Economic Stocks and Flows — A Lecture Using a Phillips MONIAC Economic Analog
A fluidic computer designed to model a national economy holds lessons for doing things directly and physically. Sometimes, you have to get your hands wet.
Ask the Chefs: "What's the Strangest Place You've Been for Your Job?"
This month, with vacations on the docket, it seemed a good time to ask a question bound to get the mind thinking of faraway or unfamiliar places. And since scholarly publishing is a worldwide endeavor — all the more so […]
The Inner Life of a Cell — An Amazing Animated Movie That Will Make You Appreciate Biology Much More
We take our bodies for granted, even when we ask more of them than usual. This video takes us behind the cellular scenes, revealing the microscopic workers making it all possible.
A Glass Act — Harry Potter Theme Played on Wine Glasses
A short video demonstrating how a friction idiophone works magic!
Presentations on PDA from the AAUP Conference, 2012
PDA as presented to the AAUP. Slides from Joe Esposito and Rick Anderson. Enjoy!
The Levitating Slinky — A Simple System, a Mind-blowing Result
Hi-speed cameras capture something you’ve probably done, but never really seen — the levitating Slinky.
"Strategic Dynamism" at the University of Virginia: Implications for Scholarly Communication?
The brouhaha at the University of Virginia raises key questions for everyone in the scholarly communications world — about whether we can exert control, or only respond to change.
Bar Bets You Can't Lose — A Guide for Your Upcoming Meetings
A British explication of some nifty bar bets you can try on your friends.
Not Free, Not Easy, Not Trivial — The Warehousing and Delivery of Digital Goods
The idea that digital goods have no ongoing cost and can therefore be free has several problems, the basic one being reality itself.
Mary Meeker's Internet Trends 2012: The Reimagination of Nearly Everything
Mary Meeker has been spearheading Internet trend tracking for years now. This year’s update shows that Internet growth remains robust. But the real news is the growth in smart device adoption — smartphones, tablet computers, e-readers. And the trend looks […]
The Essence of Science — Feynman Gets It In 63 Seconds
Science begins from a simple premise, then gets really complicated. It’s good to return to the basics, courtesy of this brief primer from the legendary Richard Feynman.
Intellectual Access — It Takes More Than Accessibility
Another petition is brewing, but perhaps we should aim higher than accessibility and upwards to true intellectual access. To do this, it takes a lot of work, care, and thought. It is not a simple matter at all.
Final Score in the Georgia State Game: Library 94, Publishers 5
The GSU case serves as a strong rebuke for publishers over fair use and copyright claims, while recognizing that some boundaries remain.
What Is a Hipster?
What are hipsters? And what do they have to do with liver disease? A charming and interesting video will tell you all about it.
The Most Astounding Fact About the Universe
I couldn’t agree more. The images are beautiful, as you absorb what’s being contemplated. Happy Friday.