Usually the lectures I attend at Caltech and JPL are about landing on asteroids, black holes and the composition of Jupiter’s Moons, but this month, they had a biologist who discussed sleep. Years ago many scientists concluded that melatonin was the mechanism that causes people to sleep. Subsequently, many companies began manufacturing melatonin supplements. Later, …
From My Cultural Landscape Series
So this morning I was looking for the vintage car rally event held in Pasadena every year the day before the Rose Parade, and this is what I discovered under “Events.” In 2008 a few of my female college students “explained” to me that it is not like back in the day when their moms …
You Want It Darker – Honoring Leonard Cohen
Update November 12, 2016: the web page where the interview podcast of Leonard Cohen about his new album, You Want It Darker, appeared has now been updated to be a wonderful homage to Cohen with links to many videos, podcasts, audio files, biography information etc. I learned on this page that he had suffered from …
Apples “New” Macs Not Much Help for Creative Developers Who Have Been Waiting and Waiting and Waiting
I was super disappointed in this “new” #Apple Mac laptop announced October 27. We have all been waiting for new Minis and desktop computers for several years now, and Tim Cook and company gave us only a laptop with a function strip. (And I am thinking about writing a streaming video app that mutes …
On Liberals, Geckos and Microloans
Well, it’s time for me to get back on the book and science lecture review wagon! I’ve been working more on short stories and my interactive multimedia book series, Light 2.0, and have neglected writing about the nonfiction and real life learning going on in my world. Over the next weeks, I’ll write about …
I’m opposed to fracking – but I don’t really know what it is. Does this resonate with you?
Want to know about fracking beyond the word? This link will take to to a book purchase and $9 of your cost will support progressive news site Truthout.org : Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is perilous to human health and terrible for the environment, and we have the ability to stop it. Mark Ruffalo calls Wenonah …
Why Women in Tech and Science Know Well About Pulling off the Impossible!
Dr. Marc Rayman, Chief Engineer and Mission Director of NASA’s Dawn Mission told an audience at JPL last Thursday night: “NASA’s motto is ‘If it isn’t impossible, it isn’t worth doing.’ ” I think this will be my new motto, too. It seems to be a pretty good description of my life! I remember one …
Self Driving Cars: the Emperor’s New Clothes Tale of Early 21st Century?
Yes, I am going out on a limb here. And if my words find any traction beyond my little corner of the Internet, surely there will be many people coming down hard on me. For there is BIG money behind this self driving car movement. Google is getting the most publicity for their efforts, but …