4 ms·

Side note: Did anyone else find this article difficult to read? Like it was written by an ESL writer? Christ, this is The Atlantic and it reads like it is writt

Side note: Did anyone else find this article difficult to read? Like it was written by an ESL writer? Christ, this is The Atlantic and it reads like it is written by a 7th grader. Example: > "To start looping with OpenAPS, Boss did also need to buy a mini computer called an Edison." "..Boss did also need..." Why not just say "...Boss also needed... >"By 2014, the hardware components of a DIY artificial pancreas—a small insulin pump that attaches via thin disposable tubing to the body and a continuous sensor for glucose, or sugar, that slips just under the skin—were available," This whole paragraph is confusing. Why put the parens before the "...were available,"? >but it was impossible to connect the two. Which two? The the sensor and the tubing? Something else? >That’s where the security flaw came in. Which fucking security flaw? With the DIY pancreas or the Medtronic? edit: removed codeblocks

droithomme 7y ago
For over a decade these publications haven't had copyeditors who review every article prior to publication and tweak the prose and correct obvious errors. It's not uncommon to have obvious spelling and grammatical errors as well in once great publications.
- bookofjoe 7y ago
  A few years ago the Washington Post fired ALL of its copy editors, forcing others to pick up the slack.
  - bookofjoe 7y ago
    New York Times eliminated its copy desk in 2017: https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2018/06/14/new-york-times-gets-rid-of-copy-editors-mistakes-ensue/ https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2018/06/14/new-...
  - bookofjoe 7y ago
    Memory didn't serve me well: it was over 10 years ago, not "a few," nor did the paper fire ALL of its copy editors. From a 2009 story: "Between early 2005 and mid-2008, the number of full-time copy editors dropped from about 75 to 43 through buyouts or voluntary departures. It has declined further since then, but Post managers won't provide precise figures beyond saying that six took a recent buyout offer." https://lisagoldresearch.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-washington-post-discovers-that-fewer-copy-editors-more-errors/ https://lisagoldresearch.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-washin...
Jtsummers 7y ago
If you use code blocks for quotes you can make it more readable by introducing a few extra newlines: "By 2014, the hardware components of a DIY artificial pancreas—a small insulin pump that attaches via thin disposable tubing to the body and a continuous sensor for glucose, or sugar, that slips just under the skin— were available," That should be readable on most devices without needing to scroll left/right.
- tcoff91 7y ago
  People really need to just stop using code blocks for quotes.
  - spaceflunky 7y ago
    So what's the best way to do this? Honest question. I was looking and I didn't find good formatting help doc in less than 5min so I went with code blocks. Sorry haha :)
    - colejohnson66 7y ago
      Use > and separate each quote with an empty line
    - fencepost 7y ago
      Maybe I've missed it but I've not seen complaints about italicizing quotes by surrounding with asterisks.
- IanCal 7y ago
  Android on Chrome here, I need to scroll for that. The top line gets as far as "By 2014,the hardware " before I need to scroll. Not sure what the best option is. Just prefix with > ? > "By 2014, the hardware components of a DIY artificial pancreas—a small insulin pump that attaches via thin disposable tubing to the body and a continuous sensor for glucose, or sugar, that slips just under the skin— were available,"
- stordoff 7y ago
_Microft 7y ago
It was mentioned earlier already. What makes these outdated Medtronic pumps so desirable is, ironically, a security flaw. Boss was looking for a pump or two he could hack.
- spaceflunky 7y ago
  Yes, but the syntax is off, because the author explains the diy pump and then immediately after says "that's where the security flaw is." Why would you go into detail about the inner workings of a diy pump, follow up with an imprecise statement, and expect the reader to know what you are talking about? Because the imprecise statement immediate follows the explanation of the diy pump, it's unclear whether the author means the security flaw is in the medtronic or the diy pump that they JUST mentioned. Sure, we can infer and assume what the author means, but it's not proper to make the reader assume, especially for a well-established publication.
draw_down 7y ago
Come on.

droithomme 7y ago

For over a decade these publications haven't had copyeditors who review every article prior to publication and tweak the prose and correct obvious errors. It's not uncommon to have obvious spelling and grammatical errors as well in once great publications.

bookofjoe 7y ago
A few years ago the Washington Post fired ALL of its copy editors, forcing others to pick up the slack.
- bookofjoe 7y ago
  New York Times eliminated its copy desk in 2017: https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2018/06/14/new-york-times-gets-rid-of-copy-editors-mistakes-ensue/ https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2018/06/14/new-...
- bookofjoe 7y ago
  Memory didn't serve me well: it was over 10 years ago, not "a few," nor did the paper fire ALL of its copy editors. From a 2009 story: "Between early 2005 and mid-2008, the number of full-time copy editors dropped from about 75 to 43 through buyouts or voluntary departures. It has declined further since then, but Post managers won't provide precise figures beyond saying that six took a recent buyout offer." https://lisagoldresearch.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-washington-post-discovers-that-fewer-copy-editors-more-errors/ https://lisagoldresearch.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/the-washin...

Jtsummers 7y ago

If you use code blocks for quotes you can make it more readable by introducing a few extra newlines: "By 2014, the hardware components of a DIY artificial pancreas—a small insulin pump that attaches via thin disposable tubing to the body and a continuous sensor for glucose, or sugar, that slips just under the skin— were available," That should be readable on most devices without needing to scroll left/right.

tcoff91 7y ago
People really need to just stop using code blocks for quotes.
- spaceflunky 7y ago
  So what's the best way to do this? Honest question. I was looking and I didn't find good formatting help doc in less than 5min so I went with code blocks. Sorry haha :)
  - colejohnson66 7y ago
    Use > and separate each quote with an empty line
  - fencepost 7y ago
    Maybe I've missed it but I've not seen complaints about italicizing quotes by surrounding with asterisks.
IanCal 7y ago
Android on Chrome here, I need to scroll for that. The top line gets as far as "By 2014,the hardware " before I need to scroll. Not sure what the best option is. Just prefix with > ? > "By 2014, the hardware components of a DIY artificial pancreas—a small insulin pump that attaches via thin disposable tubing to the body and a continuous sensor for glucose, or sugar, that slips just under the skin— were available,"
stordoff 7y ago

_Microft 7y ago

It was mentioned earlier already. What makes these outdated Medtronic pumps so desirable is, ironically, a security flaw. Boss was looking for a pump or two he could hack.

spaceflunky 7y ago
Yes, but the syntax is off, because the author explains the diy pump and then immediately after says "that's where the security flaw is." Why would you go into detail about the inner workings of a diy pump, follow up with an imprecise statement, and expect the reader to know what you are talking about? Because the imprecise statement immediate follows the explanation of the diy pump, it's unclear whether the author means the security flaw is in the medtronic or the diy pump that they JUST mentioned. Sure, we can infer and assume what the author means, but it's not proper to make the reader assume, especially for a well-established publication.

draw_down 7y ago

Come on.