, cans or shoes stacked high into the ceiling.I am looking for lines with influence like Say I starved from Ruess's 'Wilderness song'.
Authors interview
Chris Mccandles and Into the wild
I am reading Night of the Republic. A review said its accessible poems but I find them untenable, even though they are of common places and everyday situations like scenes from a department store. The poet does have his style of bringing out a pattern in the endless routine arrangement of commodities, cans or shoes stacked high into the ceiling.I am looking for lines with influence like Say I starved from Ruess's 'Wilderness song'.
Journals and Diaries
I picked up Alfred kazin's journals without knowing who Alfred kazin. There's something about diaries and journals that we want to read them to know life and times of yours or others.
NYT article
Slate article
Washington times article
I was dissuaded to not read Tina's Mouth - An existential comic diary after the 'high school' got drilled into my head.
NYT article
Slate article
Washington times article
I was dissuaded to not read Tina's Mouth - An existential comic diary after the 'high school' got drilled into my head.
Food and preachers
After reading The Boy in the Moon, I wanted to know if Megans secrets will show the parent of a disabled child with different learning. I realise that I picked this book from Christian section. I am a bit apprehensive if it gets too preachy. I have a similar feeling about Love, God and the art of French cooking. Its coincidental that the
Authors blog has a title picture of chips and guacamole.
Authors blog has a title picture of chips and guacamole.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
How to bring out the artist in the photographer?
My friend while reading through the pages of Photographing Childhood - The Image and the Memory found an answer to her photographer friends question of how to get natural photos of children who begin to pose as soon as they are in front of the camera. This from the explaining subtexts accompanying the photos. Even a casual reader can learn by comparing the pictures to how they would have taken them.
Since the subject is child and 'childhood' is the most favorite phase of life for many, nostalgia cannot escape from the scrutiny of the author. The author explains her projects of photography, the inspiration, conception and execution of them. She then moves on to the timeline, history and work of photographers from the past who have captured childhood. The conversation is continued with introduction to work of contemporary photographers and the voices in their work.
There is some technical knowledge about the different terms involved in the equipment. The book has a pull-out which puts information in a matrix form as to what to expect from your child in terms of taking their photos as they add those years. The importance of light in the book will make you start imagining how different a picture might be from different sites.
I cant help thinking how robotic I have been in taking pictures all while.
Since the subject is child and 'childhood' is the most favorite phase of life for many, nostalgia cannot escape from the scrutiny of the author. The author explains her projects of photography, the inspiration, conception and execution of them. She then moves on to the timeline, history and work of photographers from the past who have captured childhood. The conversation is continued with introduction to work of contemporary photographers and the voices in their work.
There is some technical knowledge about the different terms involved in the equipment. The book has a pull-out which puts information in a matrix form as to what to expect from your child in terms of taking their photos as they add those years. The importance of light in the book will make you start imagining how different a picture might be from different sites.
I cant help thinking how robotic I have been in taking pictures all while.
Making Illusions
Who is not wowed by cinema, animation, special effects? And like at a magic show where a magician reveals all his tricks, the readers of 'Filming the Fantastic' - A Guide to Visual Effects Cinematography by Mark Sawicki will find themselves being welcomed into the 'hall of effects' with all the know-how not to just understand how its accomplished but to bring them about by yourself at an affordable price.
The book balances history of techniques, camera equipment,motion creation process, technical information of concepts involved and the most up to date technology used in the industry today. The techniques - zone method, depth of lens charts used by professionals in gauging if their pictures meet the exposure, focus requirement covered show how science has to work with art for a believable effect.
If you are a newbie to the effects, you will enjoy the book a lot. I heard of 'green screen' talk after 300 movie. The picture sequences in the book illustrate the concepts in action. The author starts with simple effects and then explains the combination of those. As you learn about how to use matte effects, dynamation, you really do enter the world of the fantastic not as an enthralled viewer but as a person exploding with ideas on 'image making'.
The book balances history of techniques, camera equipment,motion creation process, technical information of concepts involved and the most up to date technology used in the industry today. The techniques - zone method, depth of lens charts used by professionals in gauging if their pictures meet the exposure, focus requirement covered show how science has to work with art for a believable effect.
