Listen to my mix!
Posted 10:04 AM

If you have a high-speed connection, you can click here and listen to a downtempo mix I made while visiting epitonic.

Like it so far?

Epitonic is apparently one of a whole class of free and legal music sites that have cropped up.

That's right. Completely free and legal. Click without fear.

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Fake Meats
Posted 9:32 AM

I no longer can tolerate even the smell of cooked animal flesh, let alone the taste. But somehow, I still enjoy a lot of the "fake meats" that are made. Yes, they are very similar in texture and flavor. However, there is a rancid, greasy, "heaviness" in real meat that I dislike.

Conversely, when I go to Herndon, Virginia, my choices are so limited that I often find myself craving meat - despite the way I normally feel. I'm sure if I lived there, I'd at least eat fish.

Apparently I only crave it when I can't get a proper meal.

At first, I stopped eating meat for social reasons, not because of any dislike. Then, gradually, I stopped liking the smell of cooked meat. So it makes sense that similar social reasons would make me want to go back to eating it.
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Short road to enlightenment
Posted 10:39 AM

Every morning, visit this site. Keep clicking until one of them really hits home. Then go about your day.
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You Might Be An Anti-Spam Kook If...
Posted 3:29 PM

This made me laugh. And I read the whole thing. Which means, probably, I am one.

Oh, and I use Robin Kier's K9 on Windows and bogofilter in Linux. Spam is not a problem if you use these free and functional tools.

I fear I've found the FUSSP.

Labels: anti-spam, windows

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How to Stop Bush in 2004
Posted 2:49 PM

We simply need 500 or so people to vote in support of two measures: MoveOn and then eThePeople.

And, with enough momentum, he'll be out of the Whitehouse.

It's a bit tricky of a technique... but it will work very well.

Labels: politics

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My Letter to Michael Moore
Posted 8:39 AM

Michael Moore's sent a letter to Wesley Clark urging him to run. Along the same vein, here's my letter to Michael Moore:

Dear Michael Moore and Friends of Mike,

The Democratic Primaries work in such a bizzare way that the likelyhood of them choosing a candidate that can beat Bush, in this fragemented race, is very low.

I've spoken to Dr. Steven Brams, one of the nation's foremost experts in voting theory, and political theory. http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/politics/faculty/brams/brams_home.html

If we urged a political theorist and mathematician, such as Steven, to design an alternate Democratic ballot and counting system, we could really get at the "candidate that is most likely to get voted for over bush in the general election". I encourage Michael to call him and visit him. He's in the neighborhood.

From my conversations with him, the question you'd ask voters on the ballot is something like this:

"Check off all of the candidates you would support in the General Election against George Bush?"

This is how you find the candidate that the majority of voters would support over Bush.... not "pick one". Pick one can result in split votes among centrist candidates, like Dean, Kerry and Clark. In fact, with Clark running - Lieberman is now looking like he's got a chance in this race. "Pick one" frequently throws the vote to a candidate with a strong special interest, rather than a person who can beat Bush.

The results of the MoveON poll give you an idea of how this is done: http://moveonpac.org/moveonpac/report.html

Detailed info on election methods that you should read if you want to get involved in politics: http://www.electionmethods.org/

How approval voting can work in primaries: http://www.approvalvoting.com/primaries.html

In addition to endorsing a candidate that will split the centrist vote, you may want to consider endorsing a system that will result in the candidate that can win.
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Science & Art, Art & Science
Posted 8:05 PM

eye/oh oh/eye eye/oh

Is Science the Art of Understanding?
Is Art the Science of Expression?
What is Science without Expression?
What is Art without Understanding?

oh/eye eye/oh oh/eye
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So, you think you care about a sustainable future?
Posted 4:16 PM

Places with less disease, more education and higher average lifespans have underpopulation issues.

Places torn by war, disease and death have overpopulation issues.

And please, don't try to quote Malthus - who some have called Hitler's theologician.

So if you really care about a sustainable future, you should work to reduce disease and increase education, especially in the areas that need it the most.

Read the full story.
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Layers of Generosity
Posted 10:25 AM

Charity: Give a man a fish, feed him for a day

Education: Teach a man to fish, feed him his entire life

Humanism: Teach a man to believe in himself, and he will learn more than
just how to fish.

Transhumanism: Teach a man to believe in mankind ....

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FOX News Backs Kerry
Posted 9:30 AM

If there's any thing more damning, in my eyes, it's the fact that FOX News, the channel of extremeist right-wing lies, has backed Kerry as their favorite in the Democratic Party.

If any of you don't know, research the history of Rupert Murdoch's ruthless political manipulation, and his desparate, manic seeking to consolidate corporate power.

An excellent book which covers this issue, and much more, is Al Franken's new one Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right

Labels: politics

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Need we worry about AI?
Posted 9:48 PM

I like this argument against fear of AI.

"Genetic engineering is the logical next step' towards increasing our own intelligence so that we are capable of using and developing the technologies of the future. This, not AI, is the paradigm shift that will feed-back to increase our technological rate of change as required to match the Law of Accelerating Returns. Deep AI will likely come far after GE, when the limits of GE are nearly tapped"

If ever. We often underestimate human potential.

