Attitutor Blog

Thinking about the Military

2012-01-30T12:50:00.000-08:00

My family has a history of military service. Both my brothers have served, my dad, my grandfather in WWII, a great uncle in WWI and a probably few others going back further. After being exposed to military training through the Devil Pups program at Camp Pendleton as a teenager I got clear that military service would not be a good path for me. I believe that in recent years the foreign policy of

Quantum Wierdness- The Double Slit Experiment

2012-01-29T12:41:00.001-08:00

Here's a nice animated explanation of the double slit experiment:

First Rights Respecting School Level 2 In UK

2012-01-24T23:07:00.000-08:00

I expect to elaborate on it further through my Teach-Kids-Attitude-1st site, but this Rights Respecting School program that is being piloted in the UK is an important movement for education world-wide: More information about the award: http://www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa

Paleolithic Diet Talk

2012-01-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a doctor who got MS then after switching to a Paleolithic diet reversed her disease progression and has conducted research to back her claim:

Poetry- The Crickets Have Arthritis

2012-01-13T10:57:00.000-08:00

Quick Update on Thesis & Last 7% Campaign

2012-01-13T10:19:00.000-08:00

Here's a less than one minute video update:

Last 7%- Why Homeschool/ Democratic School Research is Important

2011-12-25T23:59:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest video in support of my Last 7% campaign:

Embodied Mind Neuroscience

2011-12-20T23:44:00.000-08:00

Here is Antonio Damasio giving an extremely brief over view of the neurological basis for consciousness. This is a scratch of the surface of his book Self Comes To Mind in which he lays out his view of the "problem of consciousness." His perspective is particularly well informed by his clinical history as a neurologist who saw almost every neurological case in some midwestern state for many years

Help with my LAST 7% to Graduate

2011-12-13T14:19:00.000-08:00

This is my IndieGoGo campaign to raise the funds to complete my research and graduate in May 2012.

IDEA Vanilla Ice style

2011-12-07T17:29:00.001-08:00

A Confluence of Prison, Poetry, and Philosophy

2011-11-29T20:43:00.001-08:00

Proto Life in the Lab

2011-11-08T00:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a guy talking about the basic properties of life and how they have been able to produce these basic properties using chemical systems in petri dishes in the lab.

Brains are for Movement

2011-11-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

Here's a TED Talk by a neuroscientist explaining how important movement is to cognition.

Here's Why Teachers in the U.S. of A. Have a Problem

2011-09-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

Blog post on how power corrupts when the person wielding it is in a low status position (as teachers are in this country) To elaborate on my point about teachers: Teachers in most traditional schools are given almost complete power over the moment-to-moment lives of children and teenagers and then paid little, blamed for all manner of social problems, and generally disrespected. There are going

TV as Social Conscience TED Talk

2011-09-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a TV executive revealing some interesting trends from the last 50 years:

An Encapsulation Of The Human Conditon

2011-09-04T11:05:00.001-07:00

Here's a fun look at our current human situation:

Priceless Politics with Jefferson Smith

2011-09-02T17:13:00.001-07:00

Here's a good talk by the founder of the Bus Project and an Oregon Representative, Jefferson Smith:

Experienced Small Business Bookkeeper Available Part-Time (Portland East-side)

2011-08-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

I'm returning to bookkeeping and getting certified in Quickbooks with Real World Training. You or someone you know runs a small business and needs help keeping the books, so we should talk. I improved one client's cash flow such that it enabled the tripling of output and fueled a healthy and sustained expansion of the business. I have experience with cleaning up previous bookkeeper's messes so

State of the World, State of Our Bodies

2011-08-09T23:39:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of the latest TED Talks. The first is by Eve Ensler who very poetically expresses where we are: Now take a break before shifting to this under 6 minute talk by Psychologist Philip Zimbardo who very unpoetically explaining how boys are systematically becoming alienated from their bodies and the world:

Assuming Objectivity

2011-08-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

This is the next round in my exchange with Greg Byshenk. My original post, Do You Believe in Zero?, and the discussion begins My long reply to Greg, Do You Believe in Time and Mind? Greg's Reply, God and Existence I seem to be making some very different assumptions about the world than you are. I assume for the purposes of scientific inquiry that there is an objectively existing world. There

My Complaint About the Bagdad Theater & Pub

2011-08-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

I recently had another less than stellar movie going experience at the Bagdad Theater and Pub, so I told them about it and chose the "get back to me by e-mail" option. Since it's been a week and they have not responded I posted my complaint here on Yelp.

