About This Author
Come closer.
|
Complex Numbers
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.
October 2, 2021 at 12:02am October 2, 2021 at 12:02am
|
Today in New Stuff We Just Made Up For Attention
Okay, so not "today," but way back in January. Whatever. "Revenge Bedtime Procrastination" is a goddamn stupid name for this phenomenon and nothing is going to change my mind about that.
Itâs late and youâre exhausted. You barely had time to eat dinner and shower after work. Maybe you watched a few episodes of a show, read a chapter of your book, struggled through your skin-care routine. Now youâre in bed, and you know you should sleep.
People have time to watch a show AND read a book? And what's a skin-care routine?
But you keep scrollingâpast the point that feels good. Your eyes start to close and you have to be up at 5 a.m. for work, but youâre not ready for rest. Some part of you is unsatisfied.
This activity has a name: bedtime revenge procrastination.
But it was called "revenge bedtime procrastination" in the headline. Either way, it's a goddamn stupid name.
Itâs deeply validating to learn that this habit has a name, and that you are not alone in doing it.
Oh, wonderful, you've achieved validation. How nice.
âWhere people will refuse to sleep because they donât have much control over their daytime life, so they will sleep very late at night, even if theyâre super tired, because they just donât want that free time to end at night, and they donât want tomorrow to start?â
I just figured this was Toddler Mode. You know, you're a kid and your mom says "Go to bed," and you cross your arms, stamp your foot and go "NO! Don' wanna!"
âThere's lots of research showing that feeling like you have a bit of free time is super important for well-being,â she says. But at the same time, âmany of the problems that drive revenge sleep procrastinationâfeeling depressed, being too burned out to enjoy your day, and so onâcan be helped by simply getting more sleep,â she adds.
Oh. That's very helpful. The problem is you don't want to sleep and it can be alleviated by getting more sleep. Did someone take out student loans to be able to say that? Also, now it's a third formulation of the phrase. I get that it's a translation from Mandarin (says so near the top of the article.) Still, you'd thing English speakers would do their usual shoehorning of a phrase into an acronym.
You can also do more to optimize the time you do spend on your nighttime ârevenge,â she says.
I think at least part of the problem is too much optimization. How about... stop optimizing everything?
âOften, when we get free time, we flop down and watch TV or scroll through social media. These leisure activities don't really give us the well-being bump we assume.â
Have you tried drinking or smoking weed?
So, okay, I will agree that this is a Real Thing -- I did it some when I was overloaded with work -- but I also maintain that the name of it is the stupidest fucking thing I've seen in a long time. So...
Merit Badge Mini-Contest!
Can you come up with a better name for this phenomenon? It can be serious or funny. It can turn word salad into an acronym if you want, or it doesn't have to; whatever you think it should be called. I have to admit I'm at a loss, myself, but I just can't keep that stupid name for it in my head. The one I like best will get its attractive and creative author a Merit Badge tomorrow. Deadline as always is midnight tonight, Saturday, October 2, WDC time. But if you can't think of one, feel free to comment anyway (even if you disagree that it's a stupid name). |
© Copyright 2024 Robert Waltz (UN: cathartes02 at Writing.Com). All rights reserved. Robert Waltz has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
|