Monthly Archives: March 2023

Arts & Humanities, Books & Reading, Current Affairs, Libraries, Science & Health, Times They Are A-Changing

Hidden Systems is a book that could teach your kids how the Internet works – The Verge

Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge

Growing up, I learned The Way Things Work from author David Macaulay’s incredible illustrated books.

This week, I was surprised to see Macaulay’s endorsement in my inbox for a new illustrated explainer by a different author — but the surprise didn’t last long.

Fifteen minutes after I began skimming through an advance copy of Hidden Systems, which just came out this week, I immediately ordered the book for my kids. It looks like a fantastic way to help them conceptualize the internet, the world’s water supply, and our power grid — and get them thinking about the infrastructure of the world they’ll someday inherit.

In 262 pages, author and cartoonist Dan Nott tackles each of these systems in comic panel form, piecing together the building blocks of how they work and the basics of how they were conceived, all without ignoring the societal challenges facing each one. “I began drawing about hidden systems because comics seem to have this superpower-like ability to compare how we think about something with how it works concretely,” writes Nott in the book.

Source: Hidden Systems is a book that could teach your kids how the internet works – The Verge

Arts & Humanities, Books & Reading, Current Affairs, Film & Movies, Libraries, Memories & History, Web & Technology

Crime Classics: “A Gentle Murderer” Joins the List! | Timeless | Library of Congress

Posted by: Neely Tucker, March 15, 2023

Cover art is adapted from a Work Projects Administration poster “Keep Your Fire Escapes Clear.” Prints and Photographs Division.

This is a guest post by Zach Klitzman, editorial assistant in the Library’s Publishing Office.

A priest, a detective and an impoverished poet might sound like the setup to a joke—but Father Duffy, Sergeant Ben Goldsmith and Tim Brandon are no laughing matter in the gripping new addition to the Library of Congress Crime Classics series, “A Gentle Murderer.”

Dorothy Salisbury Davis’ landmark novel, first published in 1951, combines suspense and innovative psychological insight as Duffy, a Catholic priest, and Goldsmith, an NYPD detective, attempt to track down Brandon, who had confessed — anonymously — to murdering a call girl.

Critic Anthony Boucher described the novel as “one of the greatest detective stories of modern times” and in the introduction to the Library’s edition, Crime Classics series editor Leslie S. Klinger describes it as “a masterpiece” for blending two subgenres of crime fiction: clerical detectives and criminal profiling.

Editor’s Note: Read more, see link below for original item…

Source: Crime Classics: “A Gentle Murderer” Joins the List! | Timeless

Current Affairs, Science & Health, Times They Are A-Changing, Web & Technology

Similarities between Survivor and chess | Bard | Google

Editor’s Note: I asked Bard to summarize the similarities between the tv show Survivor and chess. Here’s the response…

There are several similarities between the TV show Survivor and chess. Both games are strategic and require players to think ahead and plan their moves. Both games also involve a degree of luck, as players must sometimes make decisions based on incomplete information. Finally, both games can be very competitive, as players strive to outwit and outplay their opponents.

Here are some specific similarities between Survivor and chess:

  • Both games are strategic. In Survivor, players must make decisions about how to allocate their resources, who to align with, and when to make big moves. In chess, players must develop a plan of attack and defend their pieces from their opponent’s attack.
  • Both games require players to think ahead and plan their moves. In Survivor, players must think about how their decisions will affect the game in the future. In chess, players must think about how their moves will affect the game in the next few moves.
  • Both games involve a degree of luck. In Survivor, players must sometimes make decisions based on incomplete information. For example, players may not know who has an idol or who is planning to vote for them. In chess, players may not know what their opponent’s next move will be.
  • Both games can be very competitive. In Survivor, players strive to outwit and outplay their opponents. In chess, players strive to checkmate their opponent’s king.

Despite these similarities, there are also some important differences between Survivor and chess. For example, Survivor is a game of social dynamics, while chess is a game of strategy and tactics. Additionally, Survivor is a game of endurance, while chess is a game of mental focus.

Source: https://bard.google.com/

Arts & Humanities, Current Affairs, Film & Movies, Libraries, Memories & History, Music, Pleasures, Television, Weblogs (Blogs)

Film Night at the Pickford Theater: “The Maltese Falcon” (1941) | Now See Hear! | Library of Congress

By Library of Congress, 15 March, 2023, Posted by: Matthew Barton

Every month, films from the Library of Congress’s collection are shown at the Mary Pickford Theater in the Library’s James Madison Building in Washington, DC. They range from titles newly preserved by the National Audio Visual Conservation Center film lab to classics from the National Film Registry to lesser known titles worthy of discovery.

Source: Film Night at the Pickford Theater: “The Maltese Falcon” (1941) | Now See Hear!

See Also: https://www.loc.gov/item/2021687678/?loclr-blognsh

Podcasts, Politics, Science & Health, Web & Technology, Weblogs (Blogs)

Google’s New AI Tools for Gmail, Docs Can Write Drafts for You – CNET

The search giant is testing generative writing and other AI features for its Workspace apps.

By Nina Raemont, March 14, 2023 8:12 a.m. PT

James Martin/CNET

Google plans to bring new AI-powered tools to its suite of Workspace apps. In a blog post on Tuesday, the search giant said it’s starting by testing generative AI writing features in Gmail and Docs that can help people get started on the writing process.

“Simply type a topic you’d like to write about, and a draft will instantly be generated for you,” reads Google’s post. “With your collaborative AI partner you can continue to refine and edit, getting more suggestions as needed.”

The tool, Google suggests, can be used to help create things like customized job descriptions or invitations for a kid’s birthday party. The company is also exploring ways to incorporate AI tools into Slides, Sheets, Meet and Chat.

Source: Google’s New AI Tools for Gmail, Docs Can Write Drafts for You – CNET

Books & Reading, Current Affairs, Science & Health, Times They Are A-Changing

Lucid Dreaming: What Your Brain’s Really Up To In This Sleep State | Glam

By Saskia Ainsworth | March 5, 2023 6:00 am EST

Naja_WoW/Shutterstock

Has a dream ever felt so real that you were sure that you were living it? Lucid dreaming is a phenomenon that happens to millions of us across the globe and has reportedly occurred in at least 55% of adults, according to Sleep Foundation.

Those who lucid dream often report that their dreams feel like real life and that they can control what happens as if it was happening in real time. Bizarrely, many lucid dreamers are often aware that they are dreaming too. However, those who study this type of dream are still unsure of the exact cause.

While much of the lucid dreaming world remains a complex mystery to scientists, there are some aspects of it that they do understand. Currently, they have a basic understanding of when and how this unique dreaming state happens, which at least provides some answers. In the meantime, many lucid dreamers continue to enjoy the freedom they find themselves with while they are sleeping, taking the opportunity to explore their inner thoughts and wildest dreams. So, what do scientists know so far about this magical dreaming state?

Source: Lucid Dreaming: What Your Brain’s Really Up To In This Sleep State