“The VCR itself was outmoded by the DVD player in 2001. That’s the year that people started watching more DVDs than VHS cassettes. So, while it was refreshing to see that VCRs had made it this far into the 21st century, it was interesting that it was eight years after the very inventor of the term had given up on the technology.”
Month: July 2016
What Science Knows About The Accuracy Of Trusting Your Gut For Decisions
“We humans are oddly fond of trusting our guts. Well, that might not be such a great idea: The same people more likely to go with intuition over rational thought are worse judges of others’ emotions, according to new research.”
Can A Brain Scan Tell What You’re Thinking? (Here’s What We Know So Far)
“To see if they could actually identify such patterns, the team had 80 people solve a series of math problems while lying in an fMRI scanner. Using a mix of otherwise standard methods from computer science and neuroscience, they identified a sequence of brain-activation patterns corresponding to encoding a problem, planning a solution, making the necessary computations, and providing a response.”
New Ideas? There Are Fewer Of Them Than You Might Think
“Human beings are extraordinarily good at deceiving themselves and possibly never more so than when they think that they have had a new idea, as Steven Poole makes clear in this fascinating compendium of new ideas that aren’t new at all.”
How “Sciencey” Does Science Fiction Need To Be?
Many here strongly believe that the science in science fiction should be firmly grounded in reality. They are devotees of what’s called hard sci-fi, which emphasizes technical detail and scientific rigor. If you’ve read Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke or Catherine Asaro, you’ve read hard sci-fi. Andy Weir’s “The Martian” is a recent example.
Everyone’s An Artist These Days. But What, Exactly IS An Artist?
“Is artist defined by talent and skill, by length of practice or legacy? Are there common characteristics of all artists beyond the attempt to create? Do we include those only within our sphere or all of those beyond our recognition? If creation alone does not constitute conferring the appellation of artist, can one grow into the post? If art is a process, are you an artist only when you have practiced your “art” for a term? Or is the definition of an artist and art best left to each of us to ponder for ourselves?”
What Makes A Local Orchestra Local?
Civic pride – the pleasure of saying, “This beautiful thing is ours” – is a powerful force in maintaining any expensive performing-arts institution. But anyone who thinks an orchestra’s leadership and membership should be exclusively planted in their community is living in the last century.
How Being Exhausted Became A Status Symbol
“Each era remakes the condition in its own image, reflecting its medical, technological and cultural developments, as well as its fears. Dangerous precisely because it keeps us from action, exhaustion has for centuries done double duty as a sign of weakness and a badge of honor.”
Leonardo Da Vinci, Wedding Planner And Caterer
“Understandably his sexier accomplishments, like painting the Mona Lisa and inventing the deep-sea diving suit, overshadowed his time as a wedding planner. But wedding plan he did – from approximately 1489 to 1493 – and like everything else da Vinci put his mind to, it was with gusto and moxie.”
Only In Portland: A Food Truck For Opera
“At each stop, the cart – actually a converted truck that carries a foldout stage as well as set pieces – offers a ‘menu’ of arias, duets and ensemble pieces. When a selection is ‘ordered,’ a cast of three singers and a pianist gives a short performance.” And what is Portland Opera calling this venture? We’re afraid so: “Opera à la Cart”.