Author: smartistone

Item #1: From Noah Smith, Nobody knows how to stop humanity from shrinking. It’s hard for me to lose much sleep over this. This seems like a problem invented by business elites and economists, and propagated with the help of the media, to justify more consumption. They are not going to be affected by overstrained… Continue reading The Daily View 12/9/2024: Depopulation, Sports Betting, Elon, UNH Shooter ID’d

The UNH shooter is still at large. The fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson has captivated the nation, overtaking anything going on with the Trump transition team. It has all the necessary ingredients for a thriller: mystery, suspense, a high-profile target, and it affects an issue everyone can relate to or has experienced,… Continue reading The UNH shooter is still at large.

The murder of United Health CEO Brian Thompson has engendered a discussion about healthcare and health insurance in America. Somewhat unexpectedly, many on the right are in agreement with the left that health insurance is broken. His death is not going to change anything. He will be replaced by someone who will continue the same… Continue reading Brian Thompson’s death: some thoughts on healthcare and health insurance

Item #1: U.S. Government dumps more Bitcoin Some 19,800 BTC linked to Silk Road were moved to Coinbase Prime on Monday, blockchain data shows, possibly foreshadowing the U.S. government selling the seized assets. BTC dipped below $96,000 following the transfer. The U.S. Marshals Service, a division of the DOJ, announced a partnership with Coinbase Prime… Continue reading The Daily View, 12/4/2024, Right Again: Bitcoin Falls, Trump Meets Mark Zuckerberg

Scott’s article Prison And Crime: Much More Than You Wanted To Know went hugely viral. Some thoughts: 1. The baseline value is too high for criminals on a utilitarian basis. Criminality is positivity correlated with lower IQ, unemployment, worse prospects, low income etc. Criminals when not doing crime can be assumed to have a lower… Continue reading Prison And Crime: Much More Than You Wanted To Know: Thoughts

I saw this going viral last week Scientists are learning why ultra-processed foods are bad for you. Non-paywalled version. The focus on ultra-processed foods seems like a way of sidestepping the reality that people are simply consuming too much food. 1. How does one blame processed or ultra-processed foods when no one can even agree… Continue reading Stop blaming ultra-processed foods for obesity: 5 things to consider

On November 18th, Tesla stock surged on news that Trump would ease regulations around self-driving cars. And for November 2024, it’s on track for one of its strongest months ever surging yet again. It cannot be stopped. Elon is smarter than he even lets on online. He’s always a few steps ahead. Even in regard… Continue reading Elon’s Brilliant Gambit

Lately on Twitter/X there has been a lot of discussion about caning. Singapore, the posterchild of caning, is held up as a role model of criminal justice reform by using caning, which the U.S. also ought to adopt. It sounds good in theory and seems to have worked for Singapore. Such as: Canning does genuinely… Continue reading Prison is worse and is a more effective deterrent than caning

Chris Langan – The Interview THEY Didn’t Want You To See – CTMU: The problem is the CTMU does not meet the criteria of being science. In the video, he appropriates concepts of general relativity (e.g. the manifold) with attempts at tying it with concepts that arise in the context of quantum mechanics (e.g. temporality,… Continue reading Chris Langan, the CTMU, and the process and pitfalls of developing research

For some reason, the media has convinced itself or spun a narrative that the incoming Trump administration will enact major pro-crypto reform. Somehow, Congress will have no trouble passing major legislation that will help crypto; nevermind that Trump’s track record at legislation is poor. Bitcoin has surged in recent weeks in anticipation of a more… Continue reading Predictions: Trump’s ‘crypto reform’ is DOA; Tariffs not a big deal