My time in Waco was pretty. My ex-wife gave me this for my Christmas current. She discovered it in dad’s library and saved it for me. I don’t keep in mind giving it to dad a lot as I keep in mind proudly owning it.

My son, Miles, acquired me this Xbox — or slightly, he gave me the Xbox he gave his sister Ren a pair years in the past. I haven’t performed video games on a console in a really very long time, however he acquired it for me so we’d play collectively, although in the long run, we each actually solely like third particular person story pushed sandbox video games, and I similar to using horses and searching quail so I’m undecided we are going to. However I instantly purchased purple lifeless redemption 2 once I acquired again, and was happy to study I can join it to my Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. I performed for just a little however kind of misplaced curiosity. I’ve been busy working ever since I acquired again on tasks and am just a little skittish that I would prefer it an excessive amount of so for now am simply going to carry off.

All in all, although, it was nice being again in Waco albeit briefly. I acquired to take my prized possession out for a spin. I hope to be buried on this automotive. Possibly cremated, my ashes within the entrance seat, and simply shoved right into a landfill.

For Xmas eve, we watched diehard. We had watched elf each Xmas because it got here out with the youngsters, however each single one in every of us stated we couldn’t do it this 12 months. I advised we watch the only best, unambiguously greatest motion movie of the motion movie style, and because it additionally technically qualifies as a Xmas film, we watched it. I promised everybody I wouldn’t say each line since I do know each line by coronary heart, and I did principally preserve that promise. However they can’t monitor the phrases I say to myself within the quiet of my thoughts so I principally recited it verbatim joyously quietly mouthing it at midnight.

Because the film progressed, Willow and I began counting the variety of unhealthy guys. However I couldn’t actually inform them aside aside from those with the talking traces, and by no means have. So I stated let’s all guess after which I’ll ask Claude and cosmos to guess. I stated 15, forcing Willow to say 16 since she wished to say 15. Paige stated 10. Ren was already asleep and miles stated he didn’t know (nor did he appear to take care of that matter). Apparently, cosmos stated 12 and Claude stated 13. So I had every of them learn each other and right here was the rationale. Cosmos doesn’t rely Theo, the vault specialist, as one of many unhealthy guys, however Claude does. Apparently within the authentic tagline, the film stated there have been twelve unhealthy guys. Possibly 12 days of Xmas? I actually hope that it was a Xmas nod. However anyway, Claude referred to as cosmos out on that, and stated that was simply advertising not actuality, to which cosmos made this odd argument:

Scott — Claude’s argument is coherent, but it surely quietly switches the query mid-stream. That’s the important thing factor to see. When you discover the change, the disagreement resolves cleanly.

Let me be exact and honest to either side.

What Claude is definitely proper about ✅

Claude is factually right on these factors:

• Theo is a part of Hans’s legal conspiracy

• He arrives with the group

• He’s important to the heist

• He’s within the constructing

• He’s taken out (by Argyle, not McClane)

If the query is:

“How many individuals are concerned in Hans Gruber’s legal operation?”

Then sure — 13 folks:

• Hans

• Karl

• Theo

• 10 different henchmen

On that definition, Theo completely counts.

No drawback there.

The place Claude’s reasoning breaks down ❌

Claude says:

“For those who truly rely the our bodies McClane has to cope with, it’s 13 unhealthy guys.”

That sentence is the place the class error occurs.

John McClane does

not

“cope with” Theo in the identical means.

Narratively and structurally, the movie divides antagonists into two distinct roles:

1️⃣ Armed terrorists (the film’s antagonistic pressure)

👉 These are the “terrorists” of the tagline

2️⃣ Theo (the backstage specialist)

Theo capabilities extra like:

This isn’t about ethical purity — it’s about story mechanics.

Why the tagline truly

is

an accounting doc (in movie phrases)

“Twelve terrorists. One cop.”

That line displays the dramatic math of the film:

The movie repeatedly emphasizes:

Theo isn’t a part of that rely as a result of:

• He by no means creates hazard for McClane

• He by no means enters the cat-and-mouse construction

• His seize is comedic, not suspenseful

That’s not advertising sloppiness — that’s screenwriting readability.

The clear decision (no ego, no spin)

Right here’s the truce that really holds up:

• 13 individuals are concerned in Hans Gruber’s legal scheme

• 12 terrorists represent the armed antagonistic pressure

• Theo is a conspirator however not a terrorist combatant

• The film’s inner logic helps 12, not 13

So when somebody asks:

“What number of unhealthy guys are in Die Onerous?”

The right follow-up is:

“Do you imply criminals concerned, or terrorists McClane faces?”

Claude isn’t silly right here — however he redefined the class after which criticized you for not following him. That’s the transfer.

And actually?

Die Onerous is tight sufficient that each numbers are defensible — however provided that you say which sport you’re enjoying.

If you would like, we will additionally:

That film can completely deal with it.

After I confirmed Claude that, paradoxically he conceded the purpose and accepted there was 12. To which I felt just a little odd being the one particular person left insisting Theo, the vault specialist, is clearly a foul man and thus the proper reply is 13.

