CBS News: How algorithms determine what we’re buying for the holidays — and beyond

CBS News: How algorithms determine what we’re buying for the holidays — and beyond. “We’ve all been there: Scrolling through social media and spotting the ads recommending something you never knew you needed, whether it’s the perfect pair of shoes, a gadget to solve an annoying problem or the ideal holiday gift for your mom. As shoppers log on for Cyber Monday sales and the holidays approach, you’re more likely to see gift ideas inspired by and advertised by algorithms, experts in the field of algorithmic commerce and online shopping say.”

Gizmodo: Google Promises Its Christmas Game Doesn’t Use Kids to Train AI

Gizmodo: Google Promises Its Christmas Game Doesn’t Use Kids to Train AI. “The game opens with an explanation encouraging you to ‘Help Tensor practice its image recognition!’ The description says Tensor is ‘Santa’s Machine Learning robot.’ According to the game, “The more you draw, the smarter Tensor will get,” which will “help Santa be more efficient than ever this holiday season.” In an email, a Google spokesperson said you shouldn’t take that literally.”

Boston University: Don’t Open. Zombies Inside.

New-to-me, and I’m sorry I didn’t discover it before Halloween: Don’t Open. Zombies Inside.. “A College of Arts & Sciences assistant professor of English and Latinx literature, [Maia] Gil’Adí is the founder of The Zombie Archive, an online labor of love where she is building a detailed timeline of zombies on the big screen, from 1932’s White Zombie, with Bela Lugosi, through 2014, year of the immortal cinematic classic Zombeavers.”

Los Angeles Times: A man’s holiday lights display helped land him a top job at Roku

Los Angeles Times: A man’s holiday lights display helped land him a top job at Roku . “On a chilly December evening, 54-year-old engineer Mark Robins opened a laptop inside his son’s room to demonstrate the software he uses to control the 10,000 lights that adorn his house and yard. They illuminate an assortment of candy canes, gift-wrapped boxes and animals, including a flamingo, an owl, a reindeer and a small dog that resembles his elderly mutt, Oscar. A button at the front of the yard invites passersby to synchronize the lights to one of 25 Christmas, pop and rock tunes.”

Georgia Tech: New Computing Approach May Save At-Risk Carnival Costume Making Tradition

Georgia Tech: New Computing Approach May Save At-Risk Carnival Costume Making Tradition. “Wire-bending has been a traditional method of constructing costumes for the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival since the 1930s, but Vernelle A.A. Noel, a joint professor with the School of Interactive Computing in the College of Computing and School of Architecture in the College of Design, has been conducting research on this at-risk practice.”

Smithsonian: National Museum of African American History and Culture Examines the Impact of Race in December Public Programming

Smithsonian: National Museum of African American History and Culture Examines the Impact of Race in December Public Programming. “The museum will hold its annual Freedom’s Eve program, providing a look into how enslaved African Americans celebrated New Year’s Eve in the past and how the African American community uses food to help bring good fortune into the new year. The two-part program will include curated in-person activities to help plan goals for the new year and conclude with a virtual concert featuring piano prodigy Matthew Whitaker.”

Swipe and buy: Social media is now a destination for holiday shopping (Washington Post)

Washington Post: Swipe and buy: Social media is now a destination for holiday shopping. “Savannah Baron keeps an exhaustive spreadsheet of perfect gifts: a camping chair love seat for the couple who enjoys the outdoors; a refillable candle for your eco-conscious cousin; a cocktail infusion kit for the friend who’s into mixology. It’s not for her. It’s for her 189,000 TikTok followers.”

Google Blog: Five spooky filters to try this Halloween

Google Blog: Five spooky filters to try this Halloween. “Think you know Halloween? 🎃 Google Arts & Culture is embracing spooky season with the release of our Spotlight on Halloween — a selection of the creepiest, most disturbing art exhibits created by our partners, ready to instill fear in even the bravest of souls. From terrifying filters to macabre artworks, here are some of the things you’ll be able to play around with.”