Fascinating piece by the great Nassim Nicholas Taleb (from last summer) on intolerance as a winning strategy (when in doubt, choose McDonald’s). It’s a long read, but worth every minute. It will teach you a lot on the impact of applying minority rule to democracy, religion and financial markets. As a teaser: “Let us conjectureContinueContinue reading “Minority power”
Author Archives: Pepijn
Waarom zouden we – in godsnaam – shariaraden willen?
Machteld Zee heeft een verontrustende boodschap. Natuurlijk bestaat de gematigde islam. Maar hij staat wel onder de druk van zijn radicale variant om zich te voegen naar de sharia. Dat gaat soms met geweld (Iran in 1979), maar het kan ook geleidelijk: zo heeft Saudi-Arabië al 100 miljard euro gestoken in het verspreiden van hetContinueContinue reading “Waarom zouden we – in godsnaam – shariaraden willen?”
Romantic bubble
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je0aAf2f8XQ A high-brow colorful feel-good ferry tale, that cheers you up. Although I don’t particularly like the genre (half-musical, half-comedy) the film works out pretty well. It has a remarkable ‘lesson’ for us: it is ok to give up romantic love to pursue your dream (i.e. a Hollywood career). La La Land – Damien ChazelleContinueContinue reading “Romantic bubble”
President Trump is geen verrassing
Donald Trump doet liever niet aan zelfreflectie. Hij zou dan weleens, zo zegt hij zelf,’iets onaangenaams tegen kunnen komen.’ In ieder geval zou de introspectie van Amerika’s nieuwe president leiden tot een gespleten beeld. Trump is ogenschijnlijk zeer consequent inconsequent. Zo pleitte hij eens op Capitol Hill voor een inkomstenbelasting tot 60% voor rijke mensen, nietContinueContinue reading “President Trump is geen verrassing”
A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices – William James
Bureaucratic misery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahWgxw9E_h4 This year’s Palme d’Or winner, Ken Loach’s ‘I, Daniel Blake’, is a touching film exposing Britain’s bureaucratic machinery as the biggest obstacle for the less fortunate to get ahead with their difficult lives. The protagonist, Daniel Blake, sick of this state organized madness decides to stands up to this big anonymous monster made outContinueContinue reading “Bureaucratic misery”
The thin line separating good from bad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQoqsKoJVDw Entertaining film with great actors (Jeff Bridges!) adding a moral dimension to the well-know topic of bank-robbers-on-the-run-for-a-sheriff-on-the-brink-of-retirement’. A must see, not in the least because of the renewed interest in small town, rural America (i.e. Texas). Hell or High Water – David Mackenzie (2016) ****
Verlosknop
Psycholoog Ellen Langer, verbonden aan Yale University, bedacht de term illusion of control. Controle-illusie dus. Hiermee doelt ze op onze hersendwaling dat we controle over zaken denken te hebben terwijl dat in werkelijkheid helemaal niet zo is. We schijnen dit nodig te hebben in het dagelijks leven. Daarin worden we immers geconfronteerd met vervelende oncontroleerbareContinueContinue reading “Verlosknop”
The poor universe
Hunger is not the reason of poverty. Even the extreme poor don’t turn extra income into 100% extra calories. They buy better and/or more expensive calories. Too often Western NGO’s think the poor need more cheap grain. While they need better food. And medication, like anti-worm. Anti-worm treatment is one of the best ways toContinueContinue reading “The poor universe”
“I alone can solve”
Excellent piece by Yuval Levin from Commentary Magazine on the threat President Trump will pose to institutions, pluralism and – in the end – the American way of life. Full text Donald Trump’s insurgent takeover of the Republican Party and his victory in the 2016 election together constitute the culmination of a series of institutional breakdownsContinueContinue reading ““I alone can solve””
5 ingredients for a populist backlash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmdxYTyrI-E American populism according to Niall Ferguson. In this recent talk he explains what is needed for ‘peak populism’ to get hold of America, as we see happening now. The context is set by four ingredients: 1) a surge in immigration 2) rising inequality 3) the perception of corruption 4) a financial crisis. Add aContinueContinue reading “5 ingredients for a populist backlash”
President Trump: what’s the matter?
https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_can_a_divided_america_heal Donald J. Trump has been elected President of the United States and will succeed Barack Obama early 2017. The campaign between the two flawed candidates was ugly, negative and intense. The outcome is nothing short of stunning. And has unveiled a divided America. In the coming days a million explanations, analyses and comments will floodContinueContinue reading “President Trump: what’s the matter?”
Allesomvattend verlies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u1cD4Z6KZI Aangrijpende film over verlies van een kind. Mooi verteld, goed geacteerd. De film pretendeert geen troost of oplossing te bieden. Dat is terecht: het verliezen van je kind verdraagt immers geen relativering. Tonio – Paula van der Oest (2016) ****
Hollywood in the 1930’s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl4X6pFfmTI Funny dialogues, a Jewish family, Hollywood in the 1930’s and love affairs; the ingredients of yet another Woody Allen film. The real achievement is that Allen succeeds in delivering good value for money: his films are always above average, without being brilliant. But why is Jesse Eisenberg acting as if he were the young Woody?ContinueContinue reading “Hollywood in the 1930’s”
Weiner, more than a silly name
Ta Prom Temple, Cambodia
October 2016
PEPIJN VAN DIJK 