Today’s selection of articles:
- “Mathematicians find long-sought building blocks for special polynomials” by Kelsey Houston-Edwards (Quanta Magazine, 2021-05-25). An answer to Hilbert’s Problem 12.
- “A number theorist who connects math to other creative pursuits” by Steve Nadis (Quanta Magazine, 2021-05-27). An interview with Jordan Ellenberg.
Students often ask me: “How do I figure out what area of math is right for me?” I tell them that it’s all interesting. Every field of research has deep wonderful ideas. You just have to see what you fall into. And wherever you fall, there is excitement to be found.
- “The college of Chinese wisdom” by Michael Puett & Christine Gross-Loh (The Wall Street Journal, 2016-04-01).
- “Artificial intelligence can predict the impact of research” by Tom Metcalfe (Chemistry World, 2021-05-27). Does the machine-learning system Delphi (Dynamic Early-warning by Learning to Predict High Impact) ‘find hidden gems’ or ‘perpetuate existing academic bias’? Delphi’s single prediction “miss” illustrates the importance of training data.
- “What is a cyberattack?” (Is This A Cyber Attack). Define the terms, avoid global cyber warfare?
- “What gets lost in ‘cyber Pearl Harbor’-style rhetoric” by Shannon Vavra (Cyberscoop, 2021-04-07).
- “Taking the crypto out of digital currency” by Alvin Powell (The Harvard Gazette, 2021-06-02). Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society faculty associate Primavera De Filippi sees blockchain technologies as “here to stay”, with cryptocurrencies acting as a store of value, albeit with increased government regulation.
- “Fixing the internet will require a cultural shift” by Colleen Walsh (The Harvard Gazette, 2021-05-28). Francine Berman, Professor of Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, argues that “government must take the lead” in specifying and enforcing digital rights while she acknowledges the size and complexity of the issues involved. Berman also advocates “[e]ducation in public interest technology” to help individuals “develo[p] the critical thinking needed to make informed choices about technology”.
- “What keeps people from using password managers?” by Karen Renaud & Norah Alkaldi (The Wall Street Journal, 2021-06-07). The authors advocate acknowledging user concerns as “valid” — effort in entering all those passwords, lack of trust of password-managing companies, fear of forgetting the master password — while arguing these concerns are “easily addressed”.
- “Internet outage hits major websites” by Sam Schechner & Parmy Olson (The Wall Street Journal, 2021-06-08). An apparent internal glitch at cloud-services provider Fastly showcases a vulnerability of edge-cloud network design.
- “The FBI secretly ran the Anom messaging platform, yielding hundreds of arrests in global sting” by Byron Tau & James Marson (The Wall Street Journal, 2021-06-08).
- “Languishing and the art of showing up” by Brad Stulberg (The Growth Equation). On the importance of getting started, and consistent doing. Sometimes when you feel exhausted, “nudg[e] yourself in the direction of action, not taking the sensation of exhaustion too seriously but, rather, working your way out.” Stulberg advocates deliberately identifying your top three to five ideals (nouns) and how you will actually do them (verbs). Literally, practice what you preach. His closing comment on “character” coming from the Greek “charassein” (to engrave) is a sticky mnemonic: “[T]he actions we take every day engrave upon us who we are.”
- “How boredom can lead to breakthrough” by Steve Magness (The Growth Equation). On the dangers of always-at-hand entertainment.
- “The mind-bending math behind Spot It!, the beloved family card game” by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie (Smithsonian Magazine, 2018-12-03). An application of finite geometry to card games and educational entertainment…maybe. (The speculation on why 55 cards rather than the full 57 highlights the interplay between theory and existing real-world constraints.)
Articles on investing:
- “Sell QuantumScape stock at any opportunity” by Chris Lau (Investor Place, 2021-06-04). The author predicts near-term momentum will be “short-lived”. The author cites QS’s higher forecasted expenses (260M — 320M USD for FY 2021 versus ??? for FY 2020) and absence of revenue in the next few years (“QuantumScape did not mention revenue even once in [their 2020 Q4] letter to shareholders”).
