Favourite Words and Concepts

Brimming with curiosity – from Japanese

A property of systems that increase in capability, resilience, or robustness as a result of stressors, shocks, volatility, noise, mistakes, faults, attacks, or failures – coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The idea that the future life expectancy of some non-perishable things like a technology or an idea is proportional to their current age, so that every additional period of survival implies a longer remaining life expectancy – named after the Lindy Delicatessen in New York City, where comedians would gather to discuss the life expectancy of Broadway shows

It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law. – coined by Douglas Hofstadter

Having or characterized by shared attributes or interests; like-minded – from Italian

Studied carelessness, especially as a characteristic quality or style of art or literature – from Italian

Curious; an amalgamation of the phrase cad é seo? (what is this). Reminds me of being a kid – from Irish

The phenomenon of (apparently) speaking in an unknown language, especially in religious worship – from Greek

The physical world, as opposed to cyberspace or a virtual environment – from cyberpunk fiction

The sense that time keeps going faster – from the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

The strange wistfulness of used bookstores, which are somehow infused with the passage of time – from the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way – from the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip

A term used to describe someone who is able to find a way to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals, no matter what – coined by Paul Graham