" many pickpockets also operate near signs warning us to beware of pickpockets. The irony is that when people read the signs, they check their pockets or bag, thus alerting the lurking pickpocket to where their valuables are."
Leaving the Euro - keeping the Euro
Grexit isn't what people take it to be. The standard narrative is that Greece is approaching a fork in the road. It must either stay in the euro or adopt a new currency. I don't think this is an entirely accurate description of the actual fork that Greeks face. Over the next few months, Greece will either:
- A) stay a member in good-standing of the institution called the "Eurozone" and continue to legitimately use that institution's currency, the euro, or
- B) leave the Eurozone while continuing to use the euro 'illegitimately.'*
This means either the status quo of de jure (official) euroization or de facto (unofficial) euroization. In both cases, the euro stays.
Read MoreLow tech and ingenious: transformative ideas that do not require new technology.
When we think of an innovative idea, we immediately think of new, frontier technology. We instinctively believe that all good ideas that rely on old, well-established technology must have already been invented. As it turns out, this belief is wrong: once in awhile some truly brilliant person comes up with an ingenious way to use something very old to produce something very new.
Read MoreWaterloo and how to "leave" the euro
Belgium commemorates waterloo with a €2.50 coin. "The coins, which can only be spent inside Belgium, display a monument of a lion atop a cone-shaped hill on the site of France’s humiliation, as well as lines indicating where troops were positioned when forces led by Britain and Prussia defeated Napoleon in the countryside near Brussels."
As a corollary, does this mean that Greece can "exit" the euro by minting a bunch of 7, 11, 34 euro coins?
In Italy, 9 out of 10 startups are financed by Mamma, Papa', and other relatives.
Article (in Italian) describing the result of a survey conducted in Emilia Romagna (one of the largest Italian regions). A new twist in the traditional Italian family model: food, shelter and seed capital!
This is seriously funny!
I want a Japanese mascot for my course too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T2XQ_kmBuw&feature=youtu.be
Space and time
Klingon is the new Esperanto!
" Like a number of constructed languages, Klingon has taken on a life of its own. There are real human beings who are more or less fluent in this language, which has never been spoken outside of Star Trek fandom. Now, these brave (and nerdy) individuals will have the opportunity to add to their linguistic ranks with the news that gamified language learning app Duolingo will soon teach Klingon. Buy’ ngop! That means “great news.” Consider it lesson one. "
Wonderful BBC documentary on isolation.
The advantage of a long commute is that, sometimes, you get to listen to some truly inspiring stuff, such as this BBC documentary on isolation.
"Man is a social creature, so how does he cope in situations of isolation - bereft of human contact - or in situations where he or she is confined in the company of just a few individuals for long periods of time? Anahi Aradas explores the effects of isolation and confinement in a tiny community in the Antarctic, speaks to former astronauts in the US and visits a Swedish prison, where inmates are encouraged to practise yoga to help them cope."
John Oliver interviews Snowden
Said Snowden:
“Well, the good news is there’s no program named ‘the dick pic program.’ The bad news is they are still collecting everybody’s information, including your dick pics.”