Say what you want, but you can’t French Kiss your purse can you? Booyah!
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Archive for September, 2010
What parents worry about, what parents should worry about
08
Sep
From NPR, a list of 5 common parental worries that are extremely unlikely, and the top five risks for kids: the gap between the two is the source of much anguish, bad policy, and danger:
Based on surveys Barnes collected, the top five worries of parents are, in order:5 Worries Parents Should Drop, And 5 They Shouldn't (via Schneier)1. Kidnapping
2. School snipers
3. Terrorists
4. Dangerous strangers
5. DrugsBut how do children really get hurt or killed?
1. Car accidents
2. Homicide (usually committed by a person who knows the child, not a stranger)
3. Abuse
4. Suicide
5. Drowning
You Must Remember This: What Makes Something Memorable?
07
Sep
One of the signature discoveries of cognitive neuroscience is that a structure called the hippocampus, deep within the brain, is intimately involved in creating memories. This fact was dramatically illustrated by a singular patient, Henry Molaison, who experienced severe epileptic seizures. In 1953, when Molaison was 27, doctors removed his hipÂpocampus and nearby areas on both sides of his brain. The operation controlled his epilepsy, but at a price--from that time on, he was unable to remember the things that happened to him. He could learn skills, such as mirror writing, but would be puzzled by his expertise, because he could not recall having acquired it.
H.M., as he was known during his lifetime to protect his privacy, taught scientists three lessons. First, certain brain structures--the hippocampus and the amygdala, the brain’s emotion center--specialize in remembering. Second, there are different kinds of memory--the ability to recall facts, or personal experiences, or physical skills like riding a bike--each with its own properties. Third, memory is distinct from the brain’s intellectual and perceptual abilities.
[More]
Nike Unveils New iPhone App Just for Runners
06
Sep
Nike has just rolled out a new iPhone app for runners, available for download now [iTunes link].
The Nike+ GPS App for iPhone will pull in data from the device’s accelerometer and GPS to give runners an effective, accurate and useful tool for getting in shape and staying motivated. So far, it’s available in English only and sells for $1.99.
Although fitness apps abound in the App Store, few carry the street cred or instant name recognition of Nike.
The app will allow runners to visually map and track every run, indoor and outdoor, “free range†or treadmill. Nike says the app even works when a GPS signal is unavailable. Mapped routes show a breakdown of the runner’s pace at various points during the run, as well. You can track your distance, time and number of calories burned.
One interesting aspect of the app is the “Challenge Me†feature. It helps runners challenge themselves to run greater distances, longer times or quicker paces than their previous runs. Aside from giving challenges, the app also provides in-run, on-demand motivational messages from pro athletes and celebrities.
And of course the app carries the now-obligatory social sharing features. Through integration with NikePlus.com, runners can save each run to their online profiles and share the run through the site, Twitter and Facebook.
We have no word so far on when to expect Android, BlackBerry or other apps, but Nike says the app will work for iPod touch (second, third and fourth generations), iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. The company makes no promises about how the app will function on an iPad; then again, if you’re running with your iPad, you might need less motivation to run faster and more motivation to give the tech gadgets a rest.
Here’s a video sent to us by Nike showing some of the ins and outs of the app:
What do you think of Nike’s app so far? Is this something you’d use for your running routine, or will you stick to the free apps already available?
Reviews: Android, App Store, Facebook, Twitter
More About: App, fitness, iphone app, Nike, Nike+GPS, runner, runners, running, sport
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Hugo Awards 2010: some of the best results in recent memory
05
Sep
Last night, the Hugo Awards, one of science fiction's most prestigious prizes, were presented in Melbourne at Aussiecon 4. The Hugo ceremony is one of my favorite parts of any WorldCon, and last night's event, emceed by Garth Nix, was a particularly outstanding edition. The ballot was extremely strong, with works that I really enjoyed competing in several categories. The voter and nominator turnout were both much higher than usual, and the program moved at a very, very good clip. This year's award, designed by Nick Stathopolous, was gorgeous, incorporating aboriginal motifs and an organic, Belle Époque look inspired by the Paris Metro signs. Kudos to the administrators on a smooth, well-run ceremony!
The fiction prizes were especially sweet this year. Best novel was an almost-unheard-of tie between China Mieville for his brilliant, mind-bending The City and the City and Paolo Bacigalupe for his stellar debut novel The Windup Girl. Best novella went to my collaborator Charlie Stross for Palimpsest, from his wonderful, mind-bending solo short story collection Wireless. Best novelette went to Peter Watts for The Island, from The New Space Opera 2. Boing Boing readers will remember Peter as the SF writer who was beaten and gassed near the US/Canada border when he got out of his car to ask why US customs officers were searching his car; he spent tens of thousands of dollars fighting the charge and the potential two-year sentence; was found guilty but received a suspended sentence. SF fans raised money to bring Peter to Australia, and his acceptance speech in which he called this the "best and worst year of his life," was brilliant. The best short story, which I presented, went to Will McIntosh for "Bridecicle," a lovely story.
Net-based media was a big winner this year: the podcast Starship Sofa (often presented here) won for Best Fanzine. And of course, there was Fred Pohl's Hugo for Best Fan Writer for his excellent blog The Way the Future Blogs.
Other categories whose winners made me especially glad include the Best Editor prize for my editor at Tor, Patrick Nielsen Hayden (this was his second prize in the very new category, and he has taken his name out of the running for next year). The graphic novel category went to Phil and Kaja Foglio's steampunk comic Girl Genius. The Campbell Award for best new writer to Seanan McGuire, whose heartfelt acceptance speech made me burst into tears.
Tor.com has the full list of nominees and winners here.
Websites for scifi’s most famous evil corporations, based on real-life corporate websites [Design]
03
Sep
