Source: Google trends. Value data is defined in relative terms and is not actual number of searches.

I have seen a lot of people be cruel on social media. I've seen some remarkably cruel Biden supporters and some remarkably cruel Bernie supporters. Because the majority of journalists are anti-Bernie, they pick up more bile from Bernie supporters than Biden supporters, creating the illusion that the phenomenon is one-sided. The reply from Sanders … Continue reading Why we are angry and why you should join us.

As of right now, Predictit gives Sanders a 48% chance of winning the Democratic nomination. Predictit gives Sanders a 30% chance of winning the presidency. With these joint facts we can calculate an implied conditional probability of Sanders winning the presidency if Sanders wins the nomination: Conditional probability of winning the election given nomination equal … Continue reading Predictit thinks Sanders can beat Trump

This blog is pretty niche. Sketchier than an academic blog, often more technical than a "things explained" sort of blog, it occupies a weird space. I know that there are people who like that niche because we have a fair chunk of regular readers. I also know though that we are nowhere near maximum. I'm … Continue reading I am once again asking for your publicity support

In the European IGM economic experts panel, 35% of surveyed economists agree or strongly agree that: "Europeans would benefit more from an extra €1 billion of public R&D spent through existing (public) channels than from an extra €1 billion of private R&D spent through existing (private) channels, all else equal." While only 6% disagree and … Continue reading An economic consensus on public research funding?

Recently there has been a discussion in a Facebook group I'm in about requests for mentorship from established professionals- mostly writers. One tendency takes the view that, unless you know someone well (and even then...) it's generally inappropriate to ask for mentorship- e.g. a read of a writing sample. As an alternative, they suggest that … Continue reading What’s the appropriate attitude towards unpaid mentorship as a writer?

I. The new de facto interim president of Bolivia, Jeanine Áñez, tweeted: "I dream of a Bolivia free of indigenous satanic rituals, the city is not for Indians. They need to go to Altiplano or Chaco." She is of course totally democratically illegitimate. If there are new and fair elections she will not win, Morales … Continue reading On the Bolivian coup

"An average academic journal article is read in its entirety by about 10 people." https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/prof-no-one-is-reading-you (I should add that I strongly disagree with the "solutions" proposed by the article in question, but the headline figure certainly puts things in perspective).

[Draft} I thought I'd share the houserules I use for D&D. No single person is going to like all these rules as a DM (except me), but perhaps you will like some of them. Over time I've tried to be responsive to criticism, winding back and changing a few things. Thanks for all the feedback … Continue reading My D&D house-rules