If you are a newbie to the effects, you will enjoy the book a lot. I heard of 'green screen' talk after 300 movie. The picture sequences in the book illustrate the concepts in action. The author starts with simple effects and then explains the combination of those. As you learn about how to use matte effects, dynamation, you really do enter the world of the fantastic not as an enthralled viewer but as a person exploding with ideas on 'image making'.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Medicines Sans Frontieres
Hope in Hell
MSF in Haiti
When Kouchner, a gastroentologist claims that he was born 'too late to stop for the Holocaust', I wonder how we would have all reacted if it happened during our times.
Albert Schweitzer's story made another doctor to choose medicine. We too learnt of him as kids. He feels that working for MSF requires him to practise his profession like McGyver.
Looking at the picture of tents next to each other, each with a tight rope tied to stakes in a line, the stakes seem like people and the tents - megaliths.
Plumpynut
Bracelet of life
After earthquakes or to solve AIDS, when people look to MSF, we just need more such organizations with different skills.
A strong message in the book - Doctors cannot cure genocide.
Logisticians role.
MSf staff have faced abduction.
MSF in Haiti
When Kouchner, a gastroentologist claims that he was born 'too late to stop for the Holocaust', I wonder how we would have all reacted if it happened during our times.
Albert Schweitzer's story made another doctor to choose medicine. We too learnt of him as kids. He feels that working for MSF requires him to practise his profession like McGyver.
Looking at the picture of tents next to each other, each with a tight rope tied to stakes in a line, the stakes seem like people and the tents - megaliths.
Plumpynut
Bracelet of life
After earthquakes or to solve AIDS, when people look to MSF, we just need more such organizations with different skills.
A strong message in the book - Doctors cannot cure genocide.
Logisticians role.
MSf staff have faced abduction.
Beauty is truth?
The truth is in the flaw.
A card reader to exit the building is on the left.
On the left door is a sign
Use
Other door
Had the reader rightly been on the right side
it wouldnt need a correction sign.
May be the right door is too close to the corner.
In flaws, is certainty.
A card reader to exit the building is on the left.
On the left door is a sign
Use
Other door
Had the reader rightly been on the right side
it wouldnt need a correction sign.
May be the right door is too close to the corner.
In flaws, is certainty.
Beneath the sands of Egypt
mummyless coffins
The pictures in the book evoke the mysteries hidden.
After the description of rediscovery of KV60, the author writes down the path to his becoming an explorer.He then explains how the different courses equipped him with skills for archaelogy - identification bones - human and animal. In 'First Impressions' he observes that 'the pyramids are no longer the smooth-sided models of geometrical virtue that they once were'. He compares his impressions of the place with that of other people.
aish baladi
yardang
Koshari like Kichdi
Lighthouse of Alexandria
ancient library of Alexandria
Gebel Musa monastery
Elephantine island
Soknopaiou Nesos
Birket Qarun Lake
In the nineteenth century, tourists could buy mummies and coffins.
A new theory about how the pyramids were built. Did you see the ropes being used? The author talks of the importance of cordage study in understanding how ropes were used to haul the stones into the pyramids. He dispels the curse related with the tombs.
Hogarth
Asyut
An article
mummyless coffins
The pictures in the book evoke the mysteries hidden.
After the description of rediscovery of KV60, the author writes down the path to his becoming an explorer.He then explains how the different courses equipped him with skills for archaelogy - identification bones - human and animal. In 'First Impressions' he observes that 'the pyramids are no longer the smooth-sided models of geometrical virtue that they once were'. He compares his impressions of the place with that of other people.
aish baladi
yardang
Koshari like Kichdi
Lighthouse of Alexandria
ancient library of Alexandria
Gebel Musa monastery
Elephantine island
Soknopaiou Nesos
Birket Qarun Lake
In the nineteenth century, tourists could buy mummies and coffins.
A new theory about how the pyramids were built. Did you see the ropes being used? The author talks of the importance of cordage study in understanding how ropes were used to haul the stones into the pyramids. He dispels the curse related with the tombs.
