Jeff Kaufman
@jefftk.com
Contra dance musician, parent, effective altruist, biosurveillant, software engineer, blogger.
www.jefftk.com
www.jefftk.com
It can be hard to get the kids to practice their instruments. Sometimes they're having trouble focusing, don't like their assigned piece, or are just grumpy. One thing I'll offer them in these cases is "busking practice", where instead of practicing their assigned piece we pretend we're busking.
Busking Practice
It can be hard to get the kids to practice their instruments. Sometimes they're having trouble focusing, don't like their assigned piece, or are just grumpy. One thing I'll offer them in these cases i...
www.jefftk.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
It can be hard to get the kids to practice their instruments. Sometimes they're having trouble focusing, don't like their assigned piece, or are just grumpy. One thing I'll offer them in these cases is "busking practice", where instead of practicing their assigned piece we pretend we're busking.
We clean drinking water all the time, not just in response to cholera outbreaks. To have clean air in emergencies, we need to figure out how to have clean air every day. The benefits of widespread deployment of air purifiers, far-UVC, etc are very high even before you count the biosecurity impact.
Everyday Clean Air
When the next pandemic hits our ability to stop it will depend on the infrastructure we already have in place. A key missing piece is clean indoor air. An airborne pathogen can be very hard to contain...
www.jefftk.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:52 AM
We clean drinking water all the time, not just in response to cholera outbreaks. To have clean air in emergencies, we need to figure out how to have clean air every day. The benefits of widespread deployment of air purifiers, far-UVC, etc are very high even before you count the biosecurity impact.
I wanted to link an explanation of how far-UVC works, why you might want to use it to clean indoor air, and what we know about its safety. I didn't find anything I liked, so I made something: faruvc.org
Background: jefftk.com/p/introducing-faruvc-org
Background: jefftk.com/p/introducing-faruvc-org
faruvc.org
November 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I wanted to link an explanation of how far-UVC works, why you might want to use it to clean indoor air, and what we know about its safety. I didn't find anything I liked, so I made something: faruvc.org
Background: jefftk.com/p/introducing-faruvc-org
Background: jefftk.com/p/introducing-faruvc-org
The kids told me they wanted to watch a "blue E" but Disney wasn't working. I told them I could solve their problem, but they weren't amused.
November 12, 2025 at 12:54 AM
The kids told me they wanted to watch a "blue E" but Disney wasn't working. I told them I could solve their problem, but they weren't amused.
Looking up the history, apparently this is not a pun!
November 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Looking up the history, apparently this is not a pun!
Picking up checked bags at Logan. Old displays say carousel 4. New ones say 6. Announcer repeatedly says 3. Bags came out on 2.
November 10, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Picking up checked bags at Logan. Old displays say carousel 4. New ones say 6. Announcer repeatedly says 3. Bags came out on 2.
Getting ready for far UVC starting tomorrow at BIDA! blog.bidadance.org/2025/11/maki...
November 2, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Getting ready for far UVC starting tomorrow at BIDA! blog.bidadance.org/2025/11/maki...
When I saw the recent Atlantic article on Florida train deaths I guessed we were making a big deal over it because it was the train was big and new, and actually we're better off overall. Turns out no: Brightline is just really deadly, not just for a train, but even relative to driving.
Brightline is Actually Pretty Dangerous
Per the Atlantic's A 'Death Train' is Haunting South Florida: According to Federal Railroad Administration data, the Brightline has been involved in at least 185 fatalities, 148 of which were beli...
www.jefftk.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
When I saw the recent Atlantic article on Florida train deaths I guessed we were making a big deal over it because it was the train was big and new, and actually we're better off overall. Turns out no: Brightline is just really deadly, not just for a train, but even relative to driving.
For deploying far UVC to clean the air at a dance event, I modeled the difference between putting a lamp in each corner (theoretical ideal) vs one stand with four lamps on stage (logistically better). Efficacy goes down 5.6%, but it's within safety limits.
Assessing Far UVC Positioning
I help organize a contra dance in a crowded dance hall, and we've been considering using far UVC to clean the air, reducing infection risk from COVID, flu, and other airborne pathogens. We recently p...
www.jefftk.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
For deploying far UVC to clean the air at a dance event, I modeled the difference between putting a lamp in each corner (theoretical ideal) vs one stand with four lamps on stage (logistically better). Efficacy goes down 5.6%, but it's within safety limits.
I've had a lot of people reach out to me who are interested in working on biosecurity, but have a background in software. I keep having to say "sorry, I don't see a place for you right now." This has changed: we're now hiring for junior engineers (NAO in Boston; AI remote). Consider applying?
