Getting a new passport in 2007? I will be, and the first thing I’ll do after getting it is “sit on it wrong”. With a hammer. Why? Because the old-fashioned printed-on-paper part of it is just as useful as a 2006 passport, which people will need to be able to deal with until 2016 at least. That gives them 9 more years to work out any kinks in the system.
on learning and unschooling
I could have used this new form of homeschooling back when I was in high school. From the Chicago Sun-Times:
Five years ago, frustrated with the pace and depth of a Chicago Public School gifted program, Abby withdrew from eighth grade and entered uncharted territory — a branch of home schooling often called “unschooling.”
Under this ultimate form of “child-directed” learning, Abby used no set curriculum. She called her own hours, worked at her own pace and, most important, followed her own interests — without taking tests or receiving grades. Some days, she’d wake up, grab a bowl of cereal and go back to bed with a book.
Earth Clock
In the spirit of the solstice season, I bring you archaeoastronomy.com. It’s got articles on the topic, an animated “earth clock” and even podcasts. Enjoy!
Happy Solstice!
From my brother John:
Solstice Trivia
The solstice (from old English meaning “sun-standing-still”) is the time of turning, when the days change from shortening to lengthening. It is often seen as a time when we can leave behind that which we don’t want to carry into the new cycle and begin anew with goals of intention.Though often thought of as a Celtic celebration, the return of the sun has been celebrated in nearly every culture, east and west.
The Solstice is at 4:23 PST, December 21.
An interesting article can be found on the web site of Project Astro Utah.
Happy Solstice, everyone!
NASA and Google team up
Apparently NASA and Google have solidified a year-old relationship that uses Google technology to index and deliver NASA content. From Ars Technica:
In the first of many tasks that will be worked on by the new alliance, Google will work with the ARC to make NASA’s information available on the Internet to anyone who wants to see it.
Sounds like a great partnership to me. Google Maps Mars? Hubble Image Search? Maybe even a searchable archive of communications transcripts like the ones Glen worked on?