Reading Log - May 5, 2023 (#27)
Between a weekend trip and my site update, this has been 3 weeks in the making. This log we look at the passing of a folk legend, Microsoft reverting to its old ways, Microsoft facing a hurdle in its Activision acquisition, some chatty parrots, and more.
In Depth
Neda Ulaby: Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian folk legend, dies at 84
I grew up with my dad listening to Gordon Lightfoot quite a bit. It gave me a real appreciation for his music. I have several vinyl records of his and have seen him in concert. The world has lost a fantastic musician.
Link Blast
👨🏼💻 Software Development & Design
Next.js 13.4 - Tim Neutrons & Sebastian Markbåge
The details element is amazing - Robin Rendle
State Hasn't Changed? Why and when Blazor components re-render - Jon Hilton
Dark mode: How accessible design raises the bar - Layth Sihan
🖥 Technology & the Internet
Substack CEO Chris Best Doesn’t Realize He’s Just Become The Nazi Bar - Mike Masnick
Microsoft Broke a Chrome Feature to Promote Its Edge Browser - Thomas Germain
The Internet Isn’t Meant To Be So Small - Kelsey McKinney
Microsoft is forcing Outlook and Teams to open links in Edge, and IT admins are angry - Tom Warren
These New Yorkers Want to Stop Landlords From Using Facial Recognition - Mack DeGeurin
How Companies Use Dark Patterns to Keep You Subscribed - Caroline Sinders
Mozilla’s setting up shop on Mastodon and trying to reinvent content moderation - David Pierce
Elon Whines That He’ll Give Away NPR’s Twitter Account If They Won’t Start Using Twitter Again - Mike Masnick
Mercedes Locks Better EV Engine Performance Behind Annoying Subscription Paywalls - Karl Bode
Colorado Finally Kills Dumb 2005 Comcast-Backed State Law Banning Community Broadband Networks - Karl Bode
🎮 Gaming
A new video game educates young people about the Holocaust - The Economist
📈 Business & Finance
UK government blocks Microsoft’s proposed Activision purchase - Kyle Orland
Judge slams Tesla for claiming Musk quotes captured on video may be deepfakes - Jon Brodkin
🔬 Science
Caught in the act: Astronomers spot star swallowing a planet for first time - * Jennifer Ouellette*
Most Planets in the Galaxy Orbit Stars You Can’t Even See - Phil Plait
Scientists Taught Pet Parrots to Video Call Each Other—and the Birds Loved It - Sarah Kuta
🎧 Podcasts
Techdirt Podcast #351: Save the Children (From State Social Media Laws)
Cautionary Tales: The Online Date That’s Too Good to Be True
99% Invisible #513: The Safety Bicycle
Short Wave: Will artificial intelligence help — or hurt — medicine?
🎒 Everything Else
Is The Economist Making the Best News Podcasts Right Now? - Nicholas Quah
Galaxy Quest is Getting a TV Show, For Real this Time Hopefully - Austen Goslin
Simple Truths About Personal Websites - Matthias Ott
Metallica's new album, '72 Seasons,' has met critical acclaim. What's their secret? - Vincent Acovino, Ailsa Chang, & Jonah Mehta