Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Hormone Therapy: A Personal Journey of Sensory and Psychological Transformation

2025-06-19

This blog post details the author's personal experience with feminizing hormone therapy and its impact on gender dysphoria. It provides a detailed account of the physiological and psychological changes experienced, including alterations in taste, smell, somatic sensations, spatial perception, and mood. The author explores the relationship between hormone therapy, neurotransmitters, and neuroreceptors, and its effects on the nervous system. Personal experiences in managing gender dysphoria are shared, along with speculation on the underlying mechanisms of hormone therapy's effects, prompting reflection on gender identity and neuroscience.

(smoothbrains.net)

Misc Hormone Therapy Gender Dysphoria

Quantum Physicist Scott Aaronson's LessOnline Adventure

2025-06-19

Renowned quantum physicist Scott Aaronson attended the LessOnline rationalist conference and shared his unique perspective on the experience. The article describes the vibrant atmosphere of discussion, and Aaronson's deep conversations with fellow rationalists about AI, free will, and more. He ultimately embraced the identity of 'rationalist,' explaining the reasons behind this shift, including a reassessment of the speed of AI development and changes within the rationalist community itself.

(scottaaronson.blog)

Misc rationalism

Dr. Demento Retires After 55 Years of Broadcasting Novelty Music

2025-06-19

Radio personality Barret "Dr. Demento" Hansen announced his retirement this week, ending a 55-year career dedicated to comedy and novelty music. His show, which began in 1970, will conclude in October with retrospective episodes culminating in a final broadcast of the program's top 40 songs. Dr. Demento's show, initially a freeform rock program, evolved into a platform for comedic songs and musical oddities, introducing audiences to artists like "Weird Al" Yankovic, whom he's largely credited with discovering. The show's long run spanned various mediums, from reel-to-reel tapes to online streaming, showcasing Hansen's enduring influence on radio and comedy.

(sopghreporter.com)

Misc

The Mystery of the Missing 11th: An xkcd Comic Unravels a Digital Anomaly

2025-06-19

An xkcd comic sparked a question about the unusually low frequency of the '11th' of the month in Google's Ngrams database. The author confirmed this anomaly through data analysis, tracing the issue to OCR misinterpretations and printing technology. The numeral '1' closely resembles the letters 'I', 'l', and 'i', leading to frequent misreads of '11th' as 'IIth', 'Ilth', and even 'nth'. This was particularly prevalent in the typewriter era due to the lack of a dedicated '1' key. The discovery highlights the complexities of seemingly simple digital recognition and the impact of technological evolution on data analysis.

(drhagen.com)

Misc

Spatially Enabling a Millennial Global City Population Dataset

2025-06-18

This paper details the creation of a massive global city population dataset integrating the work of Chandler and Modelski, spanning 3700 BC to 2000 AD. The original data, residing in print books and disparate digital formats, presented significant digitization and spatialization (geocoding) challenges. OCR attempts failed due to font and page quality issues, necessitating manual transcription. Geocoding leveraged CartoDB, GeoNames, the Ancient Locations database, and the Getty Thesaurus, with manual verification crucial for accuracy. The final dataset contains 1599 city locations, offering broad global and temporal coverage, yet limitations remain: data sparsity, ambiguous city definitions, and uncertainties in ancient city locations. Despite these, the digitized and spatialized dataset offers readily accessible data for researchers (historians, geographers, ecologists, etc.) to analyze global urbanization trends.

(www.nature.com)

Misc historical population data data digitization

The Canonization of James Joyce: A Biography of a Masterpiece and Its Maker

2025-06-18

This article explores Richard Ellmann's monumental biography of James Joyce, examining its creation, impact, and enduring legacy. Ellmann's masterful blend of research, charm, and narrative skill resulted in a groundbreaking work that transcended academic circles. The article delves into Ellmann's meticulous research methods, his access to previously unpublished materials, and the challenges he faced in shaping the narrative of Joyce's complex life. It further considers the biography's impact on Joyce's reception, its place in the evolution of biographical writing, and how its approach contrasts with more recent theoretical frameworks in literary studies.

