Humans of New York

Growing up in the city, I always thought I had assimilated some sort of culture or appreciation for people. When I left the city, I forgot about it. I tried to make peace with it and picked up where I left off, but I just couldn't. I found a lot of city people scary, dirty, mean and unhelpful. I lost my vitality and love for things. I lost my appreciation for the arts. People were simply dull and selfish.

I am cynical. I admit that freely. What I fear is that I am approaching bitter. I do not want to be bitter. (Because I'm still young, right?)

Humans of New York (humansofnewyork.com) helps remind me from time to time that people can be interesting and colorful. People are different shades of various colors. People can be almost anything if I am willing to listen and accept. And I am trying.

Flash Drives for Scientists

A good flash drive is all about functionality and usability - but why not take the creative route and go for something that speaks to your personality? There are so many unique drives on the market nowadays that you can most certainly find one that represents you.  Some of my favorite science flash drives for the lab include:

Einstein USB Flash Drive MIMOBOT from Mimico

My personal piece is this Einstein Flash Drive from Mimico. Pop off the Einstein MIMOBOT cap and reveal a playful, lighter side of the Nobel Prize winning scientist - the "Albert" side.

IMM Ruler USB 2GB Flash Drive from AudioCubes.com

This ruler flash drive can store 2GB of data and measure up to 5 inches of anything. What more could anyone ask for?

Leather Thermometer USB Flash Drive

The leather isn't real, but the thermometer might be. You won't be able to dunk this thermometer into solution, but it's always nice to know the temperature.

Spinacz Wooden Clamp Drive

What can I say? It clips. Stick it on your shirt or use it to clamp some wires.

Best Sources for Free Quality eBooks

There are many sources of free books on the web. As an advocate of free knowledge (but mostly as a thrifty reader), I love to share this with everyone. Many people don't seem to realize that copyrights expire and books become free to read, to distribute, and to inspire (as many should). There is always something available to read and to learn from as long as you are willing. Below are some of my recommended websites to visit when in search of a good read:

Girlebooks is no doubt my favorite eBook source. I'm a sucker for the Brontë sisters, Jane Austen, Victorian romance novels and the likes. Girlebooks offers classic and contemporary eBooks by female writers. Girlebooks eBooks are formatted into multiple eBook formats to accommodate most readers. I've had difficulties reading pdf on my Barnes and Noble Nook, but one of the formats offered by Girlebooks is perfect for my Nook! The founders and volunteers here produce great quality formatted works I truly admire and profit from daily.

Emily Bronte courtesy of Girlebooks

When speaking of free quality eBooks, who could omit Project Gutenberg? Probably the largest of its kind, Project Gutenberg offers over 38,000 free ebooks: epub books, kindle books, pdf, html, etc. Completely free of charge, Project Gutenberg books are formatted and edited by thousands of volunteers. Their mission is, as it always has been, to encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks.

Lastly, if you choose to read books on your phone (I do not), BooksInMyPhone provides thousands of free books you can read from the convenience of your cell phone. I prefer not to spend hours peering over small LCD screens, but I love the initiative to bring great reads and knowledge to any platform available.