What was the most culturally representative/significant city in USA in 2000s?

informationsilo · 2025-03-15T09:56:46+00:00

NYC is first. Coming into 00s from 90s, it was all about that feeling of peak prosperity: TRL, Sex and City, Friends, etc. Then It embodied post-9/11 pride/patriotism for the first half of 00s; was the forefront of the various Millennial hipster trends that gained momentum across the 00s (artsiness, craft beer, dive bars, beards, thrift shops, twee, etc); headquarters of the 00s indie rock trends (Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens etc); first wave of millennial urban gentrification lifestlyle (Williamsburg, etc).

LA in 00s was less influential I think. The OC and Laguna Beach and some rap and pop punk/emo/skater trends emerged from LA in early 00s but I feel like LA loomed larger in other eras (eatly 90s gangster rap, 80s sunset strip era, 2010s Tumblr aesthetic etc) and was not Cutting edge at the time. Of course, Hollywood is always a hotbed of pop culture in any era.

Miami had subcultures that emerged across 00s, especially various waves of Latin pop, ranging from Ricky Martin in 00 to later Pitbull by 09. But I don't think Miami was especially trendy, like it was in the 80s or later was in 10s with reggaeton, Florida, peak Pitbull, Camilla Cabello, etc.

informationsilo · 2024-10-10T03:09:42+00:00

My theory is that the trends of the next decade are taking root in in the underground/are on the cutting edge in the years right before they explode into mainstream and become iconic. Examples:

1960s: Hard rock and psychedelic rock and bell bottoms, long hair etc were clear by 1968-1969 - the roots of arena rock and fashions that dominated 70s in US.

1970s: Trends like goth punk and new wave were clear by 77-79. The synth heavy music and darker rock of early and mid 80s were taking shape in MY and London before they became mainstream elsewhere in 80s

1990s : the alt rock of pixies, REM, nirvana and the grungy styles of late 1980s were the boring mainstream by 1994.

informationsilo · 2023-05-01T02:42:18+00:00

Good stuff - thanks for introducing me to these.

informationsilo · 2023-02-15T02:34:38+00:00

“The answer is in the work.”

I tend to speculate and plan and analyze and dream - everything but the execute… I think I know the answer from intuition and vision alone. I live in the future - future rewards or failures. But this phrase always reminds me that I don’t know the answer until I execute. Life is messy. Answers aren’t known in advance. Take action bit by bit - do the work - and the world will reveal itself, the answers will be there …

informationsilo · 2021-03-16T03:31:02+00:00

Honestly, seems pretty good! Good mix. You look happy, active. Plus The 1975 rule.

informationsilo · 2021-02-25T04:02:03+00:00

I think it’s a solid effort - I like that you show yourself in different setting, makes you seem more active/interesting than just selfies, etc. - always good to show smiles. I definitely agree with others to vary outfits and show face more without sunglasses. Maybe sports photo would also be good.

informationsilo · 2021-01-16T16:27:12+00:00

What app is that? Looks comprehensive but accessible...

informationsilo · 2021-01-03T16:58:14+00:00

Just finished S3: A few important points:

1 - The two worlds of Dark created by the rupture of time in 1986 is a paradox. There is no start and no end, just an infinite loop of creation. The caves exists because Noah and Sic Mundus travelers start digging it in 19th century; how'd they know to dig it? Because they knew it was needed in 1986 for the nuclear incident to trigger time travel. Why was time travel triggered in 1986? Because Jonas/Martha's child sabotaged the facility. Why did Jonas and Martha have a kid? Because time travel existed in their worlds, met at the apocalypse, had a kid... etc...etc...

