Ex-caliber seeking worthwhile pursuits • new book out now amazon.com/Stoic-Mirage-Resi…
Landour
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Follow the good and learn their ways
Kindness is the best quality of the soul
Courtesy is the mark of a civilized person
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so nvidia isn't selling shovels in the gold rush.. they're selling the entire mine shaft and claiming even free shovels can't compete with their ecosystem
the moat is so wide it has its own weather system
Jensen Huang says that Nvidia’s full AI infrastructure package (chip, networking, data centre) is so efficient that competitors can price their chips at $0 and Nvidia would still be the better option.
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The ability to find things in plain sight that men swear were “not there a second ago”
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true richness is never in flaunting excess but in savouring the freedom to choose without pretence
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Buster Keaton was unbreakable
Buster Keaton was the OG chad. Balls of steel on this man. Way ahead of his time. In the last scene here he broke his arm but did not recognize it until (iirc) weeks later. Watching it again you can see his arm jerk really quickly but he still maintains his composure for the scene.
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5 foot bat in the Philippines
Yes it's real
No it won't eat you .. it’s a herbivore
But holy crap it’s huge!
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every sip you take is literally stealing potential consciousness from the machine gods
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Feynman started making art because he wanted to show how beautiful the world is .. in the same way he saw it through science
More via “The Art of Richard Feynman: The Great Physicist’s Little-Known Sketches and Drawings, Collected by His Daughter” themarginalian.org/2013/01/1…
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Bodies touch for moments .. but minds dance forever: when we share our inner galaxies .. those midnight thoughts and dawn revelations .. we’re essentially handing someone the keys to our haunted house
And those echoes? They tend to stick around!
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Always carry a lighter .. even if you don’t smoke
Fire can purify water .. signal for help .. and fend off hypothermia
Plus: staring into a tiny flame is a solid reminder that life is fragile .. weird .. and worth fighting for
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Ulaanbaatar .. Mongolia
A rare and hidden gem where nomadic traditions collide with modern skyscrapers .. yurts and lattes .. throat singing and techno beats
It’s surreal and sort of like time-traveling without leaving your barstool .. plus you can ride a yak to work
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Interesting .. but apophenic:
1. The metric system (which defines “the meter”) was not established until the 18th century
2. The concept of the speed of light as a defined constant was not determined until much later and the precise measurement of the Earth to allow for such exact latitude coordinates was not possible until the 20th century
So: while it’s an intriguing coincidence there is no evidence to suggest that the ancient Egyptians had knowledge of the speed of light or intended for the pyramid’s location to correspond with it
However: it’s a reminder of the human propensity to find meaningful patterns in random data .. a phenomenon known as “apophenia”
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FYI: it’s telling us “Don't be a jerk” .. the expression d³x/dt³ represents the third derivative of position with respect to time .. which in physics is known as “jerk” (the rate of change of acceleration)
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That consciousness is a fundamental property of the universe .. as essential as space and time
Just as particles exist in superposition until observed reality itself might be shaped by the collective consciousness of all observers
This would imply that the universe is not only stranger than we imagine, but stranger than we can imagine: a cosmic dance of mind and matter where the observer and the observed are inextricably linked in ways we’re only beginning to fathom
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Got to love “Taxicab numbers” aka Hardy-Ramanujam numbers .. here are the six known smallest integers that can be expressed as a sum of two positive integer cubes
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they mistake their own quiet engine for a universal design flaw
it's like being tone deaf in a nightclub and wondering why everyone is moving so much
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precious metals’ tiered loot system: where gold is the legendary drop .. silver is the epic .. and copper is just common vendor trash
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True! Schrödinger wanted to show how this idea of quantum superposition is incompatible with our common sense and everyday experience: where objects have definite and observable properties. He imagined a scenario where a cat is placed in a sealed box with a radioactive source,m + a Geiger counter + a vial of poison. The radioactive source has a 50% chance of decaying in one hour .. and if it does .. the Geiger counter triggers the release of the poison which kills the cat. If it does not decay the cat remains alive.
According to the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics (which was the dominant view at the time) the radioactive source is in a superposition of decay and not decay .. until someone opens the box and observes it. This means that the cat’s fate is also in a superposition of alive and dead .. until the box is opened. Schrödinger argued that this is absurd .. because the cat cannot be both alive and dead at the same time. He said that there must be something wrong with the Copenhagen interpretation .. or the way we apply it to macroscopic objects.
