in the clear: 2024-03-04

This is a running list of various media I've looked at each week. It's mostly for reference and to give an impression of the type of news that I'm exposed to. Bullets are written by me and numbers are summaries of the respective article from an LLM.

If you have any suggestions or know of other good news sources, please leave a comment in the guestbook or reach out to me directly. I can't spend all my time reading about current events, but I like to try and stay informed whenever possible.

WSJ: Is Your 401(k) Destroying Capitalism?

1. Critics like David Einhorn argue that passive investments like target-date funds, which dominate 401(k)s, can distort market valuations by indiscriminately investing in price, not value.
2. These passive funds have grown significantly due to Labor Department rule changes and automatic enrollment in 401(k)s, with 98% of employees choosing a target-date fund by default.
3. A concern is that retirement savers rarely adjust their investments, even when individual stocks are overvalued or undervalued, potentially leading to market inefficiencies.
4. Passive investing's core theory assumes that others have already determined fair market value, but critics argue that this is no longer the case with the current market conditions.
5. An exodus from funds overly dependent on megacap tech stocks might itself spark a bear market, resemling socialism where we are all in it together.
6. Alternative methods of protecting all-stock portfolios against losses using derivatives can't be scaled up to protect trillions of dollars in assets, and would hurt growth through higher expenses.

NPR: Women report sexual harassment at legal tech events

1. Women in the legal tech industry have reported incidents of sexual harassment and assault at glitzy conferences and events.
2. A high-profile incident occurred at the Legalweek conference in New York City, where a man was arrested for threatening a woman and her brother with a knife.
3. Many women have taken to social media to share their experiences and call for change in the industry.
4. The company ALM, which organizes Legalweek, has a zero tolerance policy for harassment and assault.
5. Reveal, the company whose employee was involved in the Legalweek incident, has terminated the employee and condemns all forms of sexual harassment.
6. The legal tech industry is a multibillion-dollar industry with high-profile conferences and events, and it is important to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees.

NYT: When a Math Museum Moves, Geometry Helps

1. The National Museum of Mathematics is moving to a temporary location on Fifth Avenue, occupying a former gym.
2. The new space still features interactive, hands-on exhibits, including the famous square-wheeled tricycles.
3. A new exhibit, based on Truchet tiles, teaches mathematical principles through model railroad tracks and beavers.
4. The museum's CEO, Cindy Lawrence, is skilled at geometry and spatial perception, ensuring a smooth move.
5. The museum's new space will be used for a year while preparing for its permanent location.
6. The museum remains dedicated to making math enjoyable and accessible to the public.

MediaPost: US court says Meta's biometric privacy lawsuit can proceed

1. An Illinois resident, Natalie Delgado, is suing Meta Platforms for violating the Illinois biometric privacy law by collecting her "voiceprint" without consent.
2. Meta is accused of collecting voiceprints through Messenger for audio calls and dictated text messages, which can be used to identify individuals.
3. Meta argued that it collects voice recordings, not voiceprints, and that its privacy policy and patent do not prove otherwise.
4. The court has allowed the case to proceed, considering the allegations regarding the privacy notice and patents at this stage.
5. Meta will have the opportunity to challenge the relevance of its 2023 privacy policy and the inference of collecting voiceprints later in the proceedings.
6. The court dismissed some claims but allowed the plaintiff to amend and refile them, while Meta has yet to comment on the ruling.

McGill: Small dietary changes can cut your carbon footprint by 25% (Paper)

1. A study by McGill University and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that replacing red and processed meat or dairy with plant protein foods can increase lifespan and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
2. The study modeled partial replacements (25% and 50%) of red and processed meat or dairy with plant protein foods like nuts, seeds, legumes, tofu, and fortified soy beverages.
3. Replacing half of red and processed meat intake with plant protein foods can reduce a person's diet-related carbon footprint by 25%.
4. Dairy substitutions showed smaller reductions of up to 5%.
5. The study suggests that males could gain more in life expectancy than females by making the switch.
6. The findings aim to help consumers make healthier and more sustainable food choices and inform future food policy in Canada.

