When Jorge Luis Borges met one of the founders of AI
(resobscura.substack.com)
One reason I became a historian is the joy of encountering moments in the past that are foreign, yet also oddly familiar. These moments seem to ripple outward, lapping up against the present in unexpected ways.
One reason I became a historian is the joy of encountering moments in the past that are foreign, yet also oddly familiar. These moments seem to ripple outward, lapping up against the present in unexpected ways.
Trump makes history by pardoning a corporation
(thehill.com)
In what may be a first in American history, President Trump just expanded the presidential pardon power to include corporations.
In what may be a first in American history, President Trump just expanded the presidential pardon power to include corporations.
"Fiume O Morte " Brilliantly Dramatizes the Rise of a Demagogue
(newyorker.com)
Many filmmakers display undue faith in their ability to depict ways of life far outside their own experience. This blithe self-confidence is particularly egregious in depictions of distant history, where imagination inevitably courts fabrication.
Many filmmakers display undue faith in their ability to depict ways of life far outside their own experience. This blithe self-confidence is particularly egregious in depictions of distant history, where imagination inevitably courts fabrication.
Facebook Is Hiding Heather Cox Richardson's Posts
(closertotheedge.substack.com)
On March 31, 2025, one of the most trusted historians in America watched her own words disappear from the internet.
On March 31, 2025, one of the most trusted historians in America watched her own words disappear from the internet.
The timeless genius of a Atari developer and his swimming salmon masterpiece
(arstechnica.com)
In 1982, while most game developers were busy with space invaders and maze ghosts, Bill Williams created something far more profound: a game about swimming upstream against impossible odds.
In 1982, while most game developers were busy with space invaders and maze ghosts, Bill Williams created something far more profound: a game about swimming upstream against impossible odds.
Forking Work Simplification – Let's Bring Back Eisenhower's Process Improvement
(governance.fyi)
Happy April Fool’s, but frankly we are all (well almost all) business today with a neat little update.
Happy April Fool’s, but frankly we are all (well almost all) business today with a neat little update.
Cory Booker breaks record for longest speech by US senator in Trump condemnation
(theguardian.com)
Cory Booker, the Democratic US senator from New Jersey, has broken the record for longest speech ever by a lone senator – beating the record first established by Strom Thurmond, who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes in opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Cory Booker, the Democratic US senator from New Jersey, has broken the record for longest speech ever by a lone senator – beating the record first established by Strom Thurmond, who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes in opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Cory Booker breaks record for longest Senate speech, beating Strom Thurmond
(usatoday.com)
Sen. Cory Booker on Tuesday delivered the longest recorded floor speech in Senate history, breaking the record set by segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957.
Sen. Cory Booker on Tuesday delivered the longest recorded floor speech in Senate history, breaking the record set by segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957.
Senate Bean Soup
(wikipedia.org)
United States Senate Bean Soup or simply Senate bean soup is a soup made with navy beans, ham hocks, and onion. It is served in the dining room of the United States Senate every day, in a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century. The original version included celery, garlic, and parsley. One of the two versions used today includes mashed potatoes.
United States Senate Bean Soup or simply Senate bean soup is a soup made with navy beans, ham hocks, and onion. It is served in the dining room of the United States Senate every day, in a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century. The original version included celery, garlic, and parsley. One of the two versions used today includes mashed potatoes.
Parcae Ocean Surveillance Satellites
(thespacereview.com)
On April 30, 1976, an Atlas F rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying a new type of satellite into space.
On April 30, 1976, an Atlas F rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying a new type of satellite into space.
A look back: WordPerfect on DOS (2023)
(technicallywewrite.com)
There was a saying in the 1980s that if you knew how to use WordPerfect, you were guaranteed a job in any office.
There was a saying in the 1980s that if you knew how to use WordPerfect, you were guaranteed a job in any office.
Globe Gores
(blogs.loc.gov)
The Geography and Map Division holds a variety of printed globe gores in a variety of sizes and configurations ranging from some of the earliest examples in the 16th century to more modern examples in the 20th century.
The Geography and Map Division holds a variety of printed globe gores in a variety of sizes and configurations ranging from some of the earliest examples in the 16th century to more modern examples in the 20th century.
Bletchley code breaker Betty Webb dies aged 101
(bbc.com)
A decorated World War Two code breaker who spent her youth deciphering enemy messages at Bletchley Park has died at the age of 101.
A decorated World War Two code breaker who spent her youth deciphering enemy messages at Bletchley Park has died at the age of 101.
Notes on the Pentium's microcode circuitry
(righto.com)
Most people think of machine instructions as the fundamental steps that a computer performs. However, many processors have another layer of software underneath: microcode. With microcode, instead of building the processor's control circuitry from complex logic gates, the control logic is implemented with code known as microcode, stored in the microcode ROM. To execute a machine instruction, the computer internally executes several simpler micro-instructions, specified by the microcode.
Most people think of machine instructions as the fundamental steps that a computer performs. However, many processors have another layer of software underneath: microcode. With microcode, instead of building the processor's control circuitry from complex logic gates, the control logic is implemented with code known as microcode, stored in the microcode ROM. To execute a machine instruction, the computer internally executes several simpler micro-instructions, specified by the microcode.
Cuneiforms: New digital tool for translating ancient texts
(sciencedaily.com)
Major milestone reached in digital Cuneiform studies: Researchers present an innovative tool that offers many new possibilities.
