SHAKE THINGS UP—IT’LL HELP PART 1
THOUGH SEEMINGLY PARADOXICAL, DISORDER CAN PROMOTE STABILITY. Raissa M. D’Souza describes how in “Noise and Diversity Can Boost Stability,” AAAS Science, September 17, 2026. Real-world Examples. You’d think that collective … Continue reading
MINUTESTEAKS—70 YEARS HENCE
MY MEMORY WAS JOGGED BY LAUREN BAIR’S ARTICLE “The Underrated Steak I Make When Dinner Has To Be Ready in 10 Minutes,” Simply Recipes, August 25, 2026. Her description of … Continue reading
A.I. OUTLAWS PART 2
YESTERDAY WE BEGAN GLEANING TIDBITS from Jill Lepore’s “Is A.I. Above The Law?,” The New Yorker, September 28, 2026. Today in Part 2, we focus on jurisprudence of robots. Previous … Continue reading
A.I. OUTLAWS PART 1
JILL LEPORE ASKS “IS A.I. ABOVE THE LAW?,” The New Yorker, September 21, 2026. Her subhead reads, “Our legal system isn’t ready for machines that act on their own.” Following … Continue reading
ANDES HIGH (AND WE’RE NOT TALKING ALTITUDE)
ANDREW LAWLER’S OPENER IS DATELINED CHAVÍN DE HUÁNTAR, PERU: “The subterranean corridor was lit only by eerie light that filtered down narrow ventilation shafts and reflected from polished stone. Priests … Continue reading
CHINESE CARS IN THE U.S.?
WHAT A PROVOCATIVE—AND COMPLEX—IDEA. Here, in a lengthy collection, are tidbits gleaned from Automotive News, SAE International Automotive Engineering, and Jalopnik, together with my R&T sleuthing. Paige Hodder writes in … Continue reading
A.I. VERSES MATHEMATICS
DR. ZEYNEP TUFEKCI HAS BECOME MY GO-TO on lofty matters: See “How Zeynep Tufekci Keeps Getting the Big Things Right,” Ben Smith, The New York Times, August 23, 2020. See … Continue reading
SHOULD DICTIONARIES BE HEP?
NITSUH ABEBE REPORTS “SORRY, WEBSTER. MOST PEOPLE DON’T WANT INTERNET SLANG IN THE DICTIONARY,” The New York Times, September 18, 2026. Or so claims a news release he received last … Continue reading
OPERA’S RAZOR EDGES
I ENJOY QUOTING SIR PETER USTINOV: “Opera rides the razor edge of absurdity.” The October 2026 issue of Opera With Opera News offers interesting extremes of scenery and notable examples … Continue reading
GEORGE HANGER: 4TH (AND LAST) BARON OF COLERAINE, MILITARY BLUNDERER, EARLY FEMINIST (??)
THE SLEEZE MEDIA THESE DAYS ARE REPLETE WITH GOINGS-ON (or non-goings-in) of English Royals (or non-Royals). Leafing again through Brewer’s Rogues, Villains & Eccentrics, I came upon George Hanger, 4th … Continue reading
