April 2024 Linkpost

Who knew ditching the Ivy League could be the new smart move? Employers are trading prestige for practical talent from these ‘New Ivies’ – talk about a plot twist in the college drama.

Philosophy & Human Nature

Why Mainstream Historical Jesus Scholars Think Christianity is False (exapologist.blogspot.com)
The argument here lays out Jesus as a failed apocalyptic prophet whose predictions about an imminent end times didn’t pan out, backed by historical-critical analysis of biblical texts. Key evidence includes urgent “Son of Man” passages and the softening of eschatological claims in later gospels, with methodologies like multiple attestation and embarrassment criteria showing his core message was about a kingdom that never arrived. This challenges orthodox views, implying a divine figure wouldn’t back a false prophet – implications ripple through theology, questioning resurrection claims. I would note it’s a stark reminder of how prophecies can shape beliefs, even when unfulfilled.

A Disneyland Without Children (strataoftheworld.com)
This piece imagines an alien civilization’s downfall through hyper-automation, where AI-driven efficiency leads to population collapse and a ghost-town of tech wonders without beings to enjoy them. Key arguments highlight economic growth trumping human welfare, with examples like automated factories churning out unused toys and AI replacing human decision-making. It draws on Bostrom’s moral philosophy, concluding that unchecked rationalism risks existential failure by sidelining fertility and agency. For communities, it warns that prioritizing patterns over people could erode social bonds – a buddy shared this, musing on how our own tech obsessions might echo this eerie fate.

The City and the Limiting Virtues (sarahendren.substack.com)
Exploring “freedom to” and “freedom from” in urban spaces, this essay champions virtues like humility and moderation in places like a no-laptop café, a silent church, and a tiered library. Examples from Cambridge show how constraints foster deeper interactions, like eyes-up socializing or quiet reflection amid bustle. It critiques endless self-optimization, advocating designed limits for enhanced autonomy and loyalty to the given world. Implications urge urban planners to balance freedoms thoughtfully – someone pointed this out, highlighting how these spots make city life more human, even if it means curbing digital distractions.

Academic Research & Science

Comparing Self-Reported Ethnicity to Genetic Background Measures (bmcgenomdata.biomedcentral.com)
In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis with 6,814 participants across four ethnic groups, researchers genotyped 96 ancestry markers and used clustering algorithms like Ward’s and K-means, plus STRUCTURE for ancestry proportions. Key findings: self-reported ethnicity (SRE) showed high agreement (κ=0.83) with genetic clusters except for Hispanics (30% misclassified due to heterogeneity), and SRE controlled type I errors comparably to genetic measures in association tests for traits like left-ventricular hypertrophy. Simulations revealed SRE’s limitations in univariate ancestry but utility in multi-ethnic contexts – implications suggest SRE as a cost-effective tool for smaller studies, though genetic measures shine in large ones. A colleague flagged this, underscoring how ethnicity labels can both help and hinder precise research.

Smartphone Bans, Student Outcomes and Mental Health (papers.ssrn.com)
Using an event-study design with administrative and survey data on middle school policies, this paper finds smartphone bans reduce psychological health care visits and bullying for girls, boost their GPA, and increase academic track attendance – effects strongest for low socio-economic girls. No specific sample size noted, but conclusions position bans as a low-cost tool for better outcomes. Implications for policy: schools could curb tech’s toll on youth mental health and learning without big budgets. I would observe this echoes broader worries about screens stunting development, making it a practical nudge toward healthier habits.

How to Teach Your Two-Year-Old to Read (theintrinsicperspective.com)
Phonics-based tutoring, 10 minutes daily starting with sounds and building to sentences, can get toddlers reading at grade level – backed by the author’s success and data showing U.S. scores back to 1980 levels, with 30 Illinois schools at zero proficiency. Longitudinal studies link early reading to cognitive gains via Matthew effects. Practical apps: integrate into routines like dinner for play-infused learning. Broader literacy trends warn of decay, urging parents to counter with early skills – a pal shared this, noting how it flips the script on waiting for schools to fix the crisis.

Technology & Society

What Can LLMs Never Do? (strangeloopcanon.com)
Testing on tasks like Wordle, Sudoku, and Conway’s Game of Life via fine-tuning and prompting reveals LLMs’ struggles with iterative reasoning and state dependency – they mimic patterns but fail generalization, like on larger grids post-training on 32 cells. Findings on goal drift: probabilistic inference erodes reliability in chains, with errors like cosmic ray flips. Conclusions: architectural overhauls needed for AGI, perhaps hierarchical agents. Implications: shift from scaling to specialized models, automating in-paradigm science but not shifts – my friend would highlight this as a humbling check on AI hype.

The Man Who Killed Google Search (wheresyoured.at)
A 2019 “code yellow” on revenue weakness led to ads mimicking results and Prabhakar Raghavan replacing Ben Gomes as search head in 2020, prioritizing growth over quality. Events: ad redesigns blurred lines, core updates boosted spam. Data: Yahoo’s share dropped from 30% to 13% under Raghavan. Implications: tech’s finance-first mindset degrades products, risking internet infrastructure – someone quipped this explains why searches now feel like wading through ads.

Terraform Makes Carbon-Neutral Natural Gas (terraformindustries.wordpress.com)
Using in-house electrolysis (<$2.50/kg H2), DAC (<$250/ton CO2), and Sabatier reactors, Terraform produced pipeline-grade methane from air and solar, eligible for $3/kg-H2 credits. Findings: adapts processes for variable renewables, slashing capex. Implications: breaks fossil dependency, enabling sustainable hydrocarbons for growth – a buddy enthused about this solving energy woes without ditching modern life.