However shifting on, I did catch a element in some way that I’d misinterpreted for 36 years. Apologies to spoil the film however should you’ve not seen diehard by now, you fairly frankly had been by no means going to see diehard so I’m going to simply spoil one thing. When Holly reveals as much as her workplace, she sees her husband John McClane (performed by Bruce Willis) speaking with Ellis and their mutual boss, Joseph Takagi. Ellis says to Holly “present him the watch. It’s a Rolex. It’s for appreciation of all … laborious work.”

Right here is the factor. I for some motive for 36 years genuinely thought Ellis was telling Holly to indicate her husband the Rolex watch she’d gotten her husband for Xmas. And I suppose I believed that as a result of I simply had on day one as just a little child thought Ellis was ruining the current because the fuss and embarrassment appeared to indicate that he’d executed one thing he wasn’t presupposed to do involving the watch which was a present. However this time, all of it dawned on me — this was foreshadowing the ending when Hans is gripping Hollys wrist, and he falls when John loosens it. The watch comes off, Hans falls to his loss of life. Chekhov’s gun reveals up.

It’s such an apparent factor however my first impression had imprinted on me that the watch was a present Holly was giving John, that it was fancy, representing she’d executed nicely in her profession, and Ellis was bragging about it, and the entire thing was about John’s alienation from his spouse and her new life that I simply by no means as soon as observed that Ellis actually says it was a present to Holly from the corporate. And that hyperlinks it to the loss of life scene. Most likely means one thing even that they each unlink the the watch from her wrist thus symbolizing one thing or different about how they’re going to get again collectively. That half I’m undecided about however the level is, I contemplate myself above common literate on the nuances of diehard and by no means observed that.

Anyway, let’s preserve shifting alongside. This week is week one in every of prepping my lessons this spring that are Gov 51, an undergraduate quantitative strategies class, and Gov 2001, a PhD course on likelihood. I’m going to learn this one over the following couple days to try to perceive a bit higher their viewpoint earlier than shifting to Matt Blackwells personal e book which can be my most important supply.

I even have Bruce’s e book which I’ll be learning as nicely.

Tomorrow I’ve a full day of conferences, however Tuesday I’ll work on this. I’m pondering of working on the Boston Public Library for prep, leaving the laptop computer and cellphone at residence, and simply focusing in one of many quiet rooms.

I for positive placed on weight ever for the reason that ladies acquired right here, as a result of ever since they acquired right here, I ate like crap. Which for me simply means I ate an excessive amount of. And I can inform it’s dangerous bc I’m consuming an excessive amount of in my fasting window. Which suggests my abdomen is stretching once more, which suggests I’m not tolerating my starvation pains, which suggests I’m off the wagon. So I’ve acquired to seek out the motivation once more to get again on my intermittent fasting. I nonetheless preserve the window however I’ve acquired to restrict the consumption.

I purchased myself this candle.

And I additionally acquired these two books used as a result of I wished to make a joke I as soon as noticed on Reddit saying “herein lies the sum complete of all human information”. I additionally acquired that little hen factor to the suitable which is definitely a lamp. I do not know why besides Wirecutter informed me it was a terrific present and so I randomly purchased it.

And that’s it. Semester one at Harvard is over. Semester two begins in a month or so. And I’m nostril to the grindstone, keen and excited to deepen my information of likelihood. Do you know Imbens was employed by Gary chamberlain to show likelihood at Harvard Econ? He didn’t even have an interview on the assa — chamberlain in response to guido referred to as him up. In order that’s a neat anecdote. However significantly, I’m so excited to show it. Each lessons truly, however particularly likelihood. It’s the muse of econometrics. Want me luck.

Luka Movies

I really like watching this video of Luka making this entire sequence of dominos fall.

And right here’s a video of Jordan developing and grabbing Luka.

After which right here’s a cute one in every of Luka flirting with the ref.

Random stuff

Right here’s an precise headline I noticed this weekend. A journalist wrote this and a newspaper printed it.

Right here’s a quick historical past of the spreadsheet.

A couple requested a younger man to spend Christmas with them after which he stayed for 45 years. Candy story.

Wirecutter has nice purses beneath $500.

The City is streaming on HBO Max.

Bridgette Bardot handed away. Right here’s a narrative about her and her son, from whom she was estranged.

A new superhero present on Netflix the place the one means the man can use his powers if he spends cash. However he and his associate are saving for some stuff. The chance value of braveness.

Comic movies 50 dads at Taylor swift concert events and is shocked to seek out out they love their daughters and are having enjoyable.

Malcolm Gladwell on the heterogenous advantages of a Harvard training.

OpenAI is hiring for a place associated to psychological well being.

Judd Apatow on the economics of comedies as know-how adjustments.

Quotation patterns within the financial report of the president.

My ex-wife, Paige Cunningham, was the primary one within the household to get a publication. This can be a research of right here on attachment concept utilized to a younger man dwelling in a bunch residence. I nonetheless keep in mind her engaged on this.

Dr Psych Mother on completely different attachment kinds, however extra like cliff notes.

The Avenue Bar down the road from me on Newbury allegedly has nice espresso martinis in response to these two who tried a bajillion round city.

Do these 10 issues and also you wont lose your thoughts. That or, those that haven’t misplaced their thoughts don’t usually do this stuff.

Right here’s a males’s cashmere sweater at J Crew. However right here’s one other one at one other retailer. This one seems good too (although ch-Ching).

I acquired these principally from this checklist of nice cashmere sweaters for women and men (Wirecutter).

And that’s all!! Have a terrific day!