mjklin

11 ms·

91.
by mjklin 3y ago
It is not always clear what will turn out to be useful or not, even in terms of morale. Witness Richard Feynman’s curiosity about a wobbling plate that someone threw in the air, that he credits with solving his burnout with science: https:
92.
by mjklin 3y ago
Solipsism just isn’t true for me…
93.
by mjklin 3y ago
The Ancient Greek word “δαίμων” referred to a lesser god linked to a place (like the spirit of the hearth) or a person (like a guardian angel). Latin took this idea into the related word “genius” which in modern Romance languages can mean e
94.
by mjklin 3y ago
I feel like this depends on the field. Newer / “hotter” fields (e.g. evo psych) tend to be dominated by rockstars while traditional / staid fields (e.g. linear algebra) have mostly solid and competent practitioners.
95.
by mjklin 3y ago
Why not both?
96.
by mjklin 3y ago
It has been well said that academia is “show business for ugly people”.
97.
by mjklin 3y ago
For Greek speakers it just means “sky” so no big deal. The namer of the planet was German (Johann Bode) so he wouldn’t have known its unfortunate double meaning in English. Every time you say it it’s like a punchline.
98.
by mjklin 3y ago
SF is a port city and like all port cities has been permissive towards the vices that sailors tend to engage in.
99.
by mjklin 3y ago
It is simply misguided: “No such program of eugenics could work: there is no lasting agreement about desirable mental or physical qualities; an individual’s worth depends on other, incalculable ingredients. Environmental conditions mingle
100.
by mjklin 4y ago
“Computer: Tea, Earl Grey” So then why did Star Trek happen if they had replicators?
101.
by mjklin 4y ago
If you’re a Greek speaker there’s no joke at all, since ouranós = sky
102.
by mjklin 4y ago
“People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices” - Adam Smith https://en.wikipedia.org/wi
103.
by mjklin 4y ago
Tell all the truth but tell it slant — Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth's superb surprise As Lightning to the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind
104.
by mjklin 4y ago
Of course alligators don’t eat lawyers. Professional courtesy.
105.
by mjklin 4y ago
It’s an allegory for something, but I can’t quite put my finger on it…
106.
by mjklin 4y ago
A similar thing happened when Alexander Solzhenitsyn defected to the US from the USSR. As long as he was blasting the Soviets everybody listened, but when he started critiquing the US as well…his speaking invitations dried up.
107.
by mjklin 4y ago
The book “Houses to Go” by Robert Williams has info on how to do this.
108.
by mjklin 4y ago
The writer David Rakoff of This American Life fame said that he felt 47 ever since his 20s. Coincidentally, he died at 47 from cancer.
109.
by mjklin 4y ago
I doubt the evidence will stand up…
110.
by mjklin 4y ago
This American Life reported on a similar story in Oklahoma in 2007. The boss came by and cut the Indian workers’ breakfast egg in half. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/344/the-competition/act-one
111.
by mjklin 4y ago
VALIS is real, that’s all.
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by mjklin 4y ago
https://www.theonion.com/eggs-good-for-you-this-week-1819565...
113.
by mjklin 4y ago
See also: “Naked Came the Stranger” and “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls”. Works that were intentionally, provocatively bad, yet successful. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_Came_the_Stranger https://en.wi
114.
by mjklin 4y ago
There was a documentary made also, perhaps based on this article? https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/happy-happy-joy-joy-the-r...
115.
by mjklin 4y ago
Thanks, this is eye-opening!
116.
by mjklin 4y ago
“Once you have learned to ask questions – relevant and appropriate and substantial questions – you have learned how to learn and no one can keep you from learning whatever you want or need to know.” - Neil Postman “In times of change, learn
117.
by mjklin 4y ago
I was considering learning Plover and even bought a keyboard to learn, but that was about the time that Otter.ai and other speech-to-text tools started becoming excellent. So I thought, what’s the point? Can anyone convince me? I may still
118.
by mjklin 4y ago
Strange connections…road trip…hmm, reminds me of: https://youtu.be/hMQ2qGmJOVM
119.
by mjklin 4y ago
“It is when we are using what we have learned that we wish we had studied more” - Chinese proverb
120.
by mjklin 4y ago
“I literally couldn't talk to any one. There was nobody. I just walked off by myself... I could never talk to anyone about it and never understood anyone's reaction." - Noam Chomsky the day of the Hiroshima bombing

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