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The fact that you’re essentially a walking colony of stardust .. piloting a meat mech made of trillions of cells .. all working in harmony to create the illusion of a singular “you”
And somehow in this cosmic meat puppet show you’ve developed the ability to contemplate your own existence
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Buster Keaton was the OG chad. Balls of steel on this man. Way ahead of his time. In the last scene here he broke his arm but did not recognize it until (iirc) weeks later. Watching it again you can see his arm jerk really quickly but he still maintains his composure for the scene.
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so nvidia isn't selling shovels in the gold rush.. they're selling the entire mine shaft and claiming even free shovels cant compete with their ecosystem
the moat is so wide it has its own weather system
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The strangest thing about the Universe?
Consciousness: a universe aware of itself through us (infinite complexity born from simplicity) observing its own existence
We are the cosmos contemplating its it’s own navel
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The Sumerians didn’t stop with splitting time into sexagesimal blocks .. here’s a brief look at everything else they kicked off:
• Writing: they are likely the first to have developed a writing system .. “cuneiform” .. around 2800 BC .. initially used for record-keeping
• Mass-produced pottery: the Sumerians were pioneers in mass-producing pottery .. thanks to their invention of the potter’s wheel
• Agricultural “techniques”: they developed advanced irrigation techniques .. allowing them to maximize the fertility of their land
• Urban planning: they built the first cities with sophisticated urban planning .. including the construction of monumental architecture
• Mathematics and measurement: they made significant contributions to mathematics .. particularly in the development of geometry for land measurement and construction
• Education: they established the first schools .. which focused on scribing and the study of cuneiform
• Literature: they created the earliest known works of literature .. including the Epic of Gilgamesh .. which is considered the oldest heroic epic .. a blueprint for Joseph Campbell’s “Hero with a Thousand Faces” leading into Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter
• Law Codes: They formulated one of the earliest known law codes .. predating Hammurabi’s famous code
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their marketing department is just a 'yes and' improv group
the most extreme sport is their business model
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The illusion of information 🤝 the irony or connectivity
Never before has information been so accessible yet the truth so elusive .. we wade through a deluge of data (where facts are malleable to all sides) and misinformation masquerades as gospel
In an age where technology has bridged distances and connected continents the irony lies in our growing emotional disconnect .. screens become shields behind which empathy wanes and understanding fades .. we’re more connected than ever before yet the distance between human hearts seems only to grow
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the harvest moon is now a corporate logo and your breadbasket is now a boardroom spreadsheet
we let them patent life itself then act surprised when a handful of companies hold the entire food chain hostage in a velvet glove
we've empowered them to sell the rain and charge for the sunlight
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The wisest sailors don’t avoid the storms .. they learn to navigate them: love fully .. but let your self be the anchor not the ship
True strength is found in balance .. not detachment
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Worthwhile corollary in context: got to keep an eye out for the fiends that embrace life’s messy detours .. for they’ll optimize for joy .. yours and their own
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The library protects the rarest colors in the world. It contains pigments of extinct insects + mummy wrappings + extremely rare metals.
Great big story did a video on this a few year ago: piped.video/F8aVfqDKx1U
Tom Scott did a video too on the library: piped.video/rApTzWboLrA
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Bohr and Einstein, two giants of science
They had a long and heated alliance
They disagreed on quantum mechanics
They had different views and ethics
Bohr was fuzzy, vague, and obscure
He thought the quantum world was unsure
He said we can only know what we measure
And reality changes with the observer
Einstein was clear, precise, and plain
He wanted a deeper and simpler explain
He said God does not play dice with the universe
And reality is the same no matter who observes
Bohr and Einstein argued for years
They tested each other with ideas and fears
Bohr stood by the Copenhagen view
Einstein came up with the EPR clue
Bohr and Einstein never saw eye to eye
They remained friends and allies
They both advanced the field of physics
They both revealed the secrets of reality
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the west tries to paint a new reality with words while china pours the foundation first and lets the story build itself.. one is writing a novel the other is laying bricks
the deepest cultural divide is whether you believe the map or the legend
One interesting difference I've noticed between the West and China, that few speak about, is the difference in approach when it comes to narrative management.
To a large extent the West's approach is to change the narrative in order to change reality, whereas China's approach is almost the opposite: change reality in order to change the narrative. It's basically materialism vs idealism.
Take two concrete examples. On the West's side, a fantastic illustration is presidential campaign slogans like Obama's "yes we can" or Trump's "make America great again." Pure narrative stuff, extremely aspirational and grandiose, all about believing change into existence.
