apple juice

At 71, Physics Professor is a Web Star

Professor Lewin’s videotaped physics lectures, free online on the OpenCourseWare of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have won him devotees across the country and beyond who stuff his e-mail in-box with praise.

If the rising tide lifts all boats, I hope that education around the world can be lifted through the internet like this. What’s stopping a kid from learning physics now? Basic needs, a laptop and the internet.

I’m getting closer to canceling the cable and just pulling in my TV over-the-air. We’d also start relying on download services and netflix for our entertainment needs.

The download services are a particular pet-peeve of mine. This post over at wired explains the chaos that is NBC’s “strategy” for digital downloads.

NBC Provides Downloads, Sheer Frustration

Left-Hand-Turn Elimination

It seems that sitting in the left lane, engine idling, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so you can make a left-hand turn, is minutely wasteful — of time and peace of mind, for sure, but also of gas and therefore money. Not a ton of gas and money if we’re talking about just you and your Windstar, say, but immensely wasteful if we’re talking about more than 95,000 big square brown trucks delivering packages every day.

When can I get real time info about my route? With all of the exits and entrances that are being opened and closed on any given day around here, it’s a wonder I’m making it to work at all! 🙂

First off, if you haven’t been reading MinnPost, you’re missing a lot of great stories.

But, I do have one problem with this (otherwise excellent) story about the troubles facing condo owners and potential owners.

There is a lot of discussion given to mixed-use developments, pointing out that lenders are growing wary of these types of developments. Mixed-use developments are those that include a mix of commercial, retail, rental and residential space (think first-floor coffee shop, condos upstairs). However, there is little discussion about the fact that mixed-use developments are desirable for healthy and vital neighborhoods. They almost got there with this quote:

“Our policies encouraging mixed-use development along transit corridors are still standing and still strong.” — Barbara Sporlein, director of planning for Minneapolis.

Ok, good, but why are we encouraging this?

I think support for mixed-use developments would grow when there is greater coverage given to why it is important for an urban area. (See also “I live downtown; where is the closest grocery store?” and “Places you can stand in Chicago and see two Starbucks stores with lines out the door”)

An incomplete list:

1. Catch up on Super Mario Galaxy
2. Search for a lost multi-tool
3. Do the laundry (colors first)
4. Eat some chips and salsa
5. Have some peppermint tea with honey
6. Listen to music
7. Let the dog curl up on your legs
8. Read the new Monocle
9. Try to clear out my newsreader