Quotes
"If you can doubt at points where other people feel no impulse to doubt, then you are making progress." - Chang-Tsai
"Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny." ― Lao Tzu
Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.” -- Eric Hofferk
Articles/Essays
"The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie speech (jamesclear.com)
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's speech "The Danger of a Single Story," delivered at TEDGlobal in July 2009, addresses the pitfalls of reducing complex human beings and situations to single narratives. Adichie shares personal anecdotes about her experiences with single stories, both as a recipient and a perpetrator, to illustrate how these simplified narratives can lead to misunderstanding and stereotypes. She stresses the importance of recognizing the multiplicity of stories that define people and places, advocating for a more nuanced and comprehensive view of the world.
Key Points
Early Reading Influences:
Adichie grew up in Nigeria reading British and American children's books.
Her early writings mimicked these stories, featuring white characters and foreign settings, demonstrating how impressionable young minds are.
Realization Through African Literature:
Discovering African writers like Chinua Achebe helped Adichie realize that people like her could exist in literature.
This revelation saved her from a single story of what literature could be.
Personal Anecdotes of Single Stories:
Adichie recounts her childhood perception of her family's house boy, Fide, whose family she only saw as poor until she visited their village and saw their skills and creativity.
Her American roommate at university had a single story of Africa as a place of catastrophe, leading to patronizing assumptions about Adichie.
Western Influence and Misconceptions:
The single story of Africa often portrayed in Western literature and media reduces the continent to stereotypes of poverty and conflict.
Adichie herself fell into the trap of a single story when she visited Mexico and realized her perception was shaped by negative media coverage.
Power and Stories:
Adichie introduces the Igbo word "nkali," meaning "to be greater than another," to explain how power structures influence which stories are told and how they are perceived.
The ability to tell someone else's story is an exercise of power, often leading to the dispossession of the people represented in the story.
Countering Single Stories:
Adichie advocates for a balance of stories to provide a fuller understanding of people and places.
She emphasizes that stereotypes are not untrue but incomplete and that recognizing multiple stories can restore dignity and common humanity.
Key Quotes
On Influence of Foreign Literature:
"What this demonstrates, I think, is how impressionable and vulnerable we are in the face of a story, particularly as children."
On Discovering African Literature:
"I realized that people like me, girls with skin the color of chocolate, whose kinky hair could not form ponytails, could also exist in literature."
On Single Stories and Stereotypes:
"So that is how to create a single story, show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become."
On Power and Stories:
"Power is the ability not just to tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person."
On the Importance of Multiple Stories:
"The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story."
Why It Matters
Adichie's speech is a powerful reminder of the dangers of reducing people and cultures to simplistic narratives. It highlights how these single stories, often shaped by those in power, can perpetuate stereotypes and misunderstandings, stripping people of their dignity and complexity. By advocating for a multiplicity of stories, Adichie calls for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of the world, which is crucial for fostering empathy, respect, and equality in our increasingly interconnected global community.
The Technium: 101 Additional Advices (kk.org)
1. The best way to criticize something is to make something better.
2. Admitting that “I don’t know” at least once a day will make you a better person.
3. Forget trying to decide what your life’s destiny is. That’s too grand. Instead, just figure out what you should do in the next 2 years.
4. Aim to be effective, but unpredictable. That is, you want to act in a way that AIs have trouble modeling or imitating. That makes you irreplaceable.
5. Whenever you hug someone, be the last to let go.
6. Don’t save up the good stuff (fancy wine, or china) for that rare occasion that will never happen; instead use them whenever you can.
7. The best gardening advice: find what you can grow well and grow lots and lots of it.
8. Never hesitate to invest in yourself—to pay for a class, a course, a new skill. These modest expenditures pay outsized dividends.
9. Try to define yourself by what you love and embrace, rather than what you hate and refuse.
10. Read a lot of history so you can understand how weird the past was; that way you will be comfortable with how weird the future will be.
11. To make a room luxurious, remove things, rather than add things.
12. Interview your parents while they are still alive. Keep asking questions while you record. You’ll learn amazing things. Or hire someone to make their story into an oral history, or documentary, or book. This will be a tremendous gift to them and to your family.
13. If you think someone is normal, you don’t know them very well. Normalcy is a fiction. Your job is to discover their weird genius.
