Extreme nachos

Extreme sports hype was so over in 2002. Nevermind that it's plastered all across my mountain bike, reminding me how hardcore I am on the commute to work... but do words like super-mega-hardcore really belong in the grocery aisle as a permanent fixture?

Am I to understand that we get in touch with our primal nature while negotiating the check out line? "Wow, this super-mega-crunchy peanut butter could give me the edge I need to pick up chicks." I don't think so. I understand that fads happen, I understand that you've got to act on the market.. but if this retardedness has settled in for the long run, something is sick with our society. John Wayne is not proud, and somebody, somewhere has lost some very important perspective on what it means to be a man.
No really..

I feel like something is deeply wrong here... Especially with the big X. eXtreme. What is the deal with that? eXtreme Nachos. Congratulations, nachos cannot take you on a crazy adventure.

It's time to re-consider our word choice. Extreme nachos would kill one in five people who ate them. That's extreme.

Where's the wisdom? Where's the comparison? There is none; this is a rant.

Spirituality and Simulation

Yes, I did in fact almost get through a whole entry on David Deutsch without saying anything like 'quantum mechanical multiverse'. Instead I'm going to leave you to ponder something entirely different.

Deutsch's Law: Every problem that is interesting is also soluble.

• Corollary #1: Inherently insoluble problems are inherently boring.
• Corollary #2: In the long run, the distinction between what is interesting and what is boring is not a matter of subjective taste but an objective fact.
• Corollary #3: The problem of why every problem that is interesting is also soluble, is soluble.

I think this law is perhaps most profound with regards to its religious implications. Is theism soluble? Should agnostics be apathetic? Questions for another day.

For now, check out your spiritual type and religious beliefs.

If that hasn't managed to mess up your day, lets go ahead and talk about computer simulation of life. Not only is this problem theoretically soluble and interesting, but its more related to spirituality than one might think. I'm not talking matrix fiction here, I'm talking the genuine philosophical theory of Oxford Professor Nick Bostrom. (paper, synopsis)

The simulation argument does not purport to demonstrate that you are in a simulation (nor does they author feel it is most likely that we are, he prefers #2). Instead, it shows that we should accept as true at least one of the following three propositions:

1. The chances that a species at our current level of development can avoid going extinct before becoming technologically mature is negligibly small
2. Almost no technologically mature civilisations are interested in running computer simulations of minds like ours
3. You are almost certainly in a simulation.

Apologists may want to listen up here. If you can manage to take this argument a bit more metaphorically than literally, it has the makings of something a lot more accessible than Anselm's Ontological treatises.

Didn't get what I mean? It's okay, I'm not positive I do either.

And yes Jim, this is why I'm late to your and Emily's Halloween party. I'm a loser.

Taking Children Seriously

As I round out my career as a subject of formal education, I've been doing a lot of reflecting back with regards to my childhood and educational experience. I have a lot of conflicting feelings about the nature of education, and on a bad day I can be just plain John Taylor Gatto.

So where do I look for advice on such matters? Why theoretical physicists of course. I spent the last few hours reading on David Deutsch's co-brainchild Taking Children Seriously. While the whole thing sounds a bit 'sissy libertarian' on the surface, I must admit, I'm rather intrigued by many of the concepts. It reminds me a bit of the Love and Logic approach currently favored by friend and soon-to-be elementary educator, Kim Wood.

I'm a big fan of introducing personal responsibility and self-accountability at an early age. The earlier you start learning your own lessons and creating your own moral compass, the better. Likewise, I prefer authentic and transparent leadership and all that other warm and fuzzy stuff.

(Please nobody notice that I'm drawing similarities between leading a successful company, and developing a relationship with my future child...)

On the other hand, when the time comes to not ask questions and to not screw around, there has to be an understanding. Joe Pesci does not fuck around. Sometimes life isn't fair, sometimes things are out of your control, and in real life, some times the main character dies... of cholera. I support warm and fuzzy, but only to the extent that it does not interfere with an accurate understanding of human reality; of entropy, resiliency and being tough. It's a fine line, and I think it requires a bit of Buddhist wisdom, a bit of doing mysterious things that just plain don't make sense to your kid. Throw in some Johnny Cash to temper the Judeo-Christian social values, and the new-age empathy system. Ok fine, I don't know anything about raising children.

But rest assured, mine will be freaking sweet.

---

(these are a few pictures of children from my recent trip to China, here is the set)

On the Nature of Space

I attended a lecture on the nature of space today by Sir Michael Atiyah. The lecture is the first in the American Mathematical Society's Einstein Public Lecture Series in Mathematics. This year, marks the 100th anniversary of the rather astounding year in which Albert Einstein published five ground breaking papers that "have shaped the direction of much of science and mathematics for the past century."

Now I've been to these sort of lectures at the University before and found them largely without attendance, so it was to my surprise when Jim and I showed up to find a packed house and a great many people being turned away at the door. In addition to a large turnout, apparently a great many students had been given extra credit for attendance. This became more obvious as the less visible portions of the room whipped out notebooks, scratched down about a page or so in said notebooks, awkwardly gazed into space for a few minutes, and then filed out of the auditorium. Still though, it was an amazing crowd.

