Author: David Cantatore

Was Robert Hooke really the greatest asshole in the history of science?

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Robert Hooke discovered the cell, established experimentation as crucial to scientific research, and did pioneering work in optics, gravitation, paleontology, architecture, and more. Yet history dismissed and forgot him… all because he pissed off Isaac Newton, probably the most revered scientist who ever lived.

Very interesting article that highlights the need for diplomacy and ethics in the scientific establishment. Oh and the importance of not making genius enemies.

To pick a fight with Isaac Newton was one thing, but Robert Hooke made one other huge mistake: he died twenty-four years before Newton did. In 1703, the year of Hooke’s death, Newton became the President of the Royal Society. It was during Newton’s presidency that the only known portrait of Hooke was destroyed — the portrait you see up top is a new work by artist Rita Greer that is based on what few contemporary descriptions of the man survive. The more salacious version of the story says that Newton intentionally had the painting burned, though it’s possible he simply let it be lost or destroyed when the Royal Society moved headquarters.

via io9 -Was Robert Hooke really the greatest asshole in the history of science?.

Hacked Record Player Turns Tree Rings Into Music

art

If you’re a fan of experimental technology, Arduino hacking or post-modern music, this project is going to make you smile. Years is a piece by Bartholomäus Traubeck, and it consists of a record player that plays slices of wood. Yep, you read that right.

As you probably know, you can estimate how old a tree is by counting the rings across its trunk. This record player reads that “ring data” and translates it into music. More specifically, the tree’s year rings are analyzed for strength, thickness and growth rate. All of these details affect the final sound.

via Shareables: Hacked Record Player Turns Tree Rings Into Music.

 

Why Canadians Should Participate in the SOPA/PIPA Protest

politics, this can't end well

Even if you’re not in Canada or in the US, this is a good read to understand the dangers of the SOPA/PIPA bills.

The bill grants the U.S. “in rem” jurisdiction over any website that does not have a domestic jurisdictional connection. For those sites, the U.S. grants jurisdiction over the property of the site and opens the door to court orders requiring Internet providers to block the site and Internet search engines to stop linking to it. 

Should a Canadian website owner wish to challenge the court order, U.S. law asserts itself in another way, since in order for an owner to file a challenge (described as a “counter notification”), the owner must first consent to the jurisdiction of the U.S. courts.

You can replace “Canadian” by any other country. In short, SOPA will instantly grant the US worldwide censorship powers, in a way that leaves much to be desired in terms of due process.

Seriously, this is important.

Michael Geist – Why Canadians Should Participate in the SOPA/PIPA Protest.

Humanity’s greatest invention

insightful

The greatest invention of all must surely be writing. It is not just one of the foundations of civilisation: it underpins the steady accumulation of intellectual achievement. By capturing ideas in physical form, it allows them to travel across space and time without distortion, and thus slip the bonds of human memory and oral transmission, not to mention the whims of tyrants and the vicissitudes of history.

Tom Standage argues that writing is the greatest invention of all time. I have to agree. Who needs wheels when you have books that can teach you about, well, wheels!

via The Economist – WRITING IS THE GREATEST INVENTION.

1971 Charles Bukowski letter outlining his terms of employment

insightful

Charles Bukowski was a no-bullshit man and made it clear from the get go. This wonderful letter of employment makes us a witness of what it was like dealing with him. Good times.

I have fond memories of reading all I could find from Charles Bukowski at the local public library in some suburb of Helsinki one particularly vicious winter many, many moons ago. It was that or drinking. Oh, the irony!

via This isnt happiness