m-p-t

We need a word for government by stupid people desperately trying to consider themselves smart. Oh wait.

My intuitive explanation for observation causing wavefunction collapse, the "bowling ball model": imagine you were blindfolded and could only observe the universe by flinging bowling balls and seeing if they rebound. Under these circumstances it's hard to measure without altering.

If I ever make a video game, the fastest movement will be running forwards while looking forwards. Moving sideways, diagonally, or backwards slows you. Looking up or down slows you. Jumping slows you. Everyone watching speedruns will thank me.

To answer that I'd need to know if you *consciously* think it's stupid, or if you only *seemingly consciously* think it's stupid. Unfortunately neither of us can necessarily distinguish one from the other.

What if we lived in a world identical to ours, but in which David Chalmers's "Philosophical Zombie" argument was utterly stupid? Would we be able to tell the difference?

The most powerful narrative in American political discourse is "That's just common sense!"

For fucks' sakes.

For emissions, 1 Starship launch = 4-6 transpacific airliner flights. No black carbon/soot. Total spaceflight emissions are <1% of aviation. Stainless steel and ceramic aren't too polluting. Stratospheric water vapor may be pretty bad though.

The worst thing about Musk's involvement in SpaceX? For the first time ever, we're letting crypto-fascists play a pivotal role in space exploration.

I'm wary of trans-rights arguments that invoke traditional gender norms and gender policing. "Anti-trans laws will force someone who looks like THIS to use YOUR bathroom!" Um, fine with me I guess?

Yeah, that is a comically epic level of sex/gender confusion. Trans people aren't biological?!? At least they are "athletes". If not confusion then a cynical and poorly-executed attempt to emulate conservative gender talking points.

Having a third category for all trans athletes is absolutely the most bizarre solution. I can see, in some sporting contexts, arguments for an open category (all genders) + a female category. The "trans category" approach simultaneously demeans/isolates while ignoring problems sex cohorting solves.

Yes, they can still aim it. Rather than launch into a circular orbit which could decay gradually and/or leave debris in space, all of the Starship launches so far have used an elliptical orbit that intersects the earth in the southern Indian Ocean.

I think the "anarchist assessments" are land tax assessments. Which in the form of property tax assessments... are already not something you pay for.

If you're American, the hardest thing to say may be "I'm sorry". If you're French, the hardest thing to say is "uncoordinated squirrel".

Those of us who prefer working from an office are so underrepresented online. Face-to-face collaboration is more effective. Conversations with co-workers are fun. I benefit from imposed structure and love home-work demarcation. I made it work as a single parent of 2 kids. I'm Team Office.

Underused civic arguments, #1: No amount of "neighborhood feedback" excuses transportation/roadway designers from their ethical obligation to create safe infrastructure.

How much of a nerd am I? I'm side-eyeing the "Periodic Table Lickability" meme for claiming Lead is more lickable than Iodine. 😒

J. C. R. Licklider gave us the Internet by funneling large piles of Vietnam-era ARPA defense money to computer research of only tangential military value.

This is a widely believed urban legend. There are no documented cases of first responders being killed by secondhand fentanyl exposure including touching it or breathing smoke.

They had toast and crackers. They fried chicken and dough/batter and made skillet cornbread.

I suspect it's more "white culture is superior *because* white people are superior" so I'd be very surprised if the racism of that 95% stops at culture. Black people, in their view, would by improved by imitating white culture but would never be able to overcome a genetic disadvantage.

Kids who want to transition have always been rare and are still rare. It's hard for them to get approved for care. What's not rare is the number of kids challenging the gender binary, gender policing, and gender-based oppression. That's the real threat conservatives are responding to.

Re "Amazon is driving local bookstores out of business!": Amazon is 30 years old. We are likely in equilibrium. The viability of some number of small bookstores is established. Also, you're old.

To people who brag about their critical thinking skills, your frequently-missed point: the most important person to be critical of is *oneself*. What are my false beliefs? My faulty habits of mind? My biases and prejudices? My personal vanities and defensive behaviors? Where am I wrong?

Guitarists refer to vintage/antique instruments which have been stowed away (and are thus in amazingly good condition for their age) as "closet queens". TMYK! 💡

I can see it. "Conservative" labeling has been co-opted by right-wing radicals who are way more likely to monkey-wrench government and prevailing culture than lefties. Exhibit A, first 100 days of Trump institutional arson.

If you've struggled with the artificial concept of imaginary numbers, wait until you hear about "negative numbers".

Is RFK a secret proponent of conservation-of-health, in which reducing petroleum, dino nugget, and soda consumption must be counterbalanced by drinking bleach and forgoing protective medicine? He is the demented Gygax Druid of health policy.

Wondering what proportion of those who call slavery America's "original sin" intend the Christian connotations of irredeemability and appeal to grace. "America is ruined, indelibly stained, beyond our power to fix"? Those I know who'd use "original sin" are idealists and energetic activists.