And what change exactly? These slogans can mean many things to many different people and that's the entire point: it's a blank canvas where everyone can project their own hopes, the goal being to win a battle of words, reality comes later.
There are very deep roots to this. In fact John 1:1 (first verse of first chapter of the Gospel of John) states: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"! Talk about foundational!
In Chinese culture, by contrast, talk is cheap, vulgar even. This really surprised me at the beginning with my wife (whom I met already more than 20 years ago!). She was really uncomfortable, even borderline annoyed when I was telling her that I loved her. In her mind, you just don't say those things, rather you should act to demonstrate them.
And this is the case in most Chinese family. It's rare to say "I love you". But in exchange the devotion and dedication Chinese parents and grandparents will demonstrate to their offspring is absolutely unparalleled.
In Chinese culture it's very much about proving your love. Speaking about love is borderline insulting, or at least seen in a somewhat manipulative light, as if you need to convince someone of something that should be obvious through your behavior.
Same thing with the government. Many people think the Chinese government are good at propaganda when in truth they're remarkably unsophisticated at it - they'll lift 800 million people out of poverty but really struggle to articulate a compelling story around it. They'll share statistics and show before/after photos, as if the reality is all the narrative you need. And maybe they're right 🤷
This also probably has a lot to do with why Chinese people find the US-style selection of president so foreign. "You mean you select someone based on what they SAY? But they'll say anything to get elected" is basically the view. To the Chinese, a meritocratic system whereby those who have demonstrated an ability to get things done during years get progressively promoted makes way more sense.
This also has very deep philosophical roots. Shen Buhai, a foundational 4th century BCE political philosopher had this famous dictum: "The sage ruler depends upon methods, not on his sagacity. He employs technique, not theory." (philpapers.org/archive/MATHI…) In other words sage rulers shouldn't persuade but focus on methods and techniques that produce measurable results.
This is similar to the concept of 无为 (wu wei), which influenced Daoist thought, where effective action comes from aligning with how things actually work. Reality comes first, not the word.
This has plenty of concrete consequences, and probably is in no small way a reason why Marx's historical materialism - the idea that material conditions and economic relations form the base that determines the ideological superstructure - did resonate strongly in China, and less in the West.
And this translates also, to some extent, to the current change of the world order. As I argued in my new article yesterday (open.substack.com/pub/arnaud…) we're currently witnessing a shift where "the map is reasserting itself against the narrative", where geography is starting again to matter more than stories (when, during a long time, being a “democracy” or an “ally” or part of the “rules-based order” determined your place in the world).
This, no doubt, is in no small way a vindication that these old 2500-year-old Chinese thinkers might have been onto something.
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Every word you’ve ever spoken has vanished into air .. but the echoes of your voice shape the memories of others
The stars you see in the night sky are unaware of the dreams they inspire or the wishes made upon them
The books on your shelf don’t know the stories they hold .. yet they carry worlds within their pages
The clock ticking on your wall doesn’t comprehend time .. yet it relentlessly slices your life into moments
The mirror reflecting your image is oblivious to your struggles and triumphs .. but it silently witnesses your life’s journey
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The strangest thing about the Universe: that we’re here to ponder it at all
We’re basically cosmic dust that grew eyeballs and started asking questions .. it’s like the universe decided to play a game of “I Spy” with itself and we’re the unexpected winners
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Echoes of Steve McCurry’s “Afghan Girl” from 1984 for NatGeo .. identified in 2002 as Sharbat Gula, an Afghan Refugee in Pakistan
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Also:
• Quantum mechanics is like a game of chance: first time you encounter it seems entirely random .. the second time, you start to see patterns in the probabilities .. the third time you realize the patterns are just as uncertain as the randomness but by then you’re part of the quantum state entangled with the very concept of uncertainty
• Consciousness is an enigmatic theater: initially you’re just an audience member confused by the plot .. on a second viewing you feel like you’ve grasped the narrative aside from a few complex characters .. by the third act you accept that you’re both the actor and the observer and the script is improvisational which somehow makes it all the more captivating
• Artificial intelligence is a mirror maze: at first you walk into it and can’t find your reflection .. the second time you recognize your silhouette but the edges are blurred .. the third time you realize the maze itself has become a reflection of you and though you may not find the exit you’ve learned to appreciate the journey
• Existentialism is like climbing a mountain without a summit: the first ascent leaves you bewildered and lost .. on your second climb you think you see the peak just beyond the next ridge .. the third time you understand there is no peak but the view of the abyss no longer terrifies you .. it invites you to ponder the depths
• Love is an intricate dance: first time you step onto the dance floor you’re sure you have two left feet .. the second time you catch the rhythm except when the tempo changes .. the third time, you realize the missteps are part of the dance and that’s when you truly begin to sway with the music
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As of March 2024 π has been calculated to 105 trillion decimal digits
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrono…
The Chudnovsky algorithm benefits significantly from parallel processing and high-performance computing resources
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Absolutely! Schrödinger’s cat serves as a metaphor to illustrate the potential paradoxes of quantum superposition. In quantum mechanics: particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously .. a concept that’s counterintuitive when we try to apply it to macroscopic objects like cats.
