Conspiracy Code

Check this out! Students who "attend" the Florida Virtual School can take an American History class that is disguised as an online game. I hated history, but I think I'd love this game. Can I go back to virtual school???

Florida Virtual School - Conspiracy Code

Is the Internet Destroying Your Productivity? | MonsterThinking

This article on the benefits and distractions of using the internet made me think about my internet life in a new way. Coates, and editor at The Atlantic, is quoted as saying that it was fear, rather than procrastination, that was the root cause of his distraction.

I find when I have total confidence in what I’m doing, I spend little time online. I may view a few sites to get specific information I need, but then I’m off. When I’m not certain, I spend time surfing the web hoping to find that bit of information that will give me the confidence I lack.

This happens not only in relation to my work life, but in my personal life as well. The article pointed out that we can become driven to check sites, especially those where people can leave comments about you or something you wrote, because you get instant feedback about yourself. It's all about you. When I think about the times I would check a site several times a day to see if anyone left a comment, I realize now I was looking for someone to tell me that I'm ok, or, even better, that I'm a brilliant genius, the best thing since sliced bread, and the 8th wonder of the world!

I’ve convinced myself that wandering the internet soaking up information is like a plant soaking up fertilizer. It’s a good thing to do while I wait for an idea or project to take shape. But there is such a thing as too much fertilizer, and the plant dies. I need to find the balancing point between using the internet to help boost my creativity and productivity and the point where I’m so over saturated I can barely move.

Is the Internet Destroying Your Productivity? | MonsterThinking

Wiki--What?

Today I discovered the non-profit organization that makes Wikipedia possible. I didn't realize they have other "products" including Wiktionary, Wikiquote, and even Wikinews where you can submit or read news articles from all around the globe.

The division I am most excited about is Wikimedia Commons. Here you can find images, sounds, and video free to use. Yippee!!! This will provide a lot of content for a website I'm working on.

One interesting video that I can see generating a lot of math problems is shows a mechanical clock created in 1509 in Nuremberg. By today's standards, it's no Timex, but it is still very cool.

Let the Voting Begin!

Today is the first day of voting for the Instructables Pi Day Contest. Get out and vote early...and often! ;-) You have to log into Instructables to vote, but you can do so using your Facebook account name and password.

While I hope I get a ton of votes, I'm also glad that this contest is not just a popularity contest. The Instructable judges will choose half of the finalist based on votes. They will choose the other half based on their own criteria. The winner will be the one the judges choose after rating them all on a 10-point scale. So, even though I don't have a ton of contacts online who can get out an vote for me, I think I still have a pretty good chance of winning.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't go vote for me. Please....go vote!


Quick and Easy Pie Chart Pi Day Fruit Pizza Pie

Pi Day is a big deal for Raytheon

Students within a 3.14 mile radius of Raytheon (in Waltham, MA) were surprised with a delivery of apple pies today.

See, I'm not the only math-geek-nut-job on the planet! ;-)

Pi Day is a big deal for Raytheon

Muse: Poe, E.: Near a Raven

Those of you who are poets at heart or who have a fondness for Poe may enjoy this poem. The number of letters in the words, starting with the title, coincide with the numbers in the digits for pi.

Us math geeks are quite the creative bunch!

Muse: Poe, E.: Near a Raven

Math Becomes Music: What Pi Sounds Like - Culture - GOOD

Happy Pi Day Everyone!

I highly recommend watching this video in which a brilliant musician translated the first 37 digits of Pi into musical notes and chords. It is amazing!

Math Becomes Music: What Pi Sounds Like - Culture - GOOD