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Category: Misc

Doomsday Predictions: Why People Always Feel the End is Nigh

2024-12-18

From Columbus's time onward, doomsday predictions have accompanied humanity. The author argues that people believe in them not for comfort, but because they seem logical. A 'Good Cup Bad Cup' theory is introduced: people pay more attention to bad things, and negative memories fade faster, leading to a perception that bad things are increasing and the world is deteriorating. Historical examples, from ancient Egyptian prophecies to the Millerite movement, support this: people always feel the present is worse than the past. The author calls for a rational perspective, urging readers to avoid biases and recognize positive changes.

(www.experimental-history.com)
Misc doomsday prophecies cognitive biases historical analysis

Early Bronze Age Massacre Unearthed in Somerset, UK

2024-12-18

Excavations at Charterhouse Warren in Somerset, UK, have revealed a shocking Early Bronze Age massacre. At least 37 men, women, and children were brutally killed and butchered, their dismembered remains discarded in a 15-meter-deep natural shaft. Cut marks and blunt force trauma on the bones indicate a deliberate act of extreme violence, possibly including cannibalism. This discovery offers a unique insight into prehistoric violence in Britain, challenging previous understandings of social stability during this period and prompting further investigation into the motivations and social context of the event.

(www.cambridge.org)
Misc Early Bronze Age Massacre Cannibalism

The 1954 Seattle Windshield Pitting Epidemic: A Case of Mass Delusion

2024-12-18

In April 1954, Seattle and surrounding areas were gripped by a mysterious phenomenon: countless tiny pits appeared on car windshields. Panic ensued, with theories ranging from cosmic rays to nuclear fallout and even sand flea eggs. Official investigations were chaotic, experts disagreed, and mass hysteria gripped the public. The truth, however, was far less dramatic: the pits were already there, unnoticed until widespread attention and media fueled a collective delusion. The event became a textbook example of mass delusion, highlighting the dangers of misinformation and the power of groupthink.

(www.historylink.org)
Misc mass delusion social psychology 1954 Seattle event

Mystery Drone Sightings Continue to Plague US East Coast

2024-12-18

A wave of mysterious drone sightings is causing widespread concern and airspace closures along the US East Coast. These SUV-sized drones have been reported near military bases and airports in New Jersey and New York, disrupting air travel. While federal agencies are investigating, explanations remain elusive, with speculation ranging from political conspiracies to other unknown causes. The ongoing mystery fuels public anxiety and calls for swift resolution to prevent further disruptions and potential threats.

(www.theregister.com)
Misc drones US East Coast airspace closures

Befriending Ancient Philosophers: A Path to Self-Improvement

2024-12-18

This article explores the unique practice of 'befriending' ancient philosophers. Author Helen De Cruz recounts her personal journey of deeply engaging with Mencius and his historical context, engaging in a mental dialogue that provided guidance and self-improvement. This 'timeless friendship' not only enhanced her understanding of philosophical texts but also equipped her to navigate professional challenges and life decisions by drawing on ancient wisdom, cultivating virtue, and ultimately living a more fulfilling life.

(nautil.us)
Misc philosophy ancient wisdom self-improvement

From Pickle Maker to King: The Untold Story of Khalid Sheldrake

2024-12-18

Bertie Sheldrake, grandson of a London pickle manufacturer, converted to Islam, changing his name to Khalid. He became a prominent figure in the British Muslim community, founding journals and ultimately accepting the kingship of the short-lived Islamic Republic of East Turkestan in Xinjiang. This incredible journey, from ordinary London life to a faraway kingdom and back to obscurity, adds a fascinating chapter to the history of 20th-century British Islam.

(www.nationalarchives.gov.uk)
Misc British History Islam

Egyptian Fractions: A Journey Through Ancient Mathematics

2024-12-18

This article explores the fascinating world of Egyptian fractions, a unique mathematical system used by ancient Egyptians. Unlike modern fractions, Egyptian fractions only use unit fractions (fractions with a numerator of 1) and all denominators must be distinct. The article traces the history of Egyptian fractions, focusing on the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus, and examines their practical applications, such as fairly dividing resources. It introduces the greedy algorithm for finding Egyptian fractions and methods for finding the shortest ones, also exploring related unsolved mathematical problems, including the Erdős–Straus conjecture.