Hogarth
Asyut
An article
Books I like to read some day
subject to writing style appeal
Book lust
The Long Walk
Full tilt
French Revolutions: Cycling the tour de France
Miles from Nowhere: A Round thw world bicycle adventure
Where the pavement ends
Two wheels north
Ultimate High
Two wheels in the dust
Catfish and Mandala
When I came across the title Solomon's Daughter, I was interested in knowing the mythical story. I wonder if we need time to play out life or if we can guess what is inevitable. Like evil balances good, does fate balance the certain,wished way of life?
Skywater
Few days ago, I picked a book Metamaus from the library. I am reading of it again in this book.
Book lust
The Long Walk
Full tilt
French Revolutions: Cycling the tour de France
Miles from Nowhere: A Round thw world bicycle adventure
Where the pavement ends
Two wheels north
Ultimate High
Two wheels in the dust
Catfish and Mandala
When I came across the title Solomon's Daughter, I was interested in knowing the mythical story. I wonder if we need time to play out life or if we can guess what is inevitable. Like evil balances good, does fate balance the certain,wished way of life?
Skywater
Few days ago, I picked a book Metamaus from the library. I am reading of it again in this book.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
A different Zen book
Zen in the art of writing by Ray Bradbury
His writing does come across as something that results from the way he wakes up with a thought explosion in his head each morning.
Reading about how he wrote many of his stories shows how he learnt his skill and how he enjoyed doing that. His way of writing doesnt associate with isolation or tiredness or block. In this sense its a different Zen.
He writes down all the situations that he found inspiring and leaves the reader there to start off writing.
11.17.2006
His writing does come across as something that results from the way he wakes up with a thought explosion in his head each morning.
Reading about how he wrote many of his stories shows how he learnt his skill and how he enjoyed doing that. His way of writing doesnt associate with isolation or tiredness or block. In this sense its a different Zen.
He writes down all the situations that he found inspiring and leaves the reader there to start off writing.
11.17.2006
Excellent choice of words
The Life of skies by Jonathan Rosen
Right from the word go i.e the title, every word adds meaning to the experience had by Jonathan Rosen as a bird watcher. This is the first prologue that I didnt look for to end, as it already seemed like the book.
The book is divided into two parts :
PartI - Backyard Birds
PartII- Birds of Paradise.
Through the experiences of Audubon with his pet parrot and the killer monkey, Whitman's with mocking birds and the resultant poetry, Roosevelt's contribution to preservation of wildlife and his own from a decade of birdwatching, the author tries to get to the core of what this act means to him.
Looking at the evolution of his answers, looks like he will find many more spokes out of it other than the ones hes already meditated on. One tough nut is the instinct of hunting Vs conservation of birds. Theres a bit of history of land as it relates to migration, borders from his experience birdwatching in Palestine.
He blends fictional stories like 'The Bear' by Faulkner with non fictional acounts of bird sightings to bring across his point to the reader. Solomon stories, conference of birds, DH Lawrence, Thomas Hardy - everyone's welcome to the bounty.
The first essay 'the Ghost Bird' is about the history of Ivory Bill's extinction or man's desperate attempt at falsifying it by spotting one. This concern carries into other chapters and winds up the book too.
Illustrations make the book even more interesting.
p232. Stork with spear is very touching
Initially the book leaned more towards extinct birds
like passenger pigeons(it took me a while to imagine their number when present and believe that they are none now), carolina parakeets, eventually it did rake up my interest in putting the bird guide book to use.
If you decide to go birdwatching and its the first time, its better to go on a guided bird walk.
Whats bioblitz? Be open to know lots of such new things...
5/5. 5.9.2009
Right from the word go i.e the title, every word adds meaning to the experience had by Jonathan Rosen as a bird watcher. This is the first prologue that I didnt look for to end, as it already seemed like the book.
The book is divided into two parts :
PartI - Backyard Birds
PartII- Birds of Paradise.
Through the experiences of Audubon with his pet parrot and the killer monkey, Whitman's with mocking birds and the resultant poetry, Roosevelt's contribution to preservation of wildlife and his own from a decade of birdwatching, the author tries to get to the core of what this act means to him.
Looking at the evolution of his answers, looks like he will find many more spokes out of it other than the ones hes already meditated on. One tough nut is the instinct of hunting Vs conservation of birds. Theres a bit of history of land as it relates to migration, borders from his experience birdwatching in Palestine.
