Tue. 12/29 - How Humans Began to Read and Write

<p><strong><em>How is it that humans figured out how to read? New cosmological findings that may finally solve the Hubble tension. And, more monoliths continue to pop up, a look at two of the more interesting ones from this past week. </em></strong></p><p>Sponsors:</p><ul><li>Skillshare, get a free trial of Premium Membership at <a href="http://skillshare.com/kottke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">skillshare.com/kottke</a>&nbsp;</li><li>BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee <a href="https://bittrustira.com/Kottke/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BitTrustIRA.com/kottke</a></li></ul><p>Links:</p><ul><li><a href="http://nautil.us/issue/94/evolving/reading-that-strange-and-uniquely-human-thing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reading, That Strange and Uniquely Human Thing</a> (Nautilus)</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/NomeDaBarbarian/status/1290834582380539904?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Language is a tool, a technology</a> (NomeDaBarbarian, Twitter) </li><li><a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/astronomers-get-their-wish-and-the-hubble-crisis-gets-worse-20201217/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Astronomers Get Their Wish, and the Hubble Crisis Gets Worse</a> (Quanta)</li><li><a href="https://www.wcax.com/2020/12/21/mysterious-monolith-appears-in-pittsfield/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mysterious monolith appears in Pittsfield</a> (WCAX)</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/alexisgallagher/status/1342508051446681610?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Photos of gingerbread monolith</a> (Alexis Gallagher, Twitter)</li><li><a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11852841/christmas-day-wonder-gingerbread-monolith-mysteriously-appears-at-sf-park" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Christmas Day Wonder: Gingerbread Monolith Mysteriously Appears at SF Park</a> (KQED)</li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/oddities-san-francisco-570d3d8a9fe9b4b67e4368cf4f85fdb8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gingerbrea