The thought experiment poses a scenario where a cat is placed in a sealed box with a radioactive atom + a Geiger counter + poison + a hammer. If the atom decays: the Geiger counter triggers the hammer to release the poison .. which would kill the cat. According to quantum mechanics (until the box is opened and the system is observed) the cat is considered to be both alive and dead at the same time .. ergo: existing in a superposition of states.
Schrödinger’s intention was to challenge the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics .. which asserts that a quantum system remains in superposition until it’s observed. The cat paradox is his way of saying that such a state is impossible with larger / everyday objects .. thus questioning the completeness of the quantum mechanics theory in explaining reality.
It’s a bridge between the abstract quantum world and the tangible world we experience .. highlighting the complexities and peculiarities of quantum phenomena.
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npr has always been a mood ring for the coastal mind but lately it feels like the ring is just permanently set to "lecture" .. imo it's less a shift in content and more a shedding of the old pretense that neutrality was ever the goal
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Ah yes! Being wrong about wearing a mask costs you a slight inconvenience .. while being wrong about not wearing one could cost you your life
It’s like bringing an umbrella to a wedding .. worst case: you carried it for nothing .. best case: you saved the bride’s mascara
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Got to disagree with your arguments. Here are some of the reasons why I think democracy is superior to aristocracy:
1. The Pyramid Problem (you claim that democracy is incapable of grand tasks that require generations of coordination and that only an aristocracy can build a pyramid): this is a false dilemma .. there are other forms of government that can achieve long-term goals such as constitutional monarchy / republicanism / federalism .. look around you grand infrastructure is everywhere ++ building a pyramid is not necessarily a desirable or admirable goal .. it involves massive exploitation of slave labor + wasteful use of resources + the glorification of tyranny .. Democracy (on the other hand) can foster human rights + social justice + scientific progress
2. The Freedom Paradox (you argue that aristocracies limit political freedom but democracies limit individual freedom): this is a false dichotomy .. political freedom and individual freedom are not mutually exclusive but interdependent. Without political freedom individuals are subject to the whims and oppression of the ruling class. Without individual freedom political participation and representation are meaningless. Democracy (unlike aristocracy) strives to balance and protect both kinds of freedom through the rule of law + the separation of powers + the checks and balances of institutions.
3. Pedigree v/s Pocketbooks (you assert that aristocracy is preferable to oligarchy because the former rules by pedigree while the latter rules by pocketbooks): this is a false equivalence .. aristocracy and oligarchy are not mutually exclusive but overlapping. Many aristocrats are also oligarchs and many oligarchs are also aristocrats .. for both systems are based on the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few at the expense of the many. Democracy, (unlike aristocracy or oligarchy) aims to distribute wealth and power more equitably through progressive taxation + social welfare + public education.
4. Elections are Lotteries (you contend that aristocracies free leaders from the lottery of elections which produce mediocre and corrupt rulers): this is a false generalization .. elections are not lotteries but mechanisms of accountability and legitimacy .. they allow the people to choose their representatives + to express their preferences + to hold their leaders responsible. They also encourage competition + innovation + diversity among candidates. Aristocracy (on the other hand) deprives the people of any voice or choice in their governance + perpetuates nepotism / stagnation / homogeneity among rulers.
5. The Case of England (you cite England as an example of a successful aristocracy which lifted the country to the top of the world): this is a false attribution .. England's success was not due to its aristocracy but despite it. England's history is full of conflicts and reforms that challenged and curbed the power of the aristocracy such as the Magna Carta + the English Civil War + the Glorious Revolution + the Bill of Rights + the Reform Acts + the Suffrage Movement etc. .. England's achievements were the result of its democracy not its aristocracy.
