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Review: Patrick Bringley’s “All the Beauty in the World” [Freddie deBoer, Freddie deBoer’s Substack]

By Spencer Chen

In Freddie deBoer

February 14, 2023

269 views

R

• Patrick Bringley’s book, *All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me*, tells the story of his ten years as a guard at the museum and what he learned about the institution and its collection.
• The book provides an intimate look at the operations of the Met and its art, as well as anecdotes about the many colorful characters Bringley met among the museum’s visitors.
• Bringley handles the connection with his brother’s death deftly, creating new insight and inspiring the intended emotions.
• The book has a bit of an overwriting problem, with Bringley stretching for images and metaphors that don’t quite work.
• The book ultimately serves as a book-length advertisement for reconnecting with the visual arts, encouraging readers to visit the museum and experience something uncommon or unexpected.

 

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Math Is Magic [Camonghne Felix, The Atlantic]

By Spencer Chen

In [The Atlantic]

February 14, 2023

268 views

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• In second grade, the author suddenly stopped being able to do math, and her mother connected the dots between her sudden inability and the violent trauma she was experiencing.
• She was labeled an underperformer and troublemaker, and eventually transferred to an alternative high school, where a teacher saw something in her and tutored her during lunch.
• After graduating, she was diagnosed with severe ADHD and bipolar 2 disorder, which can affect cognitive skills and executive function.
• After months of treatment, her ability to compute improved, and she now approaches mathematics from a place of wonder and admiration.
• She now enjoys splitting the bill with her friends, as it gives her the chance to correct the narrative of the past.

Published February 14, 2023
Visit The Atlantic to read Camonghne Felix’s original post Math Is Magic

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New Bing Errors, User Preferences and Company Reputations, Section 230 and LLMs [Ben Thompson, Stratechery]

By Spencer Chen

In Ben Thompson [Stratechery]

February 14, 2023

345 views

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• Microsoft’s Bing AI demo contained multiple errors, which went unnoticed until Dmitri Brereton pointed them out.
• Brereton’s diligence highlighted the importance of verifying AI-generated data.
• Microsoft’s enthusiasm for the technology and eagerness to take on Google may have led to the errors.
• Google’s reputation and user base make it difficult to balance accuracy and user demand.
• Section 230 may not apply to large language models, raising questions of liability for libel.
• Humans may not care about accuracy, as the humanization of computers may be alluring enough to gain traction.

Published February 14, 2023
Visit Stratechery to read Ben Thompson’s original post New Bing Errors, User Preferences and Company Reputations, Section 230 and LLMs

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The truth about Biden, the GOP, Social Security, and Medicare [Judd Legum, Popular Information]

By Spencer Chen

In [Popular Information]

February 14, 2023

252 views

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• President Joe Biden has been criticized by major media outlets and Republican officials for his claims that Republicans are proposing cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
• The Republican Study Committee (RSC) proposed a 2023 budget that would cut Social Security and Medicare benefits by increasing the retirement age and changing the benefit formula.
• Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Senator John Thune (R-ND) have both called for cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
• Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) proposed a plan to “sunset” all programs after five years, including Social Security and Medicare.
• Biden’s real vulnerability on the issue stems from his own efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare years ago.
• However, Biden has since changed his position and proposed to increase Social Security benefits, not freeze them.

Published February 14, 2023
Visit Popular Information to read Judd Legum’s original post The truth about Biden, the GOP, Social Security, and Medicare

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The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling [Megan Phelps-Roper, The Free Press]

By Spencer Chen

In [The Free Press]

February 14, 2023

290 views

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• J.K. Rowling is one of the most successful authors in history, and her “Harry Potter” series has taught millions of children about virtues like loyalty, courage, and love.
• In 2020, Rowling sparked a global controversy when she tweeted her views on sex and gender issues.
• This led to a “revolt” among her publishers, an outcry from fans, and a torrent of negative headlines.
• In response, Rowling published an essay on sex and gender issues, including an account of her abusive ex-husband.
• In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many Christians saw her stories of witchcraft as dangerous and campaigned to have her work removed from schools and libraries.
• The author Elyanna Blaser-Gould wrote Rowling a letter, asking to interview her about her views and experiences.
• Rowling agreed, and Blaser-Gould spent time with her in Scotland, speaking with her and other people on all sides of the conflict.
• The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling podcast will begin on February 21, 2021.

Published February 14, 2023
Visit The Free Press to read Megan Phelps-Roper’s original post The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling

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Don’t give up on police reform [Matthew Yglesias, Slow Boring]

By Spencer Chen

In [Slow Boring]

