I think one of the most important but least generally principles of our universe is that when simple processes compound they frequently lead to unexpected complexity. Complexity springs out of everything simple!
orthogonal(!) to the "it's not actually just simple math X. but also simplish math Y, Z, ..." discourse is the "missing mood but for thinking" problem that enormously complexity can emerge from even very simple rules alone, much less simple rules applied to "everything that's been written down"
October 17, 2026 at 8:12 AM
I think one of the most important but least generally principles of our universe is that when simple processes compound they frequently lead to unexpected complexity. Complexity springs out of everything simple!
A lot of shit we are dealing with in the modern computer systems is an adversarial complexity that serves no purpose except making things harder for the benefit of the system's owners. The main problem is that lot of people believe this complexity is necessary.
October 17, 2026 at 12:04 AM
A lot of shit we are dealing with in the modern computer systems is an adversarial complexity that serves no purpose except making things harder for the benefit of the system's owners. The main problem is that lot of people believe this complexity is necessary.
yeah, pastoralism is the dream that if only we could reduce sociatal complexity to a level that fits in a single human's head we could somehow make the stress stop
and of course that has never been true, and complexity <-> difficulty are separate axes, but hey, it's a dream
and of course that has never been true, and complexity <-> difficulty are separate axes, but hey, it's a dream
I was literally talking about this with my wife! That much localist, antimarket, cryptoprimitivist, degrowth, and other positions are a reaction to this very Lovecraftian vertigo of beholding a system that is insanely complex, beyond any human reason, only getting moreso, and that we depend on.
my first job was at an old company that sold industrial supplies and I got vertigo seeing just how deep the invisible parts of the economy go. millions of firms you’ve never heard of doing god knows what. in a way that abyss is what we’re looking away from when we talk about messaging or marketing
October 19, 2026 at 11:56 AM
yeah, pastoralism is the dream that if only we could reduce sociatal complexity to a level that fits in a single human's head we could somehow make the stress stop
and of course that has never been true, and complexity <-> difficulty are separate axes, but hey, it's a dream
and of course that has never been true, and complexity <-> difficulty are separate axes, but hey, it's a dream
OPEN MULTI YCH - STICKER !
Price: 30€
(Price might rise depending on sona complexity)
Price: 30€
(Price might rise depending on sona complexity)
October 16, 2026 at 5:11 PM
OPEN MULTI YCH - STICKER !
Price: 30€
(Price might rise depending on sona complexity)
Price: 30€
(Price might rise depending on sona complexity)
Early autumn complexity.
October 16, 2026 at 6:46 AM
Early autumn complexity.
the presence of linewomen adds a significant layer of complexity to the analysis and is a continuing source of controversy to linewives
October 18, 2026 at 1:36 PM
the presence of linewomen adds a significant layer of complexity to the analysis and is a continuing source of controversy to linewives
DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
Of course Peter Sellers, of course the whole Cast — but one of my favourite performances of all time is GEORGE C. SCOTT’s in this.
Off the charts genius, Shakespearean in scale & complexity, insanely hilarious, dark as fuck.
He was born 99yrs ago today.
Of course Peter Sellers, of course the whole Cast — but one of my favourite performances of all time is GEORGE C. SCOTT’s in this.
Off the charts genius, Shakespearean in scale & complexity, insanely hilarious, dark as fuck.
He was born 99yrs ago today.
October 18, 2026 at 9:36 AM
DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
Of course Peter Sellers, of course the whole Cast — but one of my favourite performances of all time is GEORGE C. SCOTT’s in this.
Off the charts genius, Shakespearean in scale & complexity, insanely hilarious, dark as fuck.
He was born 99yrs ago today.
Of course Peter Sellers, of course the whole Cast — but one of my favourite performances of all time is GEORGE C. SCOTT’s in this.
Off the charts genius, Shakespearean in scale & complexity, insanely hilarious, dark as fuck.
He was born 99yrs ago today.
This is exactly Ousterhout's point in Philosophy of Software Design:
> Complexity is what a developer experiences at a particular point in time when trying to achieve a particular goal.
Complexity is a cost measured only in developer-time.
