What I Learnt Today

It is Grey Nomad season around here.

Although all members of this species share many attributes in common, many mating pairs manage to stand out by decorating themselves with distinctive plumage or adopting interesting names.

I spotted this Gey Nomad travelling towards Byron yesterday. Winnebago towing a small car – not unnusual. 

It was their chosen name which made me take s second look

“Advencha B4 Demencha”.

Fantastic.

Have you seen any well-named nomads lately?

What I Learnt On 4th March in other years

4th March 2011 AppSpin: Evernote

The sous chef took over the kitchen tonight.

On the menu was this very easy Chicken and Chorizo Paella.

With the help of Curtis Stone on the iPad, it turned out a cracker. Leftovers for Sunday lunch.

What I Learnt On 3rd March in other years

3rd March 2011 iPad too?

The Wolf is boiled alive. Self defense? After all, two houses had already been blown down.

Or an elaborate insurance fraud triggered by the GFC? Occupy FairyTaleLand.

How does the Guardian report news in the age of Social Media?

This is round one of a very expensive ongoing advertising campaign in the UK, which kicked off today.

I think I prefer Roald Dahls’s Revolting Rhyme, where everyone come to as sticky end.

What I Learnt On 1st March in other years

1st March 2011 University Success Guide 2011

Our senses are constantly processing sights, sounds, smells and touch. Most of these do not reach our consciousness. We only become aware of some of the inputs that pass through our brain.

How do we decide what to pay attention to?

On Feb 17th this year, psychologist Ulric Neisser passed away. He worked in the areas of cognition and memory, and was famous for his experiments on Inattentional Blindness – why don’t we notice things that are in plain view?

In his blog posting “How to Live Forever“, Richard Wiseman directs us to these videos,

Dan Simons made a famous ‘cover’ of Neisser’s original  experiment in 1999

This is the original 1975 version/

In focusing on the basketballers, did you miss the ‘out of the ordinary’ things in these videos?

Wiseman writes

“And that’s what great about science. Your work doesn’t die with you, but instead leaves a lasting legacy for future generations. In many ways, you live forever. Ulric, your work showed that people often don’t see what is right in front of their eyes. We shall miss you too.”

What I Learnt On 26th February in other years

26th February 2011 BoxWorld