2022-08-06
Readings
A potential mystery in astronomy (although not unheard of) - another set of galaxies that seem to be free of dark matter halos. The reason behind some galaxies missing such halos is an area of active study in academia: https://phys.org/news/2022-08-dark-halos.html
Possible means to inexpensively reduce carbon emissions from some kinds of manufacturing plants: https://phys.org/news/2022-08-simple-cheap-material-carbon-capture.html
This is from a band leader that ran a (somewhat obscure) band that I love, and it’s a good reminder of what it’s like for a smaller band to try to make it, and how real life can collide with all that:
Priming or otherwise influencing human reaction times (example given is during driving) has some interesting applications (and also concerns); could we ever be comfortable (or want to be liable) with augmented reality pushing our decisionmaking processes like this? https://techxplore.com/news/2022-08-image-features-reaction.html
On a similar note, an interesting article on the search for noninvasive therapies for a variety of physical mental disorders: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add4834
NFTs have a lot of problems associated with them; this is an interesting twist on the illegal sales angle: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/08/indie-devs-outraged-by-unlicensed-game-sales-on-gamestops-nft-market/
Thoughts
Defragging a book - Based on some of the books I’ve recently been reading, I’ve been wondering about an editing service that would “defrag” a book, taking the “alternate between multiple perspectives or timelines” stuff some books do, and pull each thread into a sequential timeline. Possibly at risk to order-of-discovery for some things, unfortunately. Re-edits of existing works also would have to somehow be managed in a way to avoid copyright issues. I wonder what that might look like.
Every month or so I get into a long argument with someone (usually someone with an autoimmune disorder, or someone advocating for them) suggesting that for the sake of the health of people with such disorders, the general public should adopt masks in most crowded places as a permanent measure. I find this idea nutty, but paying attention to the argument they make, I can see where they’re coming from; it comes down to seeing the world from a perspective I’ll call “extreme accommodationism”, where most policies should be judged by what’s best for a fairly small minority of very unhealthy people, with little regard to how big the sacrifice is for everyone else. In a way it even fits with Rawls. And while I think Rawls is worth reading and I’ve adopted a modified form of some of his views, I think it’s better to read Rawls with a lessened risk-aversion. Similar to how I don’t think it ever makes sense to spend millions of dollars a year on meds to keep one person alive. Society should not bear such costs, even though the principle of accommodating people for physical disabilities is at some level noble. Getting back to the close topic, I can embrace a lot of health measures as temporary (like masks for Covid), but we’re not going to change the face of humanity for a thin health-minority of is. I don’t even want that on the table.
I’ve been curious, both on the cognitive and subcognitive level, how people and other organisms handle the situation where they have multiple disconnected smaller maps of an area and then they traverse the areas between enough to suggest the possibility (and usefulness) of merging them together; when and how are the maps physically merged, both in the brain and on paper for more cognitive/technological levels?
Current Events
Russia’s invasion and efforts to expand its occupation of Ukraine continues; right now Russian forces are attempting to seize the city of Sloviansk, while Ukraine has declared a mandatory evacuation of large areas of the east. I find it concerning that Ukraine continues to lose ground, and believe it’s time for the US to declare war on Russia and put boots on the ground.
Representative Pelosi visited Taiwan, raising tension with the PRC, but also signalling that the US will (hopefully) never let the PRC invade the islands. I would prefer a stronger commitment, with the US recognising Taiwan as a country again. China, in turn, has lessened some forms of cooperation, buzzed Taiwanese airspace with jets, and otherwise signalled its displeasure.
Viktor Orban visited the CPAC conference in Texas, not long after one of his advisors resigned over his most recent calls for an end to racial mixing. I find the man reprehensible to the level where I would not be much bothered were he to be assassinated; it’s disturbing that his presence at CPAC is not seen as a huge political liability to others there
Reviewlets
Dream-quest of Vellitt Boe (book) - This is a sequel-from-another-perspective to one of Lovecraft’s dream cycle books, and it was very well-written; I appreciate that the author writes as if they have a deep understanding of human nature, portraying a thoughtful character reflecting back over an entire life. There’s just enough fantasy and worldbuilding to make me hungry for more; I would like to read other books she has written, and would love to see a sequel to this (although it leaves little room for a direct one)
The Sky Road (book) - This is the final book in Ken MacLeod’s Fall Revolution series, and this is the first re-read where I feel I’ve really gotten it; this remains my least favourite of the four, but I’m finally enjoying it. MacLeod likes to write in the mode where he alternates perspectives over a few hundred years, and that generally detracts from my enjoyment, but this time I’m reading while looking for bigger themes; I also am reading in a more condensed rather than over-a-few-weeks timespan, which helps with retention. The entire series navigates the tension between cynicism and idealism effectively and I finally see how the fourth book fits that.
Mad Max (video game) - I decided to get back into this after several years because I remember it fondly and saw a video reminiscing over it; it remains very satisfying, with great theming, a good progression system, interesting characters, and generally solid gameplay. Hampered only by a weird gamepad layout and a failure to implement some of the features they promised (mostly that riding off the map would lead to procedurally-generated areas). I’m early into the replay and having a good time (and it plays well on the Steam Deck)
Salvation (book by Peter Hamilton) - I’m not sure I’m going to finish this one; the book started promisingly, but I bumped into some neopronouns early in and generally I “nope” out immediately when I encounter those because I find them pretty irritating. There are a lot of books out there I could be reading and a “nope” to avoid an irritant (whatever it is) lets me spend time on more pleasant things.
Agents of Dreamland (book) - This has some interesting writing, but I’m almost halfway through it and I still don’t feel I understand the story at all. I know this is the start of a longer series, but I wonder whether it will come together in this book or not; if not I doubt I’ll continue with the series.
Amusements
This is a fun exploration of the early online services scene, a bit before my time but describing things I had heard of when growing up; my first online services were Delphi, Compuserve, Prodigy, the Free-Nets, and the local BBS scene: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/08/tonight-were-gonna-log-on-like-its-1979/
Very cute sloth babies having a meal:
I’ve been enjoying James Hoffmann’s educational videos on Youtube, and enjoying the goofy recuts done of them under the channel name Hames Joffman:
Recent Music
For No One - Beatles - The Beatles had the chance to write a lot of fairly unusual music while having a huge audience; the chord progression and elements of this almost don’t work, but I think the trumpet(?) part does a lot to pull it together
Piano Man - Billy Joel - A very comfortable song I think I’ve enjoyed over my entire life. Has some fun background voices that I don’t normally give attention
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum - As an instrumental, this has “elevator music afterlife” kinds of vibes; the vocals pull it back from that
Black Eye Galaxy - Anders Osborne - Chill, good background music; almost weirdly unoffensive until the 4 minute mark of the song, when it lets down its hair and experiments