In this week's Linkfest, I present a curated selection of intriguing reads from the Internet.

1) Captivating Skateboarding Photography by Clarence Klingebeil

Recently, my friend Betty Wiles encountered Clarence Klingebeil, a photographer renowned for his exceptional ability to capture light. His website features his ongoing project, "Skate Homies," showcasing stunning black-and-white skateboarder photography (one example is above).

Klingebeil's journey is inspiring; after overcoming cancer, he faced cardiac arrest and subsequently required the amputation of his dominant arm due to a severe blood clot. Despite these challenges and ongoing phantom pain, he has returned to photography with remarkable success.

Transitioning from analog to digital photography was part of his comeback. He shared with John Pearson, “Interestingly, the digital revolution was a boon for me. Film would have posed challenges. Initially, I wasn't confident in shooting handheld, so I used a tripod with assistance. Frustration led me to try shooting handheld, and while it was awkward at first, I adapted quickly.”

You can explore his work on his website and even purchase one of his "Skate Homies" photography books—I'm planning to get one myself!

2) The Delight of Watching Robots Fail

Joshua Schachter, a software developer and angel investor famed for creating de.licio.us, is now known for a quirky viral sensation on TikTok called Robots Draw. This series features pen-plotter robots that almost achieve perfect drawings before making a humorous mistake at the end.

Input features an article where Schachter discusses the appeal of these robot mishaps. Jonathan Aitken, a robotics academic, explains, “Humans often perceive robots as flawless, so when they err, it captures our attention.”

One video showing a robot drawing numerous perfect circles before botching the last one amassed 3.8 million views. Schachter recalled the dual narrative of pattern disruption and emotional expression that he could explore in his videos, stating, “I realized I had two arcs to develop: a flawed pattern and an expressed emotion.”

This sentiment relates to my previous thoughts on how perceived vulnerability in AI can create emotional connections, making them seem more "alive" to us. People are drawn to robots that display imperfections, which humanizes them and distinguishes them from mere machines.

3) Abandoning the Quantified Self Movement

Nathan Yau from Flowing Data highlights an essay by Felix Krause, who has decided to abandon his quantified self project after realizing it didn't yield enough insights to justify the effort.

The quantified self movement, popular in the mid-2000s, involved individuals meticulously tracking their lives to uncover hidden behavior patterns. Krause initially found delight in tracking various metrics but concluded, “After significant investment in this project, I found the insights didn't warrant the time spent.”

Yau observes that many others are similarly stepping back from their tracking endeavors, understanding that unless pursuing a specific question or goal, collecting data often lacks substantial rewards.

Interestingly, my experience differs. Since 2020, I've embraced tracking through cycling with an Apple Watch and Strava, finding it motivating without the intensive labor Krause experienced.

4) The Aesthetic of Complex Magnetic Fields

Magnet Tricks and Magnetic Games collaborated on a captivating video that demonstrates the behavior of ultra-powerful neodymium magnets. The visuals illustrate how forces ripple through the magnets, particularly engaging during an experiment that begins at 1:23.

5) The Steel Dilemma in Agrivoltaics

I've written about agrivoltaics—growing crops and livestock under solar panels. Initial observations suggest benefits, such as improved crop health and additional farmer revenue. However, a recent New York Times article highlights a significant challenge: the rising cost of steel.

According to the article, the expense of elevating panels 10 to 14 feet increases structural steel requirements, posing a complication for the industry. This raises questions about the sustainability of field-based solar compared to rooftop installations, which typically require less steel.

6) A Device for Harvesting Water from Air

The Kumulus is an innovative machine designed to condense water from humid air. According to Fast Company, the device works by drawing in humid air, filtering it, cooling it to create dew, and then mineralizing and storing the water.

Its design is user-friendly and appealing, as the creators aimed for a WALL-E aesthetic. Initially inspired by the plastic waste from bottled water in Tunisia, they hope to replace numerous bottles with this water-generating system, though a lifecycle assessment would be beneficial.

7) A Last-Minute Reading List

• Robot umpires.
• Reveal.js, a software for online presentations.
• “Does it have to be a whale?”—a rejection note for Moby Dick.
• The first looping roller coaster in the US exerted 14 Gs.
• “Mass frog burial baffles experts at an Iron Age site near Cambridge.”
• The enduring journey of Thunderbird.
• The history of button-pushing.
• Areas with more dogs experience lower crime rates.
• A solar-powered drone has been airborne for 17 days.
• Satellites facing a fierce solar wind.
• The paradox of smart cities optimizing everything at the cost of their charm.
• An introduction to medieval kink.
• 3D printing a kayak.
• Bluetooth integration in 1980 Corvette's 8-track system.
• A gamer using a harp to play Elden Ring.
• Innovations in sand batteries.
• “Doom Builder,” an advanced 3D map editor for Doom.
• The crypto advertising winter.
• A cappella rendition of “Running Up That Hill.”

(If you enjoyed this Linkfest, please consider giving a clap—it's a great way to show appreciation!)

Clive Thompson publishes regularly on Medium; follow him for updates. He contributes to the New York Times Magazine, Wired, and Smithsonian, and is the author of Coders and Smarter Than You Think. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram as @pomeranian99.