deconstructing arguments against AI art Something I’ve been surprised by is just how fierce opposition to AI art has been. To… deconstructing arguments against AI art
in defence of “souls” Up until fairly recently, I used to pray for the things I really wanted in life.… in defence of “souls”
musings on death I find persuasive but unhelpful I’ve been thinking lately about a line from one of my favourite movies, When Harry Met… musings on death I find persuasive but unhelpful
On Miles Davis, talent, and innovation I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Miles Davis, innovation, and genius – specifically about how… On Miles Davis, talent, and innovation
the loss of magic: why Bob Dylan can’t write great songs anymore The hipsters aren’t wrong: most musicians really were better when they were younger, especially on their… the loss of magic: why Bob Dylan can’t write great songs anymore
Every niche event should also be a meetup I was just at a Tyler Cowen lecture in NYC — one of my heroes and… Every niche event should also be a meetup
a taxonomy of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Imagine you’re the CEO of a major ride-share company. Someone accuses your organization of sexism, pointing… a taxonomy of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
there is no progress in art: why jazz musicians are like gold miners Since I moved to NYC last month, I’ve been seeing a lot of concerts. Some of… there is no progress in art: why jazz musicians are like gold miners
most businesses don’t work that way “If you’re not paying for the product, you’re the product” has become a popular line people… most businesses don’t work that way
Why are intellectual podcasts so bad? There seems to be an endless supply of intellectual podcasts available now, and on paper, this… Why are intellectual podcasts so bad?
a short rant on culture One comment that frustrates me, which I’ve been hearing a lot lately since I moved from… a short rant on culture
Personal reflections on moving from Canada to NYC I’m moving from Canada to New York City this week, and I’m having a mini-existential crisis.… Personal reflections on moving from Canada to NYC
Why good things often don’t lead to better outcomes Many people believe that when something good happens, positive outcomes naturally follow — but I’m here… Why good things often don’t lead to better outcomes
Extreme Jewish Brain: A Reflection on Why Judaism Means So Much to Me I. A lot of people are very surprised to learn that Judaism is such an important… Extreme Jewish Brain: A Reflection on Why Judaism Means So Much to Me
How to get the benefit of a high-end fitness tracker without actually buying one To borrow a classic rationalist idea: if you know you’re going to change your mind about… How to get the benefit of a high-end fitness tracker without actually buying one
things that confuse me about the current AI market Since the release of ChatGPT, at least 17 companies, according to the Chatbot Arena Leaderboard, have… things that confuse me about the current AI market
maybe knowing too much about others isn’t so great A few years ago, I saw this Wait But Why Cartoon that perfectly encapsulated a phenomenon… maybe knowing too much about others isn’t so great
Twitter as the embodiment of the American ethos In the nerdy corners of the internet where I spend time, Twitter has become the dominant… Twitter as the embodiment of the American ethos
The Challenge of Building New Cities: Inside The Satmar Hassidic Takeover of Bloomingburg [This is the story of how a community of Hassidic Jews, through subterfuge and electoral fraud,… The Challenge of Building New Cities: Inside The Satmar Hassidic Takeover of Bloomingburg
Why I talk about utopia, not politics When hanging out with my nerdier internet friends, conversations about politics, policy, or the overall direction… Why I talk about utopia, not politics
Cocaine, Kim Jong-un, and BlackRock: why It’s good to reflect on boycotts One of the recurring themes on this blog is the exploration of small, often overlooked actions… Cocaine, Kim Jong-un, and BlackRock: why It’s good to reflect on boycotts
winning isn’t everything: the case for infinite games and functional decision theory [As an adult, I’ve come to believe that being consistently kind, compassionate, and selfless—as we’re taught… winning isn’t everything: the case for infinite games and functional decision theory
musings on feedback — and Tyler Cowen’s Straussian rating system I find the idea of rating systems and evaluation to be interesting. On the surface, they… musings on feedback — and Tyler Cowen’s Straussian rating system
Why (most) people don’t learn about the world on Twitter: the case for intellectual dark matter [(After smugly criticizing Jane Austen) “What Jane Austen novels have you read?” “None. I don’t read… Why (most) people don’t learn about the world on Twitter: the case for intellectual dark matter
A meditation on meaning: what Tea Leaf Green had but JRAD doesn’t Live music is a very, very important part of my life. I’m going to tell a… A meditation on meaning: what Tea Leaf Green had but JRAD doesn’t
Music that helps me feel a sense of beauty in the world Experiencing beauty is a very important part of how I derive meaning in my life. I… Music that helps me feel a sense of beauty in the world
The wisdom of Scott Sumner: my favourite (non-econ) Scott Sumner blog posts Scott Sumner is best known as an economist who was praised for positively influencing economic policy… The wisdom of Scott Sumner: my favourite (non-econ) Scott Sumner blog posts
Yes, you too, reader, should believe you may be world-class [Something I’ve struggled with in my adult life is truly internalizing that I’m exceptionally great at… Yes, you too, reader, should believe you may be world-class
My simple theory on why we stopped building beautiful buildings (and why many other things suck more than you’d expect) I recently read a post on Marginal Revolution discussing why we stopped building beautiful buildings. I… My simple theory on why we stopped building beautiful buildings (and why many other things suck more than you’d expect)
Daniel’s Big Post on Emotions and Communication: A Response to Adam Mastroianni Adam Mastroianni of experimental-history.com has an amazing two-part series on the ineffability of our inner emotional… Daniel’s Big Post on Emotions and Communication: A Response to Adam Mastroianni
My favourite Joseph Heath articles: Canada’s most important Canadian thinker There are a lot of Canadian superstars. In the world of ideas, there are individuals like… My favourite Joseph Heath articles: Canada’s most important Canadian thinker
things I tell myself to be more agentic This is written as a personal self-affirmation — my hope is that by writing it up… things I tell myself to be more agentic
Simple, Underrated Ways to Make the World a More Wonderful Place I know someone who is depressed, and you can tell from what they talk about that… Simple, Underrated Ways to Make the World a More Wonderful Place
The Sim City mindset: a prompt for thinking about impact I want to write in favour of a viewpoint I call the Sim City mindset. For… The Sim City mindset: a prompt for thinking about impact
Should life get easier over time, or just more meaningful? There’s a famous quote cyclists like to cite: “It never gets easier, you just get faster.”… Should life get easier over time, or just more meaningful?
Core Reasons Why Canada Will Almost Always Struggle Economically Canada has a number of specific problems (i.e., it doesn’t build enough housing) which are very… Core Reasons Why Canada Will Almost Always Struggle Economically