Saturday Arts 022809

Cinequest

San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival (Feb 25-Mar 8) presents 200 international films with over 400 film professionals from 34 countries.



Salute documents the epic strength and wholeheartedness of Australian runner Peter Norman and SJSU athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos during the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Each man took part in a historically daring human rights demonstration, heroically protesting for black equality amidst racial discrimination and identifying San Jose as a significant contributor and forerunner in justice during the civil rights movement.

Science Friday 022709

This is a clock for those people that paid attention in math class all the way through college. Each numeral on the clock has been replaced by an equivalent notation. The picture says more than I can. Here's a link for all the numerals' explanations: http://tinyurl.com/a8sg2x

History Thursday 022609

NYTimes: Analyzing Obama’s Speech to Congress
Interactive video and transcript of President Obama's address before a joint session of Congress on Feb. 24, 2009, with annotations from New York Times reporters.

They Stand When Called Upon, and When Not

They Stand When Called Upon, and When Not By SUSAN SAULNY, NYTimes
A new adjustable-height school desk that allows students to stand or sit is gaining popularity.

The Big Test Before College? The Financial Aid Form

The Big Test Before College? The Financial Aid Form By TAMAR LEWIN, NYTimes
Critics say the complexity of the federal form scares off applicants, but fixing it is not an easy task.

Stimulus Plan Would Provide Flood of Aid to Education

Stimulus Plan Would Provide Flood of Aid to Education By SAM DILLON, NYTimes
Schools, universities and child care centers would receive $150 billion in new spending in the stimulus package scheduled for a vote in Congress.

THE OSCARS!

Everyone looks great in a tux
Salon's film critics look beyond this year's big movies and discuss the actor they're rooting for. Read more in Salon's Oscar guide.

Sunday Lit will be back next week....

Saturday Arts 022109

Big Think: Chuck Close on making art during a recession
Can Obama help the arts? Does the recession help foster creativity? And what was it like when Close interviewed Brad Pitt? Learn more at Big Think.

Science Friday 022009

More Darwin from the NYTimes!

Darwin, Ahead of His Time, Is Still Influential By NICHOLAS WADE
It is a testament to Charles Darwin’s extraordinary insight that it took almost a century for biologists to understand the essential correctness of his views.

Darwinism Must Die So That Evolution May Live By CARL SAFINA
Essay: Equating evolution with Charles Darwin ignores 150 years of discoveries, including most of what scientists understand about evolution.

Genes Offer New Clues in Old Debate on Species’ Origins By CAROL KAESUK YOON
The study of how species originate, a process known as speciation, is not only one of evolution’s most active areas of study, but also one of its most contentious.

Crunching the Data for the Tree of Life By CARL ZIMMER
Biologists know how species are related but lack the tools to show off their discoveries.

Seeing the Risks of Humanity’s Hand in Species Evolution By CORNELIA DEAN
Human predation is causing some species to evolve to reproduce at younger ages and smaller sizes, to the long-term harm of the species.

Darwin the Comedian. Now That’s Entertainment! By JOHN TIERNEY
Richard Milner, a science historian, finds the funny side of Charles Darwin, evolutionary giant.
Video: Darwin in Song

On Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’
Evolutionary biologists and historians of science comment on Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.” Interactive Feature

Slide Show: Darwin’s Endless Forms NYTimes
Images from the exhibition “Endless Forms: Charles Darwin, Natural Science and the Visual Arts” at the Yale Center for British Art. Related Review (added 03/07/09)

History Thursday 021909

The 44 Presidents song page has lyrics, additional teacher resources, and access to our full library of educational rap & pop songs! Thanks Rhythm, Rhyme, Results: the other 3 Rs.

Editorial: The Two Languages of Academic Freedom

The Two Languages of Academic Freedom Stanley Fish, NYTimes
Within the concept of academic freedom, the line between heroism and irresponsibility is not always clear.

In School for the First Time, Teenage Immigrants Struggle

In School for the First Time, Teenage Immigrants Struggle By JENNIFER MEDINA, NYTimes
More than 15,000 students in New York schools have had little or no formal schooling and face unique problems.
Video: The Education of Harunur Rashid

Presidents Day

WhiteHouse.gov recently posted an outstanding slideshow entitled "The Presidents" complete with links to each president's biography.

