122311WarmUp

Well, it's the last day of vacation.

We need to find out what Santa is up to.

Take a look @ http://www.noradsanta.org/

In the holiday mood?

Check out these sites:

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1949556,00.html?xid=rss-photoessays&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Fphotoessays+(TIME%3A+Top+Photoessays)&utm_content=Google+Reader

http://www.marks-english-school.com/games/mes-christmas_01.html

http://www.simonsezsanta.com/friendly.phphttp://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/christmas/advent07/adventcalendar2007.htmlhttp://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-games-reordering-christmas.htm

http://www.zefrank.com/xmas/

http://www.everyclick.com/santaswing.htmlhttp://www.theoworlds.com/christmas/

http://www.123bee.com/play/santaclaus-boy-escapehttp://www.esklavos.com/gatuno2/http://gamershood.com/flashgames/7018

Leave a comment!

Have a happy holiday!

dmac

122011WarmUp

Some interesting articles about stuff you should know:

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=982232683&ids=0MdPoQej0Pe3AIejsSdjkRdjwVb3gQdPkNdzATeiMRdPAQcP4Me3AIcPwSczcOczwV&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod2-b-ttl-0&ut=3muO4_h4uuPR01

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=980134975&ids=0MdPoQej0Pe3AIejsSdjkRdjwVb3gQdPkNdzATeiMRdPAQcP4Me3AIcPwSczcOczwV&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod2-b-ttl-1&ut=3B6BWeLLivPR01

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=985555679&ids=0MdPoQej0Pe3AIejsSdjkRdjwVb3gQdPkNdzATeiMRdPAQcP4Me3AIcPwSczcOczwV&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod2-b-ttl-3&ut=3Kgt_qgKGvPR01

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=983094670&ids=0MdPoQej0Pe3AIejsSdjkRdjwVb3gQdPkNdzATeiMRdPAQcP4Me3AIcPwSczcOczwV&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod2-b-ttl-4&ut=07gAJCFc6wPR01

Leave a comment!

dmac

As the drug runners get more sophisticated, so do the guys that chase the drug runners.

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/12/robot-tunnels/

Also, take a look at some cool videos:

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/12/best-viral-videos-2011/

Leave a comment!

dmac

121611WarmUp

Well, they finally did it--Verizon is now selling the Samsung Galaxy Nexus!

Is it worth buying?

Check it out @

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-57343329-251/samsung-galaxy-nexus-review-verizon-scores-big/?tag=mncol;subStories

Leave a comment!

dmac

Google has a neat capability--ngrams!

The amazing application announced recently allows you to easily analyze “the 500 billion words contained in books published between 1500 and 2008 in English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian.

Take a peek @http://ngrams.googlelabs.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/books/17words.html?_r=1&hphttp://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/new_visualization_tool_from_google_with_data_from.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+readwriteweb+(ReadWriteWeb)

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=google-books-culture

http://peterpappas.blogs.com/copy_paste/2010/12/how-to-quantify-culture-google-ngram-viewer-explore-500-billion-published-words.html

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/12/vampire-vs-zombie-comparing-word-usage-through-time/68203/

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/10_fascinating_word_graphs_from_200_years_of_googl.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+readwriteweb+(ReadWriteWeb

Leave a comment!

dmac

Computers, computers, computers....they're everywhere!

Take a look at some inventions that contributed to the development of the computer.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/this_is_a_computer.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+readwriteweb+(ReadWriteWeb)

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0004637.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/search.php?terms=inventions&media=video

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/of_inventions.htm

http://www.smith.edu/hsc/museum/ancient_inventions/hsclist.htm

http://listverse.com/2009/03/29/top-10-ancient-inventions-you-think-are-modern/

http://listverse.com/2009/06/07/10-more-ancient-inventions-you-think-are-modern/

Pick one invention and tell us how it works

Leave a comment!
dmac

121211Warmup

Enjoying a barrel ride on my digital surfboard, surfing the net last night, I found a few interesting sites to have an "adventure":

http://cardboardcomputer.com/games/hummingbird-mind/

http://www.choiceofgames.com/dragon/

http://www.amctv.com/originals/breakingbad/interrogation

Leave a comment!

dmac

1209WarmUp

Today is the last day of Computer Education Week.

Take a look at the last video:

http://csta.acm.org/Advocacy_Outreach/Other/Emp-5H.mov

A few interesting sites to create an annotated message:

http://www.messagehop.com/

http://appreciate-it.com?

http://www.wondersay.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

120811WarmUp

Today is day 4 of Computer Education Week.

Take a look at today's video:

http://csta.acm.org/Advocacy_Outreach/Other/Med-4H.mov

Also,

Read this article from Wired and leave a comment!

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/st_mars_davies/

dmac

120711WarmUp

Today is day 3 of Computer Education Week.

Take a look at today's video:http://csta.acm.org/Advocacy_Outreach/Other/Comm-3H.mov

Also, take a look at a Google of the Day:

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/12/agad1206/

Leave a comment!

dmac

120611WarmUp

Today is day 2 of Computer Education Week.

Take a look at today's video:http://csta.acm.org/Advocacy_Outreach/Other/Env-2H.mov

Also listen to a short podcast:http://csta.acm.org/Advocacy_Outreach/Other/cs_ed_week_Lindsay_intro.mp3

Do you think that computers and technology is helping with the environment?

Leave a comment!

dmac

120511Warmup

Today is the first day of Computer Education Week.

Take a look at this inspirational video:

http://csta.acm.org/Advocacy_Outreach/Other/ent-1h.mov

Leave a comment!

dmac

120211WarmUp

Ever hear of the Google demo slam?

Take a look:
http://www.demoslam.com/?utm_campaign=launch&utm_medium=hpp&utm_source=en_us&slams=wxDRburxwz8--Ej4iXE61a-8

Which is the best demo?

