I’m on a bit of a journalism kick, I guess.  The basic story is that a data-literate journalist set up a system to automatically produce a readable report along with a headline and a map for any USGS-reported earthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 or higher.  The money quote here is “The biggest delay in the story going live was the time taken for Schwencke to roll out of bed, turn on his computer, double check the Quakebot’s accuracy, and press publish.”

http://www.thewire.com/technology/2014/03/earthquake-bot-los-angeles-times/359261/

Nate Silver’s post explaining the nature of his new endeavor is well worth your time.  He speaks with obvious experience and understanding toward topics like Big Data and its nascent impacts on journalism.

What the Fox Knows

Here’s the paper from BICEP http://bicepkeck.org/b2_respap_arxiv_v1.pdf

Click to access b2_respap_arxiv_v1.pdf

Kevin Bacon Explains the ’80s to Millennials.  http://youtu.be/09q04Dlh7r8 

As the farther of a daughter I find this highly annoying.

This is why I like the internet.

http://animalstalkinginallcaps.tumblr.com/post/78463260082/anywhere-i-want-as-long-as-its-not-inside-a

Strict math teacher’s secret identity… as a baby cuddler

With his short gray hair, watchful eyes, authoritative voice and stern manner, high school math teacher and Vietnam veteran Jim O’Connor is used to commanding respect in the classroom. So his students were surprised to learn about his nickname at the hospital where he volunteers: the baby whisperer.

Read more: http://nbcnews.to/1hvv6Ik
Photo courtesy Children’s Hospital Los Angeles