Author Topic: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.  (Read 22164 times)

MsBlack

  • Squaretable Knight (+400)
  • *
  • Posts: 458
    • View Profile

Uboa

  • Acacia Deva (+500)
  • *
  • Posts: 587
    • View Profile
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #61 on: October 30, 2009, 01:41:46 am »
I am thrilled to have found an amazing, free language learning resource on the web.

http://www.livemocha.com/

I've as of yet only browsed some review lessons for Spanish, but even those lessons were surprisingly well streamlined for a free service!  Also, the real powerhouse of this site, and something that I really look forward to exploring, is the social networking capability.  Writing and speaking exercises that you complete on this site are actually critiqued by native speakers, and in turn you critique exercises for students who want to learn English, or any other language in which you are fluent.  The site also offers other social networking services, such as the ability to "friend" users, the ability to maintain a basic profile, and I am guessing something similar to a Facebook or MySpace wall, or at least a messaging service.  Within that kind of social networking setting I imagine the incentive to learn a language will be much greater.  I can't wait to try it out!

The free content is excellent, but the site also does offer more for a $20/month subscription to courses.  Paying the subscription fee apparently allows you to see more "in-depth" content such as overviews of lesson-related nuances, and also allows you to download audio lessons for MP3 players.  Once I become comfortable with the site I will probably pay the $20/month subscription for intermediate Spanish to see if it is worth it. 

Thought

  • Guru of Time Emeritus
  • God of War (+3000)
  • *
  • Posts: 3426
    • View Profile
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #62 on: October 30, 2009, 11:04:23 pm »
http://www.slideshare.net/danroam/healthcare-napkins-all

An amazingly good explanation of health care reform... for being written on four napkins.

Thought

  • Guru of Time Emeritus
  • God of War (+3000)
  • *
  • Posts: 3426
    • View Profile
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #63 on: November 05, 2009, 07:03:15 pm »
More of a useful link than a specifically "interesting" or "informative," though it certainly can open up those avenues.

http://scholar.google.com/

FaustWolf

  • Guru of Time Emeritus
  • Arbiter (+8000)
  • *
  • Posts: 8972
  • Fan Power Advocate
    • View Profile
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #64 on: November 05, 2009, 09:08:17 pm »
Whoa, Thought. I didn't quite know what that was, but then I ran a search on "Faust," and I got a bunch of Doctor Faust's.

Kickass.

Zephira

  • Bounty Hunter
  • Errare Explorer (+1500)
  • *
  • Posts: 1541
  • You're not afraid of the dark, are you?...Are you?
    • View Profile
    • My deviantArt page
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #65 on: November 16, 2009, 01:03:13 pm »
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20091116/sc_space/strongleonidmeteorshowerpeaksearlytuesdaymorning
Meteor shower meteor shower! Finally! The last one I saw was right after BlizzCon 07, and we only got to see one good meteor. Oh well, at least I got to spend some time with my grandparents that night. Anyway everyone has to get up really early to watch this. UTunnels probably has the best seat!

Lord J Esq

  • Moon Stone J
  • Hero of Time (+5000)
  • *
  • Posts: 5463
  • ^_^ "Ayla teach at college level!!"
    • View Profile
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #66 on: November 16, 2009, 01:22:29 pm »
Unless you're out of town, you're not going to get to see it. Tomorrow morning is supposed to be cloudy, windy, and raining. =/

On the plus side, these meteor showers occur annually. You can see the Leonids every year around mid-November as the Earth passes through the tail of a comet. There are also other significant, predictable meteor showers throughout the year, although the Leonids happen to be my favorite ever since I watched them on a (clear!) Seattle night some years ago from the Arboretum. Cold, though! Any clear night in Seattle in mid-November is guaranteed to be cold.

Zephira

  • Bounty Hunter
  • Errare Explorer (+1500)
  • *
  • Posts: 1541
  • You're not afraid of the dark, are you?...Are you?
    • View Profile
    • My deviantArt page
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #67 on: November 16, 2009, 01:29:03 pm »
Now THIS one's important: http://www.heapsofhandbags.vpweb.com/
For those in Washington, the home office is 12333 251st Ave SE, Monroe. Much better than shopping online.

