Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Stop Teaching Useless Math: Probability and Statistics Should Reign Supreme

2025-03-03

$Stop Teaching Useless Math: Probability and Statistics Should Reign Supreme$

This essay critiques the current high school math curriculum, arguing that the overemphasis on calculus and trigonometry—useless for most students—neglects the crucial importance of probability and statistics. Probability and statistics are widely applicable in daily life, empowering students to understand risk, detect misleading information, and make better decisions. The author proposes a curriculum reform prioritizing probability and statistics, integrating real-world applications like sports analytics, social media, and gaming strategies, to make math relevant and engaging.

(anandsanwal.me)

Misc probability and statistics

Permacomputing: A Decentralized, Anti-Capitalist Approach to Computing

2025-03-03

Permacomputing is a community and concept challenging the environmental and societal impacts of current computing. Inspired by permaculture, it aims for resilient and regenerative computer and network technologies. It's not a tech solution but an anti-capitalist political project incorporating anarchism, decoloniality, intersectional feminism, post-Marxism, degrowth, and ecologism. Permacomputing requires significant rethinking, rebuilding, and technical design, encouraging a collective and radical reimagining of computational culture. There's no single 'permacomputing kit'; instead, it's an invitation to build something new.

(permacomputing.net)

Misc permacomputing anti-capitalist decentralized computing

Chicago Parking Ticket Data Battle: Lessons from a FOIA Lawsuit

2025-03-03

This article recounts the author's experience battling the City of Chicago in a FOIA lawsuit over access to the schema of its parking ticket database (table and column names). Initially, the author requested the data using an SQL query, but the city refused, citing security concerns. Despite winning at trial, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the decision, significantly broadening the ability of public agencies to deny FOIA requests. The case highlights the difficulties of government data transparency and the importance of data dictionaries in simplifying access. The author also notes Chicago's failed attempt at a data dictionary, "Metalicious," further complicating data access.

(mchap.io)

Misc government lawsuit

Birds: A Celebration of Grace, Song, and Color

2025-03-03

This article beautifully portrays the unique charm of four bird species: the barn swallow's breathtaking aerial acrobatics and speed; the mockingbird's confident and boisterous song, like a miniature concert; the cardinal's vibrant red color, a splash of brilliance against the muted winter landscape; and the hummingbird's seemingly comical yet fiercely aggressive territorial disputes. The author concludes with a reflection on the preciousness of birds, urging us to appreciate and observe these natural wonders, for their existence enriches the world.

(moultano.wordpress.com)

Misc

Cornell University Announces Hiring Freeze

2025-03-02

Facing significant financial challenges, Cornell University has announced a hiring freeze to address potential deep cuts in federal research funding and tax legislation impacting endowment income. The freeze prioritizes positions deemed essential to the university's core mission, with all hiring subject to a rigorous review process. A central position control committee will evaluate staff positions, while faculty hiring requires consultation with deans and the provost. This measure aims to ensure the university's continued success in a more complex financial landscape, maintaining its core missions in education, research, and service.

(hr.cornell.edu)

Misc hiring freeze

olduse.net: A Continuously Updated Delayed Usenet Archive

2025-03-02

olduse.net is a unique Usenet archive project that adds a new port each year, with a one-year delay. The post details the project's history from 2011 to 2021 and how Adam Sjøgren took over and continues to maintain it. Now, users can access Usenet article archives with varying delays through multiple ports, experiencing the charm of Usenet's past. This isn't just a technical project; it's a continuation of an interactive art piece.

(olduse.net)

Misc Archive Interactive Art

Young Women Out-Earning Men: A Crisis for Young Males?

2025-03-02

A new report reveals that young women (16-24) are now earning almost 10% more than their male counterparts, across both white and blue-collar jobs. The report, titled 'Lost Boys', highlights a growing crisis among young men, who are falling behind in education and employment, and feeling increasingly isolated by shifting social attitudes.

(www.thetimes.com)

Misc youth unemployment social crisis

German Tattoo Artist Detained at US Border for 25 Days

2025-03-02

Jessica Brösche, a German tattoo artist, and her friend planned an art project in the US, but she was detained at the US-Mexico border for 25 days. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) accused her of intending to violate her visa waiver program, despite having a valid visa and return ticket. The incident sparked online attention, with internet sleuths locating her and a local resident visiting her in detention. Brösche remains detained, raising concerns about the US immigration system and its high detention costs.

