Author Archives: Beecher

Bedtime Story: “Hey, watch what I can do,” said the Skunk

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Beecher

“Hey,” said Skunk, “watch what I can do.”

“Okay,” said Rabbit and Deer, and turned to watch. Continue reading →

Posted in Bedtime Story | Leave a comment

Return Fluids to User

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Beecher

Every user interface has to handle error conditions, even blood apheresis machines. Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Techno-biological | 3 Comments

Smart Pill to help children get through Puberty?

Posted on March 20, 2010 by Beecher

This looks like a “tip of the iceberg” type of article: Smart pill that helps children through puberty. To summarize, During adolescence, a specific brain development makes it harder for you to learn. I remember going from being able to … Continue reading →

Posted in Techno-biological | 1 Comment

Keeping computers from ending science’s reproducibility

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Beecher

Here’s a really good description of one of the key things that the people I work with are wrestling with right now: Ars Technica: Keeping computers from ending science’s reproducibility Basically, scientific exploration is relying more and more on computation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Psychology of Moral Safety

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Beecher

I’ve had a question for a while now: Why do people who crusade against a particular “moral evil” so often struggle against it personally and fall prey to it, sometimes very publicly? In my opinion, it happens too often to … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | 1 Comment

Philosophy of a 4-year-old

Posted on June 27, 2009 by Beecher

Setting: back yard T: “I wish it was pillow day. Where there are pillows everywhere.” Dad: “Pillows everywhere?” T: “Yeah, and all the pillows are filled with candy.” On not having arms “Without arms you couldn’t throw out the compost.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Teresa | 2 Comments

Things Grownups Do

Posted on September 23, 2008 by Beecher

(according to Teresa) Put out balloons for birthday parties Reach the sink1 Make a hole in the ground Drink coffee Make a happy face Grow flowers Pull out weeds Eat sour plant2 Make honey water3 And that’s all. 1 Without … Continue reading →

Posted in Teresa | 2 Comments

Difficult

Posted on June 7, 2008 by Beecher

Parental responsibility: resolving disputes. Teresa: Dad, Maya said that difficult is hard. And I said that difficult is easy. Can you please tell the best way? Me: Mm-hmm. Is difficult easy for you? Teresa: Yes.

Posted in Teresa | 2 Comments

Time and Beauty

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Beecher

Here is an article that I just read that I love. It describes time as an emergent property of the universe; that is, it’s not a fundamental thing—instead, it arises from other, more basic things. I’m not sure what those … Continue reading →

Posted in The World | 3 Comments

Focus Distance

Posted on December 26, 2007 by Beecher

Ever since I was little, I liked to see what I could do with my eyes. Cross them (which I learned from Mom), shake them (which I learned from a fellow fourth-grader), focus and de-focus them (which I think I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Techno-biological | 5 Comments