Not causal chains, but interactions and adaptations
(surfingcomplexity.blog)
I’ve been a bit of an anti-root-cause-analysis (RCA) tear lately.
I’ve been a bit of an anti-root-cause-analysis (RCA) tear lately.
How to Measure an Apocalypse
(jonn.substack.com)
This went to paying subscribers back in January but, given the week’s British political news, felt oddly relevant right now. Want to make sure you’re not missing anything? You know what to do:
This went to paying subscribers back in January but, given the week’s British political news, felt oddly relevant right now. Want to make sure you’re not missing anything? You know what to do:
Forensic Fandom
(exiledfan.substack.com)
A while back, a fellow fandom writer tweeted about how music fans are missing out on the joy of absorbing songs into their own lives, applying them to their own experiences by instead focusing on the what and who the songs are about, and how they map onto the existing narrative of the performer’s life.
A while back, a fellow fandom writer tweeted about how music fans are missing out on the joy of absorbing songs into their own lives, applying them to their own experiences by instead focusing on the what and who the songs are about, and how they map onto the existing narrative of the performer’s life.
What happens at the end of 'Trading Places'? (2013)
(npr.org)
It's been 30 years since Trading Places came out. And, to be honest, I never really understood what happened at the end of that movie. Sure, Louis Winthorpe (Dan Aykroyd) and Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) get rich, and the Duke brothers lose all their money. But what actually happens? How does it work?
It's been 30 years since Trading Places came out. And, to be honest, I never really understood what happened at the end of that movie. Sure, Louis Winthorpe (Dan Aykroyd) and Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) get rich, and the Duke brothers lose all their money. But what actually happens? How does it work?
Conspiracies Are Often Unnecessary
(curi.us)
David Deutsch wrote an article about conspiracy theories and we had conversations about them. It's an interesting topic which is worth analyzing not just dismissing. I now think he was right about some of the logic of his analysis, but wrong about how it applies to the world. Deutsch says:
David Deutsch wrote an article about conspiracy theories and we had conversations about them. It's an interesting topic which is worth analyzing not just dismissing. I now think he was right about some of the logic of his analysis, but wrong about how it applies to the world. Deutsch says:
The Everything Bubble – mismanagement has put the American economy at risk
(medium.com)
The American economy has been twisted into a perverted mockery of the natural order, the consequences of which have spawned the slow rot of speculative insanity that is turning the most powerful economic engine in history into a shambling, zombified husk of what was once rationality.
The American economy has been twisted into a perverted mockery of the natural order, the consequences of which have spawned the slow rot of speculative insanity that is turning the most powerful economic engine in history into a shambling, zombified husk of what was once rationality.
Has the tennis ball gotten worse?
(defector.com)
The best way to snap an athlete out of platitude autopilot in a press conference is to get them to vent about some technical complaint.
The best way to snap an athlete out of platitude autopilot in a press conference is to get them to vent about some technical complaint.
Apple Might Be Having Its Windows Vista Moment, Says Analyst
(macrumors.com)
Is Apple experiencing a "Vista-like drift into systemically poor execution?"
Is Apple experiencing a "Vista-like drift into systemically poor execution?"
OpenAI Nonprofit Buyout: Much More Than You Wanted to Know
(astralcodexten.com)
Last month, I put out a request for experts to help me understand the details of OpenAI’s forprofit buyout. The following comes from someone who has looked into the situation in depth but is not an insider. Mistakes are mine alone.
Last month, I put out a request for experts to help me understand the details of OpenAI’s forprofit buyout. The following comes from someone who has looked into the situation in depth but is not an insider. Mistakes are mine alone.
Lawrence of Arabia, Paul Atreides, and the roots of Frank Herbert's Dune (2021)
(reactormag.com)
At first glance, Frank Herbert’s Dune (1965) might appear to be a mere copy of the story of Lawrence of Arabia with some science-fictional window dressing.
At first glance, Frank Herbert’s Dune (1965) might appear to be a mere copy of the story of Lawrence of Arabia with some science-fictional window dressing.
Show HN: Paste a Zillow URL and get a property analysis
(trymasterkey.com)
A comprehensive evaluation of this property's features, market position, and investment potential.
A comprehensive evaluation of this property's features, market position, and investment potential.