NYT: It's the Cat's Meow but You Just Don't Understand

1. A study by French researchers found that people often misinterpret cats' signals, with a higher error rate for unhappy cats (30%) than contented ones (10%).
2. Both vocal and visual cues should be considered to understand a cat's behavior, as humans tend to misinterpret cat meows and other vocalizations.
3. Cats display a wide range of visual signals (e.g., tail movements, rubbing, crouching, ear position) and vocal cues (meowing, purring, growling, hissing) that can indicate various emotions.
4. People may misinterpret purring as a sign of comfort, but it can also occur during stressful or painful situations, serving as a form of self-soothing.
5. Improved understanding of cat behavior can benefit animal welfare and human-animal interactions, such as reducing aggressive behavior and improving therapy animal programs.
6. Mindful interaction between humans and animals is essential for better outcomes in both animal welfare and human mental health.

NPR: A new satellite will track climate-warming pollution

1. A new satellite, MethaneSAT, launched by SpaceX, will track methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.
2. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a warming effect greater than carbon dioxide in the short term.
3. The satellite will provide high-quality, empirical data on methane sources, helping the world meet climate targets.
4. The oil and gas industry has historically been secretive about methane emissions, but MethaneSAT data will be publicly available.
5. The data will help governments, researchers, and others monitor oil and gas operations without relying on company-provided information.
6. The EPA has a new rule requiring oil and gas operators to monitor, detect, and fix methane leaks, and MethaneSAT data could be used to enforce this rule.

NYT: Why Mainers Are Falling Hard for Heat Pumps

1. Maine is rapidly adopting climate-friendly heat pumps, installing them three times faster than the national average.
2. Heat pumps extract heat from outside air and can operate in reverse to cool indoor spaces, making them a versatile and energy-efficient heating and cooling solution.
3. In 2023, heat pumps outsold gas furnaces in the US for the second year in a row, with electrical heat pumps being the cheapest and most energy-efficient way to heat and cool homes.
4. Maine's adoption of heat pumps is driven by state rebates, federal incentives, and a growing number of vendors and installers.
5. Heat pumps can save homeowners money in the long run, as they reduce the need for expensive oil deliveries and provide reliable heating.
6. Heat pumps can lead to significant cost and pollution reductions, as they use electricity instead of fossil fuels and can reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 160 million metric tons in the US.

NYT: Museum of Chinese in America Names New Leader

1. The Museum of Chinese in America has appointed Michael Lee as its new director, with the goal of rebuilding trust with the local community.
2. The museum has faced challenges including protests, a fire, and legal issues, leading to the need for a new leader.
3. The museum recently received $35 million from the city for a community project, but some residents are skeptical of its position on a local jail development.
4. A major renovation project, designed by Maya Lin, is planned, but has been postponed due to leadership changes and the need for a capital campaign.
5. The museum had a $1.8 million deficit in 2022, according to its most recent tax filings.
6. Michael Lee plans to return the museum to its core mission of preserving history, promoting culture, telling stories, and celebrating accomplishments.

IAPP: US Federal Privacy Legislation Tracker

• Not a new article, but a cool resource I found out about

IAPP: Virginia passes children's privacy amendments to comprehensive law

"The Virginia General Assembly passed a pair of bills to amend children's privacy provisions in the state's Consumer Data Protection Act. Senate Bill 361 prohibits nonconsensual collection, use or sale of data belonging to minors known to be under 18. House Bill 707 covers protections on specific children's data processing scenarios and limits on children's geolocation data collection."

