bookofjoe

Singularity University opens June 29, 2009

That's the good news.

The bad news is that they accepted only 40 people from 1,200 who expressed interest in attending the first nine-week term.

But it's not all bad news for the other 1,160 — they now have an extra $25,000 (the cost of tuition, room and board at SU, whose campus is located at NASA's Silicon Valley-based Ames Research Center in the Bay Area) to fool around with.

Send some my way and I'll enroll you instanter in the first ever summer term at boj University — henceforth known at bojU — here at my Charlottesville, Virginia World Headquarters.

But I digress.

David Gelles' article in today's Financial Times can tell you much more about SU.

Excerpts:

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Singularity n. A point of infinite density and infinitesimal volume, at which space and time become infinitely distorted according to the theory of General Relativity. According to the big bang theory, a gravitational singularity existed at the beginning of the universe. Singularities are also believed to exist at the centre of black holes.
— The American Heritage Science Dictionary

In a spare one-room office at Nasa’s Silicon Valley campus, a small band of futurists is plotting to save the world. The means are not a revolutionary technology or a new world order (though both may be byproducts). Rather, a new, pseudo-academic institution called Singularity ­University is going to solve our grand challenges: poverty, hunger, energy scarcity and climate change. Among others. Through a combination of techno-optimism, wide-eyed idealism and belief in the perfectibility of human beings, these well-connected geeks are creating an institution meant to legitimise their most extreme thinking.

... Google, the first corporate partner, has contributed $250,000 – and Google co-founder Larry Page attended the first meeting on the university last autumn. As one Singularity staffer said: “Here in Silicon Valley, we’re at the centre of the vortex.”

The office has all the trappings of a technology start-up: frisbees and footballs scattered about, a corner full of free snacks and drinks, and a communal table around which all members of the team work. Salim Ismail (his blog's title: “You’ve Got Ismail!”) is the school’s executive director and a veteran of several technology-based start-ups. Forty-something with a bald pate and an easy smile, Ismail describes himself as “passionate about business, entrepreneurship, technology, skiing, wine [and] tennis” with “a side hobby in metaphysics and philosophy”. In other words, he’s the archetypal Silicon Valley male.

The inaugural class will be a mix of graduate students and businessmen and women with time to spare. Classes are eight hours a day, six days a week.

Before I left Ames, Ismail loaded me up with swag. He gave me a calendar from NASA showing pictures of the cosmos, a copy of "The Singularity Is Near"

signed by Kurzweil, and a handful of Singularity University refrigerator magnets — a refreshingly simple technology, reliable, very human, and timeless.

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Note that all applicants to bojU — ultimately successful or not — who enclose an exorbitant handling fee with their application will receive, at no additional charge, a free lifetime subscription to bookofjoe.

Wait a minute....

Electric Paper Plane Launcher

That's different.

"Have you ever wished that you could throw a paper aeroplane as straight or as far as someone else? This kit includes components to make two electric plane launchers — ideal for exploring different paper plane designs. The rubber discs spin at high speed and will launch a paper plane at up to 50Km/h (30mph). An ideal gift for any budding aeronautical engineer interested in the application of technology to problem solving."

Each launcher requires 2AA batteries (not included).

Age 8+ (most of my readers — sweet!).

$15.60.

[via Jonathan Margolis's "technopolis" feature in the April 24, 2009 issue of The Financial Times "How To Spend It" magazine]

zig-zag to slow down

Long story short: 500 feet of zig-zagging lines are now painted on Belmont Ridge Road at its intersection with the Washington and Old Dominion Trail in Loudon County, Virginia.

Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Salmon said, "It's a low cost strategy to get motorists to slow down as they approach the bike trail and pedestrian path. While at first motorists may be a little disoriented, the main point is to get them to pay attention...."

Interesting.

Turns out similar programs have been successful in Australia and the UK.

[via clusterflock and wtop]

Campana Brothers Woodfloor Lamp

From Nick Vinson's story in today's Financial Times:

"This lamp has a very simple construction process. Slim strips of pine are drilled with holes and then attached to series of metal rings; the rings, which run from the base up to the shade, also contain the light fittings. That its designers are the Brazilian Campana brothers, whose goal is to 'triumph with simple solutions,' creating the precious out of the day-to-day, should come as no surprise."

"The São Paulo-based duo describe this as a reading lamp with a scenic approach. It gives off an interesting type of light, with geometric beams projected on to the floor, wall and ceiling, giving 'the impression of a forest,' something like sun peaking through trees. The idea was originally developed for Humberto, who needed a lamp at home...."

Apply within.

The Daytrippers

I must be on a roll or something 'cause this is the second film in a row I've watched this week that passed my watchability test.*

Long story short: First, gin up a Long Island family where Anne Meara's the mother, Pat McNamara's the dad, Hope Davis is the older daughter married to Stanley Tucci (they live with her parents), Parker Posey is the younger daughter married to Liev Schrieber (they're staying with M&D while visiting from their home in Michigan).

Then have Davis's character discover a mash note in her bedroom, addressed to "Sandy" and unsigned, complete with Andrew Marvell love poem excerpt.

Mom says daughter needs to go into the city, where daughter's husband (Tucci) works for a publisher, to ask him just what —if anything — that note's about.

So everybody — mom, dad, the two daughters and Schrieber — pile into the ancient family station wagon and head into town.

80+ minutes of very funny, poignant and surprising events unfold, much to the bemusement of me, to be sure.

Highly recommended.

Pie Divider

"Press this aluminum pie divider onto the top of any 9" or 10" pie, quiche or cake to score seven perfectly equal portions — then slice. A restaurant classic in dishwasher-safe aluminum, with easy-grab top handle."

Bonus: Also divides pie into 14 equal portions for those who — channneling Yogi Berra's memorable observation about how he wanted his pizza sliced — prefer to get twice as much.

$11.95 (pie not included).

Best cartoon of the week

By Kim Warp.

Considering the subject matter, best cartoonist name of the year.

Woozie

Get it?

Wine + koozie.

Clever.

But the name needs work.

No matter.

From the website:

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Woozie

Made from top quality neoprene, these insulated wine covers stretch to fit most midsized wine glasses to keep your wine cold and your hands dry.

Your guests will appreciate the soft feel, and the jewel tone colors will help them identify their glass.

Machine washable.

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Set of four: $24.99 ("glasses [and wine] not included").