Links for the week of Dec 1st, 2013
Over the years I've spent a significant amount of time practicing various martial arts. None as much as Aikido though. The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, was a fascinating man. There is very little video footage of him practicing, and I think this compilation is most of it. Video
If you are interested in reading more about Morihei Ueshiba, I highly recommend A Life In Aikido. Book
Id you've ever watched a cat pick up a kitten by the scruff of the neck, you might wonder why they don't struggle. Article
Neil Young is the latest in a long line of people who claim our current audio formats, mp3s in particular, are destroying music. Dan Rutter writes an excellent article explaining why audiophiles are wrong about the current state of music formats. Article
IWC has been making a series of short films about watch making. The first in their second series is on the tourbillion movement. Video
Google has famously been working on a self driving car for a few years. It will be interesting to see if the technology ever takes off. Even if they are significantly safer than humans, they will always be demonized for any accidents they get in. Article
Woe to any who tries this with a good quality beer. Explore the explosive force behind beer tapping. Article
Slate is running a series of articles where they apply the same treatment to American events that the US media does to worldwide events. Article
I love the architectural details in these drawings by Alex Konahin. Article
I embrace the latest tools and technology if they are the best way to get a job done. But often the best tool is one from the past. Chris Schwartz writes primarily about the use of hand tools in wood working. This article discusses the development of a simple stick for work holding. Article
A look at why increasing retail density downtown is more beneficial than opening big box stores in the suburbs. Article
Ballistics are fascinating once you begin dealing with large enough distances. The Coriolis effect is the influence of the Earth's rotation on a ballistic object. It is why most rockets are launched near the equator. This video shows how much of an effect it can have on a bullet at the relatively short distance of 1Km. Video
Chris Hadfield writes about space exploration and understanding our planet. Article
Patent trolls are creating a very real drain on inovative companies. Sadly Ottawa is home to a number of them. Article
What does your ISP say about you? Some insights from Mailchimp. Article
The issues women have hosting STEM channels on YouTube. Video
I've only needed to use a two truck a few times, but I've heard plenty of horrible experiences about them. Article
Popup Gallery a Ottawa is back again this year with a few more artists. You really need to stop by and visit if you're in the area. Article
I've wanted an HUD for my motorcycle helmet for years. It looks like it may soon become a reality. Article
Sequencing the human genome has the potential to improve medicine more than any other advancement. But private companies collecting large amounts of information is a scary prospect. Safe guards need to be put in place to protect individual privacy. Article
Previous link posts can be found here