2022-12-17
Readings
Recently a major engineering advance in Fusion power was announced; a net-positive interaction in fusion power production was announced (at least by some measures - laser power as input, power production as output; this all took place in the background of power-expensive magnetic containment); it’s another step on the long path to Fusion power, a technology that will hopefully someday change the world. In time this may shift us off of carbon-releasing petrol and coal, and place new emphasis on power storage: https://www.llnl.gov/news/national-ignition-facility-achieves-fusion-ignition
Interesting to see impact-resistant materials made from plants: https://phys.org/news/2022-12-team-protein-based-material-supersonic-impacts.html
The latter half of this video covers a problem with excessively punitive perfection-oriented practices in business, and how those combine with human psychology to make disasters; this is a broader lesson, one healthy to consider to push back against bad intuitions:
Another study on nanomaterials and the gut microbiomes; we may need more regulation on some of these topics to lessen health issues: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/12/221212140606.htm
An interestingly fracture-resistant alloy: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp8070
A sober analysis of the claims of carbon capture:
Thoughts
On the path from low-trust societies to high-trust (or vice versa), societal trust is an important concept; we are more likely to be principled if we think it won’t hurt us deeply to do so. Self-interest reigns in low-trust society, but it doesn’t disappear in high-trust ones; it changes. Specifically, the notion of the self used for that concept changes; in low trust societies the idea of the self is close to biological; expanded outwards it encompasses blood, then kin, then perhaps town, state, nation, and maybe someday in the future, all of humanity; this is an alternate way to understand some kinds of altruism; it is not to give up on the self, but rather to broaden the notion of it. This idea isn’t alien; even in low-trust societies people routinely favour their kin because they see themselves in their kin (overcoming this as trust rises means pushing against nepotism)
The terms of centralisation - The benefits of rules and order are usually clear, but the costs rarely are thought about; it may be worth investigating the terms of this centralisation to keep them from wandering a greater distance than justified from individual terms
Sometime back I watched some of Cesar Millan’s Dog videos, and eventually I stopped because it came to feel like “TV fast food” - more spectacle than careful substance. I appreciate that this Vet Student may (also) lack the full qualifications to critique Milan, Milan’s content is clearly harmful when carefully examined; it’s worth thinking carefully about why Milan’s content resonates with people, and worth trying to reshape oneself to lessen those effects. When I was younger I subscribed to a publication called Adbusters; I eventually stopped because it too was more about style than substance (itself amusing), but the intuition is sound.
I’ve been wondering whether packs of wolves in a forest use trails and set them, and what the process of setting them looks like if they do that; is it open to all pack members or reserved to some?
Current Events
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, with little progress on the ground, but with Russia having destroyed more civilian infrastructure and with ongoing debates over what kinds of weapons western powers might ship to Ukraine; I continue to be disappointed that no direct engagement between western powers and Russia is on the table right now; both Russia and Ukraine are holding back troops in anticipation of larger clashes in the near future
North Korea is testing new missile propulsion systems in a live launch over the ocean
Reviewlets
The Stainless Steel Rat (novel) - I’m only a short ways into this but the writing is excellent and it’s rare that I’m so excited about an unlikable protagonist. Good intrigue, and it paints the main character with all his ideas and plans stretched wide around him like a landscape, navigating that through a complicated world. Hoping the rest of it is as good as the intro
Sixth Watch (last Night Watch novel) - And finally the probable end to the series; it ends on a kind of mystery that’s interesting along the way but unsatisfying at the tail. A fair bit of it is weak dialogue, but the plot resolution feels contrived as well.
REI Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka (coat) - I got this to replace an inadequate winter coat I had, and it does a fairly good job keeping me warm. The biggest downside is the zipper quality for the pockets; they feel fragile and easily jam. The pockets are also all on the small side. The hood is pretty reasonable at keeping off rain, and it does well in general in the rain.
Amusements
Weird that laugh tracks had such a strong commitment from studio execs at one point:
Nice thng with a running gag is that when it runs long enough it can play off itself (also kudos to Robert Picardo for doing weird risque humour on his channel):
A tub of golden retrievers sounds lovely:
Recent Music
Bird Priest - Ratatat - Some years ago I was introduced to Ratatat, which does experimental electronic music that’s occasionally enjoyable and nearly always different. This is decent background music; it’d be weird to go to a concert
Bus Stop Boxer - Eels - One of the better songs from the band, I think. A lot of their songs are dark and tired and weird.
The Easy Winners - Scott Joplin - This music feels like it’s out going for a pleasant walk