DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER

The DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER probes a wide array of subjects from scientific skepticism, the interaction between class and taste, the rise of technology, to existential and philosophical questions. It intertwines critical analysis, historical perspectives, and personal insights to explore contemporary societal norms, technological impacts, and the nuances of human behavior.

Science and Skepticism Class and Society Technology and Its Impacts Existential and Philosophical Inquiry Personal Development and Behavior Historical Perspectives Education and Teaching Healthcare and Well-being Writing and Communication Evolutionary Biology

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

Grug on diet soda and autism

1227 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Research Science News Journalism
  1. Grug organizes ideas about diet soda and autism from news sources to consolidate important information.
  2. Correlation is easy to see but doesn't prove causation, and it's crucial to consider carefully in scientific studies.
  3. The news often emphasizes alarming claims based on research findings, even when the researchers themselves are more cautious.

Everything is espionage: Things I learned researching Assange

807 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Espionage Julian Assange Presidents Extradition
  1. The US Espionage Act is defined very broadly and has been used over time in various ways to charge individuals with offenses related to obtaining or communicating information harmful to national defense.
  2. There is a history of government restraint in charging individuals with espionage, focusing mainly on actual spies, but recent administrations have expanded the use of the Act to charge whistleblowers and journalists.
  3. Julian Assange's case has raised questions about the constitutionality of the Espionage Act and the need for clarity in distinguishing between whistleblowing and espionage in the modern era.

Shorts for January

667 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
💾 History Military Ancient Greece Inventions Archaeology Medieval
  1. In Finland, support for joining NATO increased over the years, leading to eventual membership in 2023.
  2. Winston Churchill's father expressed disappointment and criticism towards him, revealing a strained relationship.
  3. The student protests in Paris in 1968 reflected a rejection of societal norms and an influence of Situationism.
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The midwit home

416 HN points • 12 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Automation
  1. Smart homes can be complicated and require a lot of technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
  2. Simple, midwit solutions like remote-controlled outlets, motion-sensing bulbs, and mechanical outlet timers can make daily tasks easier and more convenient.
  3. Using basic power control for devices can offer a surprisingly effective and user-friendly home automation experience.

What if you just bought everyone air purifiers?

295 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🔬 Science Environmental health Philanthropy Public Health Cost Analysis
  1. Buying air purifiers for everyone could extend life expectancy, but at a high cost compared to other health interventions.
  2. The cost of buying air purifiers for random Americans to extend life expectancy is $32,899 per DALY, which is not as efficient as other healthcare interventions.
  3. Air purifiers may be a good health investment for individuals, but philanthropically, they are not as cost-effective as other interventions like malaria drugs.

Contra four-wheeled suitcases, sort of

4 HN points • 24 Aug 23
🏝 Travel Food
  1. Before 1972, luggage had no wheels; then came the two-wheeled suitcase and it was a game changer.
  2. Four-wheeled suitcases might be great on smooth surfaces, but struggle in rough terrain.
  3. Sometimes, simple and rugged solutions can outperform fancy and fragile ones.

Taste games

2 HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Taste Art Social Behavior Human nature
  1. Our tastes are influenced by our social context and cultural knowledge, often unconsciously driven by benefits and social hierarchy.
  2. People gravitate towards different types of games based on their mix of economic and cultural capital.
  3. Taste games, like the choices we make in food, fashion, and art, are deeply intertwined with social status, class, and unconscious influences.

Can I take ducks home from the park?

2 HN points • 14 Sep 23
😂 Humor Satire Parody Comedy
  1. The post explores 16 different queries and 6 different language models asking how to take ducks home from the park.
  2. Variants include different scenarios like a park ranger needing to protect ducks, comedic plays, and hip-hop rhymes on the same topic.
  3. The results were scored based on responses that ranged from refusing to answer to providing a full plan on capturing ducks.

You’re Invited to a Colonoscopy!

2 HN points • 26 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Procedures Debate
  1. Colonoscopies are commonly used in the U.S. for preventing colorectal cancer, but their effectiveness is still debated.
  2. There is a new comprehensive trial, the Nordic-European Initiative on Colorectal Cancer (NordICC), aiming to measure the impact of colonoscopies on cancer and mortality.
  3. The trial results showed a small reduction in colorectal cancer incidence, sparking debate among gastroenterologists about the effectiveness of colonoscopies.

Notes on Lawrence of Arabia

1 HN point • 13 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Film Book History Literature
  1. Celebrating someone's reckless behavior isn't always right, like in Lawrence of Arabia.
  2. Movies like Lawrence of Arabia can have strong timeless vibes, similar to works by Stanley Kubrick.
  3. Criticism of a film may change over time, like with Doctor Zhivago, teaching us that focusing on a film's strengths can matter more.