RATIO EX MACHINA http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com Most recent posts at RATIO EX MACHINA posterous.com Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:51:00 -0700 How Language Transformed Humanity http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/how-language-transformed-humanity http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/how-language-transformed-humanity

Biologist Mark Pagel shares an intriguing theory about why humans evolved our complex system of language. He suggests that language is a piece of “social technology” that allowed early human tribes to access a powerful new tool: cooperation. (Recorded at TEDGlobal 2011, July 2011)

Here's my impression: Mark has a knack for showings us the importance that language had on our development, both as a species and from a societal  point of view.

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:17:00 -0700 The Gift Of Play http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-gift-of-play http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-gift-of-play

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:46:00 -0700 TEDxBucharest 2010 http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/tedxbucharest-2010 http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/tedxbucharest-2010

Tedxbucharest
Yes, I've lived to attend a TED event. I'm totally sold! Can't wait for tomorrow! I am very confident in the people involved and all the effort that went into this. It will be an unique experience, I'm sure of it!

I always wanted to take part in such an event and now my dream came true. It's one of those things that you can't help but tell everyone around you how cool it will be and so on. But enough talk, I'm a man of a few word (especially when they need to be more). Suffice to say I'm in select company, only 500 others will be attending.

In case you're curious about what will be going on, here it is:

9:00 AM Conference Check In Opens & Caffeine
Check in at the Venue / Lobby of the Crystal Palace. Grab a coffee and a bite to eat before heading into the first session.
10:00 AM Auditorium Doors Open
Join hosts in the Auditorium for a non-threatening ―get to know you warm-up. Think  tai qi for the brain.

10:15 AM TEDxBucharest Session 1  TODAY IS a GOOD DAY TO CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Musical performance for a good day. Featuring TEDTalks and live talks from Catalin Stefanescu, Radu Tatucu,  Eric Weiner and Adrian Stoica.
11:30 AM Take a Breather!
Hot coffee, flavored tea, cold water and delicious sweets. All waiting for you while you take time to grasp the ideas and meet the audience. Enjoy, yes you are at TEDxBucharest and it is a good day!

12:15 PM TEDxBucharest Session 2  TODAY IS a GOOD DAY TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING

Energy from Drum Cafe followed by live talks from Adrian Bejan, Andrei Rosu, Raluca Ioana van Staden and Magnus Scheving.

1:30 PM Feed Your Tummy

TEDxBucharest wants you to stay energized, so plan to enjoy lunch with your new friends at TEDxBucharest. Search for people with similar passions; discover people who could become your new partners in meaningful conversation. Check out gifts shelf, as well as Bloggers Alley to share meaningful conversations.

3:00 PM TEDxBucharest Session 3  TODAY IS a GOOD DAY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Energy from Drum Cafe followed by live talks from Mihai Panaitescu, Nik Halik and Arnoud Raskin.

4.30 PM Take a Breather!
No doubt by now your mind is on overload. Take a minute to stretch your legs, share some ideas, and check out what’s going on in the lobby. Don’t forget to get a snack and a fresh drink.

5:00 PM TEDxBucharest Session 4  TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO CHANGE YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Head over to the amazing performance of KOTKI Visuals and live talks from Roland Hermann and Oana Pellea.

Make tomorrow  a good day!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:31:00 -0700 The Good News of the Decade? http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-good-news-of-the-decade http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-good-news-of-the-decade

Great presentation from the one and only Hans Rosling from this year's TEDxChange event. Amazing!

 

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:58:00 -0700 The Beauty of Data Visualization http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-beauty-of-data-visualization http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-beauty-of-data-visualization

David McCandless shares his thoughts about how fascinating data collection really is. Wonderful lecture, which can also be found on TED.com.

Enjoy!

 

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:07:00 -0700 Monkeynomics http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/monkeynomics http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/monkeynomics

Laurie Santos delves into the irrationality of human behaviour in economics. Great talk. Enjoy!

 

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:19:00 -0700 The Pattern Behind Self-deception http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-pattern-behind-self-deception-3 http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-pattern-behind-self-deception-3

Michael Shermer says the human tendency to believe strange things -- from alien abductions to dowsing rods -- boils down to two of the brain's most basic, hard-wired survival skills. He explains what they are, and how they get us into trouble.

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Fri, 21 May 2010 09:53:00 -0700 God Exists! http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/god-exists-1 http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/god-exists-1

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm forced to bow down in front of the compelling evidence, evidence that I present you below. God exists! He's a human that goes by the name of Craig Venter. :)) 

Here's his most recent talk, on TED, where he explains how he and his team managed to create the first fully functioning, reproducing cell controlled by synthetic DNA Enjoy! 

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Mon, 10 May 2010 14:24:00 -0700 The Hidden Influence of Social Networks http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-hidden-influence-of-social-networks http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/the-hidden-influence-of-social-networks

We're all embedded in vast social networks of friends, family, co-workers and more. Nicholas Christakis tracks how a wide variety of traits -- from happiness to obesity -- can spread from person to person, showing how your location in the network might impact your life in ways you don't even know.

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:31:00 -0700 Sex, Drugs and HIV http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/sex-drugs-and-hiv http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/sex-drugs-and-hiv

Elizabeth Pisani on the topic of sex and AIDS. Very interesting.

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:33:00 -0700 Michael Specter: The danger of science denial http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/michael-specter-the-danger-of-science-denial http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/michael-specter-the-danger-of-science-denial

Vaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.

Michael Specter is a staff writer for the New Yorker. His new book, Denialism, asks why we have increasingly begun to fear scientific advances instead of embracing them. Full bio and more links


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:33:21 -0700 Science Can Answer Moral Questions http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/science-can-answer-moral-questions-1 http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/science-can-answer-moral-questions-1

This was Sam Harris' presentation at TED Talks 2010. Great stuff, hope you learn a few things. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:48:54 -0800 Jamie Oliver's TED Prize Wish http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/jamie-olivers-ted-prize-wish http://ratioexmachina.posterous.com/jamie-olivers-ted-prize-wish

And his wish was to "Teach every child about food" and its importance. Way to go Jamie!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/377174/245744537_9b2401b807.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sJ0xZPHfJfP Eduard Ratioexmachina Eduard