A Global Dream, not just an American Dream

2011-07-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

Here's the beginning of a piece by George Lakoff and Glenn Smith about their view of the American Dream and how we are losing touch with it. In brackets I have substituted 'Global' for 'American' because this is the proper scope of the thinking we need to be doing. They are focused on American (U.S.) politics, so it makes sense for them, but I hope that the same dialogue can be brought into the

Math of Cities and biology

2011-07-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a talk about the mathematics of cities and how it compares to biology. It's fascinating stuff but my impression is that the models ultimately predict collapse because there are finite limitations on 1) resources, which is countered by innovation, and 2) our ability to innovate, which he provides no solution for countering. Our ability to rapidly innovate is staving off collapse from

The Instant Expert Trope- Education Movie Reviews

2011-07-25T11:09:00.000-07:00

The Instant Expert Trope- Education Movie ReviewsThe instant expert trope from science fiction movies is guiding public policy for schools. Battle for Terra, The Fifth Element, and The Matrix illustrate policy maker's thinking about learning.

On Otherness: Thandie Newton's TED Talk

2011-07-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

Actress Thandie Newton tackles the illusion of self as a prime source of difficulty in our world:

Do you believe in time and mind?

2011-07-10T22:29:00.000-07:00

This is my response to Greg Byshenk's 5th comment on my last post, Do you believe in zero? We have had a very enlightening exchange on this topic. This one was too long for the comment box so I'm posting it here:Let's examine the unreality of faeries and unicorns, because at a certain level they have referents in the world even though they are clearly creatures of fantasy. Faeries could be the

Do you believe in zero?

2011-07-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

If you believe in zero, then what proof do have of it's existence? How seriously would you take someone who claimed that, given a lack of proof, zero must not exist and that those who continue to use it are suffering from the “zero delusion.” Or that believers in zero must be under a spell that should be broken because of how prolifically it was used in the systematic oppression of minorities of

Freedom Writers Education Movie Reviews

2011-06-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

Freedom Writers is the story of how Erin Gruwell made a difference in the lives of her high school students lives by making promises that mattered and then keeping them.

3 Questions for Education and a fellow critic of Waiting for Superman

2011-06-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

Sam Chaltain beat me to criticizing Waiting For Superman for it's ridiculous presentation of learning and teaching. In this TEDx Talk he goes into his three questions for education:

To Be And To Have (Etre et Avoir) in Education Movie Reviews

2011-06-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest Education Movie Review episode:To Be And To Have (Etre et Avoir) reveals how standardized curriculum can distract teachers and students from what's important in education.

Resonant Excitation in the Reed Pool

2011-06-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

Here's the underwater perspective on this participatory demonstration of resonant excitation organized by Reed Alumni Brad Wright for Reed College Centennial Reunion last week:I was jumping in and out of the pool in the demonstration the day before shooting this. There was a film crew shooting the above water scene the day I was jumping in and out, so if you see that footage somewhere online let

Sexual Anatomy is Complicated and Politically Important

2011-06-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a very interesting TED Talk about the complexities of sexual identity and anatomy and how those complexities show up in the political realm:

Waiting For Superman- Education Movie Reviews Pilot Episode

2011-06-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

Here's the pilot episode of Education Movie Reviews on my Teach-Kids-Attitude-1st.com site.

Explaining Unconscious Thought

2011-06-06T22:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a lecture by Anthony Greenwald about his research into unconscious cognition.

