tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.comments2024-03-18T07:44:24.908-04:00TKIN: Philosopher Encounters Modern LifePatricia Marinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087880431696831634noreply@blogger.comBlogger566125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-76265908289457763452024-02-13T12:35:13.176-05:002024-02-13T12:35:13.176-05:00In slightly more detail, ℂ is the algebraic closur...In slightly more detail, ℂ is the algebraic closure of ℝ: it's the only extension of ℝ so that everything in the extension is the root of some polynomial over ℝ. Because ℂ is algebraically closed, you can't go any further with this. (I.e., ℂ is its own algebraic closure).Jesse O.https://jdonland.github.ionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-41922301571047417682024-02-02T09:27:30.757-05:002024-02-02T09:27:30.757-05:00Thank you! I am new to Uber and the efficiency is ...Thank you! I am new to Uber and the efficiency is wonderful, but I had not thought about the impact of the ratings. Also, my mind went immediately to the evaluations that my students provide at the end of every semester. On a scale of 1 - 5 how ___ was this class or this prof? I know that these ratings are not an accurate reflection of the quality of the course and that that they matter. They bug me. I cater to them. My job would be better without them. In the big picture, they are not a big deal. But I wonder how many other places we rate and get rated. Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16814832021357033726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-32567311172677052132022-11-01T19:50:06.255-04:002022-11-01T19:50:06.255-04:00One way the world may have changed (I'm specul...One way the world may have changed (I'm speculating here but based on ample personal experience) is that most "professional" musicians know somewhat less (perhaps *considerably* less) about all of this than you've just demonstrated in your post; hence they become hysterical when made aware of the highly contingent and contrived nature of something they've taken wholly for granted their entire lives.Stefan Kachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03103517356905739209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-5158205870040376632022-04-17T18:08:25.006-04:002022-04-17T18:08:25.006-04:00The heedless acronym problem is a perennial one; s...<br />The heedless acronym problem is a perennial one; see, for example, Ontario's recent Training Equipment and Renewal Fund program. Anyhow, I'm mostly just happy to see a new TKIN post!Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317820537589268246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-38735638172844398022021-09-06T04:19:26.287-04:002021-09-06T04:19:26.287-04:00I believe this song is about Cybele and the Galli....I believe this song is about Cybele and the Galli. The Galli priests practiced self-castration and I know this is going to seem insane, but I think it delivers the same basic message from Jupiter Ascending, which is if the population gets too big we get harvested.<br /> <br />There is deep irony in this because the veiled message once upon a time was that genitalia was the mark of cain and punishment representing the internal parts of the fruit from Eden. And so the castration was in an effort to become divine, now it seems as if it is just an effort to stop us from being turned into bubble bath goo for advanced humans that eventually learned how to farm whole planets of life force to combine with their technology to appear divine and live essentially forever, off the blood of planets upon planets of unwitting souls from seeded planets. <br /><br />If all of this seems insane, check out the meaning of the word Galaxy, and recall the name of the supermarket at the beginning of the video...218https://www.blogger.com/profile/11271789430103232287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-63278417427796284852021-07-13T16:34:57.914-04:002021-07-13T16:34:57.914-04:00Michael Rubinstein of the Pure Math department has...Michael Rubinstein of the Pure Math department has a couple of interesting pages up on these matters: <br /><br />- <a href="https://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~mrubinst/tuning/tuning.html" rel="nofollow">Well v.s. Equal Temperament</a><br />- <a href="https://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~mrubinst/tuning/12.html" rel="nofollow">Why 12 notes to the Octave?