Being clear-eyed and full-hearted doesn’t mean being passive, weak, or silent.
It means resisting every effort to supplant our autonomy of mind with symbols of identity, no matter the source.
Extreme language during election season isn’t anything new.
But this time it really is different. Our response must be different, too.
The question is not whether Trump will accept the election result if he loses. He won’t.
The question is whether a Missionary with actual power will join him.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m thoroughly despondent about the calcification, mendacity, and venal corruption that I think four years of Clinton™ will impose. Trump, on the other hand … I think he breaks us. Maybe he already has. He breaks us because he transforms every game we play as a country — from our domestic social games to our international security games — from a Coordination Game to a Competition Game.
The outcomes of NFL games are inordinately influenced by officials relative to other sports. This is not new. The Narrative environment faced by the NFL in 2021, however, IS new.
I’m not sure they’re ready for it.
When a famous person shakes his or her finger at you, they’re not telling you a fact.
They’re telling you how to think about a fact.
Called It - Election Edition
Men of God in the City of Man is a nine part series about a narrative virus that infected the charismatic and Pentecostal churches in the United States. It isn't a story about Christian Nationalism. It isn't a story about January 6th. It isn't a story about why people voted for Trump. It is a story about a story. It is a story about the language that created a self-sustaining movement defined by its unwavering belief in a fundamentally corrupt electoral system.
Recent Notes
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When I look over my shoulder What do you think I see? Some other cat lookin’ over His shoulder at me. – Donovan, “Season of…
When the Story Breaks
The Three Types of Fear: The Gross-out: the sight of a severed head tumbling down a flight of stairs. It’s when the lights go out…
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Jesse: And why’d you go and tell her I was selling you weed? Walt: Because somehow it seemed preferable to admitting that I cook crystal…
Actually Maybe Not So Excellent
Everything under heaven is in chaos; the situation is excellent. ― Mao Zedong (1893 – 1976) A quick email on China’s currency devaluation last night.…
“Suddenly, Last Summer”
A quick Epsilon Theory email and a quick announcement. Announcement first. I’ll be giving a 1-hour webcast on Risk Premia strategies next Tuesday, August 4th,…
The New TVA
War is too important to be left to the generals. – Georges Clemenceau (1841 -1929) Competition has been shown to be useful up to a…
1914 is (still) the New Black
There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen. – Vladimir Lenin (1870 – 1924) In 1914, Europe had arrived at…
1914 is the New Black
Man in Black: All right. Where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and…
Inherent Vice
Want to get hours of your week as a professional investor back? Want to reduce pointless portfolio activity and bad use of time with clients? Stop predicting games of chicken.
Two Growth Announcements and One Not So Much
I’m with you in Rockland where we are great writers on the same dreadful typewriter. – Allen Ginsberg, “Howl” (1956) Give me a long enough…
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar
More on Information Theory.
More Probable Than Not
The only thing that I ask from this group today and the American people is to judge me from this day forward. That’s all I…
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The more I practice, the luckier I get. – Gary Player (b. 1935) Luck is the residue of design. – Branch Rickey (1881 – 1965) I’ve…
It’s Still Not About the Nail
Reader reaction to the March 31 Epsilon Theory note, “It’s Not About the Nail”, was probably the strongest and most positive for any note to…
It’s Not About the Nail
Do, or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda, “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) I see it all perfectly;…
Troy Will Burn – the Big Deal about Big Data
For the life of me, I don’t understand the debate [over the NSA metadata program]. – Jeb Bush, February 18, 2015 The Central Intelligence Agency…
Epsilon Theory Mailbag: Bitcoin and Big Data
One of the best parts of authoring Epsilon Theory is the correspondence I get from readers. For the past few months, however, I’ve been frustrated…
Why Take a Chance?
Vinny Forlano: He won’t talk. Stone is a good kid. Stand-up guy, just like his old man. That’s the way I see it. Vincent Borelli:…
The Effete Rebellion of Bitcoin
In structure, Bitcoin is a bearer bond.
In meaning, Bitcoin is the cautious expression of a rebellious identity.
First Known When Lost
I never noticed it until ‘Twas gone – the narrow copse Where now the woodman lops The last of the willows with his bill –…