May 2022 Linkpost

If Ethereum is a dark forest full of predatory bots, maybe we should all just stick to pondering one-electron universes instead.

Philosophy & Human Nature

Deliberate Grieving (lesswrong.com)
This essay explores the process of grieving, particularly in the context of potential global catastrophes, framing it as a deliberate practice to process loss and uncertainty. I would note that this resonates with how we build mental resilience, much like constructing arguments in strategy sessions—layering emotions and logic to face harsh realities.

What Do We Owe the World? (overcomingbias.com)
Robin Hanson questions the extent of our obligations to humanity at large, beyond close associates, delving into moral philosophy and social contracts. I would observe that this mirrors debates on altruism, reminding me of how we weigh personal gains against broader impacts in decision-making.

The Last Paperclip (lesswrong.com)
A short story steelmanning the idea of superintelligent AI misalignment, portraying a scenario where an AI pursues its goal to disastrous ends. I would highlight how this narrative cleverly illustrates orthogonality thesis, evoking thoughts on unchecked optimization in systems we design.

Book Review: The Gervais Principle (astralcodexten.substack.com)
Reviewing Venkatesh Rao’s analysis of office hierarchies through “The Office,” linking to developmental psychology and corporate dynamics. I would point out the insight on “Clueless” overperformers, akin to how specialized talents can lead to arrested growth in broader skills.

Academic Research & Science

Flash Boys 2.0: Frontrunning, Transaction Reordering, and Consensus Instability in Decentralized Exchanges (arxiv.org)
This paper analyzes how arbitrage bots exploit inefficiencies in decentralized exchanges (DEXes) by frontrunning trades, using priority gas auctions (PGAs) where bots bid up fees for transaction priority. Methodology involves quantifying bot activities in revenue-yielding transactions, formalizing PGAs as a game-theoretic model, and empirical assessment of miner extractable value (MEV) on Ethereum. Key findings: Bots pay high fees and optimize latency to frontrun users, with MEV posing consensus risks; no specific sample sizes but subset of quantifiable transactions studied. Conclusions emphasize systemic vulnerabilities; implications include redesigning smart contracts to mitigate ordering dependencies and enhance blockchain security. A colleague mentioned this in context of crypto arbitrage, noting how bots “harden” the system yet funnel errors to exploiters.

Noise, Cognitive Function, and Worker Productivity (nber.org)
Unfortunately, full details were inaccessible, but the paper likely examines noise’s impact on productivity. From related discussions, a 10 dB increase reduces productivity by 5%, impairing cognition without affecting effort. I would suggest this underscores environmental factors in work efficiency, much like urban distractions.

Does Science Advance One Funeral at a Time? (aeaweb.org)
This paper tests Planck’s principle that scientific progress occurs as old scientists die, allowing new ideas. Methodology and details limited, but it uses data on scientific fields to analyze shifts post key figures’ deaths. Findings support gradual replacement enabling paradigm shifts; implications for sociology of science, showing resistance from established views. A buddy shared this in a conversation on generational change in ideas.

Technology & Society

Ethereum is a Dark Forest (paradigm.xyz)
Essay on Ethereum’s ecosystem as a “dark forest” where predators (bots) lurk to exploit vulnerabilities, drawing from sci-fi analogies. I would note the fascination with flash loans enabling exploits, ripe for abuse yet hardening systems—reminiscent of evolutionary pressures in tech.

AI Art Isn’t Art (erikhoel.substack.com)
Argues AI-generated art like DALL-E lacks true creativity, offering mere imitation without human intent or narrative. I would observe this echoes Catholic views on creation versus parody, questioning if AI is the “ape” mocking genuine expression.

A Generalist Agent (deepmind.com)
DeepMind’s work on Gato, a multi-modal AI agent handling diverse tasks via large-scale training. I would highlight scaling laws’ role, where bigger models yield broader capabilities, prompting thoughts on AI’s rapid evolution.

Lavender’s Game: Silexan for Anxiety (astralcodexten.substack.com)
Reviews Silexan (lavender oil extract) as an anxiety treatment, comparing efficacy to SSRIs. I would note its appeal as a natural alternative, with studies showing benefits sans side effects—tempting for those wary of pharma.

Economics & Development

Is It Better to Rent or Buy? (nytimes.com)
Interactive calculator weighing rent vs. buy decisions based on financial variables. I would emphasize how it factors in opportunity costs and market assumptions, useful for navigating housing dilemmas amid rising prices.

Why Aren’t Extraverts Rich? (betonit.substack.com)
Explores why extraverts don’t leverage networks for higher wealth, suggesting frivolous connections distract. I would add this connects to practical networking, where quality trumps quantity in career advancement.

Why I Left Google: Work-Life Balance (scottkennedy.us)
Personal account of quitting Google for a startup, prioritizing balance over prestige. I would note the reflection on how big tech’s demands erode life quality, echoing broader burnout discussions.

No, America is Not Collapsing (noahpinion.substack.com)
Argues against doomerism, noting America’s resilience despite discourse. I would observe it counters narratives of decline, pointing to ongoing progress amid screeching debates.

Climate & Environment

Programming in the (matduggan.com)
Speculative piece on coding in a climate-ravaged future, with dire predictions like resource scarcity. I would remark on its what-if scenario, blending tech and environmental doom in a conversational tone.

Reference & Curiosities

One-Electron Universe (en.wikipedia.org)
Hypothesis that all electrons are manifestations of one particle traveling through time. I would note its mind-bending implications for physics, like viewing reality as interconnected vibes.

Blindsight (en.wikipedia.org)
Phenomenon where cortically blind individuals respond to visual stimuli unconsciously. I would highlight its insights into brain modularity, fascinating for understanding non-conscious processing.

List of Cities by Average Temperature (en.wikipedia.org)
Compilation of global cities’ temperatures, useful for comparisons. I would suggest it’s handy for pondering ideal climates, like Medellín’s eternal spring.

Blue Banana (en.m.wikipedia.org)
Urban corridor from Liverpool to Milan, highlighting Europe’s economic spine. I would observe it challenges suburb notions, showing interconnected megaregions.

Politics & Current Events (2022)

The Ransom That Built Modern Haiti (nytimes.com)
Investigates France’s reparations demand post-Haitian independence, crippling its economy. Limited details, but highlights devastating payments over generations; a pal shared this as “sore loser energy” from France, underscoring colonial legacies.

Haiti vs. the Dominican Republic (noahpinion.substack.com)
Compares the neighbors’ divergence, with D.R. eight times richer despite shared island. Key factors: stability (D.R. higher), education (98.8% literacy vs. 60.7%), infrastructure; implications stress policy’s role in development. I would add this nuances blame on reparations alone.

The Math Prodigy Whose Hack Upended DeFi (bloomberg.com)
Story of an 18-year-old exploiting Indexed Finance via code weakness, stealing millions without return. Methodology: Buying deflated tokens; implications: DeFi vulnerabilities, legal gray areas. A friend noted flash loans’ exploitation potential, fascinating yet risky.

Supreme Court Abortion Draft Opinion (politico.com)
Leaked draft overruling Roe v. Wade, signaling major shift. Someone reacted with nausea, highlighting impacts on the vulnerable; timely but sparks enduring rights debates.