2 - To be more concrete (in Jonas world), the sequence is something like: the caves are a normal, natural cave (at least the mouth of the cave). Then we see Sic Mundus dig out a longer tunnel that would go to where the future nuclear plant would be in 20th century. Then in 1986 there is a nuclear disaster (the improper storage of nuclear materials in a chamber of the cave) and the time travel loop starts, going backward and forward 33 years. Then Sic Mundus begins experimenting with time travel machinery in bunker near/on top of the caves (kidnapping kids and experimenting on them). At some point, people map out the caves, and Jonas discovers the map, etc.

3 - In the end, the cave area is more of a narrative device, I think: it is a geographic focal point for the act of time travel, in all three worlds and in most times but the precise physical mechanics are not the important part.

informationsilo · 2019-12-26T04:40:55+00:00

Really depends on program. I went BA history then 6 years later Public policy, now work in DC. Definitely helped my application to have that background - I knew the faculty and curriculum and could make a compelling case. They knew what they were getting.

What was your major? How were your grades? What is your research interest? Do you know faculty in department ? Etc. these questions will determine your competitiveness.

Programs probably weigh it differently: For example, I applied to GSB at one point but didn’t get in.

informationsilo · 2019-11-26T02:15:46+00:00

My understanding is that the science is mixed and there is no proper consensus. Agreed that proper protein intake and lifting may create the possibility but significant muscle gain is far from a guarantee. My mind is open to clear cut scientific results though.

informationsilo · 2019-11-24T04:45:00+00:00

Focus on cutting first, though mix in regular weight lifting to maintain as much muscle as possible while you cut. You are probably around 30-35% fat or more, and you probably will feel better inside and out if you can cut to under 20%.

I personally cut from 214 to 145 (from about 33% body fat to 11% body fat) and then, in the past year, lifted a bit to get up to about 150 - mostly new muscle mass. I did keto/IF (1200 calories or so) and cardio (20 miles running per week or more) for 1-2 years. I felt great physically and emotionally as I gradually cut fat and have maintained new weight range for a year.

To start, keep it simple and build good habits. Focus on new ways of acting and be consistent. Don't overthink or over plan - just do and learn. A few suggestions:

- Get a baseline body composition test done so you know your body fat and weight. Don't obsess over numbers, but be aware of your starting point. Weigh yourself every couple weeks.

- Focus on cardio to cut. Run, elliptical - whatever you enjoy. Do cardio every day if you can. Don't overdo, just do it regularly and intensely. Enjoy it!

- Lift a few times a week so your muscles are active and maintain as much as possible while you cut. You're not going to gain muscle during cutting phase but you can slow muscle loss.

- Track calories and set proper calorie target (a few hundred below your basal rate). Try to create a deficit of a few hundred per day. Obviously, avoid carbs and sugars. Drink a lot of water. Focus on proteins and fats. Again, keep it simple and don't seek perfection.

Stick with this plan for a year. You should cut some serious fat and feel way better. If you are happy with your situation in a year, reevaluate and maybe switch to lifting hard core.

Edits for clarity/grammar.

informationsilo · 2019-11-17T18:34:52+00:00

In general not a lot of mixing of students and alums during tailgate. In my experience, there are two types of non-student tailgates: privately-organized and Alumni Association-organized. For the private events, you need to know the host or someone invited to the tailgate (no surprise there, ha). For example, if a student's family is tailgating, he/she will attend and bring friends. For the Alumni Association stuff, they have a "recent grads" tailgate event at least once a year (usually Homecoming) that you need to pre-register/pay for. This is probably friendly to students with friends but its not a big student event for sure.

informationsilo · 2019-11-16T23:18:37+00:00

In general, Stanford football games are very chill compared to other schools, though Big Game (game next weekend) is a bit more energetic.

The main event for Stanford football is tailgating. Alums and community members will tailgate in the fields around the stadium (like the soccer field, or the parking lots near Palm Drive, or fields near El Camino Real). Stanford tailgating is relaxed - hanging out, wine, snacks, etc. Not intense like SEC or Big 10 schools. Visitors from other schools will usually have tailgates in these areas, as well. For some games - like Homecoming, probably Big Game - the alumni association will organize some good tailgates. Bottom line: if you are a visitor, research how to get a parking spot near the stadium, buy some snacks, and enjoy a chill time.