Abstract: The Nature of Space
For more than two thousand years philosophers,
mathematicians and physicists have struggled to
understand the nature of space. Kant studied the role
of the human mind, mathematicians examined the logical
ramifications of space and physicists investigated
experimental phenomena. The story continues to the
present day , with increasingly exotic scenarios of
vibrating strings in ten dimensional space-time. I
shall review the history and present status of the
great philosophical controversies in the light of
modern developments.

During the first half of his presentation, Atiyah traversed through the landscape of early philosophers, posed questions on the nature of reality and perception, and identified various past conceptions of the universe (including platonic solids, or as he calls them "Scottish Solids" and the like). He discussed whether various human accomplishments were inventions or discoveries. For instance, are complex numbers a human invention?.. Many assumed so, but now that they are an integral component of Quantum Mechanics, perhaps we merely discovered something that was already there? This concept raises new issues as even the most basic representation of String Theory requires a truckload of advanced mathematics soup. Anyhow, He discussed the relationship of mathematics to theoretical physics and made a number of witty asides to engage the audience. The second part focused on the relationship between Einstein's work, Quantum Mechanics and String Theory.

The single pervading message that I took away from this event was:

Question your assumptions. Question them in the most fundamental of ways -- as Einstein did with space and time.

Specifically, Atiyah suggested that String Theory may have (or perhaps for the purposes of elegance ought to have) a simpler underlying representation. All classical theories and even quantum mechanics suggest that if you know the present state (position and velocities of particles) you can predict the future. (Never mind that quantum mechanical uncertainty forbids you from knowing both -- simply if you did know them, you could predict).

Atiyah suggested that perhaps we need to resign that notion, and assume de facto that we must know both the present and the past to know the future. Rather than simply affecting the present through differential equations, one would use retarded differential equations or related methods to actively engage the past. He asserted this as only his personal guess as to where we (the next generation) should look to question ourselves.

In all, though I didn't feel it earth shattering, I would highly recommend listening to Atiyah any time you get the chance. He is an excellent and accessible speaker, and certainly a brilliant and well-regarded man.

Winterize the boat

I'm winterizing my 1986 Correct Craft Ski Nautique 2001 with my father. Finding someone else to do it is a needless hassle, and costs about $300. It can be done in about 20 mins alone, but is easier with a helper. I make no guarantees, but this boat has survived the last 16 years using the following method.

These directions apply specifically to a Ford 351 Windsor (V8), but may or may not be generalized to other engines.

Parts Required:

• Screw driver (flat head)
• 2-3 Gallons RV/Marine Antifreeze (cheap pink stuff)
• 5 Gallon Bucket
• 1/3 or so qt Motor Oil (ex. 10w30) - optionally replace with engine fogger
  
• Stabil (or compatible gas stabilizer)
  

Part I: Stabilize the gas (so it doesn't break down over the winter)

1. Pour the appropriate amount of Stabil into the gas tank
2. Take the boat out for a drive - get the stabil ran through the lines.
3. Do a few S-turns and maybe a spin out to get that gas tank sloshing :)
4. Enjoy the fall leaves, say farewell to your boat for the season
   

Part II: Prepare the engine

1. Preferably boat is on lift or trailer
2. Pour 3 Gallons Antifreeze in bucket (2 might well do)
   
3. Open engine hatch
4. Remove Flame Arrestor from top of carburetor (hand screw)
   
5. Use screwdriver to loosen hose clamp on the water intake hose located near the right rear of the engine compartment (black ~1.5" hose).
6. Disconnect intake hose and place into bucket of antifreeze (antifreeze is sucked through the engine rather than water to survive cold temperature)
   
7. Take the cap off of your motor oil and drizzle a just a bit into the carburetor (coating the inside of the engine with oil to prevent rust, etc)
8. Start the engine (please avoid the moving belts)
   
9. Pour a bit of oil (primarily into the front two barrels of the 4 barrel carb) as the antifreeze is being sucked out of the bucket. As the antifreeze is running out, pour the oil increasingly heavily until the engine quits. (note that if you actually run out of antifreeze first, you will immediately want to turn the key to shut the engine off).
10. Replace the flame arrestor
11. Reconnect the water intake hose and tighten its hose clamp.
12. Make sure the bilge is drained of any water/antifreeze that may have spilled.
    
13. Shut the engine hatch, leaving something under the edge (like a seat cushion) to keep a little airflow space.
14. Optionally remove the battery from the foreword compartment and store in a temperate location, and/or on a charger.
    
15. Clean and cover the boat.
    
16. That's it, you're done!

Hint: Spray ether in the carburetor as you start the engine next Spring to avoid grinding the starter while gas is pulled through the lines.