• Seems exciting to me, but I didn't read all the details of the bill

NYT: Brown University Will Reinstate Standardized Tests for Admission

1. Brown University will reinstate standardized testing requirements for admission, citing their use as a predictor of student success.
2. Test-optional policies, adopted during the pandemic, may have unintentionally harmed low-income students with lower scores who chose not to submit them.
3. Some 2,000 colleges and universities have opted not to require admissions exams, aiming to level the playing field for students from affluent families.
4. Many colleges, including Columbia and Harvard, have extended test-optional policies beyond the pandemic.
5. The University of Michigan and the California university system have adopted test-blind policies.
6. Brown is still considering the question of legacy preferences and early decision programs, which can benefit students from wealthier families.

Economist: Scientists can help fetuses by growing tiny replicas of their organs

1. Scientists have developed a way to create simplified versions of a fetus's own organs, called organoids, using cells from the amniotic fluid that surrounds a growing fetus.
2. Organoids can reveal individual features of a disease and their specific responses to drugs or treatments, and can be used to test and treat without interrupting pregnancies.
3. Amniotic fluid is routinely extracted to test for abnormalities, and organoids only take four to six weeks to grow, allowing ample time for testing and treatment.
4. Organoids can also be used to report on a treatment's progress, and show promise in basic research and drug discovery.
5. However, not all organs can be replicated this way, such as the brain, as amniotic fluid does not seem to contain the appropriate progenitor cells.
6. It will take many years of tests and research before fetal organoids can reach patients in the clinic.

WSJ: You Can Now Buy Shares in Music by Beyoncé or Taylor Swift

1. Startup JKBX offers securities backed by royalty streams from songs recorded by popular artists, such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and U2.
2. JKBX aims to bring music investing to the masses, allowing individual investors to buy slices of income generated by dozens of songs.
3. The company operates a platform that allows holders of music rights to issue securities based on their royalties and sell those securities to investors.
4. Investors receive quarterly distributions of fees paid to the rights holder, such as revenue from streaming services, album sales, satellite-radio royalties, or fees from use in movies and TV shows.
5. Currently, JKBX does not allow trading; however, the company plans to enable both buying and selling later this year after clearing regulatory hurdles.
6. JKBX's CEO, Scott Cohen, has a background in the music industry, having co-founded The Orchard and worked as an executive at Warner Music Group.

NYT Opinion: How to Fix the Crisis of Trust in Higher Education

1. Many universities are facing budget shortfalls due to declining enrollments and inadequate state and federal funding.
2. A decline in Americans' confidence in higher education, particularly among Republicans, is contributing to this crisis.
3. An "enrollment cliff" is expected in the next decade due to a declining birthrate since the Great Recession.
4. Colleges and universities need to focus on what students and parents want and need to attract them.
5. A 2018 Gallup and Strada Education Network report found that only 26% of those surveyed felt their education was relevant to their work and daily life.
6. To remain relevant and address budget shortfalls, higher education institutions should differentiate their offerings, understand learners' diverse needs, and consider alternative business models.

WSJ: SEC Expected to Approve Weakened Climate Disclosures Rule (NYT Version)

WSJ Summary:

1. The SEC is set to approve new rules requiring public companies to disclose greenhouse-gas emissions, but will not mandate reporting of emissions from supply chains and customers' use of products.
2. Companies will be required to report Scope 1 and 2 emissions, but not Scope 3 emissions which make up 70% of many businesses' emissions.
3. Companies will also need to report climate-related risks that could impact their bottom line, as well as steps taken to mitigate or adapt to those risks.
4. The rule has been criticized by environmental groups for not requiring the reporting of indirect emissions, while corporations and Republican lawmakers argue the SEC is overreaching its authority.
5. The new rule will apply to fiscal year 2026 and smaller companies will not be required to disclose emissions.
6. The SEC is bracing for legal challenges to the new rule from industry, state attorneys general, and environmental groups.