14. When shopping for anything physical (souvenirs, furniture, books, tools, shoes, equipment), ask yourself: where will this go? Don’t buy it unless there is a place it can live. Something may need to leave in order for something else to come in.
15. You owe everyone a second chance, but not a third.
16. When someone texts you they are running late, double the time they give you. If they say they’ll be there in 5, make that 10; if 10, it’ll be 20; if 20, count on 40.
17. Multitasking is a myth. Don’t text while walking, running, biking or driving. Nobody will miss you if you just stop for a minute.
18. You can become the world’s best in something primarily by caring more about it than anyone else.
19. Asking “what-if?” about your past is a waste of time; asking “what-if?” about your future is tremendously productive.
20. Try to make the kind of art and things that will inspire others to make art and things.
21. Once a month take a different route home, enter your house by a different door, and sit in a different chair at dinner. No ruts.
22. Where you live—what city, what country—has more impact on your well being than any other factor. Where you live is one of the few things in your life you can choose and change.
23. Every now and then throw a memorable party. The price will be steep, but long afterwards you will remember the party, whereas you won’t remember how much is in your checking account.
24. Most arguments are not really about the argument, so most arguments can’t be won by arguing.
25. The surest way to be successful is to invent your own definition of success. Shoot your arrows first and then paint a bull’s eye around where they land. You’re the winner!
26. When remodeling a home interior use big pieces of cardboard to mock-up your alterations at life size. Seeing things, such as counters, at actual size will change your plans, and it is so much easier to make modifications with duct tape and scissors.
27. There should be at least one thing in your life you enjoy despite being no good at it. This is your play time, which will keep you young. Never apologize for it.
28. Changing your mind about important things is not a consequence of stupidity, but a sign of intelligence.
29. You have 5 minutes to act on a new idea before it disappears from your mind.
30. What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important. To get the important stuff done, avoid the demands of the urgent.
31. Three situations where you’ll never regret ordering too much: when you are pouring concrete, when you are choosing a battery, and when you are getting ice for a party.
32. The patience you need for big things, is developed by your patience with the little things.
33. Don’t fear failure. Fear average.
34. When you are stuck or overwhelmed, focus on the smallest possible thing that moves your project forward.
35. In a museum you need to spend at least 10 minutes with an artwork to truly see it. Aim to view 5 pieces at 10 minutes each rather than 100 at 30 seconds each.
36. For steady satisfaction, work on improving your worst days, rather than your best days.
37. Your decisions will become wiser when you consider these three words: “…and then what?” for each choice.
38. If possible, every room should be constructed to provide light from two sides. Rooms with light from only one side are used less often, so when you have a choice, go with light from two sides.
39. Never accept a work meeting until you’ve seen the agenda and know what decisions need to be made. If no decisions need to be made, skip the meeting.
40. You have no obligation to like everyone, and you are free to intensely dislike a person. But you owe everyone—even those you dislike—basic respect.
41. When you find yourself procrastinating, don’t resist. Instead lean into it. Procrastinate 100%. Try to do absolutely nothing for 5 minutes. Make it your job. You’ll fail. After 5 minutes, you’ll be ready and eager to work.
42. If you want to know how good a surgeon is, don’t ask other doctors. Ask the nurses.
43. There is a profound difference between thinking less of yourself (not useful), and thinking of yourself less (better).
44. Strong opinions, clearly stated, but loosely held is the recipe for an intellectual life. Always ask yourself: what would change my mind?
45. You can not truly become yourself, by yourself. Becoming one-of-a-kind is not a solo job. Paradoxically you need everyone else in the world to help make you unique.
46. If you need emergency help from a bystander, command them what to do. By giving them an assignment, you transform them from bewildered bystander to a responsible assistant.
47. The most common mistake we make is to do a great job on an unimportant task.
48. Don’t work for a company you would not invest money in, because when you are working you are investing the most valuable thing you have: your time.
49. Fail fast. Fail often. Fail forward. Failing is not a disgrace if you keep failing better.
50. Doing good is its own reward. When you do good, people will question your motive, and any good you accomplish will soon be forgotten. Do good anyway.
51. Best sleep aid: first, get really tired.
52. For every success there is a corresponding non-monetary tax of some kind. To maintain success you have to gladly pay these taxes.