> Complexity is what a developer experiences at a particular point in time when trying to achieve a particular goal.
Complexity is a cost measured only in developer-time.
If the black box works well enough, why look inside?
October 19, 2026 at 5:56 PM
This is exactly Ousterhout's point in Philosophy of Software Design:
> Complexity is what a developer experiences at a particular point in time when trying to achieve a particular goal.
Complexity is a cost measured only in developer-time.
> Complexity is what a developer experiences at a particular point in time when trying to achieve a particular goal.
Complexity is a cost measured only in developer-time.
Perspective @cp-immunity.bsky.social @idoamitlab.bsky.social
Embracing macrophage complexity for research and translation
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
Embracing macrophage complexity for research and translation
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
October 17, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Perspective @cp-immunity.bsky.social @idoamitlab.bsky.social
Embracing macrophage complexity for research and translation
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
Embracing macrophage complexity for research and translation
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
But that's true for a lot of stuff. Modern stuff kinda does the opposite a lot. The mechanics are a lot more complex, but the actual emergent complexity tends to be less. You have tools that tend to radically floor complexity, and now you need to make sure you design REAAAALLY good content/enemies.
October 17, 2026 at 10:28 PM
But that's true for a lot of stuff. Modern stuff kinda does the opposite a lot. The mechanics are a lot more complex, but the actual emergent complexity tends to be less. You have tools that tend to radically floor complexity, and now you need to make sure you design REAAAALLY good content/enemies.
So discovering simple rules underneath something complex is absolutely not any indication that the complexity isnt real!
October 17, 2026 at 8:12 AM
So discovering simple rules underneath something complex is absolutely not any indication that the complexity isnt real!
the up-front mechanical complexity increasing while the emergent complexity decreases feels almost "safer" in a way. the designer has more direct control over how action plays out, the first-time player has more clear actionable feedback about what they did right or wrong.
October 17, 2026 at 10:41 PM
the up-front mechanical complexity increasing while the emergent complexity decreases feels almost "safer" in a way. the designer has more direct control over how action plays out, the first-time player has more clear actionable feedback about what they did right or wrong.
I decided to go and learn the building blocks of reality and it turns out IT IS NOT EVEN COMPLICATED PARTICLES! IT IS SO SIMPLE!! ALL ATOMS LITERALLY *ARE* JUST SPICY HYDROGENS BROS ARE OUT HERE WORSHIPPING COMPLEXITY AND ITS JUST PROTONS AND NEUTRONS MASHED TOGETHER
October 18, 2026 at 9:21 AM
I decided to go and learn the building blocks of reality and it turns out IT IS NOT EVEN COMPLICATED PARTICLES! IT IS SO SIMPLE!! ALL ATOMS LITERALLY *ARE* JUST SPICY HYDROGENS BROS ARE OUT HERE WORSHIPPING COMPLEXITY AND ITS JUST PROTONS AND NEUTRONS MASHED TOGETHER
I keep coming back to jazz. I don’t know anything about time signatures or chord progressions, but there’s something about the complexity of it that scratches my brain like no other music
October 17, 2026 at 7:55 AM
I keep coming back to jazz. I don’t know anything about time signatures or chord progressions, but there’s something about the complexity of it that scratches my brain like no other music
What “as a person” means will depend on the role of the AI, on the power dynamics, and on the social context.
Resist the urge to abstract away this complexity! Navigating the complexity *is* ethics as a practice.
Resist the urge to abstract away this complexity! Navigating the complexity *is* ethics as a practice.
October 18, 2026 at 10:58 AM
What “as a person” means will depend on the role of the AI, on the power dynamics, and on the social context.
Resist the urge to abstract away this complexity! Navigating the complexity *is* ethics as a practice.
Resist the urge to abstract away this complexity! Navigating the complexity *is* ethics as a practice.
Luckily all problems are easy to solve. There are no trade-offs. Nuancy and complexity do not exist. Phew!
I guess a lazy 'Blairite wants to cut benefits and force people into work when they are ill' will be the easier response for many on here.
