First simplify

“You can’t simplify reality without understanding it first.” Carl Theodor Dreyer, Danish filmmaker.

Madmen in authority

George Maynard Keynes quoted in a nice book review entitled Talking Short of 3 volumes on the economic crisis in the Dublin Review of Books The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they … Continue reading →

Fiction

“Fiction is the study of the human condition through the medium of interesting lies—scenarios that explore some aspect of what it means to be a person” Charlie Stross

One equal music

And into that gate they shall enter, and in that house they shall dwell, where there shall be no cloud nor sun, no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light, no noise nor silence, but one equal music, no fears … Continue reading →

Internet punditry (1974)

From Hans Magnus Enzensberger’s 1974 collection of essays “The Consciousness Industry; On Literature, Politics and the Media”: The open secret of the new electronic media, the decisive political factor, which has been waiting, suppressed or crippled, for its moment to … Continue reading →

Three Types of People

I was interested in the following quote from Lynda Gratton from London Business School, in a Lunch with the FT Interview (several weeks ago). Not much more comment to make on it but it feels, intuitively, like a nice way … Continue reading →

Make no little plans

“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but … Continue reading →

Words, Words, Words

An NYT piece examines the content of previous innaugral speeches from 1789 to yesterday, sizing the words according to the frequency of their use. The words highlighted in yellow were used significantly more in this inaugural address than average. Unsurpisingly, Dubya's … Continue reading →

Three

This little aphorism was new to me and I like it – but the interweb doesn't say much about who this woman is/was…. "For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please … Continue reading →

Inspired Inspiration

Fantastic mash-up of inspirational speeches, via swissmiss

Warning

WARNING by Jenny Joseph When I am an old woman I shall wear purpleWith a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me,And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer glovesAnd satin sandals, and say we’ve no … Continue reading →

What gets lost

el problema es este this is the difficulty lo que se pierde what gets lost no es lo que se pierde en traducion sino is not what gets lost in translation but more what gets lost in lanuage itself lo … Continue reading →

Mapping old age

“Our maps have improved in a kind of spurious precision as they have deteriorated in the amount of worthwhile information they convey…If the Ordnance Survey were worth the paper it prints on it would be producing a special series of … Continue reading →

Beckham Balls

The confidence of masculinity, the celebration of talent, the intimacy of David Beckham. The fragrance projects the edgy, sexy side of David. A modern woody-spicey accord radiating warmth and sensuality. A heady mix of energy, vibrancy, comfort and warmth. Magnetic, … Continue reading →

Thought for the Day

“. . .if you are tempted to judge someone as ignorant, look for the context in which his knowledge can be turned into gold.” Sounds like a goods plan. Levy P (1997) Collective Intelligence: mankind’s emerging world in cyberspace. Cambridge: … Continue reading →