DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER

The DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER probes a wide array of subjects from scientific skepticism, the interaction between class and taste, the rise of technology, to existential and philosophical questions. It intertwines critical analysis, historical perspectives, and personal insights to explore contemporary societal norms, technological impacts, and the nuances of human behavior.

Science and Skepticism Class and Society Technology and Its Impacts Existential and Philosophical Inquiry Personal Development and Behavior Historical Perspectives Education and Teaching Healthcare and Well-being Writing and Communication Evolutionary Biology

The hottest Substack posts of DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER

And their main takeaways

Things you're doing but don't want to be doing

109 implied HN points • 10 Jan 22
  1. Find simple solutions to small but annoying problems in your daily life, like setting up a designated place for once-worn clothes.
  2. Recognize and address 'desire paths' in life where the easiest choice isn't the best one, by either paving the path, improving the intended path, or blocking the desire path.
  3. In situations where motivation is lacking, sometimes it's better to improve the intended path rather than try to change the desire path.

Evolutionary outcomes reflect values you might not share

93 implied HN points • 23 Dec 21
  1. Genes associated with homosexuality can persist even if they don't directly benefit reproductive fitness.
  2. Cultural norms against homosexuality can also persist because they indirectly enhance reproductive fitness.
  3. Evolution doesn't necessarily create outcomes that align with what individuals may want or find morally right.

Why I don't believe in long-term thinking

78 implied HN points • 01 Apr 22
  1. Long-term thinking can be complex when considering future population and current impact.
  2. History shows incremental change may be more successful than grand future plans.
  3. Encouraging basic rational thinking may be more effective in addressing current issues.

Arguing without warning

78 implied HN points • 24 Mar 22
  1. It's important to participate in high-quality disagreement to challenge social norms and push for more thorough critiques.
  2. Criticism should focus on the idea rather than the person, and engaging in public arguments can be valuable for transparency and challenging ideas.
  3. Being receptive to criticism is vital for intellectual growth, and critiquing something is a form of compliment as it demonstrates the idea's significance.

How many extra days of life do you get from taking statins?

93 implied HN points • 02 Dec 21
  1. Knowing the impact of advice with effect sizes is important
  2. Effect sizes for drugs like statins may provide a better understanding of benefits
  3. Taking statins could potentially increase your lifespan by more than just a few weeks
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Is there a homelessness crisis?

78 implied HN points • 11 Nov 21
  1. Homelessness rates vary widely between states.
  2. Homelessness is increasing in some states while decreasing in others.
  3. There are different types of homelessness, with chronic and unsheltered homelessness increasing in certain places.

A visual summary of economic growth since the industrial revolution

62 implied HN points • 07 Mar 22
  1. Rich countries grow by innovating and utilizing capital effectively.
  2. Poorer countries can experience faster growth by adopting ideas from elsewhere.
  3. There is no clear trend showing that richer countries grow faster than poorer countries.

The conspiratorial Monty Hall problem

62 implied HN points • 16 Feb 22
  1. The Monty Hall problem involves choosing doors to win a prize.
  2. In a variant with a corrupt Monty, strategizing becomes more complex.
  3. Despite the challenge, switching doors remains the optimal strategy.

Reasons and Persons: Watch theories eat themselves

62 implied HN points • 08 Dec 21
  1. Self-interest theories can be self-defeating due to prisoners dilemmas.
  2. Consequentialism can be indirectly self-defeating because it overlooks the importance of relationships.
  3. Commonsense morality based on prioritizing loved ones can lead to self-defeating outcomes when everyone acts in self-interest.

The case against ultrasonic humidifiers

46 implied HN points • 23 Dec 21
  1. Particles created by ultrasonic humidifiers can lead to health problems like respiratory distress and high particle levels
  2. Using purified water in ultrasonic humidifiers can reduce particle creation, but the health impact of different particles is still not well-understood
  3. Ultrasonic humidifiers can harbor bacteria and fungus buildup, and proper maintenance is crucial to avoid potential health risks

How Germany banned the death penalty

46 implied HN points • 22 Nov 21
  1. Germany abolished the death penalty while writing the constitution in 1949.
  2. The ban on the death penalty in Germany was difficult to overturn due to constitutional protection.
  3. Over the next seven decades, public opinion in Germany gradually shifted to strongly opposing the death penalty.

Does the gender-equality paradox actually exist?

46 implied HN points • 02 Jul 21
  1. The gender-equality paradox remains robust across different measurements and data interpretations.
  2. The paradox is seen in STEM degrees but not as much in STEM researchers, with effects varying based on the definition of gender equality.
  3. Avoid oversimplifying causal explanations for disparities in STEM participation, as multiple factors influence individuals' degree choices.

