How do hamsters outsmart humans?
For those who came in late, this is Joan. Born to Run Most of the signs – particularly the signs she leaves in her food… Read More »How do hamsters outsmart humans?
Adam Smith on emergent opulence: peace, easy taxes and justice
You heard it first from Thucidides. Now here’s Smith: Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the… Read More »Adam Smith on emergent opulence: peace, easy taxes and justice
“What can I do to make things better?” (3): ends, means, and the Roomba of contingency
Uncertainty about ends, means and you. There’s an important caveat to the any understanding we come to about ends, means, and your place in the… Read More »“What can I do to make things better?” (3): ends, means, and the Roomba of contingency
“What can I do to make things better?” (2): assumptions
While you’re establishing* your habit of thought-and-action, look again at the question. It contains at least three assumptions, each raising another set of questions. 1.… Read More »“What can I do to make things better?” (2): assumptions
“Dogs that do not bark”: Gwern Branwen on unseen progress since the 1990s
Progress is usually debated in terms of the big things like lifting the Third World out of poverty, eliminating child mortality, or science & tech:… Read More »“Dogs that do not bark”: Gwern Branwen on unseen progress since the 1990s
Sturgeon’s law(s)
1) “90% of everything is crud.”* 2) “Nothing is absolutely so.” Theodore Sturgeon Law number one is most useful for rebutting (or ignoring) attacks on… Read More »Sturgeon’s law(s)
Douglas Crockford on making a standard (JSON) (2): minimal solutions and decision making
This is part of a great talk from infoQ. JSON (Javascript Object Notation) is a format for sending data between computers, including those running different… Read More »Douglas Crockford on making a standard (JSON) (2): minimal solutions and decision making
Douglas Crockford on making a standard (JSON) (1)
In 2001 I was at a company I’d started called State Software… we produced some brilliant demonstrations and were beginning to make some progress in… Read More »Douglas Crockford on making a standard (JSON) (1)
Links from Patrick Collison on air pollution and cognition and (so) GDP
Here’s the opener – more on his site. Air pollution is a very big deal. Its adverse effects on numerous health outcomes and general mortality… Read More »Links from Patrick Collison on air pollution and cognition and (so) GDP
“What can I do to make things better?” (1)
This is a great question, and a big question, a question for which help is available but which ultimately, you need to answer for yourself… Read More »“What can I do to make things better?” (1)