∞ A Quick History of Why Asians Wear Surgical Masks in Public
Jeff Yang, writing for Quartz:
The bottom line is that in East Asia, the predilection toward using face-coverings to prevent exposure to bad air is something that predates the germ theory of disease, and extends into the very foundations of East Asian culture. In recent years, however, mask-wearing has become rooted in new and increasingly postmodern rationales.
Studies have found that among many young Japanese, masks have evolved into social firewalls; perfectly healthy teens now wear them, along with audio headsets, to signal a lack of desire to communicate with those around them. This is particularly true for young women seeking to avoid harassment on public transit, who also appreciate the relative anonymity the masks provide.
Masks are even becoming an element of East Asian style: In Japan, surgical masks bearing chic designs or the images of cute licensed characters can be purchased in every corner drugstore, while last month at China Fashion Week, designer Yin Peng unveiled a line of “smog couture” clothese paired with a variety of masks, from Vader-esque ventilators to whole-head riot-gear rebreathers.
This is so different in western where you only wear masks when you are actually sick to protect others. You will have different perceptions when seeing people wearing a mask on the street.
∞ Canada Wins, U.S. Loses In Global Fight For High-Tech Workers
Toronto saw the biggest growth in technology jobs of any North American city over the past five years, outpacing San Francisco, New York and Seattle. Vancouver also made the top five.
This trend will only continue for a while.
∞ Outrage as Italian Conservatoire Bans All “Oriental” Students Over CoronaVirus Fears
Maddy Shaw Roberts from Classic FM:
Since the newsletter was sent to Santa Cecilia’s teachers, another music institute in Como has told students returning from China after Chinese New Year to stay at home for 14 days.
This is the right move.
The message (translated from Italian), signed by director Roberto Giuliani, reads: “Dear colleagues, because of the well-known events relating to the Chinese epidemic, the lessons of oriental students (Chinese, Korean, Japanese etc.) are suspended, as well as others who have come from the countries concerned.
This is simply racism.
∞ Cyrus Vance Jr.: They Get Into My Phone All The Time
William D. Cohan writing for Fast Company:
Vance is skeptical that Apple doesn’t have a secret backdoor. “They get into my phone all the time because they upgrade my operating systems and they send me messages,” he says.
Vance is the district attorney of New York county. Never underestimate one’s ability to understand tech.
∞ A Surprise Up Up Down Down Episode
Up Up Down Down is one of my favorite podcasts. It's hosted by Allen Pike and Nigel Brooke. Each episode covers one interesting topic with a guest. Sadly it went hiatus three years ago. But I still appreciate their deep insights in the game dev world today.
Yesterday they released a surprise episode, covering Two Spies, a turn-based spy game made by themselves.
If you haven’t heard Up Up Down Down yet, every single episode is worth listening to even today, or ten, twenty years later.
I have an increasing desire to build a Twitter app around the idea of “Two-twitter-app lifestyle” (the other being the official app).
∞ European Mac Pros Are Assembled in China
Joe Rossignol, writing for MacRumors:
As suspected, it appears the new Mac Pro is only assembled in Texas for orders placed in the United States, Canada, and other countries in the Americas. French blog MacGeneration has confirmed that a new Mac Pro delivered to a customer in France today has fine print indicating it was assembled in China.
∞ Figma's Year in Numbers
tl;dr:
- Most popular non-grey color: #009688
- Most popular font: Montserrat
- Most popular frame: 🖥 1440x1024
- Most collaborated countries: 🇺🇸 and 🇷🇺
Playing a previously console/PC only game on my MacBook in my bed with a game controller.
Only possible because of Stadia.
💯
ABC Song Variants
Jason Kottke's post on the alternate ABC song got my attention:
An alternate version of the ABC song that slows down the LMNOP part is currently going viral because of a tweet by Noah Garfinkel: “They changed the ABC song to clarify the LMNOP part, and it is life ruining.”
My first reaction was: thank you! I always find the ABC song I'm hearing from my daughter's toys are strange and hard to follow. So I completely agree with them:
About the slow l,m,n,o,p: I teach young learners of English as a foreign language, and have found this way the most effective for teaching the letters.
Here is the original video by Matt Richelson:
However, this is not the one I learned either. The version I learned slowed down the same LMN part, but it also has a different grouping: OPQ, RST, UVW, XYZ, plus a different ending. I find it even easier for non native speakers. Here is a video of this version:
I couldn't find out where this version original comes from. The subtitle of the above videos says it's French music. But searched the French version of ABC song, it's the same as the one in the U.S. It's not U.K. either.