Reconstructing the Antikythera Mechanism

 

"Clickspring" makes gorgeous videos about an inspiring project: building a replica of the Antikythera mechanism using only period-appropriate tools and methods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBRCL090PxA

 

I particularly like this project because it's an excellent way to debunk the "ancient astronaut" kookery surrounding this piece of ancient technology (and other "too advanced" ancient human achievements).

Cory Doctorow on John Deere's Tractor Killswitch

https://doctorow.medium.com/about-those-kill-switched-ukrainian-tractors-bc93f471b9c8

 

Most of us have heard about the Russian looters who stole a bunch of John Deere equipment from a Ukrainian dealer and hauled it to Chechnya, only to be foiled when the dealer remotely disabled all those implements. Heartwarming! But . . . This essay ties together several issues in a very neat, very disturbing bundle. The big surprise for me was