Interesting (to me) trivia

Another eclectic list of odd things I thought were interesting, or weird

Robotic minds think alike?
from ICT Results Issue 16
Most schoolchildren struggle to learn geometry, but they are still able to catch a ball without first calculating its parabola. Why should robots be any different? A team of European researchers have developed an artificial cognitive system that learns from experience and observation rather than relying on predefined rules and models.

Edible packaging seen as next wave of innovation
via Technology Trends & Opinion » Blah, Blah! Technology blog by wasmall on 31 March
Edible coatings based on various mixes of milk serum proteins, starch, and mesquite gum could be the basis for the next innovative wave in food packaging, says a researcher in Spain.

Social awareness ribbons are must-have fashion accessories. They show you care. Especially about exhibiting what a caring person you are... more
via Arts & Letters Daily on 4 Apr 2008

That "lovable old-fashioned bundle of ink and cellulose," the newspaper, will land for the last time on a doorstep one day in 2043... more
via Arts & Letters Daily 28 March
Apropos of nothing much I note that in June 2043 I shall, if I continue living, be 100 years old. Will I care that newspapers have disappeared? Probably not.

Wicked Jihad?
via Demos Greenhouse by jamie.bartlett@demos.co.uk on 5 March
I have written a short think piece which questions some of the assumptions about our understanding of "Islamic" violent extremism. Counter terrorism policy in Western Europe is increasingly about preventing violent extremism before it arises, by lessening the appeal of groups like al-Qaeda. But we are still a long way from understanding what that appeal is.
Download the piece

CCTV cameras move crime a few feet down the sidewalk -- study
via Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow on 7 April
A fascinating study of security cameras in San Francisco has concluded that any effect on they have on crime is incredibly localized, and they only works on certain kinds of crime -- furthermore, the same number of crimes end up getting committed in the long run, just down the street from the cameras.
Link (via Schneier)

Animal Crackers
3 Quarks Daily has a post which simply has the title and a YouTube video to watch. If you're a fan of Groucho, Harpo and Chico aka the Marx Brothers then you will probably already have a link to this -- if not then go and look!

And Now, 'Google Me' The Movie
Everyone has searched on his/her own name and some people even have real-time news alerts tied to their names. Now a new online documentary takes this vanity search phenomenon to a new level with Google Me the Movie. Part time actor Jim Killeen discovered there were six other Jim Killeens...

Your Birth Tune
via Pogue's Posts by David Pogue on 11 April
What was the #1 most popular song on the day you were born? Has this question been keeping you up at night? Then today's your lucky day. On this site, you can specify your birth month and date.

Forvo - all the words in the world…spoken out loud
via The Red Ferret Journal by Nigel on 11 April
Forvo is a kind of wiki dictionary for the spoken word. If you've ever wondered how a word was pronounced, you'll love this new service. Just do a search for the word in question in any language and click the speak button to have a native speaker pronounce it for you.