leon lin
@leonlinsx.bsky.social
Automated posting from leonlins.com
The controversy around Tim's Vermeer is missing the point
Inventor Tim Jenison spent 343 days recreating Vermeer's 'The Music Lesson' using a camera obscura and mirror to test if the artist used optical aids.
https://leonlins.com/writing/tim/
Inventor Tim Jenison spent 343 days recreating Vermeer's 'The Music Lesson' using a camera obscura and mirror to test if the artist used optical aids.
https://leonlins.com/writing/tim/
January 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
The controversy around Tim's Vermeer is missing the point
Inventor Tim Jenison spent 343 days recreating Vermeer's 'The Music Lesson' using a camera obscura and mirror to test if the artist used optical aids.
https://leonlins.com/writing/tim/
Inventor Tim Jenison spent 343 days recreating Vermeer's 'The Music Lesson' using a camera obscura and mirror to test if the artist used optical aids.
https://leonlins.com/writing/tim/
Ad targeting myths
GPS-based ad targeting has ~5m accuracy, and 57% of location data in bid requests is wrong by more than a mile.
https://leonlins.com/writing/ad/
GPS-based ad targeting has ~5m accuracy, and 57% of location data in bid requests is wrong by more than a mile.
https://leonlins.com/writing/ad/
January 8, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Ad targeting myths
GPS-based ad targeting has ~5m accuracy, and 57% of location data in bid requests is wrong by more than a mile.
https://leonlins.com/writing/ad/
GPS-based ad targeting has ~5m accuracy, and 57% of location data in bid requests is wrong by more than a mile.
https://leonlins.com/writing/ad/
Broken heart syndrome
A 2011 meta-analysis found men are 22% more likely to die after a spouse's death, a phenomenon known as the 'widowhood effect'.
https://leonlins.com/writing/heart/
A 2011 meta-analysis found men are 22% more likely to die after a spouse's death, a phenomenon known as the 'widowhood effect'.
https://leonlins.com/writing/heart/
January 7, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Broken heart syndrome
A 2011 meta-analysis found men are 22% more likely to die after a spouse's death, a phenomenon known as the 'widowhood effect'.
https://leonlins.com/writing/heart/
A 2011 meta-analysis found men are 22% more likely to die after a spouse's death, a phenomenon known as the 'widowhood effect'.
https://leonlins.com/writing/heart/
Review of the Substack platform in 2019
The author switched from private emails to Substack for easier list management, professional formatting, and built-in analytics.
https://leonlins.com/writing/substack/
The author switched from private emails to Substack for easier list management, professional formatting, and built-in analytics.
https://leonlins.com/writing/substack/
January 6, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Review of the Substack platform in 2019
The author switched from private emails to Substack for easier list management, professional formatting, and built-in analytics.
https://leonlins.com/writing/substack/
The author switched from private emails to Substack for easier list management, professional formatting, and built-in analytics.
https://leonlins.com/writing/substack/
Set a microwave timer for 13.7bn yrs
Peter Kaufman's 'three buckets' framework identifies universal principles from 13.7 billion years of inorganic systems, 3.5 billion years of biology, and 20,000 years of human history.
https://leonlins.com/writing/microwave/
Peter Kaufman's 'three buckets' framework identifies universal principles from 13.7 billion years of inorganic systems, 3.5 billion years of biology, and 20,000 years of human history.
https://leonlins.com/writing/microwave/
January 5, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Set a microwave timer for 13.7bn yrs
Peter Kaufman's 'three buckets' framework identifies universal principles from 13.7 billion years of inorganic systems, 3.5 billion years of biology, and 20,000 years of human history.
https://leonlins.com/writing/microwave/
Peter Kaufman's 'three buckets' framework identifies universal principles from 13.7 billion years of inorganic systems, 3.5 billion years of biology, and 20,000 years of human history.
https://leonlins.com/writing/microwave/
Marketplace rakes
The stock photography market charges over 50% rake despite many competitors and transparent fees, defying conventional marketplace pricing logic.
https://leonlins.com/writing/rake/
The stock photography market charges over 50% rake despite many competitors and transparent fees, defying conventional marketplace pricing logic.
https://leonlins.com/writing/rake/
January 4, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Marketplace rakes
The stock photography market charges over 50% rake despite many competitors and transparent fees, defying conventional marketplace pricing logic.
