May 23
Trigger Warnings, Content Warnings, and Content Notes
"We present the results of a meta-analysis of all empirical studies on the effects of these warnings. Overall, we found that warnings had no effect on affective responses to negative material or on educational outcomes. However, warnings reliably increased anticipatory affect. Findings on avoidance were mixed, suggesting either that warnings have no effect on engagement with material or that they increased engagement with negative material under specific circumstances." [more inside]
"a peculiarly British disease which we aim to eradicate"
Yesterday was the seventh National Numeracy Day in the UK. You can take the numeracy challenge (email sign-up, throw-away should work). Research in 2019 reported that 56% of adults in the UK have numeracy levels which are those expected of a primary-school child (Entry Level 3 or lower). National Numeracy (Wikipedia article), which organises the day, has reported on the role of confidence and the gender divide in maths. A Parliamentary Research Briefing describes government initiatives to improve numeracy, including the delayed Multiply programme for adults, maths hubs and an advisory committee. The Impact Report for National Numeracy Day 2023 says that "103,280 people took action on the National Numeracy Challenge" last year. [more inside]
No subliminal images, no devil worship and no displays of carnality
No longer the funky new kid on the fashion block
The partnership with Christopher Kane ended up being just the start, as Crocs began to release frequent collabs with major brands and celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Post Malone, McDonald’s, and recently Pringles (yes, the brand you’re thinking of). Arguably most important of all, was when Crocs teamed up with avant-garde fashion house Balenciaga — and so began a collaboration that took the humble Crocs into the world of high-fashion, with a series of rain boots, platform clogs, stilettos, and more. Many of the collabs are easy to laugh at (do you want a pair of 7-Eleven Crocs?), but the amount of money Crocs is making is no joke, as Gen Z has learned to love the brand. from
How Crocs became a clog-selling profit machine [Sherwood] [more inside]
May 22
psa: plants
All is not lost! Fortunately. All over the world, artists, indigenous communities, activists, foragers, designers are devising creative strategies to help us co-evolve in a more sympathetic and mutually beneficial way with the oldest and most important -in terms of biomass- inhabitants of this planet. [wemakemoneynotart]
Sing-On-TheBeat
Why is there an AI Hype?
AI is an idea that began as a subfield of computer science, until it was so distorted that it popped, detaching itself from reality. Now, this orphaned concept has grown to a life of its own, as our discussion of AI eclipses any meaningful definition of it as a real, definable thing.
With personality and freedom, we stick out!
"The four young women wore military helmets and dead-serious expressions. Their fingers, sheathed in tailored white gloves, wiggled on loose wrists. Over a beat of hard-driving taiko drums, they scurried and bounced around the soundstage, scream-singing lyrics that, per the closed caption translation, described a domestic dystopia: 'Dad’s stuck in the grind, the job’s grip is appalling / Mom’s escaping reality, addicted to idols.' It was the explosive U.S. television debut of Atarashii Gakko!, and if you caught it on Jimmy Kimmel Live! late last year, you might have asked yourself: Where did these women come from?" Atarashii Gakko! Are Singularly, Unapologetically Themselves [more inside]
Turtle travels nearly 2000km to nest on Queensland coast for first time
Turtle travels nearly 2000km to nest on Queensland coast for first time. An endangered olive ridley turtle may have travelled close to 2000 kilometres to nest on Queensland's east coast in a find described by renowned researcher Col Limpus as quite a phenomenon.
Y, Whoopi? Y???
Whoopi Goldberg in Conversation with Adriana Trigiani: Bits and Pieces [1h, 92nd Street Y] Recorded May 6, 2024. Whoopi sits and chats about stories from her life. A refreshing mode to find her in.
Ten Blue Links
On May 15th Google released a new "Web" filter that removes "AI Overview" and other clutter, leaving only traditional web results. Here is how you can set "Google Web" as your default search engine.
If you want to give people easy access to an AI-free Google search, send them to [udm14.com]. [more inside]
Where did Justine Go?
