randalkoene

Thoughts on Technology and the Future (Hong Kong, 2011)

randalkoene — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:18:41 +0000

During our visit to the beautiful islands of Hong Kong and Kowloon for the H+ Hong Kong conference in December of 2011, Adam A. Ford filmed a number of segments with me, as we took the day after the conference to explore.

In the YouTube video that is included with this post, he manages – in spite of strong winds – to tie together many of the pieces of our meandering discussion about Technology and the Future. For me, it was a very different and extremely pleasant type of interview. Casual dress further emphasizes this in the footage, sporting our Halcyon Molecular mechanical butterfly T-shirt and wind-whipped curls.

Here is the video, and below, a quick summary of topics.

Randal A. Koene: Thoughts on Technology and the Future (filmed by Adam A. Ford)

Discussed:

Significance of the work at Halcyon Molecular, and DNA sequencing in general.
What I talked about at the H+ Hong Kong conference, and why.
Meta-comments about the topics and conversations that dominated the H+ Hong Kong conference.
The 4 routes to Life-Extension.
The concept of “Stasis as Time-Jumping”.
Why replacing neurons in-situ as therapy is a difficult proposition.
Future living, space travel, and trading computational resources and information.
Aspects of “transhumanism” that have appeal, such as open-mindedness and constructive thinking about technology.
The Second Renaissance.
The luxury that we have to strive for ambitious goals, and the possible need to work fast, as those ambitions depend on a potentially fragile infrastructure.

The Error at the Core of Nihilism that is based on Determinism

randalkoene — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:40:33 +0000

There is a form of Nihilism that in essence states that we have no choices, because in the physical universe, all things are in the end determined by their causal relationships. Certainly, determinism is still a strongly debated topic in physics and philosophy.

Let us accept for the moment that determinism is correct. The nihilistic statement is then ever so false.

Determinism is closely related to hindsight. After an outcome, we may look back and say, “well, given that all is deterministic, we can see how all of the causal roots, their effects, conditionals and decisions inevitably led to this circumstance”.

Notice that each element in that reasoning is absolutely essential. The deterministic outcome is possible only when each element takes its place, when each decision is made based on all of the underlying causes and reasons. In the deterministic universe, all of our decisions and actions are crucial, just as much as they are unavoidable.

By contrast, in a universe where there is a significant level of non-determinism, we can count on none of them in the long-run. The incipient influence of non-deterministic effects eventually undermines the ability to find strong causal support for any outcome over a long period of time. The effects of our actions and decisions disintegrate and are wiped out.

So, while it is comforting, in a deterministic world-view, to rely on the nihilistic outlook that we can really not affect anything beyond what will happen anyway, it is an outlook that omits time. If we take into consideration time, and our perception within a moment of time, then the deterministic universe is full of unknowns, but also full of possibilities that crucially involve us.

Food for thought.

My article on Kurzweil AI: Pattern survival versus Gene survival

randalkoene — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:45:55 +0000

My latest article just hit the front page of KurzweilAI.net. If, like me, you have wondered about the best way to invest your effort in a transhumanist or singularitarian direction, then please read it and tell me what you think!

What does a self-consistent, intelligent and capable person do? Which goals are so sound, so promising and so exciting that you can allow those goals to fully motivate you? Which goals can you embrace in the knowledge that you stand on a firm foundation, that your thinking is clear, and that you can be a pioneer to excel in a significant part of a vast new future?
What is more important to you: competitive patterns of thought or a sequence of DNA? Ultimately, there is no inherent reason to be more attached to the sequence of nucleotides that defines the human form than to the one that defines the form of an ant. The part that is interesting to us is the emergent world of thought and perception. If you would like to see a future that includes improvements beyond our species’ status-quo, then you should work on a transhumanist strategy that optimizes pattern survival and competition, namely work on substrate-independent minds and mind uploading. There are signs of a shift from gene-survival to pattern-survival, and Universal Darwinism favors the pattern competition winners. Of all the transhumanist strategies, advancing substrate-independent minds (ASIM) is both connected with its originating human interests and it most directly embraces and plays the game of competitive natural selection.

Music with Wings

randalkoene — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:14:31 +0000

My first little blog-post… and a small attempt to start collecting my little music suggestions rather than have them randomly appear and disappear in posts or comments. I’ll start with two sections, just to keep it simple: New and Old.

New comprises mostly music in the genres Symphonic Rock, EBM, Gothic music (of various persuasions) and similarly inspired.

Old comprises mostly Classical, Romantic and Baroque pieces.

Some, I suggest because they are great to work by, but there can be many reasons why I might make a suggestion.

So let’s get started. (Please excluse the dearth of material at this early stage… I don’t intend to put a ton of time into this right now, but instead wish to collect as I go).

New:

Assemblage 23 – Let Me be Your Armour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBAhY7mXmT4
Okay, I admit, this one may not be very suitable for work… if you work in an office, as you may experience an irresistible urge to dance. I know I do.

