Author Archives: J. M. Korhonen

About J. M. Korhonen

as himself

Why I believe we ought to build a spacefaring civilisation

Posted on February 8, 2018

The successful launch of the Falcon Heavy is a milestone, and it has raised again the important question: should we humans try to create a spacefaring civilisation, even if we could?   This is a philosophical question, and answers to … Continue reading →

Posted in SETI, Aliens & Space | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My professional opinion as a blockchain researcher: I don’t see the point (yet)

Posted on January 12, 2018

I’ve spent the last 15 months researching the implications and possibilities of blockchains and related “distributed trust technologies” from a business and societal point of view. Sadly, I have to say that I don’t quite get the hype, as much … Continue reading →

Posted in Innovation, Notes in process | Tagged , , | 25 Comments

Necessity is the mother of inventors: my PhD lecture

Posted on December 15, 2017

The following is the traditional Lectio praecursoria a doctoral candidate in Finland gives to the audience before his/her PhD defence. This one is mine, delivered on 12th December 2017. Esteemed custos, esteemed opponent, ladies and gentlemen! You all are probably … Continue reading →

Posted in History of technology, Innovation, Scarcities and constraints | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Finland is the land of personal freedom, and that’s why I love it

Posted on December 5, 2017

On December 6th 2017, Finland celebrates her centennial as an independent nation. Exactly one hundred years ago, the Finnish Parliament finally voted for the motion to sever all ties to the revolutionary Russian government and assume the highest legislative power … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Power and the (European) anti-nuclear power movement

Posted on November 14, 2017

This post contains some thoughts about the history of the anti-nuclear movement and in particular the European anti-nuclear movement as a struggle for power and empowerment; it’s posted here for convenience and as a reference, and as a caution against … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecomodernism, Energy, History of technology, Nuclear energy & weapons, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mutually Assured Economic Destruction: the strongest weapon in the arsenal of the masses

Posted on September 21, 2017

I just understood something profound (to me, very likely not to most others) about Brexit and other supposedly “irrational” decisions by less well off voters. The standard middle-class liberal critique of these decisions almost inevitably includes wonderment why the voters … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Flesh may be weak. Savotta is strong.

Posted on September 14, 2017

In a break from my tradition of complaining about things, a positive post and a recommendation – and about a corporation, no less! Savotta of Finland is one of my favorite companies these days. They make my life better, easier … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment