Daily Archives: December 11, 2010

A First Course in String Theory, 2

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It is a complete surprise that gravity emerges in string theory. Indeed, none of the vibrations of the classical relativistic string correspond to the particle of gravity. It is a truly remarkable fact that we find the particle of gravity among the quantum vibrations of the relativistic string.

This book will explain in detail how string theory, at least in its simplest form, is nothing but the quantum mechanics of classical relativistic strings.

— A First Course in String Theory

— Barton Zwiebach 

2010.12.11 Saturday ACHK

Alternatives to Wikipedia

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More open alternatives to Wikipedia.

Deletionists rule Wikipedia. Ironically, they’re constrained by print-era thinking. What harm does it do if an online reference has a long tail of articles that are only interesting to a few people, so long as everyone can still find whatever they’re looking for? There is room to do to Wikipedia what Wikipedia did to Britannica.

— Startup Ideas We’d Like to Fund

— Paul Graham, July 2008

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2010.12.11 Saturday ACHK

Multi-mind

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時間自我觀

This essay is adapted from a dialogue on 2010.04.09.

(Kinon: Your theory can explain something that “one-mind theory” cannot.)

Yes.

(Kinon: That is very interesting. You told me about “playing politics with oneself” several years ago (2003). For example, if you know that your tomorrow-self will be likely to be lazy, you present-self have to figure out how to prevent your tomorrow-self from being lazy.)

I consider self-at-different-time = different selves.

(Kinon: I understand what you mean.)

I understand what you understand.

— Me@2010.12.10

2010.12.10 Friday (c) All rights reserved by ACHK