2022-11-26
Readings
Eye implants to solve (very specific) visual problems: https://science.xyz/news/announcing-the-science-eye/
Efforts to make ceramics that can be molded will increase their usability in a variety of roles: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364825351_Plastic_deformation_in_silicon_nitride_ceramics_via_bond_switching_at_coherent_interfaces
More materials science - efforts to fine-tune creations of metals: https://phys.org/news/2022-11-next-generation-metals-atom.html
PASTE: Further improvements on CRISPR: https://news.mit.edu/2022/crispr-gene-editing-dna-1124
JWST’s investigation of the atmosphere of WASP-39b: https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-details-exoplanet-atmosphere
A dig into phonology, foreign words, and how they change over time:
Gene-transfers between Bacteria and Archaea appear to be possible: https://phys.org/news/2022-11-archaea-integrons-cross-domain-gene.html
Advances in microscopy allowing for easier imaging of living cells: https://phys.org/news/2022-11-microscope-3d-images-cells-natural.html
New ways to treat brain cancer with better targeting: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-zapping-brain-cancer-needles-door.html
Thoughts
We may be past the time when annotation was done on Twitter, but I think it was one of the best ways to handle misinformation, and we can see it working really well here where the White House was doing some spin and it got noted: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/02/white-house-twitter-context-note-00064647
There has been a minor and interesting political scandal involving Canada’s efforts to stomp out covid-related protests, with apparently pressure from the US having been part of the decision; at the time and now I criticised the Canadian government for their actions. The protests were stupid, but even stupid protests should be allowed to happen in most cases. It’s unfortunate and ugly to see pressure from another country influencing Canada’s internal policy like this; they should have pushed back against American pressure.
We should not prepare medications for use where their treatment costs more than most people’s net resource use over their life: https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/23/health/hemophilia-drug-hemgenix/index.html
Current Events
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues; with Russia being pushed back, they’re focusing on destroying the Ukraine power grid and other infrastructure
Recent elections in Taiwan have seen gains for the Kuomintang, part of the Pan-Blue Coalition, leading president Ing-wen to resign as party leader (of the Pan-Green DPP); I have a mild preference for political systems where people step back from party activities when becoming the national leader, but those are rare and have their own flaws
Imran Khan continues to disrupt the Pakistani government after having been ousted, organising mass protests and pulling his party from participation in the nation’s unstable democracy
Protests in Iran continue, with efforts to build foreign support (which I find puzzling, given how nonresponsive to US pressure Iran’s government is) and continued publication of continued abuses
Reviewlets
Day Watch (Night Watch book series) - The series uses the first book to set the general rules, and the second book explores telling things from other characters and goes deeper into the broader world and nuances to its world. There’s a weird (and a little annoying) deep cynicism about society in the book, which might just come from writing from a Russian perspective.
Hollander Caramel Cafe Sauce (caramel sauce) - I got this as an additive for my espresso machine, but it’s actually not that useful for that (the coffee taste drowns out the caramel) but it is very good and useful for other things (like dribbling over other sweets).
Avery’s Toxic Slime Soda (soda) - I occasionally order this; it’s one of the few sodas I like but it’s a bit obscure (I don’t remember how I first had some, probably in a coffeeshop over a decade ago). I like the sour/sweet combo, which is a bit rare for sodas
Amusements
The “AI does this and that” meme is a bit tired, but only as a phrasing: https://www.aiweirdness.com/galactica/
And more: Imagining a neverending conversation between Herzog and Zizek, two of the more interesting people of our time: https://www.openculture.com/2022/11/an-ai-generated-never-ending-discussion-between-werner-herzog-and-slavoj-zizek.html
Puppy vs Lemon:
Beauty in manmade structures (in this case a 486):
Recent Music
Nearness of You - Norah Jones - Some very nice vocal jazz; about as close to holiday music as I normally get
Jago Aaya - Malkit Singh - An old favourite of mine; it has one of the weirder rhythms in a popular song, to the degree that one has to learn to listen to it to really enjoy it
Acid King - Vegas Demilo - Some easy 90s-indie music
All Things - Splashdown - A bit like Bjork, but less egregiously weird
100 Generations - ThouShaltNot - This is from an earlier part of my life, and in a lot of ways feels childish (the music is very singsong-y and simple and mathy) but I may be projecting some of my feelings towards the person who introduced it to me into it.