Sunday Lit 021509

Imprisoned Chinese writer Liu Xiaobo talks about
freedom of expression in China
On December 8, 2008, authorities arrested prominent writer and PEN Member Liu Xiaobo after he co-authored a manifesto calling for greater freedoms and democracy in China.
Writers around the world have called for Liu's release.
But it's not enough--We need your help.

PEN is an association of writers working to advance literature, defend free expression, and foster international literary fellowshipship.

PEN WRITERS ON FREE EXPRESSION IN CHINA

• Bringing Down The Great Firewall Of China - Chen Pokong
• Hari Kunzru: The Crime and Punishment of Yang Yunbiao, Evictee
• Edward Albee: Nightmare by Shen Youlian
• Li Jianquang: Acceptance Speech for Yang Tongyan
• Jessica Hagedorn: A Killing Trip by Tseriing Woeser
• Francine Prose: Days of Illegal Detention
• Liu Xiaobo: On Freedom of Expression in China
• Martha Southgate reads from The Fear in Lhasa, as felt in Beijing
• Chime Dolma: On the Subject of Silence and Speaking Out
• Rick Moody: A Letter from Xinna
  

Saturday Arts 021409

Vintage Medical Charts @ the B & L Rootenberg Books booth

Yesterday, I went to the SF Antiquarian Book Fair. There were many interesting books, but by far the most surprising booth displayed huge vintage GORGEOUS anatomical charts. Here are only five of the hundreds of links about the anatomical art.

• Art of Anatomy
• Flickr Group: Art of Anatomy
• John Hopkins Dept of Art as Applied to Medicine
• National Institute of Medicine: Dream Anatomy
• Street Anatomy

Science Friday 021309

this i believe Special Feature: The Theory of Evolution

February marks the 200th anniversary of naturalist Charles Darwin’s birth, and 2009 is the 150th anniversary of the publication of his “On the Origin of Species.” Several essayists from the original This I Believe series were influenced by the theory of evolution, including Darwin’s own grandson. Click the links below to read how these writers balanced science, faith and belief.

• A Hope for Bettering Humanity
• A New Control Over Human Destiny
• What Science Proves
• An Inner Urge to Perfection
• The Directing Force of Primordial Particles

DARWIN 2009
2009 sees the bicentenary of Darwin’s birth, the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, ‘On the Origin of Species’, and the 800th anniversary of the University of Cambridge.

DARWIN DAY CELEBRATION
Darwin Day is a global celebration of science and reason held on or around Feb. 12, the birthday anniversary of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth

NPR:

• Taking Darwin Personally
• Darwin, Britain's Hero, Is Still Controversial In U.S.
• After 200 Years, Darwin's Legacy Still Evolving
• Death Of Child May Have Influenced Darwin's Work
• Darwin's Theory: Too Big To Publish
• Examining Darwin On His 200th Anniversary

History Thursday 021209

Illustration by Michael Cho

The Many Faces of Lincoln (slide show)

Abraham Lincoln defines the civic ideal of what it means to be an American. Two centuries after Lincoln’s birth, the nation is still in formation. The United States has grown and expanded, one cost of that growth has been a splintering of many parts of our society. Competing values, interests, and beliefs, have complicated Lincoln’s goal to find unity in our diversity. The Bicentennial commemoration of his life and legacy will be a bright beacon to completing our nation’s “unfinished work.” (Text adapted from the The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial commemoration)

• Listen: Podcasts for the Abraham Lincon Bicentennial

Lincoln Monuments Reviews by WILLIAM SAFIRE, NYTimes
A guide to the deluge of books occasioned by the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.

• Caricatures of Lincoln
• Times Topics: Abraham Lincoln

To The Best of Our Knowledege: THE PRESIDENT FROM ILLINOIS
He was born in a log cabin, taught himself to read, became a lawyer, debated Stephen Douglass, and was elected President. He led our country through a bloody Civil War, freed the slaves, reuinted North and South and, at the height of his success, was assassinated. Abraham Lincoln is an American legend. But how much do we really know about the man behind the myth. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, debating Lincoln. We celebrate the 200th birthday of "Honest Abe" with a fresh look at the man, the myth and what he means today

• Listen

Three about Facebook

Student Fights Record of ‘Cyberbullying’ By CARMEN GENTILE, NYTimes
A student who was suspended from high school for ranting against a teacher on Facebook is suing to have the blemish removed from her record.

