Alec Ashforth

Wakefield 2017; Duke 2021

[Nicholas Decker @captgouda24]

The Chinese Communist Revolution was one of the most leveling events in history. The land of the better off was confiscated, and those who were wealthy were denied education. Yet, none of that mattered. Those who wealthy before, went back on top.
https://t.co/OXr9yxRyyI

[Dan Carlin @HardcoreHistory]

Blow your mind quote (and I don't know if this is true), but Physicist Arthur Holly Compton (allegedly) said: "At your next breath each of you will probably inhale half a dozen or so of the molecules of Ceasar's last breath." 1st thought:"cool!",followed by "hope he wasn't sick!"

[Robin Hanson @robinhanson]

This is the best time of the year to read media articles, as many outlets post links to their "best articles of the year".

[The Correspondent @The_Corres]

🎉 WE DID IT! $2.5 million raised, from 42,780 founding members, in 29 days. The Correspondent WILL launch mid-2019! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who brought this incredible movement for unbreaking news to life. We’re so proud to have done this with you!

https://t.co/UblcIo3Tj6

[Duke Research & Innovation @dukeresearch]

Can't decide what clubs to join outside of class? There's a web app for that. https://t.co/CyMxfEZ3x2 @DukeU @DukeStudents @DukeOIT @lindsrberry @keenemachine16 @AlecAshforth

[FiveThirtyEight @FiveThirtyEight]

OUR 2018 HOUSE FORECAST IS LIVE. https://t.co/AEp9HGgdYi

[Quillette @Quillette]

The Problem with ‘Facts Not Feelings’ | @JohnRWoodJr
https://t.co/EuNAnilCrE

[Alec Ashforth @AlecAshforth]

@skinny_bean_ @AP @USATODAY and @Reuters are also really good for this!

[bean @nothingrlyends]

hi! stop watching the news, start reading @AP. find your unbiased knowledge to form your opinions. news channels play to their target audiences, and will NEVER give you the full truth. they will feed you biased bullshit. get educated, it helps.

[Bjorn Lomborg @BjornLomborg]

The world really is getting better:

Since yesterday:
Life expectancy went up by 9.5 hours
137,000 came out of poverty
305,000 got safer water
295,000 got electricity
620,000 got online for the first time

Thanks to @MaxCRoser & his incredible website
https://t.co/2r4lB6e03D

[Yascha Mounk @Yascha_Mounk]

In 1951, Bertrand Russel took to the @nytimes to argue that the best answer to fanaticism was a calm search for truth. His Ten Commandments of Liberal Inquiry could not be more relevant today.

(Number 6 will blow your mind! ;) )

Thread.

[Eric Weinstein @ericweinstein]

Disagree. Civility is important precisely b/c of the importance of incivility when it finally comes from civil people.

I once asked my 90+ YO Grandpa why he hated profanity. “I don’t” he said. “But you NEVER use it with me!” I replied. “Ah. But when I finally do? You’ll listen!” https://t.co/T650nieSuV

[NPR @NPR]

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch foiled an attempted robbery by fighting off a gang of muggers in London.

And then he gave the mugging victim a hug.
https://t.co/ZJoy2LjB62

[clarkjosephf.bsky.social @clarkjosephf]

"Cognitive biases are so pervasive and subtle that it’s hubristic to ever claim we’ve escaped them entirely."—@robertwrighter
#psychology #cognitivebiases #rationality
https://t.co/PaP3E4s9rL

[Bazza @cdchaneyy]

Happy star wars day

[Neuroskeptic 🇺🇦 @Neuro_Skeptic]

Eye movement study suggests that text is easier to read when periods were followed by two spaces https://t.co/74VsUaqjAK Sorry, but I'm a one-spacer till I die

[CNN @CNN]

BREAKING NEWS: North and South Korea will sign a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War later this year, 65 years after hostilities ceased https://t.co/cKEMmhZdvj

[Megan McArdle @asymmetricinfo]

All right, folks, I have exactly one half hour to Tweetstorm my latest column, and explain just how bad the economics of the media industry are. Subtitle: why you can't have all the awesome free journalism you want and have come to expect. Let's go! https://t.co/Wk3NKnh3XE

[Libsyn @libsyn]

Calling all podcasting teenagers! (And their parents...) Check out this incredible opportunity for them from the NY Times! https://t.co/UtZ4tL5UOa

[FiveThirtyEight @FiveThirtyEight]

The pay gap persists in part because women and men are still frequently split up into different types of jobs and industries.

And jobs that are frequently done by women consistently pay less.

https://t.co/hGLuk2TaH7

#EqualPayDay