"I propose a version of the Drake Equation for Lurkers on near-Earth objects. By using it, one can compare a Search for Extraterrestrial Artifacts (SETA) strategy of exploring for artifacts to the conventional listening-to-stars SETI strategy, which has thus far found no artificial signals of technological origin. In contrast, SETA offers a new perspective, a … Continue reading A Drake Equation for Alien Artifacts
Category: writing
Preferring Pain to High Cognitive Effort
"Cognitive effort is described as aversive, and people will generally avoid it when possible. This aversion to effort is believed to arise from a cost–benefit analysis of the actions available. The comparison of cognitive effort against other primary aversive experiences, however, remains relatively unexplored. Here, we offered participants choices between performing a cognitively demanding task … Continue reading Preferring Pain to High Cognitive Effort
HumanIPO
"Invest in people you believe in...HumanIPO is a marketplace for capitalizing human potential.—https://humanipo.app/ Ingenious new form of finance under late-stage capitalism or fresh coat on old idea. Thought experiment what if the unit of shares were expressed in years? That'd be called indentured servitude. Express it as fraction of a share or in dollars, you've … Continue reading HumanIPO
Cryptocurrency Platform Cardano & Ada Coin
Disclosure: I own Ada. This is a condensed summary of what convinced me to start buying cryptocurrency, specifically Ada. I'm happy to share what I learned, but this is not investment advice. I don't know you. I don't know your situation. Cryptocurrencies are a speculative investment, and you could lose all your money. If that's … Continue reading Cryptocurrency Platform Cardano & Ada Coin
Book Review | Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells | The Ultimate Reference Book For The Magical Arts | By Judika Illes
I love this book. It is one of my favorites in the occult section of my library. It is valuable as a practical and historical tool. The book is an excellent guide for the beginning as well as experienced witch. I have never seen another book that has so many spells. Get this; […]Book … Continue reading Book Review | Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells | The Ultimate Reference Book For The Magical Arts | By Judika Illes
Possessed by Demons or Become Your Own?
It is of course famously difficult to say exactly what happens in [Philip K Dick’s The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch], because the essential question that the major characters have is always: What is actually happening? But at least one major potential timeline, perhaps the most likely timeline, tells a story like this: Palmer Eldritch … Continue reading Possessed by Demons or Become Your Own?
People Aren’t Perfectable
"Progress is a possibility for the animal: it can be broken in, tamed and trained; but it is not a possibility for the fool, because the fool thinks he has nothing to learn. It is his place to dictate to others and put them right, and so it is impossible to reason with him. He … Continue reading People Aren’t Perfectable
Constraints Liberate, Liberties Constrain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqmsQeSzMdw Interesting throughout. Main points: Build in abstractions, with symbols and functions.Counter-intuitively, abstractions make precision possible.The more expressive a language, the more ambiguous the content.Or more generally, freedom at one level implies constraints at another level.Plan for interoperability and extension, which also implies limits.As much authority is necessary, but no more.The more something can do, … Continue reading Constraints Liberate, Liberties Constrain
Sifting the Internet for Gold
"...which of my beliefs remain unchanged? What assumptions will remain in place? What trends will be accelerated, which delayed, and which stopped entirely? What do I care about that has become newly relevant, and what no longer matters?-Toby Shorin, Drew Austin, Kara Kittel, Edouard Urcades, "Premonition." subpixel.space. March 25, 2021. Something about the phrase "lifestyle … Continue reading Sifting the Internet for Gold
Devouring Time Swallows Us Whole
When I die, I want the ashes scattered in the wind, overboard on some slow moving ship, that leaves a trace for an hour, maybe two. Our lives are like ships traveling in the night; silently, we move along. If the water is small enough, we can make quite the impression, maybe even block transit … Continue reading Devouring Time Swallows Us Whole
On Being Evil
Are you a good person? If you ask most people this question, they'll answer, "Yes." Of course they are. They might think to themselves, "I'm not a monster. I'm not like X." Pick your monster, let X equal Hitler for illustration purposes here. But, what's the threshold for good? Does the same thinking apply in … Continue reading On Being Evil
And What Do You Do? I Live Here.
"A monk walking through the woods came across a couple strolling and answered their greetings. 'And what do you do?' the woman asked. The monk replied, 'I don't do anything. I live here." She insisted. So did he. She thought of life in terms of what one does for a living, but the monk did … Continue reading And What Do You Do? I Live Here.
Wisdom is Truth that Lasts
"There is no need to know everything, to do everything, to see everything, to hear everything, to know everyone, to go everywhere. In fact, there is much truth in realizing that knowing less and doing less, and seeing less and hearing less, and so less all the way down the line, is perhaps the beginning … Continue reading Wisdom is Truth that Lasts
You Don’t Need (To Complain About) Substack
"Our timing was nearly perfect—a mere two weeks after we wrote our joint essay, Substack had a huge controversy, and is now facing a backlash. Writers are thinking of jumping ship and looking for ideas for what to do next. I’ve been doing this without a net for a while, and I have a few … Continue reading You Don’t Need (To Complain About) Substack
cafebedouin.org 