6. Slow Is Fast (you maintain that societies cannot change too quickly and that aristocracy ensures stability and continuity): this is a false assumption .. societies can and do change rapidly and aristocracy often hinders and resists change to hang on to the status quo. Change is inevitable and necessary as new challenges and opportunities arise. Democracy (unlike aristocracy) enables and embraces change as it allows the people to adapt and innovate + to experiment and learn + to reform and improve.
7. Traditions as Memory (you state that aristocracy preserves the traditions and memory of a society while democracy fosters amnesia and forgetfulness): this is a false opposition .. traditions and memory are not the monopoly of aristocracy nor the enemy of democracy. Traditions and memory are part of the cultural heritage and identity of a society which can be shared and celebrated by all. Democracy (unlike aristocracy) respects and values the diversity and plurality of traditions and memories and does not impose or erase them.
8. Aristocracy of the Soul (you define aristocracy as a quality of the soul characterized by vigor / ease / sureness / wit / dignity / generosity): this is a false idealization .. aristocracy is not a quality of the soul but a condition of society .. characterized by inequality + privilege + arrogance + ignorance + oppression + exploitation. Democracy (unlike aristocracy) does not judge people by their birth but by their character .. democracy recognizes and cultivates the potential and dignity of every human being regardless of their social status.
9. The Aristocratic Peace (you claim that aristocracy promotes peace while democracy breeds violence): this is a false correlation .. aristocracy does not promote peace but war .. such are all autocratic regimes .. aristocracy often engages in wars of aggression + expansion + domination to secure and extend its interests and influence ++ aristocracy also incites wars of resistance + rebellion + revolution to challenge and overthrow its rule. Democracy (unlike aristocracy) promotes peace .. both internally and externally. Democracy fosters a culture of dialogue + compromise + cooperation among its citizens and with other nations.
I can see that you allude to the benevolent / philosopher king when you tilt in favour of aristocracy but history is littered with examples to the contrary (of wretched self-fulfilling monarchies) .. and for all its flaws (including rule of the mob) democracy has fostered the greatest epoch of growth and progress in the history of our species .. so: the arc of history is long, but it bends towards the return of democracy ...
Maybe: Share this to Demos-Pill your timeline 🖖 nitter.app/asdf_101/status/174726…
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A cellular selfie? Nature’s intricate origami .. all folded into a microscopic metropolis
We’re all just walking bags of organized chaos .. aren't we? Beautifully bewildering!
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the middle ground isn't a fence.. it's a minefield where both sides accuse you of carrying the other's map
the reasonable voice always gets drowned out by the choirs of certainty
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its not artificial intelligence its aggregated insanity .. a digital frankenstein stitched together from our collective digital garbage fir
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Old amber warmth 🤝 nature’s dusk in glass
Or how they replaced poetry with efficiency .. while we still remember the dream
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discipline looks like rigidity when you're used to chaos
we traded the long game of statecraft for the dopamine hit of performance art
This really shows once more that Trump really doesn't get China, which should really worry you if you're American.
The officials in question weren't "scared", they were serious and disciplined, which is a pretty meaningful difference.
There's a huge difference in culture when it comes to the spoken word between the West and China, especially at such high levels of government. At that level there isn't any room for unscripted or unprepared speech, especially when addressing the U.S. president. Why? Because when you speak it's not your word as an individual but the official position of the state, with immense implications.
This is something we've completely lost in the West (to the extent we ever had it): we're deeply unserious about the weight and discipline that official speech ought to require. We've normalized leaders speaking off the cuff, making jokes, lying constantly, and blurring personal opinion with state policy. The result, as we can all witness every day, is a complete shattering of trust, because we know words don't mean much.
In China however they take this stuff extremely seriously. I know it's cliché to cite Confucius when it comes to China but one of his most fundamental teachings is that trust is the foundation of everything: without trust the state collapses. Here's what's written in the Analects:
"Zigong asked about government. The Master said, 'Sufficient food, sufficient weapons, and the trust of the people.'
Zigong asked, 'If it could not be helped, and one of these had to be dispensed with, which should be foregone first?'
The Master said, "Dispense with the weapons.'
Zigong asked, 'If it could not be helped, and one of the remaining two had to be dispensed with, which should be foregone first?'
The Master said, 'Dispense with the food. From of old, death has been the lot of all men; but if the people have no faith in their rulers, there is no standing for the state.'"
