Standup Economist

Heard an interview on NPR last week with a PhD economist who does stand up comedy. His jokes incorporate his knowledge of economics. Just goes to show that boundary crossers create new niches all the time. Click here for the interview.

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The Mozart of Music for Video Games

I have Brian Schmidt to thank for the songs that my sons hum on the way to school. Schmidt works for Microsoft and has composed music for more than 120 interactive games, including John Madden Football, Jurassic Park, and the Star Wars Trilogy. Just how do you get a job like that? Schmidt has bachelor’s…

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What a Wonderful World

I’m still in aloha mode, after returning from Maui last week and listening to the recording of What a Wonderful World by "Iz" on my iPod this morning. To spread some of the joy, here’s the YouTube video of Iz singing Over the Rainbow. It’s a great way to start the day (or end it.)…

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Crossing Geckos and Mussels

"I like to move in the fringes of established fields, where totally different fields interact. That’s where opportunities are." –Phil Messersmith, professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern University. Messersmith, who has an undergraduate degree in life sciences, a master’s degree in bioengineering, and a PhD in materials science is the inventor of "geckel," an adhesive…

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It Takes Two Minds to Tango

I recently attended a friend’s 50th birthday party, held at the Mercury Cafe, an eclectic restaurant and dance club in Denver. We had not seen each other since my 40th birthday party, six years ago (held at the not-so-eclectic, very-little-dancing-ever-goes-on Ross residence). Since last seeing my friend, he had gotten married, had a son, shaved…

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