The Iyo One Earbuds Are the Latest in Wearable AI (axios.com)
With 10 mics, custom fits, and WiFi/cellular options ($599-$699), these earbuds enable voice-driven therapy or coaching, spun from Google’s X. Findings: targets tens of thousands in sales, but app ecosystem challenges loom. Implications: pushes wearables beyond phones, though hardware hurdles persist – I would note it’s a step toward hands-free futures, if the bugs get ironed out.

Half an Hour Before Dawn in San Francisco (astralcodexten.com)
Observations paint SF as a mechanical summoning-city, with diverse denizens and self-driving cars evoking impending doom – Kurzweil’s 2029 singularity looms. Data: “86” as “end” in Hebrew. Implications: urban policies must grapple with tech’s societal costs, from climate to AI – a colleague shared this, capturing that uneasy vibe of innovation’s edge.

Economics & Development

Why Buy a House (or Land)? (map.simonsarris.com)
Challenging pure economic calculators, this argues housing choices hinge on lifestyle, like outdoor access or pub walks, over costs. Examples: author’s 2018 land buy, transformed by 2023 despite overprice perceptions. Analysis: qualitative reflection on desires trumps metrics. Conclusions: overpay if it fits dreams. Implications: finance should factor satisfaction – I would add it’s why some spots feel like home beyond spreadsheets.

Colonialism and Progress (cpsi.media)
Reevaluating Gilley’s case, it argues colonialism boosted economic and civil progress, with studies showing 42% higher GDP per century of rule and dependent territories outperforming independents (47% vs. 18.6% in top GNP bands). Examples: Jamaica’s post-1865 investments, Caribbean gay rights advances. Method: econometric islands experiments, case studies. Conclusions: anti-colonialism derailed development. Implications: nuanced history views – a pal would say it flips the script on progress narratives.

Climate & Environment

Trains Are Cleaner Than Planes, Right? (nytimes.com)
A cross-country Amtrak trip surprisingly emitted more carbon than flying, complicating eco-travel assumptions. Journey: 3,400 miles, 72 hours from NY to CA. No detailed methodologies, but conclusions urge rethinking footprints. Implications: policy should target efficient transport upgrades – someone noted this bursts the train superiority bubble.

Maine Is a Warning for America’s PFAS Future (theatlantic.com)
New EPA rules mandate PFAS monitoring, with Maine’s sludge-linked crisis (e.g., 14,800 ppt in wells vs. 20 ppt limit) showing measurement via blood/water tests and mitigation via filters/hemp (2% removal). Data: 500,000+ cubic yards sludge spread. Conclusions: no full destruction tech yet. Implications: widespread health risks like cancers demand bans – a friend would warn this is the tip of the forever-chemical iceberg.

Reference & Curiosities

William Morgan Shuster (en.wikipedia.org)
Shuster’s bio: customs collector in Cuba/Philippines, Persian treasurer 1911-1911, expelled amid Anglo-Russian tensions. Key: built gendarmerie, wrote “The Strangling of Persia.” Data: born 1877, died 1960. Relevance: eyewitness to imperial meddling – a buddy shared, noting its echo in modern sovereignty struggles.

Russ Cook: The Hardest Geezer Who Ran the Length of Africa (bbc.com)
Cook’s 352-day trek across 16 countries, raising £700,000, overcame robbery and visas via social media (11M views). Data: marathon+ daily, Sahara night runs. Endurance lessons: adapt with painkillers, zombie-stomp mindset. Implications: transforms personal woes into inspiration – someone recounted this epic, proving grit’s timeless pull.

Why Did This Guy Put a Song About Me on Spotify? (nytimes.com)
Matt Farley’s scheme: thousands of niche songs gaming searches, like one naming a reporter. Method: broad targeting for streams. Implications: exploits algorithms, skewing music discovery – I would chuckle at how it turns personalization into absurdity.

Politics & Current Events (2024)

Europe’s Economic Laggards Have Become Its Leaders (nytimes.com)
Southern Europe like Greece and Spain grew twice the eurozone average in 2023, outpacing Germany’s 0.2% Q1 2024 growth amid energy woes. Eurostat data: eurozone 0.3% Q1 growth post-recession. Implications: divergent recoveries demand tailored policies – a colleague sent this, spotting tourism’s southern boost.

Exclusive: Employers Are Souring On Ivy League Grads, While These 20 “New Ivies” Ascend (forbes.com)
Survey of 300: 33% less likely to hire Ivies vs. 42% more for publics. New Ivies (e.g., UF, Michigan) selected via test scores (SAT 1482) and selectivity (<50% publics). Implications: Ivies must curb entitlement – I would note it’s a wake-up for prestige chasers.

Forbes Names the University of Florida a “New Ivy” (news.ufl.edu)
UF as sole Florida ‘New Ivy’ for employability, with 42% managers favoring publics. Criteria: high tests, low admits. Implications: elevates publics in talent wars – someone celebrated this Gator glow-up.

Campus Protesters Call for UF to Divest from Israeli War Interests (wuft.org)
Eight-hour rally demands divestment from weapons firms; counter-protest ensued, police separated. No participant counts. Implications: fuels 2024 campus debates on ethics – a pal described the tense standoff.

San Francisco’s Black Population Dwindling (seattletimes.com)
Down to <6% from 13% in 1970, due to costs, renewal, redlining. Data: arrests 19x higher for blacks. Implications: erodes cultural hubs, demands equity policies – I would reflect on how cities lose souls amid progress.

The Meta-morphosis of Mark Zuckerberg (nytimes.com)
Zuck’s shift from gray tees to shearling jackets and chains signals a softer Silicon Valley face amid tech scrutiny. Viral chain video drew 4,000+ comments. Implications: style humanizes moguls – a friend laughed at this nerd-to-accessible pivot.