The official line on U.S. control of TikTok’s algorithm sounds benign. By “U.S.,” I mean the federal government—or the corporations it influences or directs. The purported benefits include: National Security / Foreign Influence ConcernsThe fear is that China, through ByteDance or Chinese law, could compel TikTok to share data or manipulate its algorithm to push … More Political Agendas and the TikTok Algorithm
Where is our memento mori to whisper “Respice post te. Hominem te esse memento.” Many societies instituted ritualized humility as a safeguard against any one person becoming too powerful. Athens had its Ostracism, there were the Medieval Coronation Rituals, and the Samurai Tea Ceremony. Of most interest to me in today’s environment is that of … More Where is our memento mori?
Discussions between people, especially political discussions, often go off the rails because each person begins with their own set of facts and truths seeing each as absolute. But what if facts can be fluid and truths can be relative? The issue then should not be hopelessly debating each person’s facts but understanding why their facts … More Facts are Fluid and Truths are Relative
The Constitution was drafted in a world vastly different from our own—sparse in population, slow in communication, and fearful above all of monarchy. The Framers promised that the new office of President would be tightly bound by checks and balances, “much inferior” to a king, and forever accountable to the people. Yet more than two … More The Framers Warned Us About Kings.
Living in Bubbles I have always found utility in living within bubbles. Long before Australopithecus introduced bipedal locomotion, I suspect its precursors discovered that small-group living offered clear survival advantages. It’s not a stretch to imagine that these early tribes had shared worldviews that differed from the tribe across the holler. These bubbles—tight-knit groups—provided security … More The “Bubblefication” of Society
I live in Indiana and was scrolling through the list of bills from the current legislative session, many of which have been signed into law by Governor Braun. Most are, unfortunately, what one might expect to see from one of the most conservative states in the country. There are many noteworthy bills that reflect the … More 2025: The Expanding and Insidious Voter Suppression Laws in Indiana
Confronting Mediocrity 