Category: Misc

Tiananmen Square: A Re-examination of the Narrative

2025-06-04
Tiananmen Square: A Re-examination of the Narrative

This article challenges the widely accepted narrative of a Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. By citing firsthand accounts from Western journalists and declassified documents, the author argues that no large-scale killing occurred in the square itself. However, hundreds did die in other parts of Beijing, including soldiers and police. The article further reveals evidence of CIA involvement and the influence of George Soros's Open Society Foundations, suggesting the events were not entirely spontaneous but manipulated by external forces. While advocating for greater freedom and transparency in China, the author emphasizes that China's reforms should be self-determined, urging a critical re-evaluation of the complexities of the Tiananmen incident.

A Programmer's Unexpected Hobby: The Allure of Knitting

2025-06-04

A programmer recounts his journey from staring at screens to the tactile experience of knitting. The article likens knitting to an open-world game, boasting a gentle learning curve and endless possibilities. The author shares the physical and mental benefits, the satisfaction of creating tangible objects, and encourages fellow programmers to try this activity as a way to balance work and life and create meaningful gifts for loved ones.

Misc hobby

Novels: Simulators for Deeper Self-Understanding

2025-06-04
Novels: Simulators for Deeper Self-Understanding

This article explores the benefits of reading novels, especially when facing complex life decisions. The author cites Robert Johnson's "Farsighted," arguing that novels act as simulators, helping us practice handling life's multifaceted problems, similar to the dilemmas faced by characters in George Eliot's "Middlemarch." Silicon Valley executive Patrick Collison's attempt to improve his understanding of human nature by reading classic novels supports this. The article further explores novels' roles in moral improvement and psychological healing, as well as their potential negative impacts. Ultimately, it concludes that novels are indispensable tools for understanding life's complexities, valuable for handling those life problems that can't be solved with simple equations.

Misc novels

Writing for Smart People: Why Your Audience Is Young

2025-06-03

This essay explores the nature of writing and its target audience. The author argues that essays written for smart people on important topics primarily reach young people, as younger readers are more easily surprised and impacted by novel ideas. The piece analyzes reader knowledge levels (importance, obtuseness, experience) to explain this phenomenon, and notes that the author's writing motivation stems from personal curiosity rather than the age of the readers.

The Tylenol Murders: A Nationwide Manhunt and a Library Bust

2025-06-03
The Tylenol Murders: A Nationwide Manhunt and a Library Bust

Following the 1982 Tylenol murders, James and Leann Lewis, the prime suspects, went on the run, using aliases and even brazenly reading Chicago newspapers in a New York City library to track the investigation. Their eventual arrest stemmed from their audacious behavior. The investigation revealed Lewis's troubled past and prior crimes, suggesting a possible link to another case, although their direct involvement in the Tylenol murders remained ambiguous. Leann's lie detector test indicated deception, adding a further layer of complexity to the case.

Punk Rock's Epicenter Shifts to Tennessee

2025-06-03
Punk Rock's Epicenter Shifts to Tennessee

The world's largest punk rock archive, the iconic Maximum Rocknroll (MRR) collection, is moving from California to Middle Tennessee State University's Center for Popular Music. This eight-ton trove of punk history includes roughly 60,000 vinyl records, photos, zines, and documents spanning decades of global punk evolution. The move establishes MTSU as a leading center for punk research, with plans for public programming including listening parties and zine workshops to engage a wider audience and explore punk's cultural and social impact.

Misc punk rock

How the Environment Decided the American Revolutionary War

2025-06-02

This article details the suffering endured by British and Hessian soldiers during the American Revolutionary War due to the harsh environment. Extreme heat, swamps, mosquitoes, alligators, venomous snakes, and diseases like malaria and yellow fever resulted in a massive loss of life far exceeding battlefield casualties. Using soldier journals and letters, the author vividly portrays their fear and despair in the face of the American wilderness and the devastating impact on their physical and mental health. In contrast, American rebels portrayed America as a land of plenty and opportunity. The article highlights the decisive role of the environment in the war and the drastically different perceptions of it between opposing sides.

Gemini Cracks a 20-Year-Old Mac App Mystery!

2025-06-02
Gemini Cracks a 20-Year-Old Mac App Mystery!

After years of unsuccessful Google searches, the author finally used Gemini to identify a long-forgotten Mac/Windows application from his teens. The app, which tracked user actions and automated repetitive tasks, was revealed to be Open Sesame!, a 1993 intelligent software assistant capable of learning user patterns and automating tasks like bulk file renaming. The author remembered seeing a demo in the mid-90s but had failed to find any information about it until now. This story highlights the advancements in AI, using a 2025 AI tool to discover a 1993 machine learning application.

