Michael M
@aesop-tortoise.bsky.social
This is to say nothing about the logical and analytic skills gained from a proper math education.
February 2, 2026 at 10:51 PM
This is to say nothing about the logical and analytic skills gained from a proper math education.
I mentioned statistics. I think one reason Americans are particularly swayed by personal anecdotes is because they do not understand the importance of sample size and the control of variables.
February 2, 2026 at 10:51 PM
I mentioned statistics. I think one reason Americans are particularly swayed by personal anecdotes is because they do not understand the importance of sample size and the control of variables.
I mentioned exponential growth. I think one reason Americans were particularly dissmissive of covid is because they do not understand the dangers of an exponentially spreading pathogen because they do not understand exponentials. Ditto for the power of compounding returns when building wealth.
February 2, 2026 at 10:47 PM
I mentioned exponential growth. I think one reason Americans were particularly dissmissive of covid is because they do not understand the dangers of an exponentially spreading pathogen because they do not understand exponentials. Ditto for the power of compounding returns when building wealth.
I am came to the USA as a PhD student. I was shocked at how poor the math skills are here. I think it is a particular vulnerability of the USA. I know medical doctors here who cannot do dilutions because they lack the basic math skills.
February 2, 2026 at 10:44 PM
I am came to the USA as a PhD student. I was shocked at how poor the math skills are here. I think it is a particular vulnerability of the USA. I know medical doctors here who cannot do dilutions because they lack the basic math skills.
I read your book. I found it both very informative and an enjoyable read. With me, it is like preaching to the choir. I am precisely the sort of person who would read your book in my spare time. I have recommended your book to the non-scientists in my life.
February 2, 2026 at 10:41 PM
I read your book. I found it both very informative and an enjoyable read. With me, it is like preaching to the choir. I am precisely the sort of person who would read your book in my spare time. I have recommended your book to the non-scientists in my life.
Sorry. I thought you were referring to the classification of a function (e.g. y = ax + b being linear). I have a PhD in physics and so am familiar with many types of nonlinearity.
I stand by my point that much of the anti-science in America is due to a poor understanding of mathematics.
I stand by my point that much of the anti-science in America is due to a poor understanding of mathematics.
February 2, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Sorry. I thought you were referring to the classification of a function (e.g. y = ax + b being linear). I have a PhD in physics and so am familiar with many types of nonlinearity.
I stand by my point that much of the anti-science in America is due to a poor understanding of mathematics.
I stand by my point that much of the anti-science in America is due to a poor understanding of mathematics.
In the case of infectious disease, it can also be exponential.
I attribute much of the anti-science in America to a poor understanding of two topics: exponential growth and statistics. Better math education would do wonders.
I attribute much of the anti-science in America to a poor understanding of two topics: exponential growth and statistics. Better math education would do wonders.
February 2, 2026 at 5:31 PM
In the case of infectious disease, it can also be exponential.
I attribute much of the anti-science in America to a poor understanding of two topics: exponential growth and statistics. Better math education would do wonders.
I attribute much of the anti-science in America to a poor understanding of two topics: exponential growth and statistics. Better math education would do wonders.
Judgeship (maybe as high as SCOTUS) or very highly paid job working for some tech-bro (e.g. Musk).
January 19, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Judgeship (maybe as high as SCOTUS) or very highly paid job working for some tech-bro (e.g. Musk).
Can Trump pardon everyone involved so that no one faces justice?
December 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Can Trump pardon everyone involved so that no one faces justice?
While I think NFTs will have a use in the future, I offer up this funny video making fun of NFTs:
youtu.be/ssDeqSDytHg?...
youtu.be/ssDeqSDytHg?...
POV you bought an NFT in 2022
YouTube video by Julie Nolke
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 10:29 PM
While I think NFTs will have a use in the future, I offer up this funny video making fun of NFTs:
youtu.be/ssDeqSDytHg?...
youtu.be/ssDeqSDytHg?...
Agreed. There are much better ways to tax the super rich than directly taxing unrealized capital gains. The idea you proposed is a good one. Another is to eliminate the step-up in basis loophole above a certain threshold -- say $10M or $100M.
August 24, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Agreed. There are much better ways to tax the super rich than directly taxing unrealized capital gains. The idea you proposed is a good one. Another is to eliminate the step-up in basis loophole above a certain threshold -- say $10M or $100M.
The key word here is "unrealized". Taxing unrealized capital gains is idiotic policy. In fact, it is almost unimplementable in practice. For instance, it can be very difficult to value illiquid assets before they are sold, like private equity, art, etc.
August 24, 2025 at 1:14 AM
The key word here is "unrealized". Taxing unrealized capital gains is idiotic policy. In fact, it is almost unimplementable in practice. For instance, it can be very difficult to value illiquid assets before they are sold, like private equity, art, etc.
I am all for billionaires paying more in taxes, including capital gains and inheritance taxes. But unless I am missing important context, I have to agree with Cuban here.
August 24, 2025 at 1:13 AM
I am all for billionaires paying more in taxes, including capital gains and inheritance taxes. But unless I am missing important context, I have to agree with Cuban here.
Whatever the cause, the recent movements we are seeing in the treasury market are even scarier than the movements we are seeing in the stock market. If the 10 yr treasury yield hits 5%, full-blown panic will set in.
