#in this specific instance in the book I'm currently reading it's conditional i think

[oidheadh-con-culainn]

favourite Irish phrase I've learned from reading books is "beidh ár bport seinnte" (or tá, depending on how hypothetical the situation is). our tune is played, lads. it's over.

[rhombical]

Synesthesia and Schizophonia

I'm currently reading chapter 4 of A Play of Bodies which is about audiovisuality. Keogh makes the argument via Merleau-Ponty that synesthesia is banal. I've encountered this argument before and I have to say that I don't agree with the term synesthesia being used, as it is a very particular medical condition that approximately 4% of the population has. Keogh's assertion is that we experience all given sensory perception as a unity that is only split up into distinct senses by thought (or perhaps by language, though he does not say that). But I think a weakness of the argument (and the book in general) is that disability throws a wrench into this picture. Yes the shattering of a pane of glass has both a visual and an aural component, but the association between the two is only available to those with both sight and hearing. For instance, and I cannot find a specific source, but there have been reportages online by deaf and hard of hearing people who thought that the sun, stars, clouds, etc. make noise that is audible to a human on Earth.

I was reminded of the Golden Hammer item from Smash Bros. Brawl. For the unfamiliar the Golden Hammer is a powerful item that can knock out opponents in one hit. However there is a small random chance that the hammer will be a "fake" rubber one instead. The rubber hammer deals no damage and while using it the player's avatar is committed to the temporary swinging animation, thus making them vulnerable to attack. The relevant aspect is that the way the game signals this difference to the player is solely through sound; the fake hammer makes a squeaking noise to communicate its rubberiness. So even though deaf players can play Brawl visually, they do not have access to the full nuance of the Golden Hammer and are therefore at a competitive disadvantage.

What is more profound to me however is that there is no inherent link between the sound of the Golden Hammer (squeaky or not) and its combat properties (to deal damage or not). A simple re-routing or reversal of the sound effect conditions would result in the able-bodied player's perception of either a powerful rubber hammer or a Golden Hammer that is ineffective for seemingly no reason. While this would not be particularly good game design practice, what it points to is the schizophonia of sound effects; R. Murray Schafer's term for "the splitting of an original sound and its electroacoustic reproduction" (I should note that this term is also problematic in its ableism). Further, there is a sort of double splitting happening in the hypothetical mismatched hammer, first the sound from its source and secondly the sonic representation from the simulation (and importantly not from the visual representation i.e. the hammers look identical). What the mismatch calls attention to is how every Golden Hammer is a fake.

[mitigatedchaos]

The closest non-electronic object I'm aware of is the Long Now Foundation's 2008 Rosetta Disk, a 3-inch metal disk etched with 13,500 pages of language documentation, embedded in a glass sphere. It requires a 500x optical microscope to read, although the outside strongly implies that it contains miniaturized text in order to convince people to do just that. (One calculus textbook on my shelf is about 1,200 pages.)

In terms of the operational duration of a computer, obviously mass market computers are not designed for this purpose, since they go obsolete in 10 years. Stationary mainframes designed to last longer can be serviced as-needed by the manufacturer on an ongoing support contract. (A computer from 1951 was reportedly restored to operation in 2012.) The closest class of computers is probably computers designed for long-term operation in outer space, where temperature conditions are extreme, and repair is not feasible. The Voyager 1 space probe was launched in 1977. Computer issues have apparently hampered transmissions since 2023, for a duration of about 46 years.

It would be necessary to contact an engineer to determine if an ultra-long-duration (500+ year) computer could be developed.

In terms of implementation, you'd want multiple sites in case one gets flooded, bombed, looted, or crushed in a landslide. (One advantage of optical storage is that the material is less valuable.) It would probably also be better to have different storage technologies, encoding different technology collections, forming a ladder so that the readers can build up the capacity to supply the computer with electricity. (Even in the fictional example, the device's survival depended on chance.) For instance, a full documenting of all technology from 1850 would be less extensive, but still valuable.

I can think of a few different ways you might be going with this.

One possibility is that you're using the idea of this computer to estimate the total number of bits that are core to the current technology stack, in order to forecast the maximum feasible complexity for the economy. (It's easier to just frame it that way to get answers to the question.)

No matter the number of books or information storage and search systems, how much someone can remember with their mind (and how fast they can learn it) sets a limit on the maximum amount of information they can manage - even if in theory it's unlimited given unlimited time, time is not unlimited.

It isn't just a matter of knowledge directly; it's related to the kind of intentions that an agent can form, which is something I haven't developed as much theory on.

It would be necessary to get more information to make even a half-decent preliminary estimate. Of particular interest would be the distribution of talent, and organizational linkage limits.

Relevant: Intensive vs extensive growth post, and also that recent post about compression of ideology.

