April 2022 Linkpost

While Elon Musk’s polarization graph had us all debating vibes over hard data, a pal would quip that it’s the ancient caves and natural reactors that truly endure beyond the headlines.

Philosophy & Human Nature

The Hedonic Treadmill (en.wikipedia.org)
The hedonic treadmill describes how we adapt to changes in life circumstances, returning to a baseline level of happiness despite major positive or negative events. I would note that this explains why chasing material gains often feels futile, tying into broader discussions on fulfillment and why practices like meditation might offer a way off the endless cycle.

The Denial of Death (en.wikipedia.org)
Ernest Becker’s book argues that human civilization is built as a defense against the terror of mortality, with cultural constructs like heroism and religion serving to deny death’s finality. I would observe that this framework resonates with modern existential angst, suggesting our drives for achievement stem from an unfillable void rooted in awareness of our own end.

Academic Research & Science

Scientists Struggle to Probe COVID’s Origins Amid Sparse Data from China (nature.com)
This article highlights the challenges in investigating COVID-19’s origins due to limited data from China, referencing studies on genomic analysis and epidemiology. A colleague would point out that while no specific new findings are presented, the implications underscore the need for global data transparency to enhance pandemic preparedness, with population-level data showing the virus’s broad impact but lacking detailed sample sizes in the summary.

Movile Cave: A Unique Isolated Ecosystem (en.m.wikipedia.org)
Movile Cave in Romania, isolated for millions of years, hosts a chemosynthetic ecosystem independent of sunlight, with unique species adapted to toxic conditions. I would highlight how this discovery challenges our understanding of life, implying potential for extraterrestrial biology and the resilience of ecosystems in extreme environments.

Oklo Mine: Natural Nuclear Reactors (en.wikipedia.org)
The Oklo Mine in Gabon features ancient natural nuclear fission reactors from two billion years ago, providing evidence of self-sustaining reactions in nature. I would note that this phenomenon offers insights into geological processes and nuclear physics, with implications for waste storage and the planet’s early conditions.

Technology & Society

Jhanas and the Dark Room Problem (astralcodexten.substack.com)
This essay tackles the Dark Room Problem in neuroscience—why we don’t minimize prediction errors by isolating in darkness—proposing jhanas, meditative bliss states, as a rewarding alternative. Key concepts include regularity and symmetry in stimuli leading to pleasure, with practical applications in meditation for focus and well-being. I would add that this connects to psychology by linking cognitive attention to aesthetic beauty, implying meditation could redefine pleasure beyond biological drives.

Convince Me That Humanity Is As Doomed by AGI As Yudkowsky Seems to Believe (lesswrong.com)
The post expresses concern over AGI risks, seeking arguments against Yudkowsky’s doom predictions, but the content lacks detailed body text for analysis. A buddy would suggest this reflects ongoing AI safety debates, with implications for alignment research, though specifics on methodology or responses remain unclear without full access.

Obscure Pregnancy Interventions: Much More Than You Wanted To Know (astralcodexten.substack.com)
This piece reviews interventions like avoiding stress (linked to ADHD in 10,000 kids, Quebec blizzard study), steering clear of CMV/toxoplasma (affecting 1/200 US babies), embryo selection via IVF genotyping, choline supplementation (930 mg/day improved reaction time in n=26 trial), and limiting licorice (7-point IQ drop in Finnish study). Methodologies include RCTs and observational data. I would emphasize the implications for prenatal care, urging evidence-based tweaks to reduce defects, though some like embryo selection need more live-birth testing.

Economics & Development

The Donut Effect: How the Pandemic Hollowed Out America’s Biggest Cities (fullstackeconomics.com)
Analyzing 12 major metros, this shows an 8% downtown population drop since 2020, with growth in suburbs, using zip code data. Trends include 10% rent falls in cores vs. 20% rises in low-density areas, driven by remote work (24% of jobs). I would remark that this implies long-term sprawl or shifts to affordable regions, reshaping urban development if hybrid models persist.

Selectorate Theory (en.wikipedia.org)
Selectorate theory explains political survival through coalitions needed to maintain power, with dictators tolerating higher casualties due to smaller winning coalitions. I would connect this to observations on military strategies, noting its utility in understanding why regimes prioritize loyalty over lives.

Climate & Environment

I Liked The Idea Of Carbon Offsets, Until I Tried To Explain It (climateer.substack.com)
This critiques avoided emissions offsets as a “shell game,” failing additionality and leakage tests, using criteria like permanence and double-counting. Implications warn against greenwashing, advocating sequestration over perpetual funding, as offsets can’t achieve net zero if scaled universally.

Reference & Curiosities

Aristarchus of Samos (en.wikipedia.org)
Ancient Greek astronomer who proposed a heliocentric model centuries before Copernicus, calculating relative sizes of celestial bodies. I would note this as a reminder of lost knowledge, curious for its early scientific insight.

Grand Harbour (en.wikipedia.org)
Malta’s natural harbor, historically strategic with multiple inlets, protected and fortified over centuries. A friend would highlight its exceptional defensibility, small for modern use but ideal in antiquity.

Free Energy Principle (en.wikipedia.org)
A theory positing organisms minimize free energy to reduce prediction errors, explaining perception and action. I would link this to unfillable voids in human motivation, offering a non-woo explanation for constant striving.

Perceptual Control Theory (en.wikipedia.org)
Views behavior as control of perceptions against reference values, using hierarchical negative feedback. I would suggest it complements ideas of inherent dissatisfaction, with curiosities in modeling human drives.

The Alignment Problem (en.wikipedia.org)
Brian Christian’s book on aligning machine learning with human values, covering bias and ethics. A pal would note its relevance to AI development, curious for future tech implications.

Victory Disease (en.wikipedia.org)
Military overconfidence from past successes leading to failure, with historical examples like Midway. I would find this curiously applicable to modern strategies, a timeless warning.

Kalmykia (en.wikipedia.org)
Russia’s Buddhist republic in Europe, with unique cultural heritage. I would ponder its anomaly in imperial contexts, a curiosity in ethnic diversity.

Politics & Current Events (2022)

What Elon Musk’s Polarization Graph Gets Wrong (washingtonpost.com)
Critiquing Musk’s chart on political shifts, noting vibes vs. data in polarization debates. I would contend that while Republicans seem static in anti-democratic tendencies, the vibe resonates personally as I’ve shifted left.

Madison Cawthorn Photos (politico.com)
Revealing photos of the congressman amid scandals, highlighting hypocrisy. A buddy would call him a monster, underscoring GOP internal outrage over orgies and drugs.

Florida Strips Disney of Special Tax Status (bbc.com)
DeSantis revokes Disney’s privileges over “Don’t Say Gay” opposition. A colleague would note their effective, if unfunny, political tactics in culture wars.