Is 0.999... Really Equal to 1? A Mathematical Controversy

2025-06-02
Is 0.999... Really Equal to 1? A Mathematical Controversy

This article delves into the long-standing debate surrounding whether the infinitely repeating decimal 0.999... is exactly equal to 1. While mathematically proven to be equal, many find this counterintuitive. The article analyzes common proofs, highlighting their shortcomings in terms of student comprehension, particularly concerning the multiplication of infinite decimals. It further explains the absence of infinitesimals and infinity in the real number system, introducing hyperreals to demonstrate why the difference between 0.999... and 1 is an infinitesimal, equivalent to zero in the real numbers. Ultimately, the article concludes that the intuitive feeling of a difference between 0.999... and 1 isn't contradictory; this difference simply holds no significance within the real number system used daily.

Gabon's Iboga: A Sacred Plant with Economic Potential

2025-06-02
Gabon's Iboga: A Sacred Plant with Economic Potential

Hidden in the Gabonese forests, the iboga plant holds a sacred place in local traditions, used for centuries in religious ceremonies and believed to combat addiction. Now, Gabon is striving to tap into its international market potential, facing challenges in balancing economic benefits with the preservation of its cultural heritage and intellectual property rights. While some companies have export licenses, the country needs a robust industrial policy to avoid being undercut by competitors producing synthetic ibogaine or extracting it from other plants. The future of iboga in Gabon hinges on navigating the complex interplay between tradition and modern economics, a test of whether the nation can successfully capitalize on this unique resource.

LibriVox Community Podcast Updates: Reviews and Prospects

2025-06-01

The LibriVox community podcast has released four new episodes (#154-#157), covering community event reviews, volunteer contributions, project status updates, and readings of interesting literary works. Each episode features multiple community members discussing and sharing their experiences, reflecting the vibrancy and cohesion of the LibriVox community. The episodes also present the latest statistics and milestone events, showcasing the community's continuous progress and development.

Misc

Canonical's Hiring Process: A Kafkaesque Nightmare

2025-06-01

A job applicant details their harrowing experience applying twice for positions at Canonical. The process involved bizarre requirements, from high school grades to pseudoscientific psychometric tests, culminating in an awkward interview with Mark Shuttleworth. The author meticulously documents each stage, ultimately obtaining the rejection reason via GDPR: "Culture/behaviour/motivation misalignment." This account exposes Canonical's unusual and opaque hiring practices, serving as a cautionary tale for prospective applicants.

Misc

The Surprisingly Explosive World of Nitrogen Triiodide

2025-06-01

This article recounts a surprising encounter with nitrogen triiodide (NI3), an incredibly unstable compound. The author details an experience where seemingly random bangs in a stairwell were traced to the highly sensitive explosive. NI3's instability stems from the loose bonding of iodine atoms to nitrogen, making it detonate from even minor disturbances like a footstep or air current. The text explains the chemical reasons for its instability and notes its complete lack of practical applications due to its unpredictable detonations. The author concludes with a warning against attempting synthesis and links to safe demonstrations of NI3's explosive nature.

NZ Library Reorganizes Māori Literature Using a Culturally Relevant System

2025-06-01
NZ Library Reorganizes Māori Literature Using a Culturally Relevant System

Te Awe Library in Wellington, New Zealand, is piloting a new approach to organizing its Māori literature collection. Instead of the Dewey Decimal System, they're using Te Ao Māori, a classification system rooted in Māori cosmology. Books are grouped according to Māori gods (atua) and their associated domains of knowledge. For example, books on carving and oceanography are under Tangaroa, the god of the sea, while agriculture and cuisine fall under Rongomatāne. This culturally sensitive system preserves the inherent connections within Māori knowledge (Mātauranga) and offers a unique learning opportunity for all patrons. The project, currently in trial, aims for wider adoption across Wellington.

Rediscovering Lost Wisdom: The Somers System of Land Appraisal

2025-06-01
Rediscovering Lost Wisdom: The Somers System of Land Appraisal

This article delves into the Somers System of land appraisal, a method used at the turn of the last century. Unlike modern computerized methods, the Somers System relied on community consensus to determine land values. The process involved two phases: a town hall meeting where citizens collectively assessed street values, followed by an algorithm calculating individual parcel values based on the resulting map. While largely forgotten, the author explores its viability in data-sparse environments and attempts to recreate it using modern GIS technology, questioning its accuracy against market values and exploring its potential for modern property or land value taxation.

