-
Dubious as expected.
Since I’ve been tracking the subject, here’s the latest. The HBO documentary claims that Peter Todd is Satoshi. Todd has well-known connections to the early stages of bitcoin, but doesn’t seem to fit most of the needed qualities. I’m not convinced. Later thought: The most important misfit is geographical. Todd lives in Toronto, and the…
-
It’s even older
Noticed an article in NewSuperstitionist, describing how causality can be re-introduced into the quantum world. Why bother? Causality exists in the REAL world. Nature doesn’t care if we set up an abstract spiritual world of angels on pinheads or live/dead cats in boxes. Quantum is a modern religion, not a description of reality. Quantum theologians…
-
Fast construction!
A local “news” station featured the proud announcement that the North-South Corridor bypass is nearly done! Well, almost nearly. It started construction in 2000, and plans to be done by 2030. The bypass was needed from 1946 to 2000. The huge Kaiser Aluminum plant in Mead employed thousands, and there wasn’t a highway leading to…
-
Self-solving globalism
Randomly reading some of the old magazines at American Radio Library reminded me of a change I’d forgotten. It’s relevant to the recent decline of big centralized entertainment and “journalism”, quickly replaced by more individual and local talent carried on Youtube or Tiktok. A country music mag from 1966 had monthly columns on the music…
-
The gardener
Local magazine The Inlander has an article highlighting each of the official Neighborhoods. This Neighborhood includes Boulevard Park along with larger areas to the south and north. The article gives a special salute to the work of Norbert Leute, who decided to improve the Boulevard in 2020. Googlestreets shows part of his work: The real…
-
Basic rule of sales
I’m gradually spending more time at Quora and less at Substack. An elementary rule of business says that a display, whether it’s a store window or a magazine cover or a social media feed, should offer a variety of items. A variety gives each customer a chance to find something he likes in his current…
-
Healthy attitude
More examples of a healthy response to insane rulers. Along with the endless overdoses, dozens per day, we have violence of all sorts, mostly crazy. The activists want us to crusade against the rulers. Sorry, I’m a conscientious objector from ALL wars, official and unofficial. Unofficial crusaders lose every time, and their losses and failures…
-
For the first time…
Amazing! For the first time, an article at NiemanLab gets EVERYTHING right and reaches the correct conclusion. Mathew Jordan, a prof of media studies, writes the 100-year history of AM radio and gets every detail right. He’s talking about a “law” being considered by congress that would require automakers to keep the AM band on…
-
Chutzpah
One of the stupid politicians in my email keeps pleading for help. If you don’t contribute, I’ll lose my election and lose my home! Good! Justice! Why in the world should I want to help a politician? The assigned job and purpose of politicians is ruining the world and destroying civilization. They’ll never be punished…
-
Smart idea
Seen on Quora. Every ship coming in and out of the Baltic has to pass through the narrow straits around Copenhagen. In the 1700s Denmark charged a toll of 1% of the cargo’s value, to finance maintaining its ports. The ship had to dock and let the tax collector board to pay the toll. An…
-
Not responding to the guilt trip
Advocates often insist that everyone MUST read things that disagree with our side, in order to have a chance of changing our mind. Nope. I have no obligation to eat stuff that tastes bad, nor do I have an obligation to mentally consume stuff that tastes bad. I shouldn’t try to PREVENT OTHERS from seeing…
-
Reprint on Bimetallism
Mentioned in previous item on HBO’s “reveal” of Satoshi. When I wrote this in 2017, bitcoin wasn’t yet big enough to notice as a new version of bimetallism. I was comparing to Modern Monetary Theory, which was a big deal among leftist types. MMT wasn’t even a system, it was just a fancy way of…
-
Real value
This ’57 Ford sales training film starts with a corny intro even by ’50s standards. After that it settles into some useful experience and advice from the best salesmen. Most of the advice is generic. Know the Ford thoroughly and also know Chevies and Plymouths. Know the customer. Develop trust, find out what he wants…
-
Might be interesting
On Tuesday HBO will release a documentary claiming to reveal the real identity of Satoshi. Websites are predicting total disaster and total salvation. Given the history of TV “reveals”, I doubt that it will settle the question or even provide a valid answer. And given the amount of hype surrounding this one, I doubt even…
Polistra's Mill
Be your own beacon.
Polistra's Mill 