</a><br />thefringthinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12068055933945850084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-73944950331265984382021-03-14T20:33:59.885-04:002021-03-14T20:33:59.885-04:00The Icelandic "translation" of Dracula i...The Icelandic "translation" of Dracula is a different story, which went unnoticed in the English-speaking world until very recently: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/icelandic-translation-dracula-actually-different-book-180963346/thefringthinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12068055933945850084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-87812376204690654032021-02-27T12:39:14.979-05:002021-02-27T12:39:14.979-05:00I love Dracula! Not so much for the book itself, b...I love Dracula! Not so much for the book itself, but because I had so much fun reading the New Annotated Dracula a few years ago. It was my first read of the novel. The editor treats the book like a work of non-fiction, really, like a travel log. It is a mystery, and the editor must piece together the timeline from the book (a timeline which has many wholes in it). https://books.google.ca/books/about/The_New_Annotated_Dracula.html?id=h1VhXIak7J8C<br /><br />My memory of Lucy was that she served as a way to forge relationships between men. She herself wasn't as important as how she served as that bridge. Very sad indeed. Katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10833961135121180072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-75920973606210108032021-02-22T16:30:03.216-05:002021-02-22T16:30:03.216-05:00Great read! Great read! coltravisionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01251000170099873704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-20318612574615226222021-01-28T02:27:58.515-05:002021-01-28T02:27:58.515-05:00As one of the people who used to suggest to you th...As one of the people who used to suggest to you the perspective of, "If you frame it properly, everything is an optimization problem", I have another argument in favor of the Trade Off perspective. The Trade Off perspective is simpler. Even if the consequentialized version of a Trade Off formulation exists, it is likely to be a more complex formulation of a policy. Occam's Razor dictates that the simpler approach is more likely to be the better approach, so perhaps the Trade Off perspective has the advantage of simplicity.Keeganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10766617890193322982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-44330142465975463612020-07-28T09:58:16.010-04:002020-07-28T09:58:16.010-04:00Thanks, Susanne! Yes, agreed, that is an interesti...Thanks, Susanne! Yes, agreed, that is an interesting addition. My book is basically about this - Moral Reasoning in a Pluralistic World. There is a review of the book here https://ndpr.nd.edu/news/moral-reasoning-in-a-pluralistic-world/ Also I can recommend work by Andrew Schroeder on consequentialization if you're looking for something more technical. <br /><br /> Patricia Marinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16087880431696831634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-81749478308685740242020-07-28T05:52:24.325-04:002020-07-28T05:52:24.325-04:00Very nice post! To your list with points 1-3 I wou...Very nice post! To your list with points 1-3 I would add 4: optimisation suggests invariability across contexts --- once you have the right trade-off or optimisation formula, apply it everywhere. But simply talking about trade-offs leaves open (quite rightly, in my view) that such trade-offs should be made differently depending on context. Is there a place where you have written about this issue in more detail? Susanne Burrinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-77522681592086297912020-07-24T17:54:59.913-04:002020-07-24T17:54:59.913-04:00Lovely article.
Lovely article.<br />Adele Mercierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11698386314462243736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-69974326491557633512020-04-27T08:29:43.124-04:002020-04-27T08:29:43.124-04:00Thank you for reminding us of the power of LeGuin&...Thank you for reminding us of the power of LeGuin's story! <br /><br />Most days I share your skepticism about how our experiences now will cause us to shift our economic system when the pandemic ends. But I am hopeful that we (will not accept budget cuts to health care and other social services that we all benefit from (albeit "benefit" still inequitably). This is in Canada, of course. <br /><br />I'm not sure what will happen in the States. I found the rhetoric around the Democratic primary disappointing. If there was ever a time to demand universal health care coverage, protections like paid sick leave, and the cancellation of student debt, it's now. (Lots of caveats about how difficult it's been to handle primary elections during a pandemic, etc. Perhaps these voices are there but facing more barriers than usual to being heard by me up here in Canada). Katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10833961135121180072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-56406257583050991352020-04-18T16:28:44.389-04:002020-04-18T16:28:44.389-04:00Thanks for reminding me that no matter how virtuou...Thanks for reminding me that no matter how virtuous I sound I end up doing what I want, as long as no-one is looking.Janet Vickershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01064735501871939254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-54416099899998451302018-07-08T10:19:05.659-04:002018-07-08T10:19:05.659-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287821785570247118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-14961311196129212792018-06-23T11:33:22.886-04:002018-06-23T11:33:22.886-04:00I often have an interaction like this:
