The schadenfreude monoid

As I wrote earlier, closed systems with established feedback loops can be modeled as monoids because everything can be reduced to a number. Particularly, in a zero-sum game, one can figure out the number from observing gains and losses of the other side.

When it comes to new developments, it's a typical mistake to confuse close- and open-loop systems. Therefore, when people experience schadenfreude in open-loop systems it means that they are prone to poor judgement because they assume that a) it's a zero-sum game and b) their own gain can be measured by the other side's psychological losses.

Beware of people who publicly demonstrate schadenfreude under conditions of uncertainty. They are not only mean spirited but also tend to be poor decision makers. Unless you value their specific skill in an unrelated area, try to avoid them as much as possible.

upd: Consider it a lifehack. It might even be the first ever lifehack described in terms of Category Theory :) I should probably write out a formal proof for that.

(no subject)

One possible long-term negative side effect of Trump's presidency might be the loss by US companies of their leadership in electric car and battery-related technologies. Now, Germany, Japan, Korea and even China are subsidizing electric car R&D and manufacturing to catch up with Tesla. Paradoxically, Trump's repeal of Obama's environmental measures will ensure that there will be no rebound in American automobile industry for the years to come.

(no subject)

Trump's presidency is going to be a great learning moment for the young people. First, they'll get the idea that small things make a huge difference. Second, they'll understand globalization as a fundamental aspect of technology businesses (platform scalability, transportation and communications networks, consumer acceptance). Third, they'll see how social paradigms change with major demographics shifts. Fourth, they'll get the value of education in the context of global competition for talent. Fifth, they'll appreciate having various hedging strategies in times of uncertainty (volatility is a resource). The less we know about the future, the more valuable our research and knowledge become.

Trump University: a great learning moment

Makaeff v. Trump University, LLC, 715 F. 3d 254 - Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit 2013:

I. Donald Trump founded Trump University[1] because he has "a real passion for learning." Trump, who describes himself as Trump University's chairman, portrays the venture as the next step in his progression from real estate tycoon to educator. "My books and seminars have always included a strong educational or `lessons learned' slant.... [Trump University] grew out of my desire to impart my business knowledge, accumulated over the years, and my realization that there is a huge demand for practical, convenient education that teaches success." So born, Trump University took shape as a limited liability company offering real estate seminars and other training programs to would-be real estate investors. Its stated mission is to "train, educate and mentor entrepreneurs on achieving financial independence through real estate investing."
...
B. In August 2008, Tarla Makaeff attended Trump University's three-day "Fast Track to Foreclosure Workshop" at a cost of approximately $1,495, which Makaeff says she split with a friend. Makaeff describes the seminars as slick productions featuring carefully choreographed presentations, speakers blaring "For the Love of Money," the theme song from Trump's hit reality television series "The Apprentice," and Trump University representatives exhorting customers to raise their credit card limits, ostensibly to enable "real estate transactions," but actually to facilitate the purchase of the $34,995 "Trump Gold Elite Program."

This is a classic pyramid scam to phish for phools. Schiller's "Phishing for Phools" should be required reading in high school AP economics courses.

Monoid Homomorphisms

Every year we go on vacation and I swim in the ocean. I'm not a good swimmer, but after a few years of struggling with the ocean I've figured out a technique that helps me synchronize breathing with strokes. I mediate. That is, I pray while I swim. Every time I exhale into the ocean I stretch out my arm and I say one word from my favorite prayer. Although I'm not a Catholic, the Prayer of St. Francis really helps me get over all my swimming problems.

Today, I was reading up on Free Monoids and I realized that my swimming is a free monoid on a set of two strokes - {left, right}. Furthermore, my breathing is a free monoid on a set of breaths - {inhale,exhale}. You see, in my mind, I can draw an arrow between each breath and each stroke and it'll become a functor between two monoids, which is called Monoid Homomorphisms. Wow!

This is not over yet. Since I can synchronize my stroke, breathing and the prayer, the prayer is also a free monoid! Here's its set:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

(no subject)

"" (Watch on YouTube)

Парадокс языка

Каким-то образом, если я пишу или комментирую по-русски, то это резко увеличивает шансы нарваться на злобного мудака или самому превратиться в злобного мудака. Поэтому я пока будут писать по-английски.

Извините.

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