Time Preference Rate. “The Marshmallow Tale” by Joachim de Posada and Ellen Singer describes the “Marshmallow Experiment” at Stanford University. The experimenter left the child alone in the room and gave the child a marshmallow, instructing the child to eat it immediately. However, if the child did not eat it within 15 minutes, the experimenter would give the child another marshmallow. Some children waited the full 15 minutes, while others stopped waiting early. These two groups were followed for 14 years, and as a result, the more patient children showed better social and mental abilities. Those who cannot tolerate waiting are said to have a high time preference rate, while those who are patient are described as having a low time preference rate. In investment, high and low time preference ratios are not necessarily good or bad because many investments depend on luck. The key is to find and stick to methods and principles that match one’s own tendencies. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Architecture has developed in response to the epidemic. The city was designed to mitigate the risk of outbreaks. However, its high population density renders it susceptible to epidemics. A potential solution to this issue involves the construction of a water supply and sewage system, which safeguards individuals from waterborne infectious diseases (e.g., cholera) by effectively separating and burying water and sewage underground. Nonetheless, the advent of vaccines has facilitated the existence of megacities with populations exceeding 10 million people. Indeed, microorganisms predominantly populate the Earth. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”