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Friday, Nov. 1, 2024

12:26am EDT

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Complex Numbers

by Robert Waltz

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #1196512

Not for the faint of art.

Complex Numbers

A complex number is expressed in the standard form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is defined by i^2 = -1 (that is, i is the square root of -1). For example, 3 + 2i is a complex number.

The bi term is often referred to as an imaginary number (though this may be misleading, as it is no more "imaginary" than the symbolic abstractions we know as the "real" numbers). Thus, every complex number has a real part, a, and an imaginary part, bi.

Complex numbers are often represented on a graph known as the "complex plane," where the horizontal axis represents the infinity of real numbers, and the vertical axis represents the infinity of imaginary numbers. Thus, each complex number has a unique representation on the complex plane: some closer to real; others, more imaginary. If a = b, the number is equal parts real and imaginary.

Very simple transformations applied to numbers in the complex plane can lead to fractal structures of enormous intricacy and astonishing beauty.

http://www.ddewey.net/mandelbrot/

Signature for Honorable Mentions in 2018 Quill Awards

A signature for exclusive use of winners at the 2019 Quill Awards

Signature for those who have won a Quill Award at the 2020 Quill Awards

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

tj: Tenebrous Jekyll

about 7 hours ago
In response to "Phases"

Perhaps, if the full moon drives one to madness, the half moon will only make one half-crazy.

1 Like

Battywyn🎶

Oct 29, 2024 at 12:18pm
In response to "The Numbers Don't Lie"

I hear ya. I like to think I'm discerning enough to detect fakes, but that might just be my ego talking. When it comes to local businesses, I also go to social media and request recommendations. With both reviews from strangers and recommendations from friends, I give more credence when more (anecdotal, heh) details are provided. It's more an art than science, but liars either have such flawless details that their story sounds fabricated, or they get embarrassed when they trip themselves up. Truthtellers make errors, because memories are fallible, but they get more confused than embarrassed. Ultimately, the only way to really know is to try the product/service yourself. Which is why you'll hear about my Cancun vacation next month, but you don't have to believe me.

1 Like

Robert Waltz

Oct 29, 2024 at 11:07am
In response to "The Numbers Don't Lie"

Battywyn🎶

- I, too, look at the 1-star reviews, though again, reviews aren't my sole criteria. But sometimes it's blatant fake reviewing from the competition: "Don't stay here! It has rats, bedbugs, and roaches! Stay at this other place instead!" where "this other place" is clearly owned by the reviewer.

On the other paw, five-star reviews are often salted by the establishment in question.

Used to be, you could look at the four- and two- star reviews to get more honest, nuanced opinions, but the establishments, and their competition, have figured out that trick.

Which is one reason why reviews aren't my sole criteria.

(None of this applies to WDC reviews, or to the artificially inflated Uber rating system)

Battywyn🎶

Oct 29, 2024 at 11:00am
In response to "The Numbers Don't Lie"

And I was going to conclude by saying, when evaluating Caribbean vacation destinations, even if 5,000 people gave it a 4.8 rating, if the one star reviews were from seven people who encountered rats in their rooms, I'm very likely to not choose this destination.

2 Like

Battywyn🎶

Oct 29, 2024 at 10:58am
In response to "The Numbers Don't Lie"

Well, that was annoying. I was still in the process of editing, so please excuse the multitude of errors. I also intended to italicize the quotes from your post. Stupid f****** Parkinson's.

1 Like

Battywyn🎶

Oct 29, 2024 at 10:56am
In response to "The Numbers Don't Lie"

You know what sometimes lies? Anecdotes.

Also, dogs, I've heard.

Oh, hell no.

🤣 I love a good inside joke, but my marketing guru would tell you to cross link here

The fallacy is named after Robert McNamara, the U.S. Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War, where his over-reliance on measurable data led to several misguided strategies

Bet he's proud of his claim to fame.

What's the point in data, then?

The point in data is a decimal separator, unless here in non-english speaking countries, in which case it's more likely a thousands separator.

So, whenever I'm evaluating online reviews for pretty much anything, and for the record I check them for almost everything - I always consider three things: 1. The average rating (eg, number of stars); 2. The The number of contributors to the rating; and three. What the one star ratings say.

1 Like

Annette

Oct 28, 2024 at 2:47pm
In response to "Waste Not"

In Southern California, every single family residence has a green bin. Every trash day, three different trucks make the rounds.

1 for composting
1 for recycling
1 for garbage

Trader Joe's sells almost exclusively packaged foods, even perishables. They have contracts with college food pantries. In many colleges, there are now pantries that are open to the students 4 or 5 days a week plus 1 day when people from the community can drive up and receive a bag with a mix of fresh fruits and vegetables along with non-perishable foods and donated sundries.

Churches are huge food redistribution centers also.

The "too hard to set up" systems have created good jobs here. Instead of seeing food donations as a liability, they have created a supervised and refrigerated second market.

The cost for employees is small because, of course, many of the positions are volunteers. But the supervisors and some of the staff are full time employees with benefits.

The article has thrown up obstacles that are easy to overcome.

3 Like

AnotherDreamer

Oct 28, 2024 at 11:33am
In response to "Waste Not"

https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6156cebc4c605e281289a232/6156cebc4c605eb8bc89... e%20for%20beginners%2024%2009%2018.pdf

1 Like

Robert Waltz

Oct 28, 2024 at 11:33am
In response to "Waste Not"

AnotherDreamer

- Hey, it's a replicator from Star Trek!

Now let's invent the holodeck.