Software Engineering at SecureBio
I've had a lot of people reach out to me who are interested in working on biosecurity, but have a background in software engineering / computer science. A lot of these conversations have looked someth...
www.jefftk.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I've had a lot of people reach out to me who are interested in working on biosecurity, but have a background in software. I keep having to say "sorry, I don't see a place for you right now." This has changed: we're now hiring for junior engineers (NAO in Boston; AI remote). Consider applying?
What would honest advice to contra dance newcomers look like if communities took their "fragrance free" policies seriously? Not very welcoming:
Attending Your First Contra Dance in a Fragrance-Compliant Manner
An honest attempt to describe what you're technically supposed to do if you follow the posted policies. I don't think anyone actually expects you to do this! Great to hear that you've decided to atte...
www.jefftk.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:33 AM
What would honest advice to contra dance newcomers look like if communities took their "fragrance free" policies seriously? Not very welcoming:
The situation in the contra dance world with "fragrance free" is a mess. Many dances have very strict policies, but they don't advertise this. So they're not dances that work for people who need the strict policies, but then also put careful people through a lot of work in avoiding common products.
Fragrance Free Confusion
The situation in the contra dance world with
www.jefftk.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The situation in the contra dance world with "fragrance free" is a mess. Many dances have very strict policies, but they don't advertise this. So they're not dances that work for people who need the strict policies, but then also put careful people through a lot of work in avoiding common products.
We surveyed our dance community on reducing infection risk from COVID, flu, and other airborne pathogens using far UVC and glycol vapors. Far UVC was very popular; glycol vapors were popular but more mixed.
Survey Results: Far UVC and Glycol Vapors
A dance organization I help run, BIDA, recently ran a survey. Several of the questions asked how folks felt about using far UVC and glycol vapors to reduce risk from COVID, flu, and other airborne pa...
www.jefftk.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:05 AM
We surveyed our dance community on reducing infection risk from COVID, flu, and other airborne pathogens using far UVC and glycol vapors. Far UVC was very popular; glycol vapors were popular but more mixed.
This popped back in my head today, and I'm still not sure if this commenter was trolling me
October 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
This popped back in my head today, and I'm still not sure if this commenter was trolling me
Estimating the chance of future natural pandemics, without even taking into account the increasing risk from AI-assisted engineering, I get that a good reusable mask is worth about $14k. Since they cost $30-$60, they're well worth buying to keep on hand!
You Should Get a Reusable Mask
A pandemic that's substantially worse than COVID-19 is a serious possibility. If one happens, having a good mask could save your life. A high quality reusable mask is only $30 to $60, and I think it'...
www.jefftk.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Estimating the chance of future natural pandemics, without even taking into account the increasing risk from AI-assisted engineering, I get that a good reusable mask is worth about $14k. Since they cost $30-$60, they're well worth buying to keep on hand!
Does anyone remember who I lent my Far UVC lamp to? I'm completely blanking on it. It was one of these: aerolamp.net
Aerolamp | far-UVC Air Cleaning for Indoor UV Light Cleaning
Aerolamp uses far-UVC technology for air cleaning! UV light cleaning with far-UVC is safe for people, for air cleaning, and indoor UV Light Cleaning
aerolamp.net
October 6, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Does anyone remember who I lent my Far UVC lamp to? I'm completely blanking on it. It was one of these: aerolamp.net
How should BIDA reduce airborne infections? Masks, far UVC, glycol vapors? Some combination? Nothing? Let us know what you'd like to see!
BIDA Covid Survey, Fall 2025
We're trying to understand the preferences of our community around covid precautions--does the dance feel too risky? Too conservative? What would you like to see different? What affects whether you...
docs.google.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
How should BIDA reduce airborne infections? Masks, far UVC, glycol vapors? Some combination? Nothing? Let us know what you'd like to see!
Mask optional dances had 9% higher attendance on average, but (via permutation testing!) it was just p=0.2.
Significant Effect of Mask Requirements?
Entropic Thoughts recently reanalyzed the data I'd shared on the relationship between mask requirements and dance attendance we've seen at BIDA. They conclude: Other sources account for most of th...
www.jefftk.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Mask optional dances had 9% higher attendance on average, but (via permutation testing!) it was just p=0.2.
We tried glycol vapors and far UVC at BIDA last night, for reducing inhalation of infectious aerosols. No issues with either!
I also stayed after to make an estimate of how much ventilation we're getting; looks like ~24 CFM/person.
I also stayed after to make an estimate of how much ventilation we're getting; looks like ~24 CFM/person.
