The last of our genre lists brings the guitars, the energy, the aggression, but also the sweetness, as some of these albums include moments of surprising tenderness. Their dynamic contrast highlights their emotional impact. Catharsis is a word often used to describe post-rock, and one will encounter that here; but our list also encompasses Welsh Primitive, jazz and the blues. As in other lists…
Georgiy Potopalskiy (aka Ujif_notfound) — Postulate (I Shall Sing Until My Land is Free)
The 2014 poem “Headphones” by Ukrainian poet Serhiy Zhadan (1974 – ) tells of a quiet and disengaged man, Sasha, who wanders the bombed-out remains of a Ukrainian city in the Donbas war zone.
Surprised when the shelling started,
he turned on the news, then quit watching.
He roams the city, never removing his headphones,
listening to “golden oldies”,
he runs into burnt out cars,
and dismembered bodies.
The poem makes it clear that war is not a metaphor. It is very much a reality, and many are currently living it. Here we are offered a glimpse into the ongoing horrors of the Russian assault upon Ukrainian life. Within the poem, Zhadan lets music become Sasha’s last forms of solace and, understandably, Sasha disengages and retreats inward as the hellscape of war encroaches. On one hand, yes, Zhadan’s poem conveys the traumatic realities of despair for many Ukrainians at the hands of Russian colonialist expansion. And on the other hand, Zhadan keeps music alive within Sasha reminding us of the importance of the preservation of humanity, art and music, even while under siege.
Georgiy Potopalskiy’s (also known by his artistic alias, Ujif_notfound)’s Postulate is an unfiltered work of blasted soundscapes, hyperkinetic breaks and bristling guitar noise that responds to the continuing conflict in Ukraine.
In addition to being a consummate work of industrial electronic music, Postulate is also a living, musical history documenting the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. In Potopalskiy’s own words:
"Silence no longer exists: it’s been replaced by this music —music of collapse, music of warning. Every step, every breath — an echo of the explosion. Glass becomes sound. Sound becomes memory. Memory does not forgive."
Within the album itself, the the guitar makes a powerful yet controlled entrance in the album’s third track, “Promova.” While still at this point adjunct to the high-energy electronic beats that have been accelerating the album’s beginning, the guitar feels anthemic and hopeful.
In “Kordon,” Potopalskiy pivots away from heavy industrial electronic music and loops and samples what sounds like the movement of a camera’s shutter fused with a panicked heartbeat. Potopalskiy turns headphones into an almost-stethoscope, enabling listeners to listen to the sounds of the body while hearing the camera’s imperative to document. Potopalskiy calls his project/artist alias ujif_notfound an attempt to explore the “volatile dynamics between man and machine - particularly the relationship between user and interface.” The connection between sound, the body, the camera and living through this conflict is evident in this track specifically, and the album more generally.
In “Kashtone,” Potopalskiy blends bristling guitar noise with more hard-edged rhythmic beats that are easy to sit and rest into. This track and others such as “Coda Shturm” feel unexpectedly short which I’m sure is by design. By the time I can lean comfortably into any of the tracks, it’s another hard pivot and we’re on to what comes next. No doubt a feeling well known by Potopalskiy and others living through crisis.
We need not let ourselves and our neighbors get to the point where we are isolated and dejected like Zhadan’s Sasha who opened this writing. We can, instead, organize around our shared humanity and love of art and music to show up for our brothers and sisters both across the street and across the globe. We’re in this together.
End of the World and Non-Euclidean Geometry: Mathematics Note -5 (essay)
The main character of the Journey to the West, Son Goku, was so proud of his power that he went on a rampage in the heavens. Buddha makes a bet whether he can go to the end of the world. He takes the bet, flies clouds, reaches the place where five pillars stand, writes "I'm here" on the pillars, urinates, and returns. However, when he came back, Buddha said, "What you think is the end of the world is nothing more than what is on the palm of your hand." Smelly urine is dripping. Buddha's palm fell over him, and Son Goku fell under the mountain.
Well, this anecdote is also interesting as a topic of "Euclidean geometry" and "non-Euclidean geometry" in mathematics. Euclid's ``Theory: Stoikeia'', a compilation of Greek mathematics, caused a great deal of controversy in later generations. There is only one."
