6 hours agoThinking Citizen Blog — Does “Net Zero” fail the “Cost-Benefit” Test? Who has done the work? Who cares?Thinking Citizen Blog: Wednesday is Climate Change, the Environment, and Sustainability Day Today’s Topic: Does “Net Zero” fail the “Cost-Benefit” Test? Who has done the work? Who cares? Climate change is real. It could be a disaster. But who is qualified to do the cost-benefit analysis? economists? physicists? …5 min read5 min read
6 hours agoLiberal Arts Blog -Oppenheimer — does he deserve the epithet, “Father of the Atomic Bomb”?Liberal Arts Blog — Wednesday is the Joy of Science, Engineering, and Technology Day Today’s Topic — Oppenheimer — does he deserve the epithet, “Father of the Atomic Bomb”? Today, a little challenge for all you physicists, chemists, and historians of science and technology. The atomic bomb has many fathers…5 min read5 min read
1 day agoThinking Citizen Blog — The Death of Charlie Munger (1924–2023) — “He was the architect. I was the general contractor” (Warren Buffett)Thinking Citizen Blog — Tuesday is Economics, Finance, and Business Day Today’s Topic: The Death of Charlie Munger (1924–2023) — “He was the architect. I was the general contractor” (Warren Buffett) For Munger, poker provides the perfect analogy for investing: fold quick when the odds are against you, bet big…6 min read6 min read
1 day agoLiberal Arts Blog — Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) novelist, anarchist, pacifistLiberal Arts Blog — Tuesday is the Joy of Literature, Language, Religion, and Culture Day Today’s Topic: Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) novelist, anarchist, pacifist So what is most worth remembering about Leo Tolstoy? What are the seven best things he ever said or wrote? Is there a better way to honour…6 min read6 min read
2 days agoLiberal Arts Blog — Quantitative, Historical Ethics — the case of South KoreaLiberal Arts Blog — Monday is the Joy of Math, Statistics, Shapes, and Numbers Day Today’s Topic: Quantitative, Historical Ethics — the case of South Korea What gives life meaning? Can the answer be quantified? Has the meaning of life changed over time? In what direction? A good way or…5 min read5 min read
2 days agoThinking Citizen Blog — Israel-Palestine (VIII): Public Opinion Data (Leonhardt, NYT) What does this mean? What are the policy implications?Thinking Citizen Blog — Monday is Foreign Policy Day Today’s Topic: Israel-Palestine (VIII): Public Opinion Data (Leonhardt, NYT) What does this mean? What are the policy implications? Today, the eighth episode in an ongoing series. The third and fourth attachments below give a little historical background for those who are…4 min read4 min read
3 days agoThinking Citizen Blog — Donald Trump, the Kidney Punch, the the Death of the Republican PartyThinking Citizen Blog — Sunday is Political Process, Campaign Strategy, and Candidate Selection Day Today’s Topic: Donald Trump, the Kidney Punch, the the Death of the Republican Party Yes, physical violence on the floor of Congress is nothing new. We all, I hope, remember the caning of Charles Sumner. However…4 min read4 min read
3 days agoLiberal Arts Blog — Pennsylvania (Part One): Geography, William Penn (1644–1718), Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)Liberal Arts Blog — Sunday is the Joy of Humor, Food, Travel, Practical Life Tips, and Random Stuff Day Today’s Topic: Pennsylvania (Part One): Geography, William Penn (1644–1718), Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) What should every thinking citizen know about Pennsylvania? About its geography? history? Have you ever lived there? …7 min read7 min read
4 days agoThinking Citizen Blog — Three Principles (gratitude, proportionality, reality), One Case Study (Israel-Palestine)Thinking Citizen Blog — Saturday is Justice, Freedom, Law, and Values Day Today’s Topic: Three Principles (gratitude, proportionality, reality), One Case Study (Israel-Palestine) Let’s try a different angle. I have repeatedly failed to initiate an open discussion of Israel-Palestine in the form of an “Orion Exchange,” that is an exchange…4 min read4 min read
4 days agoLiberal Arts Blog — Basketball Free Throw: The “Swish” The “Banked Shot,” and The “Granny Shot”Liberal Arts Blog — Saturday is Sports, Dance, Fitness, and All Things Physical Day Today’s Topic: Basketball Free Throw: the “swish” the “banked shot,” and the “granny shot” When in your life have you in any sport made an observation with respect to the efficacy of a particular change in…5 min read5 min read
