Coolness, how it’s defined and propagated

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”But there is one institution, so to speak, that Silicon Valley, and, specifically, many of AI’s biggest proponents, have become particularly obsessed with demolishing. To the point where I feel comfortable calling their premiere obsession. It even played a role in Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. It’s a refrain — or, really, prayer — we hear over and over again with every new AI release. The unwavering belief that this is the Shiny New Thing that will finally destroy it. And that institution, of course, is coolness. And, specifically, the kind of coolness that is determined by teenage girls.”

Great piece.

Ryan Broderick, “Silicon Valley vs. teenage girls”

Trade secret

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“History is the trade secret of science fiction, and theories of history are its invisible engine.”

— Ken MacLeod, Introduction to the American Edition of The Star Fraction.

I could swear this used to be “secret weapon” instead of “trade secret,” but that just be my intermittently useful memory…

Claridge’s

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“Claridge’s is a great training ground. One story we do like is that of the young couple who forgot some clothes during one visit and found them at their next visit, laundered and dry-cleaned, hanging in the same wardrobe.”

— Rene Lecler, The 300 Best Hotels in the World (1978)

Oft told story. I usually embellish by saying the couple are of modest means, and don’t return to Claridge’s for some years. As is frequently the case, the story needs no embellishment by me.