(www.theatlantic.com)

Misc James Joyce Richard Ellmann

Munich vs. Hamburg: A Tale of Two German Cities

2025-06-18

A long weekend trip to Munich provided a fascinating comparison to the author's home in Hamburg. The article explores the historical impact of the Wittelsbach dynasty on Munich's development, contrasting it with Hamburg's independent growth as a free imperial city. Munich's strong religious presence is highlighted against Hamburg's more secular atmosphere. While Munich boasts more museums and nearby natural beauty, Hamburg offers superior green spaces and a less frenetic pace of life. The author concludes that Munich offers stronger tech job opportunities, but Hamburg better suits his personal preferences.

(mertbulan.com)

Misc city comparison German culture travelogue

The Never-Ending Workday: Microsoft's Shocking Findings

2025-06-18

Microsoft's annual work trends report reveals a disturbing trend: the workday is extending far beyond traditional hours. Meetings scheduled after 8 PM are up 16%, and nearly a third of workers are still checking emails at 10 PM. The blurring of work-life boundaries is further highlighted by the fact that almost 20% of employees working weekends check email before noon on Saturdays and Sundays, with over 5% actively engaging with emails again on Sunday evenings.

(www.bloomberg.com)

Misc overwork work trends

LA General's John Does: A Healthcare Crisis of Unidentified Patients

2025-06-18

Los Angeles General Medical Center annually admits tens of thousands of unidentified patients, most of whom are quickly identified. However, some, like a man found unconscious in February, remain for months or years due to a lack of identifying information. The hospital attempts to locate relatives by releasing photos and limited details, with mixed success. This presents not only administrative challenges but also patient safety concerns and strains healthcare resources. Multiple similar cases highlight the difficulties posed by unidentified patients, underscoring the need for societal attention to vulnerable populations.

(www.latimes.com)

Misc Healthcare Crisis Unidentified Patients Social Issues

Visual Math Proofs: A Gallery of Geometric Demonstrations

2025-06-18

This article presents a collection of visual proofs for various mathematical identities and theorems, drawing inspiration from a gallery of geometric demonstrations. It covers summations, geometric series, geometry, and miscellaneous topics. Examples include intuitive pictorial proofs of the Pythagorean theorem, triangle area formulas, and various summation formulas. These visual proofs offer a concise and insightful approach to understanding complex mathematical concepts.

(artofproblemsolving.com)

Misc mathematical proofs visual demonstrations

Death Valley Trek: 180 Miles in July

2025-06-18

In July 1998, two adventurers planned a trek across Death Valley National Park, a distance of roughly 180 miles. Their goal was to walk 15 miles a day for 12 days, to experience the effects of prolonged extreme heat. This excerpt details the start of their ambitious journey and preparations, including specialized clothing and water delivery systems.

(dineshdesai.info)

Misc extreme challenge Death Valley trek

A Cheap and Cheerful Cross-Country Bus Adventure: Across Upstate New York by Local Transit

2025-06-17

The author recounts a journey across Upstate New York using only local rural county transit buses to reach their grandmother's house for Easter, prioritizing cost-effectiveness over convenience. The trip proved challenging, with obscure and often outdated schedules, infrequent service, and difficult transfers, sometimes requiring long walks or overnight stays. However, the journey was richly rewarding, filled with eccentric characters, a slower pace of life, and a unique glimpse into rural American life. The author concludes that this unconventional method, though inefficient, offers a far cheaper and more authentic travel experience than traditional methods.

(shagbark.substack.com)

Misc budget travel

Google Utopia Gone Wrong: Locked Out of Paradise

2025-06-17

A devoted Google fanboy moves into a Google-designed smart city. Initially, life is idyllic, but a seemingly arbitrary violation of terms of service results in him being locked out of his apartment and all his Google-connected devices. His attempts to regain access lead to a Kafkaesque legal battle and imprisonment. The story satirizes over-reliance on technology, loss of autonomy, and the potential dangers of unchecked corporate control over personal lives.

(theandrewbailey.com)

Misc Privacy Risks Tech Dependence

How Many More UBI Trials Until We Get It?

2025-06-17

Universal Basic Income (UBI), the idea of regular, unconditional cash payments from the government, remains controversial. Fears abound that it would kill work ethic and cripple society. However, mounting evidence, including a recent large-scale German trial, suggests these fears may be misplaced. Results indicate UBI didn't cause widespread laziness, even showing some positive impacts. This begs the question: how many more UBI trials until its viability is widely accepted?