Major milestone reached in digital Cuneiform studies: Researchers present an innovative tool that offers many new possibilities.
Reintroducing Capsul
(bearblog.dev)
capsul has a rich history. born through cyberia.club, our first server was literally cobbled together on the rooftop of my apartment complex. about 10 of us were there, perhaps a little drunk, and we covered the first 1u server in stickers. it's still around the clubhouse at layer zero - we named the server "baikal", after the deepest lake in the world, and a joke on "cyberia" sounding like "siberia". here is a picture of baikal from back then:
capsul has a rich history. born through cyberia.club, our first server was literally cobbled together on the rooftop of my apartment complex. about 10 of us were there, perhaps a little drunk, and we covered the first 1u server in stickers. it's still around the clubhouse at layer zero - we named the server "baikal", after the deepest lake in the world, and a joke on "cyberia" sounding like "siberia". here is a picture of baikal from back then:
Bell Labs Holmdel Complex
(wikipedia.org)
The Bell Labs Holmdel Complex, in Holmdel Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, functioned for 44 years as a research and development facility, initially for the Bell System and later Bell Labs.[3] The centerpiece of the campus is an Eero Saarinen–designed structure that served as the home to over 6,000 engineers and researchers.[4] This modernist building, dubbed "The Biggest Mirror Ever" by Architectural Forum due to its mirror box exterior, was the site of a Nobel Prize discovery, the
The Bell Labs Holmdel Complex, in Holmdel Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, functioned for 44 years as a research and development facility, initially for the Bell System and later Bell Labs.[3] The centerpiece of the campus is an Eero Saarinen–designed structure that served as the home to over 6,000 engineers and researchers.[4] This modernist building, dubbed "The Biggest Mirror Ever" by Architectural Forum due to its mirror box exterior, was the site of a Nobel Prize discovery, the
The demoscene as a UNESCO heritage in Sweden
(goto80.com)
The demoscene has become a national UNESCO-heritage in Sweden, thanks to an application that Ziphoid and me did last year.
The demoscene has become a national UNESCO-heritage in Sweden, thanks to an application that Ziphoid and me did last year.
The Unluckiest Astronomer in History
(armaghplanet.com)
Whether you are a researcher gathering data, or a hobbyist taking photos from your back garden, astronomy has always required a certain amount of good luck. Instruments can be uncooperative, data can be lost or damaged, and of course there’s the ever-present threat of bad weather. This is nothing new, and the long history of astronomy is full of examples of things not quite going according to plan for even the most brilliant observers.
Whether you are a researcher gathering data, or a hobbyist taking photos from your back garden, astronomy has always required a certain amount of good luck. Instruments can be uncooperative, data can be lost or damaged, and of course there’s the ever-present threat of bad weather. This is nothing new, and the long history of astronomy is full of examples of things not quite going according to plan for even the most brilliant observers.
Lapham's Quarterly Announces New Stewardship
(laphamsquarterly.org)
Lapham’s Quarterly, the celebrated journal of history and ideas founded by the late editor and journalist Lewis H. Lapham, will relaunch under the stewardship of Bard College and its Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities in 2025.
Lapham’s Quarterly, the celebrated journal of history and ideas founded by the late editor and journalist Lewis H. Lapham, will relaunch under the stewardship of Bard College and its Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities in 2025.
Microsoft turns 50: Four employees recall their early years
(seattletimes.com)
Fifty years ago, two kids from Seattle flipped the tech industry on its head.
Fifty years ago, two kids from Seattle flipped the tech industry on its head.
Fragments of a rare Merlin manuscript from c. 1300
(cam.ac.uk)
A fragile 13th century manuscript fragment, hidden in plain sight as the binding of a 16th-century archival register, has been discovered in Cambridge and revealed to contain rare medieval stories of Merlin and King Arthur.
A fragile 13th century manuscript fragment, hidden in plain sight as the binding of a 16th-century archival register, has been discovered in Cambridge and revealed to contain rare medieval stories of Merlin and King Arthur.
Greek Language Question
(wikipedia.org)
The Greek language question (Greek: το γλωσσικό ζήτημα, to glossikó zítima) was a dispute about whether the vernacular of the Greek people (Demotic Greek) or a cultivated literary language based on Ancient Greek (Katharevousa) should be the prevailing language of the people and government of Greece.
The Greek language question (Greek: το γλωσσικό ζήτημα, to glossikó zítima) was a dispute about whether the vernacular of the Greek people (Demotic Greek) or a cultivated literary language based on Ancient Greek (Katharevousa) should be the prevailing language of the people and government of Greece.
Visions of Greenland
(worldhistory.substack.com)
The outside world has long projected its desires onto the world's biggest island
The outside world has long projected its desires onto the world's biggest island
The Code That Controls Your Money
(wealthsimple.com)
COBOL is a coding language older than Weird Al Yankovic. The people who know how to use it are often just as old. It underpins the entire financial system. And it can’t be removed. How a computer language controls the financial life of the world.
COBOL is a coding language older than Weird Al Yankovic. The people who know how to use it are often just as old. It underpins the entire financial system. And it can’t be removed. How a computer language controls the financial life of the world.
In the New Beijing
(lrb.co.uk)
My generation has seen four paramount leaders: Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and now Xi Jinping.
My generation has seen four paramount leaders: Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and now Xi Jinping.