NYT Summary:

1. The S.E.C. is expected to approve new, weakened rules on climate risk disclosures for public companies.
2. The rules will require corporations to inform investors of climate risks and their own emissions, but not emissions from their "value chain."
3. Thousands of smaller businesses are exempt from the rules, and a requirement for companies to disclose the climate expertise of board members has been removed.
4. The changes come amid opposition from G.O.P., fossil fuel producers, farmers, and other industries.
5. Supporters of stronger disclosure requirements argue that the omissions could undermine the rule's effectiveness.
6. Environmental organizations are preparing to sue, claiming the final rules fall short in addressing climate-related risks.

Intercept: Signal's New Usernames Help Keep Cops Out of Your Data

1. Signal's new usernames feature enhances privacy by reducing reliance on phone numbers.
2. Usernames are ephemeral, allowing users to change or delete them at any time.
3. New conversations won't reveal your phone number; contacts will see only your chosen name.
4. A cryptographic hash of the username is stored, not the actual username, for added security.
5. Usernames can be used to start conversations without revealing phone numbers.
6. Signal can provide a user's phone number if served a subpoena with a specific, active username.

• Cool consequence of usernames that I didn't realize

IAPP: Platform aims to streamline children's privacy compliance for online game developers

1. k-ID is a startup that developed a technology platform to protect children's privacy in the online gaming industry.
2. The platform offers solutions for publishers and game developers to comply with global children's data privacy regulations in over 200 markets.
3. k-ID's platform is "sector-agnostic" and aims to be extended for use by companies in various industries that collect and process children's personal data.
4. The platform includes a Global Compliance Engine, a Global Compliance Database, and a Family Platform for managing a child's online gaming experience.
5. k-ID offers easy API integration and starts with a free plan, with more sophisticated subscription options available.
6. The platform is now accessible to all prospective users as of March 6, 2024.

NYT: Nearly Half the States Sue E.P.A. Over New Limits on Deadly Pollution

1. 24 states, led by Republican attorneys general, sued the EPA over tightened limits on industrial particle pollution.
2. EPA lowered the annual limit for fine particulate matter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, down from 12.
3. The new rule is expected to prevent 4,500 premature deaths and deliver $46 billion in net health benefits annually.
4. Critics argue the change will raise costs for manufacturers, utilities, and the public.
5. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers also filed a petition to overturn the regulation.
6. The new rule could affect as many as 30% of all counties, with EPA estimating 59 counties might exceed the new standard.

ScienceAlert: New 'Water Batteries' Are Cheaper, Recyclable, And Won't Explode

1. A new type of battery, called "water batteries" or aqueous metal-ion batteries, uses water as the electrolytic fluid instead of hazardous chemicals.
2. The water batteries are made with cheaper and less toxic materials than current batteries, such as magnesium or zinc.
3. A protective layer of rust is used to prevent dendrite growth, a common issue in water batteries that can cause short-circuits.
4. The prototype water batteries retain over 85% of their capacity after 500 cycles, and can be used in coin-sized and cylindrical batteries.
5. The team is working to improve the energy density of the water batteries, with the goal of replacing bulky lead-acid batteries in the future.
6. The water batteries have been used in a small-scale demonstration for renewable energy storage, and the study has been published in Advanced Materials.

Economist: America’s rental-market mystery

1. Housing is a significant part of personal budgets, but not directly included in inflation gauges like the CPI due to being considered an investment good.
2. Instead, statisticians use "owners' equivalent rent" (OER) to estimate regular changes in shelter prices, which accounts for 25% of the CPI in the US.
3. OER is calculated based on rentals, with more weight given to single-family homes, but the small sample size of such rentals can cause volatility and potential inaccuracies.
4. In recent years, OER inflation has been higher than pure rent inflation, with a more significant increase in single-family home rentals.
5. The higher OER reading and continued tightness in the single-family home market could contribute to upward pressure on general inflation measures.
6. The persistence of higher OER inflation might deter the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates soon.

