The Local Maximum with Max Sklar

Today's guest is Peter C. Earle, economist at AIER. The topic is ESG: Environment, Social, and Governance regulations, and the theory behind it that says corporations should be run for the benefit of interests outside the shareholders. They explore the rise of ESG criteria in a low interest rate environment, and ask whether ESG on its way out. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks about a bet that two academics made 25 years ago about the nature of consciousness that has recently been settled. He also talk about the idea of a "reverse Turing Test".We also get an update on the latest display tech, with reviews on foldable phones and color e-ink making a comeback. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron complete their discussion on Max's constitutional proposals, now focusing on the representative-ness of the house and electoral college as a counterbalance to the senate and executive council. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron continue their discussion on Max's constitutional proposals, this time focusing on the function of the senate and the possibility of an executive council. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max woke up one day and decided to do a rewrite of the US constitution with a long amendment. Aaron discusses this with him over drinks outdoors in the dead of night. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks to author and software engineer David Auerbach about his new book Meganets: How Digital Forces Beyond Our Control Commandeer Our Daily Lives and Inner Realities. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron discuss Apple's announcement of the Vision Pro at WWDC, and what it means for mixed reality, the metaverse, and emerging technology.Probability Distribution of the Week: Student's T-Distribution Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max responds to a recent account of high school debate judges and how the process of truth seeking is under attack.Probability Distribution of the Week: Cauchy Distribution Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Aaron discuss Neil Gorsuch's statement in a supreme court decision that emergency measures during Covid may have been the greatest peacetime intrusion on American civil liberties in history.Probability Distribution of the Week: Von Mises-Fisher Distribution and Circular Distributions in General Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe

Max talks about Ethereum's move to proof of stake and what tradeoffs it brings to the crypto markets. He also discusses Google's plan to upgrade maps at their IO conference, and their new product Bard in relation to chatGPT. Get full access to The Local Maximum at localmaximum.substack.com/subscribe