Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Goodreads Failing Authors: Pre-Publication Negative Reviews Run Rampant

2025-06-25

Authors are reporting a surge in negative reviews on Goodreads before their books are even released, with the platform seemingly failing to adequately address the issue. Crime writer Jo Furniss detailed her experience, receiving a two-star review for her unreleased thriller, "Guilt Trip." After responding, her comment was removed, and Goodreads advised against confronting negative reviewers. This highlights a broader problem of online abuse and a lack of author protection on the platform. Other authors echoed similar experiences, emphasizing the damaging potential of pre-publication negative reviews and calling for a stronger code of conduct from Goodreads.

(www.thebookseller.com)

Misc Online Abuse

National Archives at College Park: Your Guide to Visiting

2025-06-25

The National Archives at College Park, MD (8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740) research room is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are accepted. Contact information: Customer Service 1-866-272-6272, Lost and Found 301-837-2900, Email: [email protected]. For Cartographic, Still Pictures, and Moving Image & Sound consultations and appointments, please contact the specific email addresses listed on their website.

(www.archives.gov)

Misc Research Room Appointments

Asunción's Paradox: Modern High-Rises Amidst Urban Chaos

2025-06-25

A recent visit to Asunción, Paraguay, revealed a striking lack of aesthetic coherence. Modern high-rises stand juxtaposed with dilapidated buildings, reflecting Paraguay's low government spending (19% of GDP) and high informal employment (62-67%). Unique tax regulations attract foreign investors, fueling a real estate boom that largely bypasses the local middle class. The author explores the complex interplay of economic policies, historical context, and social factors shaping Asunción's unique urban landscape.

(cpsi.media)

Misc

The Productivity Paradox: Time May Not Exist

2025-06-25

This article explores how modern physics' understanding of time upends our perception of productivity. From Newton's absolute time to Einstein's relativity and the absence of time variables in quantum mechanics, the article argues that time may not objectively exist but rather emerges from quantum entanglement. Recent research suggests time is a phenomenon created by observers participating in quantum systems. This changes our understanding of productivity: focus and commitment are not just about efficiency but about participating in the creation of time itself. The article concludes with some quantum physics-based productivity management strategies, such as embracing quantum superposition scheduling and leveraging consciousness-dependent time creation.

(multiverseemployeehandbook.com)

Misc

Challenging Infinity: An Expedition to the Edge of the Mathematical Universe

2025-06-24

A group of mathematicians, meeting in the Finnish Arctic Circle, explored the mysteries of infinity within the mathematical universe. They discovered two new cardinal numbers that defy the established hierarchy, instead 'exploding' into a new class of infinities, challenging the known order of the mathematical universe. This discovery sparked a heated debate about the structure of the mathematical universe, with some arguing it represents substantial progress, while others question its validity. The core of the debate lies in the understanding of mathematical axiom systems and the exploration of the nature of infinity.

(www.quantamagazine.org)

Misc mathematical universe

From Prison to Programming: A Redemption Story

2025-06-24

h5law shares his incredible journey from battling addiction, mental health struggles, and imprisonment to finding redemption through programming. While incarcerated, he discovered a passion for learning, teaching himself computer science, Bitcoin, and Solidity. Now free, he continues his studies in programming, philosophy, and theology, intending to document his learning and projects on this blog. This is an inspiring tale of self-redemption and unwavering pursuit of knowledge.

(h5law.com)

Misc programming journey

PhD Explosion: Too Many Doctors, Not Enough Jobs?

2025-06-23

The number of PhD graduates globally is booming, especially in countries like China and India. However, academic jobs are failing to keep pace, leaving many with degrees struggling to find relevant employment. While graduates in STEM fields often find suitable roles and report high job satisfaction, those in humanities and social sciences face greater challenges, highlighting a growing mismatch between PhD training and the needs of the job market. This raises concerns about the future of doctoral education and the need for reform to better align with societal and labor market demands.

(www.nature.com)

Misc

Kyoto's Tiny Coffee Shack: A Micro-Business Story

2025-06-23

While in Kyoto, the author stumbled upon a minuscule coffee shop tucked away in a residential driveway. This incredibly small establishment, run by a single owner, transforms from a coffee shop by day into a bar by night. The shop's vintage decor and unique ambiance create a captivating time capsule effect, leaving the author feeling comfortable and wonderfully surprised. This, the author argues, exemplifies Japan's unique business culture; low barriers to entry allow individuals to easily pursue their passions, resulting in charming micro-businesses. More than just a coffee shop, it's a story of human connection and freedom.

