NetDynam 2.0

The google search method I employ regularly to wander around sources for (mostly) academic research has two components.

1. [filetype] filetype:pdf finds acrobat files
2. [parentheses]

For example:

filetype:pdf “theory of mind” “folk psychology” controversy

uncovers academic papers that contain the extremely common wedding of folk psychology, with, theory of mind. And, by adding controversy to the search terms, papers about controversies rise to the top.

After decades of reading refereed papers, the heuristic options have been narrowed down to familiar (to me) kinds of markers. So, controversy is a superior search term to, for example, disagreement.

(Interestingly, the filetype:pdf search proves valuable because Acrobat is the file type that lends itself to researcher’s posting papers on their web sites in a format that can’t easily be messed with; is, in many respects, a facsimile. In contrast to this, filetype:doc for Word files, doesn’t bring up as high quality results.)

If a correspondent or colleague presents an assertion in absolutist terms, it is safe to say that my first knee jerk reaction, irrespective of whether or not I can instantly frame this type of assertion, is to venture via search to learn if, in fact, the assertion is controversial.

---

I added David Chalmer’s portal of research, Mind Papers, to the Sites of Interest sidebar.

It’s folk psychology, I mean Folk Psychology, section has the following TOC:
Read the rest of this entry »

although i have lots of observations about japan from this trip, they’re  all mostly scribbled in a notebook this time, because internet connectivity was very random, and because i was doing so much moving around – not much time to computer-ise my life at all while here.

my _intention_ is to write them up at some point, better sooner than later i guess, because the feeling, the texture, of the event fades if you let it lie too long in memory…

and indeed, i still have some episodes from our italy trip to post – even though i wrote them long ago and in the heat of the moment.

but one thing that always strikes me about japan is its mad architecture.

planning laws? what planning laws?

oh, yeah the individual buildings are sturdy, japanese builders have learnt much from the effects of earthquakes, and so you wont find a better contructed building. but then of course, they are only designed to last 20  to 30 years… which is why we go to temples and shrines which have ostenisbly been standing there for hundreds of years, but are actually re-constructed every 30 – 50 years or so… when they get word i am coming to visit that is.

but where they put the buildings, and in what relationship to other buildings and environmental features is not at legislated for.. or, if it is, this is nowhere obvious at all. town planning is an add-on affair, ad-hockery of the highest order, the glory of the higgeldy-piggeldy. domestic architecture can be quite ugly and based on the extremes of practicality and price. or, it can be rather satisfyingly complex and be based on an aesthetic which has been developing for hundreds of years. and, each of these approaches to the concerns of domestic housing can be located exactly next door to each other.

and then there are public or commercial buildings, ones where price is no barrier to appearance and design, and indeed a statement is what is required. buildings that might not be acceptable in the west, especially right -there-, do not get interfered with here in japan. build it and they will come!

anyway, i was treated to one utterly fantastic example yesterday. as i rounded the corner and this building came into view, i actually let out a yelp of surprise followed by rather immoderate laughter.

only in japan! you gotta love this place….

apparently it is meant to represent froth on beer…?