The Living Camera in Rome
Here’s a rather amazÂing video (added to our YouTube playlist) that shows what hapÂpens when an artist, who hapÂpens to be autisÂtic, takes a 45 minute heliÂcopter flight over Rome and then works to artisÂtiÂcalÂly reproÂduce all that he sees. The human brain nevÂer ceasÂes to amaze:
The 2nd Presidential Debate in Ten Easy Minutes
In case you missed it, here’s a paired down verÂsion of last night’s secÂond presÂiÂdenÂtial debate in all of its uninÂspirÂing gloÂry:
Joseph Stiglitz on Managing the Global Credit Crunch
As part of our effort to proÂvide insight into the ongoÂing credÂit criÂsis, we present a talk just givÂen at Oxford UniÂverÂsiÂty by the Nobel Prize winÂning econÂoÂmist, Joseph Stiglitz (iTunes — Rss Feed). The author of GlobÂalÂizaÂtion and its DisÂconÂtents uses the talk as an opporÂtuÂniÂty to outÂline the events that conÂtributed to the globÂal credÂit criÂsis, and the future regÂuÂlaÂtions that could get us back on track. The talk runs a good hour, and it takes about 20–25 minÂutes for Stiglitz to realÂly focus on the credÂit crunch, and about 45 minÂutes before he starts disÂcussing tanÂgiÂble soluÂtions. Don’t expect any magÂic bulÂlets, any short term soluÂtions that will get the curÂrent criÂsis under conÂtrol. It’s more pragÂmatÂic long-term soluÂtions that you’ll find here.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
The FinanÂcial CriÂsis Explained
Ten Days That Shook The FinanÂcial World
This AmerÂiÂcan Life DemysÂtiÂfies The CredÂit CriÂsis
Writing on the Margins of the Web
Today, the world can begin to explore a new web app that will undoubtÂedÂly hold appeal for book lovers on the web. The app is called Reframe It, and it lets you write in the marÂgins of any web page, much as you’d write in the marÂgins of a book. And, even betÂter, it lets you share the comÂments with othÂers, turnÂing marÂginÂaÂlia into someÂthing of a pubÂlic conÂverÂsaÂtion. (Watch the video below to see what I mean.)
Reframe It is being released today in beta. To give it a try, you can downÂload the free FireÂfox or InterÂnet ExplorÂer Reframe It browsÂer extenÂsion here. Give it a try and feel free to let us know what you think.
A Day in the Life of Air Traffic
The AirÂTrafÂfic team presents a rather intriguÂing visuÂalÂizaÂtion of what globÂal air trafÂfic looks like over a 24 hour periÂod. File this under RanÂdom. Here it goes:
Live from Bombay
SevÂerÂal months back, we menÂtioned how the IndiÂan InstiÂtutes of TechÂnology (othÂerÂwise called the IITs) had launched a series of free techÂnolÂoÂgy coursÂes on YouTube. You can find about 50 free coursÂes here in total.
As a quick folÂlow up, it’s also worth letÂting you know about a new series of coursÂes being webÂcast live (and in EngÂlish) from IIT BomÂbay (watch here). AccordÂing to the head of their CenÂtre for DisÂtance EngiÂneerÂing EduÂcaÂtion ProÂgramme, you can watch the live transÂmisÂsion of 35 coursÂes. A schedÂule of fall coursÂes can be found here. Please note that the times refÂerÂenced here are in IndiÂan StanÂdard Time, but you can use this time zone conÂvertÂer to make sure that you’re in sync.
For more free online coursÂes, see our own meta list of Free Online CoursÂes from Great UniÂverÂsiÂties.
A Brief History of Disbelief
Jonathan Miller’s Brief HisÂtoÂry of DisÂbeÂlief is a BBC proÂducÂtion (2005) that offers teleÂviÂsion’s first susÂtained look at the hidÂden hisÂtoÂry of atheÂism. The three-part docÂuÂmenÂtary takes you from unbeÂlievÂers withÂin Ancient Greece, to the re-emerÂgence of disÂbeÂlief in 15th and 16th cenÂtuÂry Europe, through to the French EnlightÂenÂment, RevÂoÂluÂtionÂary AmerÂiÂca and the rise of DarÂwinÂian thought. We’ve postÂed Part 1 below. You can watch Parts 2 and 3 here and here.
This video comes our way via onlinedocumentaries4u.com
Tina Fey Does Sarah Palin Round #3
Peter & Ben
Now showÂing in the YouTube ScreenÂing Room: “Peter and Ben is a touchÂing and quirky stoÂry of how two “black-sheep” form an unusuÂal and endurÂing bond.” The 10-minute short film was named Best DocÂuÂmenÂtary at the Aspen Shorts Fest 2008. It’s added to our YouTube playlist. Here it goes:
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Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.
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