Keep failing to stand still
Ever heard of Patri Friedman? No, not Milton Friedman the nobel laureate economist, or David Friedman the economist and medieval fiend; Patri Friedman, son to the latter, grand-son to the former, and founding member of the Seasteading institute whose mission is to
Establish permanent, autonomous ocean communities to enable experimentation and innovation with diverse social, political, and legal systems.
Channel 4 Documentary on Aubrey de Grey.
Marvin Minsky and Freeman Dyson make short appearances in this documentary.
A bill intended to protect blind people and other pedestrians from the dangers posed by quiet cars will be introduced Wednesday in Congress.
The measure would require the Secretary of Transportation to establish safety standards for hybrids and other vehicles that make little discernible noise, including an audible means for alerting people that the cars are nearby.
Is making cars louder the wisest, and most effective, choice? Are the blind really at risk? And if so, if the purpose is to protect as many people as possible, are they the majority of pedestrians killed in car accidents? I do wonder if this is not just another case of politicians reacting to a sympathetic, and vocal, lobby. And making cars louder does seem a ridiculous idea.
References:
Congress to take up issue of silent hybrid cars.
News release by congressman Ed Towns.
The bill.
Those temes are dangerous… For those of you who do not know her, Dr. Susan Blackmore wrote the book on memes - among others.
I have more dictionaries than I care to admit, so I grant I am biased.
But if this lady can’t get you excited about dictionaries, then you’re probably dead.
Also, visit her at dictionaryevangelist.com. What a great name for a site!
Ed Lazowska holds the Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington.