Hello, reader. This is Vishal with another mid-week issue of Kat’s Kable. The weekend was busy busy and thus I come to you now on a tired but rather pleasant Wednesday evening. Something that’s been pretty interesting of late for me has been an increased satisfaction with work, and it’s primarily coming from being given more of a voice and more autonomy in the things I do. I really like it, and I feel like my competence is valued. Funnily enough I felt this only rarely during my PhD.
In the last issue I told you I started reading The Making of the Atomic Bomb , and it’s gripping! The style of writing reminds me to an extent of John McPhee, and I love the respect with which the physics of the matter is dealt. Anyhow, that’s all for my intro this time, I’m going back to reading the book. As always, don’t hesitate to write back if there’s anything you’d like to tell me. I love to hear from you.
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1. Intellectual Property and the Fissured Economy (American Affairs Journal):
Long but interesting article about how the US economy is “fissured”: there are companies like Apple who are outsourcing much of their work (and ensuing liability) but earning the bulk of the money by licensing out their tech. This is not a sign of bad antitrust environment, but rather of the economy being fissured where more people work for contractors and sub-contractors rather than “lead” firms.
2. The Law of the Sea Needs a Rewrite (The Dial):
How are oceanic borders and how is oceanic ownership decided? Things are changing rapidly with the rise of oceanic mining and also climate change.
3. Why Lifting Weights Is for Everyone (GQ):
Fun! Casey Johnston writes about her journey of encouraging people to lift and get stronger and how it improves life for almost anyone.
4. Chip Design Shifts As Fundamental Laws Run Out Of Steam (Semi Engineering):
Pretty in-depth and technical article but if you’re interested in silicon and chip design and architecture (it’s running your device right now!), I’d recommend it highly.
5. Moore’s Law is Dead – Long-live the Chiplet! (Semi Wiki):
Another in the same theme. Except this essay focuses on one particular trend that’s becoming more and more dominant, which is that of “chiplets” that sit on top of a base silicon wafer. I am really amazed by how well we can engineer semiconductors. It’s amazing.
6. The Unbelievable Zombie Comeback of Analog Computing (Wired, soft paywalled):
“Computers have been digital for half a century. Why would anyone want to resurrect the clunkers of yesteryear?” Well, looks like some people do.
7. The revival of a forgotten American fruit (BBC):
One of my regrets of my time living in the US is that I’ve never eaten a pawpaw. It seems like such an interesting fruit!
8. Why is China so Obsessed With Food Security? (The Upheaval):
Another interesting piece but honestly not sure what to make of it and if all the insights or conclusions are to be believed.
9. The People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day (The Atlantic, paywalled):
Heehee, funny.
10. The Raw and the Refined: On the Origins and Making of Peru Balsam (Lithub):
“Perfumer Dominique Roques Journeys to the Heart of Scent Production in Central America” Fantastic!
Still seated, feet pushed up against the trunk, he holds the flaming torch to the exposed wood and the surrounding bark, moving it backward and forward, singeing it to encourage the balsam to flow. These rituals must be witnessed first-hand in order to appreciate the true nature of the task of these fragrance “hunters” and their life in the forest.