10 non-work-related items that I found fun or interesting

via Arts and Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Grief is a lonely yet enticing place. Burrow in too far, however, and sorrow becomes all you know. Write about it and risk being branded a solipsist...more

Soda bottles become electricity-less “light bulbs” for the poor
via Boing Boing by Maggie Koerth-Baker
In many of the world’s poor neighborhoods, homes are built out of whatever materials people can get their hands on, often without windows or electricity. That means the buildings are awfully dark during the day, reducing quality of life, safety, and productivity.
But the situation can be improved with only a used soda bottle, some water, and some bleach. Check out this clever solution, developed by MIT and distributed by the Liter of Light project.
Via Grist
Video Link

via Arts and Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
In fairy tales, good triumphs over evil., but in ways we may find quite vexing. Look at the Brothers Grimm with Snow White vs. how Disney ends it...more

via Arts and Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Having kids - what’s in it for me? The economics of happiness, nature and nurture has an answer: Parents’ sacrifice is much smaller than it looks...more

via Arts and Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Of the 6,500 languages in the world, half are expected to die out by the end of this century. The race is on to collect and record...more

via Marcus P Zillman: Internet Happenings, Events and Sources
Leafsnap: An Electronic Field Guide
Leafsnap is the first in a series of electronic field guides being developed by researchers from Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institution. This free mobile app uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves. Leafsnap contains beautiful high-resolution images of leaves, flowers, fruit, petiole, seeds, and bark. Leafsnap currently includes the trees of New York City and Washington, DC, and will soon grow to include the trees of the entire continental United States.
OK, this is not going to be a really useful application for the majority of my readers who are all based in the UK – but surely some of the information will be the same.
And it’s free which is a price we like, is it not?

via Arts and Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Odyssey, the most magnificent travel record of all time, is about one man’s courage, cunning, and will to prevail, with or without help from the gods. It is also about wisdom...more

via Arts and Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Researchers in Siberia have managed to breed foxes as tame as dogs. It's a feat that might unlock the genetics of violent behavior...more
A truly intriguing story.

via Arts and Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Why is Galileo portrayed as a stony rationalist when it was his engagement with the arts - The Divine Comedy in particular - that inspired him?...more

via Arts and Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
The printing press was not at first used to make books. Rather, almanacs, calendars, municipal orders, indulgence certificates...more

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