(thedeletedscenes.substack.com)

Misc micro-business

Escaping the Giants: Reclaiming Personal Connection on the Internet

2025-06-23

This article reminisces about the simpler, more personal internet of the past, criticizing today's major tech companies for their attention-grabbing business models. The author calls for a return to a slower, more personalized, and privacy-focused online space, sharing their own experiences in participating in the 'small internet' movement—reducing reliance on large platforms, supporting open-source technologies, and building a personal website. Readers are encouraged to join in creating a better digital world.

(nannnsss.omg.lol)

Misc

Francine Prose Remembers 1970s San Francisco: A Nostalgic Look Back

2025-06-22

In a recent podcast, author Francine Prose reminisces about her time in 1970s San Francisco. She paints a picture of a city before the tech boom, where the Mission District was wild and free. Prose describes artists carving out spaces in the Reno Hotel, a former boxer's residence, and recounts her involvement in anti-war protests, including her husband's daring climb of the Pentagon. The narrative evokes a strong sense of nostalgia for the idealism and freedom of the era, drawing intriguing parallels to her favorite film, Alfred Hitchcock's *Vertigo*.

(www.laphamsquarterly.org)

Misc san francisco

Anubis: A Proof-of-Work Anti-Scraping System

2025-06-22

To combat aggressive web scraping by AI companies, this website employs Anubis, an anti-scraping system. Anubis utilizes a Proof-of-Work (PoW) mechanism similar to Hashcash, adding negligible overhead for individual users but significantly increasing the cost for large-scale scraping attempts. This is a temporary solution; future improvements will focus on more precise headless browser identification to minimize impact on legitimate users. Note: Anubis requires modern JavaScript features; disable plugins like JShelter that might interfere.

(gitlab.gnome.org)

Misc

Bunge Bits: Making Kenyan Legislation Accessible

2025-06-22

Bunge Bits offers concise summaries of Kenyan parliamentary proceedings, making complex legislative information easier to understand. By improving transparency and accessibility, Bunge Bits aims to empower Kenyan citizens to engage more fully in their democracy. The project relies on cloud hosting, databases, and AI technology, and welcomes sponsorship to support its continued operation.

(github.com)

Misc civic engagement

The Demise of American Literary Fiction: A Supply and Demand Crisis

2025-06-22

This article explores the decline of American literary fiction, moving beyond simplistic explanations like identity politics or smartphones. It argues that a dual supply and demand shock is to blame. On the supply side, the shrinking magazine and academic pipeline has choked the talent pool, leaving writers unable to make a living. On the demand side, contemporary literary fiction, in its pursuit of critical acclaim, has alienated mass audiences, resulting in dismal sales. The solution, the article suggests, lies in restoring the appeal of literature itself, not just addressing identity politics.

(oyyy.substack.com)

Misc

8-Dollar Smart Plug Turns into a Productivity Booster

2025-06-22

A simple script monitors an $8 smart plug's state. The plug has a physical switch and WiFi connectivity, allowing API access to its status. When the switch is on, the script modifies /etc/hosts to block distracting websites (Twitter, YouTube, etc.). Placed out of easy reach, this creates friction; accessing blocked sites requires physically turning off the plug, making mindless internet browsing less appealing. A surprisingly effective productivity hack!

(www.neilchen.co)

Misc

The Abstract Lobotomy: How Modernity is Slowly Erasing Our Minds

2025-06-22

This article explores how modern technology, particularly social media and information overload, acts like an 'abstract lobotomy,' gradually eroding our cognitive abilities and independent thought. The author argues that dopamine reward systems, echo chambers, the pursuit of normalcy, and time compression contribute to the simplification of our mental lives and passive acceptance of the status quo. The article urges readers to reduce screen time, practice meditation and deep thinking, and read classic books to combat this mental numbness and ultimately regain their ability to think independently.