2 Like

AnotherDreamer

Oct 28, 2024 at 11:27am
In response to "Waste Not"

We the people of the world could use those products before they are compost as free sources for 3D printed foods that could be used for emergency food, or if tasty enough, re sold.https://builtin.com/articles/3d-printed-food

2 Like

December 17, 2019 at 12:29am

#971586

I'm a Loser

Yes, I'm linking GQ today. Remember yesterday when I said most of the child-choice pieces I see are by and for women? Well, that's equally true for weight loss articles.

https://www.gq.com/story/what-i-learned-when-i-lost-50-pounds

Not that there's anything wrong with that. I mean, most of us, male, female or otherwise, could stand to lose a few pounds. In my case, it stretched the definition of "a few" past the point of tearing tendons. Still, it's come to my attention that male and female bodies are different - who knew? - so I seek perspectives more similar to my own.

What I Learned When I Lost 50 Pounds

Last summer, Rohan Nadkarni decided to get in shape. He expected it to be difficult; he didn’t expect a whole new set of anxieties.

Fifty pounds? Amateur.

The stars were aligning. From that day in early August through Christmas I had lost weight rapidly—at one point reaching the 50-pound mark.

So, (math) that's ten pounds a month. Seems a bit fast, but my own story isn't much slower: 80 pounds in 12 months, or 6-7 per month on average.

But when I stepped on the scale Christmas morning, and the display showed an arbitrary number I’d chosen for myself months ago, I felt as flustered as I felt accomplished: What the hell was I supposed to do now?

Yeah, see, that's the part that hooked me, not the earlier bits. What do I do ifwhen I reach my goal weight?

But what happens after you achieve these goals? Losing weight was always this huge mountain for me: I thought once I climbed it, I would be able to conquer anything. It hasn’t been that simple.

Fortunately, that isn't my problem. I know damn well I'll still have things to work on. I've probably said this before, but I fully expect to find that the problem isn't my weight, but my personality. I can't exercise that away.

I was lucky to have the fake (and flexible) job of being a “writer,” a steady income, and access to resources like groceries and a gym...

Oooooh, look at Mr. Makes-Money-From-Writing over here.

I made healthier choices when I could, and went to the gym/a spin class/for a long walk when I could.

My own journey is a bit more regimented, with short breaks (a week or less) every now and then because if I can't travel, what's the point of living? I eat 1300-1500 calories a day, get on an elliptical trainer (or walk) for 30 minutes a day, pump weight machines (not free weights) six days a week, and obsess over shit.

You won't catch me dead in a "spin class." Especially when I finally found out what one was: you get on an exercise bike with a bunch of other people and, presumably, listen to music and/or motivational shouts from some drill instructor-type trainer. No, thanks. I spend my time on the elliptical thingie watching science, math, philosophy, and/or writing lectures. Yes, just lectures; no fancy CGI. No one talks to me besides the guy or gal on the screen. I like it that way.

Point is, everyone has to find what's right for them. Spin classes worked for the author here? Great.

I haven’t eaten an added sugar in weeks: Is it okay for me to eat this brownie? Should I be calculating and tracking how many calories I’m about to consume, or can I scoop these cashews up by the handful since I’m high as hell right now?

Substitute "drunk" for "high," and that's closer to my own experience.

One disconcerting side effect of trying to be healthier is that people feel way more comfortable commenting on your body than they ever did in the past.

Body dysmorphia isn't limited to women. This is why I wanted a dude's perspective. It's somehow more socially acceptable to call fat guys fat. I don't think it hurts any less, but whatever.

I think that so many of the anxieties I’m describing are ten times worse for women, for whom the definition of the “ideal body”—as far as I can tell—has historically been much narrower than for men.

This may be true, but we're held up against skinny and/or muscular guys on TV, movies, magazines (*cough*GQ*cough*) all the fucking time.

What I wish someone had told me in August 2018 is: Be healthy, but also broaden your definition of what “health” is.

Here's the thing for me: I'm not necessarily chasing "health." Yeah, I want to avoid another heart attack and diabetes and maybe improve my sleep apnea (I think I've made progress in some of this), but you want to know how I keep from eating more than I should? I'll tell you anyway. Nicotine is a very effective appetite suppressant, and cigars take long enough to smoke that I can put off eating while I'm smoking one. Is it healthy? No. Does it work? Oh, hell yes.

Point is, it's not health I'm after; it's a 32-inch waist. By any means necessary.

Not every decision you make about food or your diet should be made in service of being thin. You should value your comfort and mental well-being just as much. Be physically healthier, for sure, but not at the cost of your sanity.

And that's the takeaway for me. This author wants to try "every bubble tea in Southern California." Me? I want to try every beer in existence. It'll never happen, but a guy has to have goals.

There's no point to living longer if you have to give up all the things that make life worth living. If someone told me I could die next month, or stop drinking beer, I'd make sure my will was updated while swigging a nice Imperial stout. You can do everything "right," and get hit by a meteor. (Technically it's a meteor until it hits the ground, at which point, when someone finds it next to my corpse, it'll be a meteorite.)

And if you're worried about what other people think - it seems the author of the linked article is, moreso than I am anyway - rest assured no one cares if you're "healthy."

They only care if you're thin.

In four days, I'll have been at this crap for one year, so consider this the update: 80 pounds lost, more to go, and I've surprised myself by actually sticking to the plan for that long - again, with a week off here and there so I could travel. Oddly enough, that seems to help in the long run even if it slows progress in the short term. I don't know why; maybe it resets metabolism or something? Like I'll come back from a trip and I'll have gained five pounds, but it comes back off fairly quickly, as does subsequent avoirdupois.

In August, I have plans for another cross-country road trip. By then, I'll have either reached my goal weight - or finally given up on the whole idea.

I'm aware I will fail at some point.

Just not today.

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