@dol.gov really captured the two Pittsburgh schools of philosophy. On the left, someone who looks like they belong in an engineering department. On the right, someone who works in a faux-gothic tower.

At Carnegie Mellon, my advisor bet cappuccinos on whether the Pirates would lose by 5+. Lovely tradition. At Columbia, the philosophy dept’s coffee machine was robbed by a non-student in a Che Guevara shirt and septum ring. Perfect metaphor for both places.

At Carnegie Mellon, my advisor bet cappuccinos on whether the Pirates would lose by 5+. Lovely tradition. At Columbia, the philosophy dept’s coffee machine was robbed by a non-student in a Che Guevara shirt and septum ring. Perfect metaphor for both places.

Maybe it’s time to move the US capital back to New York — vastly superior to DC in every way.

I like to keep oranges in the fridge. There’s nothing like a nearly frozen clementine on a hot summer day. Sorry.

Some people are driven by the faintest hope of affirmation. They’re liabilities.

I live a few blocks from Di Fara. I’ve eaten Di Fara pizza. Di Fara pizza is a friend of mine. You, frozen pizza, are no Di Fara pizza.

People who work in areas like academia or journalism might never believe it, but there are entire industries full of well-paid centrists who have no reason to share their opinions on social media and who enjoy spending time with their families.

I live a few blocks from Di Fara. I’ve eaten Di Fara pizza. Di Fara pizza is a friend of mine. You, frozen pizza, are no Di Fara pizza.

I like to keep oranges in the fridge. There’s nothing like a nearly frozen clementine on a hot summer day. Sorry.

Honestly wasn’t expecting something as understated as this.

Some people are driven by the faintest hope of affirmation. They’re liabilities.

Doing some mandatory corporate training on innovation, and it includes a TED talk by Dan Ariely. 😂

Ask how your academic fanzine could turn into a pitchbot for The New Yorker.

Ask how your academic fanzine could turn into a pitchbot for The New Yorker.

There’s a certain type of philosopher who obsesses over the subjectivity of prior distributions—and frankly, it’s embarrassing. Stop it. You sound like you’ve never fit a real model in your life. #notfunatparties

Music from speaker: 🎶 Miebo ohh yeah 🎶 Guest: isn’t that the Meibo theme? Me: ohh yeah Guest: funny 🎶 Miebo ohh yeah 🎶 Guest: is this going on for longer than normal? Me: yes, this is an extended version. Guest: they released it? Me: no, I had it commissioned. 🎶 Miebo

Do we really have to be this inept, New York? Come on.

It’s pretty wild how Ozzy, who was portrayed as a total menace when I was a teenager, turned out to be, by most accounts, a genuinely nice guy. I’m going to think about that for a moment the next time I’m criticizing the music my kids listen to.

It’s pretty wild how Ozzy, who was portrayed as a total menace when I was a teenager, turned out to be, by most accounts, a genuinely nice guy. I’m going to think about that for a moment the next time I’m criticizing the music my kids listen to.

LinkedIn data science is a Black Mirror episode

LinkedIn data science is a Black Mirror episode

Do we really have to be this inept, New York? Come on.

I see there’s a fresh crop of ‘How I Start My Day’ videos on LinkedIn. They don’t call it the class of the social networks for nothing.

It’s wild how much confusion arises when related disciplines use the same term to mean different things, then continue the conversation as if they’re talking about the same thing.

Just the idea of being seen at a Coldplay concert is too much. I’d sooner drink PBR on an REO Speedwagon reunion cruise—while being filmed for a reality show about “Speedos,” the underground subculture built around the band.

It’s wild how much confusion arises when related disciplines use the same term to mean different things, then continue the conversation as if they’re talking about the same thing.

Music from speaker: 🎶 Miebo ohh yeah 🎶 Guest: isn’t that the Meibo theme? Me: ohh yeah Guest: funny 🎶 Miebo ohh yeah 🎶 Guest: is this going on for longer than normal? Me: yes, this is an extended version. Guest: they released it? Me: no, I had it commissioned. 🎶 Miebo

Just the idea of being seen at a Coldplay concert is too much. I’d sooner drink PBR on an REO Speedwagon reunion cruise—while being filmed for a reality show about “Speedos,” the underground subculture built around the band.

CEOs really should be required to disclose whether they like Coldplay.

CEOs really should be required to disclose whether they like Coldplay.

I dare someone to open a prediction market on what percentage of Society will be radical skeptics by December 31, 2025.

My 19-year-old son is being strangely considerate today. I’m worried. 😬

also

Apparently, some people wake up bitter that grad school didn’t pay off and decide the world needs their take on who should run a city they don’t even live in.

Apparently, some people wake up bitter that grad school didn’t pay off and decide the world needs their take on who should run a city they don’t even live in.

ML/AI engineer guy just gave a talk on a claims severity model that was trained on closed claims. You would never catch ChatGPT doing this.

I’ve been using Claude at work lately. It’s made some good suggestions—like using a piecewise Weibull CDF to model some loss development data—but then it’ll suggest something that no human who made the first suggestion would ever propose.

Stop trying to make Kant seem so reasonable.

This makes a compelling case

“Listen to The Ezra Klein Show,” they said. So I did. Five minutes in, I feel like I’m drinking warm milk through a wool sock in the middle of August.

Seeking: A Bluesky post featuring an adult adolescent who doesn’t live in NYC, has strong opinions about who should be the next mayor of NYC, and is desperate to prove they’re a good person—mainly because, deep down, they’re seething with resentment that no one appreciates their expertise.

I’ve been using Claude at work lately. It’s made some good suggestions—like using a piecewise Weibull CDF to model some loss development data—but then it’ll suggest something that no human who made the first suggestion would ever propose.

Lol, no. I spent many years in a philosophy department—they’re barely organized enough to manage the modest budgets they have. That said, it’s great to hear (and not surprising) that some inmates have benefited from studying philosophy.

I feel like I’ve reached equilibrium with social networks: 1. Delete X and Bluesky. Reluctantly accept I can’t delete LinkedIn. 2. Spend that time on better things. 3. Worry it’s irresponsible to ignore the spectacles. 4. Reinstall X and Bluesky. Wonder why. Return to Step 1.

Anyone surprised by the current state of Bluesky has either been to some wild parties or to an academic social gathering—but not both.

Anyone surprised by the current state of Bluesky has either been to some wild parties or to an academic social gathering—but not both.

Unlike most people, this Guy is actually doing something to prevent us from descending into civil war.

Sure, X is great if you’re looking for a cesspool, but Bluesky is where you go if you want to hear an academic man-child—who doesn’t live in NYC and would be unemployable in virtually any other industry—weigh in on NYC politics.

Unlike most people, this Guy is actually doing something to prevent us from descending into civil war.