Believing What We Want and Trusting in Self-Discipline

2011-06-03T18:42:00.000-07:00

Doug Muder is one of my favorite UU writers and his latest perspective on the accusation/confession that UU's can believe whatever we want is right on:For years, people have been telling me that Unitarian Universalists can believe whatever we want. And I find that notion intriguing, because for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to believe that I can fly.I want to believe a lot of things

Fun to Imagine with Richard Feynman

2011-06-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to the BBC Archive of talks with famous physicist Richard Feynman.SynopsisRichard Feynman, one of America's most renowned physicists, sits down in an armchair at his Californian home to explain the physics that underpins the world around us. In this first episode, he explores the beauty of the way atoms interact with each other and reveals why fires feel hot.About Feynman:Feynman

Dancing at the Jefferson Memorial is still a crime

2011-05-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know anything about this Kokesh guy, but here's the video:Here's my reaction to a similar incident a couple years ago where I ask the question, "What's a cop's job?"I have to give the Park Police a little credit for following my advice from a couple years ago in that they attempted to find organizers and communicate with them. But then they failed in the acts of communication. If they

Example of Conservative Educational Philosophy

2011-05-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Here's an example of what I would characterize as a conservative educational philosophy:American Chronicle Article "Crisis, Education" by Tim WilliamsIt's unfortunately poorly edited with numerous errors, but the gist of the authors way of thinking about education is what makes this interesting. The moral premises presented in the first couple paragraphs are all about what children lack. We are

On-Call Manny Services

2011-05-15T19:58:00.001-07:00

I'm offering my decades of experience as a child care provider to families for a limited time. The basic idea is parents pre-pay for a block of hours so that my summer is funded then I provide services as needed over the next 10 months.Here's where you or someone you know can download more information: http://www.teach-kids-attitude-1st.com/on-call-manny-offer-2011.htmlEnjoy,Don http://

Mind Bubble via Content Filtering Web Services

2011-05-02T21:38:00.001-07:00

Here's a TED Talk about how the ubiquity of personalization filters is diminishing important but less common feedback loops:

World Laughter Day Celebration

2011-04-26T11:12:00.001-07:00

My friend Andrea Crisp is going to be leading Laughter Yoga at the Saturday Market Main Stage this Sunday, May 1st @ 2PM. http://amplify.com/u/b109v2

Mapping our own minds

2011-04-26T10:53:00.001-07:00

Here's another take on the mismatch between reality and how we think about it. This time it is a post from Psyblog about how we should deal with the fact that we have very little ability to know the reality inside our skin. In my previous post I shared a TED Talk in which Bruce Schneier explained our lack of ability in knowing the reality outside of our own skin. Fortunately, we can get to know

Mind Maps for Security

2011-04-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a TED Talk by Bruce Schneier about the difference between our sense of security and the reality of security. What caught my attention is his description of the discrepancy between our sensibilities and the reality they are supposed to reflect. He talks about it in terms of how we create security theater that has little to do with the reality of making people more secure.I think the concept

Teaching Complexity and Compassion to 4th Graders

2011-04-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

Teacher John Hunter created the World Peace Game and here's his TED Talk:

I Err, Therefore I Am- St. Augustine

2011-04-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

Getting it wrong is central to being human. We cannot see the world as it is because of our species talent for seeing the world as it could be. Here's a TED Talk by Kathryn Schulz on this point:

Stretching the bounds of empathy

2011-04-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

Are you willing to imagine what it's like on the receiving end of US military power? Here's an opportunity to find out guided by Sam Richards a Sociologist:

Big History

2011-04-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

In this TED Talk David Christian gives a short history of the entire universe:

Learning Poem by imogen

2011-04-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

“You can love me, but I must make me happy.You can teach me, but I must do the learning.You can guide me, but I will have to walk the path.You can coach me, but I must win that game.You can even promote me, but I must be successful.You can even pity me, but I will still have to bear the sorrow.For the gift of love is not the food that feeds me;it is the sunshine that nourishes what I must finally

Making Small Spaces Feel Large

2011-04-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a Tokyo architects methods for the illusion of space:

Not Back To School Camp Video

2011-03-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

Nicely done video about the unschooler camp started by the author of the Teenage Liberation Handbook and several other books about homeschooling and unschooling.Not Back to School Camp: A Glance Within from Allen Ellis on Vimeo.

