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Terry Tao brief and informative on the 2010 Fields medalists (Le Monde est aussi très heureux et honoré pour Ngo et Villani, “deux facettes de l’école mathématique française“). Read also Tao’s intro to the winners of the Nevanlinna, Gauss and Chern prizes.
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Interesting interview of Michael Nielsen with Cameron Neylon on practical steps towards open science (and, as it turns out, on useful advice beyond that)
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Gelman (channelling Palko) on ‘teaching yourself Mathematics’ (that was better than his acting somewhat confused and perhaps too much as a– his own–discipline zealot in commenting on Banerjee and Duflo’s review)
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Landsburg on efficiency and honest goal stating in policy analysis (see also Reinhardt’s NYT column that started Landsburg). And another critical instance/application of (in)efficiency, via Barro.
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Languages shaping the way we think (and why I would have no chances with geographic idioms like Guugu Yimithirr or truth-revealing languages like Matses)
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Last but not least: two ok obituaries for Tony Judt, one in The Economist and one in the NYRB.