"Do y...I often have an interaction like this:<br /><br />"Do you have a stamp card?"<br /><br />"I think so, but I left it at home."<br /><br /><br />"Do you want another one? You can just bring both next time and we can combine them!"<br /><br />"I, uh, no, it's fine."<br /><br />Not having to carry a card around that says how many overpriced sandwiches I've eaten is worth more to me than one overpriced sandwich every three months.thefringthinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12068055933945850084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-13458577056310778612018-06-22T11:19:10.687-04:002018-06-22T11:19:10.687-04:00I got a new Filson bag (half off!) this winter and...I got a new Filson bag (half off!) this winter and love it. It is expensive, nice, and grown-up. However, I don't think I need to worry about Clinton C. Filson dying unexpectedly.thefringthinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12068055933945850084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-13589746893098607922018-06-20T12:11:02.777-04:002018-06-20T12:11:02.777-04:00This seems relevant to the handbag example: the 9....This seems relevant to the handbag example: the 9.9 % <br />https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/06/the-birth-of-a-new-american-aristocracy/559130/<br /><br />though nice critique here:<br />https://slate.com/business/2018/05/forget-the-atlantics-9-9-percent-the-1-percent-are-still-the-problem.html<br /><br />figure 1 here (would love to hear your take on this conference paper)<br />https://piie.com/system/files/documents/summers20171109paper.pdf<br /><br />Linda Palmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15810333062085270319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-79982287176318770032018-06-12T17:38:36.263-04:002018-06-12T17:38:36.263-04:00The thing is the mall, the supermarket, with its t...The thing is the mall, the supermarket, with its trinkets and lights. Once you get the thing home it is just a T shirt or something. The thing is no longer uplifting or happy-making. One way to take the glamour out of shopping for clothes is to become 69 and fat. Looking at myself in the mirror is about as happy as going to the dentist.Janet Vickershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01064735501871939254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-57188436785215868442018-06-12T12:53:16.098-04:002018-06-12T12:53:16.098-04:00Since writing the post, have you given in and boug...Since writing the post, have you given in and bought the shirt? :)Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13099461086991460463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-36789958304764453542018-05-17T15:05:05.506-04:002018-05-17T15:05:05.506-04:00Patricia,
I just read this, and then the New York...Patricia,<br /><br />I just read this, and then the New Yorker piece that you link to. Love them both, and I learned a lot too. <br /><br />I'm really glad to learn that there's a self-aware culture around the Juul, because as an ex-smoker - like you - it otherwise doesn't seem appealing. <br /><br />I actually do "tobacco" cessation counseling at my job, and come across people wanting to not Juul anymore. In fact, I met someone recently who never combusted tobacco in their life, but only Juuled, and wanted to quit. I think quitting the Juul is a different can of worms that quitting smoking; it's hard.<br /><br />Daniel<br /><br />Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13099461086991460463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-90423808305939460702018-05-16T11:15:28.162-04:002018-05-16T11:15:28.162-04:00Sooooooo true. Since returning to Canada, the # of...Sooooooo true. Since returning to Canada, the # of cards my wallet has to carry has increased dramatically. Americans do love their store coupons, and their frequent flyer miles, but these seem less obtrusive. I still don't understand the whole AirMiles meta-card thing, but was tired of telling cashiers I didn't have one and seeing their baffled reactions....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05820174705020203619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-60507836528728086482018-05-11T12:33:52.033-04:002018-05-11T12:33:52.033-04:00OMG yaas, my exact feelings.OMG yaas, my exact feelings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499217243284937366.post-79418049112674413622018-05-10T14:15:06.761-04:002018-05-10T14:15:06.761-04:00Yes! I feel exactly the same way, even if they are...Yes! I feel exactly the same way, even if they are not as ubiquitous here. Exactly: it's the attention. I just don't want these things in my head space, let alone their cards in my wallet. (If you want to be frugal it's a lot cheaper to make your own coffee than to buy it by the cup, so, yeah, that's not really the issue.)Linda Palmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15810333062085270319noreply@blogger.com