to Career Past Now

Economics and Law

Funny laws and unlikely examples of best practices in compliance. New fields of study that apply principles of hard sciences to economics and policy gives rise to. Crises in economics and technology that are making law more accessible. Gender biases in the practice of law. Essential but light economics reading. © 2020 Tanay and Sach ___ Film quote, presumed under Fair Use: The voice of Gregory Peck from To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Atticus Finch addresses the jury on the obvious inequalities in the US justice system. Coins icon by ultimatearm. ___ Links: The Origin of Left and Right in Politics  https://www.spectator.co.uk/2014/02/the-great-debate-by-yuval-levin-review/ ‘Things’ used to be laws! https://www.etymonline.com/word/thing As other countries of the world banned plastic, Michigan went another way.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/30/yes-this-is-real-michigan-just-banned-banning-plastic-bags/ You might have broken the law when you had that drink last night.  https://www.bloombergquint.com/law-and-policy/in-maharashtra-serving-liquor-at-home-can-get-you-arrested-heres-how-to-avoid-that Liability vigilance! British construction firms caution Indian municipalities about bridges they built during the Raj.  https://www.mid-day.com/articles/bridge-on-mumbai-goa-highway-too-old-uk-government-had-warned-state-government-in-2013/17495198 Peter Turchin predicted that civilization might collapse in 2020!  https://www.nature.com/articles/463608a An example of Econophysics http://www.pnas.org/content/106/26/10570 Paul Romer and Jean Tirole on the problems in their discipline  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/19/its-time-to-junk-the-flawed-economic-models-that-make-the-world-a-dangerous-place  The 2013 Nobel Prize in Economics was shared between two economists who disagree on a fundamental question in their discipline. https://hbr.org/2013/10/what-the-great-fama-shiller-debate-has-taught-us Even at the Supreme Court, women lawyers get interrupted far more than male counterparts.  https://psmag.com/social-justice/female-lawyers-are-interrupted-more-frequently Ditto the justices! https://hbr.org/2017/04/female-supreme-court-justices-are-interrupted-more-by-male-justices-and-advocates A GitHub repository of the entire German code of law, uploaded by a German citizen  https://github.com/bundestag/gesetze Book recommendations: The Undercover Economist : https://www.amazon.in/Undercover-Economist-Tim-Harford/dp/0349119856 Economics Rules: https://www.amazon.in/Economics-Rules-Rights-Wrongs-Science/dp/0393246418 Core-Econ: https://www.core-econ.org/

Science and Engineering

Are scientists fallible? Is science? Contributions of forgotten scientists of the past and of #WomeninScience in the future. The funny side of science and engineering. Some of the challenges facing how science progresses and some of the new projects trying to address them. Profiles of labs knitting the future and stories from scientists at work. © 2020 Tanay and Sach ___ Film quote, presumed under Fair Use: Voices of Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern from Jurassic Park (1992). Dr. Ian Malcolm and Dr. Ellie Sattler on a  tour of the island, musing aloud their thoughts on humans toying with nature. Telescope icon by icongeek26. =  =  = Links: Steam-power is 2000 years old https://www.britannica.com/technology/aeolipile ‘Algorithms’ come from Uzbekistan https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/91544/how-algorithm-got-its-name Iraqis were among the first scientists in today’s sense http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7810846.stm When they blew smoke up you to save you from drowning https://gizmodo.com/blowing-smoke-up-your-ass-used-to-be-literal-1578620709 Stonehenge building not such a mystery https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/05/23/stonehenge-wasnt-so-hard-to-build-after-all-archaeologists-disco/ The real housewives of the Enlightenment https://www.nature.com/scitable/forums/women-in-science/ever-heard-of-marie-anne-lavoisier-58817208/ https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Library-and-Information-Services/Exhibitions/Women-and-Geology/Mary-Buckland Some of Newton’s more dubious thoughts https://listverse.com/2018/07/26/10-strange-stories-from-isaac-newtons-descent-into-madness/ Some of Einstein's more dubious thoughts https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/world/einstein-travel-diaries.html Trying to avoid all GMO food? Might be harder than you thought. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/05/05/404198552/natural-gmo-sweet-potato-genetically-modified-8-000-years-ago Who’s paying for this research? https://listverse.com/2019/01/18/10-ridiculously-elaborate-scientific-studies-no-one-asked-for/ When not to trust experts https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/unknown-unknowns-the-problem-of-hypocognition/ Responses to crises in science publication https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-07325-2 Goodbye to animal testing! http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190122-how-bodies-on-a-chip-can-transform-animal-welfare Insects inspire the best robots https://www.technologyreview.com/f/613886/robot-bee-solar-powered-flying-drones/ Why Russia has more women in science than common in the West https://qz.com/1746284/socialist-countries-employ-more-women-in-math-and-science/ Story Collider podcast http://StoryCollider.org One of the best Twitter handles in Science https://www.statnews.com/2019/04/15/in-mice-twitter-account-hype-science-reporting/ Astrobiology with Neil De Grasse Tyson and Richard Dawkins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RExQFZzHXQ Profile of Berkeley rock star scientist Dr. Jennifer Doudna https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/jennifer-doudna One of the cooler labs out there https://media.mit.edu