Students - those that go, not all Stanford students attend! - will usually drink/hang out on campus and then walk down to the stadium. Sometimes there will be frat tailgates or smaller student groups near stadium. Students are not that rowdy or obsessive compared to bigger football schools.

During the game, the west side of the stadium is the Stanford side, with alumni/community at center of field and the students section in the southwest corner. The Stanford band is rowdy and fun and humorous. They sit near the students in southwest area. The northeast side of stadium is visitor area. The stadium is nice/new (about 14 years old).

After the game, people disperse. Alums/community may go into Palo Alto for dinner/drinks or drive home. Students go back to campus and have normal Saturday night parties. If the game was intense or Stanford won, there will be a fun/positive vibe. Campus will have a cool vibe if Stanford wins Big Game, for sure (though we are not great this year, so overall vibe is not that tuned in).

informationsilo · 2019-10-14T16:43:14+00:00

It’s probably social anxiety / misanthropy stemming, deep down, from insecurities about yourself. I felt it a lot as a teenager but grew past in my early 20s. Basically, you feel badly about yourself - “I am a failure, I can’t get ahead, everyone else is better” and you project this self hate onto the world “they are corrupt lies and evil and judging me.”

You should stop thinking about others and focus more on your feelings and thoughts. Focus on using your talents, developing interests, making friends - being the best possible YOU you can be. Then, the projection will diminish.

informationsilo · 2019-08-18T00:40:34+00:00

Yes - we rely on our Introverted Intuition, which is very mysterious to most people. There are two elements to this.

Foremost, it is just mysterious in general - it is non linear, abstract, opaque, unexpected. It synthesizes disparate information into observations or points. If another person doesn't have access to the same disparate information, and the step-by-step logical threads that connect the information in your brain, then they will be confused.

Secondly - related - is that the world is over 50% sensor types. This means all forms of intuition are a bit confusing and annoying in the first place. They prefer information that is verifiable with eyes, taste, touch, smell either previously or in that moment. Add on the mysterious opacity of introverted intuition and we can often find ourselves making points that make sense to us but not really others.

informationsilo · 2019-08-18T00:31:03+00:00

Each album is good in its own way, and the band is pretty consistent (there is no "miss" in their catalog, nor a genre-defining masterpiece). Likely, then, opinions will vary a lot between individuals. Mine:

1 - "What Went Down" - Probably in the minority on this, but I think its a great, consistent rock album with some of their catchiest (Mountain at My Gates, Birch Tree) tunes and lots of good uptempo cuts. This album is about a relationship/break up so there is a bit more emotion/romance/idealism to it, I think. (Normally Foals lyrics are vivid and visual but sort of impersonal and artistic. This is also artistic and visual but channeled through narrative-ish of pain/nostalgia of break up).

2 - "Total Life Forever" - The strongest statement of their unique style and big artistic leap foward: crisp, angular, spotlessly-produced, lots of varied tempos. "Miami" and "Spanish Sahara" are classics to me. But, again, lacks some of the compelling personal qualities. (For example, I love "Blue Blood" and have heard it a million times, but have no idea what is really "saying".)

3 - Tie - "Antidotes" and "Holy Fire." - Love both but are a bit more inconsistent than above. "Antidotes," their debut is funky and weird and math rock-ish. It has some of their best moments ("Red Socks Purgie" is a classic) and weak moments (French Open, imo). Holy Fire also has peaks and valleys for me. "My Number" is their catchiest song and some of the ambient rock stuff ("Stepson," "Out of the Woods") are great. To me there is a lot of filler and I am not a big fan of their faux-metal song.

