“The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch

I woke up early to watch an inspiring video suggested as a breakfast session by a good colleague this morning, and was not disappointed. “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch, a pioneer in the area of virtual reality, follows a tradition at some American universities to offer leading professors the opportunity to give an hour speech as if it was going to be their last lecture. An incredible Tigger-like individual, the twist with Randy’s speech is that it will be his last lecture.

Also, if you would like to learn programming in a fun, intuitive way, take a look at the Alice environment Randy talks about at www.alice.org.

Binary Toys

Very cool little desktop creatures that apply the laws of physics and a dash of AI to stick-figure-like automatons you can play with on your desktop. You can get Binary toys for free under: http://www.binarytoys.com/.

Chess Mind

If you would like to work out how ELOquent a chess player you are, the Chess Mind community is an excellent start. Still in beta, the community numbers over a thousand, with some decent games for complete beginners and more experienced players alike. Link http://www.chess-mind.com.

Origami Repository

If you like paper, and love origami, this excellent searchable FREE database will be of interest. With designs ranging from beginner to enlightened-great-sage-of-layered-cellulose, the Website offers over 300 nicely described diagrams, as well as information on top folders. Link http://www.origami.com.

Once Squared

Why did we differentiate,

Once bound in squared elation,

What unknown “c” may come to be

When brought to integration?

Parabolic was our smile,

As over x we flew,

But you have gone and I have changed,

And one’s replaced our two…

Quadratic and curvaceous,

Our iterations soared,

Now bound by but one gradient,

One song-less hapless chord…

 

The moment you were taken

By the calculus of fate,

My presence was forgotten,

For my function was innate…

An invisible auxiliary,

Where once its forming crown,

Now and inkless space upon the page,

In the bleachéd wood I drown…

 

 ©MacNiven 2002