Issue # 2
A new essay, some interesting things and some smart things
I wrote a new theory of intelligence to make sense of the world
An interesting article about self fulfilling prophecies that found me
atomswithcuriosity.substack.com/p/beliefs
“if you think a university degree is important for good livelihood, university degree will most likely end up being important for your livelihood because you won’t spend time doing things that could improve your livelihood more than your university degree. Same case applies if you replace university degree with skills, connections, or your zodiac sign.“
I ordered a copy of Atlas Shrugged online. But could not wait for it to arrive so started reading a digital copy of it. Some quotes from it:
“One does not bargain about inches of evil”
“I'll give you a hint. Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think that you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong.”
“I don't like people who speak or think in terms of gaining anybody's confidence. If one's actions are honest, one does not need the predated confidence of others, only their rational perception. The person who craves a moral blank check of that kind, has dishonest intentions, whether he admits it to himself or not.”
“The adversary she found herself forced to fight was not worth matching or beating; it was not a superior ability which she would have found honor in challenging; it was ineptitude—a gray spread of cotton that deemed soft and shapeless, that could offer no resistance to anything or anybody, yet managed to be a barrier in her way. She stood, disarmed, before the riddle of what made this possible. She could find no answer.”
“There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted—and you create a nation of law-breakers—and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with.”
Personal things
I tried staying up for three days in a row for a meeting with someone from the US but I kept going to sleep before the person was available. 4th time’s the charm.
I got access to the autobiography draft of Pakistan’s Oppenheimer, Dr Samar Mubarakmand.
Internet things
Youtube mobile finally added higher playback speed than 2x.
A rocket company had their launch at a scenic site and crashed beautifully.