Weekend Reads: Intriguing Topics from the World of Tech and Media
Carefully selected weekend readings from the world of technology, media, and finance.
1A Meditation on Time and Architecture
Shanaka Anslem Perera explores the concepts of time, architecture, and attention through the clocks of a single building. This small meditation evolves into a larger reflection. Perera emphasizes that clocks not only tell time but also shape people's relationship with it. This essay opens a door to a world where architecture and time intertwine.
2DIY Quantitative Trading Experiment
Lauren Leek attempts to unravel the secrets of quantitative trading using Python and a laptop. Against hedge funds' million-dollar data streams, Leek's modest setup highlights the gap between academic finance and the real world. This experiment showcases the complexity of financial strategies and the limits of individual endeavors.
3The Life of a Top-Tier OnlyFans Creator
CJ Clark earns millions on OnlyFans but lives a life distant from human connections. Clark's story reveals the contradiction between economic success in digital content creation and personal loneliness. This article examines the challenges and trade-offs faced by modern content creators.
4GPS and the Art of Getting Lost
Katherine Dunn's book 'Little Blue Dot' questions how GPS has affected the art of getting lost, alongside the conveniences it brings. Dunn explores how technology has changed people's relationship with their environment and its psychological impacts. This book delves deeply into the effects of technology on human experience.
5The Beer Cooling Industry
In Texas, ice is vital for everything from cooling beer to saving lives. This article examines the economic and social impacts of the ice industry. It highlights how ice has become an indispensable resource in modern life and its role in the Texas economy.
6The Biological Limits of Horses
Selective breeding has pushed horses to their biological limits. This article discusses the risk of thoroughbred horses losing genetic diversity and its long-term effects. Efforts to increase speed reduce genetic diversity, endangering the species' future.
7The Decline of the Internet and AI
As AI replaces the internet, five writers discuss the web's decline and its future. This article examines the societal impacts of technology's rapid evolution. AI, replacing the internet, is shaping the future of the digital world.
8Studies on Consciousness and the Brain
NOEMA explores efforts to locate consciousness in the brain and its scientific implications. This article emphasizes the importance of discovering the neural structures of consciousness for the scientific world. Localizing consciousness could be a critical step in understanding human experience.