Ted Chiang: AI ain’t art
Many novelists have had the experience of being approached by someone convinced that they have a great idea for a novel, which they are willing… Read More »Ted Chiang: AI ain’t art
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Edward Gibbon and Zhuang Zi on teaching, learning and tacit knowledge
… the power of instruction is seldom of much efficacy, except in those happy dispositions where it is almost superfluous. Edward Gibbon – The History… Read More »Edward Gibbon and Zhuang Zi on teaching, learning and tacit knowledge
God’s own latency
This is from an amazing explanation of the airfoil by Bartosz Ciechanowski – one of many physics / engineering demonstrations on his (highly recommended) website.… Read More »God’s own latency
Bukele; or, The Search for a Saviour
Recommended, via MR. The Nationalist Republican Alliance, or ARENA, founded by the far-right death-squad leader Roberto D’Aubuisson, and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, or… Read More »Bukele; or, The Search for a Saviour
Ricardo Hausman on know-how and economic development
Economic development depends on the accumulation of know-how. The theory of economic growth has long emphasised the importance of something called technical progress, but what… Read More »Ricardo Hausman on know-how and economic development
We don’t talk anymore
It’s the tech. *Mulligan writes “I bet no-one checked their newspaper during dinner”, but I definitely remember newspapers at breakfast and novels at other meals… Read More »We don’t talk anymore
Nasal turbinates
If you’ve ever wondered why a congested nose tends to feel blocked on one side (and runny on the other) only to switch sides later,… Read More »Nasal turbinates
James Yorke: fifty years of chaos (theory)
Almost fifty years ago, when my student T. Y. Li and I wrote a math paper titled “Period 3 Implies Chaos”, I could not predict… Read More »James Yorke: fifty years of chaos (theory)
Bon Jovi / The Mandalorian / Socrates
It’s My Life It’s my lifeAnd it’s now or neverI aint gonna live foreverI just wanna live while I’m alive. My heart is like an… Read More »Bon Jovi / The Mandalorian / Socrates
Katherine Rundell on the aesthetics of language: form and substance
I recommend Tyler Cowen’s recent interview with Katherine Rundell. Here’s a highlight: It would be really important to me [when identifying a writing talent] that… Read More »Katherine Rundell on the aesthetics of language: form and substance