technica q&a: jonathan weiner (the best american science and nature writing 2005)
technica q&a: bart g. farkas (secrets of podcasting)
discounted duo
springer yellow sale
geek corner, with ben hammersley
calendar of events
forensics
tech hot titles
history of science
ebooks
spider factoid
bestsellers
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." — Albert Einstein
TECHNICA Q&A: JONATHAN WEINER
Jonathan Weiner's name has became synonymous with user-friendly science and technology. Philosopher, biographer, and Pulitzer Prize-winner, Weiner has assembled a stellar cast of essays as editor of the The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2005, by no less than the likes of Natalie Angier, Jared Diamond, Timothy Ferris, Sherwin Nuland, Malcolm Gladwell, and Oliver Sacks, amongst others. Read our Technica Q&A and, for a limited time, save 20% on The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2005.
TECHNICA Q&A: BART G. FARKAS
Though Bart Farkas has made a splash in the podcasting world with Secrets of Podcasting, he's more well-rounded-man than techno-geek. Football referee, fiction writer, futurist, and devoted father, Bart shares some insights in our Technica Q&A on the future of health sciences and technology. Read more, and save 30% on Secrets of Podcasting.
Speaking of podcasting, click here to listen to the new edition of the Bookcast at Powells.com, featuring Chuck Klosterman and a chance to win $1000 in books.
DISCOUNTED DUO
Given the season, our Discounted Duo may seem like no-brainers. Timothy Gay takes a look at the science of bone-crunching hits, soaring field goals, and awe-inspiring passes in The Physics of Football. And math often ranks high on kids' lists of what they hate most about school — but, as Patricia Kenschaft aptly demonstrates with Math Power, it needn't be the broccoli of school subjects. Kenschaft's strategies and lively techniques leave math anxiety, for both parents and kids, in the dust. Save 30% on these two titles, for a limited time.
SPRINGER YELLOW SALE
It's what our technical store likes to call "That Most Yellowy Time of the Year" — the Springer Yellow Sale! Save big on over 200 titles spanning the spectrum of mathematics, from one of the most respected names in science publishing.
GEEK CORNER
His mind just never stops percolating: Botticelli, role playing, cave paintings, virtual worlds, Roman goddesses, and western civilization. What do all these have to do with cutting-edge technology? Only Ben Hammersley knows!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
In addition to talks on How to Survive a Robot Uprising (Daniel Wilson), Powell's is offering an impressive line-up of authors and events nearly every night in November. At our Beaverton store, Oscar-winning conceptual designer for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Alan Lee presents The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook. Later in the month, A Left-Hand Turn around the World explores the culture of left-handedness, while Daniel Quinn postulates on how humans became humans in Tales of Adam. And Steven Erikson continues the epic fantasy begun in Gardens of the Moon with his latest, Memories of Ice. Check our calendar for more events listings.
"OK, so what's the speed of dark?" — Stephen Wright
FORENSICS
You don't have to be P. D. James to know that dead men (and women) do tell tales... just ask any forensic specialist or tune into an episode of CSI. Here we present an extensive selection of crime, forensics, and evidence titles, or what we like to call "Forensica."
TECH HOT TITLES
What's hot at Tech this month? Glad you asked. Much requested, and, with that title, it's easy to see why: Sex, Drugs, Einstein, and Elves: Sushi, Psychedelics, Parallel Universes, and the Quest for Transcendence by Clifford A. Pickover. Another favorite is The Agile Rabbit Book of Historical and Curious Maps by Pepin Press. You may also wish to consider Geek My Ride: Build the Ultimate Tech Rod by Auri
Rahimzadeh. But that's only a few of our Tech hot titles. Take a look at what else great minds are reading.
HISTORY OF SCIENCE: MATCHES
The first known matches were used in China in 577, but the modern match derives from Robert Boyle's work in 1680. Boyle discovered that when he rubbed a piece of paper coated with phosphorus and a piece of wood coated with sulfur together, they would burst into flames. Others expanded on this knowledge: K. Chancel made the first modern match in 1805, and John Walker invented the first friction match, marketed as the "Lucifer," or "Locofocos," in 1827. In 1855, Charles Sauria added white phosphorus to combat the foul odor, which, unfortunately, is poisonous. Thankfully, later in 1855, Johan E. Lundström invented the safety match, and in 1910 the Diamond Match Company patented the first nonpoisonous match in the U.S.
eBOOKS
If the long speeches in the Matrix sequels didn't sate your philosophical thirst, we heartily recommend you check out Taking the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in 'The Matrix,' now in eBook. Renowned scientists, technologists, philosophers, scholars, social commentators, and science fiction authors provide engaging and provocative perspectives on deconstructing The Matrix for the thoughtful, intelligent fan.
DOUG BROWN'S SPIDER FACTOID
Spider silk has a higher tensile strength than nylon, and can be stretched twice as much. The sticky material is fairly acidic, and thus old webs are not readily broken down by bacteria or fungi. This is why old abandoned buildings have lots of spider webs; most of the webs are probably also abandoned, but they are resistant to breaking down. Orb spinners usually make a new web every day, and will often eat the old web and reuse the proteins in the new one (spider silk is mostly complex
proteins).
"Science is merely an extremely powerful method of winnowing what's true from what feels good." — Carl Sagan
TECH BESTSELLERS
1. Agile Web Development with Rails by Dave Thomas (Computer Languages)
2. New Perspectives on Computer Concepts by June Parsons (Personal Computers)
3. The Unified Modeling Language User Guide by Grady Booch (Software Engineering)
4. Final Cut Pro 4 Complete Course by Ian David Aronson (Macintosh)
5. Make: Technology on Your Time, Volume 3 by Mark Frauenfelder (Personal Computers)
6. Ugly's Electrical Reference 2005 by George Hart (Construction)
7. Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things by Cy Tymony (Reference)
8. Ruby in a Nutshell by Yukihiro Matsumoto (Computer Languages)
9. Film Production Management 101 by Deborah S. Patz (Communications)
10. Sudoku: Easy to Hard, Volume 2 by Will Shortz (Games)
Technica
By Steven and Amber
Copyright 2005 Powells.com
