The Science of Music at the Exploratorium

by Erik Olsen on

I’ve visited
the Exploratorium on several occasions during visits to the Bay Area. And
each time, I came away saying to myself, wow, that was so cool, why aren’t there more science museums like this —
active, alive, here and now, touchable, smart and techy — everywhere? Visits to Los Angeles’ museums always left me
feeling a bit down, as they seemed to be in a state of constant disrepair. 

Well, the SF Exploratorium is keeping up its record of great exhibits with a new one on the Science of Music. It sets out to answer a few of the big
questions like: Why does singing in the shower always sound so good? And: Why do songs stick in your head (i.e. it’s
NOT because you’ve been implanted with a chip by the large media companies…not yet, anyway)?

The online exhibits here are also quite good. Built in Flash they give a nice sense of what the exhibits themselves
are about and/or they delve into the concepts to deliver a satisfying learning experience. Good for the kids. And
yourself, too.

Maryland's Historic National Road

by Kelly Amabile on

One of my favorite city publications to read when I
lived in Baltimore was The Urbanite, a monthly magazine
covering the people, place and pulse of the city. Each issue centers on a theme – topics such as literature,
spirituality, health or music. The December issue was all about preservation, and included this interesting piece about traveling the National Historic Road through Maryland. City dwellers gotta get
out of town sometimes, and I like that The Urbanite always includes an idea or two of things to see in areas
surrounding Charm City.

As the first federally funded road, the National Historic Road provided a gateway to
the West for thousands of settlers who followed it from Baltimore through the Appalachians to Illinois. Growth and
development has, of course, modified the exact road, but the historic route can still be followed, as the author of the
Urbanite story recounts in his scenic daytrip adventure. He heads out at 7:30 am to make the 170-mile westward drive. By
5 pm he has passed through quiet towns with antique shops and cafes, as well as numerous hiking trails and state parks
that dot the route. It’s a great day trip for folks in the Baltimore area, and the excellent Byways website provides itineraries and suggestions for where to stop
along the way. Travelers will pass through cities like New Market, Hagerstown and Cumberland.

A Bit on Mount St. Helens

by Erik Olsen on

The Chicago Trib
heads out West to God’s country and visits the great Mount St. Helens that blew her top on my birthday all those
years ago. Writer Robert Cross takes us there and delivers a dose of history and geology about this monumental natural
event. Myself, I was a wee lad, but I still remember the images on the tele. And it seems ol St. Helens has been acting
up again lately, though she hasn’t yet blown her top again. There is an active volcano there still and St. Helens
watchers (as well as a few apocalypse hunters) have been camping out waiting for her to go, thus heralding in the end
of the world as we know it. But don’t worry, you’ll feel fine. (subscription req)

Last Minute Gift Ideas: Travel Games

by Kelly Amabile on

I saw
these three games mentioned in the New York Times awhile back and just came across the clipping I saved, so
how about some last minute gift ideas that all double as geography lessons too! You can never go wrong with a board
game, in my opinion. These games are for geography and travel trivia buffs of all ages:

10 Days in Africa
Players must chart a course across connectiong
African nations from start to finish. The first traveler to make a complete ten day
journey wins the game.

Where in the
World?
The game will help players learn names, locations and vital facts about 196 countries, including
country flag, size, monetary unit, religions and languages.

Passport to Culture
As players move about this board they
collect passport stamps by answering questions about cultural traditions. Topics include native customs, geography,
social studies and anthropology.

Bari: Where St. Nick Sleeps

by Kelly Amabile on

Until I read this
article, I did not know that St. Nicholas was buried in Bari, in a crypt that is now enclosed in The Basilica of St Nicholas. Nor did I know that this was
not his only burial location. As the story goes, after St. Nick died in 345 AD, he was interred in Myra, Turkey until
sailors from Bari stole his remains and brought them to Italy in 1087. This southern coastal town along the Adriatic
has since served as the final resting place for the saint associated with dear ole Santa Claus. If you want to learn
more about St. Nicholas and his connections to Santa Claus (and vice versa), take a look at The St. Nicholas Center website. Based in Michigan (huh?),
they’ve got loads of info surrounding the tradition of St. Nick.  Or you could read up on the saint at Catholic Online. St. Nick’s feast day is December 6.
Check out St. Nicholas celebrations around the world too,
and impress all your relatives with your global St. Nick knowledge over a cup of eggnog this weekend.