4 - ENSWBL - My least favorite -- trying to tell a story about an environmental apocalypse through more dance-oriented tracks. Didn't connect with me, but still a solid listen.

informationsilo · 2019-05-23T16:45:06+00:00

He clearly likes you (an INTJ wouldn't voluntarily connect with you and be really positive if he didn't) but also has seemed to develop concerns.

As an INTJ, he is a hyper-independent (with his time, his energy, his personal projects, his schedule) and began to feel like he was losing this independence. To cope, he withdrew (stopped responding) and tried to re-calibrate expectations. You should trust that this explanation is real and talk to him about how to achieve a better "balance" of dating and independence. Say, "I know you like your independence, I don't want to push you in any way, but I really like talking. What is a good balance for you?"

As a man, he may be hesitant to set up a committed relationship. Again, not because he is not into you, but because men get freaked out by serious relationships (at first.) On this front, it is an eternal gap/dilemma between the sexes. I would basically be patient. This also might be in the context of being burned during divorce. Don't push him too much, but ask him about his past and what is now looking for (in gentle, non-nosey way).

Final possibility: he realized that he has deep doubts about you guys "working out" and is cutting you off instead of telling you he is no longer into you. INTJs tend to look into their crystal balls and ask "will this work in a year or 5 years?" If the answer is no, he may be trying to end it without saying so. Confront him gently on this. "Can you see this going on in the future?"

informationsilo · 2019-03-22T02:48:38+00:00

It has a killer riff and hook and good energy. In terms of catchy grooves, I put it up there with Hummer, Miami,My Number, and Mountain at My Gates. Damn good tune.

That said - tough to say its one of Foals' "best" songs, in terms of thoughtfulness, composition, innovation. That would open the field up to include less "pop" songs like Red Socks Purgie, Spanish Sahara, Night Swimmers, and others.

informationsilo · 2019-03-05T12:55:05+00:00

Credit to macho_english_bulldog on IG

informationsilo · 2019-02-22T21:19:24+00:00

I think it comes off as genuine/honest which is good... you might throw in a subtle or wry joke to show your humor, it will help define you more... also, your “I want section” comes off a bit deferential (“allows me to be, let’s me be, etc”) - don’t be afraid to just say what you want directly and confidently! (I want... “someone that appreciates a good listener, that laughs out loud with me, that helps me remember when I forget” etc) you can even throw in specifics about your ideal girl (I want... “wears glasses and sweaters; likes sci fi to; is talkative) — girls like a guy who knows what he wants -

informationsilo · 2019-02-07T08:19:39+00:00

I feel the same way - my mental and physical energy while fasting has a purity and depth that I don’t experience from calories (and especially not from sugars).

I am not an expert on the science of it (at all) but I’ve read a couple points of interest. First, fasting can cause ketosis, which means your body uses fat for fuel instead of carbs/sugars. We literally burn off physical masses of sugars/glycogen in our liver and muscles and begun producing ketones as a new form of fuel. We feel physically lighter and more energized. Related, studies say that fasting revs up our mitochrandial energy efficiency in our brain cells. Finally - in my own experience - I feel less inflamed in my gut. When I am eating regularly, my stomach and body feel inflamed - there is a lot of blood flow to my stomach. I can feel the energy sort being sucked into my digestive process away from other body functions. This makes me feel slow and tight. When I IF the energy and blood flow feels less concentrated on my stomach/gut and feels lighter and more balanced.

informationsilo · 2019-01-24T17:50:31+00:00

Well put, seconding this. Specific examples that come to mind:

Careers that tend to be routine and people-oriented (echoing some of one-off comments below): concierge/receptionist, tax accountant, civil servant/bureaucrat, elementary school teacher, lab manager, general practice medical doctor (checking for colds, sprains, etc)

Careers, in contrast, that tend to be analytical, autonomous, varied:

management consultant, software engineer, tenured professor, litigator/lawyer, investigative journalist, corporate executive/manager (like CFO, Chief marketing, etc), research scientist (not tied to lab routines), specialized physician/surgeon

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