(r-knott.surrey.ac.uk)
Misc Egyptian fractions Rhind Mathematical Papyrus Number theory Mathematics history Algorithms

Frankfurt Silver Amulet Rewrites Early Christian History

2024-12-18

Archaeologists unearthed a groundbreaking artifact in a 3rd-century Roman grave near Frankfurt, Germany: a silver amulet, the "Frankfurt Silver Inscription." Dating back to 230-270 CE, this amulet predates previously known Christian artifacts in the region by almost 50 years. Its inscription, deciphered using advanced technology, contains exclusively Christian content, including invocations to Jesus Christ and biblical quotations. This discovery significantly pushes back the timeline of Christianity's presence north of the Alps, shedding light on its early spread and influence in Roman Germania. The find has major implications for archaeology, theology, and Roman history.

(archaeologymag.com)
Misc Christianity Archaeological Discovery Roman Empire

A Glimpse into OS/2's Built-in Virtualization

2024-12-17

This blog post explores the surprisingly advanced built-in virtualization capabilities of OS/2 2.1 from 1993. The author demonstrates OS/2's ability to load and execute disk images, much like modern hypervisors, by creating a simple VGA mode program and running it in DOSBox, QEMU, and OS/2's own virtual environment. OS/2 can even run images that aren't true bootable DOS floppies, using VMDISK to create an image file and running it in fullscreen or windowed mode within OS/2. This functionality, remarkable for 1993, is essentially a built-in QEMU, prompting the author to consider the further potential of OS/2's virtualization features.

(www.uninformativ.de)
Misc virtualization

The Moon: A Captivating Cosmic Journey

2024-12-17

This article takes a captivating journey through the intricacies of the Moon's motion, the Earth-Moon system, and the dynamics of a three-body system within our solar system. Using interactive demonstrations, the author explains phenomena like lunar orbits, tides, solar and lunar eclipses, and reveals the formation of lunar surface features and the reasons behind the Moon's brightness. Covering concepts such as gravity and the conservation of angular momentum, the article explains complex astronomical phenomena in an accessible way, making it a scientifically engaging and entertaining read.

(ciechanow.ski)
Misc Moon Cosmos

Grug's Guide to Sound: A Caveman's Approach to High Fidelity

2024-12-17

Grug, a seasoned (though slightly confused) sound engineer, penned this guide to help young Grugs build the perfect cave sound system. The guide covers every component in the signal chain, from streamers to speakers, explaining key parameters like impedance, sensitivity, and distortion. Grug emphasizes low noise and low distortion, advising prioritization of high-quality speakers. Ultimately, Grug recommends a budget-friendly entry-level system, allowing young Grugs to enjoy high-fidelity music in their caves.

(petrustheron.com)
Misc audio hi-fi

Eating Spaghetti by the Fistful: A Neapolitan Street Spectacle

2024-12-17

In 19th-century Naples, eating spaghetti became a unique spectacle. People would grab handfuls of spaghetti and shove it into their mouths with surprising speed. This unusual custom attracted numerous tourists and became a Neapolitan specialty. The article traces the history of this practice, from the price drop of pasta in the 17th century, to its role as an important food source for the poor, and its eventual disappearance with societal changes.

(www.atlasobscura.com)
Misc spaghetti Naples street food

Running NetBSD on a Vintage ThinkPad 380Z: A Retro Computing Adventure

2024-12-17

The author acquired a 1998 IBM ThinkPad 380Z and embarked on a journey to install an operating system on it. After trying several options, NetBSD proved to be the best choice due to its excellent performance, hardware support, and stability. The article details the process of upgrading the hard drive, connecting to the network, installing NetBSD, and configuring various software components, including the X Window System, WireGuard, and a terminal emulator. The author successfully transformed this vintage ThinkPad into a functional machine suitable for lightweight programming, note-taking, and other tasks.

(luke8086.dev)
Misc

The Red Beads Experiment: Systems, Not People, Are the Problem

2024-12-17

Dr. W. Edwards Deming's 'Red Beads Experiment' vividly illustrates the impact of systems on individual performance. Employees pick beads from a mix containing mostly red beads, with performance measured by the number of red beads. Results show that despite employee effort, system flaws (high proportion of red beads) lead to huge performance differences, with management wrongly blaming individuals. The experiment highlights the importance of systemic issues, emphasizing management's focus on system improvement, not individual assessment, for true efficiency gains.

