2022-12-31
(covering two weeks this time because I had some unexpected travel)
Readings
Fun and weird physics quirk: soap bubble materials are cooler than the surrounding air: https://phys.org/news/2022-12-soap-cooler-air.html
Better understanding of mechanisms of circadian clocks (in insects, at least): https://phys.org/news/2022-12-reveals-fruit-fly-circadian-clock.html
Development of models of probability in decisionmaking as children age: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-12-three-year-olds-deploy-possibility-concepts-decision-making.html
Short lecture on the chemistry of superglue:
How “floating mountains” formed, geologically:
Efforts to look deeper into the “atmosphere” of Sol: https://www.space.com/sun-middle-corona-solar-wind-source
I’d be interested in seeing debates on this; the video makes a strong case for the idea that short-term rentals disrupt normal neighbourhoods and residential rents:
On the (largely semantic) distinction between C-flat and B:
Thoughts
I continue to struggle with something that something seems like an insight and sometimes a misstep; the idea that employees should treat employment relations as things that they too can put conditions and rules on; this only works when employees have a lot of power relative to their employer (rare in practice unless collectively), and it may make people unmanagable, hampering civilisation. Taken more broadly, when people relate to nations this way then things may become almost literally unmanagable and large scale collective efforts difficult. The answer may be to avoid the extremes; to remember that it is an option, but to remember that it usually will (and should) fail if taken to strong degrees.
I don’t think philosophy is done well in academia; it tends towards sterility and wrong attitudes for something that should be close to an ordinary life; recently I’ve been thinking about how comics (alongside some religious roles) fill a lot of the role philosophy as a discipline should have in the public eye. The public sense-making of life is approached with more comfort by comics than by today’s philosophers; a problem for the field I think as it’s become too abstract under academic association
Current Events
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, with the effects of long-term bombardment emptying out large areas of civilians; it has demanded Ukraine be demilitarised if there is to be peace, likely making a third invasion down the line easier once it has recovered its military. Much of the third world seems uninterested in standing up to Russia, likely because they still see value in exploring (or appearing to explore) other options to the western-led economic order
Right-wing Israeli leader Netanyahu pledges to expand ethnic cleansing in the disputed West Bank outside the borders of Israel, setting up future international conflicts and expanding racist policies, but pleasing his political base
Venezuela’s government, having preserved some of its power through lawless power grabs, is having drama in its opposition pretender government, having removed its presidential claimant and winding down some of its shadow structures, while looking for a new leader to challenge Maduro in coming elections
Having lost his bid for reelection recently, Bolsonaro (possibly to avoid prosecution from Brazil’s incoming government) fled to the US
Reviewlets
Rocket Fizz (soda shop) - It’s neat to see what kinds of shops are viable as businesses; Rocket Fizz focuses on obscure sodas, and it’s a franchise (that I wasn’t aware of until recently) across the country. I don’t drink much soda (partly because I dislike Coke and my tastes don’t match the rather dull other options), but was pleased to see they stock some of the weird sodas I like, as well as Lime Jarritos and some sodas I’ve never tried before. Cool store, goofy atmosphere.
Meow Wolf (museum-sort-of) - This is a small chain of very weird, large “museums of an alternate reality”; I visited the one in Denver and found it fascinating. They put a lot of effort into worldbuilding, constructing artefacts of their other reality, and making things disorienting. I admire the effort and largely had a good time (downside: there were lots of stairs and I’m presently having ankle problems making the whole thing painful)
Los Dos Potrillos (mexican restaurant, Denver) - Really good Tex-Mex place. I hope to return someday to try more of their foods.
Denver International Airport - Weird design - the entryway is in a ring above the security area, and after passing through that one descends further to trains that take one to the terminals. Felt like descending into a rock quarry. At least it’s less dull than most airports, although it would’ve been nice if there had been seats in the security area
Steelrising (video game) - Interesting and pretty world, lots of style, but variety through the game is limited, mechanics are underexplained, and a sharp difficulty spike are diminishing my interest in this pretty quickly.
Stainless Steel Rat’s Revenge (book in series) - The series found its footing and now drops off some philosophical insights as well as organisational studies alongside its heist-spy-novel main content. It works really well.
Plufl Dog Bed for Humans - It looks like a dog bed, acts like a bean bag, was annoying to assemble, but is pretty comfy (even for a fairly tall guy like me). It should serve well as an alternate bed when I have a guest.
Amusements
Could’ve gone under music just as well - this is a very enjoyable cover of the song “Bloody Tears” from the Castlevania series:
Alongside snark, this covers some of the interesting physics of how bees fly:
Recent Music
Mandela - Salif Keita - The layering of patterns in this song is pleasant; the artist is an interesting guy
Thriller - Michael Jackson - He may not have been a particularly good person, but he was an amazing singer (the song was written by Rod Temperton), with this being one of his best
Where is the Love - Black Eyed Peas - I first heard of this song through some (fan?) content relating to Neon Genesis Evangelion, and the band after the song.