I mention this because sometimes in rationalist contexts, I've felt a pressure to not talk about models that are missing Gears. I don't like that. I think that Gears-ness is a really super important thing to track, and I think there's something epistemically dangerous about failing to notice a lack of Gears. Clearly noting, at least in your own mind, where there are and aren't Gears seems really good to me. But I think there are other capacities that are also important when we're trying to get epistemology right

A good way to notice the lack of gears is to explicitly label the non-gearsy steps. 

• My high school calculus teacher would draw a big cloud with the word "POOF!" while saying "Woogie Woogie Boogie!" when there was an unproven but vital statement (since high school calculus doesn't rigorously prove many of the calculus notions). Ever since, whenever I explain math to someone I always make very clear what statements I don't feel like going through the proofs of or will prove later ("Magic"), or who's proofs I don't know ("Dark Magic"), as opposed to those that I'll happily explain.
• Similarly, emergent phenomena should be called "Magic" (Though, this only works after internalizing that mysterious answers aren't answers. It's just "Gears work in mysterious ways", but in an absurd enough way to make it clear that the problem is with your understanding).

They aren't. brook is saying that picking locks might damage them, and damaging locks not in use at worst means you have to throw away a padlock, whereas damaging locks in use might mean you can't open your front door.

Woah, just on a watch-like device! How far along is this technology?

If this has been a thing for 30 years, why is the hardware best-in-class? Also, is there a presentation that is more impressive/innovative but perhaps less theatrical?

I think it is best to try to edit it anyway. I think if you have already seen the post, it does not take that long to see that there isn't a line added that is trolly. Also, you should do it for the sake of mathematical accuracy.

Hey! There are at least 3 channels where TBC-and-related-podcast-content is discussed!

(though, if you are only talking about the TBC podcast and not other podcasts hosted by the same people and that are plugged in the same places, then yes, there is only one channel).

I cannot speak for Scott, but I can speculate. I am quite sure a rock doesn't have qualia, because it doesn't have any processing center, gives no sign of having any utility to maximize, and has no reaction to stimuli. It most probably doesn't have a mind.