53. Do not cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
54. For small tasks the best way to get ready is to do it immediately.
55. If someone is calling you to alert you to fraud, nine out of ten times they are themselves the fraudster. Hang up. Call the source yourself if concerned.
56. When you try to accomplish something difficult, surround yourself with friends.
57. You should be willing to look foolish at first, in order to look like a genius later.
58. Think in terms of decades, and act in terms of days.
59. The most selfish thing in the world you can do is to be generous. Your generosity will return you ten fold.
60. Discover people whom you love doing “nothing” with, and do nothing with them on a regular basis. The longer you can maintain those relationships, the longer you will live.
61. Forget diamonds; explore the worlds hidden in pebbles. Seek the things that everyone else ignores.
62. Write your own obituary, the one you’d like to have, and then everyday work towards making it true.
63. Avoid making any kind of important decision when you are either hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT). Just halt when you are HALT.
64. What others want from you is mostly to be seen. Let others know you see them.
65. Working differently is usually more productive than working harder.
66. When you try something new, don’t think of it as a matter of success / failure, but as success / learning to succeed.
67. If you have a good “why” to live for, no “how” will stop you.
68. If you are out of ideas, go for a walk. A good walk empties the mind—and then refills it with new stuff.
69. The highest form of wealth is deciding you have enough.
70. Education is overly expensive. Gladly pay for it anyway, because ignorance is even more expensive.
71. The cheapest therapy is to spend time with people who make you laugh.
72. Always be radically honest, but use your honesty as a gift not as a weapon. Your honesty should benefit others.
73. A good sign that you are doing the kind of work you should be doing is that you enjoy the tedious parts that other people find tortuous.
74. Being envious is a toxin. Instead take joy in the success of others and treat their success as your gain. Celebrating the success of others costs you nothing, and increases the happiness of everyone, including you.
75. The more persistent you are, the more chances you get to be lucky.
76. To tell a good story, you must reveal a surprise; otherwise it is just a report.
77. Small steps matter more when you play a long game because a long horizon allows you to compound small advances into quite large achievements.
78. If you are more fortunate than others, build a longer table rather than a taller fence.
79. Many fail to finish, but many more fail to start. The hardest work in any work is to start. You can’t finish until you start, so get good at starting.
80. Work on your tone. Often ideas are rejected because of the tone of voice they are wrapped in. Humility covers many blemishes.
81. When you are right, you are learning nothing.
82. Very small things accumulate until they define your larger life. Carefully choose your everyday things.
83. It is impossible to be curious and furious at the same time, so avoid furious.
84. College is not about grades. No one cares what grades you got in college. College is about exploring. Just try stuff.
85. Weird but true: If you continually give, you will continually have.
86. To clean up your city, sweep your doorstep first.
87. Decisions like to present themselves as irreversible, like a one-way door. But most deciding points are two-way. Don’t get bogged down by decisions. You can usually back up if needed.
88. Every mistake is an opportunity to improvise.
89. You’ll never meet a very successful pessimistic person. If you want to be remarkable, get better at being optimistic.
90. You can’t call it charity unless no one is watching.
91. When you think of someone easy to despise—a tyrant, a murderer, a torturer—don’t wish them harm. Wish that they welcome orphans into their home, and share their food with the hungry. Wish them goodness, and by this compassion you will increase your own happiness.
92. Get good at being corrected without being offended.
93. The week between Christmas and New Years was invented to give you the perfect time to sharpen your kitchen knives, vacuum your car, and tidy the folders on your desktop.
94. There is no formula for success, but there are two formulas for failure: not trying and not persisting.
95. We tend to overrate the value of intelligence.You need to pair your IQ with other virtues. The most important things in life can not be attained through logic only.
96. If you are impressed with someone’s work, you should tell them, but even better, tell their boss.
97. In matters of the heart, one moment of patience can save you years of regret.
98. Humility is mostly about being very honest about how much you owe to luck.
99. Slow progress is still a million times better than no progress.
100. Recipe for greatness: expect much of yourself and little of others.
101. The very best way to win a friend is to be one.
Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life | American Enterprise Institute - AEI
The article "Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life" explores the ideas of Carl Jung, a renowned Swiss psychiatrist, on what constitutes a fulfilling and meaningful life. Jung identified five core elements or "pillars" that he believed were essential for achieving a good life. These pillars are: Good Physical and Mental Health, Good Personal and Intimate Relationships, The Faculty for Perceiving Beauty in Art and Nature, Reasonable Standards of Living and Satisfactory Work, and A Philosophical or Religious Standpoint. The article delves into each of these pillars, explaining their significance and how they contribute to overall well-being.
