M.I. Lastman's Blog, page 11
May 9, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Natural complexity trends toward beauty. Human complexity trends toward ugliness 
It is important to note that the mechanical complexity of the last two pictures is inanimate.
It is important to note that the mechanical complexity of the last two pictures is inanimate.
May 8, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Raucous manmade social and mechanical complexity routs harmonious natural complexity 
These are both natural systems, but the first, achieved through the sudden and violent intervention of homo sapiens sapiens and its intelligence, evokes complex frenzy while the second, achieved over eons, evokes complex peace.
San Francisco, the city pictured above, is an especially well ordered city, but there will not be a single citizen who is not profoundly disturbed by the problems of inert technological complexity. On the other hand, we have evolved over the entire history of life to respond positively to the living complexity of nature.
These are both natural systems, but the first, achieved through the sudden and violent intervention of homo sapiens sapiens and its intelligence, evokes complex frenzy while the second, achieved over eons, evokes complex peace.San Francisco, the city pictured above, is an especially well ordered city, but there will not be a single citizen who is not profoundly disturbed by the problems of inert technological complexity. On the other hand, we have evolved over the entire history of life to respond positively to the living complexity of nature.
May 7, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
What can we do to stop global warming? Replace growth in GDP with in increase in GDR (Gross Domestic Restoration) If growth is the problem and no part of the solution, maybe we should experiment with ungrowth: restoration, and unbuilding.
May 6, 2015
This post may seem old-fashioned, and luddite; to explain why it is not would require a book. There are four points to be made. First, there are scientists who really believe that the future of computing lies with merging human and machine intelligence and that it will be possible, in the near future, to achieve a kind of immortality as an algorithm in the mind of a super-computer. There are powerfully influential minds working on realising this as soon as possible, among them, Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering at Google. Second, as these pictures suggest the whole process is unbelievably complex; complexity favours fragility. The picture above shows lines into a super computer; all must be perfectly aligned and assured of power. What happens when the plug is pulled? Third, who or what will maintain this stuff. Fourth, even if all the objections are overcome and a new generation of super-computers achieves both self-maintenance and mobility, who is to say that the new mechano-organism would care anything for the alogrithms stored in its brain. Fifth, who asked you or me about any of this? May 5, 2015
Aforementioned: Aphorisms and questions for 2015
Ending the hegemony of the patriarchy and giving an equal voice to women is not just about feminism, it’s about survival. 
May 4, 2015
Aforementioned: Aphorisms and questions for 2015
Have you noticed how Ghandi, who achieved great things through nonviolence, is so often surrounded by women? 
This a picture of Napoleon during his retreat from Moscow. The point is that those who have reached for greatness through violence are generally surrounded by men in the pictorial record. There is no syllogism possible here, but it is suggestive. Does testosterone feed on testosterone?
This a picture of Napoleon during his retreat from Moscow. The point is that those who have reached for greatness through violence are generally surrounded by men in the pictorial record. There is no syllogism possible here, but it is suggestive. Does testosterone feed on testosterone?
May 3, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
The coral reefs will exit just before us. We'll find our exit no more pleasing than theirs. 
May 2, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
We can solve 1984 later; climate disaster will not wait 
While despotism is a very bad thing that no one wants, it is not a terminal human failing; the destruction of the biosphere certainly is and it may be coming soon. There's no planet B and once our planet A is made uninhabitable, there will be nowhere for either despots or democrats to go.
While despotism is a very bad thing that no one wants, it is not a terminal human failing; the destruction of the biosphere certainly is and it may be coming soon. There's no planet B and once our planet A is made uninhabitable, there will be nowhere for either despots or democrats to go.
May 1, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
The pen is better than no sword at all. Cry out for your children and the biosphere.
The sad truth is that there is not much evidence that the pen is mightier than the sword, than testosterone driven power, than money, but the stakes are so terrible that we can't give up - we can't!
The sad truth is that there is not much evidence that the pen is mightier than the sword, than testosterone driven power, than money, but the stakes are so terrible that we can't give up - we can't!
April 30, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
If we cannot save the coral reefs, we will not save ourselves. 
Working in proper harmony with and within nature, we humans are every bit as beautiful and wonderful as the most entrancing coral sea. Working under the influence of the testosterone storm, we are destructive and terrible.
Working in proper harmony with and within nature, we humans are every bit as beautiful and wonderful as the most entrancing coral sea. Working under the influence of the testosterone storm, we are destructive and terrible.