Leave a comment!

dmac

120111WarmUp

Want to see the new electric car by Honda and Mitsubishi?

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/11/honda-ev-ster/

http://i.mitsubishicars.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

Microsoft just created a new browser-based demo of it's Windows 7 operating system.

Check it out @

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=946646609&ids=0Vc3oSd3oSd3AId3kRdP8Od3gVb38Sej0PdPsPeiMOczkQczsSd3AIcPARdj8Od3gV&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod2-b-ttl-4&ut=0PCuxSgYwmnR01

Leave a comment!

dmac

112911WarmUp

Microsoft's business could be on the verge of collapsing!

That's according to Steve Balmer's nightmare.

Read about it @

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=931283407&ids=0SdP0Ud3wOd3AIcj4Qc34OczgVb3sMd3cUcz4PeiMOdzAMcPsTcPAIczwOdj8MczgV&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod2-b-ttl-2&ut=2cai0L2Owdml01

What do you think?

Leave a comment

dmac

NASA just launched a new Mars Rover. Check it out @:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/msl-launched/

Take a look at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-LudR2pQyU

What is this rover supposed to do?

Look it up @

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/science_tech/NASA-launches-super-size-Mars-rover-to-red-planet

Leave a comment!

dmac

112311WarmUp

It's Thanksgiving tommorow.

Here's a few fun websites about the holiday:

http://www.plimoth.org/media/olc/intro.html

http://akidsmath.com/flashes/mgames/thanksgiving.swf

http://www.akidsheart.com/flash3/turkeyswap.swf

http://www.akidsheart.com/flash3/diffgame/diffthanks.swf

http://www.akidsheart.com/flash3/thbounce.swf

http://www.winslowpress.com/perkyturkey/games/toomany.html

http://www.thekidzpage.com/learninggames/searchword/cornucopia-word-search-15x15.swf

http://www.highlightskids.com/media/kids/highlightskids/import/Magazine/Nov06/h1magazineFlashObjects/h11106NovemberArtist.swf

Leave a comment!

dmac

112111WarmUp

Well, i'll bet you wouldn't mind living in this house:

http://www.etereaestudios.com/docs_html/fallingwater_htm/fallingwater_movie_index.htm#

Now, design one of your own.

Check it out @:

http://architectstudio3d.org/AS3d/design_studio3d.html

http://30elm.com/

http://myabodo.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

112111WarmUp

Interesting article in yesterday's New York Times: War Machines: Recruiting Robots for Combat

Read about it @http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/science/28robot.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=robots%20war&st=cse

Check out the new generation of robotic weapons @http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/27/us/ROBOT.html?ref=science

What are the problems?

Any ethical issues?

What do you think?

dmac

111811WarmUp

Are you the type that has to have the latest gadget? Do you find yourself pre-ordering the newest widget?

Let's look at some things you would have stood in line for:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/9-gadgets-that-prove-youre-a-hard-core-early-adopter/

Leave a comment!

dmac

111711WarmUp

Today, help create Julius the Monkey!

Take a crack at:http://www.paulfrank.com/plannedpines/#/rec-center/

Leave a comment!

dmac

111611WarmUp

I knew it!

Outsourcing software overseas wasn't going to be so cheap once everyone got better at it than we were.

Here's the proof:

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=908132495&ids=d38Sd3wRcz4Vb30RdPcScjcMeiMRejgOcP4Uc3AIe3sMc3wTcP0V&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod2-b-ttl-1&ut=3UG_xUSEAZ4501

Read the article and leave a comment!

dmac

111511WarmUp

What's a startup?

Look it up @

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup_company

Here's 20 of the most innovative:

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=898391072&ids=0OdP0NejcUejwIdzAVczcPd3AUb34OczkPdPgVe2MUdzcScPoRejwIdjkNd3wUd3AU&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod-b-all-4&ut=1aca44j1dU2B01

Leave a comment!

dmac

1114WarmUp

What's some of the geekiest destinations to go on vacation?

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/09/ff_hotspots/

Leave a comment!

dmac

Adobe is abandoning Flash for mobile devices? What?

Read about it @

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/adobe-kills-mobile-flash/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2059892/Adobe-dumps-Flash-Player-mobiles--Steve-Jobs-wanted.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/nov/09/adobe-flash-mobile-dead

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/10/idINIndia-60423220111110&sa=U&ei=2d-7TtqTGo7tggffzo2jBw&ved=0CAMQ1A4oAjAA&sig2=9-FrgEeVp2EtUj2PyumXgA&usg=AFQjCNGb5TlNXv1LXitqbfOTgCcO8PdDGg&grcx=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/nov/09/adobe-flash-mobile-dead&grb=2

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/10/us-adobe-apple-idUSTRE7A84NO20111110

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/11/10/bloomberg_articlesLUELIU6K50XS.DTL

Leave a comment!

dmac

1109WarmUp

We just missed getting hit by a meteor--again!

Check it out @

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/01/30/man-snaps-photo-of-meteor-over-harvard-square/

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F70A1FF9385B13738DDDAA0894D9415B838DF1D3

Leave a comment!

dmac

Ever hear of Big Dog? How about Alpha Dog? How about PetMan?

Check it out @

http://techland.time.com/2011/10/31/new-robot-from-bigdog-makers-moves-eerily-like-a-human/

http://www.bostondynamics.com/robot_bigdog.html

http://www.bostondynamics.com/robot_petman.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

Apple has developed a new OLED screen.

Take a look @

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/apple-patent-oled-display/

Leave a comment!

dmac

110111WarmUp

What is Mark Zuckerburg biggest regret?

Read about it @ http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=877740719&ids=czwSdPoSe3oUb30Od3kNcP0Te2MMdP0Uc3gMdPwIej4Tc3gTdPsU&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod-b-ttle-4&ut=1f8FT8Zw0VKQY1

We have sent millions (billions?) of software work over to India in the last decade. What is India sending us back?