(www.kpbs.org)

Misc border enforcement US immigration system

Berlin Swapfest: C-base's Quarterly Electronics & Tools Exchange

2025-03-01

Berlin's c-base hackerspace is hosting its first quarterly Swapfest on April 19th. Buy, sell, or swap electronics, computer equipment, and tools. Promoting reuse and right-to-repair, the event encourages participants to bring items they no longer need. Whether you're building a home lab or seeking components and tools, this is the place to be. Selling is free, though a deposit may be required for larger items that aren't taken home. Transactions are flexible (PayPal, crypto, cash) with disputes handled by the parties involved.

(www.swapfest.berlin)

Misc hackerspace electronics swap right-to-repair

Visual Timeline: A Colorful Journey Through Your Life

2025-03-01

Visual Timeline is an app that lets you visualize your entire life—past, present, and future—in a colorful, week-by-week view. Color-code life periods (childhood, college, jobs), highlight important events (achievements, trips), and add detailed notes. It automatically adds birthdays and world events, and allows YAML export for backups. Keep it private or share it via a unique link; it's a living, growing representation of your life story, constantly updated.

(lifeweeks.app)

Misc life logging

Chess Champ Auctions Controversial Jeans for Charity: #JeansGate Continues

2025-03-01

Magnus Carlsen, the world's top chess player, is auctioning off the Italian Corneliani jeans that caused a dress code controversy at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships. After being fined and withdrawing from the New York tournament, Carlsen is donating the proceeds from the eBay auction (currently at $8,200) to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The auction ends March 1st. The charity will use the funds to expand youth mentorship programs, including chess clinics and community events.

(apnews.com)

Misc Carlsen Charity Auction JeansGate

My Correspondence with Edward Gorey: A Curious Friendship

2025-03-01

This article recounts a unique correspondence between the author and the illustrator Edward Gorey. From childhood fascination with Gorey's distinctive style to adult exchanges with the eccentric artist, the author shares their mutual interest in literature, art, and the macabre. Their letters, filled with whimsical observations, ranged from murder mysteries to bizarre recipes, from London's cheap bookstores to the behavior of zombies, showcasing Gorey's unique writing style and meticulous attention to detail. The article concludes with the author's account of the mysterious disappearance of Gorey's letters and the lasting presence of a cover Gorey designed, reflecting on the unpredictable connections in life.

(www.tcj.com)

Misc Correspondence

America's Democratic Peril: The Dangerous Embrace of Authoritarianism

2025-02-28

This podcast episode explores the growing ties between the United States and authoritarian regimes and the potential threat to American democracy. Through interviews with former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and analysis of cases in Venezuela and Ukraine, the show reveals how money politics, secret deals, and corruption are eroding democratic institutions. The authors warn that if America continues its drift toward authoritarianism, it risks democratic backsliding with severe consequences for global democratic stability.

(www.theatlantic.com)

Misc American Democracy Authoritarianism Corruption

Troubleshooting Across Domains: A Masterclass in Problem Solving

2025-02-28

This essay distills the author's expertise across multiple fields into a single, potent skill: troubleshooting. The author details their methodical approach, from stepping back for a holistic view of the system to identifying data flows, observing symptoms, isolating the problem, and adapting strategies based on risk. Emphasis is placed on information gathering, including using search engines effectively and leveraging expert assistance. Ultimately, the essay argues troubleshooting is not just a technical skill but a mindset requiring patience, attention to detail, and deep system understanding.

(www.autodidacts.io)

Misc Problem Solving System Analysis

Writing: A Powerful Tool for Untangling Thoughts

2025-02-28

Our minds are like cluttered archives, struggling to organize information effectively. Writing acts as scaffolding, helping us build a clear framework for our thoughts. It forces us to untangle the chaos in our heads, piecing together scattered fragments into a coherent whole, revealing hidden biases and blind spots. Through writing, we can expand our mental horizons, expressing ideas more clearly and coherently than in face-to-face communication, offering even greater insight. Writing reveals the gaps in our understanding, helping us to understand ourselves and the world more deeply.