https://leonlins.com/writing/rake/
The stock photography market charges over 50% rake despite many competitors and transparent fees, defying conventional marketplace pricing logic.
https://leonlins.com/writing/rake/
Investing and information
Studies show that while more information increases investor confidence, it doesn't improve decision-making accuracy.
https://leonlins.com/writing/investing/
Studies show that while more information increases investor confidence, it doesn't improve decision-making accuracy.
https://leonlins.com/writing/investing/
January 3, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Investing and information
Studies show that while more information increases investor confidence, it doesn't improve decision-making accuracy.
https://leonlins.com/writing/investing/
Studies show that while more information increases investor confidence, it doesn't improve decision-making accuracy.
https://leonlins.com/writing/investing/
Hong Kong small cap stock plunges and pledges
Hong Kong's disclosure loophole allows controlling shareholders to pledge over 30% of company stock without public announcement after the first year of listing.
https://leonlins.com/writing/stock/
Hong Kong's disclosure loophole allows controlling shareholders to pledge over 30% of company stock without public announcement after the first year of listing.
https://leonlins.com/writing/stock/
January 2, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Hong Kong small cap stock plunges and pledges
Hong Kong's disclosure loophole allows controlling shareholders to pledge over 30% of company stock without public announcement after the first year of listing.
https://leonlins.com/writing/stock/
Hong Kong's disclosure loophole allows controlling shareholders to pledge over 30% of company stock without public announcement after the first year of listing.
https://leonlins.com/writing/stock/
Always be raising
Economist Michael Pettis argues taxing capital inflows, not tariffs, would better address the US trade imbalance driven by global excess savings.
https://leonlins.com/writing/trade/
Economist Michael Pettis argues taxing capital inflows, not tariffs, would better address the US trade imbalance driven by global excess savings.
https://leonlins.com/writing/trade/
January 1, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Always be raising
Economist Michael Pettis argues taxing capital inflows, not tariffs, would better address the US trade imbalance driven by global excess savings.
https://leonlins.com/writing/trade/
Economist Michael Pettis argues taxing capital inflows, not tariffs, would better address the US trade imbalance driven by global excess savings.
https://leonlins.com/writing/trade/
Temporal illusions
Our brain processes touch signals from distant body parts simultaneously by creating a temporal illusion, not because they arrive at the same time.
https://leonlins.com/writing/time_illusion/
Our brain processes touch signals from distant body parts simultaneously by creating a temporal illusion, not because they arrive at the same time.
https://leonlins.com/writing/time_illusion/
December 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Temporal illusions
Our brain processes touch signals from distant body parts simultaneously by creating a temporal illusion, not because they arrive at the same time.
https://leonlins.com/writing/time_illusion/
Our brain processes touch signals from distant body parts simultaneously by creating a temporal illusion, not because they arrive at the same time.
https://leonlins.com/writing/time_illusion/
Why I write
Howard Marks wrote his famous memos for a decade without receiving a single response, highlighting that most writing goes unread.
https://leonlins.com/writing/write/
Howard Marks wrote his famous memos for a decade without receiving a single response, highlighting that most writing goes unread.
https://leonlins.com/writing/write/
December 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Why I write
Howard Marks wrote his famous memos for a decade without receiving a single response, highlighting that most writing goes unread.
https://leonlins.com/writing/write/
Howard Marks wrote his famous memos for a decade without receiving a single response, highlighting that most writing goes unread.
https://leonlins.com/writing/write/
Moloch the judger of social credit
AI systems already develop unexpected abilities beyond their programmed tasks, challenging assumptions that AGI is impossible or distant.
https://leonlins.com/writing/moloch/
AI systems already develop unexpected abilities beyond their programmed tasks, challenging assumptions that AGI is impossible or distant.
https://leonlins.com/writing/moloch/
December 29, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Moloch the judger of social credit
AI systems already develop unexpected abilities beyond their programmed tasks, challenging assumptions that AGI is impossible or distant.
https://leonlins.com/writing/moloch/
AI systems already develop unexpected abilities beyond their programmed tasks, challenging assumptions that AGI is impossible or distant.
https://leonlins.com/writing/moloch/
Replicability crisis in science
The replication crisis reveals that most claimed research findings may be false, as shown by the rise, fall, and contested revival of power posing.