NPR: Alabama governor signs IVF bill giving immunity to patients and providers

1. Alabama governor signs a bill providing civil and criminal immunity for IVF service providers and receivers, allowing them to restart treatments without legal repercussions.
2. The bill comes in response to a state court ruling that classified frozen embryos as "children" with a constitutional right to life.
3. The University of Alabama at Birmingham and other IVF providers welcomed the law, allowing them to restart treatments.
4. The bill is a stop-gap measure to allow fertility treatments to resume while lawmakers address the legal precedent set by the court ruling.
5. The immunity bill does not address long-term questions, such as defining embryonic personhood, or handling abandoned frozen embryos.
6. The bill passed quickly through the Alabama legislature, with some representatives advocating for a more comprehensive solution.

Nature: Millions of research papers at risk of disappearing from the Internet

1. A study found that 28% of scholarly articles with DOIs (2 million+) are not properly archived in major digital repositories.
2. The study highlights the need for better digital preservation systems to keep up with the growth of research output.
3. The lack of proper archiving can affect the verification of sources and the integrity of scientific research.
4. Smaller publishers might struggle more with preserving articles due to resource limitations.
5. Stronger requirements at DOI registration agencies and increased awareness among publishers and researchers are potential solutions.
6. The study emphasizes the importance of long-term sustainability in the research ecosystem.

Lawfare: NIST's Software Un-Standards (Podcast)

PDF Summary:

1. NIST, a leading body for setting national cyber standards, has shifted from traditional engineering standards to more permissive, open-ended frameworks.
2. This shift has led to hopes that NIST standards can establish a legal standard of reasonable care for software safety, with NIST being given the task of developing guidelines for AI and critical infrastructure.
3. NIST standards have been used as a compliance mechanism to satisfy a "reasonable" duty of care, with the Ohio Data Protection Act using NIST's Cybersecurity Framework as a safe harbor for businesses.
4. However, there are concerns about the adequacy of NIST's cyber frameworks as a standard of care, with little discussion about the content of NIST's software standards and their impact on software safety and quality.
5. NIST is generally viewed as a trustworthy, nonpartisan body that promulgates reliable, scientific standards, but software is different and often defies measurement.
6. NIST's reputation as a leading body for setting national cyber standards is based on its work in traditional areas of metrics and standardization, but software requires a different approach.

• I'm most familiar with NIST through their standardization of cryptography
• In the podcast, the author of the whitepaper admits that NIST has done pretty well in standardizing crypto but not for computer security more broadly, which seems about right
• I didn't realize how broad the scope of NIST is, and I definitely think many of these critisms are valid

NYT: Do You Have to Let the National Guard Search Your Bag on the Subway?

1. Riders have the right to refuse a bag check if there is no reasonable suspicion of illegal activity.
2. The NYPD has been conducting random bag checks in the subway for nearly 20 years.
3. The National Guard will assist in bag checks at "main transit hubs" in the subway system.
4. The goal of the increased security is to prevent violent crime on the subways.
5. The New York National Guard is a federal reserve military force that reports to the governor.
6. The National Guard does not have jurisdiction to make arrests, but can assist in detaining a suspect in case of an "imminent threat."

• People have a 4th amendment protection against the bags searches, but practically many people are probably coerced into it

Lawfare Podcast: The Hidden Alliance Between Tech and Government

Podcast Summary:

"The practice of surveillance capitalism—the widespread private collection and commodification of personal data—is well understood. Less well understood is the extent to which the U.S. government purchases this data in the commercial marketplace to use it for intelligence and law enforcement purposes.

Byron Tau, when he was a reporter with The Wall Street Journal, did more than anyone to bring this practice to public light. Jack Goldsmith sat down recently with Tau to discuss his new book on the topic, “Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government is Creating a New American Surveillance State.” They discussed how the private broker market works, why the government is able to purchase bulk private data with relatively few legal restrictions, and the threat to privacy and civil liberties that inheres in the practice. They also discussed why this form of data is so important to the government and the prospects for reform of the relatively unregulated practice."