Key Points
1. Good Physical and Mental Health
Significance
Jung believed that physical and mental health form the foundation of a good life. Without good health, it becomes challenging to enjoy other aspects of life, as illness or mental distress can overshadow positive experiences.
Application
Physical Health: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and regular medical check-ups are essential. Practices such as mindfulness and yoga can also promote physical well-being.
Mental Health: Prioritize mental health through practices like meditation, therapy, maintaining healthy relationships, and managing stress effectively. Activities that stimulate the mind, such as reading, puzzles, and learning new skills, can also be beneficial.
2. Good Personal and Intimate Relationships
Significance
Human beings are inherently social creatures. Jung emphasized that meaningful and healthy relationships are crucial for emotional health and happiness. These relationships provide support, love, and a sense of belonging.
Application
Building Relationships: Invest time in building and maintaining relationships with family, friends, and partners. Open communication, empathy, and mutual respect are key.
Community Engagement: Participate in community activities, join clubs or groups with shared interests, and volunteer. These activities can expand your social network and foster a sense of community.
3. The Faculty for Perceiving Beauty in Art and Nature
Significance
The ability to appreciate beauty in art and nature enriches life, providing joy, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the world. This appreciation can enhance emotional well-being and foster creativity.
Application
Engage with Art: Visit museums, attend concerts, read literature, paint, or play an instrument. These activities can stimulate creativity and provide emotional release.
Connect with Nature: Spend time outdoors, whether it’s hiking, gardening, or simply walking in a park. Nature has a calming effect and can reduce stress and improve mental health.
4. Reasonable Standards of Living and Satisfactory Work
Significance
A stable standard of living and engaging in meaningful work contribute to a sense of stability and self-worth. Jung believed that feeling productive and valued is essential for personal satisfaction.
Application
Career Fulfillment: Seek work that is fulfilling and aligns with your values and interests. If your current job is unsatisfying, consider exploring new opportunities or furthering your education.
Financial Stability: Manage finances wisely by budgeting, saving, and planning for the future. Financial stability reduces stress and allows you to focus on other aspects of life.
5. A Philosophical or Religious Standpoint
Significance
Having a philosophical or religious standpoint provides a framework for understanding life’s purpose and navigating its challenges. This sense of purpose can guide behavior, provide comfort in difficult times, and foster a sense of community and belonging.
Application
Spiritual Practices: Engage in practices that resonate with you, whether it’s prayer, meditation, attending religious services, or exploring philosophical texts. These practices can provide comfort and clarity.
Purpose and Meaning: Reflect on your values and what gives your life meaning. Setting goals and working towards them can provide a sense of purpose.
Key Quotes
On Good Health:
"He emphasized that without health, it is challenging to enjoy other aspects of life, as physical and mental ailments can overshadow other experiences."
On Relationships:
"Jung believed that human beings are inherently social creatures and that meaningful relationships are essential for emotional health and happiness."
On Perceiving Beauty:
"The ability to perceive beauty in art and nature provides a source of joy and inspiration, contributing to a richer and more fulfilling life."
On Living Standards and Work:
"A reasonable standard of living and satisfactory work are critical for a sense of stability and self-worth, allowing individuals to feel productive and valued."
On Philosophical or Religious Standpoint:
"Having a philosophical or religious standpoint offers a framework for understanding life’s purpose and navigating its challenges."
Why It Matters
Understanding Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life is important because it offers a holistic approach to well-being. In an age where people often seek quick fixes or isolated solutions to life’s challenges, Jung’s model underscores the interconnectedness of various aspects of life. By addressing health, relationships, appreciation of beauty, work, and philosophical or religious beliefs, individuals can cultivate a balanced and fulfilling life. This integrated perspective can guide personal development, mental health practices, and even inform public policy aimed at improving societal well-being.
Dollar Cost Average Into Your Health - A Teachable Moment (tonyisola.com)
In the article "Dollar Cost Average Into Your Health," Anthony Isola emphasizes the importance of prioritizing health in a comprehensive financial plan. He argues that managing risk extends beyond financial portfolios to include personal well-being. The article highlights that even high-powered Wall Street executives are beginning to understand the importance of maintaining physical and mental health. Isola draws on examples, such as Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and Morgan Stanley Executive Chairman James Gorman, to illustrate this growing awareness.
The concept of "dollar cost averaging" in investing is used metaphorically to suggest that individuals should consistently invest time and effort into their health, much like they would with their finances. Isola provides the inspirational example of Richard Morgan, a 93-year-old rowing champion who started his fitness journey at age 72. Morgan’s story demonstrates that it’s never too late to start focusing on health and that consistency is key to achieving long-term benefits.
Key Points
Health and Financial Planning:
Managing risk should include health as a crucial component alongside financial strategies.
Chronic diseases and poor health can undermine financial goals and lead to early demise.
Wall Street's Shift:
Prominent figures in the finance industry, such as David Solomon and James Gorman, are recognizing the importance of health.
Despite the demanding nature of their industry, these leaders are making efforts to balance professional success with personal well-being.
Metaphor of Dollar Cost Averaging:
Consistent, small investments in health (akin to dollar cost averaging in finance) can yield significant long-term benefits.
This approach aligns with the principles of compounding and long-term planning used in financial investments.
Richard Morgan's Example:
Richard Morgan, who started rowing at 72 and became a world champion, exemplifies that it’s never too late to improve health.
Key aspects of his routine include maintaining low body fat, consistent training, and a healthy diet.
Consistency Over Perfection:
Regular, moderate exercise and healthy eating habits can have profound impacts over time.
The article emphasizes the importance of showing up and being consistent rather than striving for perfection.
Key Quotes
"Managing Risk is more than your portfolio percentage of stocks to bonds."
"Keeping yourself in shape must be a priority in any goals-based financial plan. Nothing comes in a close second."
"People who spend their working lives trying to manage Risk in return for long-term financial gain often fail to apply those lessons to their health."
"Accumulating wealth and maintaining optimum health are guided by a similar North Star: consistency, not perfection."
"Dollar-cost average your energy into healthful activities, and the returns might surprise you."
"The stock market isn’t the only thing that benefits from compounding."
Why It Matters
This article underscores the critical intersection of health and financial planning, suggesting that true wealth encompasses both financial security and physical well-being. By drawing parallels between investment strategies and health maintenance, Isola provides a relatable framework for readers to understand the importance of consistent, long-term efforts in both realms. The examples of high-profile executives and the inspirational story of Richard Morgan serve as powerful reminders that prioritizing health can lead to significant improvements in quality of life, regardless of age or professional demands.
Ultimately, the message is clear: just as dollar cost averaging can mitigate financial risk and build wealth over time, regularly investing in health can lead to substantial long-term benefits. This holistic approach to risk management and planning can help individuals lead longer, healthier, and more financially secure lives.
Enshittification Is A Feature, Not A Bug (fev.al)
The article "Enshittification Is A Feature, Not A Bug" by Charles Féval explores the concept of "enshittification," a term coined by Cory Doctorow to describe the inevitable decline of platforms as they prioritize profit maximization over service quality and fairness. Féval argues that this phenomenon is intrinsic to capitalist systems, where the exploitation of resources and people is maximized for the benefit of a few. The article delves into how this systemic exploitation manifests in various industries, leading to deteriorating product quality, increased costs for consumers, and minimal returns for service providers and employees. Féval also touches on the broader implications of this process, including environmental degradation and the unsustainable nature of current business practices.
Key Points
Definition of Enshittification:
Coined by Cory Doctorow, enshittification describes the decline of platforms due to profit maximization, leading to higher prices, lower quality, and reduced provider compensation.
Systemic Exploitation:
Enshittification is a specific example of the broader phenomenon of systemic exploitation inherent in capitalism.
The process is driven by the need to exert power for the benefit of a few, often at the expense of many.
Capitalism and Low Ethics:
In capitalist systems, businesses that exploit employees and partners tend to outcompete those that adopt ethical practices.
This leads to a continuous decline in product quality and increases in consumer costs.