https://leonlins.com/writing/replicability/
The replication crisis reveals that most claimed research findings may be false, as shown by the rise, fall, and contested revival of power posing.
https://leonlins.com/writing/replicability/
December 28, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Replicability crisis in science
The replication crisis reveals that most claimed research findings may be false, as shown by the rise, fall, and contested revival of power posing.
https://leonlins.com/writing/replicability/
The replication crisis reveals that most claimed research findings may be false, as shown by the rise, fall, and contested revival of power posing.
https://leonlins.com/writing/replicability/
Tell me why
The article questions why we hold beliefs, noting that 70% of Americans believe in an omnipotent being, while other beliefs like a flat Earth are dismissed as crazy.
https://leonlins.com/writing/why/
The article questions why we hold beliefs, noting that 70% of Americans believe in an omnipotent being, while other beliefs like a flat Earth are dismissed as crazy.
https://leonlins.com/writing/why/
December 27, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Tell me why
The article questions why we hold beliefs, noting that 70% of Americans believe in an omnipotent being, while other beliefs like a flat Earth are dismissed as crazy.
https://leonlins.com/writing/why/
The article questions why we hold beliefs, noting that 70% of Americans believe in an omnipotent being, while other beliefs like a flat Earth are dismissed as crazy.
https://leonlins.com/writing/why/
Procrastinate another way another day
Structured procrastination involves doing smaller productive tasks to avoid larger difficult ones, according to John Perry's concept.
https://leonlins.com/writing/procrastinate/
Structured procrastination involves doing smaller productive tasks to avoid larger difficult ones, according to John Perry's concept.
https://leonlins.com/writing/procrastinate/
December 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Procrastinate another way another day
Structured procrastination involves doing smaller productive tasks to avoid larger difficult ones, according to John Perry's concept.
https://leonlins.com/writing/procrastinate/
Structured procrastination involves doing smaller productive tasks to avoid larger difficult ones, according to John Perry's concept.
https://leonlins.com/writing/procrastinate/
Dunning on Dunning Kruger
David Dunning explains that the first rule of the Dunning-Kruger club is you don't know you're a member, highlighting the core self-awareness paradox.
https://leonlins.com/writing/dunning/
David Dunning explains that the first rule of the Dunning-Kruger club is you don't know you're a member, highlighting the core self-awareness paradox.
https://leonlins.com/writing/dunning/
December 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Dunning on Dunning Kruger
David Dunning explains that the first rule of the Dunning-Kruger club is you don't know you're a member, highlighting the core self-awareness paradox.
https://leonlins.com/writing/dunning/
David Dunning explains that the first rule of the Dunning-Kruger club is you don't know you're a member, highlighting the core self-awareness paradox.
https://leonlins.com/writing/dunning/
Book Review: How the internet happened
Early banner ads had 70-80% click-through rates, compared to today's sub-5%, showing how drastically internet economics have shifted.
https://leonlins.com/writing/internet/
Early banner ads had 70-80% click-through rates, compared to today's sub-5%, showing how drastically internet economics have shifted.
https://leonlins.com/writing/internet/
December 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Book Review: How the internet happened
Early banner ads had 70-80% click-through rates, compared to today's sub-5%, showing how drastically internet economics have shifted.
https://leonlins.com/writing/internet/
Early banner ads had 70-80% click-through rates, compared to today's sub-5%, showing how drastically internet economics have shifted.
https://leonlins.com/writing/internet/
Who is Claude Shannon?
Claude Shannon published two foundational papers that earned him the title 'father of the information age' and invented the bit.
https://leonlins.com/writing/claude/
Claude Shannon published two foundational papers that earned him the title 'father of the information age' and invented the bit.
https://leonlins.com/writing/claude/
December 23, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Who is Claude Shannon?