Assemblage 23 – Lullaby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlzQqToPchM&feature=related

Assemblage 23 – Horizon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0BjIkMzkzo&feature=related
If you want to know more about how amazing Assemblage 23 really is, read about him (Tom Shear – yes, it’s a one man act!): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblage_23

Assemblage 23 – Skyquake (Voice of God Mix by Manhole Vortex Protocol X)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtBICW_wqQo

Assemblage 23 – 30kft
The song is amazingly well done. The video… well, I tend to agree with some of the comments registered there. While the incident shown is quite terrible and significant, I would prefer if it were not directly associated with this song, which has a different tenor. Unfortunately, the only other video that I found with this music seemed even less appealing. I would suggest just listening to the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8ywaUHxlvs

Blutengel – Cry Little Sister

An old favorite… I mean, who hasn’t seen The Lost Boys, right?

Blutengel – Beauty of Suffering

Blutengel – Any Chance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sap3JfSpZNs

Combichrist – All Your Bass Belong to Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOpO_jk07dw

Combichrist – Today I Woke to The Rain of Blood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM_8bBM_V_8

Covenant – Call the ships to port

Covenant – We Stand Alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugsHs6yBumg

Dimmu Borgir – Perfection or Vanity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_KTYw4UO38

Dimmu Borgir – Puritania
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kQE-4aOkiU

Elend – A Staggering Moon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_p2jXkktcU
Awesomely different! See more about the dark ambient, neoclassical band Elend (German for Misery): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elend “Their music can be described as a combination of contemporary classical music and gothic.”

Elend – Winds Devouring Men
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKS0G5A_wZA
Turn off the lights, start writing, reading, drawing or just meditating… and Listen.

Epica – Solitary Ground

And the high quality vocal version…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb17Yc1a8lE

Epica – Quietus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L-xWnffvR0

Epica – Feint
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=528OXdDKMWA

Epica – Consign to Oblivion “A New Age Dawns” Part III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJdBftjC94U
(Very nice! Very symphonic!)

Epica – Cry For The Moon

One track, but more than one composition.

Evanescence – Lacrymosa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yyJG9uIm_M
Also see the original Mozart version below!!

Evanescence – Good Enough

Lacuna Coil – Enjoy The Silence (Depeche Mode cover song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx58hXh4pVA

L’ame Immortelle – Fallen Angel

Nightwish – Last of the Wilds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrIz0KCq1YA

Razed in Black – Oh my Goth!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDNkjWv-Lhw

Switchblade Symphony – Clown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LFdDUwDmN4

Switchblade Symphony – Rain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYQtYF2OjLI

Switchblade Symphony – Dissolve
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdElG_JX88I

Switchblade Symphony – Cocoon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD0d5pOcN4M

Switchblade Symphony – Ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_89z2C3IaY
Very nice song!

Switchblade Symphony – Dollhouse (Razed in Black Mix)

Dance! Come on! You know you want to.

Switchblade Symphony – Rampid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McoUVevrBfs
I’m not sure why, but aside from global catastrophic risk… this reminds me of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks… I told you I don’t know why!

Switchblade Symphony – Gutter Glitter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cxiRHveka4

Theatre of Tragedy – Storm (Tornado mix)

In my opinion, this mix is even better than the original. And the video, while quite different than the music video (here) is fun.

Theatre of Tragedy – Musique
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swt85Qi3CR8

The 69 Eyes – Gothic Girl

The Restrosic – Tale of Woe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEavtOGQUbU

The Retrosic – Bloodsport
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXnh7xY-0OA

Tiamat – Dust is our Fare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL25Uqnbw-k

Tristania – Deadlands (note the beautiful video!)

Tristania – Equilibrium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSZjflFVxs0&feature=related

Tristania – Deadlocked
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ8q45QJiQc

Tristania – A Sequel of Decay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfSjyDj8YJ8

Within Temptation – Mother Earth

Within Temptation – Stand My Ground
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sCkAvh50Vs

Wumpscut – Rush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6a5MTnBubc

Wumpscut – Deliverance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib-Bp8LYMSU

Wumpscut – Our Fatal Longing (time doubled version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjQh8hMfbKs

Zeromancer – Sinners International
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XcnSceoBjM

Zeromancer – Doppelgänger I love you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6aLR9LB_MM

Old:

Mozart’s Haffner-Serenade No. 7 D Major K 250, in particular, part IV. Rondo – Allegro!

Mozart Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major K.364 – 1st Movement – Allegro maestoso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2IHh8q01IY

All of Mozart’s Serenade in D Major K203 is a superb listen. But in the following video, we focus on the Andante in part II. Why? Well, because the video happens to be an interesting tangent! Laparoscopic surgery, yeah! Oh, I love the blogging freedom…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaJPoRjMFfo

Mozart Requiem-Lacrimosa (with Latin and English lyrics)

Beethoven Concerto No. 4 – Part 1 by George Li

I hope you enjoyed the listen. Send me your suggestions in the comments below!
- Randal