Chicago

It’s now Autumn, and quarter 4 of grad school

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So today was my first day of my last quarter of studies at Northwestern. It seems that I’m going to be thinking intimately about obituaries for the next ten to twelve weeks. It also is creeping up on time for me to start looking for work.  Can’t support this lifestyle with no income, so it’s … Read more

Understanding complex adaptive systems

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So this is an interesting thing. I had two classes this quarter at Northwestern University, and they both had similar, but seperate objectives. First, it was a project to highlight my interactive graphic design skills. Secondly, it was a project to highlight my interactive storytelling skills. Ok, so with the approval of the instructors for … Read more

Douglas Rushkoff on the publishing business: ‘There’s much to look forward to.’

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Media theorist and author of many influential books on advertising, corporate influence on culture, and too many more to name, weighs in on the future of the publishing business on Publishers’s Weekly.  Conclusion: The publishing business’s woes are short-term; good things are coming: Behind the bad news, there is much to look forward to. Our … Read more

Nano-writing technique leaves a very small impression

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In April, scientists from Northwestern University published a new technique for drawing nano-scale structures on a surface, using an atomic force microscope.  In this video, the authors of the paper demonstrate and explain the technique and some of it’s potential applications. [podcast format=”video”]http://www.ianmonroe.com/flash_video/NANOFAB.flv[/podcast] Note: This story was first published on the Medill Reports website, on 5/14/2009. … Read more

Practicum week, or, slaving away in the science factories

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Testing what polymers came out of the experiment with Emily Pentzer
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So, I spent the last week working on a practicum assignment, which was basically to hang out with some scientists, and watch and learn what the day-to-day work looks like in the universe of nanotechnology.  Luckily, Northwestern University has one of the most advanced nanotech facilities in the nation, and I was lucky enough to get to spend the week with researchers there.

First of all, I should say that the entire experience was a made much more pleasant and practical by Denise Dooley, the outreach coordinator for the International Institute for Nanotechnology. She helped set up various meetings with scientists at the Institute, and arranged for me to observe several experiments by their researchers. She was quite helpful and very courteous through the entire experience, and I owe her a big thanks.

Want to know the gory details?  Hit the jump for more:

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Mysterious lights — cpd 20931 7322

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This weekend, twice I have driven north on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, and approaching downtown from the south, in the skyline, several buildings had offices lit up spelling out a series of messages. One building read “CPD”. Another read “20932” and “7322” A google search turns up a Chicago police officer named Joseph M. … Read more

It’s dangerous all over

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Here’s a map by the RedEye of murders in Chicago since January 1. Red dots = murders in January, February, and March. Blue dots = murders in April. Total > 100 so far.  That’s actually a decrease from last year, when there were 133 murders from January through April. View Chicago homicides map in a … Read more