Blue Like Jazz

Today is my father's birthday. Or rather it was... its now 7:50am. I called but couldn't get a hold of him. He is off in Morocco or Jordan or somewhere in transit, off somewhere being the father that I love. In honor of his birthday I taught myself how to play a little blues guitar. I love jazz and the blues, and I know how to address a guitar, so it worked out rather naturally. I had read last week in a friend's textbook that there is a certain scale for playing the Blues, a particular algorithm if you will. I can't tell you the extent to which this makes me want to cry -- mostly because it is true. I want jazz to be one of those few activities I am not going to be able to teach a computer to perform better than a person. I love playing a song for someone who imagines I'm following a set pre-planned pattern only to know inside that it just came as I played it; out of no where. To be honest, I'm not much of a musician, but all my best songs come out of nowhere -- out of some sort of intense passion or zen-like absence.

A few weeks ago, for the sake of inspiration, I convinced myself that my father was dead, and I was playing at his funeral. It worked. I shed a tear for the first time in a few years, and my playing was spectacular. Improv is poetry in motion and one of the most beautiful experiences I know. I spend the rest of my "now and then" practice time tinkering around on instruments, annoying my co-habitants, repeating the same old garbage waiting for improvisation to happen again... Waiting for some kind of passion or inspiration; a sudden new song. Periodically I get one.


I read the book "Blue Like Jazz" today (thanks Meagan), and it gave me a bit of a new perspective as well. I'd sum it up as the brutally honest and colorful confessions of a confused and experimental Christian writer, struggling to mesh his ego and his intellect with his religion. My guess is, if you're a Christian, it will re-affirm your Christianity... and If you're not a Christian it will re-affirm your not-Christianity. Either way, it gives you great psychological insight into the human condition and offers some inspiring lessons learned by the author despite his endearing weaknesses.

"I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil, but rather to have us wasting time. That is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious." - Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz

I really enjoy trading books with people I admire -- Books that there's no chance we'd read otherwise. It's a good life strategy to prevent narrow mindedness, and there's always something to learn you weren't expecting. I suppose that's why I like talking with people as well.

Today was a beautiful autumn day at the lake... clean fresh air, and warm sun. I spent most of the day talking with my mother about personalities and relationships. She wants me to take a cute picture of her for dating and for professional purposes. I spent the evening talking with my friend Matt about life and business. After he left, my Aunt (Lynn) couldn't sleep, and found me reading in my room in the middle of the night. We talked about pensions, retirement, finance. I spent the whole day talking and listening. It may sound a bit odd, but this is precisely how every single day of my life goes if I don't intervene. Unless I make a distinct effort to seclude myself and be alone, all I do is communicate for extended periods of time. Luckily, people are one of the things in this world I most enjoy.

Lately, I have an intense desire to meet and communicate deeply with brilliant and interesting strangers who are totally unlike myself in some important way. Well, that is when I'm not shutting off my phone and locking my door so I can try to accomplish something with my life.

For a calm and emotionally stable person, I can be a bit extreme.

The Book of Five Rings

I read Miyamoto Musashi's "Go Rin No Sho" today on the recommendation of a complete stranger. Musashi can be thought of as a bit like Japan's version of Sun Tzu -- a famed and legendary character that shaped the face of warriors and strategists for hundreds of years.


The book's main concern is Strategy and the way of sword fighting (often considered synonymous in Eastern culture). It is divided into 5 short sub-texts: Groud, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void.

"Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men" - Musashi, The Book of Water

Translations can be found online here or here, and can be purchased in most book stores.

Thus the Weblog Begins

"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt." - Mark Twain

I've been avoiding publishing my thoughts online for some time. For one thing, writing something down for public view, gives you pride and investment in past thoughts. Being invested in the historical accuracy of your opinion is the surest way of making certain you never learn anything again. Secondarily, when your goal is to live your life in the present, it just seems like a waste of time to go about writing down everything you've just done.

However, recently I've come to change my mind in light of several realizations:

1. If I have truly taught myself that it is okay to be wrong privately, I must now learn to accept being wrong publicly without fear or investment.
2. I have friends and family that constantly ask me what I'm thinking and doing. Writing thoughts down once, publicly, could actually save me time and allow me to turn conversations into something deeper than "How was your trip?"
3. I do in fact have an egoistical need to express myself and relate to others. Writing down my thoughts may reduce the amount of time I feel the need to spend talking about myself, and allow me to spend more time listening to others.
   
4. I place so little mental emphasis on the organization and contents of my past, that unless I record things, I tend to lose touch with historical reality. Now Google can recall my past for me.
5. Maybe I'll share something that will help someone?
   

More than anything however, this is a part of a massive life re-organization process that I am going through in preparation for the coming storm that will soon be my life as my startup comes of age.

For this reason, you will see me adding a few back dated entries as I dig up journals and sort through electronic files and notes. When I am done, I will have rid myself of most of my cluttered non-value-producing possessions. My mind will be a bit more at peace, and I will be one step closer to actualizing my potential and becoming a true leader. *cough*

Or.. at least my mom will be proud of me.