Once such a model exists, it wouldn't be limited to only the tech stack. It could be used to estimate the maximum complexity of society more generally. Laws or regulations, ideology, or even cultural practices could be analyzed, and potential trade-offs could be modeled. It might be possible to identify a sort of "operating system" for society.

To bring it back to practical considerations...

A real effort to build a technology archive would probably limit the scope to a number of core technologies as embodied in specific products (engineered to be simpler to make) and their production chains, using the assumption that either the guys on the other side are smart enough that they can invent a lot of the other technologies eventually, or that if they're not able to develop the other technologies and have to work using only the provided instructions, they won't be able to escape the technological trap either.

Ragnarök Proofing

If someone wanted to make like Maj. Edwin Keeler and make a modern-day Helm Memory Core — a complete electronic database of texts and blueprints laying out in full detail every process needed to recreate most modern-day technologies from first principles (and remember the case of Roman concrete) — roughly how big would the resulting data archive be?

[creepyscritches]

kinda weird question but im in college rn and thinking about careers and future stuff (not fun) and was wondering if i could get a brief explanation of your job? i read your posts on medical coding and systems and stuff and it sounds really interesting i just dont always follow along very well. if you dont wanna totally cool tho!

Yeah ofc I'd love to explain my job for you!

The general term for my profession is a "medical coder". My purpose is to take documentation providers create for their patients' encounters and then abstract/determine a variety of different codes to describe diagnoses, labs, imaging, etc.

The rest is under a cut since this got a bit lengthy.

There are 3 manuals available for the profession where these codes are found: ICD-10-CM (diagnoses), CPT (procedures), and HCPCS (medical equipment/supplies). Not every specialty uses all the manuals, for instance I only use the ICD-10-CM for my role since we're identifying the high cost + chronic/life threatening conditions that providers and insurers receive additional federal funding to cover the cost of care for--or in simpler terms, I do a type of coding called risk validation. In the past I've worked with the CPT and ICD to code for providers working in the ICU and acute care hospital setting. I've also worked exclusively with an oncology clinic that had its own specific coding needs. It's a very versatile field!

To enter the profession, the first step is to acquire your credentials. There are two main organizations that maintain coder credentials: AAPC and AHIMA. AAPC is the standard and what I'm credentialed through, but AHIMA can also be attractive to potential employers depending on their needs. I'll explain the AAPC process since I'm not familiar with AHIMA's credentialing process.

AAPC (website) has a base CPC credential--Certified Professional Coder. Your first 2 years will be under the CPC-A credential to mark that you're still an apprentice coder, but after 2 years of professional experience or some special education options, you drop the A and are a fully fledged coder. The apprentice years are spent doing the equivalent of scut work, but it's a great opportunity to try out different specialties to find a comfortable fit. You have to be a member to get your credential and every coder pays annual dues to maintain their statuses. They have a student membership as well for a discounted rate.

Every credential, including the CPC, is earned via a certification exam. They're pricey upfront, but each exam purchase comes with 2 attempts. When I got my certifications, the exams were 5 1/2 hours, but I recently heard from a colleague that the AAPC shortened the exams by a couple of hours and reduced the question count. Every exam is multiple choice and open book, meaning you can take your personal manuals with you and can even write literally anything you want in them to assist you--you just can't staple anything in, it's gotta be written. There are blank pages in each manual reserved for notes, so there's plenty of room to write. The exams are pass/fail, so as long as you score a 70 or higher you'll receive your credentials.

There's no schooling required, just the certification. Luckily there's medical coding courses available to prep you for your exam that are available at tech schools, community colleges, and other institutions. They're in-person and online for your convenience. Most are taught by seasoned coders that understand what the current exam environment is like, so the exam isn't foreign when you take it. I learned the ICD manual on my own, but took 2 night classes to get me up to speed with the CPT and HCPCS and was able to pass. I believe my classes were around $200 - $300 each and they even counted towards my apprenticeship credits.

I was actually in college on a full ride when I made my career pivot. I left school and focused all my time on learning medical terminology, anatomy, and the ICD manual--there's online resources to help study like study guides, work sheets, and even mock exams. I'm very happy with my decision to leave school for this career, but it is something you should put some thought and further research into in relation to your goals. The job pays well, but it would be a nightmare for someone who doesn't like to read or pick apart diagnostic information. I love medicine, but can't handle blood, so it's a perfect middle ground for me.

It's a great field to join and coders are very friendly towards each other in general, especially to those working for their first credential. The AAPC has local chapters who host regular meetings. It's a great place to get education credits, network with others, and get support from those already in the industry. Baby coders are a delight tbh we love yall.