The random beauty of "25 Random Things" By Robert Lanham, Salon.com
Why the latest annoying Facebook trend might be one of the most inspiring Web crazes in years.

Why I'm Quitting Facebook Newsweek Culture Source: www.newsweek.com
On Facebook's fifth anniversary, a not-so-fond farewell.

Israeli Entrepreneur Plans a Free Global University That Will Be Online Only

Israeli Entrepreneur Plans a Free Global University That Will Be Online Only By TAMAR LEWIN, NYTimes
Shai Reshef plans to start the first global, tuition-free Internet university, a nonprofit venture he has named the University of the People.

KenKen: A New Puzzle Challenges Math Skills

A New Puzzle Challenges Math Skills, By WILL SHORTZ, NYTimes
KenKen, which starts in The New York Times today next to the crossword puzzle, is a new numerical logic puzzle from Japan. The name means loosely “cleverness squared.”

• Graphic: KenKen
• More KenKen

Sunday Lit 020809

“Moresukine: Uploaded Weekly From Tokyo.”

Why read graphic literature? To quote my pastor: "If you want to know what's really going on in the world, read the Comics page first, then the rest of the newspaper." Editorial cartoons are also used as material for AP US History DBQs. Besides learning something or using a cartoon in a test, good graphic literature is simply good entertainment.

Comics (new Graphic Literature reviewed by Douglas Wolk, NYTimes)

• Comics (Slide Show)

Powell's Books: Graphic Novels

SAT Verbal Prep: Graphic Novels

Saturday Arts 020709 B

One of San Jose's proudest expressions of civic pride is the San Jose Tet Festival (Vietnamese New Year Parade).

San Jose State University VSA carries the American flag

San Jose State University VSA carries
the Vietnamese Heritage Flag

For more photos, see VSAs at the Vietnamese Spring Festival & Parade

by YellowTailShark

Saturday Arts 020709 A

Over 100 units will participate in the SF Chinese New Year Parade. A San Francisco tradition since just after the Gold Rush, the parade continues to delight and entertain the many hundreds of thousands of people that come to watch it on the street Saturday, February 7, 5:15 pm-8:00 pm or tune in to watch it on television on KTVU Fox 2 or KTSF Channel 26, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Science Friday 020609

Bill Gates Unplugged @ TED 2009
How I'm trying to change the world now

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader. The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). (more videos)

History Thursday 020509

The Holocaust, Viewed Not From Then but From the Here and Now By MICHAEL KIMMELMAN, NYTimes
The permanent exhibition at the new Bergen-Belsen Memorial is a model of its kind, focused on the meticulous and sober reconstruction of the past. Slide Show: A New Memorial at Bergen-Belsen

Uncovering Lost Path of the Most Wanted Nazi By SOUAD MEKHENNET and NICHOLAS KULISH, NYTimes
Aribert Ferdinand Heim, wanted for medical atrocities at three Nazi concentration camps, lived in Cairo until his death in 1992. His hiding place was unknown until now.

• Slide Show
• Times Topics: Nazi Hunting
• Room for Debate: Justice
• Video: A Nazi Doctor’s Escape
• The most wanted at-large Nazi doctor fled to Egypt, where he converted to Islam, changed his name and apparently died.

College Abruptly Moves Up Deadline for Applications

College Abruptly Moves Up Deadline for Applications By TAMAR LEWIN, NYTimes
College-bound procrastinators, beware: When state budgets get tight, application deadlines can tighten up, too.

John DeFrancis, Chinese Language Scholar, Is Dead at 97

John DeFrancis, Chinese Language Scholar, Is Dead at 97 By EDWARD WONG, NYTimes
Few scholars of Chinese wrote more probingly about the language than Mr. DeFrancis, and fewer still created teaching materials that had so widespread an impact on generations of students.

China: Government to Help College Graduates

China: Government to Help College Graduates By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 01/08/09
China announced a series of measures aimed at helping millions of recent college graduates find work amid the deepening impact of the global financial crisis.

The DAVOS Debates 2009

Acclaimed martial arts movie star Jet Li talks about his new foundation, One,
and also discusses what values he thinks are important for the global community.

Every year, global leaders attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss how to better the world. Key Topics: 1) Economy; 2) Ethics; 3) Environment; 4) Politics

• DAVOS Debate 2009
• DAVOS IdeaLabs (w/ Harvard, Oxford, MIT, etc)
• DAVOS Debate YouTube Channel