Discussions, summarized

Sumcast distills Slack conversations, Whimsical posts, Reddit discussions and more into a concise daily newsletter that only takes a few minutes to read. Or, listen to it in your favorite podcast app.

• Hacker News1New Work by Gary LarsonGary Larson explains that his "New Stuff" section isn't a return to daily Far Side cartoons. After retiring from syndication, he stopped drawing until a clogged pen led him to try digital tablets. He rediscovered his love for drawing and is now experimenting with digital art, exploring creativity without deadlines while maintaining his sense of adventure in cartooning.Technical tools and RSS feeds:A user shared an RSS feed they created for The Far Side comics using GitHub Actions, prompting discussion about web scraping tools, digital drawing tablets enabling artists, and technical solutions for following web content.Far Side humor and cultural impact:Users discussed how Far Side jokes became everyday expressions, shared favorite comics, and debated whether the humor is universally appreciated, with some admitting they don't "get" Larson's style.Gary Larson's new digital work:Discussion centered on Larson's "New Stuff" section from 2020 onwards, his transition to digital drawing tablets, changes in artistic style, and recent tribute to Jane Goodall showing he's still creating.
• Reddit science1Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.Using scented products indoors, such as flame-free candles and wax melts, can create significant indoor air pollution comparable to car exhaust. Research by Purdue University found these products release nanosized particles that can penetrate deep into lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, posing serious respiratory health risks.Misleading title scope:Discussion about how study only focused on wax melts but title suggests all scented products, with debate about whether findings could logically extend to other scented itemsHealth concerns from chemist:A chemist's perspective against using scented products leads to sharing of personal health impact stories, from COPD to cancer cases, and debate about necessity of artificial scentsAir purification solutions:Discussion of HEPA filters and other air purification methods as solutions, with debate about effectiveness against different types of pollutants like VOCs and nanoparticles
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