(medium.com)

Misc

The Art of Asynchronous Communication: Beyond 'Hi'

2025-06-17

While a simple 'Hi' followed by a question can be abrupt, prefacing your message with pleasantries creates a more effective communication. Phrases like "Hey, how's it going? Also, any update on…" allow for asynchronous communication. Even if the recipient is unavailable, they'll receive the complete context and can respond later, preventing missed information and ensuring smoother workflows. It's a win-win!

(nohello.net)

Misc effective workflow

Orwell's 1984: A Surprise Bestseller in the Age of Post-Truth

2025-06-17

Following Donald Trump's election, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four unexpectedly became a bestseller. The article explores the reasons for its renewed popularity: not solely due to superficial similarities between Oceania and Trump's America, but primarily because the novel's prescient depiction of manipulation of truth resonates deeply in our current “post-truth” era. Orwell's experiences at the BBC informed the book's portrayal of information control, and today's politically charged discourse mirrors the novel's absurd reality where 'two plus two equals five'.

(www.openculture.com)

Misc Orwell Nineteen Eighty-Four Post-truth

Clergy's Psychedelic Trip: A Spiritual Awakening?

2025-06-16

A groundbreaking study revealed the profound spiritual experiences of 33 clergy members who participated in a psilocybin (magic mushroom) experiment. Over 90% reported it as one of the most meaningful and sacred experiences of their lives, with almost half calling it the most profound. While the study faced ethical concerns and methodological limitations (small sample size, predominantly white male Christians), it raises questions about the relationship between hallucinogens and religious experiences, particularly in light of historical and cultural uses of psychedelic substances in spiritual contexts.

(nautil.us)

Misc psilocybin religious experience hallucinogens

LOPSA Announces Dissolution, Transitioning Members to ACM

2025-06-16

The LOPSA Board has announced the dissolution of the organization due to its inability to consistently provide professional opportunities in recent years. To ensure a smooth transition for its members, LOPSA is working with the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to provide ACM memberships to current, paid members in good standing. The specific membership level will depend on available funds. An AMA session will be held on July 29th to address member questions.

(lopsa.org)

Misc organization dissolution member transition

The Secret Code of Hobos: A Lost Cultural Heritage

2025-06-15

The 'hobo' culture of early 20th-century America was far more complex than we often imagine. They weren't simply homeless individuals, but a group with a unique culture and secret communication system. They used a special symbolic language—the 'hobo code'—leaving markings on walls, water towers, and other surfaces to indicate food, shelter, and danger. While the extent of this code's use is debated, it symbolizes the unique ways hobos created to survive and help each other, and its legacy can be seen in later cultural phenomena like graffiti art.

(www.openculture.com)

Misc hobo culture secret language cultural history

EU/UK/Switzerland Data Processing Consent

2025-06-15

This website requires explicit consent from users in the EU/UK/Switzerland for data processing. This includes necessary personal data (email, name, account preferences) for account management and service provision. Optional consents include receiving marketing communications (IPO updates, newsletters, promotional content) and analytics tracking to improve services. Consent can be withdrawn at any time in account settings.

(ipochatter.com)

Misc user consent

The Mystery of Bob Ross's Missing Masterpieces

2025-06-15

Bob Ross, the beloved painter known for his soothing voice and happy little trees, created nearly 30,000 paintings during his lifetime—far more than Picasso. Yet, his artwork rarely appears on the open market. This article investigates, revealing that a large portion is held by Bob Ross Inc., which prioritizes its IP rights over the paintings themselves. Others are privately owned, while some fetch high prices at auctions and in the secondary market. Bob Ross's own focus on the painting process rather than the finished product likely contributes to the scarcity of his works.

(thehustle.co)

Misc Art Market IP Value

Download TikTok Videos and Images Effortlessly with Tikt.com

2025-06-15

Say goodbye to complicated TikTok download processes! Tikt.com is a simple tool that lets you download videos, audio, images, and entire profile media quickly and easily. Just remove "ok" from tiktok.com, or add tikt.com/ before any TikTok link, and press Enter. It supports a wide range of image and video platforms and offers features like bulk downloads (requires a free account). A powerful API is also available for developers.

(tikt.com)

Misc TikTok download image download

Journalist Deported from US After Covering Columbia Student Protests

2025-06-15

Journalist Alistair Kitchen was detained and deported from the USA after covering student protests at Columbia University. He had his phone returned upon arrival back in Melbourne, highlighting concerns about press freedom.

