Mitch's Blog

The Freakonomics podcast is doing a series of episodes on the physicist Richard Feynman. The first episode is terrific, and I’m looking forward to listening to the rest.

Feynman liked to figure things out from first principles. He didn’t accept received wisdom. This led him to extraordinary breakthroughs in physics and a rich and unusual life. He followed his own path, in science and in life.

But Feynman was a super-genius. You and I are not super-geniuses. If you and I try to apply this principle broadly, that leads to Qanon, anti-vax and other bad outcomes.

Sometimes you have to listen to what the experts say.

However, here in the 21st Century, with institutions breaking down and displaying incompetence, it’s difficult to figure out which self-proclaimed experts to listen to.

NYTimes: Could a Giant Parasol in Outer Space Help Solve the Climate Crisis?

Researchers are investigating whether a solar shield in space that blocks some sunlight could help mitigate climate change.

Are they really calling it a “space parasol?” It should be pink with yellow daisies all over, and tassels at the edges.

It has stopped raining and the sun is out at last, but it is so, so wet and chilly and unpleasant out there.

This is not why we are paying San Diego cost-of-living to live here. I demand to speak to a manager.

TV show idea: Just Chrisjen Avasarala from The Expanse and Susy from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel swearing. I would watch 13 seasons of that.

Currently reading: Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo 📚My third or fourth time reading this wonderful book.

What are your favorite and second-favorite social media services? Where do you spend the most time?

Cisco and NVIDIA did a technology integration deal this week—here’s why it matters: Cisco and NVIDIA want to take the hassle out of AI infrastructure. My latest article for Silverlinings.

Clarkesworld: “Why Don’t We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole,” by Isabel J. Kim.

Via Pluralistic — thanks!