That's the culture: maintaining trust is absolutely paramount, more important than even providing food or security.
As a result, when officials speak, you know every single one of their words was prepared by a team that weighed and considered every aspect in advance. Which is why, incidentally, they almost never do interviews and when they do, it sounds super boring because there's nothing spontaneous: the questions were received in advance and the guy just reads the answers that were prepared. It makes for terrible entertainment but they, unlike us, don't think that governing is supposed to be entertaining.
It's not the first time a US president is confused by this. Obama too in his book "A promised land" made similarly mocking remarks about his meetings with Hu Jintao. Quote: “As usual, my meeting with President Hu Jintao was a sleepy affair: Whatever the topic, he liked to read from thick stacks of prepared remarks [...] When it was my turn to speak, he’d shuffle through his papers, looking for whatever response his aides had prepared for him. Efforts to break the monotony with personal anecdotes or the occasional joke usually resulted in a blank stare."
So no, nothing to do with fear or being afraid to displease some "dear leader." This same discipline predates Xi and it constrains Xi - as it constrained Hu - just as much as anyone else at that table. It's institutional. It's not about a strongman keeping people in line: what Trump sees as people being "scared" is actually a 2,000-year-old tradition of treating official communication as an instrument of statecraft rather than personal expression.
But of course, to someone who governs by social media posts, the idea that words should be carefully considered before being spoken probably does look like very scary.
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A snapshot of our era: algorithms + secrets, + reinvention .. all seated together .. watching history unfold
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The atoms in your body are literally billions of years old: they’ve been stars .. dinosaurs .. and probably several cups of coffee
Death isn’t an ending .. it’s more like returning your library books to the cosmic circulation desk
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Think of them as the four musketeers of change:
- d is the daredevil, diving into the infinitesimal abyss
- ∂ is the picky eater, only nibbling on one variable at a time
- Δ is the chunky chap, dealing with big, meaty changes
- 𝛿 is the shape-shifter, small enough to slip through cracks or explode into infinity
Together they form the fantastic four of fluctuation .. ready to tackle any transformation the universe throws their way
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It all started with Thriller nitter.app/another_backup2/status…
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because nothing says military readiness like a panic over push-ups
this is the ultimate plot to retire desk jockeys with bad knees
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Planck ~> Einstein ~> Bohr ~> Schrödinger
Max Planck’s resolution to the ultraviolet catastrophe was indeed revolutionary .. he proposed that energy could only be emitted or absorbed in discrete units .. which he called “quanta”. This quantization of energy can be expressed as:
E=nhν
.. where ( E ) is the energy .. ( n ) is an integer .. ( h ) is Planck’s constant and ( ν ) is the frequency of the radiation.
Following Planck’s work Einstein further expanded on the concept of quantization in 1905 with his explanation of the “photoelectric effect” .. where he suggested that light could also be described as discrete packets of energy .. known as photons. This idea was crucial because it treated light as both a wave and a particle .. a duality that became a core concept in quantum mechanics.
The development of quantum mechanics continued to progress with Bohr’s model of the hydrogen atom in 1913 .. which used quantization to explain the discrete lines observed in the spectrum of hydrogen. Bohr introduced the idea of quantized orbital angular momentum which could only take on certain values.
These foundational ideas paved the way for the formulation of the Schrödinger equation in 1926 .. which describes how the quantum state of a physical system changes over time. It’s a key result in quantum mechanics that incorporates wave functions to predict the probability distribution of particles.
Quantum mechanics has since become an essential framework for understanding and predicting phenomena at the atomic and subatomic levels.
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On this Lagrangian from quantum field theory .. got to love this special recipe that physicists use to understand how tiny particles like electrons and photons behave and interact with each other
More here physics.purdue.edu/~clarkt/C…
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Asking if the universe has a purpose is like asking if a rainbow has a job description
The universe doesn’t have a purpose .. it is purpose: like a jazz improvisation that exists for its own unfolding .. or a dance that needs no destination
We’re just lucky enough to be the agglomerated atoms that got to wonder about it
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What better equation than Euler’s identity?
For it combines:
• The number e .. the base of natural logarithms ..
• The number i .. the imaginary unit
• The number π .. the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
• The number 1 .. the multiplicative identity
• The number 0 .. the additive identity
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a creature so chill about its own demise its almost inspirational .. the panda has weaponized laziness against darwinism
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Truly a masterpiece of bureaucratic alchemy: transforming triumph into a metaphor for decline
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Know Your History