[whysperingwoods]

I'm interested in spirit work, but concerned about the relationship btw spirits and deities. i don't believe in god(s) in the sense of omnipotent intelligent beings but am open to fluid conceptions of "self" that would also apply to nonhuman beings. I'm esp. curious about Jinn (my understanding of them comes from Islamic folk stories). do you have any tips, suggestions, or questions to consider that would be useful to start with? also, it's really kind of you to answer these asks. thank you.

Thank you for sending in your questions! This isn't something I've talked about very much yet although I work with a variety of entities. Thanks for being so patient in waiting for a reply, I know I've had this sitting in my inbox forever but I knew it was a longish reply and wanted to be as thorough as possible.

My usual disclaimer first: everyone approaches spirit work differently and has a different concept of what spirit work even entails. It's extremely personal and how or who or what you decide to work with is up to you and only you. Additionally, anything in this post is going to be based on personal experience (unless otherwise indicated), so take it with that in mind. 

All that said, the choices you make do have an impact on who will want to work with you and in what instances. As much as Tumblr likes to spout that "intent is everything", that's absolutely not the case when it comes to working with spirits or deities. Your actions matter, who you are as a person matters, who you worship and who you don't matter. Not all gods are friendly and nice and fuzzy. Some are scary, some won't work with you unless you’re afraid of them or unless you agree to certain conditions. Changing their mind isn't going to happen. You're dealing with entities that have thousands upon thousands of years of existence in some cases. 

I've barred myself from working with a ton of deities because I refuse to participate in worship or any type of spiritual hierarchy. That's a decision that I made a long time ago, and one I'm perfectly comfortable with, but it does have consequences. There are gods I would have liked to work with and can't because of this, and that's something I've accepted. On the other hand, I've been able to work with entities that I never would have even considered or been approached by. 

Basically the idea here is be honest with yourself about your values and how they mesh with who you want to work with. Remember that respect does not equal worship. You can respect a deity, use some of their tenets, actively enjoy them even without worshiping them. Worship and dedication should be taken seriously and requires effort. (NB: "effort" doesn't mean physical expenditure of energy, it can be psychological, spiritual, emotional, etc.)

Side note here on the definitions of spirits vs deities vs gods etc. I tend to use these interchangeably. I shouldn't. I apologize if that's confusing in my posts and I'll try to develop a more specific vocabulary in the future, but just for the sake of this reply I want to make it clear that I don't interpret "gods" in the "all powerful, all knowing" sense. I use it in the sense of "an entity that is beyond time and space, that feeds on belief, and has a marked influence on certain domains".  

All this brings me to the question you had about Jinn. I'm using them as an example, but the following pretty much applies to any entity you desire to work with. 

Before I get into that, I just want to point out that I'm not Muslim. I did study Islam for a time because I was entertaining the possibility of conversion, but ultimately I am a white person raised Catholic, currently atheist, and therefore can't speak to what is and isn't cultural appropriation in this context. Islam is a partially closed religion in that it requires conversion and accepting Allah as the only god (although like with any religion there are more than plenty of people who believe this isn't necessary as well, it depends on the Imam and on your mosque). I'm answering this ask from the angle of how spirits and deities work, but I'd recommend investigating whether or not cultural appropriation applies to you before you make any decisions. I wish I knew who to tag here for more info, but I don’t know anyone who would be familiar. Tentatively tagging @spiritroots and @witches-ofcolor in case they know of anyone. 

Working with the previous statement that gods require belief, this also implies belief in the systems and faiths they're a part of. In the case of Jinn, believing in them would also imply a belief in Islam to some degree (although the particular interpretation you choose is open). In the Qur'aan, speaking and especially working with Jinn is considered haraam. This doesn't mean you can't work with them, but it does mean that working with Jinn would go against the wishes of Allah who is believed to be the bigger more powerful god. There are definitely people who practice Islam who have also worked with Jinn, or other spirits, but you need to be aware of who you are working with and the possible consequences that might lead to. Remember that Jinn are trickster spirits as well, and it's in their nature to mislead even those with good intentions. The power of controlling Jinn was given to the Prophet Suliman and he is the only one who has "permission" from Allah to do so. Here is one link about this. And one more. 

None of the above paragraph is applicable if you intend to work with pre-Abrahamic arabian gods, but then you’re still working within a belief system. I think you get the idea. Just know that no deity exists in a void. Here’s a fun list of pre-Abrahamic deities in case you’re interested in that, they’re pretty awesome.

