Nerd Roundup Article Archive 2021-08-20

Programmers Don't Understand Hash Functions

Great overview and introduction to hashes. Lots of places to go from here, like does P equal NP or not? Why use one kind of hash function over another? Information theory implications, why hashes as used as part of most OO frameworks, and so on

U.S. Military May Soon Declassify A Secret Space Weapon

My money says a satellite-based microwave DEW. We've had the tech for a while, and it would do ugly things to other satellites. Plus, who doesn't like the idea of "bodyguard satellites"

A Particle Just Did Something That Changed the Nature of Reality

I am sad that there was not yet another Holy Grail involved here, or a New Physics. Perhaps next week we can have "New Solar Battery technology brings the Holy Grail of New Physics". "...Our very conceptions of the way we exist ... could change forever". Oy vey!

Subatomic particle seen changing to antiparticle and back for the first time

Charm Meson related: the PR is actually better than the OP. If the rate of oscillation is off even by only a tiny bit, could explain all the missing anti-matter

Patterns in confusing explanations

I'm not sure whether I like this or not. I guess I am confused. I think part of the problem is that many times writers write to learn themselves, and we learn by metaphor extension. both of those together make for a tough job when writing public helper texts. I feel very much like a monkey watching a guy do an algebra problem

What is 'Elite Overproduction'?

This is funny to watch nreds discuss because it's a real thing, yet so many smart people have this knee-jerk reaction as if this is some anti-intellectual screed. After that nobody can talk them back off the cliff. Conversation over.

A scandal in Tedhemia: Noted study in psychology first fails to replicate (but is still promoted by NPR), then crumbles with striking evidence of data fraud

Maybe these guys are doing some kind of odd On-The-Job-Training program for becoming a professional bullshitter

Handy statistical lexicon

Ways to screw up your statistics when you do science. Dang, there are a lot of them!

HN discussion on AI used to convict

AI as cop ain't going to work. AI as judge ain't going to work. But we seem to be going full-speed ahead with AI as expert witness. You think your forensics guy will say anything on the stand, just wait until jurie are told "the computer proves it" Directly related to the Apple porn CSAM bullshit. I'm not nearly as annoyed that various companies and programs are trying to help society as I am that the people running these things are going to overpromise stuff and we're all going to pay for it

Don’t attach tooltips to document.body

Nice overview of the flow browsers use to render web pages. Nice example of object leakage. Caller is forced to either know a helluva lot about what happens behind the scenes or just follow flind rules. Both of these are unaccpetable

Companies of one, what is your tech stack?

Easily over 150 comments on this one question, some from founders making millions. And there are links to similar lists with hundreds of answers. Don't tell me you need a team of 12 to write that CRUD app.

Startups Now Spend More on Airbnb Than on Office Rent

This story is about long-term stays, but it works both ways. If you truly have dynamic, freeform meetings, and you use the half-block technique for maaging team distractions, why not? Probably much cheaper, more fun, and more conducive to creative solutions than a glass-lined conference room. Mobbing in random creative locations! Woot!

Nerd Roundup Article Snapshots: 2021-08-20

Snaps

2021-08-20