Living longer though math? - Exercise 5+ days a week!
We play with a healthy lifespan calculator and learn we have to exercise 5+ days a week
Read MoreIs there an app for that? - Dilbert Strip - why aren't we all lying less with the advent of the internet?
Why aren't we all lying less?
Read MoreBrad Delong asks how leveraged should we be in the S&P 500?
How about 2X leverage int eh S&P 500?
Read MoreFinding Paul Revere - why are matrices interesting?
Ye Old NSA Finds Paul Revere with Matrices...
Read MoreBook review - Risk Savvy by Gerd Gigerenzer
Gerd Gigerenzer develops the idea of rules of thumb and fact sheets to help in decision making. The most interesting distinction is when to use rules of thumb and gut instinct - when complexity is highest, and when to use complicated mathematics - when the most is known. My review is below.
Read MoreGetting AI translation in your life....
After the previous post on the power of computer translation, the next question is how to use it in your life - after all "Il n’y a pas plus sourd que celui qui ne veut pas entendre"
1. Browser. I use safari on a mac, and have installed the translate extension for safari which adds a translate button to your tool bar at the top. Alternatively Google Chrome will automatically ask to translate a page in a foreign language - try a Japanese newspaper: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/ There are also extensions for firefox or internet explorer which has a bing add on
2. Phone - I expect that if you use the browser on android, the translate also comes for free, but I really like the google translate app on iOS (I assume it is also on android) which also adds speech recognition, and image text translation with downloadable language packs so you don't need an internet connection to use it whilst roaming internationally.
I am still thinking about suggestions for the correct test of human machine co-ordination for AI translation - is it to make French jokes funny? "Monsieur et Madame Ouzi ont un fils, comment s’appelle-t-il ? - Jacques."
Our new fangled Library of Alexandria: Mr Money Mustache.
If only there was some way to access the worlds knowledge in a handy portable device....
So one thing I want to do here is collect other peoples wisdom in one place, so we don't all have to go google it ourselves every time. Self help books often give lots of good advice, mixed in with even more advice that kind of dilutes it all, or perhaps just sounded sexy enough that someone might just buy the book.
When I was a child, people would say things like "If your so smart, why aren't you rich?" Its a good question, and now we all have a connection to the worlds knowledge in our pockets. So why aren't we all rich. Well historically speaking we all are if you compare us to caveman, but I think a better answer is that we haven't read enough Mr Money Mustache (Meet him here). There is a lot there, but how about starting with three pages: 1. An illuminating graph about the amount you save and invest as a percentage of your take home pay, and how long before you don't need to work anymore (although you might want to if it is fun). Note the difference in time to "do what you want" from saving 15% (43 years), 30% (28 years) and 45% (19 years). Second he promotes the magic of bicycles, which are just amazing. Finally, you should see the talk "How to be happy, rich and save the world" MMM gave, to get fully committed to this idea that money is far more powerful, and can be used far more efficiently than we do in everyday life.