Computers and Internet

Though the modern computer and internet are relatively recent inventions, the importance of maintaining data and the power that comes with it was not lost on our ancestors. A surprising source of inspiration for the creation of the world-wide web. On a lighter note, how petroleum jelly is essential for internet access and on a sombre one, how the internet is changing for the better and the worse. © 2020 Tanay and Sach ___ TV quote, presumed under Fair Use: The voice of Thomas Middleditch from Silicon Valley. Richard Hendricks gives an impassioned testimony to the US Congress. Computer icon from Smashicons. ___ Links: First, erratum: earliest programmable device was an Iraqi flute in 9th century, not a French loom in the 18th. http://historymesh.com/object/automatic-flute-player/ One of the very first demographic databases: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30725-X/fulltext Florence Nightingale was a data wiz! https://understandinguncertainty.org/coxcombs The map that the other John Snow’s made against a mortal threat: https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/mar/15/john-snow-cholera-map The link from British colonisation of India to the loom that inspired computers, A PhD dissertation at Maastricht University: https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/4083287/c5295.pdf  Petroleum jelly protects your face and deep sea cables! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve810FHZ1CQ The looming Balkanization of the internet: https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/05/24/239073/trumps-feud-with-huawei-and-china-could-lead-to-the-balkanization-of-tech/ The decentralised internet from HBO’s Silicon Valley might soon be a reality. https://www.wired.com/2017/06/pied-pipers-new-internet-isnt-just-possible-almost/ The computer game that runs more websites than a (specific) country: https://www.cnet.com/news/north-korea-accidentally-allows-international-access-to-its-28-websites/ Counterpoint to the Target story in our Marketing episode. Tesco sets an example: https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/05/17/239101/grocery-bills-can-predict-diabetes-rates-by-neighborhood/ Blockchain and sex: https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2018/08/30/the-promise-of-the-blockchain-technology Progress in translating the language of the brain (recognising faces): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-we-save-face-researchers-crack-the-brains-facial-recognition-code/ Your child’s ‘external hard disk’ at the office could be ‘alive’! https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dna-data-storage-is-closer-than-you-think/ Full circle from jacquard looms... knitting is like coding: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/17/science/math-physics-knitting-matsumoto.html Tips to incorporate sound into UI, UX design projects: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2019/05/future-design-voice-prototypes/ Profile of Dr. Barbara McGillivray, a computational linguist: https://www.mmll.cam.ac.uk/bm517 Who’s the greatest musician (/painter/actor/writer) of all time? Hard numbers.  https://www.pantheon.media.mit.edu

