WSJ on Tolkien’s books: “The long-lasting popularity of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ shows that in a secular age, readers still respond to Judeo-Christian teachings about morality, providence and power.,,Faithful Jews and Christians believe, in different ways, in the ultimate “return of the king.” But we also believe that we are called to live courageously in a world where that has not yet occurred. In one of the best-known scenes from the book and the film, Frodo ruefully wishes that he lived in a time before the ring was rediscovered, before evil made itself so profoundly manifest. “So do I,” Gandalf replies, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” This advice given by a wizard to a hobbit offers a succinct summation of what the Bible communicates to humanity and what has sustained men and women of faith in some of the darkest of times. Fifty years after Tolkien’s passing, the series that helped create the fantasy genre endures because of its realism.”
WSJ: “[Peter] Attia advocates a high-protein diet, close observation of health metrics such as lean muscle mass and bone density, and exercise as a weapon in the fight to live longer. He has said that glucose monitors, typically worn by people with diabetes, can be useful tools. He extols the benefits of aerobic training at a two-out-of-five intensity level (dubbed “zone two”) to boost the functioning of mitochondria, the power plants of your cells. Attia prefers to lift weights while barefoot to help balance and stability. On his list of things to avoid: phones in the bedroom and sugary drinks including juices in the fridge.”
Rainer Zitelmann: “Any proponent of a system that allows the state to interfere in economic affairs wherever and whenever it pleases – rather than confining the role of government to creating a legal framework for free competition, safeguarding private property and providing the required infrastructure – has not understood what market economics means. Any self-professed ‘supporter of the free market’ who gives precedence to politics over economics and harbours a profound distrust of the spontaneous forces of the market has failed to grasp the essence of this economic system.” [via CafeHayek]
FT visual story on how Generative AI works, centred around the transformer.
WSJ: “[India] is building fast in an effort to address gaps in its infrastructure that have long held back its economy…India has budgeted more than 10 trillion rupees, or about $120 billion, for capital expenditure in the fiscal year ended March 2024, according to India’s finance ministry. That is 37% higher than the previous fiscal year, and more than twice the amount spent in 2019. In all, India’s government has published a pipeline of infrastructure projects covering the years 2019 through 2025 totaling just shy of $2 trillion. Most of the funding is expected to come from central and state governments, though the government is hoping the private sector will finance about 22% of that sum, according to Invest India, the country’s investment promotion agency. Sectors include roads, railways, urban development and housing, energy and irrigation.”
