April 3, 2008
Check here if filing jointly:
technica q&a: michio kaku (physics of the impossible)
technica q&a: david lindley (uncertainty)
original essay: thomas banchoff (flatland: the movie edition)
technical q&a: paul davies (cosmic jackpot)
isepp lecture series
aisle 49
financial fitness sale
new arrivals
doug brown's factoid
bestsellers
In The Waste Land, T. S. Eliot says that April is the cruelest month. But is it really? While we Portlanders are still suffering through precipitation and mud, we bide our time by sketching out our garden plots and scribbling on our 1040s. So, we offer the continuation of our Financial Fitness Sale, to help all you procrastinators finish your taxes, and a few more inspiring spring project titles in our beloved Aisle 49. Noted geometer Thomas Banchoff pens an original essay for Technica fans; Michio Kaku, David Lindley, and George Johnson tell all in their Q&As; and Paul Davies makes a welcome appearance at this month's ISEPP lecture — don't miss his exclusive Q&A with us, too! Despite the rain, April isn't so cruel after all.
TECHNICA Q&A: MICHIO KAKU
Physics of the Impossible, Michio Kaku's latest book, is a sci-fi fan's dream come true. The stuff of Stephen King novels (telekinesis) and Star Trek (teleportation) might become reality in our lifetime, while more abstract impossibilities like time travel have to wait for scientific breakthroughs to happen first. In this lively Q&A, read about why ice-skating reminds Kaku of Newton, why he'll never become a Francophile, and why cockroaches are smarter than robots. Save 30% on Physics of the Impossible and read the Q&A here.
TECHNICA Q&A: DAVID LINDLEY
"If I can write something, it means I can understand it," says David Lindley in his Q&A. His new book Uncertainty describes Werner Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and the philosophical upsets between Heisenberg and Einstein, whose work was directly contradicted by this principle. Niels Bohr, associate to both of them, found himself stuck in the middle. In his Q&A, Lindley reveals his favorite high school teacher, what he thinks of Mr. Paperclip, and his proudest home-repair project. Want to read more? Click here, and save 30% on Uncertainty for a limited time.
Put another nickel in. On April 16, 1902, Thomas L. Tally opened the first movie theater solely dedicated to screening films in Los Angeles, charging ten cents (up from the five-cent "nickelodeons" of the past), called Tally's Electric Theater. Tally was the first person to give Charlie Chaplin a movie contract, as well. Sadly, there is no trace left of this iconic building, and by the 1960s a shabby used-clothing store stood in its place instead.
ORIGINAL ESSAY: THOMAS BANCHOFF
When he's not teaching differential geometry at Brown University, Tom Banchoff loves to talk about his favorite book, Flatland. He wrote the introduction for the new Princeton Science Series commemorative movie tie-in edition, worked as an advisor to the film's producers, and even appears in the movie. In this essay, Banchoff discloses why professors are like actors and tells us what it's like to hobnob with film directors. Click here to read his original essay, exclusive to Powells.com, and save 30% on our Flatland book and DVD set.
Minty fresh! Baron Joseph Lister, born on April 5, 1827, was the founder of modern hygienic surgery. He instructed doctors to wash their hands, wear gloves, and spray phenol on bandages, surgical instruments, and incisions, which resulted in a marked reduction of gangrene infections. The eponymous mouthwash Listerine was not invented by him — only named in his honor.
TECHNICA Q&A: PAUL DAVIES
Physicist and cosmologist Paul Davies's new book, Cosmic Jackpot: Why Our Planet Is Just Right for Life, blends science, metaphysics, and a bit of religion to argue why life on Earth is no accident. In his Technica Q&A find out how Davies got the writing bug, what his worst subject in school was, and what he thinks of Singapore's latest scientific advancements. Read this busy professor's Q&A here and save 30% on Cosmic Jackpot, for a limited time.
