Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Learning to Love What You Hate: A Self-Experiment

2025-09-02

The author proposes a unique hobby: trying to like things you dislike, using it as a tool to understand human nature. From disliking spinach to appreciating Michael Jackson, and the ongoing struggle with country music and television, the author demonstrates how our aversions often stem from self-perception rather than inherent qualities. Some preferences can be altered, while others are deeply ingrained, depending on the depth of subconscious programming and the difficulty of revising self-concept. The essay uses a lighthearted approach to prompt reflection on personal preferences and understanding.

(dynomight.net)

Misc preference change human nature

Unlocking New Colors: Laser Stimulation of Cone Cells

2025-07-21

A study used laser pulses to selectively stimulate cone cells in the retina, claiming to allow people to see unprecedented colors. While the study lacks detailed subject reports, an optical illusion animation seems to produce a similar effect. The animation saturates red cones with a red circle, highlighting green cone activity and producing an intense blue-green. However, due to overlapping cone spectra and screen display limitations, whether this approach reveals colors beyond the normal human color gamut remains questionable.

(dynomight.net)

Tech optical illusion cone cells

DumPy: A Simpler Array Language for GPUs, Ditching the NumPy Brain Drain

2025-05-24

The author criticizes NumPy's complexity and inefficiency in handling higher-dimensional arrays, particularly its intricate broadcasting and indexing rules, forcing programmers to constantly think about array shapes and function behaviors. To address this, they propose DumPy, a simpler array language that leverages the syntax of loops and indices, secretly compiling them into vectorized operations for GPU acceleration, thereby avoiding the complexities introduced in NumPy to circumvent slow loops. DumPy's core idea is to map dimensions to labels and use JAX's `vmap` function for vectorization, simplifying code and boosting efficiency. The author provides examples comparing DumPy, NumPy, JAX, and pure loops, demonstrating DumPy's superior conciseness and performance.

(dynomight.net)

Development

NumPy: A Love-Hate Relationship with Python's Array Library

2025-05-15

This article delves into the pain points of using NumPy, Python's popular array computation library, when dealing with multi-dimensional arrays. While NumPy excels with its simplicity and efficiency for lower-dimensional arrays, its broadcasting mechanism and indexing become incredibly complex and hard to understand when tackling more intricate multi-dimensional operations. The author argues that NumPy's core issue stems from its broadcasting mechanism replacing indices, resulting in limited expressiveness. The article uses multiple examples to highlight NumPy's struggles with complex array computations, comparing the pros and cons of using loops and np.einsum, ultimately expressing frustration with NumPy and a desire for a more user-friendly array language.

(dynomight.net)

Development multi-dimensional arrays

How to Title Your Blog Post (or Anything)

2025-05-12

This post delves into crafting compelling titles to maximize engagement with your target audience. The author suggests thinking of a title as a 'classifier,' aiming to attract those who'll appreciate your work while deterring those who won't. It breaks down the two goals of a title: attracting the right readers and repelling those likely to dislike it. Various title strategies are discussed, including using jargon, mimicking famous figures, employing puns, and including conclusions in the title. Ultimately, the key is finding your audience and conveying your work's value concisely.

(dynomight.net)

Misc title writing content marketing target audience

US Blood Product Exports: Unraveling the Numbers

2025-05-07

An Economist article claiming US blood product exports account for 2% of total exports sparked online debate. The author delves into US Trade Commission data, revealing inaccuracies. By meticulously analyzing different blood product categories under Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) codes, the author finds that exports directly using human blood comprise roughly 0.53%, while those indirectly using human blood (e.g., vaccines, cell therapies) account for approximately 0.16%, totaling around 0.69%. This process highlights the challenges of data retrieval and underscores the need for transparent data.

(dynomight.net)

Tech

My Two-Year Noise-Cancelling Odyssey: From Self-Delusion to 'Ah-ha!' Moment

2025-03-12

Driven mad by noisy upstairs neighbors and a perpetually loud park, the author spent two years experimenting with bizarre noise-reduction methods: from industrial-strength earmuffs and silicone earplugs to researching earwax genes and the physics of sound, even attempting to build a soundproof chamber. All failed miserably. The ultimate solution? A simple pair of noise-canceling headphones. This article reflects on how over-reliance on theoretical analysis, neglecting simple solutions, and a fixation on cleverness led to wasted time and suffering.

(dynomight.net)

Misc noise cancellation life hacks self-reflection

Does L-Theanine Actually Work? A Blinded Self-Experiment Yields Surprising Results

2025-03-09

The author, a long-time user of L-theanine supplements, believed in its anxiety and stress-reducing effects. To test this, they conducted a 16-month double-blind experiment, comparing L-theanine against a vitamin D placebo. Surprisingly, L-theanine showed no significant benefit over the placebo. While statistically, stress levels decreased slightly after taking L-theanine, the placebo group showed a similar trend. The author couldn't reliably distinguish between L-theanine and the placebo. This casts doubt on L-theanine's efficacy and encourages further blinded studies to verify its purported benefits.

(dynomight.net)

Misc L-Theanine Double-Blind Experiment Placebo Effect

The IRB Nightmare: Navigating the Absurdity of US Human Subjects Research

2025-02-13

The author recounts, in a lighthearted yet insightful manner, the complexities of Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval in US human subjects research. Using the analogy of an absurdly steep driveway, he illustrates the difficulty in comprehending the often illogical rules. The article debunks common misconceptions about IRB applicability, delving into the origins and intricacies of the Common Rule, and the added layer of FDA regulations. The author highlights the convoluted nature of current regulations, emphasizing that practical enforcement depends on selective application by regulatory bodies rather than strict adherence to written law. Ultimately, the author advocates for streamlining IRB processes, particularly for low-risk research, suggesting a post-hoc penalty system rather than pre-approval.

(dynomight.net)

Misc Human Subjects Research Regulatory Complexity