MUSIC IN PHASE SPACE

  • Slippery Slope Transactions

    As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries are eager to reopen their economies and return to some semblance of normalcy. However, the rush to reopen may be based on a flawed understanding of how our economy and society function, particularly with regards to what are known as “slippery slope transactions.”…

  • Failure Mode

    Failure mode is a term that is commonly used to describe the state of an object or system when it is no longer able to perform its intended function. This can occur in a variety of contexts, from the failure of a mechanical system to the failure of a relationship. Understanding failure mode is crucial…

  • Downhill Thinking

    Human beings have always been creatures of habit. We tend to do things the same way repeatedly until we develop a sense of familiarity and comfort with those actions. This tendency applies to every aspect of our lives, including our thinking patterns. Some people find that their thinking works best when designed to run downhill,…

  • Suit With Vested Interests (TV Tropes)

                       “In [Jaws], you will recall, the danger of shark attacks was concealed by venal real estate speculators who didn’t want to scare the buyers away. That’s the case this time, too; The Realtor throws a party for prospective home buyers and denies that there are piranhas in the lake…

  • The first great advertising campaign was more than just a sales pitch—it was the collective hallucination of an entire nation, a grand seduction that convinced a critical mass to Potemkin the very idea of America. It wasn’t about selling soap or cigarettes; it was about selling a dream, an illusion so potent that it seared…

  • What a Strange Trip this has Been # 9

    Maybe the real horror show isn’t that we’re regressing to blood and soil instincts, but that this whole “American Dream” was a con from the start, a freakish sideshow designed to keep the rubes and yokels fixated on an illusion of power, freedom, and superiority. The goons in their red, white, and blue costumes waving…

  • Historiography and Plot Technologies

    Plot is useful in the service of an appropriate model of the universe but we should not create a model of the universe to service plot. A bad plot can rarely be overcome by more plot. Narrativium, the imaginary element introduced by Terry Pratchett in his Discworld series, represents the power of storytelling to shape…

  • The Black Death and Global Warming

    The historical record suggests that climate events have played a significant role in shaping human history. One example of this is the spread of the plague, or Black Death, which devastated Europe in the 14th century. Recent research indicates that the plague was reintroduced to Europe multiple times following Asian climate events. Using tree-ring based…

  • Tuchman’s Use of Plot Technology

    Tuchman’s work is a prime example of the use of plot technology to create a narrative that is both compelling and entertaining. The idea behind plot technology is that things happen in a story because the plot dictates that they should, rather than due to any logical or realistic reason. This is why, in Tuchman’s…

  • Dying Well: Identity

    The topic of dying and death is often avoided in Western culture, and yet it is an inevitable part of life. It is a subject that is shrouded in fear, denial, and avoidance. However, there is a growing movement towards dying well and dying wise, acknowledging death as a part of life and preparing for…

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