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John Nash Has Died

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Re: John Nash Has Died

#21
post #11

The culture around seatbelts in the US confounds me. As an Australian I've spent my entire life wearing seatbelts. It's second nature. I don't even think about it. Taxis or otherwise. In fact I think it's required in all cases. But in the US people seem to view the choice to turn a mild car accident into a severe or even fatal one as some kind of moral stance or personal freedom. Or rather any effort to require their…

As an American, I wear seatbelts automatically. I don't know anyone who don't.

Re: John Nash Has Died

#22
A person who I knew nothing about became one of the inspiring figures in my life after I watched the movie, "A beautiful mind". I am neither a mathematician, nor an economist. So, I didn't get to dig his work deep. But, I often use his struggle with schizophrenia and his recovery as an example of unlimited potential of human mind.

Re: John Nash Has Died

#23

A person who I knew nothing about became one of the inspiring figures in my life after I watched the movie, "A beautiful mind". I am neither a mathematician, nor an economist. So, I didn't get to dig his work deep. But, I often use his struggle with schizophrenia and his recovery as an example of unlimited potential of human mind.

it was a very good and surprising movie.

Re: John Nash Has Died

#24
Seeing Prof. Nash enjoying his walks on campus is one of my fondest memories from grad school. This is very sad.

I was curious to learn more about his work a while ago and had looked up his PhD thesis. Here's a link: http://www.princeton.edu/mudd/news/faq/topics/Non-Cooperativ....

What struck me was that it only had 2 references to prior work! That's how you know you're doing innovative research.

Re: John Nash Has Died

#25
post #16
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm going to start buckling up in cabs now. Same as wearing earplugs at clubs, you might get weird looks, but it's better to be uncool than dead (or living with tinnitus).

Does it surprise you at all that I also carried around a set of earplugs on my keychain all through my college years? I highly recommend these as they don't change the audio spectrum very much compared to the foam kind: http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/er20.htm... I think I just really like low-impact high-reward behaviors. People tend to over-insure for common and minor issues and under-insure for…

Here's a tip for those who may read this and pick up a pair of these. It may sound obvious, but do take some time to adjust the depth of the plug based on what sounds good. I spent a year using them, but taking them out for a favorite song, or only for bands I didn't like much, because they rolled off the highs too much. Then, (at an underwhelming Wolves In The Throne Room show) I backed them out of my ear just a little. It was a touch louder, and I got the highs I wanted.

Re: John Nash Has Died

#26
post #6

Such a tragic loss. Like many people, I never wore a seatbelt while riding in a taxi. I'm not really sure why, it just seemed somehow to be the social norm and I went along with it. Then one day, my co-worker and his girlfriend were both severely injured while in an accident crossing the east river in manhattan. Ever since then, I've gotten in the habit of using my seatbelt while in a taxi, car, bus, or whatever. Som…

"Seatbelt culture" probably depends greatly on the local culture. In the UK, the driver of a taxi is allowed to not wear one, but not the passengers. http://www.driving-law.co.uk/offences/seat_belts-exemptions....

The same in Spain.

Re: John Nash Has Died

#28

Lucky motherfuckers. I hope when I'm that old I can get a nice quick death too. And to top it off, they got to die together! That just takes the cake. None of that nasty grieving business, feeling like your life is over but you're still alive. Really, I can't think of a better way to go. Hats off to you, Mr. Nash.

Your language is pretty inflamatory, but you do actually have a legitimate point.

Would it really be better if they died a slow death due to disease (there's really no such thing as "dying of old age", despite the myth)?

Yet, it's understandable why people get angry when people start philosophizing about death when someone dies.

Re: John Nash Has Died

#29
post #15
post #6

Such a tragic loss. Like many people, I never wore a seatbelt while riding in a taxi. I'm not really sure why, it just seemed somehow to be the social norm and I went along with it. Then one day, my co-worker and his girlfriend were both severely injured while in an accident crossing the east river in manhattan. Ever since then, I've gotten in the habit of using my seatbelt while in a taxi, car, bus, or whatever. Som…

I have gotten into the habit of always checking if the seatbelt is there before I get into a taxi and if its not I ride on the front seat. Well, I guess at least now I can tell a story about a famous guy who died from not wearing a seatbelt in the taxi whenever I get those odd looks from people. I have always wondered why its so common to find cars with the rear seatbelts missing. The common story I get from taxi dri…

This is probably true. Most Beijing taxis are missing rear seat belts, usually shoved somewhere. Given Beijing traffic, it is quite scary, especially when the taxi driver looks like they are at the end of a 20 hour shift.

Re: John Nash Has Died

#30
post #18
post #6

Such a tragic loss. Like many people, I never wore a seatbelt while riding in a taxi. I'm not really sure why, it just seemed somehow to be the social norm and I went along with it. Then one day, my co-worker and his girlfriend were both severely injured while in an accident crossing the east river in manhattan. Ever since then, I've gotten in the habit of using my seatbelt while in a taxi, car, bus, or whatever. Som…

I _always_ buckle up, even in bus. I've gotten looks from taxi drives in south Europe for this, they treat it as an insult. I feel it's better to insult than be dead. Afaik since you get fined quite severely in Norway where I live (and most of Europe) if you don't wear a seat belt, the rate of use is much higher than the US. He will be missed. Hopefully it can put focus on such a simple thing to save lives.

Oddly, you get fined in the U.S. for not wearing a seatbelt in the car you're driving ("Click it or ticket!") but I've never heard of someone being cited for not wearing one in a cab. Is it because it's the back seat?
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