TEDx Boston – The Mind Map

TED^x Boston could have been a bit overwhelming. OK,it was a bit overwhelming. Luckily I have a trick up my sleeve for situations exactly like TED^x, where I’ll be bombarded by a large amount of data in a short amount of time. There is no way that I would be able to take standard, linear notes that would capture the richness of the experience. So, just as I did throughout undergrad part II and grad school, I mind mapped like crazy, prompting many an onlooker to comment.

Other folks have posted their own summaries of the day’s proceedings so I will not duplicate their work. I will link to them, though, at the bottom of this post. Please, take a look at the map I’ve created, and use it as I do, as a way to make concrete the shape and structure of the day, the interrelationships and resonances, the confirmations and contradictions between the ideas presented. So many of them are so compelling, I’m sure that many of these memes have infected my brain.

Please note, the mind map linked to is very, very large. Below the map is a translation of the map into a linear outline, all courtesy of Freeplane, an open source, java based mind mapping tool. I’m mostly happy with it, though it could stand some improving. For example, I could not find the spell check feature they swear is in there.

20140315 – The mind map is missing in action.

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And now those Promised blog links.

• Ali Powell
• Bill Ives
• Kurt Eng
• Georgy Cohen
• The Twitter Feed
• The Facebook Page
• Flickr Photos
• HashAlbum
• Georgy Cohen
• Pete Bell
• Cesar Harada

More as I come across them.

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I was not the only person drawing like mad during the presentations. Graphic Facilitators from Collective Next were busily illustrating the key ideas in each presentation. They were displayed en masse at the post-conference reception.

NEARFest 2010

The wheel of time has turned round once more and we’re hard upon Summer.  The hands on the clock are difficult to read and overly complex, but that’s OK, it’s ticking in 13/8 time half of the time, the other half, it’s tocking in 7/3.    Most people when asked what time it was would throw up their hands in disgust and confusion, then shuffle away mumbling to themselves.

Others, however know, or at least they pretend they know, while quaffing down a micro-brew or 10.

There’s a proggyness in the air. The thunderclouds overhead look surprisingly like floating islands upon which caribou lackadaisically graze.  Look over there on Broadway, how did a lamb get downtown and why is it lying down in front of a theater where a passion play is being performed?

It’s time for NEARFest, the North East Art Rock Festival, and I’ll be hitting the road for Bethlehem, PA in just over 12 hours.

The line up this year, with their countries of origin:

• Eddie Jobson, The Ultimate Zero Project (ENG)
• Steve Hackett (ENG)
• Three Friends (ENG)
• The Enid (ENG)
• Iona (ENG)
• Riverside (POL)
• Forgas Band Phenomena (FRA)
• The Pineapple Thief (ENG)
• Astra (USA)
• Moraine (USA)

Damn, it will be good to hear Riverside live again after four years.  They played NEARFest 2006.  They were awesome then, I’m sure they’re even more awesome now.  Then there is Three Friends.  Who, you might ask?  Start with Gary Green (guitar, vocals) and Malcolm Mortimore (drums) of Gentle Giant, mix in generous amounts of, Roger Carey (bass and vocals, from Liane Carroll’s band), John Donaldson (piano and keyboards), Andy Williams (guitar, collaborator with Carey in the Engine Clutch And Gearbox trio) and Mick Wilson (vocals, from 10cc). The result? All kinds of Gently Giant goodness plus tons of new stuff.

Of course, I’ve been saving up to attack the CD bins at the vendors.
This years prey:

• A Perfect Circle
• Gentle Giant
• Symphony X
• Rocket Scientists
• National Health
• Opeth
• Atlantis
• Amon Duul
• Kevin Gilbert
• Royskopp
• Three Friends
• Frogg Cafe
• Ayreon – Actual Fantasy
• Aryeon – The Final Experiment
• Guilt Machine
• Ambeon – Fate of a Dreamer

As usual, yes, I know I could pick up some of these at Amazon, but:

1. What kind of fun is that?
2. Besos has enough money.
3. Oh, and… WHAT KIND OF FUN IS THAT?

I’ve gotta pack.  Talk to you all in a few days.

Science Fiction for Scientists & Engineers

Even as you’re reading this, Readercon is bearing down upon the world of F&SF literature like an express train.  Is that the light at the end of the tunnel I see? Perhaps.  It is definitely the light of sweet reason.

I’ve noticed that plenty of scientists and engineers do not like science fiction, even when they grew up on the genre and it was a major contributing factor to their chosen profession?  Why?  All too often, they find themselves unable to excuse the scientific and/or engineering inaccuracies in a text whose genre presupposes a basis in scientific fact.  They end up reading fantasy instead, which is unhindered by claims of ties to the real.

Are there authors currently producing science fiction where the science is as rigorous as the prose in beautiful?  I suggest the following and welcome suggestions for additions and subtractions, comments and criticisms.

• Rudy Rucker
• Ken MacLeod
• Charlie Stross

Who else would you suggest?

Drink With Transhumanists and Pick Their Brains While They Pick Yours

If you’ve been following the h+ summit, or even if you haven’t been, perhaps you have questions regarding transhumansim, human augmentation, radical life extension, germ line genetic engineering, etc, etc.  I know I do.

So, I’ll be headed down to Sprout for the h+ beer meetup sponsored by DIYBio.

When?  6pm until 8ish.

Where? 339 Summer St, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144

24 Heures du Mans 2010

Back in 2004, I lamented that no one was campaigning the then shiny and new Ford GT at Le Mans.  Well, this year, there are three, count’em, 3 Ford GTs on the starting grid.  Two from the Swiss team Matech. The other, and highest qualifying Ford GT is being campaigned by Belgian team MARC VDS.

I had given up on ever seeing Ford vs. Ferrari, but, perhaps good things to come to those who wait.

There will be a little bit more magic than usual on the Circuit de la Sarthe tomorrow morning.