February 14, 2023

241 views

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• Reactions to the video of Tyre Nichols’ apparent murder at the hands of Memphis Police Department officers were understandably strong.
• D’Zhane Parker from the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation put out a statement bluntly saying Nichols’ death “affirms what we’ve known all along: Reform doesn’t work.”
• Major changes for the better have occurred in the history of American policing, including anti-corruption measures and a shift in understanding of what police officers should be doing.
• Rep. Summer Lee appeared on Face The Nation and said “less than 2% of police officers who are engaged in misconduct are ever indicted at all.”
• Body cams generate evidence that can inform investigations after police shoot someone, and can bolster police legitimacy by demonstrating that they’re not just making stuff up.
• Alex Vitale’s book “The End of Policing” notes that successful reform is good, and that reformers need to identify and publicize good ideas and remind people that change is possible.
• Rachel Cohen’s article on body cams suggests they lead to an approximate 10% reduction in police use of force.
• Evidence suggests that a sustained allegation against a police officer reduces their future misconduct, and that routine increases in oversight lead to less misconduct and no change in crime.
• Reform of police misconduct is hard, not because of technical aspects, but because it requires time and effort to convince people to change the standards.
• Diversifying police forces can help ameliorate racial bias, but it requires money and social capital to encourage people to want the job.
• Holding officers to a higher standard of conduct will cost more money, not less.
• Taking the need for quality policing seriously and investing the time and money to do it is the best approach, rather than throwing one’s hands up and declaring the whole thing hopeless.

Published February 14, 2023
Visit Slow Boring to read Matthew Yglesias’s original post Don’t give up on police reform

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Band Breakups Are No Simple Thing [Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic]

By Spencer Chen

In [The Atlantic]

February 14, 2023

202 views

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• Panic! at the Disco announced their separation after 19 years, with lead singer Brendon Urie citing his focus on family as the reason.
• Nabil Ayers, a drummer turned record-label executive, explains that a band is like a company, and often is a company, with different agreements between members.
• Ayers discusses the difference between a band breakup and a reunion, and the role of fans in the internet age.
• He also explains that breakups can be seen as a marketing tool, but that they can also be a way for members to gain freedom and pursue other interests.

Published February 14, 2023
Visit The Atlantic to read Caroline Mimbs Nyce’s original post Band Breakups Are No Simple Thing

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Your Sex Lives After Kids [Emily Oster, ParentData]

By Spencer Chen

In Emily Oster [ParentData]

February 14, 2023

255 views

Y

• Valentine’s Day discussion on post-having-children sex lives, based on 26,000 survey responses
• Most respondents were women (94%), in the age range from 30 to 39 (83%), married (96%), and heterosexual (95%)
• Most popular responses: 1 to 2 times per week (30%) and 1 to 2 times per month (44.5%)
• Frequency of parents’ sex goes up (on average) as children age
• Older parents have less sex (on average), but this is trumped by the child age increase
• Most people do not think they are having enough sex (85-90% for all groups with a frequency lower than weekly)
• Men are about 16 percentage points more likely to say they feel there is too little sex
• Average person in the survey gave their sex life a 5.5
• Those with more frequent sex are most likely to report high satisfaction (7 to 9 range)
• Pain during sex is a common issue
• Resources from Dr. Sara Reardon and Vanessa Marin, including book “Come as You Are” by Emily Nagoski

Published February 14, 2023
Visit ParentData to read Emily Oster’s original post Your Sex Lives After Kids

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The Google CEO Question, Steve Ballmer and Peacetime CEOs, About That Bard Mistake [Ben Thompson, Stratechery]

By Spencer Chen

In Ben Thompson [Stratechery]

February 13, 2023

222 views

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• The Google CEO Question: Sundar Pichai’s tenure has been successful, but investors are questioning if he is the right person to lead the company in the face of a potential existential threat.
• Peacetime CEO/Wartime CEO: Ben Horowitz’s post explains the differences between the two types of CEOs, with the key distinction being that a Wartime CEO is paranoid about losing the advantage.
• Steve Ballmer and Peacetime CEOs: Steve Ballmer’s dismissal of the iPhone is a perfect example of a CEO focused on what he can do with a big advantage, but he should have been more paranoid about the threat of Android.
• About That Bard Mistake: Google’s Bard demonstration had an error, which was directly responsible for Google’s stock price decline. Bing and OpenAI got the answer right, suggesting the large language model was beneficial.

Published February 13, 2023
Visit Stratechery to read Ben Thompson’s original post The Google CEO Question, Steve Ballmer and Peacetime CEOs, About That Bard Mistake

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China’s Balloon-Size Blunder Is a Huge Opportunity [Richard Fontaine, The Atlantic]

By Spencer Chen

In Uncategorized

February 13, 2023

277 views

C

• Following October’s Communist Party congress, Beijing made moves to stifle the combative and confrontational group of diplomats known as wolf warriors and hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the capital.
• The tone of China’s leading diplomats noticeably softened, and for the first time in almost six years, Xi planned to host a U.S. secretary of state in China.
• However, a Chinese spy balloon drifted across the U.S., forcing Beijing into damage-control mode and handing the U.S. a rare opportunity to rally public concern and international solidarity.
• The balloon stunt galvanized attention and raised grave suspicions among Americans, as well as other countries such as Costa Rica, Taiwan, Japan, London, and NATO.
• The incident has derailed Beijing’s charm offensive and provided an opportunity for the U.S. to raise public awareness of the challenge posed by China.
• The Biden administration is making the most of the opportunity by publicly referring to a fleet of Chinese balloons that have conducted surveillance over five continents, and providing multiple public briefings.

Published February 13, 2023
Visit The Atlantic to read Richard Fontaine’s original post China’s Balloon-Size Blunder Is a Huge Opportunity

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