on malice, predictable stupidity, and chess

Malice breeds predictable stupidity. Humans will do and say ridiculous things to protect pride and power. When gossip and anonymous animosity pervade a political power structure, surrendering all desire to succeed within said power structure becomes an enlightened advantage, resulting in candid lucidity and articulated observation against which those who remain within the structure, constrained [...]

three thoughts on egypt for 2/11/11

  Here are three thoughts on Egypt for 2/11/11, the day Hosni Mubarak resigned the presidency: 2/11 did what 9/11 couldn’t: it showed that nonviolent Arab dissent can defeat what militant Arab dissent desired: a nation ruled by autocratic force. 2/11 used to be Islamic Revolution Day in Iran (here and here and here), establishing [...]

a biblical solution to the bedbug infestation terrorizing america from ‘the acts of john’

With all of the news surrounding the apparent bedbug infestation spreading across America, from the United Nations and the Waldorf Astoria in New York to out here in Los Angeles, I was reminded that despite how much this menace sucks (literally), this is no new problem. Actually, the problem of bedbug annoyance has been around [...]

thought for the day: on the tension between experience and innovation

i give tremendous respect and deference to individuals with experience and longevity in a particular discipline. those who do things for a long time are, on average, far better equipped and knowledgeable about a particular subject than those who are newcomers to a particular discipline. as a scholar, i respect experience and precedent. that said, [...]

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