Weekend Thoughts - 9.3.16

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Happy Saturday y'all! Below, I have rounded up some things for you to think about this weekend:

1. Ben Thompson at Stratechery wrote a detailed analysis of Google, Uber, and the Evolution of Transportation-as-a-Service that is worth a read for anyone interested in self-driving automobile technology and ride-sharing market competition. I predict that the next few decades will be extremely interesting in this area.

2. As someone who shares an elevator ride with other people (with a bicycle, no less) several times a week, I found this article detailing elevator body placement and behavior etiquette (also known as elevator "proxemics") to be pretty interesting and helpful. For example, wearing bright colors (like a fantabulous tie dyed t-shirt) will encourage people to put more space between themselves and you, because of the added "stimulation". Also, face forward unless you want people to think that you are a wrong-way-facing lunatic.

That's all for this week's edition of Weekend Thoughts. Until next week, keep thinking wilder.

Weekend Thoughts - 8.27.16

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Happy Saturday y'all! Below, I have rounded up some things for you to think about this weekend:

1. Libraries are currently places where we can access information—books, magazines, the Internet, audiobooks, etc. This article describes how libraries in the future may change to allow us to create the future, rather than learn about the present. Some libraries already offer 3D printers and laser cutters, but future libraries may have other types of technologies. Imagine experiencing virtual or augmented reality with library equipment and software, "checking out" a trip to another planet or a day in the life as another animal, for example. As someone who currently enjoys libraries, I would definitely welcome a shift away from housing print books to an Epcot-like place where new technologies could be experienced without needing to purchase them for oneself.

2. Millennials have been featured in headlines recently for "killing" paper napkins, wine, golf, and other products. However, the real reasons for this trend are not generational snark and apathy toward capitalism. Instead, it's a combination of multiple factors that contribute to the fact that millennials do not have the spending power of earlier generations. They earn $2,000 less than their parents did in 1980 after adjusting for inflation, drastically more student loan debt, and they work longer hours leaving them with less time to shop. I would like to think that in addition to those facts, millennials are plausibly more environmentally conscious and understand that using paper napkins can be replaced with using alternatives (such as cotton towels and reusable "paper" towels)—although you can compost paper napkins, so there is that option as well.

3. A magickian has written an article taking a critical look at Robert Anton Wilson, focusing on some of the downsides in his reality tunnels. Although I am a RAW fan, I did find some of the points made to be valid, even if those in the comment section did not agree. At any rate, if you're into the late author, I would advise giving it a read and some thought.

That's all for this week's edition of Weekend Thoughts. Until next week, keep thinking wilder.

Weekend Thoughts - 8.20.16

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Happy Saturday y'all! Below, I have rounded up some things for you to think about this weekend:

1. Following last week's news that the DEA declined the opportunity to reschedule (or preferably, deschedule entirely) cannabis in the Controlled Substances Act, deciding to keep it in Schedule I, a tier reserved for substances that have "a high potential for abuse" and "no currently accepted medical use". This will seem completely absurd to anyone who has educated themselves about cannabis, as the plant does not tend to lead to addiction and has a large array of medical uses. I have already sent and encourage you to send a message to your state Senators requesting them to reschedule cannabis at the federal level. The above link will make the job extremely easy for you—all you need to do is click it and fill out your information. Please let your local representatives know how you feel about this issue, because the DEA is showing no signs of using scientific research to determine their decisions, and that means we the people need to step up, speak up, and be heard.

2. In an unexpected announcement, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it will end its use of private prisons after officials concluded that they are both less safe and less effective at providing correctional services than those run by the government. According to Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, in a memo instructing officials to either decline to renew contracts for private prison operators when they expire or "substantially reduce" the contracts' scope, the goal is "reducing – and ultimately ending – our use of privately operated prisons". Private prisons have a range of issues, including higher assault rates (both by inmates and staff) and eight times as many contraband cellphone confiscations than state-run prisons each year on average. There are numerous examples of how terrible these prisons have been, however perhaps a more sensible approach would be to reform our criminal laws so that there are less people going to prison in the first place.

3. As a longterm Apple fan (the first Apple product I owned was a second-generation iPod from 2002), I greatly enjoyed this in-depth interview with Tim Cook, and highly suggest giving it a read if you can block off some time to give it your full attention. The conversation commemorated his fifth year as CEO of Apple and the production of the billionth iPhone. The interview covers topics like Apple's future product plans, approaches to security and privacy, Tim's experience as CEO and memories of former-Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the company's international tax practices, and more.

That's all for this week's edition of Weekend Thoughts. Until next week, keep thinking wilder.

Weekend Thoughts - 8.13.16

Image by Matsukin, courtesy of Creative Commons licensing.

Happy Saturday y'all! Below, I have rounded up some things for you to think about this weekend:

1. I was fortunate to attend a fantastic art exhibition with Salvador Dali's works at the North Carolina Museum of Art earlier this year, and so when I came across this article titled The Mystical World of Salvador Dali, I thought it would be worth sharing on this week's edition of Weekend Thoughts. For those who are not familiar with Dali, I would suggest checking out his profile page at Artsy, which includes a biography, over 340 of his works, exclusive articles, and up-to-date exhibition listings.

2. I find this video of extended-release pills dissolving to be mesmerizing. Not only is the feat of developing and manufacturing a pill that will slowly release its contents impressive, but watching them dissolve into stunning color-rich art is a tad psychedelic as well.

That's all for this week's edition of Weekend Thoughts. Until next week, keep thinking wilder.

Weekend Thoughts - 8.6.16

Image by Radosław Kut, courtesy of Creative Commons licensing.

Happy Saturday y'all! Below, I have rounded up some things for you to think about this weekend:

1. When flossing was first introduced as a dental care technique, there was no proof required when suggesting remedies. As a result, the majority of us in the Western world have been taught by our parents (who learned from our dentists and the mainstream media) that flossing is an essential technique. However, it turns out that an analysis of the scientific evidence did not find that flossing prevents gum disease and cavities. Due to this finding, the federal government's "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" will no longer list suggestions for flossing, much to the dismay of the American Dental Association, which still advocates for the practice. This simply means that the recommendation has been removed from the guidelines due to a lack of scientific evidence. But it doesn't mean that flossing doesn't actually help prevent gum disease and cavities—there is just currently a lack of scientific evidence, so the government has to remove the recommendation unless a new body of evidence is presented that will back up the claim.

2. As a young nerd, I had a subscription to the video game magazine Nintendo Power for several years. I gave away my collection of magazines a few years ago in an ongoing attempt to lessen my physical possessions and assumed I would never see them again. However, the first 13 years of the magazine have now been added to Archive.org. Fellow nerds can take a trip down memory lane (or explore them for the first time) by perusing the Archive.org collection.

That's all for this week's edition of Weekend Thoughts. Until next week, keep thinking wilder.