November 2022 Linkpost
In a month where emotions run wild on HRT and homicides drop with a cultural twist, I would wonder if we’re all just one transition away from solving crime.
Philosophy & Human Nature
Emotional Liberation Through Transition (theguardian.com)
Cadance Bell’s personal account details the profound emotional shifts from hormone replacement therapy during gender transition, emphasizing existential benefits over physical ones. As a man, she felt numb and unable to cry, like at her grandmother’s funeral where she was “empty” and “as dead inside my male body as she was inside the box.” Post-HRT, emotions resolved, allowing a wider range including laughing/crying fits: “The rush of gratitude, excitement, nervousness and giddy joy turned me to soup.” Implications touch on gender-emotion links, with HRT as “voluntary evolution,” fostering deeper connections and self-love. I would note how this challenges stoic ideals, showing hormonal influences on emotional resilience.
Navigating Parenting Choices for Happiness (theatlantic.com)
Arthur Brooks and economist Emily Oster discuss parenting complexities, stressing data-informed decisions amid emotional pressures. Key findings: overthinking minutiae like pacifier boiling distracts from happiness; “You’re not paying attention to being happy and having a happy baby.” Methodology involves Oster’s evidence-based approach, though no formal sample sizes noted, drawing from public health data on risks like co-sleeping. Conclusions advocate flexibility and family values over dogma, with implications for countercultural parenting like “free range” autonomy: “There’s a lot of value to kids in having them navigate the world outside of your four walls on their own.” I would observe this mirrors broader life frameworks, where stability trumps mandates for emotional growth.
Academic Research & Science
Cultural Individualization and Homicide Decline (sciencedirect.com)
This qualitative historical case study examines England’s homicide drop from 1250–1750 through Durkheim, Black, and Baumgartner’s lenses on individualism. Methodology analyzes historical materials, showing weakened primordial ties reduced third-party interventions and honor concerns, leading to less lethal conflicts. No Chicago sample sizes mentioned, as focus is England. Key findings: individualized society curbed group clashes, lowering rates. Conclusions reverse “the family that slays together stays together” to highlight individualism’s role. Implications for modern criminology: policies fostering individualism may reduce violence. A colleague shared this, and they would point out its reversal of family unity tropes adds a fresh angle to crime trends.
WEIRD Societies and Psychological Peculiarities (news.harvard.edu)
Joseph Henrich’s interview on his book explores WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) societies’ unique traits from medieval Church influences like cousin marriage bans, fostering nuclear families and individualism. No formal methodology or samples, but draws historical data showing WEIRD prioritize impersonal trust over relationships, analytic over holistic thinking. Key findings: moral focus on intentions vs. actions in non-WEIRD groups. Implications: colonial institutions misalign with local norms, taking decades to adapt; “It can take decades, or even longer, for people to culturally adapt their norms.” I would highlight how this explains global misunderstandings, like analytic categorizing vs. relational thinking.
Technology & Society
TikTok’s Unique Cultural Dominance (daniel.do)
Daniel Immke’s essay analyzes TikTok’s success via its algorithm delivering personalized content without user personas, creating a platform zeitgeist. No formal methodology, but observes user behaviors like “impressionistic” videos capturing emotions, fostering empathy. Key findings: tools enable remixing and vulnerability, shifting social media positively. Implications: influences future platforms with organic growth. Quote: “TikTok has taken over the world. Every other social media has a shallow copy of it that sucks.” My friend would emphasize its role in making users feel seen during isolation, a subtle societal shift.
Economics & Development
Reducing US Transit Project Costs (vice.com)
The article critiques US transit costs, like New York’s $4.5 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase I (initially $3.8 billion), vs. Paris’s $250 million/km. Reasons: consultant reliance, utility coordination failures, over-design. No samples, but data: Maryland’s Purple Line 75% over budget at $3.4 billion. Recommendations: build in-house expertise, itemize costs publicly like Italy. Implications: high costs limit access, increase emissions; MTA debt 17% of budget. A buddy would stress learning from low-cost nations could unlock better infrastructure.
Climate & Environment
Desalination for River Refilling (caseyhandmer.wordpress.com)
Casey Handmer proposes desalinating seawater to refill rivers like the Colorado using solar-powered SWRO. Methodology: model estimates 1 GW solar for 710,000 acre-feet/year at $6 billion upfront, 21-year payback. Key findings: 2.5 kWh per cubic meter water; brine disposal via dilution. Implications: $2.3 trillion globally for abundance, environmental trade-offs like 112 sq km solar vs. scarcity defaults. Quote: “Hope is not a strategy.” I would add this flips water scarcity on its head, using tech for sustainability.
Reference & Curiosities
Ancient Chinese Stratagems (en.wikipedia.org)
This essay outlines 36 Chinese stratagems for war, politics, and life, from the 6th century, akin to Sun Tzu. Categories: winning, enemy-dealing, etc., with examples like “Deceive the heavens to cross the sea.” Relevance: enduring tactical insights from Warring States era. I would note its laconic style offers timeless wisdom, like “If all else fails, retreat” for strategic withdrawal.
Politics & Current Events (2022)
Congressional Insider Trading Risks (theatlantic.com)
Discusses senators’ stock trades amid coronavirus briefings, like Burr’s $1.72 million sales. Legal bans exist, but implications erode trust; politicians outperform markets by 20%. Quote: “The potential insider trading is dreadful and possibly criminal.” A pal would warn this fuels cynicism in governance.
Rise of the 9.9 Percent Aristocracy (theatlantic.com)
Examines the 9.9 percent’s wealth consolidation, with top 0.1 percent holding 22% wealth (2012). Mechanisms: assortative mating, elite education (38 colleges favor top 1%). Implications: rising IGE (0.5) stifles mobility. Quote: “The 9.9 percent are the new American aristocracy.” I would reflect on how this perpetuates inequality through subtle privileges.