Bibliolater 📚📜🖋📐 @bibliolater@social.cleverlibre.org

Astronomer John Flamsteed, the first English Astronomer Royal, was born 19 August 1646
#HistoryOfAstronomy
https://thonyc.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/the-superior-stamp-collector/

Blaise Pascal died #OTD in 1662. His earliest mathematical work was on conic sections; he wrote a significant treatise on the subject of projective geometry at the age of 16. He later corresponded with Pierre de Fermat on probability theory, strongly influencing the development of modern economics and social science. In 1642 he started some pioneering work on calculating machines, establishing him as one of the first two inventors of the mechanical calculator.

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/7913

#books

@bibliolater When the second 'o' turns into an 'a', I guess? 🤭

Seriously, a good question. If almost everything is boosted, the opportunity to curate the info-space is lost.

I don't care who says what, but feel a real responsibility concerning what kind of thoughts linger in the cyberspace. Some I like, some I don't, but at least I try to think if it is good or useful, or maybe just fun in a benign way, and act accordingly.

@bibliolater it is better to boost over favorite, since that is the main way content travels among the instances.

If anyone is annoyed by boosts and/or replies of a thread, one can set the user experience in such a fashion that only original posts are shared. The option is hidden under the account that is being a nuisance.

@bibliolater though it is nice getting boosts I think boosts are useless and kind of annoying even. because so far I frequently was getting quite many boosts from people with many followers but almost never getting follows. I think if you like someone's posts then just give him a follow. so because people boosting but not following I for myself decided to have "follow everyone I boost and not boost if I don't follow" strategy. I think many people are just boosting hoping to get follows from those they boost. still better than "favourite".

🥲

Graphic from https://zacklabe.com/climate-change-indicators/. Data from https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/cdsapp#!/dataset/reanalysis-era5-single-levels-monthly-means?tab=overview.

@bibliolater @philosophy The excellent Guardian article by Ronald Purser ends:

"The cruelty lies in supporting the status quo while using the language of transformation. This is how neoliberal mindfulness promotes an individualistic vision of human flourishing, enticing us to accept things as they are, mindfully enduring the ravages of capitalism."

But do read the whole article!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/14/the-mindfulness-conspiracy-capitalist-spirituality

#mindfulness #capitalism #neoliberal #diversion #selfdeception #philosophy #psychology

This is a story about geometry, algebra and many different dimensions, best read with construction paper, scissors and tape on hand.
https://theconversation.com/a-brief-illustrated-guide-to-scissors-congruence-an-ancient-geometric-idea-thats-still-fueling-cutting-edge-mathematical-research-210612
#mathstodon

New insights into the origin of the #IndoEuropean languages

#Linguistics and #Genetics combine to suggest a new hybrid hypothesis for the #origin of the Indo-European languages

"The authors of the study therefore proposed a new hybrid hypothesis for the origin of the Indo-European languages, with an ultimate homeland south of the #Caucasus and a subsequent branch northwards onto the #Steppe, as a secondary homeland for some branches of Indo-European entering Europe with the later Yamnaya and Corded Ware-associated expansions. “Ancient DNA and language phylogenetics thus combine to suggest that the resolution to the 200-year-old Indo-European enigma lies in a hybrid of the farming and Steppe hypotheses”, remarked Gray."

https://www.mpg.de/20666229/0725-evan-origin-of-the-indo-european-languages-150495-x

@bibliolater @philosophy And scientific, too, dubious scientific foundations, https://neurosciencenews.com/mindfulness-problem-14196/

Mindfulness can also make people more selfish, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210813-how-mindfulness-could-make-you-selfish

And tend to lubricate the capitalist treadmill, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210813-how-mindfulness-could-make-you-selfish

@bibliolater @philosophy

"Take, for example, feelings of anger that we might have about the policy decisions of the Danish government. Is it beneficial to view such emotions as if they are passing clouds in the sky with little importance or relation to reality?"

Of course it is useful. It helps us to make our political decisions in a purely rational way. Contemporary Buddhism - for example Buddhadasa and Thich Nhat Hanh - offers many examples of political engagement based on equanimity.