Punch Card Key Backup: Offline 128-bit Key Storage

2025-05-31
Punch Card Key Backup: Offline 128-bit Key Storage

The pckb project offers a unique way to backup 128-bit information onto a physical punch card. Users generate a hole-punch pattern using a provided HTML tool and then physically punch holes in an aluminum sheet. Recovery is equally straightforward, simply inputting the punch card pattern back into the HTML tool. The project also outlines solutions for keys larger than 128 bits and includes a comprehensive FAQ.

New WhatsApp Scam: Robot Voice Leads to Friend Request

2025-05-31
New WhatsApp Scam: Robot Voice Leads to Friend Request

A new WhatsApp scam involves robocalls leaving a number and immediately hanging up, prompting victims to add the number on WhatsApp. The scam leverages curiosity and a lack of caution towards unknown numbers. Despite the multiple steps involved, the sheer volume of calls might make it effective. The author questions the scam's efficiency and asks for comments from those who've found this approach successful.

Misc

Classicide: The Deliberate Destruction of a Social Class

2025-05-31

Sociologist Michael Mann's concept of 'classicide' describes the deliberate and systematic destruction of a social class through persecution and violence. Unlike genocide, which targets a group based on ethnicity, classicide targets a group defined by its social status, and unlike politicide, it's not concerned with political activity. The article cites examples like the Soviet Union's dekulakization policy, the Cambodian genocide, and the persecution of landlords and wealthy peasants during China's land reform as instances of classicide. These are presented as perversions of socialist democratic theory, similar to how ethnic cleansing is a perversion of nationalist democratic theory.

Misc classicide

Identifying Unmarked Cast Iron Cookware: A Collector's Guide

2025-05-31

This article delves into the identification of unmarked cast iron cookware, focusing on 20th-century pieces. Many unmarked pieces weren't necessarily makerless, but rather a result of marketing strategies or the practices of smaller foundries. The guide details the characteristics of unmarked cast iron from manufacturers like Birmingham Stove & Range Co., Chicago Hardware Foundry, Lodge Manufacturing Co., Griswold Manufacturing Co., Wagner Manufacturing Co., and Vollrath Manufacturing Co., providing valuable information for collectors. While tracing the origins of many 19th-century and older pieces is difficult, observing casting marks, handle designs, and lid features can provide clues. The article also highlights several enigmatic unmarked pans, adding to the intrigue.

Micro Center Member Pricing: Free Until 2026!

2025-05-30
Micro Center Member Pricing: Free Until 2026!

Micro Center's Member Pricing is now available, completely free until 2026! No credit card is needed to join; simply sign in with your verified account to unlock extra savings automatically applied at checkout. Returns are always free, and starting them online saves time. Look for the green tag on products throughout the site to identify Member Pricing deals. Existing Micro Center accounts automatically qualify.

Jerry Lewis' Lost Holocaust Film 'The Day the Clown Cried' Found After 45 Years

2025-05-30
Jerry Lewis' Lost Holocaust Film 'The Day the Clown Cried' Found After 45 Years

One of cinema's most sought-after lost films, Jerry Lewis' controversial Holocaust film 'The Day the Clown Cried,' has resurfaced after 45 years. Swedish actor Hans Crispin claims he stole a complete workprint in 1980 and has been privately screening it ever since. The film, shot in 1972 but never released, depicts a German circus clown in a Nazi concentration camp forced to lure children to their deaths. While Lewis himself had mixed feelings about the film, Crispin intends to make his copy available, hoping to preserve and share this historically significant, yet disturbing, piece of cinema history.

Heaney's Letters: A Poet's Life and Struggles

2025-05-30

This collection of Seamus Heaney's letters offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of Ireland's most celebrated poets. From his early struggles to his Nobel Prize win, the letters reveal the complexities of his journey. We see his friendships with other poets, his reflections on his work, his thoughts on life and death, and his conflicted feelings about fame and the demands of public life. Heaney's witty and poetic style shines through, revealing a man who was both deeply thoughtful and surprisingly humorous. The letters offer a compelling portrait of a poet grappling with the challenges of success while maintaining his integrity and compassion.

Misc

The Science of Earworms: Why Some Songs Get Stuck in Your Head

2025-05-30
The Science of Earworms: Why Some Songs Get Stuck in Your Head

A self-employed writer recounts his experience of suffering an earworm after posting a bad joke online, leading him to explore the science behind this phenomenon. The article explains that earworms result from the brain's processing of sound, memory, and emotion, with short, simple, and repetitive melodies being more likely culprits. It also touches upon the ironic effect of trying to forget a song, only making it more persistent. The author concludes with a humorous reflection on the harmless nature of earworms, subtly promoting his books.