Here is the tl;dr:- Before working with a deity or spirit, ensure your belief systems are compatible- Be prepared (do your research)- Be aware of the possible consequences and outcomes

After you've done all that and made the decision to work with spirits or entities, you'll find them much more likely to approach you on their own in some cases. Once you start doing spirit work, you will tend to naturally attract them (for better or worse). Learning warding and protection is crucial. Protect your physical, spiritual, and mental space. Know your limits, and when to take a break. I can't give you one specific surefire way to communicate because it depends on you, and it depends on who you're talking to. Look to the god’s realms of influence and interests for clues on how to communicate with them (for example, fire reading for a fire god). If you're comfortable with any forms of divination it’s also a good place to start. Tarot is incredibly helpful for communication, but you could also pick up a really big book and randomly select sentences and try that route. You'll be amazed at how in-depth a conversation you can have. 

I realize this probably leaves a lot more questions and there are things that could stand for more clarification, but this is super long already and hopefully a good enough start at least to get you headed in the right direction. If you have follow-up questions, feel free to send them and I'm happy to clarify further on any points. In any case, good luck and I hope you find what you're looking for!

[aveganmermaid]

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to earn a degree in literature but is receiving a lot of negativity and push-back from family members? Reading, watching tv shows/movies and discussing said things is my true joy in life. I've toyed with the idea of doing other more "practical" things with my life like becoming a nurse or going into business, but the thought of it depresses me. I would be so happy doing anything related to literature, writer/editor/teacher/librarian. But I'm broke and

Cont) have no financial support so going to less secure route is scary and hard. It’s hard to justify years if waitering and being a cashier to end up struggling more. Or at least that’s what everyone is telling me. I was wondering if you have words of encouragement, since you’ve seen the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak.

Yes. Ignore them. These people have been conditioned to believe that you can’t be successful unless you earn a degree in a science or math related field and it’s just not true. Did you know that Justin Trudeau (the PRIME MINISTER) has a degree in English? He went on to be a teacher, and taught for many years at a private school in Vancouver. Now he’s the Prime Minister. Education is education, with every class that you take you are one class wiser than you were before.

People act like an english degree teaches you no usable skills. That all you do is read books and talk about them. But that’s what’s so beautiful about it!! Reading books has given me such a beautiful understanding of the world. Books are windows into the past, into the struggle and exultation of the past generations. I can read a poem from the romantics and tell you about how deeply those writers felt about inspiration and the desire to constantly achieve that blissful state (sometimes fatal… Shelley, looking at u). I can read a novel from the Victorian era and talk about the class struggle, the rise of the unions, and the fight of the lower class for better working conditions. I can even tell you about how specific genres, like… the horror genre for instance, was a beautifully subversive way for women to talk about the struggles of being women, suffocated by the confines of their homes and the oppressive patriarchal rule without ACTUALLY talking about it.

Literature is amazing. And beyond all that you learn how to think critically, read between the lines, understand that not everything is at surface value. I’ve learned how to look at a sentence and deconstruct every word used to get at the heart of what the person is saying. And this is a skill that works beautifully in arguments, people hate debating things with me because I use their language against them. I listen carefully to the words that they use and fire them back at them. I get them to question everything they’re saying. I make them uncomfortable… all because I understand HOW to use language to my benefit.

I know how scary it can be to go for a degree that doesn’t guarantee a job after graduation (and TBH I don’t know why people push business so much because that doesn’t guarantee you a job either). And yes, becoming a nurse can be more “practical” but I firmly believe in doing what you love, and when you do what you love the job that you want will come to you. It’s beautiful that you already know where you want to go in life, to be quite honest I went into my english degree with zero idea of what I wanted to do when I graduated (that is… until the day of my graduation when it suddenly dawned on me that I wanted nothing more than to work in a library). But everything kind of fell into place. In September I’ll be going back to school to get my library tech diploma. Currently I am working a job that allows me to satisfy my desire for organization and allows me to work on marketing through social media (who knew! i don’t even have a marketing degree!) And yes, i struggled for a bit post-grad. I spent a year after graduation working retail and hating my job, but it all came together eventually. And it will continue to come together as I further my education.

People are always going to ask you “what are you going to do with an english degree? become a teacher?” with condescension dripping from their tongues but honestly, I don’t see what’s so bad about being a teacher (or a writer, or an editor). I don’t see what’s so awful about being well read and well spoken. Maybe I can’t explain to you the theory of relativity, or tell you what happens when you mix chloride and nitrogen (or if you can mix them??), or tell you the the rate at which a ball will travel if it’s thrown against a 25km/hr wind resistance. But I can tell you that I have never been more fulfilled in my life than when I am reading a novel and analyzing and deconstructing the text to understand what the author was really trying to say.

So my advice to you, my dear, is do what you love. It won’t always be easy, and you will struggle (we all do, even those who do “practical” degrees), but in the end, none of that will matter when you are walking across that stage, Bachelor’s degree in hand. Figure out what your end goal is going to be and work towards it. Give in volunteer hours, apply to work for your on campus newspaper, and get the degree that you love, not the one that people believe you should have.

Good luck xoxox