Karl S

Sad banana

Ok, much disagreement this morning at the breakfast table about this banana. Some saw sad, some disappointment,and another saw it as that guy down the pub who goes “ahhhh” a lot. You know that guy! What do you see? #sadbanana

This is beautiful. Actually real progress in treatment for Parkinson’s. Gotta watch this

It’s a heavy time at the moment. We’re at peak billionaire. Sometimes, I wish we were back in the old days when billionaires did things behind closed doors. Why won’t they just go back to their mansions and STFU. #eattherich

I work in tech in Europe. Have for a long time. Over the last 6 months with the rise of AI and oligarchy in the US, I am beginning to wonder if reliance on US tech is a strategic business risk. #thoughtsdoingthelaundry

One on the left. Viewpoint seems more “in”

I’ll pause here but if you have read the book, reach out. Would love to hear what you thought of it.

4) it’s also validated the sneaking suspicion that things can get worse, rather than better. I always had the belief in progress. Some Enlightenment vestigial. things change but they don’t necessarily change for the better. It’s not me, it’s science

3) it’s also shattered that belief of a simple fix for everything. If only this, then that. If only other people would think this, then everything would be perfect; if only other people behaved in this way, then things would be perfect. It’s just wrong.

2) It has revealed to me that the way I think I think (logical, rational, considered) is a very long way from how I actually think (intuitive, biased, and incomplete). And it’s not just me. It’s across every discipline. ignorance isn’t a bug it’s a feature. #systemsthinking

Finished! “Thinking in Systems” by Donella Meadows. Honestly, one of the books best books I’ve ever read. It’s an intro primer to the complexity and messiness of life, of systems, of people, of trains, tax policy, of everything. Mind officially blown! #thinkinginsystems 1)

elmo is surrounded by flames and the word inflation is on the bottom ALT: elmo is surrounded by flames and the word inflation is on the bottom

p140: “Although there is every reason to want a thriving economy, there is no particular reason to want the GNP to go up.” If the US has the greatest economy, highest growth… why is everyone so cheesed off? Because it’s not a thriving economy… it’s just GNP going up because everything costs more…

a group of men sitting around a table with the words " eat the rich " written on it ALT: a group of men sitting around a table with the words " eat the rich " written on it

success to the successful: P129. “Monopoly games start over again with everyone equal, so those who lost last time have a chance to win.” Dang, this a mix of Picketty and inherited wealth. Systems Thinking is not helping to moderate my politics at all… #systemsthinking

a man is standing in front of a sign that says 2024 texas ALT: a man is standing in front of a sign that says 2024 texas

Page 84: “The original purpose of a hierarchy is always to help its originating subsystems do their jobs better. This is something, unfortunately, that both the higher and the lower levels … easily forget. Therefore, many systems are not meeting our goals because of malfunctioning hierarchies.”

Hey @taylorlorenz.bsky.social Have you heard about the use of #okelon neologism. Might just be a Dublin thing? It’s not a #okboomer generation slight but a billionaire one. Like a “shut up you idiot rich guy!” Can we make it a thing? #okelon

We’re on page 5 and she says: “I’ll talk about why everyone or everything in the system can act dutifully and rationally, yet all those well-meaning actions too often add up to a perfectly terrible result. And why things so often happen much faster or slower than everyone thinks they will.”

Book cover of Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows

Ok, so today I started reading “Thinking in Systems” by Donella Meadows. It’s a primer in systems thinking. Heard a lot about it. Excited to be starting. I’ll keep you posted as I go along.

The sun was showing off this morning in Dublin.

For anybody looking for a brutal critique of modern economics and its pretensions to being a science with predictive power, this is great from #ozzie #economist Steve Keen youtube.com/watch?v=Ma_T... #economics #capitalism

. @badempanada.com

Ok, so remember i was ranting about how modern economics is nonsense, well take a look at this. It’s long but its fascinating on the measurement of global poverty rates. It’s all made up! youtube.com/watch?v=k12G... #economics

my sex tape is just me collapsing gracefully onto a pile of downy pillows after watering all of my houseplants 🪴

#thoughtsdoingthelaundry

Isn’t it a value choice? What one society or group says is productive another society of group may say is not.

In all innovation theories there’s the ask for or assumption of some increase in productivity. But being more “productive” in what? Any ideas?

Just struck with a thought in my sustainability lecture. We’re learning about #schumpeter and #creativedestruction. There’s all the focus on the need for innovation… but then I am thinking about the other side of the coin: #destructivecreation and disinnovation. Creatively making things worse.

It’s from a year ago. And has aged well…

Given the recent events in the US with United Health’sCEO, heres a video from @moreperfectunion.bsky.social that might provide some context: youtube.com/watch?v=frr4...

That was my thought today doing the laundry! Thanks Dan!

6 - It’s not that Economics isn’t right. It’s not even wrong - just like Astrology

5 - And Economic claims and forecasts change people’s, businesses’, and countries’ behaviour