The ADK Homeroom

Esports: How big are they, and who is dominating?

I've seen a lot of 'fake news' about esports. Even people who play one particular game or another are often ignorant of the esports business as a whole. How big is the business? Which countries are leading? Let's look at the numbers.

Absurdity etherized upon a table

 A lot happened this week! Biden, Gyllenhaal-Swift shade, James Chappel on Bobby Duffy and The Generation Myth, Oliver Traldi on Ibram Kendi. Plus an E. Paul Torrance creativity quiz and a Dune pop culture quiz!

Mind-reading is close enough to start speculating

Over the last decade, neuroscientists have been able to extract words, images, and memories from a person's brain. If this technology becomes fast, portable, and accurate, what will change in our world? Let the speculation begin!

Two poems from Daniel Galef, one from Herrick, one from Wilbur

The mind-reading theme continues! I talk about Wilbur's great poem "The Mind-Reader" as well as two excellent poems from Daniel Galef. Herrick's "Upon Scobble" makes a cameo. EDIT: Apologies! I confused Daniel and David Galef! This is DANIEL Galef, of course! Mea culpa.

How close are we to reading minds?

Today we review the state of technologies that have the potential to read thoughts. This episode looks at fMRI, BrainGate-style meshes, gaze cameras, pulse oximetry, and more. This is a part 1; part 2 will look at at the cultural and societal implications that may accompany the advent of ubiquitous mind-reading technology. 

The Blessings of a Fault

Why should you welcome being at fault? People try to avoid it, but there's power in responsibility. Also covered today: Red Notice and art appreciation plus three notes on inflation (eg the price of gas has decreased 30% from the beginning of the year as long as you are measuring in bitcoin: 75 microbitcoin/gallon on 1/1/21 and 52 microbitcoin/gallon today).

The Selfishness of Altruism

The rational altruist movement has noble goals. Are they on the right track to achieving them? I think they are overlooking a fundamental issue.

Gaps between achievement and potential

Which is closer to reaching its potential, physics or poetry? Who is maximizing their resources better, the gaming industry or the FDA? This gap between achievement and potential is the subject of today's podcast.

Two poems from Better Than Starbucks

It's Poetry Wednesday! Both poems are published this month in the excellent Better Than Starbucks at betterthanstarbucks.org. First up is Richard Wakefield's "The Flesh Remembers." Next up is Jared "The Legend" Carter's "Listen." Enjoy!

Will evolutionary effects turn around fertility rates?

The UN projects the world population to stabilize near 11 billion in 2100. But there is an evolutionary counter-argument that says fertility rates will rebound, and the world population will continue to increase, not stabilize. Let's investigate that counter-argument.