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TimeMachiner. Tech, culture, nostalgia. By Aaron Crocco
The Stream

A good Saturday to all.

It only takes something like news of what is happening in Ukraine to remind me that there are many insignificant things surrounding us. In the grand scheme of the world, this newsletter doesn't matter. None of my focus within each issue can hold a candle to what is going on outside some people's homes.

For me, there was a relief last year when I finally decided to stop checking the news all the time. I gave up my "news habit" because it had consumed me. American politics was a lot. With a change in who was in charge of my country, I felt it was time to step back. I was exhausted. I think many felt the same. So, how do we balance that numbness and exhaustion with the need to be informed and educated about the world?

I debated about what to do for today's issue of TimeMachiner. Do I ignore the invasion of another country and "stay in my lane"? Do I focus solely on this event, bringing politics and the news cycle into this space? I've worked hard to avoid it at all costs. In the end, I have decided to do both. And hopefully, this issue will be an exception instead of the norm.

Today's edition was half-written before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and for those who wish to focus on anything but current events, those stories are for you. I have written two pieces since Thursday morning's news that addresses the events in a way I hope is true to TimeMachiner's mission of bringing offbeat and random things to you. They may not be exactly dedicated to this exact scenario affecting the world, but they remain absolutely relevant.

Thanks for reading. I hope Tuesday brings a better focus for all.

-Aaron



Crypto Your Way Out of It
In all the talk of what countries will do in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a key move is mentioned every time: sanctions. The idea is pretty basic. Stop doing business with a country, freeze their assets, and stop goods from going in. It’s an economic way to turn…
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Miss Info Spreader
The past decade’s rise of social media brought with it a firehose of information. Is a website down? Check Twitter. What’s on the menu at my local burger restaurant? Check their Facebook page. What we failed to recognize early on was the lack of vetting of what was being loaded…
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Alexa Anyone
Amazon’s runaway success with Alexa and the Echo devices “she” lives in is quite obvious. As someone who owned an original Echo back when you needed an invite to buy it, I can remember the awe in how good the voice recognition was. The time it took to understand a…
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Meta-less VR
With all the hullabaloo about the metaverse and Facebook Meta pitching it non-stop, it is a breath of fresh air to see a VR announcement that doesn’t come from Zuckerberg. Sony revealed the second iteration of their Playstation VR system that will release later this year. Kyle Orland from Ars…
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TimeMachiner is written and produced by Aaron Crocco

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