Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Lawyers Vs. AI

"20 top lawyers were beaten by legal AI. Here are their surprising responses". (Via Tyler Cowen.)

Optical Illusions and AI

"Can Optical Illusions fool Artificial Intelligence too?" (Via A.B.)

AI Lie Detector

"Police are using artificial intelligence to spot written lies"

Monday, October 29, 2018

Hsieh Forbes Column on Nudging and Bad Science

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "When Government-Backed 'Nudgers' Go Bad".

I discuss how bad science and bad government policy may have affected the diets of millions of American school children.

Updated Trolley Problem

"Massive Driverless Car Survey Updates the Trolley Problem With a 'Moral Machine'".

I'll try to be younger and more useful to society!

Getting Your Apple Data

"You can now download your Apple user data -- here's how"

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Lions Vs. Buffalo

"It takes a whole lotta lions to take down a solitary buffalo".

Dr. AI

"Your next doctor's appointment might be with an AI"

No Google Mapping

"The One Place in the US Google Earth Stopped Mapping"

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Intact Shipwreck

"World's oldest intact shipwreck discovered in Black Sea". (Via H.R.)

Matrix Green Code

"That Trippy Green Code in The Matrix Is Just a Bunch of Sushi Recipes"

Unhackable Internet?

"Inside Europe's quest to build an unhackable quantum internet"

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Monday, October 22, 2018

Don't Destroy The Universe

"Would Traveling Back In Time Destroy The Universe?"

Let's hope not. That's where I keep all my stuff.

Recognizing Faces

"The Average Person Can Recognize 5,000 Faces"

Steno

"How can stenographers keep up with a speaker"

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Malaphors

It's not rocket surgery.

Micro Electron Diffraction

"Small Molecule Structures: A New World". (Via H.R.)

Design "Crimes"

Write people up for their design crimes with this ticket book

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Sommelier Scandal

"The Outrageous Master Sommelier Scandal, Explained"

IPad Tipping

"You Want 20% for Handing Me a Muffin? The Awkward Etiquette of iPad Tipping"

My favorite quote:
“You can certainly walk away without tipping, but it’s hard to do, especially if you’re Canadian,” says Keir Vallance, who is 46 and teaches law in Saskatchewa

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Monday, October 15, 2018

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Light Posting Notice

Admin note: Posting may be lighter than usual this week due to external obligations.

New Zealand Border Tips

For travellers to New Zealand: "What to do if a border agent demands access to your digital device"

21st Century Crime

"Bitcoin miner sent to prison for stealing electricity from train network in China"

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Reunited Identical Twins

"Twins, Separated at Birth, Reunite as Adults"

They were separated as part of an unethical scientific experiment, and found one another after a documentary about that experiment helped reunite a different set of triplets.

Fitness Tracker Glitch

"Why is Xiaomi's fitness tracker detecting a heartbeat from a roll of toilet paper?"

Can Moons Have Moons?

"Guess what scientists call the moons of moons"

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Fitness Trackers And The Law

"Fitbit's heart-rate tracking helped nail down a murder suspect"

Tigers Like Humans

NYT: "Once a tiger encounters a person and kills, it may develop a taste for human flesh, which, Mr. Khan says, is sweeter than other animal meat because of all the ginger, salt and spices people consume."

Flexible Electronics Update

"Study opens route to flexible electronics made from exotic materials"

Monday, October 08, 2018

Thursday, October 04, 2018

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

NZ Border Search Of Phones

"New Zealand: Hand over phone password at border or face $3,200 fine"
Under the Customs and Excise Act 2018, which came into force this week, officials will be able to demand travelers unlock any electronic device so it can be searched. Anyone who refuses can face prosecution and a fine of up to $3,200 (5,000 NZD). 
 
Officials can also retain devices and potentially confiscate them from travelers who refuse to allow a search at the border. 
 
The New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties (CCL) described the new law as a "grave invasion of personal privacy of both the person who owns the device and the people they have communicated with."

Smart Pizza Deliveryman

"A Pizza Deliveryman Saved a Woman Who Mouthed 'Help Me'". (Via S.W.)

Stop Signs

"Why Do Stop Signs Have Eight Sides?"

Tuesday, October 02, 2018

Chocolate Cottage

"You Can Rent This Cottage Made Entirely of Chocolate — and Yes, You Can Eat Some of It"

Möbius Strips

"The Mathematical Madness of Möbius Strips and Other One-Sided Objects"

$100 Bills

"There are now more $100 bills than $1 bills in the world"

Monday, October 01, 2018

Emperor And Scientist

"The Emperor of Japan still publishes (even though he has tenure). He also usually gets his name first." (Via Tyler Cowen.)

Ancient Roman Comics

"Painted 'Comics' with 'Speech Bubbles' Found in Ancient Roman Tomb". (Via H.R.)

Fusion Updates

"In search of clean energy, investments in nuclear-fusion startups are heating up"