Angkor Wat Edition

June 24, 2009 8:42 AM

Too Complex To Exist? [1] Paul Kedrosky has been pondering complex social systems and why they sometimes fail. Apparently it has something to do with "normalization of deviance," "tight coupling" [2] and "slack." [3]
posted by kliuless (7 comments total)

Four links in and this is fascinating. Thanks.

Seems to be an overlap with the thinking of Paul Virilio.
posted by WPW at 9:22 AM on June 24, 2009

We live within our means. Then our means change. If means go up, good. If means go down, bad.

Tada!
posted by Xoebe at 9:30 AM on June 24, 2009

So "normalization of deviance", "tight coupling", and "slack" - don't mean what you think they mean, you right-wing nutjobs.
posted by twoleftfeet at 10:07 AM on June 24, 2009

Apparently it has something to do with "normalization of deviance," "tight coupling" [2] and "slack." [3]

Don't forget the yetis [4].
posted by FatherDagon at 10:16 AM on June 24, 2009

Tight coupling? Slack? Normalization of deviance? That's when I knew that this guy is an engineer or software developer. And a glimpse at his Books list confirms the latter.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 11:24 AM on June 24, 2009

While the whole phase changes and complex system stuff was interesting, what really got me was the video of the shock-wave in traffic: the traffic jam developing and propagating on a closed circular track was funny and mesmerizing.
posted by selenized at 11:43 AM on June 24, 2009

The National Geographic article on Angkor is accompanied by a nice photo gallery and an interactive feature.
posted by homunculus at 3:31 PM on June 24, 2009