Here is a look at algorithms that group similar sounding words together. Neat idea for searching dirty data.
The manufacturing fetish explained?
A rich and rewarding human life neither comes from nor depends on consumption, even lots of consumption; it comes from producing goods and services of value through the integration of technique with a vision of social and personal meaning. Being fully human is about doing good work that means something.
I haven’t read the pieces Mandel links to. I read the above and thought: ok, the data should be interesting. Then Mead lost me big time:
A consumption-centered society is ultimately a hollow society. It makes people rich in stuff but poor in soul. In its worst aspects, consumer society is a society of bored couch potatoes seeking artificial stimulus and excitement.
No idea what any of that means. How about this from Barker instead?
Not Unreasonable 