A story about microwaves, and other interesting links

17th May 2021

Hello!

I couldn't clickbait this week's video, because it'd give away too much or be too complicated. So instead: I promise this story about microwaves is really interesting. (The toy hamster's name is Mike, and he is safe and sound.)

I really like this video, and part of the reason I started this newsletter is so that I can bypass the Algorithm and just send videos to people I know are interested. So as I continue to test out things before launching this properly: thank you for noticing the link and subscribing, even before I've publicised it!

Here are some other things I've found this week:

• Andrew Huang's Spacetime is an incredible YouTube series. I'm envious of the production quality, but I'm also envious of the fact that he's somehow managed to blur fact and fiction perfectly. He's doing his usual videos about music... but on a completely fictional sci-fi space mission. Jump in here for a good example: it's not just a music video, he breaks the format at about 0:52.
• I used to make videos about phone-crashing bugs. I don't any more, but if you're interested, Arun from Mrwhosetheboss has a brilliant breakdown of the Instagram story that crashes phones. It's better-researched than any of the crash videos I ever made!
  
• I thought regex crosswords were terrible and just deliberately obfuscated and then I played this one and it felt like solving a really cleverly put together Sudoku. One insight led to another: yes, every step is difficult, but there's a clear progression. (If you're a regex novice, there are also beginner ones on the site!)
• After WW2, the UK just dumped a load of munitions in the sea and thoughtlessly created a no-tunnel, no-bridge zone between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Some Cessna planes have built-in parachutes in case of a mid-air collision and they're a really good idea!
  

That's it for this week! As ever, thanks for bypassing the Algorithm and letting me take up space in your inbox.

All the best,

— Tom