derek

Our knowledge around them is quite new. First theorized only in 2012 and first "experimentally realized" in 2016. The novelty of it all does evoke a kind of wierdness. A decade later and we're using them in quantum computers. The future is now and it's sci-fi, man.

The Wikipedia article (wikipedia.org) provides a neat overview of the "what" without waxing too technical. It fails to satisfy my nagging need to answer "how?!" though.

This article (technologyreview.com) provides a decent answer for how time crystals are possible in a lab.

Their quantum system is a line of ytterbium ions with spins that interact with each other. That interaction leads to a special kind of behavior. ... One of the key properties of these ions is their magnetization or spin, which can be flipped up or down using a laser. Flipping the spin of one ion causes the next to flip, and so on. These spin interactions then oscillate at a rate that depends on how regularly the laser flips the original spin. In other words, the driving frequency determines the rate of oscillation.

But when Monroe and co measured this, they found another effect. These guys discovered that after allowing the system to evolve, the interactions occurred at a rate that was twice the original period. Since there is no driving force with that period, the only explanation is that the time symmetry must have been broken, thereby allowing these longer periods. In other words, Monroe and co had created a time crystal.

In trying to understand this I ended up reading and digesting the following: Physics: Time Crystal (handwiki.org) Spontaneous symmetry breaking (wikipedia.org) Symmetry (physics) (wikipedia.org) In Search of Time Crystals (physicsworld.com)

Quoting from that last article:

To understand time crystals, let’s remind ourselves about ordinary crystals. Diamond, say, breaks spatial symmetry because not every location is equivalent. Some locations have carbons atoms; others don’t. If you shift, or “translate”, the diamond lattice by some arbitrary amount, it won’t superimpose on the original lattice; the crystal structure has broken the translational symmetry of uniform space. But if you shift the lattice by some integer multiple of the spacing between atoms, it does superimpose, which means that the broken translational symmetry is periodic.

A "time crystal" breaks translational symmetry in time rather than space. This creates a kind of clock analogous to chemical oscillators (wikipedia.org). To keep a chemical oscillator going though one must continue to add reagents because the system is burning energy. Theoretically time crystals are stable in perpituity at equilibrium. Their lowest energy state includes motion.

The time crystals discussed in the Physics World piece and elsewhere, so far as I can find, are all "discrete" time crystals. These are driven by an external force. So they aren't in equilibrium... But these are still curious for two reasons. First, as mentioned, is that changing the driving frequency does not change the frequency of oscillation. The second is that discrete time crystals don't seem to be absorbing the energy imparted to the system by the driver (a laser, microwaves, etc). They're not heating up. It doesn't seem like we're quite sure why, either. More mysteries for humans to practice science around!

They seem to be in bed with livekit.io and OpenAI. They're also still using Telegram and X. That means Huly isn't a fit replacement for anything.

A least it was clickbaitey sensationalism about something other than the giant ground sloths this time.

100%.

The more often we choose alternatives to big tech's defaults in our day-to-day the less power big tech has. I hadn't heard of catbox before now and it's immediately my new daily driver for temp hosting and sharing small non-private items. Thank you!

Well! That's settles it then.

Possibly! A lot is left to interpretation in the film. I agree with your take though. More or less. I feel there's enough presented after the initial twist (was he just imagining it all?!) to suggest an additional turn. That being the horror of a society built on such incredible self-absorbtion (and cocaine) is the real bogeyman.

The lack of comprehension from some reminds me of a certain type of Fight Club fan on whom the film is wasted entirely.

My framing in the previous comment is meant to highlight how Bateman's story seems to resonate with the disaffected and media illiterate as I understand them. It seems much of the subtext intended to catch the viewer's attention and request a critical eye fails to register with that crowd. My aim was answering the implied question "How could take seriously Bateman as peak masculinity?" of the comment I initially responded to.

I could have made that more clear in the perspective I used to convey the point. Note taken. 🙂

I honestly think that's part of the appeal for those who idolize Bateman. He's particular and vane and envious. We are led to see his flaws as he sees them: extensions of justified righteous indignation at the world's resistance to his perfection, all. His narcissism fueling disgust for the world and everyone in it.

The jilted pampered white boy is exactly what they identify with.

Evaluate the comparison drawn in the final scene of the film. Bateman confesses again, in-person this time, to his lawyer who blows him off for reasons that could be debated within the narrative. The important bit for our discussion is that, regardless of the reasons for dismissal, the lawyer simply doesn't believe Bateman is capable of the crimes he confesses to.

Not even recognizing Bateman and mistaking Bateman for someone else the lawyer says: "Bateman's such a dork, such a boring, spineless lightweight..." "...Oh Christ. He can barely pick up an escort girl, let alone... What was it you said he did to her?"

After some more back and forth Bateman returns to his friend's table and finds his friends discussing Ronald Reagan's address regarding the Iran-Contra scandal. The sentiment is how unbelievable it is that someone so unassuming could do something so vile, brazenly lie about it, and almost get away with it.

To be dismissed as incapable while believing oneself cunning and depraved and wholly underestimated. To act on that depravity and take by brutal force. To confess vile crimes that go unpunished because no believes you capable of them... It's a twisted diamond in the rough story.

That's not the gritty visual masculinity we normally think of, as you say, but Bateman is rape culture personified and adorned in every tropey "high-class" commecialization of masculinity at the time. Couple that with anemoia for the eighties in a generation raised on algorithmically tuned psychological traps which weaponized toxic masculinity for profit and... Tada!

We strike resonance with a certain brand both of internet-raised narcissist and naive, disaffected, emotionally-immature manchild. Especially young men who've been emotionally manipulated into believing alt-right propaganda makes sense of a world they've been stymied from understanding.

One way this question could be interpreted and restated is: Trans people don't have blanket immunity against critique, right?

If that is the legitimate heart of your question then: No. They do not. No one does.

Let's say some puppy kicker happens to be trans. I publically and vocally oppose their puppy kicking. They respond by labeling me transphobic. That's nothing more than a weak response from a bad person using their minority status as a cover for their shitty behavior/beliefs.

That said, and I cannot stress this enough; that is not how your question reads and the above is an overly charitable interpretation.

If that is not the legitimate heart of your question then all I can do is refer you to the bible: https://genderdysphoria.fyi/en

The previous post in my feed made me sad (for good reasons) and then this one made me giggle (for silly reasons). Thanks for that.

This can be true and the example you've provided demonstrates the point well enough. There are certainly unhelpful emotions though. I have a panic disorder which can be triggered by a few things. I'm already aware of why this happens and understand that my fear, paranoia, and sense of impending doom are byproducts of chemical imbalance. I know they're trying to help me survive an expected threat that doesn't exist. Those experiences offer no actionable insight. Only disruption.

It helps if I'm able to recognize that emotional reactivity as bad and worth breathing through instead of addressing or intellectualizing. They're just bad and need to pass so I can get back to being me.

This is an edge case and most emotional processing is trying to tell us something helpful. Not always though!

As long as it's consensual I guess objectification is ok.

The use of currency in an open market is not Capitalism. This conflation is propaganda used by Capitalists to further the "Capitalism is a Natural state" fairy tale.