When the Cat is Away

Hexup

Dan’s camping this weekend, so I’m here by my lonesome with a Hexup that gives you brains, virtual reality, quantum computers, comic books, video games and Bill Nye the Science Guy. It’s pretty much the greatest thing ever.

I know kung fu

Keanu Reeves as Neo in the Matrix

Whoa

The Olympics aren’t usually something I pay attention to, but when this article from the New Scientist crossed my feed I had to read it. The United Kingdom is developing a virtual reality simulator to help train its Olympic tae kwon do team. They’re still debating on a headset, projected display, or full on holodeck, but I know what I’d pick.

Harbinger of the Golden Age

I do care about comic books though. August 28th was Jack Kirby’s birthday, a man who’s responsible for much of my childhood fun and my desire to fight crime in a jumpsuit. Lifehacker put together a post outlining his favourite productivity tips which, coming from an artist as prolific as he was, are worth taking to heart.

Brain-hacking

“University of Washington researchers have performed what they believe is the first noninvasive human-to-human brain interface, with one researcher able to send a brain signal via the Internet to control the hand motions of a fellow researcher.” ‘Nuff said. You can read all the details at Science Daily.

Understand quantum computing

Comics and science? Oh yes. Jorge Cham of PHD comics illustrated this great video on how quantum mechanics and quantum computing work. Short version: physics does things that are funny to us with things that are really really small.

Play more games

Extra Credits, a great game design show on Penny Arcade tv, just put out a new episode on games that you should try. There’s no promise that they’re great, only that they’re worth playing and you’ll usually learn something. I’ve played a few, and might do some video of it if I can think of something interesting to say.

Bill! Bill! Bill!

I’ve saved the best for last. This interview with Bill Nye the Science Guy says everything you need to know about his commitments and the hard line he’s been taking against creationists and climate change deniers. The 20th anniversary of his show is coming up, and I think it should be a gritty Milleresque version where he shouts “Put on your lab coats and give them hell!”

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