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guslMore More Dutch
Interesting texts to practice:
Prostitutie: De tijger in de vrouw
Interesting dictionary definition:
afzoenen
1. kiss and be friends again
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The Economics of Bikes in the Netherlands
An ignorant foreigner might ask: If Dutch people ride bikes so much, why don’t they ride better bikes? The simple answer is that bike theft runs rampant throughout the country, and nobody bothers buying a half-decent bike because they’re unlikely to have it for more than a week or two. The upside is that nobody minds losing their bike much because a replacement, usually of suspicious origin, is easily found for 10 to 20 euros.
Is this a tragedy of the commons?
And as for "morality", which choice incents crime more: buying a $20 from them or buying a nicer $200 bike from a reputable dealer?
In the first case, I am encouraging further bike theft, since they can expect to sell the bikes they steal. In the latter, I am also encouraging theft by creating demand for such a tempting bike to steal (awkward sentence?). If people never bought new bikes, this market would go to ruins as the bikes deteriorated.
By the way, it's possible to opt out of this game if you are willing to pay $50 for a lock (it's worth it: $30 locks often get stolen with the $15 bike). So keep your lock safe!
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Kurzweil on Wolfram's "A New Kind of Science"
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Jacques Pitrat, including articles, such as AI Systems Are Dumb Because AI Researchers Are Too Clever and Douglas Hofstadter et les concepts fluides
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Problems inventors have yet to solve. I would like to make a Wiki list like this. I'm still trying to figure out how to create a Wiki for myself. I'm also looking for a solution to search a blog, while also posting to LiveJournal simultaneously (since LiveJournal sucks!). Suggestions appreciated.
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Groups of Skeptics, Rationalists & Atheists (mostly in Portuguese)
Word of The Day: Metoidioplasty
Interesting texts to practice:
Prostitutie: De tijger in de vrouw
Interesting dictionary definition:
afzoenen
1. kiss and be friends again
-------------
The Economics of Bikes in the Netherlands
An ignorant foreigner might ask: If Dutch people ride bikes so much, why don’t they ride better bikes? The simple answer is that bike theft runs rampant throughout the country, and nobody bothers buying a half-decent bike because they’re unlikely to have it for more than a week or two. The upside is that nobody minds losing their bike much because a replacement, usually of suspicious origin, is easily found for 10 to 20 euros.
Is this a tragedy of the commons?
And as for "morality", which choice incents crime more: buying a $20 from them or buying a nicer $200 bike from a reputable dealer?
In the first case, I am encouraging further bike theft, since they can expect to sell the bikes they steal. In the latter, I am also encouraging theft by creating demand for such a tempting bike to steal (awkward sentence?). If people never bought new bikes, this market would go to ruins as the bikes deteriorated.
By the way, it's possible to opt out of this game if you are willing to pay $50 for a lock (it's worth it: $30 locks often get stolen with the $15 bike). So keep your lock safe!
-------------
Kurzweil on Wolfram's "A New Kind of Science"
-------------
Jacques Pitrat, including articles, such as AI Systems Are Dumb Because AI Researchers Are Too Clever and Douglas Hofstadter et les concepts fluides
-------------
Problems inventors have yet to solve. I would like to make a Wiki list like this. I'm still trying to figure out how to create a Wiki for myself. I'm also looking for a solution to search a blog, while also posting to LiveJournal simultaneously (since LiveJournal sucks!). Suggestions appreciated.
-------------
Groups of Skeptics, Rationalists & Atheists (mostly in Portuguese)
Word of The Day: Metoidioplasty