It’s the day of the big secret announcement. Okay, it’s not that secret. We’re getting back into podcasting. Starting this Monday, Once every two weeks you can come back here for the Concept Crucible podcast, where Huck and I will talk about all manner of random things, attempt to give advice and make sense, and touch butts basically all the time. There’s both a video and audio version for your viewing pleasure, and I hope you enjoy it. Today’s Hexup has links from the past and the future, of things that were and things yet to come.
Pi Day
Speaking of things yet to come, this Friday is Pi Day, where math nerds everywhere will celebrate the day that is also their favourite number. Where will you be at 1:59? I’ll be downstairs from my office getting pie. Just saying. Cake is also acceptable, and pizza comes in pies as well. Meat pies are good to go. But take a moment to get some pie and think about what a crazy amazing number pi is. It’s infinite, non-repeating, and you can’t calculate the area of circumference of a circle without it.
New Cosmos
Tomorrow the new Cosmos airs, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. It’ll talk all about the solar system, the universe, and how human beings fit into it. I remember watching Carl Sagan in the original series as a kid, so I’m sort of doubly excited for this. Also, it’s important to serve Cosmos at your Cosmos party. Just saying.
Getting perspective
If cosmology is your thing, then Josh Worth’s “If the Moon Were Only One Pixel” will either tickle your fancy or blow your mind. Examine the real scale distances between the planets of the solar system. Space is really big, and this is a great way to get a handle on just how far apart everything is.
Modern art as a children’s book
“There is nothing in the room. Peter is confused. Jane is confused. Mummy is happy. “There’s is nothing in the room because God is dead,” says Mummy.” Artist Miriam Elia takes a poke a modern art in a satirical children’s book.
Cyborg drummer
Yep. Straight from the New Scientist. Jason Barnes lost his arm in a tragic accident, but rigged up his prosthetic and still managed to enter the Atlanta Institute for Music and Media. Then the Georgia Institute of Technology kitted him out with a new, bionic arm. Now he’s a union of man and machine, wielding three drumsticks with extraordinary proficiency. Using skills he already learned the hard way, but still. Reasons why cybernetics is amazing number five hundred and three. And yes, there’s a video.
Code poetry slam
This article’s from December, but I had to include it anyway. Stanford held its first code poetry slam, where people compiled code, read from code, and created code as poetry. Both mad and wonderful, as poetry ought to be.
Anyway, have a fun Pi Day, and don’t forget to check out Cosmos. We’ll see you on Monday with the first podcast!