Misc

Control Your Sex Toys with LLMs: A First Look at buttplug-mcp

2025-05-30
Control Your Sex Toys with LLMs: A First Look at buttplug-mcp

buttplug-mcp is an MCP server allowing LLM programs like Claude Desktop to query and control your sex toys. Created as a quick, fun, educational project on April Fool's Day, it's currently unstable with connection handling issues, but demonstrates the ability to control vibration strength via LLM commands. The project is open-source, supports multiple platforms, and offers Homebrew installation. While imperfect, it's a fascinating experimental project showcasing the potential of LLM integration with IoT devices.

Misc sex toys

Australian Doctor's Mobility Ruined by Vitamin B6 Overdose in Supplement

2025-05-30
Australian Doctor's Mobility Ruined by Vitamin B6 Overdose in Supplement

A 76-year-old retired Australian doctor suffered debilitating peripheral neuropathy due to vitamin B6 toxicity from a magnesium supplement. The case highlights the lack of awareness surrounding vitamin B6 overconsumption and inadequate regulation of supplements in Australia. While authorities have implemented warning labels, concerns remain about insufficient visibility and the prevalence of high-B6 supplements. Experts urge consumers to exercise caution and consult healthcare professionals before taking multiple supplements.

Wave3 Social: Building Genuine Connections

2025-05-30
Wave3 Social: Building Genuine Connections

Wave3 is a men's social club focused on fostering meaningful friendships. Membership starts by attending open mixers to meet current members. If vouched for by existing members, you receive an invitation to join, gaining access to exclusive events. Bringing friends is encouraged, and the club emphasizes an open and respectful atmosphere. While some events may have small fees, accessibility is prioritized.

Tunisia: From Roman Ruins to Post-Arab Spring Chaos

2025-05-30
Tunisia: From Roman Ruins to Post-Arab Spring Chaos

The author spent almost three weeks exploring Tunisia, from bustling cities to remote deserts, experiencing its stunning landscapes and historical sites. However, it was Tunisia's turbulent politics that captivated him most: a country that transitioned from a fledgling democracy to a quasi-dictatorship, with President Kais Saied's rise seemingly accidental. The article details Tunisia's complex history from independence to Saied's rule, including Bourguiba's secular reforms and authoritarianism, Ben Ali's economic development and dictatorship, and the post-Arab Spring political turmoil culminating in Saied's power grab. Saied's unique governing style, marked by economic policies that led to inflation and shortages, has fueled public discontent. The article offers a nuanced perspective, rich in detail, painting a portrait of a contradictory yet captivating Tunisia.

Streaming Wars: Lost in the Content Jungle

2025-05-29
Streaming Wars: Lost in the Content Jungle

This article details the struggles of finding specific movies and TV shows in the age of streaming. The sheer volume of choices, coupled with poor user interfaces and ad-laden platforms, makes finding a particular film a Herculean task. Even avid moviegoers find themselves lost in a sea of endless titles. The author explores how technological advancements have paradoxically hindered art appreciation and calls for solutions, such as revisiting the theatrical experience or leveraging traditional methods like libraries to discover new films.

Beyond Nutritionism: A Return to Real Food

2025-05-29

This article critiques the fallacy of 'nutritionism,' the excessive focus on individual nutrients in food while ignoring the importance of whole foods and food culture. The author argues that the industrialization of the modern diet has led to refined foods, a lack of diversity, and neglect of leafy greens, resulting in chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes. The author advocates a return to traditional food cultures, emphasizing plant-based diets, minimizing processed foods, and highlighting the importance of food diversity and the joy of cooking. The ultimate goal is to foster healthier, more sustainable relationships between humans and food.

Misc

The Optimal Egg-Drop Orientation: Science Cracks the Case

2025-05-29
The Optimal Egg-Drop Orientation: Science Cracks the Case

Contrary to intuition, a new study reveals that the best way to drop an egg isn't necessarily on its end. While vertically oriented eggs exhibit greater stiffness under static compression, horizontal eggs are tougher when subjected to dynamic impact. The key difference lies in toughness—the ability to absorb energy—versus stiffness—resistance to deformation. Horizontal orientation allows for better kinetic energy dissipation during a fall, minimizing the risk of breakage. This research highlights the importance of toughness over stiffness in impact scenarios, analogous to bending your knees when landing a jump.

Misc egg toughness
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