Examples of Enshittification:
Féval provides several examples, such as increased fees for basic services, shrinking product sizes, and the rise of subscription models for previously free services.
Impact on Small Businesses:
Small, ethical businesses struggle to survive against larger, exploitative corporations.
These small businesses often face long hours and minimal returns, making it difficult to compete.
Legal and Systemic Reinforcement:
The legal mandate for companies to maximize shareholder profit (fiduciary duty) reinforces enshittification.
Competition in capitalism creates pressure to lower costs and degrade service quality.
Environmental and Social Costs:
The drive for profit often leads to ecological damage and social inequality.
Sustainable practices are typically more expensive and thus less competitive.
Inevitability and Potential Exceptions:
While enshittification seems inevitable, some platforms like Spotify have managed to dominate their markets and may not face immediate decline.
However, the systemic pressures still apply, and the long-term outlook remains uncertain.
Key Quotes
On the nature of enshittification:
"Enshittification is a term coined last year by Cory Doctorow to describe the unpreventable decay of platforms, providing services of increasing price and decreasing quality, while simultaneously giving back less and less to the service providers..."
On systemic exploitation:
"It’s a concept I learned from the fantastic Dictator’s handbook: if there is power to be exerted for the benefit of the few rather than the many, then it will be exerted."
On capitalism and ethics:
"In a very crude, naive and evident way: low ethics win at capitalism."
On the systemic nature of enshittification:
"It’s such a fundamental part of capitalism that it’s a legal mandate for companies to maximize shareholders’ profit, known as the 'fiduciary duty'."
Why It Matters
This article is significant because it sheds light on the inherent flaws of capitalist systems, particularly the tendency for businesses to degrade service quality and increase costs in the pursuit of profit. By coining and explaining the term "enshittification," Féval provides a framework for understanding the broader consequences of unchecked capitalism. This perspective is crucial for consumers, policymakers, and business leaders who are grappling with the impacts of corporate practices on society and the environment. Recognizing the patterns of enshittification can lead to more informed decisions and potentially inspire efforts to create more sustainable and equitable economic systems.
DAVID MAMET MEMO TO "THE UNIT" WRITING STAFF
The memo, written by David Mamet to the writing staff of "The Unit", provides a stern and candid guide on how to write effective drama for television. Mamet emphasizes the importance of creating scenes that are inherently dramatic and not merely informative. He outlines the critical differences between drama and non-drama and provides a set of rules and questions writers should use to evaluate their scenes. The memo is both a critique of common writing pitfalls and a motivational call to elevate the quality of the show's writing.
Key Points
Drama vs. Non-Drama:
Mamet defines drama as the hero's quest to overcome obstacles to achieve a specific, acute goal.
Non-drama is described as merely conveying information without engaging the audience emotionally or dramatically.
Three Essential Questions:
Every scene should answer three questions:
Who wants what?
What happens if they don't get it?
Why now?
These questions are used to ensure that each scene is dramatic and essential to the plot.
Role of Writers:
It is the writer's job to ensure every scene is dramatic.
Writers should avoid relying on actors or directors to make a scene interesting.
Expository Scenes:
Scenes that are purely expository, such as characters discussing a third party or providing background information, are discouraged.
Mamet stresses that information should be conveyed through drama, not direct exposition.
Visual Storytelling:
Writers should focus on visual storytelling, using actions and visuals to advance the plot rather than dialogue.
Mamet encourages writing scenes as if they were silent movies to enhance visual drama.
Rewriting and Editing:
Writers should be prepared to rewrite or discard scenes that do not meet the dramatic criteria.
The process of asking whether a scene advances the plot and is essential should be habitual.
Key Quotes
On the purpose of drama:
"DRAMA, AGAIN, IS THE QUEST OF THE HERO TO OVERCOME THOSE THINGS WHICH PREVENT HIM FROM ACHIEVING A SPECIFIC, ACUTE GOAL."
On the writer's responsibility:
"YOU THE WRITERS, ARE IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE EVERY SCENE IS DRAMATIC."
On expository scenes:
"ANY TIME TWO CHARACTERS ARE TALKING ABOUT A THIRD, THE SCENE IS A CROCK OF SHIT."
