If you would like additional framing: you have only 30 seconds to prepare and you can talk for 10-30 minutes.
“So you’re probably wondering why I’m pissing on the floor”.
I can do one better, “so you’re probably wondering why I’m naked and pissing on the floor”.
Optimal crop tables in Stardew Valley.
Do tell.
I just use Stardew Profits
Nice! I’ve been making most of my money from mushrooms.
A year ago my cat was living on the street. Today she has enough passive income to hire her own chef and masseuse. Follow her for more advice.
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While dogs were domesticated by humans, there’s a growing body of evidence that cats were actually domesticated…by cats. The lack of any archaeological evidence that they were ever subject to any intentional or large-scale selective breeding, the seeming change in feline vocalizations to more closely match those of human young, alongside cats’ current “partially-domesticated” status and the rapid reemergence of wild behaviors in feral populations, all point to a one-sided decision by ancient felines to settle down around humans.
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Ok ok. Bonus fact:
There is some speculation that, in addition to domesticating themselves, cats have also domesticated some humans.
The parasite toxoplasma gondii, which is carried by cats and can be contracted from dealing with their waste, causes a disease called toxoplasmosis, even in immunocompetent individuals. While not confirmed in any study, some researchers have suggested that the disease causes mental and social effects which incline the sufferer toward mild antisocial behavior, increasing their likelihood of adopting more cats, which increases their likelihood of being reinfected with toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma gondii can also be passed from (human) mother to child at birth, meaning that the feline-domesticated human is likely to give birth to a likewise domesticated child.
This speculation has led to some news outlets breathlessly reporting that toxoplasmosis “causes” people to get more cats (or even to like cats more), and led to the association of toxoplasma gondii with so-called “crazy cat lady syndrome.”
The title of my talk is “Innovation as Rebellion against Complexity.”
I’ll start with my experience studying and teaching music history, and demonstrate how every major musical stylistic shift over the past 1500 years or so can be seen as a revolt against excessive complexity developing in the previous style. One example would be the shift from thick, complex polyphony that had become the norm in late Renaissance music, to the relatively simple and much-easier-on-the-ears style of early homophonic music. But I’d actually touch on all periods of music history.
I’d then challenge my audience to ask themselves and each other if this trend can be seen in other fields as well. Do we see such innovative rebellions in, say, art? Or literature? Architecture? The sciences? And what about technology…
…and are we on the cusp of a new rebellion against the massively complex technology that’s thrust upon us today? What does that look like? What innovations await us at the conclusion of that revolution?
I mean I’d be winging the fuck out of it with only a few seconds to prep but wouldn’t that be great to talk about?
You can see I’ve done a lot of thinking about this lol.
Finally a worthy opponent!
Do we see such innovative rebellions in, say, art? Or literature? Architecture? The sciences?
I never thought that music went through a similar rebellion. At least not in the matters of complexity. But it makes sense. I’m very familiar with the art & architecture one. Modernism is one of the most revolutionary movements in human history.
“A fool admires complexity. A genius admires simplicity.”
-Terrence “Terry” Andrew Davis
I would happily sit through this TED talk!
I’m not homophonic. Some of my best beats are homophones.
So are Gregorian chants more musically complex than modern pop music? Or is it more of a pendulum?
A pendulum is a good way of looking at it. What you see in the Medieval period is, as an example, musicians writing more and more challenging lines to sing. Wider leaps, rapid-fire phrases…and this is how they show off their skills. You see this more in the secular music of the day, as the church is constantly pushing for sacred music that doesn’t call attention to itself. But, the backlash happens because while those complex, jagged lines might be lots of fun for the singer, not so much for the listener. And so begins a movement toward vocal lines that are easier on the ears - smoother, more melodic, easier to sing, which also lines up nicely with developments in counterpoint and polyphony that allow major forms like the motet to come into being.
And of course musicians, not being able to help themselves, start competing with each other to write more and more complex motets, which sparks another aesthetic backlash, and it all starts again.
This is a gross simplification of course but just to give you an idea how this all works.
Where would you say modern pop is on the swing?
Modern pop - which I define as what you typically hear on commercial radio, but you could also define as the trending artists on digital platforms - is very safe, very conservative, and very listener friendly.
But…to use an example that’s relevant to your question, you can look at the rise of punk rock in the 70’s. Punk was a reaction to the growing popularity of Progressive Rock artists like King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Rush, and similar artists that dabbled in complex harmony, polyrhythm, mixed/odd meters, and so on. Punk artists felt that these were becoming too elitist and exclusive and said, hey, how about we just play three chords and say fuck a lot? Let’s make music anyone can pick up a cheap guitar and learn in five minutes!
In 2026 I’d be hard pressed to identify a popular musical style that’s pushing the boundaries of listenability to the point of sparking a backlash. And we just had a couple of these not that long ago anyway: Minimalism in the 60’s and my aforementioned Punk movement. I’d say we’re in kind of a lull at the moment, though it’s not hard to look at all the styles and genres that sprang out of Punk and see where they’re going. But these patterns span decades, sometimes centuries. It may not happen again in our lifetime.
Thanks for the follow-up!
Well said and a great point. I do feel, personally, I have already begun a small technological revolt. You should actually make a
TED talkvideo or blog post about this if you have more to say.That’s very interesting
Empathy and kindness in parenting.
How insurance actually works, so dipshits can understand the real value of a single national health care plan.
So, it turns out teleportation is real …
Societal enshitification
Crash course on how to have a panic attack/nervous breakdown during a live broadcast
Edit: uh oh, my stalker null@piefed.nullspace.lol is back
Yeah my thought was “Hello I’ve been teleported here from my perspective so either that’s now true and I need to go lay down or I’m having a psychotic break and need to go lay down. Goodbye!” then walk as quickly backstage as possible.
Wow, you’d be able to get words out?
Well either that or “Fuck this” would be said, but either way I’m hauling ass to backstage.
Critical infrastructure vulnerability.
“Punishment is the wrong way: Why Rehabilitation will always win out, and how it ties in with poverty, crime and mental health”
I could easily talk half an hour about that thematic complex without getting boring and making a pretty good argument why throwing a substantial portion of your population in jail is just slavery in disguise.
The reality of life-saving measures in health care, and why a having a DNR (that isn’t a surprise to your loved ones) is so important.
We are so focused on not dying that we forget what it means to live well.
My wife used to work in a nursing home. I’ve heard a lot about the slings and arrows of end-of-life care, and lifesaving techniques, and no thanks, I’ll just die.
Looking forward to your ted talk.
“The art of improvising a seminar while nude”
“and with some poop still hanging”
GFL
At the beginning of my talk, I would have everyone turn off their phones and any other electronics. Then for the rest of the 15 minutes, I would have us all just sit around and veg out.
No talking, no distractions, no demands. Just day dream about whatever. You can take a nap if you like. You probably need one if you do.
And then my “talk” would end with “Let’s try this every day.”
I also add a walk into the mix. No phones, no TVs, no computers… nothing with a screen - I do this every day and it’s easy because I now live in Spain and that’s the life here after 7pm. But in the USA i was the weird one.
Speaking of, it’s 8am Saturday here. So I’m off to do nothing. See ya
I love this.
