Scott Alexander examines the ethics of supporting formerly 'evil' companies that transition to more ethical practices, ultimately leaning towards supporting their new ventures. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the ethical dilemma of supporting formerly 'evil' companies that pivot to more ethical practices. He uses examples like Philip Morris moving to smoke-free cigarettes and KFC offering meatless options. The post discusses whether companies that profited from harmful practices should be allowed to profit again from ethical alternatives. Scott compares this to offering dictators comfortable retirements to encourage them to relinquish power. He ultimately leans towards supporting these companies' new ethical ventures, citing reasons such as the difficulty of predicting moral progress, the inconsistency of only boycotting visible offenders, and the practical challenges of effective boycotts. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander offers Christmas shopping recommendations for various products, from balsamic vinegar to nootropics, with personal insights on each item. Longer summary

Scott Alexander provides product recommendations for Christmas shopping, including a link to his Amazon affiliate page. He recommends traditional 18-year balsamic vinegar for its interesting taste, sweatpants that look like regular pants for comfort, xylitol nasal spray for congestion, the Hamilton musical CD, dental floss scythes for easier flossing, Nootropics Depot and Ceretropic online stores for nootropics, and periscope glasses for reading while lying down. He discusses each product's benefits and his personal experiences with them. Shorter summary