Tom Lehrer, Harvard’s Satiric, Melodic Mathematician, Dies at 97

Synopsys, a major tech company, just pulled off a massive $35 billion deal to acquire Ansys—but it wasn't easy. Their CFO, Shelagh Glaser, spilled some details about the nail-biting, last-minute hurdles they faced, especially with global trade tensions swirling in the background. Meanwhile, the article also drops in on a chat with the finance chief of Colombia’s top bank, hinting at broader economic shifts.

Editor’s Note: Big-money deals like this don’t happen in a vacuum—they’re a pulse check on the economy. The fact that Synopsys pushed through despite trade turbulence signals confidence (or stubborn optimism) in the tech sector. And tossing in Colombia’s banking heavyweight? That’s a reminder that global finance is full of moving parts, even when the spotlight’s on Silicon Valley.

Samsung just dropped a massive 61.44TB SSD—their biggest yet—for $5,593, which works out to a surprisingly reasonable $0.09 per gigabyte. It’s a PCIe Gen5 beast aimed at data centers and professionals who need insane storage without breaking the bank (relatively speaking).

Editor’s Note: For most of us, this is tech flex territory—who needs 61TB of solid-state storage? But for enterprises handling mountains of data (think AI training, video rendering, or cloud servers), this is a big deal. The price-per-GB is shockingly low for cutting-edge SSD tech, signaling that high-capacity storage is getting more accessible. It’s a glimpse into where the industry’s headed: bigger, faster, and—eventually—cheaper for the rest of us.

Tom Lehrer, the whip-smart songwriter and mathematician who turned political and social satire into an art form with songs like "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" and "The Elements," has passed away at 97. His darkly humorous, brilliantly crafted tunes skewered everything from nuclear war to the education system, leaving a lasting mark on comedy and music.

Editor’s Note: Lehrer was a rare breed—a Harvard-trained mathematician who also happened to be one of the 20th century’s sharpest satirists. His work wasn’t just funny; it was smart funny, dissecting serious topics with a smirk. While he famously retired from performing decades ago, his influence lingers in everything from "Weird Al" Yankovic to political comedy today. His death closes a chapter on a uniquely cerebral kind of humor.

Itch.io, a popular indie game marketplace, is tightening its rules around adult content—joining a growing list of platforms that are restricting sexually explicit games. While the details aren’t fully clear yet, the move has sparked debate among developers and players who rely on the platform for uncensored creative expression.

Editor’s Note: Itch.io has long been a haven for indie creators, especially those making niche or boundary-pushing games. This shift could push adult game developers to riskier or less visible platforms, and it raises familiar questions about who gets to decide what’s "acceptable" in digital marketplaces. For a community that values artistic freedom, it’s another frustrating hurdle.

Tom Lehrer, the whip-smart mathematician-turned-musical satirist whose darkly hilarious songs skewered Cold War paranoia, nuclear fears, and everyday hypocrisies in the '50s and '60s, has passed away at 97. A Harvard academic by training, his brief but brilliant musical career left an indelible mark on comedy and counterculture—proving you can be equally gifted with equations and punchlines.

Editor’s Note: Lehrer wasn’t just a cult favorite—he was a cultural seismograph, turning existential dread into piano-bar bangers. His death closes a chapter on a uniquely cerebral kind of satire that made serious topics digestible (and danceable). For anyone who values sharp wit with a side of existential angst, his legacy is a reminder that humor can be both brainy and rebellious.