Humanity has achieved unprecedented levels of prosperity, comfort, safety, and choice. We have developed powers once attributed to gods. We will subvert our own success
Write more no matter what
Bukowski delivered mail, Stephen King cleaned schools and Jack Kerouac washed dishes
THE ODD JOBS OF HISTORY’S GREATEST WRITERS
Future pavements could
generate electricity from footsteps
Futuretimeline Imagine a city where simply walking on pavements and other flat surfaces can produce usable power. One company has demonstrated just such a concept in London's West End
From beards to salt: Eight of the world's most bizarre taxes
Futuretimeline Imagine a city where simply walking on pavements and other flat surfaces can produce usable power. One company has demonstrated just such a concept in London's West End
From beards to salt: Eight of the world's most bizarre taxes
70-year-old grandmother cops social media backlash by dubious critics
How Academic Writing Gets To Be Meaningless
“The use of words without fixed or clear meanings is a major part of what makes academic writing so terrible. People often complain that academic writing is “obscure” or overly convoluted and complex. But there’s nothing inherently wrong with either complexity or obscurity in themselves; research papers in the sciences have to be complex and technical, and introducing people to obscure and unfamiliar words or concepts can be a key part of developing human knowledge. The problem largely comes when words are vague and unclear, admitting of many possible interpretations.”
The hardest thing about gardening? It might be learning the gardeners’ lingo Prospect
21ST CENTURY RELATIONSHIPS: Acceptance of Polygamy Is at a Record High, and TV Might Explain Why.
“Which came first, the phoenix or the flame?”
“Hmm . . . What do you think, Harry?” said Luna, looking thoughtful.”
“What? Isn’t there just a password?”
“Oh no, you’ve got to answer a question,” said Luna.
“What if you get it wrong?”
“Well, you have to wait for somebody who gets it right,” said Luna. “That way you learn, you see?” “Yeah . . . Trouble is, we can’t really afford to wait for anyone else, Luna.”
“No, I see what you mean,” said Luna seriously. “Well then, I think the answer is that a circle has no beginning.”
“Well reasoned,” said the voice, and the door swung open.” — J.K. Rowling ( Harry Potter “Hmm . . . What do you think, Harry?” said Luna, looking thoughtful.”
“What? Isn’t there just a password?”
“Oh no, you’ve got to answer a question,” said Luna.
“What if you get it wrong?”
“Well, you have to wait for somebody who gets it right,” said Luna. “That way you learn, you see?” “Yeah . . . Trouble is, we can’t really afford to wait for anyone else, Luna.”
“No, I see what you mean,” said Luna seriously. “Well then, I think the answer is that a circle has no beginning.”
and the Deathly Hallows)
“I really do inhabit a system in which words are capable of shaking the entire structure of government, where words can prove mightier than ten military divisions.”
—Vaclav Havel, 1989