Read about it @ http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=870315420&ids=czwSdPoSe3oUb30Od3kNcP0Te2MMdP0Uc3gMdPwIej4Tc3gTdPsU&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod-b-ttle-4&ut=0nc-Q4_YI-KQY1

102711WarmUp

Think you've got a good shot from the foul line?

How about turning to science to improve it.

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/07/st_cheatsci_basketball/

Leave a comment!

dmac

1025WarmUp

Microsoft has a new product.

Check it out @

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=859479463&ids=0PdzgVdPgVdjwIcPgTd3kSdjoUb38PdPsNdjkSe2MQe34PczAPdzwIcj0Pd3kMdjoU&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod-b-ttle-4&ut=2NywXDZInlAQY1

Leave a comment!

dmac

1024WarmUp

Feeling green today?

Check out this "green" website:

http://www.willyoujoinus.com/energyville/

Leave a comment!

dmac

1021WarmUp

Google-A-Day for Friday:

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/10/agad_1021/

Solve it and leave the answer as a comment.

dmac

1020WarmUp

Motorola has a new phone out--or coming out in November.

The Motorola Razr.

Check it out @

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Motorolas-New-Razr-Cutting-Edge-or-Just-Another-Droid-73527.html

http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/DROID-RAZR-BY-MOTOROLA-US-EN

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/234678/20111020/motorola-droid-razr-samsung-galaxy-s2-features-sparing-specs-specifications-epic-4g-touch-jailbreak.htm

http://www.itworld.com/mobile-wireless/214763/motorola-droid-razr-and-samsung-galaxy-nexus-revealed

Leave a comment!

dmac

1019WarmUp

Ever hear of flash fiction?

How about micro stories?

Check it out @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_fiction

How do you write one?

Look it up @ http://www.bukisa.com/articles/211749_how-to-write-a-micro-story

Look at some examples @:http://www.dnagle.info/id6.htmlhttp://www.storysouth.com/fall2004/shortshorts.htmlhttp://electricliterature.com/blog/2010/07/23/3-micro-stories-by-alex-epstein/

Leave a comment!

dmac

1017WarmUp

You've heard of Google? How about Google A Day?

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/10/agad_1018/

Leave a comment!

dmac

1017WarmUp

Take a look at some interesting pics from the IPhone 4s launch:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/10/iphone-4s-launch/

Leave a comment!

dmac

1014WarmUp

The release of the new IPhone created quite a stir yesterday.

Read about it @

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/10/14/apple-co-founder-first-in-line-for-new-iphone/

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/14/hundreds-wait-in-line-for-new-iphone-4s-at-apples-fifth-avenue-store/

How is it different?

http://www.apple.com/iphone/#

Leave a comment!

dmac

1012WarmUp

Not getting any email on your Blackberry?

Blame the Blackberry Holocaust!

Read about it @

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/technology/rim-struggles-to-overcome-blackberry-outages.html

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/10/13/blackberry-outage-japan-unruffled/?mod=google_news_blog

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/jeronimo-says-blackberry-may-lose-users-on-disruptions/2011/10/13/gIQAjikygL_video.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

How much more money can you expect to get from a college education?

Check it out @

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-09-21-educationpaysONLINE21_ST_N.htm?csp=34news

http://www.uscollegesearch.org/blog/wp-content/uscs-degree-salary-unemployment.png

http://www.focus.com/images/view/8740/

Some other interesting sites:

http://www.realonlinedegrees.com/the-future-trends-of-the-job-market/

http://www.census.gov/schools/census_for_teens/educational_attainment.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222141628.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+(ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader

http://cashmoneylife.com/2010/08/25/how-much-is-a-college-degree-worth/

Get it--you need to stay in school!

Leave a comment!

dmac

1006WarmUp

R.I.P Steve Jobs.

Check it out @

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/itslideshow/7312018.cms

http://img.ibtimes.com/www/articles/20111006/226104_steve-jobs-no-more-9-facts-little-known-about-the-apple-wizard.htm

Leave a comment!

dmac

1004WarmUp

Well, there's good news and bad news!

The rocket man made it across the English Channel but the pedal powered blimp didn't.

Read all about it @ http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/09/fusionmans-jet.html and http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/09/flying-wing-cro.html

Leave a comment.

dmac

1004WarmUp

Today is the unveiling of the Iphone 5.

Take a look @

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/engadget-broadcasting-live-from-apples-lets-talk-iphone-eve/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0903WarmUp

There's a new player on the block.

The Kindle Fire.

What kind of a device is it?

Is it a threat to the IPad?

Check it out @

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/03/tech/gaming-gadgets/kindle-fire-7-inch-tablets/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2011/10/03/amazons-new-kindle-its-just-old-school/

http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/02/amazon-punches-apple-hard-with-kindle-fires-199-price/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0928WarmUp

How do the police, fire and truck drivers communicate with each other? Wifi, Cell?

Do some research and try to find out what is the difference between these technologies?

Check it out @

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi

http://www.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_network

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkie-talkie

Leave a comment!

dmac

More on algorithms.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/algorithm.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-algorithm.htm

http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~algorith/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0927WarmUp

One of the core topics of Computer Science is the study of 'Algorithms'.

What do we mean by an algorithm?

What is an algorithm?

Look it up @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithm

Test out how to create an algorithm by trying the Swap Puzzle @ http://www.cs4fn.org/algorithms/swappuzzle/

Leave a comment!

dmac

923WarmUp

Well Facebook has done it again!

Check it out @

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Facebooks-Latest-Work-One-Too-Many-Facelifts-73347.html

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Looking-to-the-Future-Facebook-Digs-Into-Your-Past-73346.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

Strapped into the one-man flyer last night, I found this interesting site:

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index2.htm

Give it a whirl and leave a comment!

dmac

How long do you think it would take you to drive from Times Square to Malibu Beach, California? How about in 32 hours?

