-
What we call these people
A professor of mine was recently talking about how humans have a tendency of bias toward themselves in estimating chance. For example, if you bought one lottery ticket and picked the numbers for it, you wouldn't trade it for two tickets bought by someone else of the same value (or at least the average person wouldn't). We also assume we won't die ( Read more... ) -
I am a Berliner
I was thinking how funny it was for JFK to use speak English to a crowd of Germans, and so I thought it would be a fun exercise to see what it would sound like with the tables turned. Here's the result, based off Google translate. If anyone has any improvements, I'd been happy to hear them.Ich bin stolz darauf, kommen in diese Stadt als Gast bei ( Read more... ) -
What White People are Like
Have you seen the site Stuff White People Like? I'm not a fan of the assignment of values or qualities to people based on race, but I was surprised how often this site pegs me (as a white person). For example, I really am afraid that I am somehow racist, and feel guilty for all the rotten things that white people have done. I do love things that ( Read more... ) -
Invention Wanted
I often make myself a cup of tea even when I'm not thirsty, on the Hedburg Principle: by the time it's ready, I might want one. But the problem is that the timing is tricky: tea spends way more time being too hot and too cold than just right. A thermos keeps the tea hot, but it performs too well: the tea is undrinkably hot hours after pouring ( Read more... ) -
A Prediction
Barring the possibility of a black, female president, the USA will have a black, male president before it will have a white, female president. This is because Americans are more sexist than they are racist ( Read more... ) -
Friends only.
You heard the man.
