A motley collection of ideas
Morning on the radio, Péter Zentai was philosophizing that the key question of the future will be: will humans control artificial intelligence, or will artificial intelligence control humans? I thought, let me ask ChatGPT—after all, who on Earth would know the answer better than an AI? In response, the AI wrote a short essay. Here … Read more
By “positive feedback” (positive feedback, Positive Rückkopplung) we mean a process that excites itself. The elements of a system interact in such a way that the process which triggered the effect becomes ever stronger. This phenomenon occurs in technical devices, in biological systems, and in society as well. For example, everyone has probably experienced the … Read more
The history of wired telecommunications in Hungary spans more than 150 years, reflecting the evolution of global communication technology from the mid-19th century to the digital era. This chronology traces the key milestones from the first telegraph lines to the complete digitalization of Hungary’s wired network in 2005, highlighting technological, organizational, and regulatory changes that … Read more
This morning I thought of Professor PJT, a born techno-optimist. We never really liked each other, but we respected each other’s opinions—and perhaps quietly irritated one another too. Mutual sympathy was certainly not helped by the fact that my better half didn’t hesitate to rub it in early on that she was an ecologist, from … Read more
Lately, the Hungarian press has been full of reports that the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian police have arrested a 28-year-old local resident who, on the night of July 16, 2025, set fire to the Greek Catholic church in Palágykomoróc and wrote anti-Hungarian slogans on its wall. Palágykomoróc (in Ukrainian: Паладь Комарівці) is … Read more
I wrote this opinion piece in the summer of 2025 about the Tisza Party and Hungary’s prospects, based on what I knew at the time. History will show just how far off I was… This morning on the radio, Stefano Bottoni (an Italian-Hungarian historian, expert on Eastern Europe, and persona non grata) spoke about Fidesz. … Read more
Format: Paperback. You can purchase it on Amazon.com It is also available in audiobook format. The Hungarian edition was published by Typotex Publishing Ltd. in 2025 and can be purchased at Typotex. When people think of infinity, they usually picture the sideways figure eight (∞), but according to Brian Clegg, that symbol is not infinity … Read more
Vintage radios are more than just functional electronics — they’re beautiful pieces of design history. From rich bakelite cabinets to finely woven speaker cloths, every detail was crafted to be both functional and elegant. But when it comes to restoration, some of the most iconic details can be the hardest to replace — especially the … Read more
The river was calm that morning, silver mist curling above the water. I have always believed that the best meals begin not in the kitchen, but in the fields, gardens, and streams. When the trout tugged, I already knew what was for dinner… Details Serves: 2Preparation time: 1 hour Ingredients Fish Parsnip purée Preparation Grate … Read more
The other day, I explained to my partner how a fluorescent starter works and what the ballast is for. I won’t go into it now—if you’re interested, look it up. I also explained why electronic ballasts are supposedly better than traditional ones. Well, I was wrong: they aren’t better. Every self-respecting electrician or hardware supplier … Read more