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/cars/coolwheels/magazine/15-11/ff_cannonballrun?currentPage=all

Leave a comment!

dmac

0921WarmUp

The first programming language we are learning is Scratch.

What is Scratch?

Check it out @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scratch_(programming_language)

Here is the official Scratch website:http://scratch.mit.edu/

Look at a few Scratch projects.

Leave a comment!

dmac

0920WarmUp

Duck! Watch Out!

A satellite is going to hit the earth!

Check it out @

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1168588313001/satellite-set-for-collision-with-earth/

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1168588313001/satellite-set-for-collision-with-earth/http:

//www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14879048,00.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nasa-satellite-pieces-to-hit-earth-in-days/2011/09/20/gIQAkbPohK_video.html

http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Odds+plunging+NASA+satellite+will+miss+Sask/5427864/story.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

0919WarmUp

Technology has influenced a new generation of ship design, especially for creating fast boats.

Check it out @:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/08/ff_americascup/

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/05/super-catamaran-speeds-through-pirate-waters/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2006/11/experimental_ca/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0916WarmUp

Change all of your light bulbs yet?

From incandescent to florescent probably.

But you're going to have to change them again.

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/08/ff_lightbulbs/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0915WarmUp

Microsoft has a new development platform for computer programmers.

Read about it @

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=769596902&ids=0Ncj8OdPAVdzsIdzsUc38Pc3sTb3oTdz4Qdz0TdOMOc3ASejkVdzsIdP8Sd3wSejoT&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod-b-ttle-4&ut=0zQUHzcweGHkU1

Leave a comment!

dmac

Cars with wifi?

Check it out @

http://gigaom.com/2010/11/23/cars-with-wi-fi-hitting-the-new-information-highway/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10419548-94.html

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/cartech/audi-a2-electric-beats-traffic-with-autonomous-drive-wifi-laser-lights-50005180/

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Ford-Considers-Mesh-WiFi-Car-Network-115630

Leave a comment!

dmac

0913WarmUp

The Boston Globe has gone online.

Read about it @

http://www.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2011/09/12/frequently_asked_questions_about_bostonglobecom/

and

http://www.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2011/09/12/new_site_a_peek_into_globes_technological_evolution/

Check it out @

http://bostonglobe.com/

0912WarmUp

How much energy does Google use? How about enough to power a small city.

Check it out @

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2011/09/09/google_drops_its_guard_on_facilities_energy_usage/



Leave a comment!

dmac

0909WarmUp

Have a headache recently? Hope it's not a brain controlling parasite.

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/parasite-brain-control/?pid=2078

Leave a comment!

dmac

Data storage has been growing exponentially over the past decade.

Look up the following capacities on the Internet:
byte
kilobyte
megabyte
gigabyte
terabyte
petabyte
exabyte
zettabyte
yottabyte.

How big are they?

Give me an example of what can be stored with each capacity, i.e. Blueray holds 500 GB of data.

0907WarmUp

One of the coolest websites on the planet.

http://www.droiddoes.com/#/bionic

Android rules--Iphone drools.

Leave a comment!

dmac

0906WarmUp

Welcome to another year of GrokIt!

GrokIt originally appeared 3 years ago. While teaching at RHS, I conceived it as the digital equivalent of the Do Now or activator you may be used to other teachers giving to you to start the class.

Interestingly enough, I believe the blog has taken up a much more important role in my classes.

I envision using GrokIt as a hi-tech portal to get you and your energies focused on the class topics of the day by hyperlinking around the net to:

•discover state-of the-art technologies
•bump into some engaging topic
•just enjoy a fun and interesting website.

My hope is to try to kindle a spark of interest in computers and technology.

After all, the World Wide Web and everything in it was created by software developers, computer programmers, web designers, all kinds of techie people of which you are the next generation.

I also want to create a class community, a public forum from which you could express your opinions and see the opinions of others about these topics.

So here's today's GrokIt:

My favorite magazine in the whole world is WIRED. As mentioned in Wikipedia:

Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since March 1993, that reports on how technology affects culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast Publications, it is published in San Francisco, California.

Check it out @ http://www.wired.com/

Pick an article, read it and leave me a comment!

dmac

http://iamfirst.dipdive.com/

0615WarmUp

Google is entering a new business--hardware.

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/06/chromebook-samsung-acer-sale/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0614WarmUp

How's your thinking level today?

Check out these two videos @

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwS1MVZgTL8&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXuxL7Barbw&feature=player_embedded

Leave a comment!

dmac

0613WarmUp

How about checking out the Google A Day Puzzle for today @

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/06/a-google-a-day-puzzle-for-monday-june-13th/

Leave your answer and a comment!

dmac

0610WarmUp

Some interesting websites about Twitter:

http://www.tweetolife.com/gender/

http://snapbird.org/

http://www.searchtastic.com/index.php

http://tweepskey.com/

http://www.neuroproductions.be/twitter_friends_network_browser/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0609WarmUp

Good news if you take the T!

Google is offering bus tracking on Maps.

Check it out @

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12004526694863/google-mbta-team-up-to-make-commutes-better/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0608WarmUp

Know what day it is today?

It's IPV6 day!

Check it out @ http://www.worldipv6day.org/participants/

Happy Birthday IPV6!

Leave a comment!

dmac

0607WarmUp

Ever wonder where the science in computer science came from?

Take a look @

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy0S1Pv0eOE&feature=player_embedded

Leave a comment!

dmac

0606WarmUp

Ever watch Indiana Jones or The Mummy? Ever long to have your own adventure?

