Weekly Roundup #1

Credit to my colleague (and new office mate!) Dave Paola for the inspiration of the weekly roundup post format. Also, winter is here!

• Senator Ron Wyden introduced a bill that would impose GDPR-like fines and even stricter prison sentences for data privacy violations. Don't see this passing with the current Congress, but inspiring to see some concern for internet privacy at a federal level nonetheless.
• Old but great article on the art of setting bouldering routes from the 2016 World Championships
• California High Speed Rail finally cleared a lawsuit alleging the state was improperly using state bond funds. While there's still plenty of work to be done this was a suit that could've halted the project.
• Someone launched a "Do Not Disturb" feature for Gmail that allows you to schedule your email deliveries at set times through the day. Super tempting, but can't say I'm too crazy about giving full permissions to view my email to a third-party. Reminds me of Tim Ferris discussing years ago about his transition to only responding to email once a day, and eventually once a week.
• Recently declassified information verified a solar storm likely detonated dozens of sea mines during the Vietnam War. I never actually realized they were set off by magnetic disturbances rather than collisions.
• Two men are attempting to cross Antarctica unsupported for the first time. In reading this I came across the books Mind Over Matter and Shadows Wasteland by a former supported crossing duo I'll need to read, and an incredible article by the New Yorker from earlier this year.
• Google is pushing ahead a proposed spec for a browser API that would allow web applications to write to a computer's file system in a supposedly secure way. Sounds powerful but a potential massive security issue.
• Troy Hunt writes about 2FA, U2F, and other ways to secure our accounts beyond just passwords.