Computer Science isn’t Computer Science is a terrible name for this business. First of all, it’s not a science. It might be engineering, or it… Read More »The Wizard (1): Harold Abelson on the essence of computer science as formalising procedural knowledge
While there is a shared understanding [about what constitutes a particular dish], that isn’t absolute compliance. If we had to argue that there is only… Read More »Whose Dhansak? Food and Authenticity
This image we know and love – the classic ukiyo-e woodblock print, as Japanese as Tsunamis and Mount Fuji, one of the launchpads of Japonisme,… Read More »New Wave: the Hybrid Hokusai
Highlights from Cowen and Roberts’ recent conversation on Econtalk. On reading for love Cowen: …don’t read stuff you don’t love reading. That’s the simplest point… Read More »Love and Clusters: (more from) Tyler Cowen and Russ Roberts on Reading and How to Read
The way of the thing “Tao” refers to the inner nature or natural tendency of things. For example, water tends to flow downhill: that is… Read More »Boardroom: Lessons from Surfing (4) – Tao, Timing, Vectors
I love it when people describe writing a blog, or writing on the internet, as “popularizing” economics or something similar. That is a sign they… Read More »Tyler Cowen on Writing on the Internet, and Network Value Creation
The Information Architecture of Narrative If you came in late, start here. Tool 2: MICE nests Mary Robinette Kowal’s second insight into story structure is… Read More »Resource: Structuring Stories with Mary Robinette Kowal (2) – MICE Nests and the Pinging of Narrative Elastic
I’ve been enjoying Brandon Sanderson‘s lecture series on writing fantasy and science fiction at Brigham Young University. The standout so far has been Mary Robinette… Read More »Resource: Structuring Stories with Mary Robinette Kowal (1) – the MICE Quotient
A few years ago my family ate pizza and fresh pasta at a branch of Popolamama in Jakarta. It was very enjoyable – better than… Read More »Cultural Hybridity, Fast and Slow
You probably have tools that you notice and tools you overlook. There are tools that it’s always a pleasure to use, that took effort to… Read More »Care and Attention