The Garden of Forking Paths
@brianklaas.skystack.xyz
Wandering around an infinitely complex, ever-changing world.
This is an automated Substack Account of https://brianklaas.substack.com
Discover more/Create at: @skystack.xyz
This is an automated Substack Account of https://brianklaas.substack.com
Discover more/Create at: @skystack.xyz
A Little Pause • Coming back in the New Year
A Little Pause
Coming back in the New Year
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
A Little Pause • Coming back in the New Year
"Good Heavens what insect can suck it?" • The stranger-than-fiction miracles of coevolution in nature and human society. (Or: what connects avocados, ants who farm fungus, karma, and our relationship with dogs?)
"Good Heavens what insect can suck it?"
The stranger-than-fiction miracles of coevolution in nature and human society. (Or: what connects avocados, ants who farm fungus, karma, and our relationship with dogs?)
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
"Good Heavens what insect can suck it?" • The stranger-than-fiction miracles of coevolution in nature and human society. (Or: what connects avocados, ants who farm fungus, karma, and our relationship with dogs?)
The Dictator's Voodoo Priests and the Forgotten Attack on the White House • In 1994, America nearly went to war because voodoo priests interpreted a failed attack on the White House as an auspicious sign. It's a true story of bags of cash, voodoo diplomacy, and secret deals.
The Dictator's Voodoo Priests and the Forgotten Attack on the White House
In 1994, America nearly went to war because voodoo priests interpreted a failed attack on the White House as an auspicious sign. It's a true story of bags of cash, voodoo diplomacy, and secret deals.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The Dictator's Voodoo Priests and the Forgotten Attack on the White House • In 1994, America nearly went to war because voodoo priests interpreted a failed attack on the White House as an auspicious sign. It's a true story of bags of cash, voodoo diplomacy, and secret deals.
Brain Food • Ancient boats, obliterating viruses and cleaning air with UV light, a magic ant that gives birth to two species, Fukuyama redux, the next big volcano, The Perfect Neighbor, and a must-listen podcast.
Brain Food
Ancient boats, obliterating viruses and cleaning air with UV light, a magic ant that gives birth to two species, Fukuyama redux, the next big volcano, The Perfect Neighbor, and a must-listen podcast.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Brain Food • Ancient boats, obliterating viruses and cleaning air with UV light, a magic ant that gives birth to two species, Fukuyama redux, the next big volcano, The Perfect Neighbor, and a must-listen podcast.
Is social media just...boring now? • Social media is destroying democracy and accelerating idiocracy. But it's also just...really, really boring.
Is social media just...boring now?
Social media is destroying democracy and accelerating idiocracy. But it's also just...really, really boring.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Is social media just...boring now? • Social media is destroying democracy and accelerating idiocracy. But it's also just...really, really boring.
The yogurt kingpin, the radio DJ coup, and the most interesting island on Earth • Madagascar is a fascinating island home to 30+ million people. It's also home to bizarre, volatile politics that virtually nobody knows about. And the president just escaped on a helicopter.
The yogurt kingpin, the radio DJ coup, and the most interesting island on Earth
Madagascar is a fascinating island home to 30+ million people. It's also home to bizarre, volatile politics that virtually nobody knows about. And the president just escaped on a helicopter.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The yogurt kingpin, the radio DJ coup, and the most interesting island on Earth • Madagascar is a fascinating island home to 30+ million people. It's also home to bizarre, volatile politics that virtually nobody knows about. And the president just escaped on a helicopter.
Should we just give cash to the homeless? • A new charity is tackling homelessness with a simple approach. Does it work?
Should we just give cash to the homeless?
A new charity is tackling homelessness with a simple approach. Does it work?
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Should we just give cash to the homeless? • A new charity is tackling homelessness with a simple approach. Does it work?
We are different from all other humans in history • Countless experiences that have become routine for us are unprecedented in the history of our species. Here's why that matters.
We are different from all other humans in history
Countless experiences that have become routine for us are unprecedented in the history of our species. Here's why that matters.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
We are different from all other humans in history • Countless experiences that have become routine for us are unprecedented in the history of our species. Here's why that matters.
In Defense of Dan Brown • Brown's new book doesn't offer award-winning literary prose. But intellectual snobbery and review elitism is foolish in an era of growing cultural ignorance and counterproductive political sneering.
In Defense of Dan Brown
Brown's new book doesn't offer award-winning literary prose. But intellectual snobbery and review elitism is foolish in an era of growing cultural ignorance and counterproductive political sneering.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
In Defense of Dan Brown • Brown's new book doesn't offer award-winning literary prose. But intellectual snobbery and review elitism is foolish in an era of growing cultural ignorance and counterproductive political sneering.
Democracy in the Crosshairs • Political violence is surging in the United States. Here's how to understand it.
Democracy in the Crosshairs
Political violence is surging in the United States. Here's how to understand it.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Democracy in the Crosshairs • Political violence is surging in the United States. Here's how to understand it.