April 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Whatever the cause, the recent movements we are seeing in the treasury market are even scarier than the movements we are seeing in the stock market. If the 10 yr treasury yield hits 5%, full-blown panic will set in.
The sudden spikes in the 10, 20, and 30 yr treasury yields is ominous. Either someone very big was blown out, or China is dumping treasuries.
April 9, 2025 at 4:11 AM
The sudden spikes in the 10, 20, and 30 yr treasury yields is ominous. Either someone very big was blown out, or China is dumping treasuries.
Unfortunately, we are not going to get a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions within the next decade. It may be technically possible, but it is not politically possible. You may call this "doomerism", but it is just realism. I wish it weren't so. But it is.
April 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Unfortunately, we are not going to get a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions within the next decade. It may be technically possible, but it is not politically possible. You may call this "doomerism", but it is just realism. I wish it weren't so. But it is.
In the 2024 presidental election in the USA, even the democrats barely mentioned climate change because they saw it as a losing issue. Kamala Harris went out of her way to champion fracking. The sad reality is climate activists are losing the political war. I pray this changes soon, but I doubt it.
April 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
In the 2024 presidental election in the USA, even the democrats barely mentioned climate change because they saw it as a losing issue. Kamala Harris went out of her way to champion fracking. The sad reality is climate activists are losing the political war. I pray this changes soon, but I doubt it.
I have given up hope that countries will reduce CO2 emissions this century. The rich feel they have much to gain in preserving the status quo, even if it means the world burns around them. In the last few years, climate change has figured less, not more, in elections around the world.
April 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I have given up hope that countries will reduce CO2 emissions this century. The rich feel they have much to gain in preserving the status quo, even if it means the world burns around them. In the last few years, climate change has figured less, not more, in elections around the world.
What do you think about engineering soil microbes to remove more CO2 from the atmosphere?
www.rockefeller.edu/news/36919-n...
www.rockefeller.edu/news/36919-n...
New faculty member studies how to leverage microbial forces to combat climate change - News
The air we breathe is a direct result of the dirt under our feet. Trillions upon trillions of soil bacteria break down organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide and other potent greenhouse gases; photo...
www.rockefeller.edu
April 8, 2025 at 6:59 PM
What do you think about engineering soil microbes to remove more CO2 from the atmosphere?
www.rockefeller.edu/news/36919-n...
www.rockefeller.edu/news/36919-n...
If I understand correctly, that is not how it is done in Canada.
Carney was chosen by the 400,000 registered members of the Liberal Party, most of whom are not elected officials. See:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Li...
In this way, the selection of Carney was akin to a mini-primary in the USA.
Carney was chosen by the 400,000 registered members of the Liberal Party, most of whom are not elected officials. See:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Li...
In this way, the selection of Carney was akin to a mini-primary in the USA.
2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
April 8, 2025 at 4:20 AM
If I understand correctly, that is not how it is done in Canada.
Carney was chosen by the 400,000 registered members of the Liberal Party, most of whom are not elected officials. See:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Li...
In this way, the selection of Carney was akin to a mini-primary in the USA.
Carney was chosen by the 400,000 registered members of the Liberal Party, most of whom are not elected officials. See:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Li...
In this way, the selection of Carney was akin to a mini-primary in the USA.
The majority of the students were not protesting in favor of Hamas. This is a lie perputated to discredit the students.
They were protesting the indiscriminate slaughter of Gazan civilians. With the exception of the USA, every major democracy has been critical of Israel's actions.
They were protesting the indiscriminate slaughter of Gazan civilians. With the exception of the USA, every major democracy has been critical of Israel's actions.
March 31, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The majority of the students were not protesting in favor of Hamas. This is a lie perputated to discredit the students.
They were protesting the indiscriminate slaughter of Gazan civilians. With the exception of the USA, every major democracy has been critical of Israel's actions.
They were protesting the indiscriminate slaughter of Gazan civilians. With the exception of the USA, every major democracy has been critical of Israel's actions.
Why do you think Trump is giving so much power to Musk. You don't think it has anything to do with his financial backing.
In our political system, there are many forms of legalized bribary that enable wealthy donors to write policy.
Another case and point: Trumps upcoming tax cuts for the rich.
In our political system, there are many forms of legalized bribary that enable wealthy donors to write policy.
Another case and point: Trumps upcoming tax cuts for the rich.
March 31, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Why do you think Trump is giving so much power to Musk. You don't think it has anything to do with his financial backing.
In our political system, there are many forms of legalized bribary that enable wealthy donors to write policy.
Another case and point: Trumps upcoming tax cuts for the rich.
In our political system, there are many forms of legalized bribary that enable wealthy donors to write policy.
Another case and point: Trumps upcoming tax cuts for the rich.
By the way, I did not say Jews. I said pro-Israel groups. They should not be conflated. Many Jews are mortified by what Israel is doing in Gaza. Some of the lead protesters on the campuses were Jewish.
March 31, 2025 at 8:59 PM
By the way, I did not say Jews. I said pro-Israel groups. They should not be conflated. Many Jews are mortified by what Israel is doing in Gaza. Some of the lead protesters on the campuses were Jewish.
Case and point: Elon Musk, currently the biggest donor to Republicans. He seems to be getting what he wants.
March 31, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Case and point: Elon Musk, currently the biggest donor to Republicans. He seems to be getting what he wants.