Here's how to make one (the interactive kind) @

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMrMEydnFFA&feature=player_embedded

Here's some examples:

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/alaska/frontier-alaska/frontier-alaska.html

http://www.halfbakedsoftware.com/quandary/version_2/examples/castaway.htm

https://thecavesofmull.wikispaces.com/

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/multimedia/flash/a-seat-at-the-table

Leave a comment!

dmac

0603WarmUp

Ever hear of the great income inequality?

It's happening right now!

Take a look @

http://www.slate.com/id/2266174/

http://www.businessinsider.com/15-charts-about-wealth-and-inequality-in-america-2010-4#the-gap-between-the-top-1-and-everyone-else-hasnt-been-this-bad-since-the-roaring-twenties-1

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130052776&ps=cprs

http://www.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2027156,00.html

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/05/us-inequality-infographic_n_845042.html#s261400&title=Wealth_Inequality

And an interesting youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=d-61YBSCXRg#at=55

Leave a comment!

dmac

0602WarmUp

Anyone ever hear of Noah's Ark?

Well, it's been recently sighted 90 miles south of Amsterdam.

Check it out @ http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/06/noahs-ark-replica-olympics/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0601WarmUp

Ever hear of a jetpack?

This one goes to 5000 feet. Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/06/video-jetpack-soars-to-5000-feet/

Leave a comment!

dmac

2010-2011 School Year End Reflection

As the school year comes to a close, I thought it might be helpful for me to reflect on
my journal entries as a way to review some of the strategies and techniques that worked for me this year.

One of the first issues I encountered this year was keeping students on task. Despite
being naturally attracted to technology students get easily distracted with all this
technology at their fingertips, making it's too easy for them to give in to temptation, to
login to their favorite social networking, chat or music site, to look for sneakers on the
net or the hundreds of other things that seem more interesting, especially when they
decide that what's happening in class "is boring".

To counter this tendency towards distraction and to keep students "on task", I had to
moderate my classroom practices to incorporate these strategies: Review with all
students the technology lab policy for responsible web use, utilize the SmartSync lab
software to monitor student detachment and recommend student placement into other
non-computer classes for non-compliance.

This year, I tried adding group learning to the project agenda. As I suspected, group
learning posed the greatest challenge to completing a project because of student
disagreement due to social incompatibility, absent members not completing daily tasks
and differing work styles. I adjusted my lessons to include more descriptions and
examples that helped better define group learning expectations and outcomes,
watched a video of team interaction to illustrates group learning and practiced group
learning with trial exercises.

I experimented with using a didactic approach to teaching computer science which
allowed the opportunity to simplify, summarize and annotate difficult subject matter
with examples, stories, and anecdotes that helped to illustrate or illuminate the material.
To make it work, I needed to shift to a more student-centered strategy, breaking the
content up into pieces, presenting each concept individually instead of as a unit,
integrating the lab with the lecture, requiring each piece to be completed before
moving on with content and the lab, and pairing students up with "topcoders", the few
who display more interest in the subject matter and are more motivated to complete
the tasks on time.

This year, I incorporated SmartResponse technology into my lesson plans. Ordinarily, I
would review important concepts at the end of a series of content sessions. To prod
students along, I changed this process and reviewed important concepts as we were
completing them at the end of every unit lab instead of before and at the end. As we
looked at the material again, we could also discuss ways in which they could apply the
concept to complete labs. Also, I would set up a series of questions from those asked
in class which I would later use as the end of unit quiz. From time to time, we would
stop to discuss concepts and their application. Students would use SMARTResponse to
respond. I would also include opinion statements along the way, asking if they were
comfortable with this topic or needed more examples.

Finally, I experimented with using portfolios, a series of independent, separate yet
related projects completed at their own pace, in my classroom to keep students engaged in and productive with their own education despite being absent many times. By creating a series of readings, labs, exercises, and programs that would indicate demonstrated competency of the subject matter when completed, students were able to work on labs, do exercises and code programs on their own as well as create a reflection, a written debriefing about what they did, what went right and what went wrong. Students remained engaged and completed the assignments at their own pace. However, as students started to miss days, they became more removed from the material.

2011 proved an interesting opportunity not only to present technology to another generation of students, but more importantly, to use technology to assist with solving classroom issues. Getting experience using technology in this "assistive" capacity will be an asset when developing and delivering courseware for next year.

0531WarmUp

Ever have a question that needs an answer?

Try out these sites:

http://www.askives.com/

http://www.kngine.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0527WarmUp

Google has a couple of cool tools including Latitude:

https://www.google.com/latitude/b/0

and Panoramio:

http://www.panoramio.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0526WarmUp

Think macs are safe from viruses and malware?

Read about this!

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/05/apple-malware/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0525WarmUp

Ever get tired of telling something to someone over and over?

Write a tutorial and send them the email.

Try it @

http://www.tildee.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0524WarmUp

Think Angry Birds is just a game? How about the physics?

Ever consider the physics of Angry Birds? Take a look @

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/is-the-launch-speed-in-angry-birds-constant/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0523WarmUp

Think you're smart?

Try the high school quiz show quiz @

http://www.wgbh.org/quizshow/

Leave a comment!

dmac

520WarmUp

25 tech tips from yesterday's New York Times:

Read it @

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/25-more-tech-tips-and-tricks/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0519WarmUp

Are you up on your tech terms? What's an API? How about XML?

Find out @

http://www.poynter.org/how-tos/digital-strategies/104015/digital-journalist-survival-guide-a-glossary-of-tech-terms-you-should-know/

Leave a comment!

dmac

Well, the electric car is making a comeback! Was it ever here?

Read about it @

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/04/pl_screen_electriccar/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0516WarmUp

More news from Google.

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/05/gadget-lab-podcast-android-io/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0512WarmUp

Google has lobbied Nevada to allow driverless cars.

Read about it @

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/science/11drive.html?src=twr

Leave a comment!

dmac

0511WarmUp

Hope you didn't download The Expendables with Sylvester Stallone. If you did, then you may be in big trouble. Maybe even put on a lawsuit list.