Essence of Atttiude First Teaching

2011-03-22T01:50:00.000-07:00

I believe in the power of the situation and the focus of my work is distinguished by my assumption that in order to teach properly I have to have control of the situation. Not control in the way a marionette pulls the strings of his puppet, but in the way a sailor knows how his boat interacts with the wind and the waves. The sailor does not any hope of taking control of the wind and the waves,

Beautiful Spoken Poetry from Sarah Kay

2011-03-22T00:30:00.000-07:00

Language Development Recorded in Real Time

2011-03-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a TED Talk from a scientist who recorded his home life for the first two years of his son's life. He shares how his son learns to say "water." Then his team applied the analytic tools they developed to media. Cool stuff.

Our View of Ourselves is Changing

2011-03-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

I love it when someone delivers a message that I think needs to get out. Here New York Times journalist David Brooks talks about the revolution in our view of human nature that is emerging from a variety of scientific disciplines. He mentions education only briefly but what he says is right on:

Exemplary Business Ethics by Japanese CEO

2011-02-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

Here's a CNN story about Japan Air Lines CEO who has lead by example by tightening his own belt as he tightened the company belt, too.

Progressive School "Chains" Article

2011-02-14T21:29:00.001-08:00

Here's an article that gives an overview of progressive schools that have replicated themselves.Founded by Francis Parker and popularized by John Dewey, the progressive education movement developed as a reaction against traditional schools that prioritize rote learning over holistic child development.These institutions typically have certain features in common: * Experiential hands-on learning

Safety in a Democratic School

2011-02-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

Here's a post from a visiting parent to a democratic school that uses certifications as a management tool for children.

Science Teaching Flipped

2011-02-06T22:05:00.000-08:00

Here's what one science teacher did to get instruction out of the way of his teaching:Hat Tip to the Innovative Educator for this one.

Connection Parenting

2011-02-05T21:59:00.000-08:00

Here's a quote from a blog post by Kevin Salwen who co-authored a book with his daughter about how they gave up half their possessions: "In our big house, we stopped communicating. We'd scatter to different rooms, far from one another physically and spiritually. The house actually began to weaken our love, or at least our ability to express that love.So, when Hannah prodded us to sell that house,

After School Program Spectacular

2011-02-04T20:20:00.000-08:00

Here's a presentation from PopTech about a West Phillidelphia High School After School Program for engineering that made good, literally: This reminds me of a discussion I was recently having about how The System is made up of people and the leverage for change comes from finding and exploiting every slight crack in its defenses. Think of a huge rock. Every year in the winter water finds even the

Why glass is transparent.

2011-02-03T01:09:00.001-08:00

Here's the answer from the University of Nottingham:http://www.sixtysymbols.com/videos/energygap.htmHat Tip to Wimp.com

Isaac Asimov Talks Education with Bill Moyers

2011-01-25T00:29:00.000-08:00

This the second part of an interesting interview from way back in 1988 and they exchange some interesting ideas about education. The meat of the education discussion starts about 9 minutes in and goes for about 10 minutes.

The Story of School video and Atittutor Media are coming!

2011-01-24T10:39:00.000-08:00

I am very proud to announce a new project and the formation of an organization to make it, and future projects, happen. The project is called the Story of School and it is a presentation that will become a video about one of the deep cultural roots of the problem with current school reform efforts. As long as we have a school system that forces adults responsible for children to sacrifice their

Strict or Indulgent: The False Choice in Parenting

2011-01-20T20:46:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting article by Amy Chua defending the stereotype of the demanding parent and here's a very thoughtful response to it by David Brooks.I'm with David on this one. He explains that the irony of Ms. Chua's approach to parenting is that while she believes she is being demanding of her children, in fact, because she is making all the decisions her children are being deprived of

Testimonial to the Importance of a Fair System

2011-01-19T19:04:00.000-08:00

This is a powerful story of a crime and the consequences of having too much faith in one person's memory:

Trade-offs in Teaching

2011-01-18T21:11:00.000-08:00

Here's Ed Yong at Not Exactly Rocket Science on the trade-offs that occur depending on the style of teaching that is used. Reminds me of Ellen Langer's work in minful learning.

