PureGin.org

Just reblogging from teaching.puregin.org: I posted my slides and some other material from my OpenWeb Vancouver 2009 talk on “Open Books, Open Minds, Open Source”. This talk explored how the conception of “openness” in information and knowledge, in the context of teaching and learning mathematics, has changed over the past 2400 years of mathematics education.

In particular the timeline of Education and Technology technology which I made can be found here: http://www.puregin.org/exhibits/edtech/edtech.html

The press release is out, the company newsletter is proclaiming the news: Raincity Studios has acquired Bryght.

We were walking through the rubble that is Cambie and Broadway a few days ago and discovered the Peaceful Restaurant. In the location formerly occupied by the Jade Garden, on a block fairly littered with restaurants, this little gem doesn't really stand out until you get inside and order.

I arrived just before the ambulence left from the scene of yet another accident involving a cyclist struck by a car on a bicycle route. This was just a couple of blocks from home, at 10th Avenue west (a cycle route) and Manitoba (also a cycle route, if I'm not mistaken?).

I didn't see the accident occur, though it did appear that the car ended up in the wrong lane, but it was clear that the cyclist, of course, got the worst of it in terms of damage and injuries.

I just got back from lunch at Le Marrakech in Gastown, which just opened this week. I went in to enquire about vegetarian options, but discovered that I didn't have cash and they didn't have their credit/debit card setup installed yet. I was strolling out the door, promising to come back the next week, but the owner, Abdel, refused to let me leave - he insisted on having me try their couscous, beans in tomato sauce, and red pepper salad, along with a pot of strong, sweet fresh mint tea, on the house.

Looks like the final touches are still being put in place (e.g., debit card reader, website!) but the food, service, ambiance and location are the tops.

I went last week with a couple of Pamela's Friends for Dinner and a Play - the United Player's production of The Ladies of the Camelias at the Jericho Arts Centre theatre - we got there at 6:00 for dinner (Grilled Salmon, mushrooms in a cream and white wine sauce, rice and glazed carrots) and a glass of wine at the Jericho hostel, after which we wandered next door to the theatre for a very enjoyable performance.

I arrived at bit late at the meeting last week, expecting the dozen or so 'regulars'. Instead, I found standing room only with more than 50 eager designers packed into the Bryght offices, craning their necks to see Rick Vugteveen's great presentation on Achieving Awesome Drupal Design. It was great to see so much interest in Drupal from this crowd.

I'm excited that I'll finally get to hear Wade Davis speak when the Atira Womens' Resource Society brings him to Vancouver to speak at a fundraiser for the Digital Storytelling Project.

Wade is one of those icons of our postmodern age - an explorer in a time when the very idea of exploration seems a thing of the past. He is a superstar academic, a guy who has let his curiosity lead him to parts of the world few people have ever seen, and who has let all that he has observed there shape a deeply felt and passionately articulated view of the planet.

Tonight I decided to go out for dinner, and since I was in the neighbourhood, I stopped in at The Naam. The Naam seems to be somewhat famous for the "your order will get here when it gets here" attitude of its staff, which I've grown to accept, for the sake of 24 hour mostly decent and not too-expensive vegetarian fare. Tonight, after being ignored for 5 minutes at the door and then being told that the wait would be "from 3 to 15 minutes" I decided I'd venture elsewhere.