Cool stuff that’s too small for a big article
Just like it says, Popcorn Shorts is about the kind of things we think are really interesting, but don’t really need a large article to explain them. From the sublime to the ridiculous, check in here for crunchy bits of info you’ll love to munch. By the way, much (but not necessarily all) of our delicious Popcorn comes from articles we’ve posted on our Facebook page. If you’re on Facebook, please stop by and “Like” us and we’ll keep a fairly-constant-but-not-frequent-enough-to-be-annoying stream of these coming to your virtual door!
Now I am become AI, destroyer of worlds
Are we alone in the universe? The Drake equation deals with the probability of life elsewhere, and you may be familiar with one of it’s scariest parts… The Great Filter. This is the idea that all technological civilizations, no matter where they are, face some major problem that destroys their spacefaring ability. If it exists no one knows what it could be; maybe it’s something we haven’t encountered yet. But Michael Garrett from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester may have an answer… AI. Click here to read an article from Universe Today explaining his paper, or click here to read the original paper in all it’s gory scientific detail. Then forget about sleeping for the next few nights.
Oregon now has one of the nation’s strongest ‘right to repair’ laws
(from OPB)– “Oregon has become the latest state to enact a so-called “right to repair” law. Advocates say the bill signed by Gov. Tina Kotek on Wednesday creates the nation’s strongest protections for consumers with broken tech devices… Under the law, companies that make cellphones and other consumer electronics are required to provide the tools and know-how to repair those devices.” Oregon’s law specifically excludes autos (among other categories), but you’ll find more about Right to Repair in this FAQ on Oregon’s Right to Repair, “Automakers Claim They Can’t Comply With Right-to-Repair Laws”, and “National Right to Repair” from the AutoCare Association.
Willamette Week’s guide to Old Portland
(from Willamette Week)- “In 2003, Chuck Palahniuk wrote a memoir-slash-travel guide to Portland called Fugitives and Refugees… Old Portland’s not just an age, it’s a whole vibe. It’s weird, it’s small, it’s a little sleazy. It’s feeling competitive with Seattle, and surprised when anyone east of the Continental Divide thinks of Oregon, not Maine, when you say you’re from Portland. It’s a faded red-and-black Blazers tattoo, it’s eating jojos from the hot case at Freddy’s, it’s saying “pop” instead of “soda” and “filberts” instead of “hazelnuts.” It’s those summers when it rained until the Fourth of July and climbed over 100 degrees only once in a very strange while… Palahniuk published Fugitives and Refugees squarely in the era of Old Portland. The book includes a chapter called “Talk the Talk: A Portland Vocabulary Lesson.” In homage to his work, we’ve written an updated version of an A-to-Z Guide to Old Portland.
Overturned Truck Unleashes Over 100,000 Salmon into Oregon Waters
(from ThatOregonLife) “In an extraordinary incident last Friday in Northeast Oregon, a 53-foot tanker met with an accident, resulting in over 100,000 live salmon being spilled. Miraculously, a majority of these fish found their way into a nearby creek, continuing their journey, as confirmed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife this Tuesday. The tanker, which was transporting the salmon from the Lookingglass Hatchery, lost control at a sharp bend, leading to the spill. The driver, fortunately, emerged from the mishap with only minor injuries. The cleanup operation saw a collaborative effort from local hatchery staff, the Nez Perce tribe, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office, showcasing a strong community response to the accident…”
