Category Archives: Politics

Redraw the Balance

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Persiflage

This video would be inspiring even if it didn’t star someone that I know: I suspect that Tamzin’s other youtube video will probably not end up with 20+ million views, being somewhat more…technical, I guess you could say. Of course, … Continue reading →

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In defense of Theresa May

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Persiflage

Nothing gives me more sympathy for Theresa May^* (or less respect for the Economist) than the following line from this article: Mrs May made do with a dowdier college and relaxed by watching “The Goodies”, a particularly dire comedy. Sacrilege! … Continue reading →

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Complain about MSRI day

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Persiflage

I will be heading off later this week to the Academic Sponsors’ Day at MSRI, going as Shmuel’s proxy for uchicago. I’m not sure to what extent (if any) there is for me to make policy suggestions, but any comments … Continue reading →

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Champagne Marxists

Posted on October 15, 2016 by Persiflage

One wonders whether it is only the US in which highly educated white liberal college students from the upper reaches of the socio-economic strata support the extremely regressive Bernie Sanders-style policy of spending a trillion dollars on free education for … Continue reading →

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Due Process

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Persiflage

When I was a senior (’93), my high school began a program of inviting “distinguished” visitors to give talks to a selected number of students, several of whom were also invited to lunch with the speaker. I was fortunate that … Continue reading →

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Harassed by Springer

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Persiflage

Those of you who have ever submitted a paper to any mathematical journal may have noticed that it’s not a particularly speedy process. Nowadays, even a one year turnaround is nothing out of the ordinary. Thus, I always find it … Continue reading →

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Only Harvard Grads need apply

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Persiflage

It’s hard to take articles in Slate too seriously, but I have to admit I was quite perplexed about the following article (with the concomitant research publication here). The main thrust of the article seems to be as follows. A … Continue reading →

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Applying for an NSF grant

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Persiflage

It’s not easy to write a good grant proposal. But it can be even harder to write one for the first time, especially if you’re not quite sure who will be reading your proposal. So today, I want to say … Continue reading →

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Huuuuuge piles of cash

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Persiflage

As widely reported today, the first of the “Breakthrough” prizes in mathematics have been announced. Leaving aside the question as to whether such awards are sensible (Persiflage is more sympathetic to capitalist principles than your average pinko marxist mathematician), I … Continue reading →

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Math and Genius

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Persiflage

Jordan Ellenberg makes a compelling case, as usual, on the pernicious cultural notion of “genius.” Jordan’s article also brought to mind a thought provoking piece on genius by Moon Duchin here (full disclosure: the link on Duchin’s website has the … Continue reading →

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