Recently, the author added a weekly literature roundup to the website, added translation support to FeedLantern, and updated the RSSHub Cookie sync tool to support X. While watching a talk by Shi Yigong, they were especially interested in the latter half, which explored using AlphaFold to search for structural similarities to cGAS. For everyday tools, they rearranged their iPhone home screen, used TraceMemo and Codex to analyze old WeChat chats, and sent voice input from their phone to their computer via Remote Mouse. They also collected all 20 Duolingo awards, visited an exhibition on Mawangdui, and enjoyed another all-you-can-eat barbecue.
I recently added a weekly literature roundup to my website and updated a couple of small tools. I also watched a talk that really got me thinking, and tinkered with how I use my phone and computer. Here’s a roundup of those updates, along with a few notes on Duolingo, an exhibition, and food.
A new “Weekly Literature Roundup” section on the site
I recently added a “Weekly Literature Roundup” section to the site. It’s updated every Monday with the papers I added to Zotero the previous week.
I save useful articles to my library as I come across them, and this is a chance to share them with everyone. If you’re interested in these topics, take a look.
Small updates to two projects
FeedLantern · 订阅灯 recently added translation support and got a few usability improvements. The project turns webpages into RSS feeds, and this update adds another feature I find useful myself.
Also, I’ve added X support to the RSSHub Cookie sync tool I wrote earlier, so I’m noting that here too.
Shi Yigong’s talk: the second half resonated with me more
I recently watched Shi Yigong’s talk at the New Cornerstone Forum, and it really got me thinking. The full talk is on Douyin if you search for it, so I won’t embed the video here.
A lot of people focus on the first half of the talk, on topics like Westlake University’s decision not to offer research awards. I actually found the second half more interesting, even if those topics may feel a little removed from everyday life for most people.
One part that really stuck with me started with the structure of cGAS, then used DALI to search for structural similarities among protein structures predicted by AlphaFold. To me, this kind of concrete research approach is more worth thinking about than general talk about what AI can do.
I recommend watching the full talk, especially if you work in structural biology—don’t stop at the first half.
My new iPhone home screen layout
I recently realized that you can tap an icon inside a home-screen widget to open the app directly, instead of opening the app the widget belongs to and then navigating from there.
So I filled my home screen with icons, bringing shortcuts to the apps I use most into one place. I used to have loads of folders on my home screen, and finding an app meant tapping around inside them. It was pretty clunky. Now that the shortcuts are all laid out, opening an app takes one less step.
I’m using Lock Screen Launcher, which I got for free during a promotion a few years ago. Setup was still pretty tedious and took me over an hour, but I finally got my home screen organized the way I wanted.
Recently I tried TraceMemo, a project that exports WeChat chat histories for analysis with Codex. It helped clear up a few things I’d been unsure about and eased some of my overthinking.
I’m glad I’ve kept most of my chat history intact over the years. As far as I can remember, I’ve never manually deleted any of my WeChat chats since I first started using it. I’d just kept them all this time, and now they’ve finally come in handy.
On macOS, at least, TraceMemo feels fairly complete and is easy to get started with. If you’d like to organize or revisit your chat history too, give it a try.
Remote Mouse: typing on my computer with my phone
Voice typing has always worked smoothly for me at home, but it’s less convenient at the office. I started wondering if I could use my iPhone for voice input and send the recognized text straight to my computer.
I’d previously seen someone modify a TV remote to turn it into a microphone for voice input. But that means adding another device, and it makes the whole setup more complicated. I already carry my phone with me, so being able to use it directly would be much simpler.
Another factor was the free allowance. At the time, the desktop version of Typeless I used came with only 2,000 free characters, while the Doubao keyboard on my phone didn’t cost me anything for my usage. I wanted a simple workflow: dictate into the voice input app on my phone, then have the text appear on my computer as soon as it was transcribed—no copying and pasting back and forth.
I eventually found Remote Mouse. It lets you use your phone as a wireless mouse, keyboard, and trackpad for your computer. I mainly use the keyboard function, together with voice input on my phone.
So far, the free version has been enough for me. If you have a similar need, give it a try.
Duolingo: finally got every achievement
Today I earned the last “Perfect Year” achievement and finally collected them all. Seeing 20/20 on the page feels pretty satisfying.
The introductory wall for the “A Household of Daughters” exhibition at Shanghai Art Museum (China Art Palace)
The T-shaped silk painting from Tomb No. 1 at Mawangdui is incredibly detailed up close. The lines and patterns are worth taking a closer look at. It’s astonishing to think this work is around 2,000 years old.
A detail from the upper section of the T-shaped silk painting, where the dense lines and patterns are visible up close.
The full T-shaped silk painting displayed in a case.
Yanhuo Chang’an: another round of all-you-can-eat barbecue
One last food note. Yanhuo Chang’an is an all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant, and this was my second visit. I’ve had a great time eating there both times.
It’s a different kind of satisfaction from all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue or hot pot. A row of skewers on the grill, with the next batch waiting by the table—it only takes a look at the photos to remember how good it felt.
