December 2020 Friday’s e-links: From a Mystery to Tech to Some Math Glitches

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I like to think of them as my e-links:

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Friday’s e-links (12/18)

Today, because my week of podcasts, books, and films was neither memorable nor even interesting, I will recommend a book I have not yet read. My student, Erin, suggested that I look at Humble Pi and it sounds wonderful. According to Erin and the book’s reviews, Humble Pi takes us to the math glitches that upset everyday life. It is about the math we did not know existed until it goes wrong. One story is about a bridge that collapsed because someone got the numbers wrong. Another uses math to explain why certain names befuddle computers. My copy will arrive sometime between Christmas Day and the first week in January. I will let you know then whether it equaled my expectations.

Friday’s e-links (12/11)

I’ve started listening to the Marketplace tech report. Presented by the people who do NPR’s evening Marketplace show, this report is just 6 or 7 minutes long. Focusing on one topic like holiday shipping glitches or something obscure like Section 230, it has become an interesting part of my daily 4 mile walk. I love what it teaches me in just a few minutes.

Friday’s e-links (12/04)

Just like economists might search for the elusive free lunch, I always hope to find a good John Grisham mystery. Yes, I’ve listened to and read some of the recent ones but they are far from his best. His newest book though gets my highest rating (and my five stars are not inflationary). A Time For Mercy is excellent. It was the perfect diversion from our unsettled world.