He blends fictional stories like 'The Bear' by Faulkner with non fictional acounts of bird sightings to bring across his point to the reader. Solomon stories, conference of birds, DH Lawrence, Thomas Hardy - everyone's welcome to the bounty.
The first essay 'the Ghost Bird' is about the history of Ivory Bill's extinction or man's desperate attempt at falsifying it by spotting one. This concern carries into other chapters and winds up the book too.
Illustrations make the book even more interesting.
p232. Stork with spear is very touching
Initially the book leaned more towards extinct birds
like passenger pigeons(it took me a while to imagine their number when present and believe that they are none now), carolina parakeets, eventually it did rake up my interest in putting the bird guide book to use.
If you decide to go birdwatching and its the first time, its better to go on a guided bird walk.
Whats bioblitz? Be open to know lots of such new things...
5/5. 5.9.2009
Good Old oly
The Living Shore by Jacob Rowensen
Olympia Oysters. They were once abundant like many other that went off the face of the earth. In this book, you will know how the see-saw tipped.
The first chapter of Brian Kingzett's survey of British Columbia coastline at the rate of 12 beaches per four-hours of low tide is an adventure even in concept.
There are interesting facts to know about food chains of (human)-otters-sea urchins-kelp from the journeys of Brian Kingzett and the author. If you see one too many of a kind, you can tell who is not on duty. The Chesapeake scene is reviewed in terms of the failure of oyster population restoration. Just like people volunteering for rearing dogs for blind, there are people who raise oyster gardens.
In the subsequent chapters, the author moves on to raincoast dwellers and their fish traps and clam gardens. Then you are taken to Clovis times. Thats 13 thousands of years ago. Its hard to imagine that ancient humans have crossed miles of ocean, but really then the ocean was hundred of feet less deep.
Next a chapter on all the good in oysters needed for human brain development. Role of iodine in IQ.
Moken sea nomads
Geomorphology
5/5. 12.17.2009
Olympia Oysters. They were once abundant like many other that went off the face of the earth. In this book, you will know how the see-saw tipped.
The first chapter of Brian Kingzett's survey of British Columbia coastline at the rate of 12 beaches per four-hours of low tide is an adventure even in concept.
There are interesting facts to know about food chains of (human)-otters-sea urchins-kelp from the journeys of Brian Kingzett and the author. If you see one too many of a kind, you can tell who is not on duty. The Chesapeake scene is reviewed in terms of the failure of oyster population restoration. Just like people volunteering for rearing dogs for blind, there are people who raise oyster gardens.
In the subsequent chapters, the author moves on to raincoast dwellers and their fish traps and clam gardens. Then you are taken to Clovis times. Thats 13 thousands of years ago. Its hard to imagine that ancient humans have crossed miles of ocean, but really then the ocean was hundred of feet less deep.
Next a chapter on all the good in oysters needed for human brain development. Role of iodine in IQ.
Moken sea nomads
Geomorphology
5/5. 12.17.2009
Like a candy to a kid
Periodic tales - a cultural history of the elements from Arsenic to zinc.
'Culture' is the word for me.
This book starts with gold. The most known precious metal. In the prologue, his experiment to collect the elements so that he can relate to them better, is a good project to try it for kids.
The author has shown references to metals in the works of Shakespeare and other writers and explored if they had chemist background. Who thought that Mark Twain was a prospecter once.
I liked the story of Candide, (I first heard of Voltaire in a lesson called 'Voltaire and Frederick'. That is where I learnt the idiom 'a bag of bones'.)
An article on understanding idioms
'Culture' is the word for me.
This book starts with gold. The most known precious metal. In the prologue, his experiment to collect the elements so that he can relate to them better, is a good project to try it for kids.
The author has shown references to metals in the works of Shakespeare and other writers and explored if they had chemist background. Who thought that Mark Twain was a prospecter once.
I liked the story of Candide, (I first heard of Voltaire in a lesson called 'Voltaire and Frederick'. That is where I learnt the idiom 'a bag of bones'.)
An article on understanding idioms
A Lab in the ocean
Sex, Drugs and sea slime
Interview with the author
I have read that coral reef is alive but never understood how until I read the above npr article.
Interview with the author
I have read that coral reef is alive but never understood how until I read the above npr article.
