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How do I pick what research problems I want to solve? I get asked this question often, most recently in December at NeurIPS, and so on my flight back I decided to describe the only piece of my incredibly rudimentary system that's at all a process. I maintain a single file called ideas.txt, where I just append a new entry every time I think of something that might be an interesting topic for a paper. When it's time to pick my next project, I skim through the list, and pick whichever I think is most interesting. or exciting. or important. or whatever I'm looking for at the moment. (Or find something new entirely if nothing looks compelling.)

Some things appear to be mistakes, but in fact should be celebrated as the expected outcomes of great decisions.

Ken Fritz spent decades of his life working on his perfect stereo system at his home in Richmond, Va. Weekends and vacations were lost to the project. Fritz’s family were recruited for years of labor. After decades of work, Fritz completed his project with towering speakers that look like alien monoliths. He estimated the custom-built system to be worth more than $1 million. The real price of the stereo on Fritz and his family was even more staggering.

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This story is part of our Deep Reads series, which showcases narrative journalism at The Washington Post. It was written and read by Geoff Edgers. Audio production and original composition by Bishop Sand.

Ultra-processed foods are designed to be tasty and absorb easily — but they’re not good for us. Today on “Post Reports,” a food columnist explains how ultra-processed food is actually made and gives tips for simple, healthier swaps. Read more: Chips, peanut butter, bread —...

On its surface, the case before the Supreme Court — a dispute brought by fishing crews objecting to a government fee — appears to be routine. But, as Adam Liptak, who covers the court for The Times explains, the decision could transform how every industry in the United State...

Joe and Alex break down Iowa - and what it means for the MAGA GOP primary moving forward. What's the big red flag for Trump we saw coming out of Iowa? What did Joe see that surprised him? The easiest way for Democrats to win in 2024 is simpler than most think. And why abortion rights are still the biggest thing headed into 2024, no matter what the media thinks.
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SERIES 2 EPISODE 109: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:44) SPECIAL COMMENT: Acting on his behalf, Trump's attorneys enlarged on his threat of ten days ago and told the Supreme Court that if it did not do what he wants it to do, "chaos and bedlam" would...

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As Israel continues to wage its military campaign against Hamas, we break down why it has blocked humanitarian aid — including food — into Gaza. Hunger and disease now threaten hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza. Read more: More than 100 days into the Israeli militar...

David Perell is one of the best known internet writers of his generation.  He’s amassed almost a half million followers on X, hosts the popular podcast How I Write, and founded Write of Passage, which has taught thousands of students how to be digital writers. We go dee...

David Perell is one of the best known internet writers of his generation.  He’s amassed almost a half million followers on X, hosts the popular podcast How I Write, and founded Write of Passage, which has taught thousands of students how to be digital writers. We go deep...

Attacks by Houthi militants on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, once seemed like a dangerous sideshow to the war in Gaza. But as the attacks have continued, the sideshow has turned into a full-blown crisis. Vivian Nereim, the Gulf bureau chief for The T...

SERIES 2 EPISODE 108: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:44) SPECIAL COMMENT: ONE of these days ONE of these judges will have to take the bullshit by the horns and jail Trump overnight for contempt of court. He made a mockery of all the laws of the nation again yester...

Today, we dissect three recent public health responses to learn about the world’s ability to prevent outbreaks – covid and beyond – in 2024. Viruses are having a moment. Outbreaks around the world are on the rise, thanks to such factors as climate change, war and instabilit...

For those who haven’t heard the announcement I just posted , songs from this point on will sometimes be split among multiple episodes, so this is the first part of a multi-episode look at the Byrds in 1966-69 and the birth of country rock.

Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.

Patreon backers also have a half-hour bonus episode on “My World Fell Down” by Sagittarius.

Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by doing a first-pass edit, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/ (more…)

This is just a brief announcement. The fact that I’ve released stuff so inconsistently over the last year, along with the last episode being so long that it actually caused problems for Tilt’s editing softwaere has caused me to reconsider how I’m breaking these episodes up. ...

Join Guy Kawasaki as he speaks with Torbjørn C. Pedersen, who made history by visiting every country without flying over 10 years. Learn how he spread goodwill amid danger, while highlighting everyday heroes. Discover how his voyage proved our interconnectedness. --- Guy Kaw...

Concerned about the effect on diversity, many colleges have stopped requiring standardized tests. New research suggests that might be a mistake. David Leonhardt, a senior writer for The Times, discusses the future of SATs and why colleges remain reluctant to bring them back....

SERIES 2 EPISODE 107: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:44) SPECIAL COMMENT: Trump did NOT crush DeSantis and Haley in Iowa. The "takeaway" is not that he crushed DeSantis and Haley in Iowa. The "takeaway" is he beat the field by only 2,222 v...

After the Biden administration launched airstrikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen, the group attacked a U.S. cargo carrier. U.S. officials say that their operations are limited and that they do not want to be drawn into a wider conflict – but is that possible? Read more: ...