Synthesis of Rare Earths and Related Materials

The specific challenge of creating the 17 elements known as rare earths—along with their alloys and compounds—from more common materials. Rare earths aren't actually rare in the earth's crust; they're just rarely concentrated enough to mine economically. They're also essential for everything from smartphones to electric vehicles to missile guidance systems. Synthesizing them would end dependence on the few countries that control their mining and processing, potentially reshaping global power dynamics. The science is difficult because rare earths are chemically similar and hard to separate, but progress is being made. The dream is a world where rare earths are as common and cheap as aluminum, and no nation can hold the world hostage by controlling their supply.

Synthesis of Rare Earths and Related Materials Example: "The startup promised to synthesize rare earths from coal waste, freeing the West from dependence on foreign suppliers. Investors poured money in. The process worked—in the lab, at small scale, with pure inputs. Scaling up to industrial production with real-world waste proved harder. Years later, they were still scaling. Rare earths remained rare, just slightly less so."

by Dumu The Void February 16, 2026

Law of the Absolute and Relative Ad Hocs

The principle that ad hoc constructions operate in two modes: absolute ad hocs (solutions or explanations that are so perfect for their specific case that they achieve a kind of universal validity within that case) and relative ad hocs (temporary fixes that work for now, in this context, but won't survive beyond it). The law acknowledges that some ad hoc solutions become permanent—the temporary fix that becomes the standard, the one-off explanation that becomes the theory. Others remain forever ad hoc, useful only in their original context. The law of absolute and relative ad hocs helps distinguish between the ad hoc that transcends its origins and the ad hoc that remains forever local.

Law of the Absolute and Relative Ad Hocs Example: "His ad hoc fix for the leaking pipe—a clamp and some rubber—worked so well it became the permanent solution. The law of absolute and relative ad hocs said: this ad hoc transcended its origins; it became absolute for this pipe. His later ad hoc fix for a relationship problem—flowers and an apology—remained relative: it worked once, for that fight, and couldn't be generalized. Both were valid in their way."

by Dumu The Void February 17, 2026

Law of the Absolute and Relative Fallacies

The principle that fallacies operate in two modes: absolute fallacies (errors that are fallacious in all contexts, by any reasonable standard) and relative fallacies (errors that are fallacious in some contexts but may be acceptable or even valid in others). The law acknowledges that some fallacies are universally wrong—affirming the consequent, denying the antecedent, non sequiturs that genuinely don't follow. Other fallacies are context-dependent—appeals to emotion that are appropriate in some settings, ad hominem that is relevant, slippery slopes that sometimes happen. The law of absolute and relative fallacies reconciles the need for logical standards with the reality of contextual reasoning.

Law of the Absolute and Relative Fallacies Example: "They debated whether his emotional appeal was fallacious. Absolute fallacies: non sequiturs, formal errors—he hadn't committed those. Relative fallacies: emotional appeals can be fallacious in some contexts, appropriate in others. Here, asking for compassion was relevant. The law said: relatively, not absolutely fallacious. She accepted the nuance, which is rare in online arguments."

by Dumu The Void February 17, 2026

What The Fuck Is An Interpersonal Relationship

What The Fuck Is An Interpersonal Relationship

What The Fuck Is An Interpersonal Relationship

by Angel234IsTheDarkSeraphim April 1, 2025

R.T.B. (Relationship Transmitted Baggage)

When the baggage (i.e. commitment issues) from a previous relationship causes a person to break up with their new partner, and as a result, that new partner gains the baggage of the dumper, which causes problems in the new partners future relationships. Similar to an S.T.D., except mental rather than physical.

"Dexter, why don't you just date that cute girl from school that texts you all the time?" "I can't! Catherine gave me R.T.B. (Relationship Transmitted Baggage), and ever since I have serious commitment issues."

by insomniacwithnightmares November 20, 2017

《¤》HKPlay《¤》 And《¤》 Jason 《¤》Mantzoukas《¤》 Are 《¤》Related《¤》

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《¤》HKPlay《¤》 And《¤》 Jason 《¤》Mantzoukas《¤》 Are 《¤》Related《¤》

by SuelTameOresuTeMato February 24, 2025

TURDS, Trump Unrequited Relationship Derangement Syndrome

TURDS—Trump Unrequited Relationship Derangement Syndrome—isn’t just a joke; it’s a mirror held up to the bizarre, one-sided obsession some fans have with Donald Trump.
Including the tagline "he ain’t ever gonna love you back, boo" like in the example, combines political rhetoric with pop culture, referencing the iconic line from Beyoncé's "Single Ladies". This phrase emphasizes the unrequited nature of such devotion, suggesting that while supporters may idolize Trump, his feelings aren't reciprocated.
The derangement angle is where the TURDS start to hit the fan. Imagine being so fixated on someone that you lose sight of reality—whether it’s scrolling endless Twitter threads, crying over canceled rallies, or muttering his name under your breath like a lovesick teenager. It’s not just devotion; it’s obsession, and Trump’s narcissistic nature only fuels the fire. He’s the sun in this messed-up solar system, burning dimly orange but never actually seeing you orbiting around him.
And let’s face it: he ain’t ever gonna love you back, boo. Not really. Not in that way. But hey, at least you’ve got the satisfaction of knowing, with plenty of other TURDS out there, you’re not the only one obsessed.

Me: "TDS? Trump certainly has some sort of derangement syndrome, but you seem to have a bad case of the TURDS: He ain’t ever gonna love you back, boo."

Them: "What's TURDS?"

Me: "TURDS, Trump Unrequited Relationship Derangement Syndrome"

by megaleach February 28, 2025