Find out if you're on the list:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/05/bittorrent-lawsuit-checker

Leave a comment!

0510WarmUp

Hope you haven't downloaded a copy of The Expendibles. Why7 You're about to be sued!

Read about it @

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/05/biggest-bittorrent-case/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0509WarmUp

How many languages are there in the world? Who speaks them?

Check it out @

http://arcgis.mla.org/mla/default.aspx

http://www.photius.com/rankings/languages2.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chartsbin/4642219295/sizes/z/

http://www.pstranslation.co.uk/infog_languages.html

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/enduring-voices/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0506WarmUp

Navy SEALs used dogs as support for the Osama Bin Laden mission.

The question is, Do they have titanium teeth?

Check it out @

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/no-navy-seal-dogs-dont-have-titanium-teeth/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0505WarmUp

What do colors mean in other cultures?

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/colours-in-cultures/

http://lab.zoho.co.uk/lab/interactive-colours-in-culture/#/?region=western_american&culture=truce

http://lab.zoho.co.uk/lab/interactive-colours-in-culture/#/?shape=square®ion=native_american&culture=good_luck

Leave a comment!

dmac

0504WarmUp

Like to dirt bike?

Check out an electric version @

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/05/brammo-six-speed-tranmission/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0503WarmUp

Well, they got Bin Laden. And it was technology that helped.

Take a look @

//www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/csi-bin-laden-commandos-use-thumb-eye-scans-to-track-terrorists/.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

0502WarmUp

When was the last time you played--Bingo.

Try it @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/games/bingo/index.shtml

Leave a comment!

dmac

0429WarmUp

Into bicycling?

Check out a handsome bike @

http://www.wired.com/reviews/2011/04/linus-gaston/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0428WarmUp

Playstation got hacked~

Read about it:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/04/playstation_hack/

Why is it significant?

Leave a comment!

dmac

0426WarmUp

More on robots:

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/04/robots-at-work-and-play/100052/

http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/gallery/2010-04/archive-gallery-retrospective-look-robots?image=0

http://www.thetech.org/robotics/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0425WarmUp

Google is the king of search.

Now you can use google to solve puzzles.

Check it out @

http://voices.allthingsd.com/20110411/google-goes-gaming-with-search-puzzles/?mod=ATD_rss

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/12/a-google-a-day-quiz-includes-a-helpful-tool/

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/04/11/google-goes-gaming-with-search-puzzles/

Try it @

http://agoogleaday.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0415WarmUp

Well, my favorite game, Angry Birds, has just introduced another feature: Read about it @: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/angry-birds-sync-feature-will-keep-your-score-across-devices-50003495/?tag=mncol;txt#ixzz1JSeJKk7X Leave a comment! dmac

0414WarmUp

MIT has designed a new rotary engine.

What is a rotary engine?

Read about it @

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_engine

Take a look @:

http://www.technologyreview.com/video/?vid=683&p1=MstRcnt

Leave a comment!

dmac

0413WarmUp

Well, another claim against Facebook.

Read about it @

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/04/ceglia-facebook-emails/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0412WarmUp

Well, the Winklevoss twins lost again.

Read about it @

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/04/winkelvoss-tossed/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0411WarmUp

Did you know that the Navy is using a superlaser to disable enemy ships? Take a look @ http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/04/video-navy-laser-sets-ship-on-fire/ Leave a comment! dmac

0408WarmUp

A Spaceship Lands at San Francisco Airport. It's true. Check it out @: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/04/spaceship-virgin-terminal/ Leave a comment! dmac

0407WarmUp

The most difficult part of learning any language is to learn all the idioms. What's an idiom? Check it out @ http://www.idioms4you.com/index.html. Leave a comment! dmac

0406WarmUp

Ever dream of being a spy? Take a look at some cool spy gear: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/02/cia-tools-of-tradecraft http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/03/cia-spy-tools/ Leave a comment! dmac

0405WarmUp

Take a look at this video. Leave a comment! dmac

0404WarmUp

In the mood for some deep brain stimulation? Ever had a hankering to design a cell phone or create a line of stem cells? How about doing some knee surgery? You've come to the right place: http://www.edheads.org/ Leave a comment! dmac

0401WarmUp

How are you at designing buildings? Try it out @ http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/ Leave a message! dmac

0330WarmUp

Interested in the latest gadgets? Pick out one of the latest from Wired: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/ Pick one, read about it and leave a comment! dmac

0329WarmUp

Lets's have some fun today! http://www.esklavos.com/ketinetto8/ Leave a comment! dmac

0328WarmUp

Heads Up!! All you gamers. Nintendo is releasing it's new line of 3d games. Take a look @ http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/03/3ds-games-buyers-guide/# Leave a comment! dmac

0324WarmUp

Got your license? Think you know how to drive?

Take a look at the fastest roads in the world:

http://www.wired.com/special_multimedia/2008/pl_motor_1607

Look them up with Google Maps street view.

Leave a comment!

dmac

0325WarmUp

Tommorow is Earth Day.

What is it?

Check out some activities @

http://www.topix.com/forum/holidays/earth-day

http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/earth-day.htm

http://www.earthhourkids.org/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0323WarmUp

Let's look at an impossible goal by Roberto Carlos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnXA0PoEE6Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoF-f8X5OJ4&feature=related

How

http://www.ehow.com/how_2047963_perform-banana-kick-soccer.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

0322WarmUp

We have just witnessed what could have been of the worst nuclear disasters in history.

As stated in Wikipeida:

The Fukushima I nuclear accidents are a series of ongoing equipment failures and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011. The plant comprises six separate boiling water reactors maintained by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). Reactors 4, 5 and 6 had been shut down prior to the earthquake for planned maintenance.[3] The remaining reactors were shut down automatically after the earthquake, but the subsequent tsunami flooded the plant, knocking out emergency generators needed to run pumps which cool and control the reactors. The flooding and earthquake damage prevented assistance being brought from elsewhere. On 20 March, The New York Times reported that Yukio Edano, the government’s chief cabinet secretary, "confirmed for the first time ... that the nuclear complex would be closed once the crisis was over."[4]

What is a nuclear accident and how does it happen?