Humane (Or Red Flags to Spot for Next Time)
(lmnt.me)
There’s a lot to take away from Humane’s story, but first, I want to share something I said on Twitter in July 2022, a full year before Humane revealed their product, the Ai Pin:
There’s a lot to take away from Humane’s story, but first, I want to share something I said on Twitter in July 2022, a full year before Humane revealed their product, the Ai Pin:
Apple in 2024: The Six Colors report card
(sixcolors.com)
It’s time for our annual look back on Apple’s performance during the past year, as seen through the eyes of writers, editors, developers, podcasters, and other people who spend an awful lot of time thinking about Apple.
It’s time for our annual look back on Apple’s performance during the past year, as seen through the eyes of writers, editors, developers, podcasters, and other people who spend an awful lot of time thinking about Apple.
The Online Sports Gambling Experiment Has Failed
(lesswrong.com)
It brings me no pleasure to conclude that this was not the case. The results are in. Legalized mobile gambling on sports, let alone casino games, has proven to be a huge mistake. The societal impacts are far worse than I expected.
It brings me no pleasure to conclude that this was not the case. The results are in. Legalized mobile gambling on sports, let alone casino games, has proven to be a huge mistake. The societal impacts are far worse than I expected.
The Riddle of Luigi Mangione
(gurwinder.blog)
After the suspected killer of UnitedHeathcare CEO Brian Thompson was revealed to be Luigi Mangione, a bright young man from a well-to-do family, thousands of pundits rushed to tell us why he did it. I, however, held back, because unlike them I’d actually met Luigi, and I knew all was not what it seemed.
After the suspected killer of UnitedHeathcare CEO Brian Thompson was revealed to be Luigi Mangione, a bright young man from a well-to-do family, thousands of pundits rushed to tell us why he did it. I, however, held back, because unlike them I’d actually met Luigi, and I knew all was not what it seemed.
The Lichess Game Compressor's Analysis of Game 1 of the World Championships
(mcognetta.github.io)
The 2024 Chess World Championships are in the books. The scores, grandmaster commentary, and Stockfish evaluations tell most of the story, but isn't there someone you forgot to ask?
The 2024 Chess World Championships are in the books. The scores, grandmaster commentary, and Stockfish evaluations tell most of the story, but isn't there someone you forgot to ask?
Grading the World's Shortest Manifesto
(cremieux.xyz)
It’s time to grade the short manifesto written by the suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Let’s go line-by-line. It starts:
It’s time to grade the short manifesto written by the suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Let’s go line-by-line. It starts:
Analyzing Go Build Times (2023)
(howardjohn.info)
Go is often praised for its fast build times. While they are pretty quick, they are slow enough that I spend a lot of time waiting for them, enough that it prompted me to go down the rabbit hole of thoroughly analyzing them. This post covers all aspects of what makes Go builds fast or slow.
Go is often praised for its fast build times. While they are pretty quick, they are slow enough that I spend a lot of time waiting for them, enough that it prompted me to go down the rabbit hole of thoroughly analyzing them. This post covers all aspects of what makes Go builds fast or slow.
All possible plots by major authors (2020)
(the-fence.com)
We praise canonical authors for their boundless imagination. Then why do all their plots feel the same?
We praise canonical authors for their boundless imagination. Then why do all their plots feel the same?
Is Disney Bad at Star Wars? An Analysis
(hollywoodreporter.com)
High budgets, scrapped projects, fan backlash. It’s been 12 years since Disney bought 'Star Wars' and its galaxy far, far away arguably has too many broken toys.
High budgets, scrapped projects, fan backlash. It’s been 12 years since Disney bought 'Star Wars' and its galaxy far, far away arguably has too many broken toys.
Those calling Intel a company in decline are missing the point
(fortune.com)
Don’t be fooled—the Intel saga isn’t what it seems. Recent coverage narrates the sad decline of a once-great American company, with the outcome looking dim. But the story is really a high-stakes thriller leading to an uncertain resolution that could carry global implications. It may take years to play out, but seeing the big picture makes each day’s news far more interesting.
Don’t be fooled—the Intel saga isn’t what it seems. Recent coverage narrates the sad decline of a once-great American company, with the outcome looking dim. But the story is really a high-stakes thriller leading to an uncertain resolution that could carry global implications. It may take years to play out, but seeing the big picture makes each day’s news far more interesting.