On visual storytelling:
"REMEMBER YOU ARE WRITING FOR A VISUAL MEDIUM. MOST TELEVISION WRITING, OURS INCLUDED, SOUNDS LIKE RADIO."
On rewriting:
"LOOK AT THE SCENE AND ASK YOURSELF 'IS IT DRAMATIC? IS IT ESSENTIAL? DOES IT ADVANCE THE PLOT? ANSWER TRUTHFULLY.'"
Why It Matters
David Mamet's memo is significant for several reasons:
Clarity in Writing:
Mamet's guidelines provide a clear framework for writing engaging and effective drama, which is crucial for television writers striving to captivate their audience.
Focus on Essentials:
By emphasizing the need to focus on dramatic elements and plot advancement, Mamet's advice helps writers avoid common pitfalls like unnecessary exposition and redundant scenes.
Visual Medium:
The memo highlights the importance of visual storytelling in television, encouraging writers to think like filmmakers and use visuals to drive the narrative.
Professional Development:
For writers, especially those working in television, Mamet's memo serves as both a practical guide and a source of professional inspiration, pushing them to elevate their craft.
Industry Insight:
The memo provides insight into the expectations and standards of high-level television writing, offering valuable lessons that extend beyond "The Unit" to other writing projects and genres.
In "Import AI 375: GPT-2 Five Years Later; Decentralized Training; New Ways of Thinking About Consciousness and AI," Jack Clark reflects on the release and impacts of GPT-2 five years after its debut. He delves into the initial reactions, the predictions made at the time, and how those predictions have played out. The piece also discusses broader implications for AI policy and the lessons learned from the development and deployment of GPT-2 and its successors.
Key Points
The GPT-2 Release and Initial Reactions:
GPT-2's release strategy was unconventional, involving partial release and significant discussion about potential implications.
This approach was met with criticism, seen as either a marketing gimmick, a departure from academic norms, or misguided youthful exuberance.
Predictions Made in 2019:
Anticipated applications included AI writing assistants, dialogue agents, unsupervised translation, and improved speech recognition.
Potential malicious uses were forecasted, such as generating misleading news, impersonating individuals online, and automating abusive content.
Reality vs. Predictions:
Most predictions were accurate but occurred with more advanced systems that emerged later.
Malicious uses did appear but were less significant than feared, with the most disruptive use being the generation of low-grade content for economic purposes.
Lessons Learned:
Timing and Severity: It's challenging to predict the timing and impact of AI advancements accurately.
Contextual Bubble: Predictions are often skewed by the forecaster's context and may not apply globally.
Evidence-Based Claims: Strong claims need robust experimental evidence to be credible.
Norms and Counterreaction: Deviating from established norms can spur counterreactions, sometimes leading to unintended consequences.
Technological Accessibility: The ease of use and accessibility of AI technologies significantly influence their adoption and misuse.
Policy Implications:
Cautious Regulation: Overly stringent or speculative regulatory measures can lead to resistance and may not be effective.
Power Dynamics: Granting regulatory powers can have long-term implications, and once given, such powers are difficult to retract.
Monitoring AI Progress: There is a continued need for systematic monitoring of AI's societal impact and capabilities.
Reflections on AI Policy in 2024:
Clark argues for balanced and evidence-based policy approaches.
He emphasizes the importance of a few robust, broadly applicable ideas rather than speculative, high-risk policies.
He cautions against assigning excessive regulatory power that could stifle innovation and freedom.
Key Quotes
On GPT-2's Impact: "GPT2 was one of the first warning shots that generic next-token prediction would let us build increasingly general systems of broad utility."
On Predictions: "Just because you can imagine something as being technically possible, you aren't likely to be able to correctly forecast the time by which it arrives nor its severity."
On Policy: "In policy 'a little goes a long way' - it's far better to have a couple of ideas you think are robustly good in all futures and advocate for those than make a confident bet on ideas custom-designed for one specific future."
Why It Matters
This reflection on GPT-2’s five-year journey offers critical insights into the evolution of AI technology and its societal implications. It highlights the importance of cautious, evidence-based policymaking in the rapidly advancing field of AI. The lessons learned from GPT-2 can guide current and future AI developments, ensuring that the benefits are maximized while mitigating potential risks. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for researchers, policymakers, and the public as AI continues to transform various aspects of society.