(kupajo.com)

Misc

Remembering Chess Legend Boris Spassky: A Friend's Recollections

2025-02-28

This article remembers chess grandmaster Boris Spassky through the lens of a decades-long friendship. From chance encounters in Hamburg and Munich to deeper conversations during Candidates Tournaments in Saint John, Canada, and Elista, Russia, the author paints a portrait of Spassky's humility, vast knowledge, and charm. More than just a great chess player, Spassky was a memorable friend whose story will continue to inspire.

(en.chessbase.com)

Misc Boris Spassky personal recollection

Say Goodbye to Calendar Apps: Manage Your Time with a Plain Text File

2025-02-28

Tired of complex calendar apps? Try Calendar.txt! This system uses a plain text file to manage your schedule, works on all operating systems, and syncs easily with Android. It uses a simple YYYY-MM-DD wWW format for events, supports weekly, monthly, and yearly goals, and allows for quick searches using grep. Calendar.txt is lightweight, efficient, easily backed up, and ideal for those seeking productivity.

(terokarvinen.com)

Misc plain text scheduling

Thrift Store Find: $30 Valve Potentially Worth $223,520

2025-02-27

A Washington State man, Zach, purchased an aircraft engine air supply valve for $30 at a thrift store. The part, identified as a Honeywell 3290628-4, is reportedly part of a GE CF6-80 engine from an A330-300 and had a reference value of $223,520 in 2011, according to Aeroval. While Zach acknowledges the difficulty of selling the part due to missing documentation and its potentially non-functional state, the story highlights the surprising value of discarded items and the potential for incredible thrift store finds.

(www.avweb.com)

Misc thrift store find aircraft parts unexpected value

Why I Hate Finishing Things

2025-02-27

The author struggles with an inability to finish anything, from software projects to books and household chores. He proposes three hypotheses: 1. Existential dread after completion; 2. The constant emergence of new goals prevents true completion; 3. Possible undiagnosed ADHD. He contrasts his work productivity with his personal project struggles and explores potential solutions, including exposure therapy and coping mechanisms. Ultimately, he suggests it's a combination of factors, prompting reader engagement with a shared question.

(jeremyaboyd.com)

Misc

Dive into Greek Mythology: The Theoi Project

2025-02-27

The Theoi Project is a comprehensive, free online resource dedicated to Greek mythology. It offers detailed profiles of gods, spirits, creatures, and heroes, each with encyclopedic summaries, quotes from ancient texts, and illustrations from classical art. Beyond individual entries, the site boasts a classical texts library, family trees of the gods, a bestiary, and a gallery of over 1200 images from ancient Greek and Roman art.

(www.theoi.com)

Misc Greek Mythology Online Resource Ancient Art

Pornhub Title Evolution: From 'Hot Blonde' to 'Incest'

2025-02-27

This paper uses language embeddings to analyze the evolution of Pornhub homepage titles from 2008 to 2023. The study finds a shift from simple descriptions like "hot blonde" to content with more violent and incestuous themes. This change is linked to Pornhub's professionalization, commercialization, and changes in relevant laws and regulations. Using yearly centroid calculations and t-SNE visualization, the researchers reveal three distinct periods in title content and analyze keyword trends, such as the declining market share of terms like "Latina" and the significant increase in terms like "incest" and "rape." The research raises questions about the commercialization of the pornography industry and the direction of its content.

(github.com)

Misc pornography industry

Escaping Anxiety: When AI Fails to Answer Life's Questions

2025-02-27

Unable to sleep, the author asked ChatGPT, "Am I real?" This wasn't philosophical curiosity but panic over life changes. ChatGPT offered philosophical perspectives, but the author felt this was a superficial fix. The article explores our reliance on technology – social media and AI – to quickly escape discomfort. This, the author argues, hinders processing and understanding our pains, threatening mental health, relationships, and creativity. Art, specifically literature, offers a path to understanding and accepting our struggles, fostering empathy and providing genuine connection, unlike the temporary numbness of technology.

(thewalrus.ca)

Misc art therapy

The Art of Communication: How Well-Intentioned Advice Can Backfire

2025-02-27

The author recounts a workplace communication mishap: his honest assessment of the team's shortcomings, intended as encouragement for improvement, unintentionally offended colleagues and potentially caused negative consequences. This led to a realization that even with good intentions, individual perspectives and communication styles can lead to misunderstandings. The article emphasizes the importance of avoiding direct personal criticism when advocating for improvement, focusing instead on the team as a whole, using a collective opportunity-oriented approach, respecting others' feelings, and carefully choosing the timing and method of communication.