ISEPP LECTURE SERIES
Did we mention he was busy? You read Paul Davies's Q&A, now see him in person at ISEPP's stellar Linus Pauling Memorial Lecture Series. On April 10, at 7 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Paul Davies presents his lecture, The Architecture of the Universe. He will also sign copies of his latest book, Cosmic Jackpot. Note: tickets purchased for the cancelled Brian Greene lecture will be honored. Have questions? Call the ISEPP folks at 503-232-2300. And, as always, you'll save 15% on your ticket price by mentioning Technica when you order through the ISEPP office.
AISLE 49
Welcome to Aisle 49, the place to find books you covet and desperately want. This month, we've added a few more titles for your wanton perusal — how can you resist the allure of these books on spring projects? Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop, How to Run a Lathe, and Build Your Kids a Treehouse are a few of our new picks. Shop here for our complete selection.
Is it any surprise that April 15 is Rubber Eraser Day? The Pink Pearl erasers from our childhood are still the number one erasers in schools today. Do you remember their distinctive smell? Of course you do. That's because Pink Pearl erasers are made of organic rubber and pumice — that is, volcanic ash. Really! Too bad they didn't make any Mt. St. Helens models.
FINANCIAL FITNESS SALE
There is no better feeling than balancing your checkbook — except for filing your taxes and getting a big fat refund. Even if you're a financial slob like some of us around here, it's never too late to take baby steps and work your way to financial fitness, especially when we encourage you by extending our sale for another month. Next thing you know, you'll be cleaning off your desk. See how it works? Last chance to save 30% on these select titles.
We feel the earth move! April 18 marks the 102nd anniversary of the Great San Francisco Earthquake. Italian tenor Enrico Caruso had just sung Carmen at the Mission Opera House the night before. Awakened at 5:12 a.m. by violent jolts, he escaped his hotel room with an autographed picture of Teddy Roosevelt. He managed to escape the city and never visited San Francisco again.
NEW ARRIVALS
So much good stuff, so little newsletter space. 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School by Matthew Frederick is this month's sleeper hit. Treehouses and Other Cool Stuff by David Stiles illustrates 50 projects guaranteed to take you back to your pre-computer childhood and into the wild. Grape vs. Grain is Charles Bamforth's erudite comparison of beer and wine and why their reputations are so different. Sean Callery's Codes and Ciphers is a marvelous study of codes, symbolic meanings, and puzzle busting. The Little Book of Pandemics by Dr. Peter Moore explains why everyone has the flu right now. Shop our aisle of new arrivals here.
DOUG BROWN'S FACTOID
A fossil frog in Madagascar that dates from the late Cretaceous period has been making the news recently, due to its large size. The 16-inch frog is thought to have weighed up to 10 pounds, and has been given the genus name Beelzebufo (basically, "devil toad"). By comparison, the largest frog alive today is the African Goliath frog, which can grow to 12 to 13 inches in length and weigh just over seven pounds. Beelzebufo appears to be related to the living genus Ceratophrys (aka Pac-Man frogs); this presents something of a mystery for paleontologists, as ceratophyrine frogs are typically from South America. It may mean that Gondwana, the supercontinent that included Africa, South America, Australia, and Antarctica, might have broken up later than thought.
POWELL'S TECHNICAL BOOKS BESTSELLERS
1. Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual by David Pogue (Macintosh)
2. Dreaming in Code by Scott Rosenberg (Computers Reference)
3. SQL Pocket Guide by Jonathan Gennick (Computer Languages)
4. Roofing with Asphalt Shingles by Mike Guertin (Home Construction)
5. Dreamweaver CS3 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide by Tom Negrino (Internet)
6. The Definitive Guide to Django by Adrian Holovaty (Software Engineering)
7. Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit by Allan Wood (Desktop Publishing)
8. Photoshop CS3 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide by Elaine Weinmann (Graphics)
9. Machine Shop Essentials by Frank Marlow (Metal)
10. Teach Yourself Visually Dreamweaver CS3 by Janine Warner (Internet)
Thanks, President Bush.
Technica
By Carole R.
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