In a recent interview, Boyd recalled that she had assumed the letter was from a crazed fan and showed it to her husband, the Beatles guitarist George Harrison. Then she forgot about it — until a few hours later when the phone rang. It was Eric Clapton, the rock guitarist and one of Harrison’s friends. (gift link) https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/arts/music/pattie-boyd-george-harrison-eric-clapton-auction.html

The International Booker Prize Longlist has been announced, with thirteen books translated from ten languages in the running for the prestigious literary award. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html

If you didn't know the story of how Superman (and a very brave Stetson Kennedy) defeated the Klu Klux Klan in American, you'll like this story: https://nowiknow.com/superman-versus-the-klan/

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Overheard: Is this the end for Betteridge's law?

Salman Rushdie: AI Only Poses Threat To Unoriginal Writers https://www.barrons.com/news/salman-rushdie-ai-only-poses-threat-to-unoriginal-writers-5406c49e

TIL The Wadsworth Constant is an axiom which states that the first 30% of any video can be skipped because it contains no worthwhile or interesting information. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/the-wadsworth-constant

Happy anniversary to @bitranch and me

Mood

Layoffs loom as budget slashed for the Chandra X-Ray Observatory
https://www.science.org/content/article/nasa-s-x-ray-telescope-faces-long-goodbye

Yup

From urban scavengers to dramatic standoffs to microscopic molds, the winning images of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2024 exhibit the beauty, spectacle, and fragile balance of the isles’ diverse animals and habitats. https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2024/03/british-wildlife-photography-awards-2024/

"In the future, smart devices won’t just tell you what’s happening at home, they’ll make your home life better."

Or so we'd like to think. https://pgsignal.com/2024/03/04/will-ai-finally-make-smart-homes-smart/

Since the start of the year, more than 50,000 positions have been slashed at over 200 tech companies, according to tracking website Layoffs.fyi. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/15/laid-off-techies-struggle-to-find-jobs-with-cuts-at-highest-since-2001.html

The Keanu Reeves Whoa API: https://whoa.onrender.com/

Chloe Gordon looks at the evolution of cursive in society and design.
https://www.printmag.com/typography/the-curious-case-of-cursive/

Capturing the Tenacity and Persistence of the Mesquite

This article has gorgeous photography, worthwhile aesthetically even if you only scan the words.
https://texashighways.com/travel/photography/capturing-the-tenacity-and-persistence-of-the-mesquite/

TIL the Filipino word "Namamahay": when you can't sleep well because you're in an unfamiliar environment (such as a hotel room) and your body is still adjusting.

"Few foods can tell us more about life in 20th-century America than the wobbling jewel of domestic achievement: the Jell-O salad." https://www.seriouseats.com/history-of-jell-o-salad

Researchers are teaching cows to pee in designated places where the urine can be collected and neutralized, sharply reducing methane emissions.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/mooloo-cows-toilet-trained-methane-urine-emissions/