Virginia native Gladys West, whose work enabled GPS, died at 95

Dr. Gladys West, a pioneering mathematician who played a crucial role in developing the technology behind GPS, passed away at 95. Born into poverty in Virginia, West overcame significant challenges to earn degrees in mathematics and become one of the first African American women to work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Her work on accurately modeling the Earth's shape was foundational to the creation of GPS, which is now integral to global navigation and daily life.

Graceful Ghost Rag

One of my favorite YouTubers playing one of my favorite rags.

Join PianoTell forum, and participate in our periodic recitals! The next one opens for submissions on Jan 31st.

This forum post announces the opening of submissions for PianoTell Recital #7, encouraging pianists to share their music, showcase progress, and contribute to the community. Submissions will be open from 31 January 2026, with the recital going live on 15 February 2026. Participants are asked to provide details such as performer information, piece details, and recording method, and to keep their performances accessible for at least 30 days.

Single click attack against Copilot

A single click on a legitimate URL mounted a covert, multistage attack against Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant, allowing hackers to extract sensitive user data. This exploit, discovered by white-hat researchers from Varonis, continued to run even after users closed the chat window. Microsoft has since fixed the vulnerability and implemented safeguards to prevent such data theft.

Incoming governor primed to hit the ground running

This article discusses the political landscape in Virginia as a new governor and House of Delegates take office. Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has appointed an experienced cabinet, which suggests she will be able to implement her plans quickly. Democrats have a larger majority in the House, which may lead to a rush of progressive legislation. Key issues to watch include the legalization of cannabis sales, proposed constitutional amendments, and potential redistricting efforts.

Best book I've read in months: The Perfect Tuba

Sam Quinones wrote an excellent and heart-wrenching book about the opioid epidemic called Dreamland. After writing about the despair of drugs for so many years, he picked up a lighter topic: playing the tuba, and how playing in a band in school can prepare you for life. It's a ch

Favorite YouTube piano teachers

I'll lead off with Dr. Boyd, the piano prof. Really helpful technique videos and friendly, accessible demeanor.

This seems like an appropriate first post to /piano