In the first contribution to TLE’s Geologic Column, J. M. Mulholland concluded that “sequence stratigraphy … is a tool that every explorationist must master.” I agree. In fact, sequence stratigraphy is more than a versatile tool in exploration and production geology. It is in many ways a role model for applied earth sciences. The fundamental task for much of the applied earth sciences is to predict occurrence and properties of sedimentary rocks in the subsurface. Forward modeling from first principles is insufficient to accomplish this goal. The nonlinear dynamics of depositional systems is too complex.