Ken Caldeira
@kencaldeira.com
Mostly mentoring a group of postdocs at Stanford.
Senior Scientist at Gates Ventures.
climate / energy / etc
https://sustainablesolutions.stanford.edu/people/ken-caldeira
Posts imperfectly represent the views of my former self and not my employer.
Senior Scientist at Gates Ventures.
climate / energy / etc
https://sustainablesolutions.stanford.edu/people/ken-caldeira
Posts imperfectly represent the views of my former self and not my employer.
The Republican Party is betting on one of two things happening:
1. Republicans in power forever;
2. Pardons, collective amnesia and Democratic party leaders saying:
"Let's move on in the name of unity. We need to look forward, not backwards."
1. Republicans in power forever;
2. Pardons, collective amnesia and Democratic party leaders saying:
"Let's move on in the name of unity. We need to look forward, not backwards."
December 7, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Many things can use blockchain without being a cryptocurrency. An argument for blockchain is not an argument for cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrency values are highly sensitive to "regulatory arbitrage" and often depend on political favoritism.
clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu/2025/12/05/c...
Cryptocurrency values are highly sensitive to "regulatory arbitrage" and often depend on political favoritism.
clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu/2025/12/05/c...
Cryptocurrency Markets Reveal the Price of Political Patronage
In October 2025, Bitcoin experienced its largest single-day crash since the COVID-19 pandemic, a 20% decline that economist Paul Krugman attributed not to economic fundamentals but to threats again…
clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu
December 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Many things can use blockchain without being a cryptocurrency. An argument for blockchain is not an argument for cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrency values are highly sensitive to "regulatory arbitrage" and often depend on political favoritism.
clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu/2025/12/05/c...
Cryptocurrency values are highly sensitive to "regulatory arbitrage" and often depend on political favoritism.
clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu/2025/12/05/c...
@hausfath.bsky.social Thank you. Excellent work, as always.
What is the rationale for focusing on multi-model means instead of medians?
If I had a collection of thermometers and thought some of them might be broken, I would trust the median rather than an average that included broken thermometers.
What is the rationale for focusing on multi-model means instead of medians?
If I had a collection of thermometers and thought some of them might be broken, I would trust the median rather than an average that included broken thermometers.
December 7, 2025 at 3:25 PM
@hausfath.bsky.social Thank you. Excellent work, as always.
What is the rationale for focusing on multi-model means instead of medians?
If I had a collection of thermometers and thought some of them might be broken, I would trust the median rather than an average that included broken thermometers.
What is the rationale for focusing on multi-model means instead of medians?
If I had a collection of thermometers and thought some of them might be broken, I would trust the median rather than an average that included broken thermometers.
What are those "legitimate use cases" for cryptocurrency where normal currencies would not suffice?
December 7, 2025 at 2:53 PM
What are those "legitimate use cases" for cryptocurrency where normal currencies would not suffice?
A peace prize for his Venezuelan adventure, no doubt.
December 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
A peace prize for his Venezuelan adventure, no doubt.
You are overthinking it.
Say that to your tenure committee.
In many cases, you letter writers will see some sort of statement from you. If you have that opportunity, say that in your statement.
Again, the main thing is the priors of the tenure committee. Do they want to grant you tenure?
Say that to your tenure committee.
In many cases, you letter writers will see some sort of statement from you. If you have that opportunity, say that in your statement.
Again, the main thing is the priors of the tenure committee. Do they want to grant you tenure?
December 4, 2025 at 8:47 PM
You are overthinking it.
Say that to your tenure committee.
In many cases, you letter writers will see some sort of statement from you. If you have that opportunity, say that in your statement.
Again, the main thing is the priors of the tenure committee. Do they want to grant you tenure?
Say that to your tenure committee.
In many cases, you letter writers will see some sort of statement from you. If you have that opportunity, say that in your statement.
Again, the main thing is the priors of the tenure committee. Do they want to grant you tenure?
And even then it is a crapshoot.
The most important thing is to have a tenure committee composed of people who want to grant you tenure, so they send letter requests out to people who are likely to speak highly of you.
The most important thing is to have a tenure committee composed of people who want to grant you tenure, so they send letter requests out to people who are likely to speak highly of you.
December 4, 2025 at 8:42 PM
And even then it is a crapshoot.
The most important thing is to have a tenure committee composed of people who want to grant you tenure, so they send letter requests out to people who are likely to speak highly of you.
The most important thing is to have a tenure committee composed of people who want to grant you tenure, so they send letter requests out to people who are likely to speak highly of you.
Agreed.
It is a bit of a crapshoot because some letter writers use superlatives freely, while for others, their highest compliment is saying someone is 'good'.
Perhaps the only meaningful thing is when the tenure committee asks letter writers to evaluate someone relative to five other people.
It is a bit of a crapshoot because some letter writers use superlatives freely, while for others, their highest compliment is saying someone is 'good'.
Perhaps the only meaningful thing is when the tenure committee asks letter writers to evaluate someone relative to five other people.
December 4, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Agreed.
It is a bit of a crapshoot because some letter writers use superlatives freely, while for others, their highest compliment is saying someone is 'good'.
Perhaps the only meaningful thing is when the tenure committee asks letter writers to evaluate someone relative to five other people.
It is a bit of a crapshoot because some letter writers use superlatives freely, while for others, their highest compliment is saying someone is 'good'.
Perhaps the only meaningful thing is when the tenure committee asks letter writers to evaluate someone relative to five other people.
Defined contribution plans put the greatest risk on retirees who will depend on the plans for income.
Since this is most likely to be the primary source of income for low-income people, it increases risk for low-income people.
Defined benefit plans distribute that risk throughout the society.
Since this is most likely to be the primary source of income for low-income people, it increases risk for low-income people.
Defined benefit plans distribute that risk throughout the society.
December 4, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Defined contribution plans put the greatest risk on retirees who will depend on the plans for income.
Since this is most likely to be the primary source of income for low-income people, it increases risk for low-income people.
Defined benefit plans distribute that risk throughout the society.
Since this is most likely to be the primary source of income for low-income people, it increases risk for low-income people.
Defined benefit plans distribute that risk throughout the society.
This is one of the all time classics.
Great book !!
Great exposition of how simple structures can produce complicated behavior, and that those structures are not easily determinable from the behavior.
Some should sell a kit to go along with this book.
www.amazon.com/Vehicles-Exp...
Great book !!
Great exposition of how simple structures can produce complicated behavior, and that those structures are not easily determinable from the behavior.
Some should sell a kit to go along with this book.
www.amazon.com/Vehicles-Exp...
Vehicles: Experiments in Synthetic Psychology
Amazon.com: Vehicles: Experiments in Synthetic Psychology: 9780262521123: Braitenberg, Valentino: Books
www.amazon.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:33 AM
This is one of the all time classics.
Great book !!
Great exposition of how simple structures can produce complicated behavior, and that those structures are not easily determinable from the behavior.
Some should sell a kit to go along with this book.
www.amazon.com/Vehicles-Exp...
Great book !!
Great exposition of how simple structures can produce complicated behavior, and that those structures are not easily determinable from the behavior.
Some should sell a kit to go along with this book.
www.amazon.com/Vehicles-Exp...
What a topsy-turvy world when Costco shows more of a spine than most of our media outlets and our politicians (of both parties).
December 2, 2025 at 7:29 PM
What a topsy-turvy world when Costco shows more of a spine than most of our media outlets and our politicians (of both parties).