- “Meme stock marauders aside, the average S&P 500 bull is worried” by Lu Wang (Bloomberg, 2021-06-04). The author argues that current market prices reflect expectations of perfect economic conditions. Citing surveys of market predictions and slowing inflow to equity funds, the author argues that investor sentiment is calming and even turning cautious. The author ends by quoting Mike Wilson, chief U.S. equity strategist at Morgan Stanley: “Higher real rates and less ability to pass on higher prices would be a bad cocktail for multiples writ large. Earnings revisions will not be able to offset that de-rating, leaving the overall market vulnerable to a 10-15% correction over the next six months.”
- “This is the insane price you’re paying for AMC shares” by James Brumley (The Motley Fool, 2021-06-05). Using fundamentals, the author argues that even AMC’s best historical financial results do not justify its current stock price.
- “AMC just made a brilliant move” by Jeremy Bowman (The Motley Fool, 2021-06-05). The author writes that “fundamentals don’t really matter to the stock at this point… What’s more important is pleasing AMC’s horde of retail investors, and convincing them to continue holding and pumping the stock.” Is AMC management not only taking advantage of the situation but actively stoking irrational exuberance in order to make a quick buck? What will investors think when they realize AMC is bribing them with a bag of popcorn to take the risk of losing thousands of dollars?
- “AMC, other meme stocks turn options market upside down” by Gunjan Banerji (The Wall Street Journal, 2021-06-08). Implied volatility for meme stocks has not behaved as veteran investors have become accustomed to.
- “Want to invest in cybersecurity? Here are some ETFs to consider” by Cheryl WInokur Munk (The Wall Street Journal, 2021-06-07). For reference only.
Concerning ProPublica’s release of individual tax information:
- “Why we are publishing the tax secrets of the .001%” by Stephen Engelberg & Richard Tofel (ProPublica, 2021-06-08). “pivotal moment” “secret tax files”, “extraordinary” “revelations”. “We…believe that disclosure of specific figures about the tax returns of people like Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, Warren Buffett and Elon Musk will deepen readers’ interest and understanding…”
- “The secret IRS files: Trove of never-before-seen records reveal how the wealthiest avoid income tax” by Jesse Eisinger, Jeff Ernsthausen, & Paul Kiel (ProPublica, 2021-06-08).
- “Stop coddling the super-rich” by Warren Buffett (NY Times, 2011-08-14). Warren Buffett’s 2011 op-ed to the NY Times about increasing taxes on the mega-rich.
- “A voluntary tax” by David Leonhardt (NY Times, 2021-06-09). The NY Times morning newsletter on the ProPublica series.
- “ProPublica’s bombshell tax report that wasn’t” by Andrew Moylan & Andrew Wilford (Reason, 2021-06-09). Reason calls itself “the nation’s leading libertarian magazine”.
- “Who pays income taxes?” (National Taxpayers Union Foundation). The NTUF presents itself as “a nonpartisan research and educational organization”. Wikipedia states that its affiliate and founding organization, the National Taxpayers Union, is “a conservative taxpayers advocacy organization and taxpayers union”.
- “SOI tax stats – Individual statistical tables by size of adjusted gross income” (IRS). In particular, data under “Individual income tax returns filed and sources of income”.
Articles on herbs (and poinsettias):
- “How to trim your herbs and keep them happy!” (Hicks Nurseries, 2014-07-25).
- “How to harvest and dry herbs for storage” (Grow a Good Life).
- “Herb gardening” (University of Illinois Extension).
- “How to grow leeks” by Gretchen Heber (Gardener’s Path, 2019-12-03).
- “How to care for poinsettia after the holidays” by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin (Gardner’s Path, 2019-12-24).
thegraywolff 