TIL: Orange Swan

"" (Watch on YouTube)

Fucking Moron (tm)

Have we started firing cruise missiles at Iran yet?

Paradoxically, in the beginning of the covfefe administration we had like a hundred retired generals appointed to various senior government positions. Now that we are creeping closer to a military conflict with Iran, all of the generals are gone. Instead, we've got Bolton & Pompeo!

Meanwhile, Bolton and Pompeo are nearing their endgame. Since they were appointed to their positions last year, they have been seeking justifications for war with Iran. Now that they have succeeded in provoking Tehran into violating the nuclear deal and, perhaps, interfering with commercial shipping, they’re pretending they had nothing to do with any of this.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/bolton-keeps-trying-goad-iran-war/592108/

(no subject)

Wow, this thing is huge and expensive.



https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-and-iran-move-closer-to-military-conflict-after-downing-of-drone-11561076307

(no subject)

Once we have fixed an isomorphism A — >X , it is harmless to treat A and X as the same object, precisely because we have the maps f and f^-1 to 'translate."

--- Lawvere, Schnauel. 2009.

It's extremely useful in most cases, but can cause mental errors when an isomorphic association creates an unstated assumption of unity, i.e. "the same object." A classic example would be the isomorphism between glory and mortal combat as described by Homer in the Iliad.

St Luis Blues - who would've thought!

"Gloria - Umberto Tozzi Italian Version Letra y Traduccion" (Watch on YouTube)

"Laura Branigan - Gloria [1982]" (Watch on YouTube)

Kantian meditation

The usual test, 
           whether 
                that which 
any one maintains 
        is merely his 
                    persuasion, 
or his subjective 
              conviction at least, 
      that is, 
                his firm belief, 
is a bet. 

It frequently happens 
                 that a man delivers 
his opinions with 
             so much boldness 
                        and assurance, 
that he appears to be 
                  under no apprehension 
as to the possibility of 
                    his being 
                            in error. 

The offer of a bet 
                 startles him, 
and makes him 
           pause. Sometimes 
                       it turns out that 
his persuasion 
         may be valued
                     at a ducat,         
but not at ten.
 
For he does not hesitate, 
                     perhaps, 
to venture a ducat, 
                but if it is proposed 
to stake ten, 
            he immediately 
                      becomes aware 
of the possibility 
             of his being mistaken — 
a possibility which has hitherto 
              escaped 
                     his observation. 

If we imagine to ourselves that we have to stake the happiness of our whole life on the truth of any proposition, our judgement drops its air of triumph, we take the alarm, and discover the actual strength of our belief. Thus pragmatical belief has degrees, varying in proportion to the interests at stake.


---- Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Pure Reason.