• Byron makes some good point about way government circumvent data collection via data broker companies
• The way the constitution has been interpreted has not protected individuals form surveillance very well
• Interesting that it is kind of also a vulnerability of America, which has very free flowing data, that other countries can do what the US is also doing

TechPolicy: The Expanding Scope of “Sensitive Data” Across US State Privacy Laws

1. US states are establishing privacy laws due to the absence of a federal framework.
2. These laws establish baseline protections for personal data, recognizing certain categories as sensitive, such as demographic information, health status, and biometric data.
3. Recently, state privacy laws have expanded definitions of sensitive data, adding new categories and broadening existing ones.
4. Protections for sensitive data vary among states, with some requiring notice and opt-out options, while others demand consent and data protection impact assessments.
5. As of now, three states are likely to further expand the definition of sensitive data.
6. Expanding the scope of sensitive data raises questions about privacy and data protection laws, potentially leading to consent fatigue and the need for a risk-based approach.

NYT: BMW Is a Surprise Winner in Electric Vehicles

1. BMW has been successful in competing with Tesla in the electric vehicle market, with a 75% increase in sales in 2023.
2. BMW's strategy of using the same assembly line for electric, hybrid, gasoline, and diesel cars has been criticized but has proven effective.
3. BMW's growth in the electric vehicle market has been significant, with electric vehicles accounting for 15% of total sales in 2023.
4. BMW made a profit on the electric vehicles it sold, while other established carmakers have struggled to make a profit in the electric vehicle market.
5. BMW is investing in battery technology and designing a line of cars specifically for electric propulsion.
6. BMW's approach of offering hybrid versions of popular models has helped the company retain customers who are interested in electric propulsion but not ready for a sharp break from the past.

NYT: Who Needs Paper? Many Students Embrace the All-Digital SAT.

1. The SAT, a college admissions exam, was given in a new, all-digital format for the first time on March 10, 2024.
2. The new test is shorter, faster, and allows students to set their own pace. It is designed to reflect the experience of a generation raised in an era of higher anxiety, challenged attention spans, and remote learning.
3. The test is now harder to cheat on, with "adaptive" questions that become harder or easier based on a student's performance. It also includes an online graphing calculator for the math section, which some see as a way to level the playing field for low-income students.
4. The new format was generally well-received by students, who appreciated the brevity of the exam and the ability to set their own pace. However, some students and proctors reported technical issues, such as connectivity problems and frozen on-screen calculations.
5. The new SAT aims to drain some of the intimidation out of the process and evaluate modern students with tools to which they are more accustomed. It has been trimmed, and students have been given more time for each question.
6. The tests are now harder to cheat on, with "adaptive" questions that become harder or easier based on a student's performance. Students can bring their own laptops or tablets or use school-issued equipment, but cannot have any other application running in the background.

WSJ: Chasing Passive Income, Americans Turn to Vending Machines

1. Vending machines have become a popular investment option in the 2020s, with low startup costs and the potential for financial freedom.
2. The vending machine industry is a $18.2 billion market, with over 3 million machines in the US and an average monthly revenue of $525 per machine.
3. Making a profit requires diligent work and can be impacted by factors such as location and product selection.
4. Social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit have fueled interest in vending machines as a source of passive income.
5. Online courses and forums provide resources for those looking to enter the vending machine business.
6. Prices of vending machine products have increased by 10.6% year over year, with top-selling items being cold drinks, snacks, and candy.

NYT: Virginia Bans Legacy Admissions in Public Universities and Colleges

1. Virginia has passed a law (HB 48) to ban public universities from giving preferential treatment to applicants with family ties to alumni or donors in the admissions process, starting July 1.
2. This law aims to promote diversity in college admissions and prevent the perpetuation of privilege.
3. Prestigious public universities like the University of Virginia, William & Mary, and Virginia Tech will be affected.
4. Critics argue that banning legacy admissions could have adverse effects and negatively impact alumni donor relations.
5. The ban is the second of its kind in the US, with Colorado being the first state to implement it.
6. Similar legislation is being considered in other states, and there is a push for a federal ban on legacy admissions preferences.