An interesting discussion circulated the Blog Wyrm offices this week that is worth sharing. It was about so-called one hit wonders. It started with an overheard, snide remark about how pathetic one hit wonders were. The Blog Wyrm staff reflected on this rudeness and crafted this response. We should be so lucky as to have ever written a single hit song. And to any who deride one hit wonders we at Blog Wyrm respectfully ask just what remarkable thing you have done. That isn’t to say that we all shouldn’t shake our heads at the arrogant attitudes that sometimes spring from having a hit song – simply that we should not diminish the accomplishment just because the accomplisher is acting like an ass.
As an interesting side note, one of us remarked on an analysis once heard on the radio. The commentator was actually pointing out that it is likely far worse to be a two hit wonder than either a one hit wonder or an established artist with many hits. In the latter case (say the Rolling Stones), the entire catalog speaks to the lasting accomplishment of a group of artists who consistently could deliver. In the former case, the notoriety of the one hit wonder (say Rick Astley) has some lasting power (e.g. Rickrolling). The two hit wonder benefits neither from the novelty nor the consistency.
But you, dear reader, can certainly benefit from this week’s articles.
Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited with saying that “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of a little mind.” The operative word in that quote is ‘foolish’ and the operative wisdom is determining when doggedness transitions to foolishness. Unfortunately, it has often been the case in comics to dismiss the desire for consistency as a fanboy’s foolishness. About Comics disagrees.
Most of us dread using public restrooms. They are usually less than pristine in their cleanliness. But what is the best method for promoting cleanliness and what connection does this question have with economics? Read the current installment Common Cents to see how uncertainty in the market place and the Paper Towel Wars go hand-in-hand.
Plasma is often called the fourth state of matter. This curious situation of side-by-side coexisting charged fluids leads to strange collective behavior not seen in the more terrestrial examples of solid, liquid, and gas. This week, Under the Hood begins a look at wave phenomena in plasmas by looking at the formalism bases on Maxwell’s equations for the fields and the Lorentz force law for the particles.
Aristotle to Digital continues its three part examination of propositional calculus. This week’s focus is on formal proofs and how much easier it is to logically prove things when words aren’t in the way.
Enjoy!