October 18, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Luckily all problems are easy to solve. There are no trade-offs. Nuancy and complexity do not exist. Phew!
Quantum Gate Complexity Reduced for Long Distance Computation
Quantum Gate Complexity Reduced for Long Distance Computation
Quantum Zeitgeist
quantumzeitgeist.com
October 17, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Quantum Gate Complexity Reduced for Long Distance Computation
If one engineer can reliably create a browser this way, the traditional relationship between software complexity, team size, and development cost has been fundamentally disrupted.
October 15, 2026 at 5:46 AM
If one engineer can reliably create a browser this way, the traditional relationship between software complexity, team size, and development cost has been fundamentally disrupted.
My guess is this time next year we'll have:
1. Vergesellschaftung of big Wohnungskonzerne will be bogged down in procedural complexity, though you'll get hints of Staatsbeteiligung fudges and useful building programmes for sozialer Wohnungsbau
Real reform is slow and boring
1. Vergesellschaftung of big Wohnungskonzerne will be bogged down in procedural complexity, though you'll get hints of Staatsbeteiligung fudges and useful building programmes for sozialer Wohnungsbau
Real reform is slow and boring
October 17, 2026 at 11:49 PM
My guess is this time next year we'll have:
1. Vergesellschaftung of big Wohnungskonzerne will be bogged down in procedural complexity, though you'll get hints of Staatsbeteiligung fudges and useful building programmes for sozialer Wohnungsbau
Real reform is slow and boring
1. Vergesellschaftung of big Wohnungskonzerne will be bogged down in procedural complexity, though you'll get hints of Staatsbeteiligung fudges and useful building programmes for sozialer Wohnungsbau
Real reform is slow and boring
They are insanely wrong about two outcomes. There's trillions of possible outcomes. Their entire way of thinking is driven by frustration and fear at the realization that complexity and uncertainty rule the universe.
October 18, 2026 at 2:17 PM
They are insanely wrong about two outcomes. There's trillions of possible outcomes. Their entire way of thinking is driven by frustration and fear at the realization that complexity and uncertainty rule the universe.
it's also massively ignoring the part where the complexity doesn't come from the algorithm that gets run over the weights, but from the weights themselves and the intricate geometric patterns and relationships they form
orthogonal(!) to the "it's not actually just simple math X. but also simplish math Y, Z, ..." discourse is the "missing mood but for thinking" problem that enormously complexity can emerge from even very simple rules alone, much less simple rules applied to "everything that's been written down"
October 17, 2026 at 1:45 AM
it's also massively ignoring the part where the complexity doesn't come from the algorithm that gets run over the weights, but from the weights themselves and the intricate geometric patterns and relationships they form
My one prediction for the referendum today is that many Albertan’s will complain about the complexity and time-consuming voting process for this referendum, while simultaneously voting to add more complexity to the voting process.
October 19, 2026 at 7:03 PM
My one prediction for the referendum today is that many Albertan’s will complain about the complexity and time-consuming voting process for this referendum, while simultaneously voting to add more complexity to the voting process.
I think we’ve gotten a lot better about adding taggants, etc, to increase the complexity cost of covering your tracks
October 19, 2026 at 2:44 AM
I think we’ve gotten a lot better about adding taggants, etc, to increase the complexity cost of covering your tracks
... about shifting between enthusiastic idealism and cynicism; about collectively playing different sides through GMless gameplay and embracing painful complexity.
October 17, 2026 at 9:43 PM
... about shifting between enthusiastic idealism and cynicism; about collectively playing different sides through GMless gameplay and embracing painful complexity.
Modern CSS Grid: Build Responsive Layouts With Less Complexity, by (not found or attributed):
https://www.sitepoint.com/modern-css-grid-build-responsive-layouts-with-less-complexity/?ref=frontenddogma.com
#css #layout #grids #flexbox #examples
https://www.sitepoint.com/modern-css-grid-build-responsive-layouts-with-less-complexity/?ref=frontenddogma.com
#css #layout #grids #flexbox #examples
Modern CSS Grid: Build Responsive Layouts With Less Complexity
www.sitepoint.com
October 18, 2026 at 7:30 AM