Back at Yanhuo Chang’an for the second time: skewers fill the grill, with another round waiting beside it.
All-you-can-eat skewer barbecue doesn’t seem as common as barbecue or hot pot. If you like skewers, give it a try sometime.
Everyday Updates
I recently added a weekly literature roundup to my website and updated a couple of small tools. I also watched a talk that really got me thinking, and tinkered with how I use my phone and computer. Here’s a roundup of those updates, along with a few notes on Duolingo, an exhibition, and food.
A new “Weekly Literature Roundup” section on the site
I recently added a “Weekly Literature Roundup” section to the site. It’s updated every Monday with the papers I added to Zotero the previous week.
I save useful articles to my library as I come across them, and this is a chance to share them with everyone. If you’re interested in these topics, take a look.
Small updates to two projects
FeedLantern · 订阅灯 recently added translation support and got a few usability improvements. The project turns webpages into RSS feeds, and this update adds another feature I find useful myself.
Also, I’ve added X support to the RSSHub Cookie sync tool I wrote earlier, so I’m noting that here too.
Shi Yigong’s talk: the second half resonated with me more
I recently watched Shi Yigong’s talk at the New Cornerstone Forum, and it really got me thinking. The full talk is on Douyin if you search for it, so I won’t embed the video here.
A lot of people focus on the first half of the talk, on topics like Westlake University’s decision not to offer research awards. I actually found the second half more interesting, even if those topics may feel a little removed from everyday life for most people.
One part that really stuck with me started with the structure of cGAS, then used DALI to search for structural similarities among protein structures predicted by AlphaFold. To me, this kind of concrete research approach is more worth thinking about than general talk about what AI can do.
I recommend watching the full talk, especially if you work in structural biology—don’t stop at the first half.
My new iPhone home screen layout
I recently realized that you can tap an icon inside a home-screen widget to open the app directly, instead of opening the app the widget belongs to and then navigating from there.
So I filled my home screen with icons, bringing shortcuts to the apps I use most into one place. I used to have loads of folders on my home screen, and finding an app meant tapping around inside them. It was pretty clunky. Now that the shortcuts are all laid out, opening an app takes one less step.
I’m using Lock Screen Launcher, which I got for free during a promotion a few years ago. Setup was still pretty tedious and took me over an hour, but I finally got my home screen organized the way I wanted.
Image source: Xiaohongshu account “iPhone Tips,” “Whose phone home screen is this clean, anyway?”.
Having Codex take a look at my old chats
Recently I tried TraceMemo, a project that exports WeChat chat histories for analysis with Codex. It helped clear up a few things I’d been unsure about and eased some of my overthinking.
I’m glad I’ve kept most of my chat history intact over the years. As far as I can remember, I’ve never manually deleted any of my WeChat chats since I first started using it. I’d just kept them all this time, and now they’ve finally come in handy.
On macOS, at least, TraceMemo feels fairly complete and is easy to get started with. If you’d like to organize or revisit your chat history too, give it a try.
Remote Mouse: typing on my computer with my phone
Voice typing has always worked smoothly for me at home, but it’s less convenient at the office. I started wondering if I could use my iPhone for voice input and send the recognized text straight to my computer.
I’d previously seen someone modify a TV remote to turn it into a microphone for voice input. But that means adding another device, and it makes the whole setup more complicated. I already carry my phone with me, so being able to use it directly would be much simpler.
Another factor was the free allowance. At the time, the desktop version of Typeless I used came with only 2,000 free characters, while the Doubao keyboard on my phone didn’t cost me anything for my usage. I wanted a simple workflow: dictate into the voice input app on my phone, then have the text appear on my computer as soon as it was transcribed—no copying and pasting back and forth.
I eventually found Remote Mouse. It lets you use your phone as a wireless mouse, keyboard, and trackpad for your computer. I mainly use the keyboard function, together with voice input on my phone.
So far, the free version has been enough for me. If you have a similar need, give it a try.
Duolingo: finally got every achievement
Today I earned the last “Perfect Year” achievement and finally collected them all. Seeing 20/20 on the page feels pretty satisfying.
My learning history is on my Duolingo records page.
Exhibition: A House of Great Wealth
I also recently visited the Shanghai Art Museum (China Art Museum) to see the “A House of Great Wealth: The Art of Living in the Mawangdui Han Tombs” exhibition of national treasures.
The T-shaped silk painting from Tomb No. 1 at Mawangdui is incredibly detailed up close. The lines and patterns are worth taking a closer look at. It’s astonishing to think this work is around 2,000 years old.
Yanhuo Chang’an: another round of all-you-can-eat barbecue
One last food note. Yanhuo Chang’an is an all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant, and this was my second visit. I’ve had a great time eating there both times.
It’s a different kind of satisfaction from all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue or hot pot. A row of skewers on the grill, with the next batch waiting by the table—it only takes a look at the photos to remember how good it felt.
All-you-can-eat skewer barbecue doesn’t seem as common as barbecue or hot pot. If you like skewers, give it a try sometime.