{"id":5546,"date":"2019-07-12T18:58:29","date_gmt":"2019-07-13T02:58:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/?p=5546"},"modified":"2019-07-12T18:58:31","modified_gmt":"2019-07-13T02:58:31","slug":"things-glen-found-interesting-volume-210","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2019\/07\/12\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-210","title":{"rendered":"Things Glen Found Interesting, Volume 210"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4396\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=1200%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?w=1680&amp;ssl=1 1680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\"><\/a> On Fridays I share articles\/resources about broad cultural, societal and theological issues. Be sure to see the explanation and disclaimers at the bottom. I welcome your suggestions. If you read something fascinating please pass it my&nbsp;way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s good to be back after last week\u2019s hiatus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things Glen Found Interesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"simple-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vice.com\/en_us\/article\/neagpb\/ai-trained-on-old-scientific-papers-makes-discoveries-humans-missed\">AI Trained on Old Scientific Papers Makes Discoveries Humans Missed<\/a> (Madeleine Gregory, Motherboard): \u201cIn a study published in Nature on July 3, researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory used an algorithm called Word2Vec sift through scientific papers for connections humans had missed. Their algorithm then spit out predictions for possible thermoelectric materials, which convert heat to energy and are used in many heating and cooling applications.\u201d&nbsp;<ul>\n<li>The original research is at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-019-1335-8\">Unsupervised word embeddings capture latent knowledge from materials science literature<\/a> (Tshitoyan et al, Nature). What an amazing time to be&nbsp;alive!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thebulwark.com\/can-christian-compassion-influence-how-we-treat-migrants\/\">Can Christian Compassion Influence How We Treat Migrants?<\/a> (Alan Cross, The Bulwark): \u201cCompassion is not inherited, either in individuals nor in nations. It must be cultivated and that cultivation often happens in trial when we are tested. America is being tested right now. How will we respond to the migrants coming to us desperate for help and refuge? How will we respond to the sight of Oscar and Valeria drowning and being found face down on the banks of Rio Grande in each other\u2019s arms?\u201d&nbsp;<ul>\n<li>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getreligion.org\/getreligion\/2019\/6\/30\/in-the-battle-at-the-border-evangelical-leaders-jostle-for-relevancy\">In the \u2018battle at the border,\u2019 evangelical leaders jostle for Trump-era media relevancy<\/a> (Julia Duin, GetReligion): \u201cUnless you\u2019ve been under a rock recently, you know much of the country is fixated on the mess at our border. What\u2019s not as visible is how evangelical Christians are fighting among themselves over all of&nbsp;this.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>And yet: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fact-tank\/2018\/05\/24\/republicans-turn-more-negative-toward-refugees-as-number-admitted-to-u-s-plummets\/\">Republicans turn more negative toward refugees as number admitted to U.S. plummets<\/a> (Hannah Hartig, Pew Research): \u201cBy more than two-to-one (68% to 25%), white evangelical Protestants say the U.S. does not have a responsibility to accept refugees. Other religious groups are more likely to say the U.S. does have this responsibility. And opinions among religiously unaffiliated adults are nearly the reverse of those of white evangelical Protestants: 65% say the U.S. has a responsibility to accept refugees into the country, while just 31% say it does&nbsp;not.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theoutline.com\/post\/7670\/wedding-rings-for-men-manly-bands\">Manly wedding rings for tough guys who are dudes<\/a> (Dan Brooks, The Outline): \u201cI don\u2019t hunt, but I briefly considered buying a camouflage ring, partly to signal my deep commitment to irony and partly to get better service at the auto parts store.\u201d I really enjoyed this essay, and I hope that many of you have need of wedding bands in the not-too-distant future.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/ideas\/archive\/2019\/07\/evangelical-christians-face-deepening-crisis\/593353\/\">Evangelical Christians Face A Deepening Crisis<\/a> (Peter Wehner, The Atlantic): \u201cCoppock mentioned to me the powerful example of St. Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, who was willing to rebuke the Roman Emperor Theodosius for the latter\u2019s role in massacring civilians as punishment for the murder of one of his generals. Ambrose refused to allow the Church to become a political prop, despite concerns that doing so might endanger him. Ambrose spoke truth to power. (Theodosius ended up seeking penance, and Ambrose went on to teach, convert, and baptize St. Augustine.) Proximity to power is fine for Christians, Coppock told me, but only so long as it does not corrupt their moral sense, only so long as they don\u2019t allow their faith to become politically weaponized. Yet that is precisely what\u2019s happening today.\u201d&nbsp;<ul>\n<li>Recommended by an alumnus. I wish that the American church was more visibly dismayed at some of Trump\u2019s obvious sins. I remind people of all political inclinations that you can support someone\u2019s overall agenda and still rebuke them for acts of wickedness. In fact, being willing to do so makes your support more meaningful. So vote for whoever you want, and hold the leaders you support to a high standard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/international\/archive\/2019\/07\/taiwans-status-geopolitical-absurdity\/593371\/\">Taiwan\u2019s Status is a Geopolitical Absurdity<\/a> (Chris Horton, The Atlantic): \u201c\u2019Taiwan\u2019s government is democratically elected\u2014we have a president, we have a parliament,\u2019 Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said plaintively at a briefing for foreign media earlier this year. At the time, his government was trying to be included in the World Health Assembly. (It was ultimately blocked by China.) \u2018We issue visas, we issue passports,\u2019 he said, practically pleading. \u2018We have a military and a currency \u2026 Taiwan exists by itself; Taiwan is not a part of any other country.\u2019\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/07\/04\/opinion\/nike-kaepernick-america.html\">Robespierre\u2019s America<\/a> (Bret Stephens, New York Times): \u201cThe data confirm what one hears and experiences anecdotally all the time: In the proverbial land of the free, people live in mortal fear of a moral faux pas. Opinions that were considered reasonable and normal a few years ago are increasingly delivered in whispers. Professors fear their students. Publishers drop books at the slightest whiff of social-media controversy.