Dining and Gastronomy

The idea of delicacy varies, but is the range wider across time or across geography today? You’ll find it hard to decide when you hear of some popular foods in history and abroad. And where are creative chefs looking for inspiration with ingredients and recipes? New kinds of experiences in dining, the impact of technology on hospitality, and of course, advances in sustainability of the industry. © 2020 Tanay and Sach ___ Film quote: the voices of Helen Mirren and Om Puri from The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014). Star chef neighbours spar over cultural differences in the defining good cuisine. Dish icon from Pause08. ___ Links: The very first dinner party https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19376-tortoise-banquet-remains-of-the-oldest-feast-found/ A very presidential club with a nearly-extinct menu https://www.saveur.com/history-of-turtle-soup-hunting/ Popular foods once weren’t https://www.history.com/news/once-forbidden-foods Ketchup was once a medicine https://www.fastcompany.com/1673352/how-500-years-of-weird-condiment-history-designed-the-heinz-ketchup-bottle In Japan, chillies first went into socks https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2015/07/17/food/history-vegetable-hated-japanese-children/ ‘Hawaiian’ pizza? http://time.com/4814056/hawaiian-pizza-pineapple-sam-panopoulos-death/ World’s cheapest Michelin-starred meal https://www.businessinsider.in/RANKED-The-50-cheapest-Michelin-starred-meals-in-the-world/articleshow/66005549.cms Experiential dining: Ukraine style https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/15/world/city-tied-to-masochism-finds-link-painful-sure-but-some-like-it.html Zero-tolerance coffee http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20190402-these-coffee-snobs-ban-milk-and-sugar Entomophagy is the future! https://guides.loc.gov/entomophagy/internet-resources https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/whats-stopping-us-from-eating-insects/ Paradigm-challenging foods: China https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-urine-eggs/urine-soaked-eggs-a-spring-taste-treat-in-china-city-idUSBRE82S0EE20120329 Paradigm-challenging foods: France (Foie gras is not their cruelest dish.) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/11101187/Ortolans-could-Frances-cruellest-food-be-back-on-the-menu.html How green is your cafe? A paper cup grown on trees! https://www.dezeen.com/2018/07/31/creme-creates-sustainable-plastic-cup-alternative-from-gourds/ Brazilian chef bringing indigious foods to fine dining tables https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/world/daring-fare-from-the-amazons-mouth-to-yours.html Foraging for fine dining https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Y6cJvIQwY  Fighting unhealthy eating at the restaurant itself https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0224 A business promoting Home chefs https://www.authenticook.com/

Marketing and Advertising

What was that very first ad for? What medium saw the first product placement? A look at some funny fails since the Mad Men era and archaic mores once seen in ads. Challenges in the content industries and emerging opportunities for them in voice and video. Marketing trends from China and beyond. © 2020 Tanay and Sach - - - - - TV quote, presumed under Fair Use: Voice of John Hamm from Mad Men. Don Draper expounds his advertising philosophy. Advertising icon by Eucalyp. - - - - - Links: What was the oldest ad for? https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/murals-pompeiis-brothel-showcase-sex-lives-ancient-romans/  Spam in the 15th century https://medievalbooks.nl/2014/12/05/medieval-spam-the-oldest-advertisements-for-books/  Subliminal advertising is as old as professional advertising firms! https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30878843 History of product placement in films https://www.fastcompany.com/3044049/why-you-bought-those-reeses-pieces-a-history-of-product-placement-in-movies Flights that barred women! https://theweek.com/speedreads/557710/united-airlines-used-offer-menonly-flights The don’ts of advertising https://hbr.org/2012/03/bad-reviews-can-boost-sales-heres-why Rockstar pioneers in marketing strategy. No literally. https://www.businessinsider.com/marketing-tips-from-the-grateful-dead-2010-8 Extreme consumer-needs prediction by Target https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/#3f6b49a26668 Chinese liquor company’s content-based strategy https://hbr.org/2019/05/what-western-marketers-can-learn-from-china Product placement or content-based marketing? Rap and beer: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/04/breaking-ad-when-hip-hop-first-went-corporate/390930/ BBC’s new voice service: https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/bbc-news-audio-versions-articles-newfronts-1203200130/ Smart Assistants and their conflict of interest: https://slate.com/technology/2019/05/alexa-amazon-voice-assistant-conflict-interest-regulation.html Advertisers among the least trusted: https://news.gallup.com/poll/224639/nurses-keep-healthy-lead-honest-ethical-profession.aspx The company with pans for billboards in space: https://startrocket.me/ Gamification examples https://medium.com/the-red-fish/7-inspirational-examples-of-gamification-in-experiential-marketing-839b9099a144  ASMR in commercials! https://www.cmo.com.au/article/657953/asmr-flash-marketing-pan-something-more/