Hiatus and food for thought

Graduate school is about to begin, limiting the time I will have to spend on updating old ironsides here. I'll get to it when I may. In the interim, consider this:

Finite infinity:
A theoretical supernova will emit an infinite number of light rays upon its detonation, yet those light rays will reach a finite portion of the universe.

Japan, the West, and Videogames

For roughly 5 years now, the Japanese gaming industry has been experiencing a decline in its overall share of the video games industry worldwide. Numerous developers, creators, and directors have weighed in on this trend, including Tomonobu Itagaki who laid the blame on Japan's 'humorlessness.'

Bear in mind that the most iconic stars of the video game universe are still predominantly Japanese: Mario, Link, Sonic to name a few. But the last decade has seen a seismic shift in the buying patterns of consumers all over the globe. At the turn of the century, the pattern of demand was inverted, with Japanese games being highly demanded in the west, while western efforts, or gaika, went largely ignored in Japan. But much is being made today of Japan's shrinking presence in western consumption habits, even as the video game industry as a whole grows exponentially. And, while Mr. Itagaki is entitled to his opinion, it seems to me Japan has always been a niche market in the west.

The Tyler Cowen

1. This is truly shocking. Despite fully supporting a rehabilitation-focused reset of the American prison system, my monocle almost fell out when I read this article. And yet, all statistics indicate that the system works, at least better than in America.
2. Radiation 'weather' in Germany. Via Infosthetics.
   
3. A surprisingly poignant obituary for Amy Winehouse by Russell Brand.
4. It's looking increasingly grim for the American economy.

The Tyler Cowen

1. Understanding Breivik, both as an individual as well as a member of a resurgent radical right that is growing in Europe.
2. Such beautiful presentation of such meaningless data. This one too.
3. Electron microscopic fine art of food. Via The Awesomer.

The Tyler Cowen

1. A conservative changes sides.
2. US debt visualized. Via Gawker.
3. Dense essay on how we under-expect our own extinction. Via Marginal Revolution.
4. Emotional x-ray specs.
5. I wish I had thought of this blog first. Up there with Kim Jong Il looking at things.

The Tyler Cowen

1. Great Bad Men. Via The Browser.
2. Kim Jong Il likes Big Macs.
3. Should US journalism take a page from our British counterparts?
4. Revolutionizing charities.
5. Cyber warfare is more widespread and terrifying than we previously thought.
6. Algorithms. Via The Awesomer.
   

The Tyler Cowen

1. Datadatadata
2. The Killing Fields, revisited.
3. An economist on the recovery. He's not very happy. Via The Browser.
4. Funny...and funny.
5. Clever stuff about energy. Via Marginal Revolution.
6. Extremely persuasive critique of geekdom. Via...uh...Facebook...I guess.

The Tyler Cowen

1. Our government is in shambles...but thankfully (?) we're not alone.
2. Panoramas from New York at the turn of the century. Via The Browser
3. Entertaining hatchet-job on Thomas Kinkade. Also via The Browser.
4. Unexploded bombs still litter Germany. Via Marginal Revolution.

The Tyler Cowen

1. NK defectors heading for the UK.
2. The American Conservative's obsession with Israel is pure fantasy. 
3. The American Conservative's obsession with gay marriage is un-American. Via The Browser.
4. Video games helping society by providing valuable services as 'tragedy simulators.'

The Tyler Cowen

1. Pink and Blue as gendered colors is more recent than you think.
2. We all know it's bad. Still, the graph manages to shock. Via The Browser.
3. Bill Maher not pulling any punches. 
4. Beautiful animation of one soccer player's recounting of New York's 1977 black out and attendant riots. Via Gizmodo.