Kimberly Blessing is a computer scientist, a Web developer, a standards evangelist, a feminist, and a geek. This is where she writes about life, technology, women's issues, and whatever else comes to mind.
Yes, I wish I were talking about Hillary! But I’m not.
Instead I’m talking about the ACM elections, and the woman I’m referring to is Wendy Hall, CBE, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the British Computer Society, co-founding director of the Web Science Research Initiative, and (if you couldn’t tell) one of my role models. So the votes have been counted and, come July 1, Wendy will also serve a two-year term as President of the ACM. Congratulations!
And speaking of GHC, I also need to mention that registration for the 2008 conference is now open! After so many years of attending, stalking Telle Whitney, and volunteering, this year I’m finally going to be speaking on a panel! (Go me!) So, don’t miss this opportunity to interact with thousands of smart, successful, techie women — including Fran Allen!
Posted December 8, 2007 at 10:21 AM | Tagged as: People I Admire | Comments Off
It’s been 27 years since John Lennon’s death. 27 years! It’s hard to believe, because I can recall hearing the news of his death like it happened yesterday; yet I’ve been to plenty of vigils in Central Park to prove that it’s true.
Each year it hits me hard… sometimes it’s when I’m at home in the shower getting ready for my day, sometimes it’s in the car… this year it’s been on my mind for the past few days. It’s been so long and yet our world is still so (and increasingly more) violent. For all that John did for the world, don’t we owe him? Can’t we realize his final wish?
And then there’s Yoko Ono Lennon, ever the tower of strength and spokesperson for a peaceful world. She’s posted a very moving letter to John over at IMAGINE PEACE (the focal point of an online peace demonstration that started back on October 9). Here’s the end of the letter:
Let’s not waste the lives of those we have lost. Let’s, together, make the world a place of love and joy and not a place of fear and anger. This day of John’s passing has become more and more important for so many people around the world as the day to remember his message of Peace and Love and to do what each of us can to work on healing this planet we cherish.
Let’s: Think Peace, Act Peace, and Spread Peace. John worked for it all his life.
He said, “there’s no problem, only solutions.” Remember, we are all together.
We can do it, we must. I love you!
This video was just too good to be left in my sidebar; the sheer fact that it exists mandated a full entry for it and its hilarity makes watching it a moral imperative.
Watch as a young(er) David Letterman is upstaged by Grace Hopper, not long after her retirement in 1986. My favorite part? Dave asks, “How did you know so much about computers then?” and Grace replies, “I didn’t. It was the first one!”
Delivered by Frances E. Allen, recipient of ACM’s 2006 A. M. Turing Award, the presentation calls for software systems designers to develop new tools that can improve the performance of computer software.
Allen, the first woman to win the Turing Award, issued the challenge in her Turing Award Lecture, delivered in June at the 2007 FCRC Conference in San Diego, CA.
Ms. Allen received the 2006 A.M. Turing Award for “pioneering contributions to the theory and practice of optimizing compiler techniques that laid the foundation for modern optimizing compilers and automatic parallel execution.” In her Turing Award Lecture presentation, she warns that computer software capabilities have fallen far behind the capabilities of computer hardware, and proposes several approaches to boost the performance of software in the face of the new hardware developments.
While I was dealing with all sorts of travel problems this past weekend, Telle Whitney was in San Diego to see Fran Allen receive the Turing Award. I hope Telle took pictures, because the ACM still hasn’t learned to use online social networking tools to quickly distribute the media that its members want to see…
However, while I was looking around for photos or video from the awards banquet, I found this Congressional resolution, passed by the House of Representatives on May 1 (how’d I miss this?), which honors:
…the pioneering life work of Frances Allen in computer research and development and salutes the Turing Award Committee for recognizing, through the selection of Frances Allen, that creative women have contributed mightily to the development of this important field.
I’m not sure what made me tear up more: Fran receiving such recognition or the acknowledgment that women have made great contributions to computer science.
Study: Girls equal to boys in math skills I'm a bit late on tagging this story, but for those that missed it: in the largest study of its kind, researchers found no difference in the math scores of boys and girls -- not even in high school. Women are now earning 48% of undergrad degrees in math.
Big Think - We Are What You Think Interviews with today's leading thinkers, movers and shakers, searchable by question or by topic. Users can also respond with their own video commentary.
Use the Best Available Ampersand SimpleBits has created some charts depicting the more interesting italic ampersands available as default fonts on both Windows and Mac.
A visual message for peace Presentation Zen points us to "I Met the Walrus", a 6 minute film that visually narrates John Lennon's message of peace. Links to other Lennon/Beatles peace-related messages also featured.
