November 16th - 27th.

• Into the Zombie Underworld by Mischa Berlinski
  This piece is haunting, fascinating, riveting, mysterious… One of the best things I’ve read this year, definitely.
• Secret Websites, Coded Messages: The new World of Immersive Games by Frank Rose
  I’ve been thinking about this kind of massive collaboration. We’re not just seeing it in games, but seeing it in all sorts of efforts that take place online. This collaboration is really interesting to me, because I think it’s a new and different sort of habit that people get into, and I’m curious about how far it will spread, how people fall into it, etc. The article is a little bit old, but does communicate these kinds of efforts. PS, if anyone wants to talk to me about this (I’d love to hear about your experience), send me an email or IM!
• Thinking Science by Henry Petroski
  Culture shock. What he’s saying makes perfect sense, but it’s not surprising to think about engineers and scientists being lumped together. It’s also not surprising that people would get upset about this.
  Glee by Wheelchair Dancer
  I’m a big fan of Glee, its an amazing TV show, but its interesting to hear this take on this particular episode (I didn’t even know there was such a thing as wheelchair dancers). Again, there’s some issues of wanting respect. What I think is interesting too, though, is the idea that free flow of information suggests that any show should do its best to be authentic by actually understanding the people and issues it chooses to represent, versus drawing conclusions. What a HCD-y idea there.
• After Microsoft, bringing a High-Tech Eye to Professional Kitchens by Kenneth Chang
  Another look at the fascinating work of Nathan Myhrvold and his little gang of inventors. This time, he’s talking about food science. Its amazing what some basic scientific understanding and creativity can lead to… (for more on Myhrvold, check out this article by Malcolm Gladwell).
• Individualism, Identity and Bicycles in Northern California by Verlyn Klinkenborg
  Oh, Stanford bikes. How I love you, when I’m not worried about being pummeled by you.
• Tomorrow’s weather: Cloudy, with a chance of fractals by Robert Matthews
  An interesting article that looks at modeling weather patterns with fractals. Although the math may not be so simple, the model apparently works.