Drawn to a Hare Krishna ashram for its yoga, meditation and vegan meals, she’s still figuring out what went wrong. Ms. Payton didn’t think of herself as part of a larger story about the popularity of alternative spiritual practices in the splintering religious landscape of 21st-century America. She hadn’t yet parsed the borderlines separating willing self-abnegation, mental illness and abuse. She craved transcendence, and like an increasing number of Americans, she didn’t find it in Christianity or another historic monotheistic religion. [more inside]
Marching Toward an Uninsurable Future
"In 2023, insurers lost money on homeowners coverage in 18 states, more than a third of the country. The result is that insurance companies are raising premiums by as much as 50 percent or more, cutting back on coverage or leaving entire states altogether." As Insurers Around the U.S. Bleed Cash From Climate Shocks, Homeowners Lose (NYT; archive) [more inside]
"half-remembered and half-created, neither real nor ideal"
Andrew was convinced the writer had been trans. By this point his friends were tired of hearing about it, but he had no one else to tell besides the internet, and he was too smart for that. That would be asking for it. B. Pladek's new short fantasy story "The Spindle of Necessity" (published in the May 20th, 2024 issue of Strange Horizons) is a captivating, closely-observed story of longing, literary connection, insecurity, queer community, and how we make use of the past. I think this will resonate with a lot of readers who wrestle with questions about representation and what used to be called #OwnVoices in fiction, and mixed feelings about art we love. [more inside]
Still trying really hard? Trying really hard again?
Downing Street statement at 5pm
An Interview with Painter Daniele Serra
"I think my first impact with horror images could be traced back to my childhood. I was used to leaf through my father’s art books, I saw that Giotto as well as many other painters, flemish and Reinassance painters, often painted Hell, demons, obscure atmospheres, where death and popular beliefs shroud their magnificent paintings." [more inside]
Tom Lehrer Is Teaching Math and Doesn’t Want to Talk to You
A new musical regarding the life and works of Tom Lehrer (still alive - previously, an extremely comprehensive post by filthy light thief) debuts in London next week. It is sold out, but the playwright Francis Beckett writes about the effect Lehrer has had on his life and his unsuccessful attempts to contact him while doing research - ultimately indirectly providing the musical's title.
Renee Henderson creates stunning designs inspired by Aboriginal art
Renee is only 24, but her fashion designs are about to hit the runway for the third time. Blending traditional Indigenous techniques with cutting-edge production methods, Wiradjuri designer Renee Henderson creates stunning designs inspired by Aboriginal art and culture.
Hard Lacquer
What makes urushi so different from any other tree resin or in fact plastic? While it would be overly ambitious to try and offer a full insight into the role of lacquer in the spiritual lives of the Japanese people, this article can point out some elements which may lead to a better understanding of the cultural context in which appreciation for this curious resin developed. Despite the fact that urushi arguably has many drawbacks in both use and production, this ancient tradition has—seemingly against all odds—managed to survive into modern times. Still, the use of lacquer is showing a continued decline in Japan, and its manufacture and use have nearly died out in countries like Korea and Thailand. By offering some understanding about its importance as a bearer of cultural heritage, it is my hope that urushi lacquer will receive more recognition as a unique art form that is deserving of more appreciation and support. from Following the Lacquer God [Garland Magazine]
May 21
Exactly how stupid was what OpenAI did to Scarlett Johansson?
The School is doomed but the kids are alright
Fine Distinctions
Probe all the nuances, niceties, and subtle shades of meaning your little heart desires. from A Hairsplitter’s Odyssey by Eli Burnstein [more inside]
The History Of The City Of Las Vegas
Las Vegas City Hall's television channel KCLV has been putting out documentaries on the history of Las Vegas. The first one was five years ago, "The City Of Las Vegas: The Early Years" which covers 1905 to 1920 [1h15m]. The most recent from a few days ago is The City of Las Vegas: The Sixties [1h15m]. They aren't releasing these quickly, but there are seven total in the playlist as of now.
