Sunday, August 02, 2020

Lockdown was the longest period of quiet in recorded human history

Emus: Dorrigo born and bred Emus go and invade a pub 

World is filled with  emusements 😇 


MIT Technology Review: “When lockdown started in March, the world went instantly, strangely silent. City streets emptied. Joggers and families disappeared from parks. Construction projects froze. Stores closed. Now a network of seismic monitoring stations around the world has quantified this unprecedented period of quiet. The resulting research into “seismic silence,” published in Science today, has shown just how much noise we contribute to the environment. It has also let scientists get an unparalleled listen to what’s happening beneath our feet…”




On the idea “that it is okay (or maybe even required) to make people feel uncomfortable because of their biases or prejudices” — some cautionary notes from Ditte Marie Munch-Jurisic (Roskilde)


Teaching from home? Check out this excellent guide to practices, equipment, technology, and setup — from Mikio Akagai (TCU) (via Nick Byrd & Lewis Powell


“The difference between use and mention is not a categorical one but one of degrees” — ” if this correct, then what about reading racist or sexist classics?” asks Martin Lenz (Groningen


“Sophisticated naturalism, no less than extreme naturalism, undermines itself” — Joel Katzav (Queensland) on Marie Collins Swabey’s early 20th C. critique of naturalism


“It is indefensibly vague at key points, particularly about what ‘cancellation’ is and about what the supposed threat to Aristotle is” — Bryan W. Van Norden (Vassar) responds to Agnes Callard (Chicago)


“Quite impressive in some areas, and still clearly subhuman in others” — GPT-3, the new language generating tool, takes a Turing test


“Make your next pitch instantly more compelling by using this one philosopher’s framework” — apparently one business writer thinks the Grice is right (sorry)


Sell: Liam Hemsworth’s building project for Byron Bay home by Jonathan Chancellor


Hollywood heart-throb Liam Hemsworth has building plans for his private Byron Bay estate. Nothing as grand as his big brother Chris, but the next task is constructing a yoga studio. . .


Former ATO Deputy Commissioner has taken a downsize in the Sutherland Shire with a move from Menai to Gymea.