Category Archives: Waffle

A scandal in Romania

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Persiflage

I was invited to review some research proposals for the CNCS. They offered a modest remuneration for my time (something like €168, I believe). For privacy reasons I won’t comment on the proposals I read, suffice to say that they … Continue reading →

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Where even the flat tax is a liberal dream

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Persiflage

As Democrats and Republicans squabble over the expiration of the Bush tax cuts, it’s worth noting that at least in one corner of America, even the flat tax is considered too progressive. It used to be the case that if … Continue reading →

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Olfactory Dreams

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Persiflage

I was having dinner with NB at a restaurant, when I noticed that several patrons at nearby tables were smoking. I found this a little bit peculiar, in part because smoking is illegal in Chicago restaurants, but mostly because NB … Continue reading →

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The Two Cultures of Mathematics: A Rebuttal

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Persiflage

Gowers writes thoughtfully about combinatorics here, in an essay which references Snow’s famous lectures (or famous amongst mathematicians – I’ve never met anyone else who has ever heard of them). The trouble, however, starts (as it often does) with the … Continue reading →

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The Bourgeois Pig is dead to me

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Persiflage

While on the way to meet up with BF, I stopped by and ordered an 8 ounce latte at the Pig. The result: a foamy scalding hot disaster which brought great shame upon hipster cafes everywhere. It was so bad, … Continue reading →

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How I deal with technical support

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Persiflage

I usually manage to avoid having to make any of those annoying calls to banks, credit card companies, utility companies, etc. because DW does it all for me. However, there are times (for example, when things are in my name) … Continue reading →

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Why Blog?

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Persiflage

The reasons for running a blog are various; they run the gamut from narcissism to simple self-aggrandizement. Time will tell which type of blog this will be. I’m not really looking to find an audience beyond those people I already know … Continue reading →

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