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This conflict highlights the definition of anthropocene; it is like trying to define planets by size & orbit. Then finding out that no matter how you define it, Pluto must be called either a planetoid, or we have way more than 9 planets; so we must find a trade off. https://t.co/vdEPTeyvDY
We'e basically had a long standing disagreement on the term for a few years now. https://t.co/kK29hh3XLoIf you squint, the issue is that multiple fields of research are coming at the problem from a different perspective, and thus are finding divides in their utility.
Anyway, this is all an excuse to talk about the taxonomy of candy. Happy October!https://t.co/3BvIqCRQNf
I wonder if anybody bothered to heckle Noam Chomsky on his use of "The Anthropocene"https://t.co/b3kjMlqQIS
Speaking of candy and definitions; Did you know that most doctors look for elevated hbA1C to diagnose diabetes type II... and yet two people with the same hbA1C can have a drastically different symptom profile (because it's an average!).https://t.co/Hrvq3bet1z
It is illegal to sell artificial pancreases that help to keep patients in good blood sugar zones.But if you have hacking skills, you can build your own.https://t.co/azzjfz6TmsBecause how you define something makes a difference on how the FDA regulates it.
How we define things matters: Weird diet meant to help with high blood pressure seems to impact Gout.But I'm just being salty again?"hypothesized that reducing sodium intake would lower UA levels""we found that higher sodium intake decreased serum UA"https://t.co/YV8uYShjr4
I redefine things all the time.Why I redefine 6 impossible diseases before breakfast.Cereal is just a bunch of candied corn meal turned into a soup.https://t.co/HGl96WTqrT https://t.co/yxKh08sUVB
Cereal is a sugary breakfast soup popularized in part by a guy who thought it would help prevent wicked masturbation. Tho, he appeared quite observant and talked about squatting / imbalances due to constipation. Probably wouldn't put sugar on his flakes.https://t.co/3c5ESNg63u https://t.co/7BkSMFNFtU
"Vitamin D and elevated serum uric acid [...] predictors [...] type 2 diabetes..."https://t.co/gjICwht5IMhttps://t.co/nohhxQrU8R
How do you define gout? I bet it's not how I define gout.And frankly, I don't give a shit about how you define gout.https://t.co/jZsKHcsoZC
Is there a way to measure gout levels overnight without catheterizing myself?https://t.co/FjfAPCxenI
@vgul Worse is if you have a bunch of genes that predispose for increased uric acid production (and gout) but don't hit high enough A1C or fasting glucose response to show up on a MD's radar. All the pain of diabetes type 2 Peripheral neuropathy and none of the measurable symptoms.
A purine by any other name may not cause gout if your gut microbes play along.https://t.co/oUdXwGOPjV
How do I convince a medical doctor to give me tests, if we're operating under different definitions of what cause gout?How long does it take for medical establishment's definitions to change?https://t.co/gelD1bPanV
Here's a fun test they did where they took one sample of someone's blood (for uric acid) and compared it to high blood pressure readings.https://t.co/7JBhra76ScWhat definition of gout are they using where one sample would be a meaningful measure?https://t.co/zypVMfYBX3
Hand drawn graph from a 1925 paper on purine levels in fasting and rates of uric acid expulsion. Wish my handwriting was this good.They found all sorts of weirdness in how kidneys concentrate uric acid during fasting states.https://t.co/tTp8YLVzIV https://t.co/zLAfkuNYjD
It's amazing how many of modern medical science's conclusions can be redefined if you have even a basic appreciation of Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem and a fetish for ants.How annoying it must be if definitions disagree over (the nature of) geological timescales.
Honestly, I get mad that everybody freaks out when I talk about anchovies flavored chocolates. That, at least, I understand.Imagine dedicating your life to nerding out over definitions of rock strata and having someone come along and step on your ontological sand castles.
I've learned that if I use the magic word "umami", all of a sudden talking about anchovie flavored dishes seem to get a pass. Strangely, some people still are disgusted by the fishy (hah) taste.https://t.co/IJ17CHfzzU
Why when we mean "something is suspicious" we say "it smells fishy?"... Furthermore, do rituals around fish markets exist across culture and impart a 'fish' metaphor on risk? What is "Intersemiotic translating" anyway? https://t.co/79UkhFDMBJhttps://t.co/VF4xJ5yrrK
"Computers are nothing but puns on bits, and languages are nothing but puns on letters. Puns force one to drop down from the abstract semantic level to the raw syntactic level of sub-words or characters, and back up again to achieve some semantic twist."https://t.co/YaUDRnZRYB
Puns are phonological metaphors.They're literally about playing with definitions.Why do we stop at words? Can't entire concepts be punned if they "sound alike"*?*metaphorically speaking ofc.https://t.co/AWw7x45w7X
I like to define "Anthropocene" as the age of corn. That humans have been turning dead trees into plastic an excuse for corn based bioplastics."The global bioplastic market is projected to grow from $17 billion this year to almost $44 billion in 2022."https://t.co/HX234uboyM https://t.co/KOpZjgUkB9
Until we learn how to properly recycle (compost, eat?) corn based bioplastics at scale, we're never going to get rid of the Anthropocene.https://t.co/cH5zGuDFh8
If you are ontologically soft, you can define most of humanity as being a corn byproduct.https://t.co/9XywyZQRDB