File under: Creative cover man
Coxy.official is a creative comedy cover artist on IG (and youtube) in which ‘talent’ sings for a ‘microphone’. Oh, and he (and his junior) are the only talent.
How the internet revived the world's first work of interactive fiction
Life is not a continuous line from the cradle to the grave. Rather, it is many short lines, each ending in a choice, and branching right and left to other choices, like a bunch of seaweed or a genealogical table. No sooner is one problem solved than you face another growing out of the first. You are to decide the course of action of first Helen, then Jed, then Saunders, at each crisis in their lives. Give your first thought, without pausing to ponder.Consider the Consequences!, a 1930 gamebook co-written by author Doris Webster and crusading journalist Mary Alden Hopkins, is the earliest known example of a choose-your-own-adventure (CYOA) text, offering players a series of forking narratives for three interconnected characters with 43 distinct endings, fifty years before the format was popularized (and trademarked). Just a few years ago this pioneering work was at risk of falling into near-total obscurity. But thanks to the efforts of jjsonick on IntFiction.org, you can now read the book on the Internet Archive (complete with nifty graphs of all possible storylines), or -- courtesy of itch.io developer geetheriot -- play the game online in an interactive fiction format powered by the Twine engine. More in the mood for radio drama? Listen to Audio Adventure Radio Hour's 2018 dramatic reading of the book (based on listener suggestions), and wrap it up with a delightful retro-review by librarian pals Peter and Abby on the Choose Your Own Book Club podcast. [more inside]
The Golden Underpants of Genghis Khan
Food for Fish is an underpants-infused game you can play in your browser thanks to WebGPU, so try it in Chrome, Edge, or Safari Technology Preview. [via waxy.org]
"No nice metaphorical way to deal with the rising wave of fascism"
The Apprentice is a 2024 movie about Donald Trump and Roy Cohn, directed by Ali Abbasi and starring Sebastian Stan (CW, discussion of rape). [more inside]
Meet Patricia Piccinini
Meet Patricia Piccinini. She's the mother of Skywhale and a much-loved artist. The artist shares why her work is driven by a fascination for the frontiers of science and its potential — and her fears of what we're doing to the world.
Simon Palmer: the Wensleydale watercolourist
"Simon’s paintings are figurative but not photographic. Semi-abstract, they are a blend of abstraction in the shapes – rectangles, curves, circles – and identifiable features. The colour palette is muted; he says he is more interested in tone and texture than colour." [more inside]
Got 31 seconds to kill?
This opera has everything. Murder, intrigue,eunuchs, David Hockney designed sets, forced perspective, And who doesn't love Nessun Dorma? I've never wanted to be in Los Angeles more than right now. Puccini's "Turindot" playing as we speak..
A tiny presence that changed the nature of the days
Even in a labyrinth with terrifying tall walls, where the ocean is no longer visible, a minotaur still needs a hummingbird, essential company in the endless journey through dead-ends, restarts, and new beginnings – as well as a reminder of the beauty of the world, the power of the sun, the rain, love, and life, all packed inside the body of a creature that weighs less than an ounce. A sign that within the smallest detail, the whole world is present, and just as the gravity and magnificence of life is present in the mountains, oceans, stars, and everything larger than life, it is also brilliantly present in its smallest bird. from Hummingbirds Are Wondrous by Zito Madu [Plough]
Here's Alex Brundle, interviewing one of the cars
Autonomous car racing is a bit of a mess. A slightly sarcastic overview of the first ever Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League event (previously)
May 20
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Toxic Gaslighting: How 3M Executives Convinced a Scientist the Forever Chemicals She Found in Human Blood Were Safe Reporting by Sharon Lerner for ProPublica.
A full pro-shot show from my favorite era of Prince!
Prince - Sign O’ The Times (Live at Paisley Park 12/31/87) [2h12m, Vimeo]. Setlist and band member list from PrinceVault. Miles Davis guests on trumpet for the encore.
