anthropocene – An Autonomous Agent

Paul Stamets Videos

anautonomousagent — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 01:42:54 +0000

Paul Stamets speaks about the power and importance of mushrooms:

Younger Stamets talking about Psilocybin Mushrooms:

Great Lecture about Fungi:

Mushrooms as medicine for humans (and bees!):

Planet Ocean (2012) – Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot

anautonomousagent — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 15:05:00 +0000

I absolutely loved the stunning imagery and awe captured in Planet Ocean. Looking at the microscopic organisms blooming in the ocean, then witnessing the entire Gaia system interacting in complex ways, the perspectives are inspiring for scientists and artists. It was one of the best visual documentaries I have seen. Definitely worth watching!

Cockburn Family

anautonomousagent — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:41:00 +0000

Andrew and Leslie Cockburn; Alexander Cockburn; Patrick Cockburn.

Recently have been watching interviews and lectures of the Cockburn family:

Beat the Devil: Alexander Cockburn – Books, Biography, CounterPunch, Religion – Interview (2007)

The Inside Story of the U.S.-Israeli Covert Relationship: Money, Mossad, and the CIA (1991)

Q&A: Leslie & Andrew Cockburn

PATRICK COCKBURN: Speaking about Syria

They each have numerous interviews, documentaries and books. In the coming months I will probably explore their work and add to this post.

John Pilger Videos

anautonomousagent — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:46:00 +0000

John Pilger reveals the inconsistencies in the actions taken by modern governments to assert their agenda. His documentaries are informative and help to raise awareness of various moral and ethical issues not normally covered by the typical news organization.

He has made numerous documentaries, here are a few:

War By Other Means (1992)
The New Rulers of the World (2001)
Palestine is Still the Issue (2002)
Stealing a Nation (2004)
The War On Democracy (2007)
The War you Don’t See (2010)

September 11: The New Pearl Harbor

anautonomousagent — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 01:11:00 +0000

I was in my middle school class when the teacher turned on the TV. On the news the morning of September 11, 2001 was something I will never forget. Since that time I have never questioned the events on that date. I was unaware of any inconsistencies; being more concerned with upcoming baseball games and playing football in the yard. Perhaps, as an unaware youth, I was simply relying on the honesty and intelligence of the adults in charge of my life and country. My parents were always watching the news. I unconsciously assumed they were aware and knew about any problems in society. Perhaps they, too, were relying on the honesty and intelligence of the media and government. The elected officials in power, voted into office by my parents and countless other citizens, were working hard for the welfare and protection of the American people; why would they harm me or any of my fellow citizens? Didn’t they swear to protect the American people and uphold the constitution?

Watching the crash of Malaysia Flight MH17 on TV, I had a vague flashback to my memories of 9/11; but the crash I saw in Ukraine looked different. I saw some disturbing pictures which turned my stomach. It actually had bodies and wreckage. But none of the pictures and videos on 9/11 of the two plane crashes away from the towers had any similar images. There were no bodies; no plane engines; no large fuselage pieces. Maybe I was missing something or remembering incorrectly.

I recently had some free time, so I decided to take my mind off the depressing news by laughing at the conspiracy theories concerning 9/11. How could people possibly deny the events which happened that day? So many witnesses, so many affected. I was ready to be amused and shocked by people stretching the evidence, spinning the truth, analyzing fuzzy videos, forming vague connections, and insulting the victims.

Let’s just say, “I wasn’t laughing.”

What I did feel, after watching September 11: The New Pearl Harbor, was utter disbelief and shock. Perhaps the one I watched was edited and the product of political agenda. In my disbelief, I watched five more videos and did some research. However, the evidence is there. I will not try to convince you, just watch the documentaries with an open mind, free from assumptions. Whatever the truth may be, there are plenty of reasons why there should be another investigation (not done by a government organization) and ALL evidence should be released by the government just like any other criminal case.

AE911Truth Experts Speak Out

Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup

9/11 Trillions: Follow the Money

Kondratieff Waves, Warfare and World Security: Volume 5 NATO Security through Science Series: Human and Societal Dynamics – T.C. Devezas

anautonomousagent — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 17:53:00 +0000

Kondratieff Waves, Warfare and World Security: Volume 5 NATO Security through Science Series: Human and Societal Dynamics by T.C. Devezas is what I am currently reading.

Fascinating to say the least.

Also, see: A Spectral Analysis of World GDP Dynamics: Kondratieff Waves, Kuznets Swings, Juglar and Kitchin Cycles in Global Economic Development, and the 2008–2009 Economic Crisis Korotayev, Andrey V and Tsirel, Sergey V.

All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace – Adam Curtis

anautonomousagent — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:02:00 +0000

All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace, by Adam Curtis, provides a grand overview of many of the people and ideas which have shaped the development of computers, systems, social theory, and politics over the past century. It is one of the better documentaries I have every seen and definitely worth watching; however, I agree with the reviewer John Preston who said it had an “…infuriating glibness too as the web of connectedness became ever more stretched. No one could dispute that Curtis has got a very big bite indeed. But what about the chewing, you ask. There wasn’t any – or nothing like enough of it to prevent a bad case of mental indigestion.”

Watch it:

Shush.se
All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace

Vimeo
All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace

A Stock Exchange for Species??

anautonomousagent — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 23:44:00 +0000

It seems to be entirely possible, and even beneficial, if there was an exchange, analogous to the NYSE, where traders and investors could buy and sell “shares” of a species. The exchange would begin by issuing an IPO on every species. For example, ticker symbol: QA could be the “stock” for Quercus alba.

We need to think outside the box to protect our environment and I see this a way to benefit both man and nature. Man will be awarded with more assets with which he can diversify his financial holdings; nature will win in various ways — including the proceeds of the IPO to protect the species.

This would be initiated to test the idea that a traded asset can be something more general than an organization consisting of human labor and assets.

You may argue that a stock must have a fundamental basis in the value of human commodities and labor. That may be true, however, what limits the definition extending to non-human commodities and the labor of nature? In any case, for the experienced investors, how many companies have you seen being valued in the billions with little or no assets and no profits? In fact, a species actually has an enormous value and potential in terms of biology, ecology, and the sustainability of human activity.

There are numerous possible arguments against this, which I would enjoy countering. Perhaps I will devote more to this in a future post.

Sander van der Leeuw – Can the Distant Past Teach Us About Modern Crisis?

anautonomousagent — Thu, 01 May 2014 18:30:00 +0000

Sander van der Leeuw, from Arizona State University and the Santa Fe Institute, discusses anthropology and how modern society has much to learn from its own past. Great presentation, I highly recommend.

Fora.tv:
Can the Distant Past Teach Us About Modern Crisis?
Podcast:
Can the Distant Past Teach Us About Modern Crisis?

The importance of the city and its function in society plays an important role in the 21st century. Understanding its development and future will provide key insights to capital flows and societal change. Sander van der Leeuw quickly outlines these details in the follow videos:

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History – Elizabeth Kolbert

anautonomousagent — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 16:25:00 +0000

The information contained in Elizabeth Kolbert’s book, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, should concern all humans alive today. The facts presented have been known to the scientific community for a number of years. Its message is clear and important: the human species has been the chief cause of a massive extinction not seen since the dinosaurs perished. Biological diversity has been decreasing for a long time. She presents the facts in a clear and fascinating story; visiting numerous places around the globe and witnessing first hand the effects of “The New Pangea.” The Washington Post’s review of Kolbert’s book.