2006 1

A ringtone adults cannot hear

Teenagers use it in classes, to avoid detection by teachers. Shopkeepers use the same technology to drive away rowdy teenagers, by creating a loud sound that doesn’t affect adults. This works because adults gradually lose the ability to hear high-pitched sounds. (via NY Times) Comments Livy 12 Nov 2006 5:33 pm: I can here the sounds up to about 18KHz.

2005 1

Most blogged books

Most blogged books of 2005.

2002 3

Internet on flights

Insight from a NY Times article on how the Internet can be accessed from flights: the reason you shouldn’t use a laptop on a flight during take-off and landing is not because of electrical interference; it is that the laptop could be a dangerous loose flying object in case of turbulence. Now, that makes more sense.

Letter from Einstein

Cute letters to Einstein from kids. Dear Sir, I probably would have written ages ago, only I was not aware that you were still alive. I am not interested in history, and I thought that you had lived in the 18th c., or somewhere around that time… Tyfanny Dear Tyfanny, … I have to apologize to you that I am still among the living. There will be a remedy for this, however. … ...

2002 Pulitzer

Thomas Friedman won the 2002 Pulitzer for his commentary. Incidentally, his book site (Lexus and the Olive Tree) has some interesting audio clips.

2001 1

Friedman for democracy

Friedman argues for democracy.