It's monthly roundup time again, and it's happily election-free.

Thinking About the Roman Empire's Approval Rating

Propaganda works, ancient empires edition. This includes the Roman Republic being less popular than the Roman Empire and people approving of Sparta, whereas Persia and Carthage get left behind. They’re no FDA.

Polling USA: Net Favorable Opinion Of:

Ancient Athens: +44%

Roman Empire: +30%

Ancient Sparta: +23%

Roman Republican: +26%

Carthage: +13%

Holy Roman Empire: +7%

Persian Empire: +1%

Visigoths: -7%

Huns: -29%

YouGov / June 6, 2024 / n=2205

The Five Star Problem

What do we do about all 5-star ratings collapsing the way Peter describes here?

Peter Wildeford: TBH I am pretty annoyed that when I rate stuff the options are:

* “5 stars – everything was good enough I guess”

* “4 [...]

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Outline:

(00:11) Thinking About the Roman Empire's Approval Rating

(01:13) The Five Star Problem

(06:35) Cooking at Home Being Cheaper is Weird

(08:18) With Fans Like These

(09:37) Journalist, Expose Thyself

(13:03) On Not Going the Extra Mile

(13:13) The Rocket Man Said a Bad Bad Thing

(16:27) The Joy of Bad Service

(19:07) Saying What is Not

(19:27) Concentration

(20:26) Should You Do What You Love?

(22:08) Should You Study Philosophy?

(24:31) The Destined Face

(25:09) Tales of Twitter

(34:14) Antisocial Media

(35:01) TikTok On the Clock

(39:07) Tier List of Champions

(40:50) Technology Advances

(42:15) Hotel Hype

(44:44) Government Working

(46:55) I Was Promised Flying Self-Driving Cars

(47:21) For Your Entertainment

(56:50) Cultural Dynamism

(58:43) Hansonian Features

(01:02:19) Variously Effective Altruism

(01:02:45) Nobel Intentions

(01:05:04) Gamers Gonna Game Game Game Game Game

(01:20:17) Sports Go Sports and the Problems with TV Apps These Days

(01:23:46) An Economist Seeks Lunch

(01:30:35) The Lighter Side

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First published:

Source:

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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