Take a look at these interesting sites:

http://www.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power.htm

http://science.howstuffworks.com/fusion-reactor.htm

http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/WebHomeHowNuclearReactorsWork

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4565219_nuclear-reactors-work.html

Look at these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnjGYHOePu0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJfIbBDR3e8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5UvAH11CjM

Leave a comment!

dmac

0321WarmUp

Think you know your favorite music? Can you recite some lyrics?

This may help you--take a look:

http://batlyrics.com/

Now finish off the lyrics of these classic songs:

--------, play a song for me.

There is a house in ------. It's called the rising -------.

----------- but if you try sometimes, you just might find ----------.

-------- on such a winter's day.

In the ---------- with black curtains near the station.

Leave a comment with your answers!

dmac

0315WarmUp

The question of the day is:

Is YouTube this Generation’s Teacher?

Check it out @:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/socaldevgal/archive/2011/03/11/is-you-tube-this-generation-s-teacher.aspx

What do you think? What is / should be the role of the teacher? What part should You Tube play in the education of our children?

Leave a comment!

dmac

0314WarmUp

Ever feel like you need extra help with math and science?

Check out Khan Academy @ http://www.khanacademy.org/

Leave a comment!

dmac

p.s.

Today is pi day

Check it out @ http://www.piday.org/

0211WarmUp

Ever wonder how electricity is being used in your house?

Check it out @:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/energy_electricity_forces/electric_current_voltage/activity.shtml

Leave a comment!

dmac

0210WarmUp

Let's play some music today!

Try out these sites:

http://www.glitchscape.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/fun/sixmixer/

http://www.isleoftune.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0209WarmUp

Let's take a look at some interesting sites:

http://www.electrocity.co.nz/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/seamonsters/game/index.html

Leave a comment

0208WarmUp

Now that smartphones are proliferating, so is smartphone malware.

Who is hot on the trail? You guessed it--Google.

What did they do?

Read about it @

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Google-Remote-Detonates-Dirty-Apps-Promises-to-Do-Better-72010.html

http://blogs.computerworld.com/17929/google_android_market_kills_droid_dream_malware_in_trojans?tc

http://mashable.com/2011/03/06/android-kill-switch/

http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/05/android-malware-rootkit-google-response/

Leave a comment!

0207WarmUp

Well, it feels like a wired kind of day.

Write a blurb on an article that interests you.

http://www.wired.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0304WarmUp

Got words? Got tunes?

Put your words to music @ http://www.rightwork.jp/fontdemusic/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0303WarmUp

There's a war going on right now! Not Iraq, not Afghanistan. The Tablet war!

And Apple has just released a new version-IPad2.

Check it out @:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/03/hands-on-with-apples-thinner-faster-ipad-2/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/03/ipad2-gallery/

There are other soldiers in this war as well:

http://mashable.com/2011/01/12/ces-2011-tablet-videos/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0302WarmUp

There is a new organization to help cities get up to snuff with technology.

Check it out @

http://codeforamerica.org/boston/

http://codeforamerica.org/2011/02/23/boston-citizens-connected/

http://govinthelab.com/code-for-america-solving-education-challenges-in-boston/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0301WarmUp

Did you know that the Internet is about to get a makeover?

It's called IPv6. And when it happens, everything from cars to applicances can be plugged into the web.

Check it out @

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2011/02/28/online_universe_is_about_to_grow/

Also look at:

http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2007/03/IPv6.ars

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/IPng.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

0228WarmUp

Welcome back from February vacation!

Is it no surprise that robots are taking over the workplace?

Take a look @

http://www.focus.com/images/view/27381/

Here's a cool site about bots:

http://www.thetech.org/robotics/

Some more interesting sites:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/robots.html

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/08/more_robots.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

1218WarmUp

For the past few days, we've looked at the amazing accomplishments of Watson, the IBM computer that beat the grandmasters of Jeopardy.

But how did Watson get there?

Take a look @

http://www.newsvine.com/_vine/images/users/1000/rosagolijan/6059722.jpg

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1956593_2029015,00.html

http://www.computersciencelab.com/ComputerHistory/History.htm

Leave a comment!

dmac

0217WarmUp

The final episode of the Jeopardy: the IBM challenge was last night.

Did you tune in?

Did Watson beat Ken and Brad?

Did computer technology beat humankind?

Check it out @

http://www-943.ibm.com/innovation/us/watson/what-is-watson/the-future-of-watson.html

Leave a comment!

dmac

0216WarmUp

Who's the best Jeopardy player in the world?

Watson--you know, from IBM.

What is Watson?

Check it out @ http://www-943.ibm.com/innovation/us/watson/

What has he done?

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/02/watson-game-one#

Leave a comment!

dmac

0215WarmUp

Google Summer of Code. What is it? Should you apply?

Check it out @

http://www.google-melange.com/

http://code.google.com/soc/

http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/

http://www.booki.cc/gsocstudentguide/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0214WarmUp

Today is Valentine's day.

Here's some interesting sites:

http://www.starfall.com/n/holiday/valentine/play.htm?f

http://www.theoworlds.com/valentine/

http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Ecard/English/builder.html

http://www1.bluemountain.com/category.pd?path=35282&

http://online.nwf.org/site/PageNavigator/ecards?id=52

http://www.poemflow.com/valentines

And of course, a site by Google:

http://www.mapyourvalentine.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0211WarmUp

Today is Thomas Alva Edison's birthday. In a sense, without Edison, there would be no computers. Why?

