new-york-times on S Anand

A ringtone adults cannot hear

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:00:00 +0000

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.

Most blogged books

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 12:00:00 +0000

Most blogged books of 2005.

Internet on flights

Mon, 09 Dec 2002 12:00:00 +0000

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

Sun, 17 Nov 2002 12:00:00 +0000

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. …

Einstein

via MetaFilter

2002 Pulitzer

Tue, 09 Apr 2002 12:00:00 +0000

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

Friedman for democracy

Thu, 22 Nov 2001 12:00:00 +0000

Friedman argues for democracy.