Fireworks ~ Icons of Celebrations Worldwide!

Here in Boston it's a very wet Fourth of July so most people are inside dreaming of fireworks. Here's a bit of the history of this great icon of celebrations... The science of fireworks... The Secret World of Fireworks by NatGeo... How they're made... MissC spots a quapter view from inside the 'works! And finally, thanks to Paul @ GeekPress for spotting the Big One...

Restore the Fourth ~ July 4th Anti-NSA Protests

What better way for Americans to celebrate Independence from an oppressive and intrusive regime than by protesting un-Constitutional oppressive and intrusive NSA spying and other grotesque violations of the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution. CNet's Dara Kerr writes that Reddit, Mozilla, EFF and more join July 4th anti-NSA protests...

"Rallying around the Fourth of July holiday, several Web sites have come together to take part in a nationwide protest over the National Security Agency's surveillance program. Organized by the nonprofit Fight for the Future, thousands of sites -- including some heavy-hitters like Mozilla, Reddit, WordPress.org, and 4chan -- will be staging online protests. Rather than going black, like many sites did during the 2012 protests of Congress' Stop Online Privacy Act, or SOPA, these sites will prominently display a Fourth Amendment banner. The banner will quote the text of the amendment, which says, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated."

Good Riddance ~ When Dictators Die, Rejoice!

The criminally incompetent caudillo Chavez has finally been killed by cancer. He was such a verminous and thieving socialist swine that this is indeed cause for mass celebration. Which scumbag dictator is next? Mugger Mugabe, moron Morales, killer Kim, asshole A'jad, or perhaps one of the American "exceptions" -- Mao's minions, Saud's spawn, or others on the supposedly "right side" of things? As far as I'm concerned, when any and all dictators die, good riddance.

Preserving our Freedoms ~ Why Veterans Day...

Both Memorial and today -- Veterans Day -- are seasonal complements to the more celebratory Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. It's worth remembering why we observe them, and for this let's read President Eisenhower's proclamation about November 11th...

"Let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain."

This honors all vets of all wars, including those avoided.

EurekaFest 2011 ~ Celebrating Invention+Action!

Starting today Thurs 6/16, going through Saturday 6/18 at MIT and the Museum of Science is EurekaFest 2011, the celebration of invention and action orchestrated by the Lemelson-MIT Program!

"EurekaFest is a multi-day celebration designed to empower a legacy of inventors through activities that inspire youth, honor role models, and encourage creativity and problem solving."

Check out the goodness, including high school InvenTeams, the Award for Sustainability winner Elizabeth Hausler, and 2011 $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize winner John Rogers!

Commencing! ~ MIT Granting 2,500 Degrees!

The 145th Commencement at MIT is happening now! 2,500 degrees including to Tilke Judd pictured below and on the MIT homepage yesterday as part of doctoral hooding ceremony!-) P.S. I just love this foto -- Tilke's so delightfully happy;-)

MOSTI ~ KAUST's Islamic Golden Age Museum

Very interesting to discover the KAUST Museum of Science and Technology In Islam (MOSTI), a museum celebrating Muslim scholarship in science and technology during the first Islamic Golden Age. Located at the new King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia's modern new "House of Wisdom", MOSTI spotlights historical feats of Islamic discovery and engineering in realms including astronomy, mathematics (think "algebra" and "algorithms"), architecture, mechanization, medicine, and more!

Scratch Day ~ Worldwide Creativity Conclave!

It's Scratch Day here at the MIT Media Lab and simultaneously in some 40 countries worldwide! Scratch allows everyone to create interactive media -- music, games, art, shared stories, photos and more! A new project is uploaded every minute! See here Lifelong Kindergarteners intro Scratch Day last year 2009...

EnergyNight ~ Innovations NOW @ MIT Museum!

The latest MIT EnergyNight is happening now 5:30-8:30p Friday 16 October 2009 at the MIT Museum! I'm very glad that this activity I started with Energy Club founder Dave Danielson continues, this year under the leadership of Ásbjörg Kristinsdóttir and Anil Rachakonda. FYI, here's a blast from the past -- the 2007 EnergyNight...