Relating to Disease

2011-01-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

Here's an incredible story about how to relate to disease from a woman who survived a double lung transplant:

This American Life on Brooklyn Free School

2011-01-18T15:29:00.000-08:00

This episode of This American Life on NPR radio is called "Kid Politics" and covers briefly the unskilled use of democracy in a Chinese elementary school from the movie "Please Vote For Me" and in the third segment a report on the Brooklyn Free School. The Free School piece is an unusually considerate story about how the kids participate in the decisions about what happens. The reporter took real

A vision for Humane Education from TEDxDirigo

2011-01-17T13:33:00.000-08:00

Here is a talk by Zoe Weil on her vision for humane education and the development of a generation of solutionaries:Hat tip to DemocraticEducation.com

Keeping it all in perspective

2011-01-17T10:51:00.000-08:00

Monty Python has a certain knack for this:

Brene Brown on the importance of vulnerability

2011-01-15T15:44:00.000-08:00

This is a really important perspective on how to achieve whole-hearted living:Here's an interview with her that explains her work in a slightly different way:And here's how she addresses the critics who assert that shame is necessary for people who do bad things:Finally here's how she expanded on the topic at TEdxKC:

Industrial Pastry Making Video

2011-01-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

This is pretty cool:

Solar Daytime Heating for Free

2011-01-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

Here's a set of resources for Cansolair heating panels, which one person says cost him about $2500:Discovery Channel Canada's CoverageOne set of ReviewsCompany webpage for videosHat tip to Wimp.com

Why Being Wrong is Ultimately Good

2011-01-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

Here's a PopTech Talk that explores being wrong and what we should do about it:

Computational Proof that Reality Trumps Stories, Rules, & Theories

2011-01-04T15:44:00.000-08:00

This post by Psychologist Mark Changizi explains how vagueness is inherent to all concepts. The direct implication of this observation is that all abstract ideas can be rendered impractical, which provides the opponents of any proposal an opening to criticize it.[V]agueness is intimately related to the ancient sorites paradox, where from seemingly true premises that (i) a thousand grains of sand

Student Poetry

2011-01-02T20:43:00.001-08:00

Here's an amazing performance of poetry from high school age kids from New Mexico. It's called "Love Letter to Albuquerque Public Schools":

Healthy Aging Sholarly Video

2011-01-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

Here's an extremely academic video of professional academics talking about the effects of early experiences across the lifespan in various scientific studies (2 hours with 6 presentations of 10-15 minutes):The first talk raises interesting points about how important a warm nurturing environment is for those who have had the opposite experience. She also points out that her data seems to suggest

Jinan on Biology of Learning

2010-12-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting perspective on the distinction between intellectual and biological learning:Part 1 - What is biology of learning? from mokoflip on Vimeo.An interview with Jinan Kodapully about his experiences and views on the 'biology of learning' coming from his work with tribal artisans, villagers, illiterate communities and in children's development in the last 20 years.Part 2:Part 2 -

The UU Elevator Speech Quandry

2010-12-27T20:57:00.000-08:00

Here's UU blogger Doug Muder's take on the UU elevator speech challenge, as summed up by commenter Kay Slama:Unitarian Universalism is an evolving, democratic religion based on experiences and actions in this life and a focus on both goodness and happiness. We respect all people and all of existence, and we use both reason and loving emotion in our spirituality. See our 7 principles on

Breaking Parenting Taboos

2010-12-19T17:12:00.001-08:00

Here's the first TED Talk on parenting that I recall seeing. It's a great look at how our culture sets up a bunch of taboos about what is acceptable to talk about in regards to parenting and how it results in a diminished experience for parents. The parents who give the talk run a web site for parents:

