Learning How To Think

This article provides a ton of things to think about: the emperor has no clothes; ignore tv pundits and most news; trust your instincts.....I was always skeptical when experts were trotted out on tv bc you never know who is paying them to say what they are saying - you can confure up an expert on any topic - or whether or not they were actually experts (often not). Now I can add to my skepticism bc even if they really are experts, it doesn't matter, because they are dreadful prognosticators anyways! Sigh. Enjoy. Beckmania.


Learning How To Think

The Civil Heretic

This article reviews the life of Freeman Dyson, one of the great thinkers and scientists of his generation. The article discusses his intellectual philosophy, as well as his recent high profile views on climate change, and how it's not clear that it's a bad thing. I love the paragraph that talks about Dyson and Richard Feynman (another luminary), taking a roadtrip in a beat up old car picking up hitch hikers. I'd LOVE to get picked up by that pair! Enjoy. Beckmania....

The Civil Heretic

The Daily Me

Humans have a confirmation bias - we like to hear things that confirm our opinions and beliefs. With the decline of newspapers and TV news, we turn to the web where we can configure our own consumption sources easily. Beware of the vacuum you can get sucked in to. I am always trying to keep a diversified list of news sources, but it's harder than you think. I felt guilty reading the article because I know that I am definitely susceptible to this effect, as is everyone. This is a great article by Nikolas Kristof of the NYT on this very topic. Enjoy! Beckmania.

The Daily Me

Pearls Before Breakfast

I read this a while ago and just came across it again - awesome article in the Washington Post about one of the world's greatest musicians setting up shop in a subway as part of an experiment regarding how context affects people's consumption of art. Very very interesting. Enjoy! Beckmania.....

Pearls Before Breakfast

Rethinking The American Dream

An interesting piece that questions how the 'American Dream' became synonymous with extreme wealth or success....a poignant observation about how the changeover to digital TV assumes everyone will have one, despite them being available for only 5 years and still being very expensive. Also discusses our improved material wealth being unrelated to our level of happiness - seen that theme before! Enjoy. Beckmania.

Rethinking The American Dream