Glycol, Far UVC, and CFM Measurement at BIDA
We planned to trial far UVC and glycol vapors at the BIDA contra dance last night: these are two options (beyond masks and ventilation) for reducing infectious aerosol inhalation. Both worked without...
www.jefftk.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:53 PM
We tried glycol vapors and far UVC at BIDA last night, for reducing inhalation of infectious aerosols. No issues with either!
I also stayed after to make an estimate of how much ventilation we're getting; looks like ~24 CFM/person.
I also stayed after to make an estimate of how much ventilation we're getting; looks like ~24 CFM/person.
Our cats are in the paper!
Two-year-old siblings Clementine and Nix are running for mayor and vice-mayor respectively. Their owner Lily, 11, says the pair’s goals are lengthy: ...
Two-year-old siblings Clementine and Nix are running for mayor and vice-mayor respectively. Their owner Lily, 11, says the pair’s goals are lengthy: ...
The cat mayoral race: meet 11 runners and riders in the US’s most furious – and furriest – election
It has been the talk of Somerville, Massachusetts this summer, with the winner announced later today. Will it be the candidate who promises free kibble or the one who speaks gnomically of ‘CRIME’?
www.theguardian.com
September 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Our cats are in the paper!
Two-year-old siblings Clementine and Nix are running for mayor and vice-mayor respectively. Their owner Lily, 11, says the pair’s goals are lengthy: ...
Two-year-old siblings Clementine and Nix are running for mayor and vice-mayor respectively. Their owner Lily, 11, says the pair’s goals are lengthy: ...
I'm working out the logistics for trialing triethelyne glycol for pathogen control at a contra dance, and ran some tests to figure out how much to dilute it to get the right amount of vapor. www.jefftk.com/p/calibratin...
Calibrating an Ultrasonic Humidifier for Glycol Vapors
I'm working out the logistics for trialing triethelyne glycol for pathogen control at a contra dance, and I need something to put the liquid glycol into the air. I'd initially been thinking of using ...
www.jefftk.com
August 27, 2025 at 2:19 AM
I'm working out the logistics for trialing triethelyne glycol for pathogen control at a contra dance, and ran some tests to figure out how much to dilute it to get the right amount of vapor. www.jefftk.com/p/calibratin...
Before having kids I thought teaching them to clean up would be similar to the rest of parenting: once they're physically able to do it you start practicing with them, and after a while they're independent and do it reliably. Tidying has not been one of these.
Kids and Cleaning
Before having kids I thought teaching them to clean up would be similar to the rest of parenting: once they're physically able to do it you start practicing with them, and after a while they're indep...
www.jefftk.com
August 24, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Before having kids I thought teaching them to clean up would be similar to the rest of parenting: once they're physically able to do it you start practicing with them, and after a while they're independent and do it reliably. Tidying has not been one of these.
The numbers printed on pasta boxes for cooking time generally seem way high, even on the low end. I ran an experiment on some "13-15min" Rigatoni and we liked it best around 10min30s.
Pasta Cooking Time
I generally find the numbers printed on pasta boxes for cooking time far too high: I'll set the timer for a minute below their low-end
www.jefftk.com
August 23, 2025 at 2:58 AM
The numbers printed on pasta boxes for cooking time generally seem way high, even on the low end. I ran an experiment on some "13-15min" Rigatoni and we liked it best around 10min30s.
This year you can order the nasal spray flu vaccine to your house, and self-administer. I just ordered for our whole family: $18 for five people, delivered.
I expect the kids to strongly prefer this to needles, and it's much easier logistically.
I expect the kids to strongly prefer this to needles, and it's much easier logistically.
www.flumist.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:05 PM
This year you can order the nasal spray flu vaccine to your house, and self-administer. I just ordered for our whole family: $18 for five people, delivered.
I expect the kids to strongly prefer this to needles, and it's much easier logistically.
I expect the kids to strongly prefer this to needles, and it's much easier logistically.
I play by ear, and when I write tunes I normally save them by making a recording. Since other people use dots, I'd like to have transcriptions, but this is hard. I had a go at this with AI tooling without success, and then did reasonably well writing four tunes out manually.
Writing Out My Tunes
I play by ear, and when I write tunes I normally save them by making a recording. This isn't ideal for sharing, though, especially with people who are more comfortable learning tunes from dots. I last...
www.jefftk.com
August 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I play by ear, and when I write tunes I normally save them by making a recording. Since other people use dots, I'd like to have transcriptions, but this is hard. I had a go at this with AI tooling without success, and then did reasonably well writing four tunes out manually.