(bsky.app)

Misc journalist

The Last Months with Patricia Highsmith: A Young Assistant's Memoir

2025-06-15

The author recounts their experience as Patricia Highsmith's assistant during the novelist's final months, a time filled with suspense and complex emotions. Beginning with a chance encounter in Zurich, the author is drawn into Highsmith's unique world in Tegna, Switzerland. Highsmith's eccentric personality, frugal nature, and ambivalent treatment of the author create a sense of unease. Yet, through the mundane tasks and interactions, the author gradually uncovers the deep loneliness and yearning for love within the legendary writer, alongside her struggles with self-acceptance. This brief but profound experience provides a deeper understanding of the acclaimed author and offers fresh insight into the complexities of life and human nature.

(yalereview.org)

Misc author Patricia Highsmith

Chicken Eyeglasses: A Surprisingly Long History

2025-06-14

Believe it or not, eyeglasses for chickens were once a common sight in American poultry farms. Developed in the early 20th century to curb feather pecking and cannibalism, these small spectacles, made of materials ranging from celluloid to aluminum, came in both clear and, interestingly, red-tinted versions. The red tint was supposedly to mask the color of blood, though later it was admitted chickens are colorblind. Despite this, millions of chicken eyeglasses were sold, even featured on a popular TV show. Now collector's items, their story reflects the ongoing evolution of animal welfare practices.

(en.wikipedia.org)

Misc chicken eyeglasses

Erik Satie: A Paradoxical Genius

2025-06-14

Most people only know Erik Satie's Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes, frequently used in commercials and film soundtracks. But Satie's musical world is far richer. He composed the avant-garde ballet Parade, the comical Christian allegory Uspud, and film scores. Satie's life was full of contradictions: founder of a church and a habitué of low dives; master of classical forms and lover of popular songs; impoverished yet impeccably dressed. His music, like his life, appears simple yet harbors profound contradictions and charm, continuing to influence contemporary music.

(thereader.mitpress.mit.edu)

Misc Satie

From Cognitive Decline to AI-Assisted Coding: A Programmer's Redemption

2025-06-14

A programmer recounts a five-year battle with severe cognitive decline, including memory loss and social difficulties. Diagnosed with a frontotemporal dementia phenotype, he thankfully avoided worsening. This essay details his journey, from initial panic to adaptation, and finally, rediscovering his passion for programming with AI-assisted tools. He compares his experience to the novel *Flowers for Algernon*, reflecting on cognitive abilities and life's value, ultimately finding a new direction and meaning.

(tidyfirst.substack.com)

Misc self-redemption

Knossos Unearths Potential Ancient Roman Wine Scam

2025-06-14

Archaeological investigations at the Knossos site on Crete have uncovered evidence suggesting that Roman-era Cretan winemakers may have been cutting corners in their production of the prized sweet wine, passum. Excavations at wine production and shipping facilities revealed an abundance of artifacts including amphorae, filling stands, large mixing bowls, and beehives. While Crete has a long history of winemaking dating back to 2170 BCE, Roman conquest led to a surge in production, with Cretan sweet wines highly sought after for their reputation and supposed medicinal properties. However, the findings at Knossos suggest winemakers may have added honey to speed up and cheapen production, potentially deceiving consumers. Despite this, the sheer volume of Cretan wine imported into Rome suggests the Roman populace was less concerned with authenticity than modern consumers.

(phys.org)

Misc

Caltrain Exec Sentenced for Secret Apartment Built with Public Funds

2025-06-14

Former Caltrain deputy director Joseph Navarro illegally built a secret apartment within the Burlingame Caltrain station using $42,000 in public funds. He lived there for years before being sentenced this week to four months in jail for felony theft and embezzlement. The 66-year-old will also serve two years of probation and pay restitution.

(sfstandard.com)

Misc corruption embezzlement Caltrain

The $100 Hamburger: A Pilot's Excuse for a Flight

2025-06-14

The '$100 hamburger' is aviation slang for a short flight (under two hours) to a nearby airport, grabbing a bite at the airport restaurant, and returning home. The name originated from the approximate cost of operating a small plane like a Cessna 172 for such a trip. However, with rising fuel prices, the cost is now significantly higher. A similar concept, the 'Rotto Bun Run' in Perth, Australia, sees pilots flying to Rottnest Island for hot cross buns, now an annual charity event.

(en.wikipedia.org)

Misc general aviation pilot slang aviation culture

Category: Misc