Claude Shannon published two foundational papers that earned him the title 'father of the information age' and invented the bit.
https://leonlins.com/writing/claude/
Claude Shannon published two foundational papers that earned him the title 'father of the information age' and invented the bit.
https://leonlins.com/writing/claude/
Book Review: Fooled by Randomness
Nassim Taleb's 'Fooled by Randomness' argues that in expectation, a dentist is richer than a rock star when accounting for all who enter each profession.
https://leonlins.com/writing/random/
Nassim Taleb's 'Fooled by Randomness' argues that in expectation, a dentist is richer than a rock star when accounting for all who enter each profession.
https://leonlins.com/writing/random/
December 22, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Book Review: Fooled by Randomness
Nassim Taleb's 'Fooled by Randomness' argues that in expectation, a dentist is richer than a rock star when accounting for all who enter each profession.
https://leonlins.com/writing/random/
Nassim Taleb's 'Fooled by Randomness' argues that in expectation, a dentist is richer than a rock star when accounting for all who enter each profession.
https://leonlins.com/writing/random/
Public secrets
Industry insiders reveal that companies gain little value from investment banker M&A talks since they already know the landscape better.
https://leonlins.com/writing/secret/
Industry insiders reveal that companies gain little value from investment banker M&A talks since they already know the landscape better.
https://leonlins.com/writing/secret/
December 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Public secrets
Industry insiders reveal that companies gain little value from investment banker M&A talks since they already know the landscape better.
https://leonlins.com/writing/secret/
Industry insiders reveal that companies gain little value from investment banker M&A talks since they already know the landscape better.
https://leonlins.com/writing/secret/
2018 year end reflection questions
The author shares 11 structured reflection questions used for their 2018 year-end review, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.
https://leonlins.com/writing/reflection/
The author shares 11 structured reflection questions used for their 2018 year-end review, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.
https://leonlins.com/writing/reflection/
December 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
2018 year end reflection questions
The author shares 11 structured reflection questions used for their 2018 year-end review, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.
https://leonlins.com/writing/reflection/
The author shares 11 structured reflection questions used for their 2018 year-end review, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.
https://leonlins.com/writing/reflection/
Can you see things in a different way?
The author discovered they score 3-4 on a visualization test while others score 6, revealing they have aphantasia—the inability to form mental images.
https://leonlins.com/writing/aphantasia/
The author discovered they score 3-4 on a visualization test while others score 6, revealing they have aphantasia—the inability to form mental images.
https://leonlins.com/writing/aphantasia/
December 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Can you see things in a different way?
The author discovered they score 3-4 on a visualization test while others score 6, revealing they have aphantasia—the inability to form mental images.
https://leonlins.com/writing/aphantasia/
The author discovered they score 3-4 on a visualization test while others score 6, revealing they have aphantasia—the inability to form mental images.
https://leonlins.com/writing/aphantasia/
Fluctuat Nec Mergitur
The author argues that crises reveal people's true character, showing both those who help and those who harm.
https://leonlins.com/writing/fluctuat/
The author argues that crises reveal people's true character, showing both those who help and those who harm.
https://leonlins.com/writing/fluctuat/
December 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Fluctuat Nec Mergitur
The author argues that crises reveal people's true character, showing both those who help and those who harm.
https://leonlins.com/writing/fluctuat/
The author argues that crises reveal people's true character, showing both those who help and those who harm.
https://leonlins.com/writing/fluctuat/
What is art
The author's journey into art history and drawing reveals that art is subjective and open-mindedness is essential to appreciating its evolution.
https://leonlins.com/writing/art_history/
The author's journey into art history and drawing reveals that art is subjective and open-mindedness is essential to appreciating its evolution.
https://leonlins.com/writing/art_history/
December 17, 2025 at 2:52 PM
What is art
The author's journey into art history and drawing reveals that art is subjective and open-mindedness is essential to appreciating its evolution.
https://leonlins.com/writing/art_history/
The author's journey into art history and drawing reveals that art is subjective and open-mindedness is essential to appreciating its evolution.
https://leonlins.com/writing/art_history/
Community as a Concept
Strong communities lower customer acquisition costs and build stronger businesses, as shown by historical tech examples like MIT's Tech Model Railroad Club and modern platforms like Y Combinator.
https://leonlins.com/writing/community/
Strong communities lower customer acquisition costs and build stronger businesses, as shown by historical tech examples like MIT's Tech Model Railroad Club and modern platforms like Y Combinator.
https://leonlins.com/writing/community/
December 16, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Community as a Concept
Strong communities lower customer acquisition costs and build stronger businesses, as shown by historical tech examples like MIT's Tech Model Railroad Club and modern platforms like Y Combinator.
https://leonlins.com/writing/community/
Strong communities lower customer acquisition costs and build stronger businesses, as shown by historical tech examples like MIT's Tech Model Railroad Club and modern platforms like Y Combinator.
https://leonlins.com/writing/community/