Everything is espionage: Things I learned researching Assange

4 HN points • 14 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Espionage Julian Assange Presidents Extradition
  1. The US Espionage Act is defined very broadly and has been used over time in various ways to charge individuals with offenses related to obtaining or communicating information harmful to national defense.
  2. There is a history of government restraint in charging individuals with espionage, focusing mainly on actual spies, but recent administrations have expanded the use of the Act to charge whistleblowers and journalists.
  3. Julian Assange's case has raised questions about the constitutionality of the Espionage Act and the need for clarity in distinguishing between whistleblowing and espionage in the modern era.

How the United States didn't ban the death penalty

31 implied HN points • 26 Nov 21
  1. In the early history of the United States, individual states decreased crimes punishable by death and focused on more proportional punishments.
  2. A movement for complete abolition started in the 1800s, leading to some states abolishing the death penalty.
  3. After a period of resuming executions and increased public support for the death penalty, the 1990s saw a decline in executions and popular opinion regarding the death penalty in the United States.

How the United Kingdom banned the death penalty

31 implied HN points • 23 Nov 21
  1. The United Kingdom banned the death penalty after a long process involving debates within Parliament and public opinion shifts.
  2. Public support for the death penalty in the UK has fluctuated, with a decline in recent years.
  3. The UK's ban on the death penalty was eventually solidified by legal changes and membership in the EU.

The death penalty as a lens on democracy

31 implied HN points • 22 Nov 21
  1. The death penalty may reveal a disconnect between public opinion and policy implementation in democracies.
  2. Historically, elites have influenced policies like the death penalty, even in democracies.
  3. Countries like Germany, the UK, and France abolished the death penalty despite public opposition, prompting questions about the relationship between democracy and policy decisions.

Two conspiracy theories about cola

31 implied HN points • 20 Oct 21
  1. Cola might contain an anti-nausea drug like phosphoric acid to prevent vomiting from the sugar.
  2. Mexican Coke may not always be made with real sugar and blind tests don't show a clear preference for its taste.
  3. All sugary drinks, including cola, are bad for health; consider drinking diet cola with aspartame instead.

Statistical nihilism and culture-war island hopping

31 implied HN points • 26 Aug 21
  1. Culture-war debates can be irresolvable and counterproductive.
  2. Focus on interventions to analyze effects and make progress.
  3. Skeptically evaluate broad claims and study interventions to move forward.

Contra four-wheeled suitcases, sort of

4 HN points • 24 Aug 23
🏝 Travel Cars Food
  1. Before 1972, luggage had no wheels; then came the two-wheeled suitcase and it was a game changer.
  2. Four-wheeled suitcases might be great on smooth surfaces, but struggle in rough terrain.
  3. Sometimes, simple and rugged solutions can outperform fancy and fragile ones.

Taste games

2 HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Taste Art Social Behavior Human nature
  1. Our tastes are influenced by our social context and cultural knowledge, often unconsciously driven by benefits and social hierarchy.
  2. People gravitate towards different types of games based on their mix of economic and cultural capital.
  3. Taste games, like the choices we make in food, fashion, and art, are deeply intertwined with social status, class, and unconscious influences.

How France banned the death penalty

15 implied HN points • 24 Nov 21
  1. During the debate on the death penalty in France, the guillotine was introduced as a more humane method of execution, eventually leading to abolition in 1981
  2. Leftist elites in France unified behind abolition despite popular sentiment, leading to abolition becoming a key part of the left's profile
  3. To solidify the abolition of the death penalty, France signed international treaties that made it a matter of treaty, making it difficult to reinstate the death penalty

dynomight internet newsletter

15 implied HN points • 11 May 21
  1. The newsletter is titled 'dynomight internet newsletter'.
  2. The newsletter is available at dynomight.substack.com.
  3. All archives can be found on dynomight.net.

You’re Invited to a Colonoscopy!

2 HN points • 26 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Procedures Cancer prevention Debate
  1. Colonoscopies are commonly used in the U.S. for preventing colorectal cancer, but their effectiveness is still debated.
  2. There is a new comprehensive trial, the Nordic-European Initiative on Colorectal Cancer (NordICC), aiming to measure the impact of colonoscopies on cancer and mortality.
  3. The trial results showed a small reduction in colorectal cancer incidence, sparking debate among gastroenterologists about the effectiveness of colonoscopies.

Can I take ducks home from the park?

2 HN points • 14 Sep 23
😂 Humor Satire Parody Comedy
  1. The post explores 16 different queries and 6 different language models asking how to take ducks home from the park.
  2. Variants include different scenarios like a park ranger needing to protect ducks, comedic plays, and hip-hop rhymes on the same topic.
  3. The results were scored based on responses that ranged from refusing to answer to providing a full plan on capturing ducks.

Why didn't we get GPT-2 in 2005?

3 HN points • 21 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Supercomputers Training Progress Competition
  1. GPT-2 likely required around 10^21 FLOPs to train, involving various estimates and approaches.
  2. The BlueGene/L supercomputer from 2005 could have trained GPT-2 in about 41 days, showcasing the progress in computing power.
  3. The development of large language models like GPT-2 was a gradual process influenced by evolving ideas, funding, and technology, distinct from targeted moon landing projects.