For a well informed citizen
The ultimate mystery of inheritance
Epigenetics
Dutch famine
Agouti gene
Sewall Wright
X inactivation
Driesch - sea urchin - for heir big sixe, and less yolk - more transparency to study fertilization and cell divisions.
DFTD cancer - gruesome.
fruit flies for genetics
The Deer Hunter
pitcher plant mosquitoes
Jose Canseco
Epigenetics
Dutch famine
Agouti gene
Sewall Wright
X inactivation
Driesch - sea urchin - for heir big sixe, and less yolk - more transparency to study fertilization and cell divisions.
DFTD cancer - gruesome.
fruit flies for genetics
The Deer Hunter
pitcher plant mosquitoes
Jose Canseco
The way of the Panda
Armand David, as a naturalist has found many plants and classified them. The author describes the hard times David faced in China, when foreigners were few there. His expeditions included the quest of Panda. With information like the number of chromosomes in a bear Vs Panda to show that they are different, author grasps the reader.
Armand David, as a naturalist has found many plants and classified them. The author describes the hard times David faced in China, when foreigners were few there. His expeditions included the quest of Panda. With information like the number of chromosomes in a bear Vs Panda to show that they are different, author grasps the reader.
The Authentic Animal
When a calf dies, the farmer or the milkman makes a replica of it, so that the cow still produces milk.
Reading of Carl Akeley reminds me of Audubon. His humble beginnings as a taxidermist are recreated by the author as a raconteur. Freeze drying is a technique modernly used for taxidermy.
When a calf dies, the farmer or the milkman makes a replica of it, so that the cow still produces milk.
Reading of Carl Akeley reminds me of Audubon. His humble beginnings as a taxidermist are recreated by the author as a raconteur. Freeze drying is a technique modernly used for taxidermy.
Beijing welcomes you
A review
Another review
With the description of the kinds of tricycles, the author shows us the montage one faces on China's roads.
A review
Another review
With the description of the kinds of tricycles, the author shows us the montage one faces on China's roads.
A book left open
I bought 'Heavens Coast' a memoir by Mark Doty. i liked the book, I did nit want it finish, so I am not reading it now. Kind of like storing up on your favourite chocolte. I now have his Dog years. Hope I will finish that.
CFC syndrome
I had heard of The boy in the moon on npr.
Another review.
The book has been written well. I liked the authors approach to understand the disorder. When I read that kids with CFC didnt have cancer like the ones with Noonan and that being the reason for the research funding, it seemed like news with an impact.
When the author finds data about his son's brain, he grapples a bit with why his son is the way he is. The end of the book is an intense meditation of what his son's life means.
genetic science.. to the extent it unravels the human body, it dehumanizes it. - Dr. Denis Noble.
Buddhists idea of mind.
Another review.
The book has been written well. I liked the authors approach to understand the disorder. When I read that kids with CFC didnt have cancer like the ones with Noonan and that being the reason for the research funding, it seemed like news with an impact.
When the author finds data about his son's brain, he grapples a bit with why his son is the way he is. The end of the book is an intense meditation of what his son's life means.
genetic science.. to the extent it unravels the human body, it dehumanizes it. - Dr. Denis Noble.
Buddhists idea of mind.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Innovative innovation
In The Sorcerers and their apprentices, author Frank Moss introduces us to new fields like Biomechatronics.
personal robots
OPera of the future
Lifelong kindergarten
New Media medicine
Affective computing
Cognitive machines
Speech+Mobility
Tangible Media
'to create a better future for everyone'.
This book works at two levels. On one hand the reader learns of what makes innovation happen at the MIT lab - the coming together of minds in solving problems faced by many and on the other how the problems are solved with applications that are products of the lab. Its inspiring to know how some scientists are fueled with the experiences from their own life to work towards technologies that make life easier for others.
Some of the projects like the City car were hard for me to understand. There is some repitition in the text. Curiosity about the projects will get you to the end.
At the Media lab, the scientists 'build,test and demonstrate' their inventions. some projects like the MIT Red balloon challenge and Roy's Speechome project have received lot of coverage in the media.
The author finds that most of the discoveries are serendipitous by nature. But once an invention is in place, it is unthinkable how one ability leads to another. A technology used to capture movement of a music artist is used in automoives to figure if a passenger is a small adult or a child for purposes of airbag deployment. the same technology went into gait analysis.
