2022-09-17
Readings
Variants on the Bloom Filter: https://www.i-programmer.info/programming/theory/4641-the-invertible-bloom-filter.html
It’s unfortunate that we might need to explore the idea of manipulating the environment to lessen some effects of global warming (and a little chilling that this is part of the plot of Snowpiercer), but it’s good to have explored some of these options in case we need to use them someday: https://phys.org/news/2022-09-refreezing-earth-poles-feasible-cheap.html
Some years back we first started to get the ability to decode cell recording from the human visual cortex to reconstruct images of what people see as filtered through the V1 area, I think. Interesting that this kind of research was recently replicated on dogs: https://phys.org/news/2022-09-decoding-canine-cognition-machine-glimpse.html
More organic molecules found on Mars that hint at its past environment and possibly past life: https://phys.org/news/2022-09-mars-rover-hints-life-latest.html
The AAAS’s response to the public access mandate from the White House OSTP: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ade8028
Wide-ranging conversation about Coffee and health - I learned a few things:
I’m not sure if this merits being called a phase of matter, but this is a good explainer on the whole “time crystal” thing (wondering how it fits in with entropy):
Thoughts
As frustrating as it can be to see strange shifts in business and conference policies on the topic, it’s at least a bit of a relief to see that Americans are actually not all onboard with trans-activism, at least according to Pew polls: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2022/06/28/americans-complex-views-on-gender-identity-and-transgender-issues/ - I think this is important because I want to generally roll back broad recognition - legal and social - for gender-identity, while keeping tolerance of it (as a weird idea). Having things land in exactly the right place is pretty important to me.
It’s interesting to see the conflict between Yeshiva University and a BIGALA group resolve in them, in response to a court order, generally ending recognition of student orgs. I can see both sides on the issue; if we are to have creed-based universities (which maybe we shouldn’t, but if we are) then should they be forced to allow student groups that are incompatible with that creed? I’m not saying this is a simple question, nor one I have an answer to - I don’t want orgs to be able to use their creeds to get special privileges, so any mechanisms to resolve this must be general. Apparently the “NYC Human Rights Law”, aka Title 8 of NYC’s Administrative Code, is the basis for the lawsuit. Which seems (to me, a nonlawyer) a relatively weak basis for this lawsuit - does it really extend to clubs? Anyhow, this is something I’m thinking about and trying to figure out where I stand (and YU’s “cancel them all” response seems like a fair way to deal with things in the meantime): https://www.npr.org/2022/09/15/1123173389/yeshiva-university-lgbtq-group-supreme-court
Current Events
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, with Russia for now on defensive and having abandoned weapons, injured comrades, and land. In my view this is good news; it’s important Ukraine use this space wisely, and ideally the west should attempt to make inroads in weakening Russia’s ties to its allies. More specifics of Russian atrocities during its occupations are revealed all the time. Germany has also temporarily nationalised 3 Russian-owned oil refineries to help deal with energy threats
Azerbeijan and Armenia had a flare up of their long-running mostly cold border conflict; this is to be expected as Russia’s ability to project force generally weakens and its propping up of one side or another in various conflicts becomes less certain; things returned to a ceasefire after a few days
Similarly, Afghanistan and Pakistan had a border skirmish as Pakistan built a security post on the border without negotiating it first
Sweden held a parliamentary election, with power passing from a center-left coalition to a right-leaning one (including some far-right groups that nobody wanted to work with)
Reviewlets
The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen (book) - I’ve heard about this and seen various adaptations, but I don’t remember ever reading it; so far I’m getting the feel that Terry Gilliam’s movie does a good job of reproducing the tone of this original set of works; it reads like a conversation with someone trying to pack too much information into their tales, with everyday absurdities battering down any sense of normalcy; this is probably why Gilliam chose to film-ise it, and why to do it then
The Eyre Affair (book, in series) - Having just finished the Lucifer comic series, I’m looking to reread another series I know I enjoy, and it’s been long enough with this that I barely remember it. The book (and the series it’s in - this is the first) does a good job at mixing silliness with fun urban fantasy.
John Rockman and the Trials of Galactar (book) - This is a very silly and terrible piece of science fiction, reading a lot like if a Shakespearehemingway Garfield thing were set in space. I knew it when I bought it, and it’s good for when I’m in a certain mood.
NYC Madison Square Dog Park - I don’t have a lot of experience with dog parks, but this one seems to be really well designed. It’s an open outdoor area surrounded by a fance, with the interior ringed with benches for humans to sit. The inner area has a mix of stone tile and astroturf, with a fountain feeding into a concrete bottomed stream for dogs to drink and splash in when they’re not playing. I’m finding it very useful to let my dog get some exercise as my ankle/knee problems make it increasingly hard to walk him enough. It has me curious what it’d be like to be a dog park architect.
Cult of the Lamb (video game) - This is a cute indie-style game that’s a bit of classic zelda grafted onto a bit of city-building; so far I’m playing it very casually and having a pretty good time.
Amusements
A dive into how frequencies and vibrations led to a Janet Jackson bassline damaging certain legacy hard drives (like a lot of people who grew up in a certain era, I’m really into Janet Jackson) - makes one wonder if a set of carefully crafted tones in a Youtube video could broadly “attack” via resonance a lot of common hardware even on desktop systems:
Impressive to see an acapella cover of this classic cartoon show:
History of Black Currants and why they’re obscure in the US:
Recent Music
Someone Who Loves Me - Sara Bareilles - I don’t listen to a lot of soul (although as the years go by, my musical tastes have come to resemble my father’s; he’s into the genre). This probably qualifies; it’s very comfortable music.
Somewhere to Hide - Shiny Toy Guns - This reminds me of a variety of math-y music I got into because someone prominent in one of the social circles I was on the edge of was really into the genre; it’s not quite chiptunes, but not far from it.
Figment Theme - Stoj Snak - This was a surprisingly good and very sentimental theme to a rather good indie game released a few years back; it’s also a good example of a song that would’ve been better with some musical equivalent of copyediting; the vocal pieces that alternate with the chorus are too short