A "postulate" is a truth that can be accepted as correct without proof, but this postulate of parallel lines is more complicated than other postulates. Is it?”, and there were many people who worked hard to prove it. However, the effort was not rewarded, and some people even doubted the parallel postulate. As a result, instead of denying Euclidean geometry, another system of geometry without contradiction was established. These are called "non-Euclidean geometries".
Make the distance between the inner point (which sets up a circle) and the circumference infinite.
Therefore, for humans inside this circle, the circumference is infinitely far away, and no matter how much they walk, they cannot escape from this world. Only the inside of this circle is the whole universe. But for those of us who are looking at this world from the outside, the circumference is at a finite distance within reach. It just shrinks as you get closer. It's an illusion that they look parallel. intersect at infinity.
Oliver Byrne - The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid
Almost a century before Mondrian made his iconic red, yellow, and blue geometric compositions, and around the time that Edward Livingston Youmans was creating his stunning chemistry diagrams, an eccentric 19th-century civil engineer and mathematician named Oliver Byrne produced a striking series of vibrant diagrams in primary colors for a 1847 edition of the legendary Greek mathematical treatise Euclid’s Elements.
Vaccines are the unsung heroes of modern medicine. They quietly work behind the scenes, protecting us from diseases that once ravaged populations. The importance of vaccines cannot be overstated; they are the cornerstone of public health, safeguarding individuals and communities alike.
The Science Speaks
The statistics are compelling. According to the World Health Organization, vaccines prevent 2-3 million deaths every year. Diseases like smallpox have been eradicated, and polio is on the brink of extinction, thanks to widespread vaccination efforts. The measles vaccine alone has saved over 21 million lives since 2000. These numbers aren’t just figures; they’re a testament to the power of vaccines to change the course of history.
Adverse Reactions: A Minor Concern
Critics often point to adverse reactions as a reason to avoid vaccines. But let’s put this into perspective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that serious side effects occur in less than one in a million doses. Compare this to the risks associated with the diseases themselves, and the argument becomes clear: the benefits far outweigh the risks. (It’s like choosing between a paper cut and a broken bone—no contest.)
Building Trust
Trust in vaccines is crucial. Recent reports of a minor outbreak of a rare disease in a remote area remind us of the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates. When trust falters, vaccination rates drop, and diseases can resurface. It’s a delicate balance, but one that can be maintained through education and transparency.
Pre-bunking Criticisms
Some argue that natural immunity is superior to vaccine-induced immunity. However, this overlooks the fact that natural infection can lead to severe complications or even death. Vaccines provide a safe way to develop immunity without the risks associated with the actual diseases. It’s like having your cake and eating it too—without the stomachache.
Calls to Action
So, what can you do? Stay informed. Support vaccination programs in your community. Talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you might have. And most importantly, get vaccinated and encourage others to do the same. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.
Conclusion: A Collective Responsibility
Vaccines are a collective responsibility. They protect not just the individual, but the entire community. In a world where misinformation can spread like wildfire, it’s more important than ever to stand by the science. By choosing to vaccinate, we choose to protect our loved ones, our neighbors, and ourselves. It’s a choice for a healthier, safer world.
Yesterday, the news highlighted a significant step forward in criminal justice reform: the introduction of a new bipartisan bill aimed at expanding rehabilitation programs for non-violent offenders. This is a big deal, folks. Fast forward to one year from today, and we’ll probably see these efforts starting to bear fruit in our communities.
The bill focuses on increasing funding for mental health and addiction treatment programs within the prison system. By next year, we can expect these programs to be more widely implemented, helping inmates address the root causes of their behavior. This isn’t just about being nice—it’s about reducing recidivism and making our communities safer. When people leave prison with the tools they need to stay out, everyone wins.
Moreover, the bill encourages partnerships between prisons and local businesses to provide job training and placement services. So, a year from now, we might see more former inmates finding stable employment, which is a key factor in preventing re-offense. It’s like giving someone a fishing rod instead of just a fish—empowerment at its finest.
Of course, challenges remain. Implementing these programs effectively will require ongoing commitment and resources. But with continued bipartisan support, we’re likely to see a positive shift. By next year, we’ll probably be talking about how these changes are starting to make a real difference, one person at a time. Here’s to hoping for a safer, more compassionate society where everyone gets a second chance.