Roy's Speechome project analysis led way to look at early detection of autism and empowering the affected with social abilities.
Othotics
Nephrolithiasis
personal robots
OPera of the future
Lifelong kindergarten
New Media medicine
Affective computing
Cognitive machines
Speech+Mobility
Tangible Media
'to create a better future for everyone'.
This book works at two levels. On one hand the reader learns of what makes innovation happen at the MIT lab - the coming together of minds in solving problems faced by many and on the other how the problems are solved with applications that are products of the lab. Its inspiring to know how some scientists are fueled with the experiences from their own life to work towards technologies that make life easier for others.
Some of the projects like the City car were hard for me to understand. There is some repitition in the text. Curiosity about the projects will get you to the end.
At the Media lab, the scientists 'build,test and demonstrate' their inventions. some projects like the MIT Red balloon challenge and Roy's Speechome project have received lot of coverage in the media.
The author finds that most of the discoveries are serendipitous by nature. But once an invention is in place, it is unthinkable how one ability leads to another. A technology used to capture movement of a music artist is used in automoives to figure if a passenger is a small adult or a child for purposes of airbag deployment. the same technology went into gait analysis.
Roy's Speechome project analysis led way to look at early detection of autism and empowering the affected with social abilities.
Othotics
Nephrolithiasis
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Earth apples. The book as a whole does not leave a great impression. Most of the poems are written in or of places Arizona.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Hostel
A small room with a cement counter all around to place our metal boxes. A bundle of all of our posessions into the hostel. oe goturs were filled with cardboard boxes of new dresses. I remember one red dress with a blue lace in front and a midband. That room was just to store our belongings. There was a bigger room for sleeping.
Once my classmate wore his elder sister's nightie. Being big for a fourth grader and larger, he was stuck in it for a while. He seemed to know more than a fourth grader of things in general. One morning we went to drop off a sister at the railway station. That day we had idli there with the chutney reeking of green chillies. I dont remember who paid for it.
Once my classmate wore his elder sister's nightie. Being big for a fourth grader and larger, he was stuck in it for a while. He seemed to know more than a fourth grader of things in general. One morning we went to drop off a sister at the railway station. That day we had idli there with the chutney reeking of green chillies. I dont remember who paid for it.
Early evening
A child jumping
up and down two
steps of an
open staircase
waiting for his
mother
As a kid, I was
ready with milk,
tea powder and sugar
ready on the stove
to turn it on
as soon as I
found her few houses
far
up and down two
steps of an
open staircase
waiting for his
mother
As a kid, I was
ready with milk,
tea powder and sugar
ready on the stove
to turn it on
as soon as I
found her few houses
far
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Life in things
A sweet box with an assortment of sweets. Some were slabs of two colors brown over cream color sweet or green over cream color. All made from milk. These were our treats from Shankerpally town during our summer holidays spent in Fatehpur village.
Unposted letters
From daughters to mothers
- the vague delight of being a stranger in a strange place. - Lynn Freed
Joseph cornell boxes in David Gaylan's 'boxes' essay in this anthology. A story by her. Of another writer inspired by ' The Incredible Appearing Man' story.
Pipestone paperweight in 'Unnaming the flowers' essay by Sonia Gernes.
What you hear in the dark?
Susan Griffin's essay is a revealing letter, embracing the miry relationship of a mother and daughter who have shared love only towards the end of it.
- the vague delight of being a stranger in a strange place. - Lynn Freed
Joseph cornell boxes in David Gaylan's 'boxes' essay in this anthology. A story by her. Of another writer inspired by ' The Incredible Appearing Man' story.
Pipestone paperweight in 'Unnaming the flowers' essay by Sonia Gernes.
What you hear in the dark?
Susan Griffin's essay is a revealing letter, embracing the miry relationship of a mother and daughter who have shared love only towards the end of it.
The land where you are the chief
Writers dreaming
A review
I liked the essays by John Nicols, Jack prelutsky, Reynolds Price.
Dreams may seem chaotic, but one can always create structure. - John Nicols
I liked the persona of John Nicols.
Prelutsky's essay shows us how dreams work into his poems for children. Writing with Jack Prelutsky. His poem froma dream.
