Recently updated blogs

I want to go back over something from Part 11, but in a more systematic and self-contained way. Namely, I want to prove a wonderful known fact about random permutations, the Cycle Length Lemma, using a bit of category theory. The idea here is that the number of kk-cycles in a random permutation of nn things is a random variable. Then comes a surprise: in the limit as n→∞n \to …

First, thanks to all of you who have checked on me, especially after the Helene flood in September 27. For those of you who don’t know my little town of Clyde, NC was overrun by the Pigeon River on that … Continue reading →

It’s that time of the year again! You: a discerning reader of books about unconventional information technologies (unusual marks of punctuation, say, or pocket calculators). Your friends and family: the same, naturally. But what gifts to give them this holiday season?Read more →

In order of being read. Giorgio Agamben – What I saw, heard, learned… One night, along Venice’s Zattere, watching the putrid water lap at the city’s foundations, I saw that we exist solely in the intermittence of our being, and that what we call I is just a shadow continuously bidding farewell and saying hello, barely mindful of its own dissipation. All the machinery of our body serves solely to …

Happy end-of-2024! It’s been a pretty good year overall. I’m thankful. There’s no way that I’ll be able to remember and carve out the time around New Years to write this, so here’s some end-of-year roundup, ahead of schedule! Running This was my biggest year for running on record: 687 miles as of today. I think the biggest difference with this year was just that nothing stood in the way …

22 December 1935William Henry Harris, London’s Oldest Man.He Invented “Tinsel”1837-1939 A short stroll from Ladywell chapel, just past grave of Edward Ernest Dowson. lies the family grave of William Henry Harris.William was born in Deptford, on the 3rd of February 1837. His parents were John Harris (a coal porter) and Martha (nee Bartley). He was baptised at St. Paul, Deptford on the 2nd July 1837, being born in the reign …

'Trackers and Breakbeats: Celebrating Brain Records’ Underground Revolution' was an exhibition at The Stephen Lawrence Gallery, University of Greenwich (October/November 2024) exploring 'the groundbreaking influence of Brain Records and its pioneering use of 8-bit technology in the 1990s', highlighting 'the often overlooked yet pivotal role of Brain Records and its founder Bizzy B in shaping the UK hardcore and jungle scenes'. The exhibition featured original studio equipment, flyers, zines, interviews …

Upgrading Rails version doesn’t have to be stressful. I have gone through the process a few times over the years without major issue. Here I have put together a basic ‘how to’ with some of the tips that have helped me complete the process successfully over the year. Do Read every guide and readme related to rails and the gems used in the codebase Look up the meaning of the …

The first of producer Hal Willner's tribute compilations from the 1980s (to be followed by the Kurt Weill collection "Lost in the Stars" in 1985 and the Disney music collection "Stay Awake" in 1988). This double-LP contained 7 tracks not on the CD.Bruce Fowler—TheloniousNRBQ & The Whole Wheat Horns—Little Rootie TootieDonald Fagen & Steve Khan—ReflectionsDr. John—Blue MonkThe Carla Bley Band With Johnny Griffin—MisteriosoBarry Harris—PannonicaWas (Not Was)—Ba-Lue-Bolivar-Ba-Lues-AreMark Bingham—Brilliant CornersSteve Lacy & …

Every week, we recommend 5 publishing articles/blog posts that supplement the major news for the week. Whether data or industry commentary, we hope these 5 links will be a simple way to keep you in the know. The Copyright Dilemma in The Age of AI? Can Literary Prizes Survive Protests? The Worry of Librarians Amidst Down Children’s Sales Harvard Releases Public Domain to Ai Strand Booksellers Strike a Deal For …

A true story of what happened in the pre-alpha testing last night in Stars Reach. It began as an upwelling under a basement. Oh, ever since the crater lake next door had overheated and spewed a geyser far into the sky, water was everywhere… condensing on every surface. But this was something more. It bubbled up from under Leric’s house, right there by the fountain in the middle of the …

The rise of artificial intelligence, for better or worse, is a big deal. And it worries me. I'm not convinced we have the capacity, as a society, to receive this dubious gift right now. Not with the wisdom and patience it demands. Those feel like uncommon virtues here on the cusp of 2025, don't they? Everywhere you look, there's suspicion, isolation, and rage. It’s not permanent, but it sure seems …

Learn how to grow your own food, self sufficient homesteading skills, permaculture and more on the courses at my homestead in Ceredigion. I am looking forward to welcoming you here […] The post Courses here at the Homestead for 2025 – a quick update appeared first on Stephanie Hafferty.

My Oxford student Emma Palmer and I have been thinking about worldly cardinals and Gödel-Bernays GBC set theory, and we recently came to a new realization. Namely, what I realized is that every worldly cardinal $\kappa$ admits a Gödel-Bernays structure, … Continue reading →

I joined Kooth as Chief Technology Officer just over a year ago. Kooth has spent the last two decades building digital mental health services for young people to help provide early and responsive mental health support. I recently shared my reflections on my first year with the team, and wanted to also share them here. It’s incredible to work on such a meaningful purpose One of the things that drew …