2023-04-22
Readings
How records encode stereo sound in a backwards-compatible way:
A conductive ink for 3d printing: https://phys.org/news/2023-04-student-3d-printable-ink-physics.html
Cavern found deep in the Antarctic with long-isolated marine life: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/cavern-west-antarctic-glacier-life
Efforts to better understand chronic organ transplant rejection: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-approach-chronic-transplant.html
Mechanisms by which plastics can breach the blood-brain barrier: https://phys.org/news/2023-04-tiny-plastic-particles-breach-blood-brain.html
A keynote at a security conference from the LockPickingLawyer guy:
A great talk between Glenn Loury and John McWhorter on Affirmative Action and related topics:
A better understanding of the mechanism of hair greying with age: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230419125056.htm
And a better understanding of the way catalysts work in reducing the energy of activation in chemical reactions: https://phys.org/news/2023-04-atomic-scale-catalysis-massive-energy.html
A very ugly story of how real estate law can get it wrong (and why law of this sort needs a lot of special protections for people): https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/4/17/23685258/speculators-black-brown-homes-deeds
Another possibility that we may be able to find or engineer organisms to handle some of our waste (we still need to find ways to require less of it though): https://phys.org/news/2023-04-fungi-meal-hard-to-recycle-plastic.html
Thoughts
UMG’s efforts to prevent AI music from being streamed is interesting (one could easily imagine them being delighted if their own experiments could let them cut artists out), and their phrasing of it as fraud is hysterical, but I suspect there’s also a good case that AI training on music could be done in ways that should be covered by fair use. Still, interesting to see the debate and who lines up on what sides (at this point): https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/tech/universal-music-group-artificial-intelligence/index.html
Current Events
The Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine continues, with western military aid and training expected to let Ukraine begin to push Russia back soon. Related, Russia accidentally bombed one of its own cities near the border, giving Russia a deserved taste of the entirely unnecessary pain it’s giving to Ukraine. It’s a pity more of this is difficult to arrange. Russian diplomatic influence in Europe continues to diminish (except in shithole countries like Turkey and Hungary) with a German expulsion of several diplomats. Russia continues to arrest people and give them long prison sentences for publicly criticising its unjust war.
SpaceX, which I regard as a company that’s a net-negative for humanity (primarily because of its stated intent to ignore planetary protection and colonise mars before it has been adequately explored scientifically, but also because of its leader), had a booster explode on launch.
Sudan’s attempt at a truce in its civil war has been unsuccessful; military efforts of the government to retake the capital are underway, while civilians are being evacuated and parts of the country suffer food shortages
It’s promising to see efforts by reviewers to push journals from the worst of their practices: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/research/2023/04/20/exodus-elsevier-neuroscience-journal
Polls
Pew poll: US perspectives on the relation between religion and morality: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/20/many-people-in-u-s-other-advanced-economies-say-its-not-necessary-to-believe-in-god-to-be-moral/
Reviewlets
La Pecora Bianca (Italian restaurant in Manhattan) - I went with a coworker and had the garganelli, a mushroom-based pasta dish that was exceptionally good. It’s a bit pricey but not unaffordably so, and they had a good set of vegetarian options (alongside meat dishes which I can’t eat).
The Heart Sutra (the satire novel by Yan Lianke) - So far I’m enjoying this colourful and snarky piece, although I am finding it a bit difficult to follow (I just barely have the cultural and religious knowledge needed to get it) and it’s a bit tiring to bring my entire head to pleasure reading. Good so far, and it’s very unusual to see a novel that puts conflicting religious identities front-and-center.
The Sleeper (HG Wells novel) - Very old, very enjoyable novel that reminds me of The Time Traveller (the writing style, the observation style of the main character), but I can also see how this inspired Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” novel. I’m still fairly early into this one too.
Amusements
A cool building, some interesting history, and a bit of Monty Python-esque animation (Jested Tower):
Insightful and often funny, this is a good interview with Hugh Laurie:
Studies on letting lonely pet birds call each other for conversation: https://phys.org/news/2023-04-video-calling-tech-lonely-parrots-flock.html
Roasting coffee in other atmospheric compositions:
Cool to see a lengthy exploration of some (video game, complex plot) writing that generates a rich conflict between an idealistic hero and a highly-pragmatic one:
Disassembly of a beautiful old telephone: https://hackaday.com/2023/04/18/old-czech-telephone-teardown-is-beautiful-purposeful-art/
Recent Music
The Unicorn - Irish Rovers - I was probably hearing this song before I was capable of building proper memories; it was part of my childhood and occasionally slips into my mental state
Some of These Days - Panorama Jazz Band - My favourite rendition of this jazz standard, despite that it lacks lyrics and thus most of the normal emotional context of the song
It’s Halloween - Shaggs - The best-known song from a band known to be very unusual (some have called it an example of “so bad it’s good” in music), over the years I’ve gone between finding it hilarious, interesting, and a mental palate cleanser
Maahi Ve - Kal Ho Naa Ho soundtrack - Many years ago at my favourite Indian restaurant in Pittsburgh, I repeatedly caught bits of this musical on the wall TVs in the place, and eventually tracked it down (charming movie with some great song/dance numbers). Best seen with video for the first listen