(medium.com)
Misc Deming Red Beads Experiment Systems Thinking

TSMC Employees' Surprisingly High Fertility Rate: One in Fifty Taiwanese Babies is a 'TSMC Baby'

2024-12-17

The surprisingly high fertility rate among employees of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer, has drawn significant attention. While TSMC employees constitute only 0.3% of Taiwan's population, they account for 1.8% of all babies born in Taiwan—meaning one in every fifty Taiwanese babies is a 'TSMC baby'. This phenomenon is attributed to TSMC's family-friendly policies, including childcare services from 7 am to 8 pm, flexible work arrangements, and generous maternity leave. The company's culture, fostering positive peer interactions and encouraging parenthood, also plays a vital role, creating a positive feedback loop that boosts birth rates.

(www.boomcampaign.org)
Misc fertility rate family-friendly policies

A Million-Dollar Surprise: De Gaulle's Hidden Collection Found

2024-12-17

A forgotten trove of Charles de Gaulle's personal letters, speeches, and manuscripts has been discovered in a safe, set to be auctioned for over $1 million. The collection, found in a bank vault belonging to his son, includes the handwritten manuscript of his famous 1940 speech calling for French resistance against the Nazis, correspondence with Winston Churchill, early short stories, and personal notebooks offering insights into his intellectual development. This unexpected discovery unveils a fascinating glimpse into the life and thoughts of the iconic French leader, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Anne de Gaulle Foundation.

(www.smithsonianmag.com)
Misc Charles de Gaulle Auction Historical Documents

U2 Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. Reveals Dyscalculia Diagnosis

2024-12-16

U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. has publicly revealed for the first time that he has dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects mathematical abilities. He shared that he struggles with basic counting and addition, describing the act of counting musical bars as 'like climbing Everest.' This candid admission offers insight into learning disabilities and showcases the musician's remarkable achievements despite facing significant challenges.

(www.thetimes.com)
Misc Dyscalculia Learning Disability

Always Attend the Funeral: A Father's Lesson in Human Kindness

2024-12-16

The author recounts how her father instilled in her the importance of always attending funerals, a lesson she initially resisted. Through years and personal experience, she realizes it's not just about obligation, but about offering comfort and acknowledging life's inevitable losses. Her father's death solidified this belief, highlighting the profound impact of seemingly small acts of kindness in the face of grief, emphasizing the importance of showing up for others even when inconvenient.

(www.npr.org)
Misc life lessons family human kindness

McDonald's: A Microcosm of American Life

2024-12-16

Author Chris Arnade offers a unique perspective on American society by observing McDonald's restaurants across the US. From Trump's political stunt at a McDonald's to its role as a refuge for the mentally ill and a de facto community center, Arnade argues that McDonald's transcends its fast-food identity, reflecting the connections between people and the yearning for belonging in American society. He highlights the elite's tendency to overlook the value of these grassroots communities, emphasizing that these organically formed social hubs are a testament to the resilience of American society.

(www.thefp.com)
Misc American Society McDonald's Community

The Green Fairy's Fall: Absinthe From Muse to Moral Panic

2024-12-16

In late 19th-century France, absinthe, once celebrated as the 'Green Fairy' and muse to artists and poets, fell from grace due to its high alcohol content and societal biases. Medical experts linked absinthe to violent crime, fueling the 'absinthe-induced violence' narrative. Sensationalized media reports, such as those detailing 'absinthe murders,' furthered the negative perception. While it's now understood that absinthe's dangers stem primarily from its alcohol content, not its essential oils, the ensuing panic led to its prohibition in Switzerland (1908) and France (1915). The widening consumption of absinthe, from the bourgeoisie to the working class, fueled its association with crime. The absinthe ban also reveals complex attitudes toward alcohol and societal prejudices. Although absinthe is now legal in some countries, its negative reputation persists.

(www.historytoday.com)
Misc absinthe prohibition social history

Unraveling the Mango's Mystery: A Scientific Journey Across Asia

2024-12-16

The sweet mango, a beloved fruit worldwide, hides a mysterious past. Dr. Emily Warschefsky, a Ph.D. student at Florida International University, embarked on a scientific journey across Asia to uncover the mango's origins. Visiting botanical gardens and forests, she collected numerous samples of Mangifera species and used DNA sequencing to study relationships between different mango species. Her research revealed genetic differences between Southeast Asian and Indian mangoes, challenging the traditional view of a single Himalayan origin. Several scenarios are proposed, including multiple domestication events and hybridization between different species. Warschefsky's work not only deepens our understanding of mango origins but also offers new insights for mango breeding and cultivation.