Better Teaching from the Front Lines

2010-12-19T16:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a wonderfully passionate and straightforward TED Talk from Diana Laufenberg about what we already know about how to improve teaching and learning:

Math Video Extraordinaire

2010-12-16T15:49:00.000-08:00

Here's one I can't resist:

Population Reassurance

2010-12-05T21:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick video with reassuring news about population growth:

Green School Innovation in Bali

2010-11-26T15:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a TED Talk about a new school in Bali:

Design in Education

2010-11-26T15:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a TED Talk from a designer who has made a comittment to rural public education in North Carolina and brings innovative thinking into the whole community:

Age-mixing Leads to Compassion

2010-11-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

Here's Boston College Professor Peter Gray on how age-mixing leads to more compassion.

Empowering Teachers in Harlem

2010-11-22T21:45:00.001-08:00

Here's a passionate woman who founded a successful charter school that has done well because they set up a system that fully empowered teachers. I think it's a great idea, and I'd just ask that the exact same principles be applied to students.

New Democratic School in Israel

2010-11-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

Here's a video about one of the new democratic schools in Israel:

The Connection Theme

2010-11-07T22:49:00.000-08:00

This seems to be an important theme that is arising as a fundamental for human flourishing: connection.Hardwired to Connect

Difficulty of Layman's Explanations

2010-11-06T23:21:00.000-07:00

Richard Feynman, the world renowned physicist, explains to a BBC interviewer why he cannot explain why magnets repel each other. This is the perpetual dilemma of technical sophistication.

The Kiva Story, Plus the Sequel

2010-10-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

Here's the story of the incredible microfinance success story Kiva.org form the founder and the announcement of her follow-up project (Profounder.com)for crowd-sourced funding for entrepreneurs:

Brilliant Innovations for Addressing Environmental Issues

2010-10-20T21:41:00.001-07:00

Here's the most brilliant new approach to environmental issues I've ever seen:

Ken Robinson is Getting Bolder

2010-10-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

In this animated condensed version of a longer talk Sir Ken Robinson talks about some key aspects of what is needed in education. He's on the right track.

Early Academic Computing at Reed

2010-09-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

There's a hilarious scene of students packing up a Mac in a wooden box and taking it to a lake to make drawings.The old style diskettes bring back fond memories of the toaster game that was required if you had to run a program that was more than 512K capacity of one disk. The toaster game was the process of one disk popping out and the computer asking for the next one. And sometimes you would

Muder on Spirituality (responding to humanist concerns)

2010-09-02T00:53:00.000-07:00

Here's what Doug Muder considers to be spirituality:So here's my best shot: Spirituality is an awareness of the gap between what you can experience and what you can describe.This is the best definition I've ever heard. If it does not make immediate sense to you then I suggest you read his post which goes into detail on his thought process and the context in which that process was engaged.

What About Love?

2010-08-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the welcoming comments of Rev. Kieth Ellison a the beginning of the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in Minneapolis. This makes me proud to be a UU:

Presentation Zen

2010-08-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

Garr Reynolds Presentation Zen is one of the blogs that I regularly follow and have a copy of his book. This is a talk he gave a Google.

Data Visualization Talk

2010-08-23T15:49:00.000-07:00

Here's David McCandless on the value of getting data into forms that we can more easily comprehend:

No Dog Left Behind

2010-08-14T11:14:00.001-07:00

Marion Brady has found an excellent metaphor for one of the most important problems with the current high fashions in school reform.Amplify’d from voices.washingtonpost.comThere are all kinds of things [dogs] can do besides herd, rescue, and engage foxes. They can sniff luggage for bombs. Chase felons. Stand guard duty. Retrieve downed game birds. Guide the blind. Detect certain diseases. Locate

Brain Wave Recording Innovation

2010-08-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a TED Talk by Tan Le about a new device for recording brain activity that has the cool property of unfolding the brain topologically to localize the signal. Plus it can simply be put on like a hat without requiring extra moisture for conductivity or a huge tangle of wires.