(www.jdemeta.net)

Misc

The Spy, the Scoundrel, and the Chart Inventor: The Wild Life of William Playfair

2025-06-22

William Playfair (1759-1823) lived a life filled with espionage, scandal, and debt, playing a role – often dubious – in pivotal historical events like the development of the steam engine, the French Revolution, and American independence. He was involved in the Scioto Company land scandal, a major early American controversy. Yet, his most enduring legacy lies not in intrigue but in invention: Playfair created the bar chart and pie chart, pioneering the use of line charts and fundamentally altering how we visualize data. His life, a blend of spy, scoundrel, and scholar, is ripe for a dramatic adaptation.

(blog.engora.com)

Misc chart invention

Casino Blue Light: A Subtle Push Towards Reckless Gambling?

2025-06-21

A new study reveals a concerning link between blue-enriched lighting in casinos and riskier gambling behavior. Researchers found that the increased blue light emitted from casino decor and LED screens may affect brain function, reducing sensitivity to financial losses compared to gains. This is particularly relevant given the growing global problem of gambling addiction. The study suggests that manipulating lighting, specifically reducing blue light, could potentially lead to safer gambling practices. However, the small sample size and lab setting warrant further research.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Misc blue light

Republican Poison Pill: Millions of Acres of Public Land Up for Sale

2025-06-21

Following the passage of the disastrous House reconciliation bill, Senate Republicans have unveiled their own version—a bill that funds President Trump's agenda by selling off vast tracts of public land. The bill mandates the sale of 2 to 3 million acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service across 11 states. Alarmingly, exemptions are minimal, leaving Wilderness Study Areas, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, and critical habitats vulnerable. This potentially opens up over 250 million acres to sale to "any interested party."

(www.wilderness.org)

Misc public land sale

Memes: Poor Images in the Age of High-Resolution Content

2025-06-21

This article explores the nature of internet memes and their complex relationship with socio-political and economic structures. Starting with Hito Steyerl's theory of the "poor image," the author argues that memes, as a dominant form of the contemporary poor image, reflect the affective condition of the masses and social reality. The piece critiques the tendency to simplify and personalize cultural phenomena like memes, suggesting this "not that deep" attitude stems from ingrained individualism and anti-intellectualism, hindering systemic critique and solutions to societal problems. The author calls for a critical engagement with cultural trends and collective action to address systemic issues, rather than resorting to individual moral judgment.

(caitlynclark.substack.com)

Misc internet memes cultural criticism

War Powers Resolution: A 50-Year Struggle for Power

2025-06-21

The War Powers Resolution of 1973, enacted over President Nixon's veto, aimed to curb the President's ability to commit U.S. forces to armed conflict without congressional approval. Born from the Vietnam War and fueled by Nixon's secret bombing of Cambodia, the resolution mandates presidential notification to Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and limits deployments to 60 days without further authorization. Despite ongoing legal challenges and accusations of violations, the Resolution remains a key element in the ongoing debate over the balance of war powers between the executive and legislative branches, highlighting a half-century of tension between presidential authority and congressional oversight.

(en.wikipedia.org)

Misc War Powers President

Ditch WhatsApp, Embrace Signal: A Privacy and Ethics Imperative

2025-06-21

This article strongly advocates switching from WhatsApp to Signal, detailing the reasons why. Concerns over Meta (WhatsApp's parent company) and Mark Zuckerberg's actions, including data sharing, cooperation with law enforcement, and election interference, raise serious ethical and privacy issues. In contrast, Signal prioritizes user privacy and has received endorsements from various organizations. The article concludes by providing simple steps for migrating from WhatsApp to Signal, urging users to prioritize personal privacy and a more ethical online environment.

(greenstarsproject.org)

Misc

Wiki Radio: A Random Journey Through Wikimedia Sounds

2025-06-20

Inspired by WikiTok, Wiki Radio streams random audio clips uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. Expect a wild ride through political speeches, bird songs, and surprisingly catchy tunes – a truly unpredictable sonic landscape. For shorter sounds, switch to 'Revolution 9 Mode'.

(www.monkeon.co.uk)

Misc Random Playback

Avoid Negativity: Crucial Career Advice

2025-06-20

This article emphasizes the importance of avoiding negativity echo chambers in one's career. While acknowledging that some complaining is normal, it warns against prolonged immersion in groups filled with negativity, impacting both career progression and mental/physical well-being. The author suggests focusing on positive aspects and striving for improvement if career advancement is desired, or dedicating energy to personal enjoyment if not. The article advocates finding positive communities and role models for genuine progress, rather than dwelling on endless complaints. Actively participating in and protecting cherished communities, while setting a positive example, is key to building a constructive environment.