Sometimes when I finish writing a poem, I look at it and say, What can I do with this, can I write the opposite? - Jack prelutsky
Reynolds Price linked his early childhood - trapped in a narrow tunnel dream to his experience of breech birth. His interview
Dreams are obviously the art of the artless. - Reynolds Price.
A review
I liked the essays by John Nicols, Jack prelutsky, Reynolds Price.
Dreams may seem chaotic, but one can always create structure. - John Nicols
I liked the persona of John Nicols.
Prelutsky's essay shows us how dreams work into his poems for children. Writing with Jack Prelutsky. His poem froma dream.
Sometimes when I finish writing a poem, I look at it and say, What can I do with this, can I write the opposite? - Jack prelutsky
Reynolds Price linked his early childhood - trapped in a narrow tunnel dream to his experience of breech birth. His interview
Dreams are obviously the art of the artless. - Reynolds Price.
Monday, November 7, 2011
At Starbucks
A new mom is on a single chair
table
walked in with a stroller in left hand
and a 2 month old baby in her right
the boy drinking his milk from a bottle
was slinking into sleep
A mom is mixing coffee
'Zucar or Splenda'
son answers 'Zucar'
for father who wants 'Splenda'.
Another mom with
a wide stroller
bulldozed the chairs
and people in her way
From the colour of it
I could tell the
white choc mocha wasnt good
table
walked in with a stroller in left hand
and a 2 month old baby in her right
the boy drinking his milk from a bottle
was slinking into sleep
A mom is mixing coffee
'Zucar or Splenda'
son answers 'Zucar'
for father who wants 'Splenda'.
Another mom with
a wide stroller
bulldozed the chairs
and people in her way
From the colour of it
I could tell the
white choc mocha wasnt good
Odd one out
The ear bud
looked extra white
It wasnt so every day
I opened the drawer
From a box of pink
ones I had picked a
spare white
looked extra white
It wasnt so every day
I opened the drawer
From a box of pink
ones I had picked a
spare white
Nightmares of a mom to be
A snake breaks the latch
of a big blue drum
theres another in a
cardboard box used to
deliver flowers
The mom was convinced
before ordering them
snakes that they were
easy to dispose with
The first snake didnt
seem vile
only curious about
whats going to happen
The mom walked into the
patio with her husband
to discuss their POA.
The next nightmare:
Hands with eczema
strangely no pain
The next nightmare:
Husband is lost in
a sea of relatives
back home
Mother knows - womanhood, motherhood, selfhood.
Frost: A love story
A review that includes this book.
Ackee in Coconut lady
Frost: A love story
A review that includes this book.
Ackee in Coconut lady
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
My Oedipus complex ncluded in iIn praise of mothers anthology is hilarious. The anthology also includes Jane Goodall's story Mothers and daughters about chimpanzees. A quirky behavior.Its amazing that studies have been done on chimpanzees to the extent we know how the mother-daughter relation saga plays out with different personalities of daughters.
The war was the most peaceful period of my life - kid character in the story by Frank O Connor.
The Leap by Louise Erdrich has a hook with 'My mother once said that I'd be amazed at how many things a person can do within the act of falling'.
Fenstad's mother
Happiness
Songs my mother taught me - Hortense Calisher
The Good Deed by Pearl S Buck.
The war was the most peaceful period of my life - kid character in the story by Frank O Connor.
The Leap by Louise Erdrich has a hook with 'My mother once said that I'd be amazed at how many things a person can do within the act of falling'.
Fenstad's mother
Happiness
Songs my mother taught me - Hortense Calisher
The Good Deed by Pearl S Buck.
Friday, November 4, 2011
With few letters
wilderness, wildness.
Thinking of wilderness, the moment I like to recall is the time I was birdwatching at Catalina mountains where I heard a Bewick wren sing. It was on a branch at my eye level. I felt like a giant led into the toy city.
The other day I was thinking about lighting and lightning.
Assassin bugs
Spinner bugs. Thinking about this I was reminded of a story where a drowning ant's life is saved by a leaf thrown into the water by a friend.
Walking is almost an ambulation of mind. - Gretel Ehrlich.
Miners lettuce
Cirque
windsounds becoming watersounds - Gretel Ehrlich
I like the word meltwater.
