What are your views on posthumanism, which is, broadly speaking, the upgrading of humanity to be more than human?

I'm specifically interested the psychological aspects of it. Certainly there's physical posthumanism, with genetically altered or mechanically enhanced bodies that don't age or are generally safer/better in other ways, but what about posthuman consciousness? Is such a thing desirable? If so, along what axes? Purely intellectual? If so, how is intellect delineated from emotional, physical, and social elements of consciousness?

Basically how, if at all, should humans attempt to enhance themselves mentally/emotionally/socially in the future? "How" can include both "towards what goals along which axes" and "by what methods," but of course I'm much more interested in the former since the latter is technological speculation while the former is philosophical. Should "human nature," to whatever extent it exists, be altered if possible, and if so in what ways? e.g.,should people be made more/less violent? Loving? Ambitious? Curious? Obedient? Emotional? Altruistic? etc.

Obviously these are abstract concepts and as such not simple switches that can be adjusted. Hence my interest primarily in GOALS ALONG AXES rather than METHODS. Assume that technology allows adjustment of the average X value of future generations of humanity, and qualitatively discuss which way it should be moved, why, and, to the extent possible in a qualitative discussion, to what extent. Define X as whatever you want; any of those things I mentioned above, defined in any way you please, or another thing.

Should noncognitive, savantlike abilities be encouraged? At what point do these, or any other potential modifications to human nature, make one inhuman in a negative sense?

What if progress along one axis necessitates sacrifice along another? Again, think of autistic savants as an example. Which axes are most important to progress along, and which could be sacrificed?

In Pokemon terms(lol), nature and EV the aggregate human psyche.

Dialectics as a Foundation for a Dynamic Non-equilibrium Monetary Economics

More to follow.

Danger Notes (Part 1)

-The essential question of value = "How do we create more outputs than inputs." aka (Where doth Profit originate from, nigga.)

-Economics shouldn't be simplified to thermodynamics, but it must be consistent with thermodynamics.

-The strict interpretation of the "labor theory of value" is incompatible with the laws of thermodynamics.

-Marx's dialectics provide an alternative theory to the one aforementioned, that is more workable.

It is conceivable that a philosopher should be guilty of this or that inconsistency because of this or that compromise; he may himself be conscious of it. But what he is not conscious of is that in the last analysis this apparent compromise is made possibly by the deficiency of his principals or an inadequate grasp of them. So if a philosopher really has compromised it is the job of his followers to use the inner core of his thought to illuminate his own superficial expressions of it. - From Marx's notes on his own doctoral dissertation.

http://scotchblog.ca/scotch_blog/lagavulin-16yo.jpg

Fuck yeah.

WE TALKIN BOUT PIZZA CHAINS

WHICH ONE IS THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST

I SHOULD CLARIFY THAT THIS POLL WAS CREATED SPECIFICALLY TO DISCUSS PUBLICALLY TRADED PIZZA CHAINS ONLY

If visiting takes no more time than their daily commute, honestly, like 2-4 hours is probably enough. More if it's actually enjoyable. If it takes them half a day to get here, I'm good with a 3 day stay. If they had to fly, hell, a solid week is okay by me. Maybe more.

My uncle used to say that company is a lot like fish: after three days they start to smell the same. Most of the time this applies pretty well.

How do y'all feel about visiting etiquette?

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3604/impressiveknifegreatfor.jpg

There. Now all you 'tards can discuss melee weapons.

This is a tidbit of the video linked here.

I'm going to post any stuff I find on my interest(s) in the workings of the brain here.

I like this vid for several reasons.

I am of the agreeing opinion that consciousness is basically just a phenomena of a highly developed problem-solving organ, the result of evolution's greatest and most terrible creation; the human being.

The idea that underlying thought processes (mostly from our evolutionary past) have an effect on our conscious patterns doesn't surprise me. It's something I've figured was there for a long time. The dilated eyes in women thing being a sign of sexual readiness, where the conscious mind isn't aware of this but it's programmed into us biologically being a perfect example.

It has a wide-range of implications and cases. Like how we find babies cute, it's an evolutionary trait as Daniel Dennis put it. If we didn't find babies cute, we probably wouldn't be do driven to take care of them, and would be repulsed by all the drool, waste matter, and regurgitated food. But we don't, we find them adorable (generally, there are obviously people who don't like babies, I being one of them, atleast for real little ones), and we are some of the most attached parents in the animal kingdom. Which also probably has alot to do with our long development period, which is also integrally linked to our cognitive development.

I think David Eagleman has a good point in saying we need to take a look at the brain as not one in sync organ, but a collage of various parts that manage to work together. I think evolution can help this along as well, because for me atleast, it seems only sensible.

Our brain evolved, so it might be worth while to think about the brain and the parts thereof and how/why they evolved. The functions they serve, and the behavioral impact of all those things.

