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Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Korean

 particles

Sejong Korean book series

way too much abbreviation


I had fun watching parts of this Springtime movie. I kept looking up the words in Google translate. Recognised more of the Korean letters on traffic signs. The sounds seem different from what I hear or expect from the Romaji. It is a differnt experience to deeply take in foreign words like this. slow but effective.

words for pharmacy, necklace

While watching this movie, I was reminded of a nytimes video on WhatJapan teaches its kids.

Sunday, December 29, 2024

The Chemical History of a Candle


 

The Chemical History of a Candle inspired Nobel laureate Akira Yoshino.

Is there some capillary action at work in this lighting of the Christmas tree. I see the strings connecting them.

It is hard to understand the original book without the demonstration, good that there are videos and a companion modern book.

That one thing

 

 "All great events hang by a single thread. The clever man takes advantage of everything and neglects nothing that may give him some added opportunity. The less clever man, by neglecting one thing, sometimes misses everything." - Napolean


Totally agree about this. So many times, one more try and things work.

Also echoed in

"The most important ingredient is the one that's left out." - Sean Feeney


Inevitable: Inside the Messy, Unstoppable Transition to Electric Vehicles

 

Inevitable: Inside the Messy, Unstoppable Transition to Electric Vehicles


Jim Farley on a decade ago China bet on EV


Northvolt missteps

Learning language as a kid

9yo is learining Hindi this weekend feverishly. She learns Telugu every week. She compared the two and asked this question about skipped ah sound at the end of a word in Hindi.

Language acquisition is similar as an adult or a child


21 Lessons for the 21st Century

 

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Physical & Cognitive abilities of humans
AI - connectivity and Updatability
Infotech with biotech
I saw a video of an FSD waiting on the side, with an emergency vehicle going on the other side, the traffic light changung to green didnt inspire it. How many times have you seen a green turn arrow and the sudden release and assertion of the brakes from those on the straight path, still waiting to turn green.
At an intersection with the light changing to yellow, I slowed to a stop while the driverless car zoomed ahead, changed lanes and entered a parking lot on the right. It must have been on a higher speed and knows precisely where it will be, given the time and speed data it knows.
During driving, so many assumptions are made. When contradicting assumptions are made, then things don't end well. 
In transport and healthcare, human lives are at higher stake than the jobs themselves.
Case by case basis
With each new technology, lot of communication is necessary to ensure that all the involved know the right way of using the application. While AI won't have this issue due to its connectivity and updatibility, the downside is when the conclusion is wrong or when different conclusions need to be reached based on a case by case basis. The "It depends" case. Inflexibility of AI is one of the reasons of resistance to AI that covers the case of unexpected outputs. We need a case of "go reflect on your actions" or a safeguard before reaching the conclusions.
worst of both worlds - high unemployment and shortage of skilled labor.
AI and humanity when we let AI make decisions and are better understood by them. Our mentors and guides are smarter than us. How are we not manipulated by them? 






Saturday, December 28, 2024

Silk Road

 The Real Impact of the Silk Road

recurved bow

socketed arrowhead

military discipline for

cavalry 

the stirrup at 32:39 of the above video - stirrup technology

Reconfiguring the Silk Road

Wagon technology

Yamnaya culture

guest-host institution

World History Cultures States and Society till 1500

domestication of grain

domestication of animals through selective breeding

State of the art

 Elon's 5 step

Latin Grammar

“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.” - John Adams

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Chinese in VLSI

部分 - bùfèn - portion, part

全面 - quánmiàn - comprehensive 

系统 - xìtǒng - system

HSK1 Standard Course

Compact Mandarin Chinese dictionary

Learning language through street signs

 Looking a the parking signs you can learn the days of the week. Looking at bilingual signs, you can learn another language, if you are familiar with one. Its like a dictionary.


More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI

 

More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI


Author John Warner likens the chatgpt's writing ability to that of calculator ease to math students.



Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Technology

 stirrup

Fighting Techniques of the Medieval world

Thinking beyond technology

"When a technology has clear value proposition to a specified market segment, it is invariably adopted at an accelerated rate."

eg windmill technology in 12th century.

knowing the patterns of wind.

Getting the windmill to start on light winds is a consideration.

Exploring the role of windows and stained glass in Gothic Cathedrals

"the weight of the windows allowed for the use of thinner walls and larger windows, which allowed for more light and a greater sense of openness within the cathedral."


2024 Language reflections

 Reflect on your language goals 2024

one more language reflection

Telugu Grammar

 du mu vu lu prathama vibhakti