(cutlefish.substack.com)

Misc

Oscars: Thanking God or Weinstein? Data Reveals the Truth

2025-02-27

This article analyzes 1,884 Oscar acceptance speeches to uncover the unspoken rules and relationships behind the Academy Awards. The data reveals a growing trend of winners thanking more people over time, with actresses thanking the most on average. While Harvey Weinstein was once perceived as having immense influence at the Oscars, the data shows that God was thanked far more often than Weinstein. However, Steven Spielberg even surpassed God in thanks during certain periods, reflecting his immense influence in Hollywood.

(stephenfollows.com)

Misc Oscars

Local Social Spending Mitigates the Impact of Economic Hardship on Political Dissatisfaction

2025-02-27

This study investigates the impact of economic hardship on political dissatisfaction in the Netherlands and whether local social spending can mitigate this effect. Using data from the Netherlands Longitudinal Life Course Study, the research finds that economic hardship does increase political dissatisfaction, but higher levels of local social spending significantly reduce this effect, particularly for those experiencing long-term hardship. This may be attributed to feelings of gratitude for received benefits or positive evaluations of government responsiveness. The study also highlights that persistent economic hardship and an accumulation of economic problems exacerbate political dissatisfaction.

(www.frontiersin.org)

Misc political dissatisfaction economic hardship social spending

500 Years of Betting on Papal Conclaves: From Secret Wagers to the Internet Age

2025-02-27

Since the 16th century, papal elections have been the focus of secretive gambling. From the Republic of Venice banning bets on the Pope's lifespan to Roman bankers openly offering odds, and Gregory XIV declaring betting on papal elections heretical, this centuries-long gambling saga has been turbulent. In the modern era, the internet has revived papal election gambling, although it remains illegal in places like the United States, the legal lines are increasingly blurred. This article reviews this unique gambling phenomenon spanning five centuries, from early secret transactions to modern online betting, showcasing the interplay of power, faith, and money.

(en.wikipedia.org)

Misc Papal Elections Gambling History Religion and Politics

Geometric Algebra Intro: Multivectors and Rotors

2025-02-27

This article provides a concise introduction to the n-dimensional geometric algebra R(p,q,r). This algebra is constructed from p positive, q negative, and r null vectors, called generators, denoted as eᵢ. The algebra includes real scalars, and every basis n-vector squares to a real number. The product of two vectors, or the exponentiation of a bivector, creates a rotor representing rotations, translations, and more. A generic element of the algebra is called a multivector, a linear combination of scalar, vector, and n-vector parts.

(bivector.net)

Misc geometric algebra multivector rotor

The Tyranny of the Ever-Present Smartphone: Reclaiming Our Autonomy

2025-02-26

The author recounts a visit to a friend's apartment building in Washington, D.C., where every aspect, from entry to elevators to apartment access, required a smartphone app. This experience highlights the pervasive nature of digital technology in modern life, creating inconveniences (for the author, an Orthodox Jew observing Shabbat) and raising concerns about digital addiction and its negative impact on mental and physical well-being. The author argues that over-reliance on smartphones blurs the lines between work and leisure and calls for a movement to provide analogue alternatives – physical membership cards, app-free services, etc. – to reclaim autonomy and resist technological dependence.

(www.thepublicdiscourse.com)

Misc digital addiction

Mind-blowing: Giant Bifurcation Islands Hidden in North America

2025-02-26

Rivers usually merge, but sometimes they split, creating 'bifurcation islands'. This article explores this phenomenon, highlighting the Casiquiare Canal connecting the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. It then reveals a shocking discovery: multiple river bifurcations in North America, some connecting three oceans, forming islands far larger than Greenland. These 'bifurcation islands' redefine our understanding of world geography and island size.

(starkeycomics.com)

Misc rivers

Do I Hate Money? No, I Just Don't Like It

2025-02-26

The author received an email from an Australian financial company with the subject line "Do you not like money?" This sparked the author's reflection on money. The author doesn't "like" money; instead, they view it as a necessary tool for survival. The author prefers what money provides—food, shelter, hobbies, travel, etc.—rather than the money itself. The author finds the idea of "liking" money unsettling.

(rubenerd.com)

Misc outlook on money personal reflection attitude towards life

Category: Misc