Drunken Apes and the Rise of Civilization • New research reveals the primate origins of alcohol consumption—and how a single boozy mutation may have helped give rise to social complexity and large-scale civilizations.
Drunken Apes and the Rise of Civilization
New research reveals the primate origins of alcohol consumption—and how a single boozy mutation may have helped give rise to social complexity and large-scale civilizations.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Drunken Apes and the Rise of Civilization • New research reveals the primate origins of alcohol consumption—and how a single boozy mutation may have helped give rise to social complexity and large-scale civilizations.
Guns at Annunciation • I was baptized at the church where kids were murdered. It's a canary in the coal mine for a dystopian America, where people blame everything but the real cause: a country awash with unlimited guns.
Guns at Annunciation
I was baptized at the church where kids were murdered. It's a canary in the coal mine for a dystopian America, where people blame everything but the real cause: a country awash with unlimited guns.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Guns at Annunciation • I was baptized at the church where kids were murdered. It's a canary in the coal mine for a dystopian America, where people blame everything but the real cause: a country awash with unlimited guns.
The Grifted Age • Move over Gilded Age. In the 21st century, hucksters and swindlers are exploiting mass stupidity and conspiratorial thinking—and getting filthy rich in the process. Why is this happening?
The Grifted Age
Move over Gilded Age. In the 21st century, hucksters and swindlers are exploiting mass stupidity and conspiratorial thinking—and getting filthy rich in the process. Why is this happening?
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The Grifted Age • Move over Gilded Age. In the 21st century, hucksters and swindlers are exploiting mass stupidity and conspiratorial thinking—and getting filthy rich in the process. Why is this happening?
Blood Diamonds and the Lottery of Earth • How geography and geology shapes our destinies.
Blood Diamonds and the Lottery of Earth
How geography and geology shapes our destinies.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Blood Diamonds and the Lottery of Earth • How geography and geology shapes our destinies.
Brain Food • Alzheimer's breakthroughs of mice and men, the stranger-than-fiction phenomenon of comb jelly intelligence, RIP Dobby, and three recommendations.
Brain Food
Alzheimer's breakthroughs of mice and men, the stranger-than-fiction phenomenon of comb jelly intelligence, RIP Dobby, and three recommendations.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Brain Food • Alzheimer's breakthroughs of mice and men, the stranger-than-fiction phenomenon of comb jelly intelligence, RIP Dobby, and three recommendations.
The Despot's Guide to Job Statistics • Dictators routinely lie about economic growth. Trump just took a page from their playbook in appointing an unqualified, Nazi-admiring, January 6th hack to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Despot's Guide to Job Statistics
Dictators routinely lie about economic growth. Trump just took a page from their playbook in appointing an unqualified, Nazi-admiring, January 6th hack to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The Despot's Guide to Job Statistics • Dictators routinely lie about economic growth. Trump just took a page from their playbook in appointing an unqualified, Nazi-admiring, January 6th hack to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Just War Theory and the Philosophers of Gaza • Philosophers have long tried to develop clear moral principles to govern the conduct of warfare. Here's why they're engaged in a fierce debate over Gaza.
Just War Theory and the Philosophers of Gaza
Philosophers have long tried to develop clear moral principles to govern the conduct of warfare. Here's why they're engaged in a fierce debate over Gaza.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Just War Theory and the Philosophers of Gaza • Philosophers have long tried to develop clear moral principles to govern the conduct of warfare. Here's why they're engaged in a fierce debate over Gaza.
The Red Queen Fallacy • Humans weren't made to tick off checklists and clear inboxes. We've lost sight of who we are, amid the mindless excesses of hustle culture and a drive-thru existence. Here's the case for slowing down.
The Red Queen Fallacy
Humans weren't made to tick off checklists and clear inboxes. We've lost sight of who we are, amid the mindless excesses of hustle culture and a drive-thru existence. Here's the case for slowing down.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The Red Queen Fallacy • Humans weren't made to tick off checklists and clear inboxes. We've lost sight of who we are, amid the mindless excesses of hustle culture and a drive-thru existence. Here's the case for slowing down.
The Death of Democracy Promotion • Murdered by Donald Trump and his acolytes, as they embrace dictators and declare open season on global election rigging.
The Death of Democracy Promotion
Murdered by Donald Trump and his acolytes, as they embrace dictators and declare open season on global election rigging.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The Death of Democracy Promotion • Murdered by Donald Trump and his acolytes, as they embrace dictators and declare open season on global election rigging.
Jerome Powell and the Authoritarian Sirens of Odysseus • Why strongman presidents become weaker—to everyone's peril—when they remove constraints on their own power.
Jerome Powell and the Authoritarian Sirens of Odysseus
Why strongman presidents become weaker—to everyone's peril—when they remove constraints on their own power.
www.forkingpaths.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Jerome Powell and the Authoritarian Sirens of Odysseus • Why strongman presidents become weaker—to everyone's peril—when they remove constraints on their own power.