Pretty Smart

A fascinating disquisition on stupidity:

We all recollect occasions in which a fellow took an action which resulted in his gain and our loss: we had to deal with a bandit. We also recollect cases in which a fellow took an action which resulted in his loss and our gain: we had to deal with a helpless person. We can recollect cases in which a fellow took an action by which both parties gained: he was intelligent. Such cases do indeed occur. But upon thoughtful reflection you must admit that these are not the events which punctuate most frequently our daily life. Our daily life is mostly, made of cases in which we lose money and/or time and/or energy and/or appetite, cheerfulness and good health because of the improbable action of some preposterous creature who has nothing to gain and indeed gains nothing from causing us embarrassment, difficulties or harm. Nobody knows, understands or can possibly explain why that preposterous creature does what he does. In fact there is no explanation – or better there is only one explanation: the person in question is stupid.

[Via Geekpress]

Chief Roberts

We have a new (in more than one sense of the word–it’s depressing when the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is younger than me) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

[Update at 12:25 PM EDT]

Whew, that’s a relief. I knew he was born in 1955, but I assumed that it was after I was, since I have a January birthday. But it turns out he’s one day older than me…

Biting Commentary about Infinity…and Beyond!