Just my 2 cents, you should watch the vid though; I'll post more, probably.

You have a town of 25,000 people, Middle America.

You are going to be able to forgo any infrastructural fundamentals, but let's list out what you got.

- 75% Caucasian, 10% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 6% Black, 1% Other

- 1 large automotive factory

- Lots of good farming land, seasonal growing only (winters are a bit chilly for plants)

- 1 medium-small river, a couple of subsidiary creeks

- No dangerous wild animals

- Middle of the road quality for roads, bridges, and non-commercial railway (no commercial ones, atleast not from the start)

- 2 High Schools, 2 Middle Schools, and 3 Primary Schools

- Basic American make-up of stores (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Dollar Store, and some local stores)

Now, here's the problem I will put to any/all of you.

How would you create a monetary system, that being a system of represented value for purposes of payroll, taxation, and trade. You are going to take out the dollar, and the normal financial system that exists in America today. Replace it with something.

You are going to have to explain it in detail, and it must work at this local level.

I await to see if anyone's got any ideas.

Also, whatever monetary/trade medium system you go with, doesn't have to be a national/global system; just a local one.

I am just looking for a system that would work for an individual community, any discussion of it's larger implication can take place after we get some ideas going.

We'll start with the greatest custom paintjob on a rifle, ever.

http://lundestudio.com/2009SHOTShow/Day2/2009shotshow-01162009-019.jpg

Though I did find some upgraded F-15 J's, interestingly equipped with IRST, though I was able to verify its performance. I'm curious to see what it offers over the F-15 J and F-15 C, though I doubt it's as drastic as Su-27 to Su-35.

In other news, the PAK-FA is still making claims about being on track for flight testing apparently. The wide F-22 concept for the plane currently leads popularity.

Objective truth would be something that is true independant of opinion/belief, preference or bias. someone could think they know or believe something but that by itself does not make it correct is the idea. No matter what we believ the case to be if something is true objectively it will be true anyway regardless of what we think or feel. Does such truth exist?

This raises questions like how does one know when one tell the diference between having the right answer vs. merely believing they do? If they have the right answer or not they still might believe it so what would be the criteria for true knowledge vs. mere belief?

Or is truth relative from person to person, society to society, culture to culture or historical context?

In philosophy the study of these sorts of questions that pertain to knowledge is called Epistemology.

Whatever your position is supply the reason to justify your position.

The question I want to discuss is, "what is the isness", we might say, of things or reality? What is the underlying "stuff" of reality (if you believe there is such a thing)? Some people might ask the question like "what is everything made out of?" People throughout time have had all sorts of answers for this. Some people might ask by saying "what is the reality behind the appearance" or what is the underlying continuity underlying all phenomenon?

No matter how you ask the question, or where you start, you usually get down to the question of "what is" in a fundamental way of asking that.

For anyone who might be still a bit lost here would be an example. The modern scientific picture is that everything we see and touch and experience is actually a representation of a world which consists entirely of little particles called atoms, which are themselves made of smaller particles. Something that these are made of strings, others think they are concentrations of space, and all sorts of other ideas. Let's take a simple one as an example. Suppose someone says "matter is just energy." Well, ok, but then what IS energy? There we don't get an answer. maybe someone might say it’s the ability to do work or something like that, but I have never seen a satisfactory answer from anyone in regards to this question.

Even those that say the fundamental reality is a string (as in string theory) I can't ever get a simple definition of what the strings are even made of? After all, what IS It that makes them all as the same substance? What is that substance? We never get an answer for this.

I find it funny that the most fundamental question ontological question about reality can't be answered.

I have a challenge: Can anyone give a definition of what is the underlying nature of reality that itself cannot be reduced, or doesn't fall back on further ontological considerations, or leave the question open?

Don't be shy either, I don't want to try to knock anyone's theory down. If anything I just want to ask questions to see if the definitions hold up. I also will be more than willing to give what I think the answer to this riddle is.

DMT 101

--------

-Naturally occuring psycho-active (hallucinogenic) chemical (found in mammals, reptiles, and plants)

-In humans (and all vertebrates) it come from the Pineal Gland aka "The Third Eye"

-Not bad for you (to any known medical studies) but it is a powerful mind altering agent

-Can be found in a variety of plant species (the main source of modern collection, i.e. Mimosa Hostilis and Desmanthus Illinoensis)

-When smoked "hyperspace" lasts 10-15 minutes, and high lasts about an hour

-Extremely high praise from the user community (YouTube DMT and Joe Rogan or Jim Carry and listen to them rant about it)

~

So I have some Mimosa Hostilis root bark (where the DMT is) on the way (ships today), and I will be following Norman's tek from the DMT Nexus Wiki once I get it, I will post results once tested; provided I'm still in this dimension.

I'm wondering if anybody here has tried it, or is interested by things like this.

That is all.

