Bits

By pressing a button on the remote, you set off a spring-loaded hammer that strikes a solid aluminum rod in the device, which then rings out at an ultrasonic frequency. Each button has a different length rod, thus a different high-frequency tone, which triggers a circuit connected to a microphone in the television to finish the command. #retro #media https://www.theverge.com/23810061/zenith-space-command-remote-control-button-of-the-month

The Library of Congress is sponsoring a challenge to help improve public knowledge of civics by asking video game developers to create fun, lightweight video games related to civics that incorporate Library of Congress resources. #seriousgames https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2023/06/help-the-library-of-congress-create-video-games-that-improve-public-knowledge-of-civics/

The beginners guide to becoming a #python programmer https://pyflo.net

#ffmpeg is a powerful tool for manipulating audiovisual files. Unfortunately, it also has a steep learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with a command line interface. This app helps users through the command generation process so that more people can reap the benefits of FFmpeg. https://amiaopensource.github.io/ffmprovisr/

In this course, we walk you through what it takes for companies to link their systems together. We start off easy, defining some of the tech lingo you may have heard before, but didn’t fully understand. From there, each lesson introduces something new, slowly building up to the point where you are confident about what an #api is and, for the brave, could actually take a stab at using one. https://zapier.com/resources/guides/apis

Politics & Economics

“What I found on this trip was a changed landscape: gone are the small, clean, cheap motels in the centre of cities, gone are #public spaces where anyone can find a water fountain, a bathroom, a place to nurse a cheap cup of coffee and human company.” #publictransportation https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jul/26/america-roadtrip-greyhound-bus