Drew Morgan
@drewtm.bsky.social
observe the universe, ask good questions, make jokes, and do your best to carry on.
Alton Brown just released a video describing a 24-hour simultaneous thaw and brine; with that method there's still time!
November 24, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Alton Brown just released a video describing a 24-hour simultaneous thaw and brine; with that method there's still time!
The point is, when you look at something big and complex and think "I want to change that," consider how many intermediate steps might be required. The long path to your goal might begin in a counterintuitive direction.
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 AM
The point is, when you look at something big and complex and think "I want to change that," consider how many intermediate steps might be required. The long path to your goal might begin in a counterintuitive direction.
The path between two states of a complex system can also be non-existent or unidirectional. Sometimes one can't go back. Sometimes one would have had to choose differently in the past. Sometimes one would have had to roll a different number on some metaphorical dice.
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 AM
The path between two states of a complex system can also be non-existent or unidirectional. Sometimes one can't go back. Sometimes one would have had to choose differently in the past. Sometimes one would have had to roll a different number on some metaphorical dice.
Some configurations can seem quite similar but connect only through long chains of intermediate states; a person outside a building might be only a meter away from a person inside the building, but the sequence of actions, locations, etc to get between those states could be fantastically long.
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Some configurations can seem quite similar but connect only through long chains of intermediate states; a person outside a building might be only a meter away from a person inside the building, but the sequence of actions, locations, etc to get between those states could be fantastically long.
This is because the system has dynamics and its changes are governed by some (possibly statistical) rules. A person must obey inertia, gravity, and their own psychology, for instance. A nation arises according to weather, geology, and the architecture of the human social mind.
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 AM
This is because the system has dynamics and its changes are governed by some (possibly statistical) rules. A person must obey inertia, gravity, and their own psychology, for instance. A nation arises according to weather, geology, and the architecture of the human social mind.
In all of these, the number of possible configurations is infinite, especially because the boundaries of a complex system are not often well defined. But the number of possible transitions out of any given state is much smaller than the number of possible states (though possibly still infinite).
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 AM
In all of these, the number of possible configurations is infinite, especially because the boundaries of a complex system are not often well defined. But the number of possible transitions out of any given state is much smaller than the number of possible states (though possibly still infinite).
Wow, I didn't realize quite how non-uniform this was. I just looked it up and it seems like San Francisco alone had a larger homeless population than 29 of these states.
October 2, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Wow, I didn't realize quite how non-uniform this was. I just looked it up and it seems like San Francisco alone had a larger homeless population than 29 of these states.
this random stranger also votes for Galaxy Black
August 9, 2025 at 2:10 AM
this random stranger also votes for Galaxy Black
@kingarthurbaking.bsky.social's organic bread flour, 95% hydration, with a big flax+honey+salt ripple. Misted the top with water and sprinkled salt on top too. I'm excited for this one.
January 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
@kingarthurbaking.bsky.social's organic bread flour, 95% hydration, with a big flax+honey+salt ripple. Misted the top with water and sprinkled salt on top too. I'm excited for this one.
i was just reading about new theories about the fall of the neanderthals in Europe being partly because they didn't use projectile weapons like we do.
January 28, 2025 at 12:03 AM
i was just reading about new theories about the fall of the neanderthals in Europe being partly because they didn't use projectile weapons like we do.