Got 7 Hours to kill?
Midsommar - The Complete Guide (Everything Explained) from Youtuber Novum. (slyt 7hr vid) Deep dive into Ari Aster's 2019 folk horror film, Midsommar.
'The Bill Mitchell era'
Bill Mitchell was "responsible for creating or influencing the design of over 72.5 million automobiles produced by GM, Mitchell spent the entirety of his 42-year career in automobile design at General Motors". Bill Mitchell’s Silver Arrow I. In 1957, coming back from the Turin Auto Show Mitchell faced "Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) had forbidden American automakers from participating in any performance or motorsports activities—which included the building, selling, or advertising of performance-oriented products."
Studio X: The Story of Bill Mitchell's Secret Styling Studio at General Motors.
“You know, this car is becoming a curse to us.”
The story of the 1967 Ferguson Super Sport, the product of a Canadian couple's years of obsessive planning and labour. [Mod Note: if access is denied, try refreshing, opening a second time, or opening in new window]
It Free. It's a Thread. C'mon in.
A favorite moment of perfect comedic timing from The Muppets' Seven Deadly Sins/ Sex and Violence. it's safe for work. [more inside]
AI-detic Memory
Microsoft held a live event today showcasing their vision of the future of the home PC (or "Copilot+ PC"), boasting longer battery life, better-standardized ARM processors, and (predictably) a whole host of new AI features built on dedicated hardware, from real-time translation to in-system assistant prompts to custom-guided image creation. Perhaps most interesting is the new "Recall" feature that records all on-screen activity securely on-device, allowing natural-language recall of all articles read, text written, and videos seen. It's just the first foray into a new era of AI PCs -- and Apple is expected to join the push with an expected partnership with OpenAI debuting at WWDC next month. In a tech world that has lately been defined by the smartphone, can AI make the PC cool again?
6969 vs. 8398
The most common four-digit pin numbers [information is beautiful]
Tip your bartender as well
Want to spend an evening at Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge [venue website] in Madison, TN? I have just the night for you: June 9, 2023 [3h10m, main link, subsequent links are to individual segments of this main video]. Sally Jaye will open up with some great storytelling songs for about a half hour, and then the main artist's old friend David Matthew Dorne plays for maybe a bit longer than needed, and finally Brian Wright And The Sneakups take the stage. If you're the type to check out the music in a bar, why not check this out? Brian Wright And The Sneakups previously. [more inside]
Velvety, Wooly, Silky, Magnificent
Intrepid reporter embarks on a quest to pet every breed in the Westminster Dog Show. (SL Washington Post article; gift link, no subscription required.)
"It is a recognition that neoliberalism failed to deliver."
A New Centrism is Rising in Washington (NYT gift)
Tough little birds
Thinking of a career change?
Like old-school technology? The last typewriter shop in the Boston area is for sale.
Individual games weren’t as important as the larger game that emerged
“When you first start out playing Magic, when you're playing with kids in the schoolyard or around the kitchen table with cards that your older brother played with, that is the way it works. Your friend will have a card you don't have. But when you enter the store system, then that's no longer the way it works, you just get many, many more cards, to the point where the magical aspect of having unique cards which nobody else has goes away.” from The Creator Of ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Knows Exactly Where It All Went Wrong [Defector; ungated]
May 19
Dog using her nose to save a critically endangered mushroom
In a forest in Melbourne's east, Daisy is drawn to the smell of something barely bigger than a grain of rice. Daisy is thought to be the only dog in the world using her nose to save a critically endangered mushroom.
Humans have to make meaning out of a seemingly chaotic existence
"Individually an audience might be comprised of idiots, collectively they are never wrong." The New Yorker interviews Academy Award-winning director George Miller [ungated] about filmmaking, editing, and working with his wife and collaborator Margaret Sixel on Furiosa.
It Is Known
What Game of Thrones means to today’s television-makers, 5 years after the finale - includes writers from Shogun, Wheel of Time, BSG (and DS9) and more.
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