Alexander Guerrero in aeon:

"There are hard questions about how exactly to structure a political system with lottery-selection at its heart. Here’s one approach, which I am in the process of developing, that I call lottocracy. The basic components are straightforward. First, rather than having a single, generalist legislature such as the United States Congress, the legislative function would be fulfilled by many different single-issue legislatures (each one focusing on, for example, just agriculture or health care)."

It's the same concept as legislative service except randomly selected people serve a single issue for three years rather than just voting on a single bill. I think the advantage is clearly that you get to build up a greater depth of knowledge if you're spending three years learning about health care. The disadvantage is that the number of people willing to give three years of their life is going to be much lower than just asking for the few weeks or months that legislative service would require.

(previously, previously)

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My company bought everyone a Fitbit for Christmas and now we're in a Battle Royale to get the most steps. I'm at a disadvantage as I often cycle to work and Fitbit does not track this accurately.

A couple of people suggested that clipping the Fitbit to your shoe would help. So over the last week I conducted an experiment. My ride from home to the office is 6.5 miles. With the Fitbit clipped into my hip pocket it registers 2,362 steps. Perched precariously on my shoe I get 2,389 steps. You can't cheat Fitbit this way.

How far off is 2,300 steps? If I was walking the same distance I'd get 13,000 steps. But I  wouldn't be coasting down any hills so that isn't right either.

For my weight relaxed walking should be around 155 calories a mile, cycling at around 10 miles per hour is 78 calories a mile. This is about a 2:1 exchange rate so those 2,300 steps should be 4,600 or so.

Fitbit does have some options to manually add activities that it doesn't register correctly. This sounds too much like hard work though, it's difficult enough to remember not to put the poor device in the washing machine. I'm also 234,037 steps behind the current leader for January so I'd need to cycle home for lunch as well to stand any chance of catching up...

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Some kind of epiphyte hanging out on a tree in the Presidio of San Francisco.

In this photograph titled "Tree," the viewer is immediately drawn to an intriguing display of reddish tendrils that cascade from the center of the frame, catching the light in a vivid dance of color and form. The tendrils, reminiscent of organic threads, stand in stark contrast to their backdrop — a deep blue sky interspersed with the shadows and forms of a towering tree. The branches of the tree reach skyward, their dark silhouettes framing the luminous strands in the foreground. The sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows that enhance the textural richness of the scene. This composition captures a moment of natural elegance, where the dynamic interplay of light and shadow creates a tapestry of visual interest.

The style of this photograph merges elements of abstraction with nature photography, creating a compelling composition through the use of strong contrasts and unconventional framing. The photographer employs a low-angle perspective, allowing the tendrils to dominate the image, thus directing the viewer's gaze upward towards the tree and open sky. The interplay of colors is particularly striking, as the vivid reds of the tendrils offer a vibrant counterpoint to the deeper, subdued hues of the tree and sky. What I appreciate most is the photograph’s ability to transform a common subject into a fascinating, almost surreal study of color and form. However, the image might have benefitted from slightly more clarity in the background elements to enhance depth and context. Overall, the photograph succeeds in capturing the viewer's imagination through its bold use of perspective and color.

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Photo of steam from the Watercress Line over the British countryside.

The photograph titled "Watercress Line" captures a serene moment in a tranquil landscape. A vast, open field of lush green grass stretches across the foreground, while a row of leafless trees hugs the distant horizon. The sky is painted with soft hues of blue, punctuated by a gentle cascade of clouds that drift lazily overhead. Shadows, likely from a train out of frame, ripple across the field, adding depth and movement to the scene. The overall mood is peaceful, as if time stands still in this quiet corner of the countryside, allowing nature to breathe freely.

In terms of style and composition, the photograph employs a minimalist approach, focusing on the interplay between sky, land, and shadow. The long shadows create a dynamic diagonal element that guides the viewer's eye across the image, providing a sense of motion and intrigue. The horizon line is placed near the top third of the frame, adhering to the rule of thirds, which balances the composition and gives prominence to the expansive field. What is particularly captivating is the mystery of the source of the shadows, inviting curiosity and narrative imagination. However, the image may lack a focal point, which could make it feel slightly empty or ambiguous. The lighting casts a warm, golden hue, enhancing the serene atmosphere but could be sharper for increased clarity. Overall, the photograph's strength lies in its simplicity and atmospheric quality, inviting viewers to pause and ponder the quiet beauty of the countryside.

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Hulu Plus has turned out to be a bit of a disaster.

The app (I use it on a TiVo) is ugly and clumsy. I checked last night and it took 15 clicks to watch the next episode of a series I'd watched the previous night. You'd think this would be about the most basic use case and it's something that everyone else gets right.

And then it plays a couple of ads flawlessly before complaining that there is a problem with the connection. You're then bombed out to the menu and sit through the pre-roll ads again before the show starts.

I'm not stoked about being forced to watch ads on a paid service at all. If you believe the CPM estimates on Quora Hulu could charge me another $6 per month for an ad-free service that doesn't suck. Hulu ads are particularly awful because they're not embedded in the stream. This means when it's ad time everything grinds to a halt while the app switches from program mode to ad mode and then back again. You could make a cup of tea in the time it takes Hulu to figure this out. Adding insult to injury only three companies appear to have bought ads so you're stuck watching the same ones repeatedly.

All this is if the program you added to your queue still exists. Different shows seem to have different windows of availability so when you sit down to watch something you've been saving up you might find that half the episodes have been yanked away.

There is an opportunity here for a brave entrepreneur (or at least one operating somewhere with no extradition treaty with the US). What we need is an app (or service) that is the TiVo equivalent for the brave streaming cord-cutting future. You feed in the credentials for all the services you subscribe to and the programs you want to watch. The app records everything and spits out video files you can watch (and fast forward through) at your leisure.

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