Pepperoni sticks

They're the ultimate meat snack. Vegetarian? You need them more than anyone. Keep your friends happy.

Vegetable platter

Doesn't have to be a huge one. Good variety. I like sliced cucumbers better than potato chips, honestly. They both go great with dip.

Water

Whether it's for an emergency, or you just want a cold drink at the ready.

Ketchup and Mustard

Self-explanatory, I think.

One of the few activites I'm dedicated to. I'm alwaze able to have interesting converations with schoolmates about weightlifting, so why not here. What does everybody else do? Feel free to gloat. You can even lie to make youself feel good over the internet.

Anyhow, like I asked, what does anyone else do for their lifting?

Also, I'm currently at 145lbs body weight. I'll post maxes for important exercises later.

http://i.imgur.com/mAPQ4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rYVuR.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/zqRHz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/5ru7x.jpg

So, it's basically a neurological cross-wire/misfiring that causes one receptor or sense to trip another.

I perceive all sound as color, and sometimes the colors have specific shape. Also, when I see a color/colored shape, I hear a corresponding tone in my head. If see multiple colors, say a rainbow or a tye-dye T-shirted hippy, I hear a sequence of tones corresponding to each color in whichever order I process said colors. And all letters/numbers have their own color too. So, I have sound → color and grapheme → color synesthetes. I know what you're thinking, and yes: there are not nearly enough green songs.

Essentially, I hear color and see sound. That's basically a superpower. At the very least, my brain makes it's own LSD.

Oh, and I have a friend who has color → taste synesthetes. Yeah. The man can literally taste color... with, his, fucking, eyes. Wishing your brain was fucked up yet? Well, you'll be disappointed to hear the horrid side effect that is... oh, wait, no side effects. Just tasting shit with your eyes. He broke down the flavor of the light refraction spectrum for me:

Red - "Melting cinnamon" (he cannot stand looking at anything red because of this... and he's a ginger. So I guess that is a side effect)

Orange and yellow - "like sunshine"

Green - "crisp and refreshing... just like lettuce, without the taste of lettuce"

Blue - "mint"

Indigo and violet - "cake icing"

All that varies between different synesthetes, however. Another person with color → taste might think red and yellow taste totally different from his perception of them. Word up for a sentence I never thought I'd have to type.

I'd do a breakdown, but it'd take infinite time to list colors and (when applicable) shapes for every sound ever made ever. Will keep it simple:

- Lead guitar lines are bright yellow streams with white centers

- Rhythm guitar parts with little distortion are a solid darker yellow

- Heavily distorted rhythm guitar parts are typically black, but if the distorted notes are a bit more closed, they're a dark purple.

- All acoustic guitars are light orange, no exceptions.

- Piano's and speaking/singing voices follow the same rule: lower the note, the blacker it is, higher the note, the whiter it is. Mid-range notes are in grayscale.

Of course, according to that Wikipedia article, sound → color synethetes almost never agree on what sounds are which color, and Franz Liszt and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov "famously" disagreed on dat shit. Presumably in what was the precursor to the east coast/west coast rap wars. But if you want to know, I'll break any song of your choosing down into the color array it causes me to see.

So, anyone else here have this?

edit: http://jalopnik.com/5913106/the-worlds-most-stereotypical-lamborghini-driver-is-ready-for-the-gumball-3000

http://www.gumball3000.com/images/original/ee0ebeac2838e31d0ab61de5b58cce60c3a88u.gif?1337958020572%20=1337958020572

http://www.gumball3000.com/images/large/0ea71a130cf696fb53a4cfe02c34d0215uwvht.jpg

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http://www.gumball3000.com/images/large/b12b110c2465212e90fdac151532c71cymurxu.gif

http://www.gumball3000.com/images/large/7e2eed25898a8a90ea92ef114d0b7872vmczep.gif

http://www.gumball3000.com/images/large/db67140cdb4df9fb65bbfc4966c472b2ibhrbt.gif

http://www.gumball3000.com/images/large/5ced5b52ea5e583a6eab1fbe96fe6eae7dsmbd.gif

http://www.gumball3000.com/images/large/c3f6a7924039b4b8a966847a70a854c490zyvh.gif

http://www.gumball3000.com/images/large/a980f65ffbe1623f79cbee8824a62f29ofpgv0.gif

http://www.gumball3000.com/images/large/def147bad8dccdcea25034149d551c73drzx6f.gif

http://www.gumball3000.com/images/large/40249042fcd606b6a1d3f5317b383f8cp1ukpd.gif

So my friends convinced me join Project Euler. What is it? It is a website that gives programming problems that are math intensive. The early problems are easy, and gets more challenging as you progress. It also helps you to keep your programming skills sharp. I am just doing this for fun. Anyone here who has done this before or care to join? I'd love to share solutions. I am currently coding in C++, Matlab, and Python (learning), and plan to have solutions for all three languages.