(fairchildgarden.org)
Misc mango origin DNA sequencing

Muscle Atrophy as We Climb the Kardashev Scale

2024-12-16

As humanity ascends the Kardashev Scale, a paradox emerges: increased energy access correlates with decreased physical labor. The author outlines three biomechanical stages: pre-industrial, where physical exertion was essential; industrial-modern, where machines reduced manual labor; and post-biological, where humans might remotely control robots via brain-computer interfaces, rendering physical bodies obsolete. This raises questions about the future of humanity's physical form and the complex relationship between technological advancement and human evolution.

(solmaz.io)
Misc Kardashev Scale Biomechanics Future of Humanity

Popeye, Tintin, and Literary Classics Enter the Public Domain

2024-12-16

In 2025, iconic comic characters Popeye and Tintin, along with numerous novels by literary giants like Faulkner and Hemingway, will enter the US public domain. This means these works can be freely used and adapted without permission or payment to copyright holders. The list includes Faulkner's 'The Sound and the Fury' and Hemingway's 'A Farewell to Arms,' among others whose copyrights expired after 95 years. Early Mickey Mouse cartoons also join the public domain, including those where Mickey speaks for the first time. This expansion of public domain works offers creators a wealth of material and invigorates cultural preservation.

(apnews.com)
Misc public domain cultural heritage

The Cyclic Identity for Partial Derivatives: Unraveling the Mystery of -1

2024-12-16

This article explores the cyclic identity for partial derivatives: ∂z/∂x * ∂x/∂y * ∂y/∂z = -1, rather than the intuitive 1. Through examples and various proof methods, including differential forms and geometric interpretations, the article reveals the mathematical principles behind this seemingly counterintuitive identity. The author also discusses its applications in physics and offers intuitive explanations.

(johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com)
Misc partial derivatives differential forms mathematical physics

Astonishing Patterns of Prime Numbers in Polar Coordinates

2024-12-16

This article explores the phenomenon of prime numbers plotted on polar coordinates exhibiting spiral or linear patterns. The author uses Python code, employing SymPy to generate prime numbers and Matplotlib for visualization. Results show that as the number of primes increases, the pattern transitions from spirals to straight lines. This isn't unique to primes; it's related to rational approximations of $2pi$. The article explains the underlying mathematics and explores the connection between prime distribution and pattern sparsity.

(jaketae.github.io)
Misc polar coordinates

Wikipedia's Fundraising: A Closer Look at the Millions

2024-12-16

Wikipedia, known for its free information, conducts aggressive fundraising campaigns. This article reveals the Wikimedia Foundation has amassed hundreds of millions of dollars, far exceeding the site's operational needs. The vast sums aren't used to compensate volunteer editors but instead fund a large staff (550 employees) and high executive salaries, leading to discontent among volunteers. The article urges readers to reconsider donating, questioning the efficiency and transparency of funds and highlighting potential political biases.

(unherd.com)
Misc fundraising financial transparency

Adult Basic Skills Test Scores Decline Sparks Concern

2024-12-16

An international test of adults' "basic skills" reveals a growing number of Americans struggling with moderately complex reading and math tasks. U.S. adults scored below the OECD average in literacy and numeracy, with scores declining since 2017. While a correlation with declining children's test scores exists, the connection isn't straightforward. The largest score drops were among older adults, suggesting the issue extends beyond the education system. The test itself may be flawed, potentially measuring complex text comprehension more than pure reasoning. The article suggests education can bridge the gap by improving knowledge reserves and understanding of complex syntax, better preparing individuals for such tests.

(nataliewexler.substack.com)
Misc adult education basic skills test

Conquering iPhone NFC Compatibility: Reviving Magic MIFARE Tags

2024-12-15

The author encountered a tricky NFC issue: some Magic MIFARE cards couldn't be read by iPhones. Using a Proxmark3 tool, they tried wiping card data and formatting with ndefformat, but the iPhone still refused to recognize them. Finally, after writing data using the iPhone's NFC Tools app in "compatibility mode", the iPhone successfully read the card. The author also demonstrates how to use the ndeflib library to create and write NDEF records, ultimately enabling the Magic MIFARE card to work on iPhones.

(ewpratten.com)
Misc
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