Edit First

Chill Annoying, Clowns

I mean, there can be a first edition of a particular translation or typesetting.

This is a good example of people wanting to look smart rather than actually be smart. That is, they do not understand the publishing world or typical publisher terminology. “First edition” just means the first released version of a particular typesetting. Thus, a work like Homer’s Iliad can and does have many first editions, depending on translation, publisher, and which country it is released in1.

The first printing of the first editions are particularly valuable in the rare book world, often.

For example, here is a first edition, first printing of the Iliad, though it’s not worth all that much.

Smart people are quite dumb.

  1. For instance, books often have UK and US editions, and each respective one has a “first edition.”

1995

Chill Culture, Music

This line from Molly Nilsson’s “1995” is probably the single best encapsulation of what it felt like to live then: “Back in ’95, we thought we were standing on the threshold to the end of time.”

Nailed it in one line. I wish I had Molly’s succinctness, but that is as close as one can get in words to the feeling of living in the era after the Berlin Wall fell and before the Oklahoma City Bombing, before 9/11, before the world turned.

Yes, we were wrong and in retrospect delusional that it was the end of history. That there was a brighter future in store. That we’d solve racism and hatred and blood feuds and war. But it sure as fuck felt like that. That optimism perfused everything. Those who claim it did not were too young to remember or are just lying. Most of them have some agenda, as well.

But I was there. I know what happened and what it was like.

Chill Links

Progress for progressives. The “party of science” must also embrace technology and economic growth.

Just another day in Mamdani's New York.

New York’s budget bill would require “blocking technology” on all 3D printers.

Heritability of intrinsic human life span is about 50% when confounding factors are addressed.

AI Didn't Break Copyright Law, It Just Exposed How Broken It Already Was.

The Pro-Gaza Left Is Oh So Quiet on Iran. Maybe it wasn’t about peace and human rights at all.

Taiwan passes Germany to become US' 4th largest trading partner.

Microsoft and Software Survival.

AI is Killing B2B SaaS.

Chill Links

Geologists may have solved mystery of Green River's 'uphill' route.

Why software stocks are getting pummelled.

To Build a Fire. How Russian military intelligence is recruiting young people online to carry out espionage, arson, and other attacks across Europe.

Miles Driven Hit Record in 2025, beating 2019, amid Lethargic RTO, Mass Transit Blues, but a Jump in Population.

What We Know About the India-U.S. Trade Deal.

The ‘Windows won’t shut down’ bug is even worse than we thought.

The CDC Has Mysteriously Frozen Vaccine Databases Without Explanation.

Former Windows 8 boss recruited Epstein to help negotiate his messy Microsoft exit.

Ancient Alaskan site may help explain how the first people arrived in North America.

Europe begins its slow retreat from US dependence.

Why Didn’t They “Just” Film on Location?

Night owl or early bird? Study finds sleep categories aren’t that simple.

Chemical maker Dow is cutting 4,500 jobs, will rely on AI.

Does AI already have human-level intelligence? The evidence is clear.

Why Face

Chill Amusing, Annoying

It’s a fool’s errand to try to convince or cajole women to approach men more in a romantic sense. It’ll never, ever happen. Even in perfect safety, they never will. Whether you think it’s biological, cultural, or some combination of both, why in the world would they?

For most people, rejection is worse than physical pain — women included. Since women can just sit back, do nothing, and have guys come to them who are “good enough,” why face the possibility of rejection? It’s perfectly understandable.