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/slatestarcodex.com\/2019\/07\/08\/gay-rites-are-civil-rites\/\">Gay Rites Are Civil Rites<\/a> (Scott Alexander, Slate Star Codex): \u201c\u2018Civil religion\u2019 is a surprising place for social justice to end up. Gay pride started at Stonewall as a giant ****-you to civil society. Homeless people, addicts, and sex workers told the police where they could shove their respectable values. But there was another major world religion that started with beggars, lepers, and prostitutes, wasn\u2019t there? One that told the Pharisees where to shove their respectable values.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Less Serious Things Which Also Interested\/Amused Glen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"simple-list wp-block-list\"><li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fVG3dGk-7YY\">Jandro does an unusual card trick<\/a> (Penn &amp; Teller Fool Us, YouTube): an eight-minute video. This one is especially gratifying to&nbsp;watch.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G3C6N5q_RdI\">Harry Keaton plays mind tricks<\/a> (Penn &amp; Teller Fool Us, YouTube): a nine-minute video<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NWsJfQLqxJw\">Anna Deguzman manipulates cards<\/a> (Penn &amp; Teller Fool Us, YouTube): an eight-and-a-half-minute video<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FfBs0YYmDTA\">Raffaele Scircoli does a creepy trick<\/a> (Penn &amp; Teller Fool Us, YouTube): a nine-minute video<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Qb_MnK8I8WQ\">Allen Abbot Lights Things Up<\/a> (Penn &amp; Teller Fool Us, YouTube): a six-minute video&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things Glen Found Interesting A While&nbsp;Ago<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every week I\u2019ll highlight an older link still worth your consideration. This week we have  a compelling series of articles on China by a history professor at Johns Hopkins (who also happens to be a Stanford grad): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/view\/articles\/2018-06-10\/china-s-master-plan-a-global-military-threat\">China\u2019s Master Plan: A Global Military Threat<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/view\/articles\/2018-06-11\/china-s-master-plan-exporting-an-ideology?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_term=180611&amp;utm_campaign=sharetheview\">China\u2019s Master Plan: Exporting an Ideology<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/view\/articles\/2018-06-12\/web-of-institutions-in-china-s-global-master-plan-hal-brands?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_term=180612&amp;utm_campaign=sharetheview\">China\u2019s Master Plan: A Worldwide Web of Institutions<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/view\/articles\/2018-06-13\/china-s-global-master-plan-how-the-west-can-fight-back\">China\u2019s Master Plan: How The West Can Fight Back<\/a> (Hal Brand, Bloomberg). The money quote from the second article: \u201cIf the U.S. has long sought to make the world safe for democracy, China\u2019s leaders crave a world that is safe for authoritarianism.\u201d First shared in <a href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2018\/06\/15\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-156\">volume 156<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Why Do You Send This&nbsp;Email?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the time of King David, the tribe of Issachar produced shrewd warriors \u201cwho understood the times and knew what Israel should do\u201d (1 Chron 12:32). In a similar way, we need to become wise people whose faith interacts with the world. I pray this email gives you greater insight, so that you may continue the tradition of Issachar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Disclaimer<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Chi Alpha is not a partisan organization. To paraphrase another minister: we are not about the donkey\u2019s agenda and we are not about the elephant\u2019s agenda \u2014 we are about the Lamb\u2019s agenda. Having said that, I read widely (in part because I believe we should aspire to pass <a href=\"http:\/\/econlog.econlib.org\/archives\/2011\/06\/the_ideological.html\">the ideological Turing test<\/a> and in part because I do not believe I can fairly say \u201cI agree\u201d or \u201cI disagree\u201d until I can say \u201cI understand\u201d) and may at times share articles that have a strong partisan bias simply because I find the article stimulating. The upshot: you should not assume I agree with everything an author says in an article I mention, much less things the author has said in other articles (although if I strongly disagree with something in the article I\u2019ll usually mention it). And to the extent you can discern my opinions, please understand that they are my own and not necessarily those of Chi Alpha or any other organization I may be perceived to represent.\n\nAlso, remember that I\u2019m not reporting news \u2014 I\u2019m giving you a selection of things I found interesting. There\u2019s a lot happening in the world that\u2019s not making an appearance here because I haven\u2019t found stimulating articles written about it.\n\nIf this was forwarded to you and you want to receive future emails, sign up <a href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/\">here<\/a>. You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/category\/links\">view the archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Fridays I share articles\/resources about broad cultural, societal and theological issues. Be sure to see the explanation and disclaimers at the bottom. I welcome your suggestions. If you read something fascinating please pass it my&nbsp;way. It\u2019s good to be back after last week\u2019s hiatus.&nbsp; Things Glen Found Interesting AI Trained on Old Scientific Papers \u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2019\/07\/12\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-210\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> \u201cThings Glen Found Interesting, Volume 210\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"I'm back! A roundup of articles that I trust you'll find as fascinating as I did.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[16],"tags":[219,125,195,160,227,113,117,265],"class_list":["post-5546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-links","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-china","tag-gender","tag-how-the-church-is-perceived","tag-immigration","tag-lgbtq","tag-politics","tag-taiwan"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6Ded-1rs","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5546"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5552,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5546\/revisions\/5552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}