A ticket to Tanzania
Terrazzo
Makonde art
ngoma
Mohamed Amin
Wilfred Thesiger
Mirella Ricciardi
Thinking of wilderness, the moment I like to recall is the time I was birdwatching at Catalina mountains where I heard a Bewick wren sing. It was on a branch at my eye level. I felt like a giant led into the toy city.
The other day I was thinking about lighting and lightning.
Assassin bugs
Spinner bugs. Thinking about this I was reminded of a story where a drowning ant's life is saved by a leaf thrown into the water by a friend.
Walking is almost an ambulation of mind. - Gretel Ehrlich.
Miners lettuce
Cirque
windsounds becoming watersounds - Gretel Ehrlich
I like the word meltwater.
A ticket to Tanzania
Terrazzo
Makonde art
ngoma
Mohamed Amin
Wilfred Thesiger
Mirella Ricciardi
Traveling anyhow
Traveling is fun when you are in the best of your health and no luggage. But if a kid is in the car, in or out of your body, its a different scenario.
Granny shoots the rapids
Baby on board. Taking months baby on a long drive. When my friends took us visiting to las Vegas, I appreciate their willingness to tackle all the hassles that go with it.
'Going your own way' is the real adventure section in this travel book. In 'Alone at Sea', Tania Aebi, looks back on the day she started her voyage and finds her erstwhile self 'a frightened girl'.
Helen Thayer's account of a 'polar bear' visit is a gripping tale. You can feel the polar bear pass you by. I can almost feel kicking myself for not having a way to interact with the bear in a friendly fashion for lack of a common language to communicate that I mean no harm. The author did learn a lot about wolves by letting her dog Charlie interact with them.
In 'Endurance on Ice', Anne Dal Vera finds that 'skiing to the South Pole provided her with the challenges she needed to learn about herself in relation to the land, and in relation to a small group of women'.
Two quotes I liked by Mary Russell about
women risking the life they nurture and the challenge that women see in single sailing
Granny shoots the rapids
Baby on board. Taking months baby on a long drive. When my friends took us visiting to las Vegas, I appreciate their willingness to tackle all the hassles that go with it.
'Going your own way' is the real adventure section in this travel book. In 'Alone at Sea', Tania Aebi, looks back on the day she started her voyage and finds her erstwhile self 'a frightened girl'.
Helen Thayer's account of a 'polar bear' visit is a gripping tale. You can feel the polar bear pass you by. I can almost feel kicking myself for not having a way to interact with the bear in a friendly fashion for lack of a common language to communicate that I mean no harm. The author did learn a lot about wolves by letting her dog Charlie interact with them.
In 'Endurance on Ice', Anne Dal Vera finds that 'skiing to the South Pole provided her with the challenges she needed to learn about herself in relation to the land, and in relation to a small group of women'.
Two quotes I liked by Mary Russell about
women risking the life they nurture and the challenge that women see in single sailing
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Story line not up to writing style
Several perceptions
If you can dissect a book, and enjoy a group of words, for the way they have been framed and not expect these sentences to lead into an interesting or usual, expected occurences, then this book is for you.
The writing style is impressive, despite the lack of purposeful action expected in a novel.
Aug 20, 2005
3/5
If you can dissect a book, and enjoy a group of words, for the way they have been framed and not expect these sentences to lead into an interesting or usual, expected occurences, then this book is for you.
The writing style is impressive, despite the lack of purposeful action expected in a novel.
Aug 20, 2005
3/5
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Learning to bike
Reading of bike sharing system, I was reminded of how we rented bikes before we learnt how to ride them. We stayed at one end of the town. To get to a rental place we had to walk a good mile. And after returning the bike, we had to walk it all back. I dont think this ever deterred us from renting them. At first we rented tiny bikes so we could put our feet on earth whenever we felt we were about to fall. When I looked at a big rock in front of me. Instead of averting it, how much ever I wanted to, I realised that the bike would only go in that direction.
Its remarkable how some kids learn to ride bicycles bigger than them by managing to put their feet on the pedals but without sitting. Its referref to as 'kainchi' or the scissor style.
Its remarkable how some kids learn to ride bicycles bigger than them by managing to put their feet on the pedals but without sitting. Its referref to as 'kainchi' or the scissor style.
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