(brooker.co.za)

Misc negativity bias

Cracovian Algebra: An Obscure Approach to Linear Algebra

2025-06-20

This article introduces Cracovian algebra, an alternative to matrix-based linear algebra. Invented by Polish astronomer Tadeusz Banachiewicz, Cracovians use a unique multiplication rule, resulting in different outcomes compared to matrix multiplication and violating commutativity and associativity. While Cracovians offered advantages in the era of manual calculations, modern computers show no significant difference in computational efficiency between Cracovian and matrix multiplication. The author uses Python code to compare computation times, confirming this conclusion.

(marcinciura.wordpress.com)

Misc Cracovian algebra

NYC Congestion Pricing: From Hate to Love

2025-06-20

New York City speech therapist Maura Ryan initially dreaded the new congestion pricing policy, as she drives across the East River multiple times a day to see patients in Queens and Manhattan. However, since its implementation, her opinion has changed. A journey that once took an hour or more now takes only 15 minutes. Many New Yorkers have echoed her sentiment, shifting from strong opposition to support.

(www.economist.com)

Misc NYC traffic policy shift

UK Parliament Narrowly Approves Assisted Dying Bill

2025-06-20

The UK Parliament narrowly passed a bill legalizing assisted dying for terminally ill individuals after a heated debate. The bill, which allows those with less than six months to live and a terminal illness to end their lives under strict conditions, places the UK among a small number of countries permitting assisted dying. The decision sparks complex discussions about autonomy, ethics, and resource allocation. Supporters argue it offers a compassionate choice for the terminally ill, while opponents express concerns about ethical implications and call for improvements in palliative care. The bill now moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.

(edition.cnn.com)

Misc assisted dying euthanasia UK Parliament

The Depersonalization Crisis: It's Not Loneliness, It's Invisibility

2025-06-20

This article argues that contemporary society faces a growing 'depersonalization' crisis, distinct from loneliness. It's the feeling of being unseen and unheard, stemming from standardized interactions, technology overuse, and social exclusion. Through interviews with gig workers, therapists, and physicians, the author reveals how these factors erode the sense of being recognized in human relationships. The solution, the author suggests, lies in addressing the root causes—standardized interactions, marginalization, and excessive screen time—and prioritizing human connection in technological advancements, avoiding the simple mechanization of human interaction.

(aeon.co)

Misc depersonalization technology ethics

College Baseball and Venture Capital: A Striking Parallel

2025-06-20

The author uses his son's experience as a college baseball player to draw a clever analogy between the college sports recruiting process and the venture capital fundraising process. He points out that both are full of uncertainty, high risk, and high reward, requiring shrewd decision-making and judgment about the future. The article details the striking similarities in process and strategy, comparing aspects like "pitch decks," "long maybes," and "term sheets." Ultimately, it offers advice beneficial to both athletes and entrepreneurs: clarify your goals, stick to your goals, and choose those who genuinely want you.

(bcantrill.dtrace.org)

Misc

My Million-Dollar Mansion and the Homeless on the Street: A Selfish Millionaire's Perspective

2025-06-20

A millionaire living in a luxury home offers a selfish perspective on America's growing homelessness crisis. He claims to care about the homeless but refuses to compromise his lifestyle, including zoning laws or his personal convenience, rejecting solutions that might impinge on his privilege. He argues the homeless lower property values and questions their claims, meanwhile flaunting his success and wealth and implying that addressing homelessness threatens his lifestyle and privileged status.

(www.mcsweeneys.net)

Misc

The Enigmatic Octobass: A Giant Among Instruments

2025-06-20

The octobass, a rare and unusual instrument, is known for its immense size and incredibly low register. Invented in 1850 by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, this giant instrument requires a complex system of pedals and levers to play. Its deep sound is so low that some notes fall below the range of human hearing; the vibrations can only be felt. Today, only a handful of octobasses exist, mostly in museums. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra uniquely owns one and occasionally incorporates it into their performances.

(www.atlasobscura.com)

Misc instrument octobass

Category: Misc