That company is called Heaps of Handbags, which sells used purses, handbags and backpacks for pretty good prices. The best part? 50% of profits gets donated to various organizations working to fight human trafficking. Considering the amount of feminists here, I figured this would be the best place to pick up holiday gifts.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2009, 01:35:27 pm by Zephira »

Lord J Esq

  • Moon Stone J
  • Hero of Time (+5000)
  • *
  • Posts: 5463
  • ^_^ "Ayla teach at college level!!"
    • View Profile
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #68 on: January 12, 2010, 07:01:27 pm »
Last night watching an old TV show from the '70s, part of the episode's plot turned on the Bureau of Indian Affairs, whose function is probably what you would imagine from the name. I'd no recollection of ever having heard of it, so this afternoon I went to see when it had been dissolved or merged into some other governmental organ. To my surprise, it still exists! Sure, it went through as many leaders in the Bush years as it had in the previous 25 years combined, but it's still alive and kicking. Hrm.

Native Americans never integrated into the American mainstream like most minorities did. Partly, they were not allowed to do so. Partly, the special relationship between the U.S. federal government and the various tribes has disserved integration. The bottom line is that Native Americans are still some of the poorest people in the country, and are afflicted by crimes of poverty at a disproportionate rate. Other than the wiseguy, and various local stories regarding to Native American issues here in Washington State, the whole area of Native American welfare seems to have fallen dormant as a national concern.

Zephira

  • Bounty Hunter
  • Errare Explorer (+1500)
  • *
  • Posts: 1541
  • You're not afraid of the dark, are you?...Are you?
    • View Profile
    • My deviantArt page
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #69 on: January 29, 2010, 04:36:09 pm »
In regard to the Spirit rover comic in photo in WTF, have a news article: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/news/mro20100120.html
The HiRISE team surveying Mars has a website up for the public to suggest locations on Mars for the telescope to survey. The general populace will finally get to have a hand in space exploration, and it'll be a great opportunity for everyone to study and learn more about our favourite red planet!
(hopefully one of the actual scientists or astronomers here will have a better time figuring out their website than I did)

EDIT: And for the more casual sky watchers, have the moon: http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100129/sc_space/biggestandbrightestfullmoonof2010tonight. It might be a bit hard for those of us in Washington to catch sight of it, but it will definitely present some great photo opportunities. If only I had a better camera!
« Last Edit: January 29, 2010, 04:37:40 pm by Zephira »

tushantin

  • CC:DBT Dream Team
  • Hero of Time (+5000)
  • *
  • Posts: 5645
  • Under Your Moonlight, Stealing Your Stars
    • View Profile
    • My Website
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #70 on: February 14, 2010, 12:03:51 pm »
Ah, I think this belongs here. I was just looking around the net on ways to integrate 3D elements into 2D animation, and I stumbled across this.
http://www.bspcn.com/2010/02/08/6-shockingly-evil-things-babies-are-capable-of/
XD It seems that we learn to lie BEFORE we learn to speak! And that "lying" seems to assist out development of creativity and intellect. It's "speaking the truth" that we are taught usually.

There's more, so check it out.


Kodokami

  • Entity
  • Dimension Crosser (+1000)
  • *
  • Posts: 1110
  • Enjoy the moment!
    • View Profile
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #72 on: April 22, 2010, 12:47:42 am »
http://vimeo.com/11075261

I have been tying shoes incorrectly all my life. Beginning at 8:15 in the video, you may see that you have been doing the same.

Also, the remaining eight minutes about shoe care is somewhat interesting . . . if I had shoes such as those to care for.

Lord J Esq

  • Moon Stone J
  • Hero of Time (+5000)
  • *
  • Posts: 5463
  • ^_^ "Ayla teach at college level!!"
    • View Profile
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #73 on: April 22, 2010, 02:36:24 am »
Very interesting!

Thought

  • Guru of Time Emeritus
  • God of War (+3000)
  • *
  • Posts: 3426
    • View Profile
Re: The interesting and informative links and resources thread.
« Reply #74 on: May 03, 2010, 11:48:58 am »
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/25/sunday/main6430448.shtml?tag=stack

One of the interesting things about recent advances in neuroscience is that it seems to be slowly eroding the old division of "mind" and "body;" our "reason" is beginning to appear as something that is not always hampered by our emotions but on occasion aided by (though plenty of hoodwinking still goes on).