Links for Sunday, April 12, 2009

• Mint: A Visual Guide to Deflation – “Deflation is inflation’s polar opposite. It’s what happens when prices go down and you get more bang for your buck. Sounds good right? But deflation, like inflation is complicated and much less understood than inflation. It can lead to what’s called the deflationary spiral and grind the whole economy to a halt.“
• UW Astronomy Department: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence – “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Frank Drake, founder of the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI), as the keynote speaker of the Astronomy Department Open House. Dr. Drake is a leader in astrobiology and is famous for formulating an equation which estimates the number of civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy that would be in a position to communicate with the Earth.“
• ACM Ubiquity: How to Rapidly Improve Speaking Skills – “If you pay attention, you will notice that the British, particularly the English, tend to form their words on their lips, while Americans form them in the throat. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable among males, whose deep, gravely voice is considered to be masculine, virile and seductive.“