Good Tokens 2025-05-09

Worth your time

1. People Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies
2. “Progress is an optional goal.” The story of the modern institutional review board and so much more of modern American life.
3. “Become a deep expert in topics you’re passionate about and showcase that expertise publicly” wisdom from Dimitry Alperovitch via Jordan Schneider
4. The Law of Opposites by David Burns. Simple to state, difficult to live.

Things I learned

Coca Cola became cocaine free in 1929! Suddenly American history makes more sense. No wonder so much got built between 1880 and 1930. No wonder the market crashed! From the AP via Stan Veuger.

Musings

Like a lot of parents, we’re trying to teach our toddlers how to swim. For about a year, we did weekly lessons with my son and daughter and they improved, but ever so slightly. Then over winter break, they did much more intensive work, something like 10 lessons in 12 days. The improvement was dramatic, more than a year of weekly lessons. I wonder what other skills are like this? Language seems like it; immersion seems to outperform regular practice. Is things that require rewiring your brain? I wish I understood this better.

2025-05-09