Look him up @

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison

10 important things he did:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/02/11/thomas-edison-164th-birthday-marked-by-google-doodle-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-american-inventor-115875-22914916/

Can you recognize his inventions?

http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en

Leave a comment!

0210WarmUp

What's the difference between animals that are extinct and animals that are endangered?

Take a look at some animals that are already extinct!

http://hubpages.com/hub/Extinct-Species-Of-The-World

http://www.oddee.com/item_88742.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinct_animals

How about these dinosaurs?

http://www.50birds.com/extan/gextanimals1.htm

How about the endangered animals?(most likely to become extinct in your lifetime)

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-five-animals-closest-extinction?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+environmentalgraffiti+(Environmental+Graffiti)&utm_content=Google+Reader

What do you think? Can they be saved? How?

Leave a comment!

dmac

0209WarmUp

Did you know that Angry Birds is becoming the next Super Mario?

Read about it @

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/app-stars-angry-birds/

What do you think about a new video game that makes fun of illegal immigration?

http://theappera.com/2011/02/09/smuggle-truck-operation-immigration-upcoming-controversial-game-for-iphone-ipad/comment-page-1/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0208WarmUp

What are we going to do with all this trash? Why make art of course!

Check it out @:

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/01/16/trazzler_slide_show_visionary_recycling/slideshow.html

Here's some more interesting works of art:

http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/photos/22-most-impressive-things-ever-made-balloons

http://www.picturebulk.com/?p=488&sms_ss=delicious

Leave a comment!

dmac

0207WarmUp

Strapped in the one-man flyer, cruising the web, I found these fun sites.

Check them out @:

http://www.pedigree.com/oralcare/denture-your-dog.aspx?utm_source=doghpb&utm_medium=doghpb&utm_campaign=doghpb

http://www.maxmydream.com/

http://www.clayyourself.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0204WarmUp

The internet has just run out o f addresses. Yikes!

What do we do?

Read about it @

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/02/internet-addresses/

What's the solution?

Leave a comment!

dmac

0203WarmUp

How would you like to tour some of the most famous museums in the world without ever stepping away from your browser?

Once again, one of my favorite companies, Google, comes up with another very cool site: Art Project. Kind of like Google Maps for Museums!

Check it out @ http://www.googleartproject.com/

Leave a comment!

dmac

020111WarmUp

There is another crisis in the middle east, this time in Egypt.

Egypt's response--they shut down the internet!

Read about it @

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2045428,00.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2011/0128/Egypt-shuts-down-Internet-rounds-up-opposition-leaders-as-protests-start

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/01/egypts-last-internet-service-provider-goes-down-internet-completely-off.html

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/egypt-shuts-down-internet-and-text-messaging-ahead-million-man-protests

How did they do it?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/28/internet-egypt-shut-off_n_815495.html#s232525&title=Nick_Ellis

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/01/how-egypt-or-how-your-government-could-shut-down-the-internet.ars

The US is considering being able too do something similiar.

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3127172.htm

What do you think?

Leave a comment!

dmac

0125WarmUp

Ever walk from Beachmont to City Hall? Pretty far-not.

Here are some of the great migrations that happen every day.

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/14-of-the-greatest-animal-migrations/on-the-move

Leave a comment!

dmac

0124WarmUp

Robot Invasion in Japan--its not a horror movie!

Check it out @:

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/robot-invasion-welcomed-in-japan/?hp

Leave a comment!

dmac

012011

What's your name mean?

Find out @ http://www.whatalovelyname.com/

Where is your name from?

http://worldnames.publicprofiler.org/

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/02/geography/usa-surnames-interactive

How popular is your name now?

http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#

Leave a comment!

dmac

0119Warmup

How would you like to use this the next time there is a snow storm?

http://www1.whdh.com/search?q=roboplow

Leave a comment!

dmac

0118WarmUp

Want to discover some new music? Are you kidding?

Here's a cool app from Google that will help you listen to many new tunes (albeit in Hindi)

http://www.google.co.in/music

Leave a comment!

dmac

0114WarmUp

What is art?

According to Wipedia:

"Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging symbolic elements in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art

But how about this? Is it art?

http://www.weirdworm.com/7-weirdest-paintings-passed-off-as-art/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0111WarmUp

The world's largest consumer electronics show just happened in Las Vegas.

Check it out @ http://www.cesweb.org/news/rssNews.asp#4896

Here are some very cool and not so cool gadgets.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/coolest-lamest-accessories/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0110WarmUp

How much is a college degree worth?

Take a look @ http://cashmoneylife.com/2010/08/25/how-much-is-a-college-degree-worth/

Leave a comment!

dmac

0107WarmUp

To continue exploring the concept of using "microgroks" in class as the warmup...

Check this out:

http://scribe.googlelabs.com/

What is it? What does it do? How effective is it?

Leave a comment!

dmac

0106WarmUp

Ever wish you could write a message in Urdu?

Now you can!

Check it out @:

http://www.google.com/transliterate/

Couple this with Google Translate:

http://translate.google.com/?hl=en#autoes

Now you can communicate with the world!

Leave a comment!

dmac

1204WarmUp

What's a cartogram?

Look it up @:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartogram

http://www.answers.com/topic/cartogram

Here's some interesting cartogram sites:

http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/projects/Cartogram_Central/

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/04/15/cartograms/

http://www.worldmapper.org/index.html

http://rehydrate.org/resources/cartograms.htm

Leave a comment!

0103WarmUp

Interesting article in yesterday's New York Times about computer "vision".

Read about it @

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/science/02see.html?_r=1&ref=technology

See how they do it at:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/01/02/science/20110102-vision-graphic.html

Some other articles about "smart" computers:

http://projects.nytimes.com/smarter-than-you-think/

Think you're smarter?

Try the trivia challenge:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/16/magazine/watson-trivia-game.html?ref=magazine

Leave a comment!

dmac