Labels: science

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Falwell lobbies to increase drug profits
Posted 7:10 PM

While life extensionists and transhumanists lobby to lower the cost of drugs in America, Jerry Falwell spoke out against them. This has exposed Jerry Falwell as, potentially, a mouthpiece for the drug cartel.

Cute.

Also, I found Health Supreme to be an interesting supplement to my standard health info site, BetterHumans.com
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My letter to the DNC (Democratic National Committe)
Posted 4:18 PM

Dear Terry McAuliffe,

I find it sad that the Democratic Party still backs plurality voting in it's primaries. They are, purportedly, a liberal party and a party for the people.

I am thinking about voting for "Kucinich and Dean and Kerry".

However, because of your pluralist voting system, I will be forced to just vote for Dean.

We will be petitioning and demanding election reform in 2004 outside of each of your debates and we will be demanding reform of your policies.

Hope to see you there!

There is no excuse to wait for Approval voting, since it requires no change of ballot technology. If you know of anyone that I can speak to about this, personally, I would be delighted to have a discussion behind closed doors.

Erik Aronesty
Americans for Approval Voting
http://www.approvalvoting.com/


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Kazaa and MP3's: A New Story
Posted 1:20 AM

There was a time when I used to download illegal MP3's.

Napster, GNUTella and Kazaa challenged the established record industry. Together, we showed them that we rejected their claim to dominance over our music.

This is what I do now.

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Bacterial Dean
Posted 2:12 PM

This has to be the coolest new use of technology I have ever seen. Bacterial HIV defenders! Fun.

I met with The Congress of Racial Equality today. They averred that they are strictly nonpartisan, and they do no promote politics or politicians. However, they acknowledged that they would not be able to stop us from canvassing for Howard Dean at a street fair (University Place between Waverly and 14th). We cannot wear CORE buttons, t-shirts, etc. while promoting a politican.

Which I was cool with.

So why did I tell them that I was even coming? Because the Dean campaign advised me to do so, and because I had respect for their rights, as organizers, to be advised. They were, actually, really happy that we weren't blindsiding them. And I think it will turn out OK.

I just hope it doesn't rain.

Labels: politics

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Leadership Aphorism of the Day
Posted 9:52 AM

"If I can't find someone's greatness, then it is my failure as a leader." - Erik Aronesty
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Transhumanism Meetup
Posted 11:43 AM

I created a new monthly transhumanist meetup. This first one went OK, although there were only enough people in New York to get it going. Other places are catching up.

Remote Lounge was a cool place to meet, and very appropriate for a techno-fetish gathering. We were there early, 7:00pm, so it was quiet enough to talk.

Here's the introduction that I handed out.

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How to fix corporate rule
Posted 1:35 PM

The simplest and most effective way to fix corporate domination of the globe is:

1. avoid corporate products, of any kind, where possible
2. tell as many people that you are doing this, and why

You might have to be willing to pay a little more for locally-grown and locally-sewn products. But, then again, you are helping your community rather than shipping your money out of your state, or country.

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Ship the Blacks back to Africa
Posted 9:25 AM

Ship the Blacks and their Rap back to Africa
Ship the Italians and their Mob back to Italy
Ship the Irish and their Drunken Fighting back to Ireland
And put all those Filthy Catholic Priests in Jail

Ship the Jews and their Money back to God knows where
Ship the Muslims and their Terrorism back to Allah
Ship the Hindus and their Curry back to India

I don't need to say much about the French,
The Mexicans and Puerto Ricans, what's the difference?
If you can't speak English you should go home!

And when we're done with all the rest...

The British will own America again!
Long live the Queen!

Labels: politics

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Million Youth March
Posted 4:04 PM

My first experience with discrimination was when I was on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. I was, probably, 12 years old and hanging out in my Dad's store. There was a black power march along the boardwalk. I remember it very clearly. I saw lots of people singing and shouting, and I went out to march with them.

I got about 10 steps out of the door, and a young girl, about my age, saw me walking with the crowd. She said, "This march ain't for you. We don't want you here". I got very upset, and ran back to the store.

I know now that it was, of course, just one 12 year old girl, hardly representative of the entire rally.

I'm sad that I missed this year's Million Youth March. It would be interesting to see it with an adult's perspective.

Labels: politics

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Breakfast Links
Posted 9:04 AM

This WXII Oregon radio interviewer asked Howard Dean some tough questions. It's clear to me that Dean's centered, intelligent responses stem from a deep, intuitive and moral knowledge.

I found the article "Evolutionary Theories of Aging and Longevity", to be engrossing. Especially the part about "testing theories of programmed death". It presents an understanting of biology and evolution in terms that a layman can understand.

I'm hosting a Dean outreach event on Sept 13th in Washington Sq. Park, NY. Please sign up and help out. I can't do it alone.

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Genetic Farewell
Posted 9:02 AM

Farewell to Raz, our genetic engineer and enthusiastic pub-goer from London. He's returning to the U.K. and we'll all miss him. Following pizza and wine, our gang went out for cocktails at a lounge which will remain unnamed, because I wouldn't want to give it the benefit of negative publicity. We got pissed and danced and talked about philosophy, politics and science with some locals.

The gang broke up, but Raz and I continued on, stopping by the Dean "meetup" at Tapis Rouge. The meeting was over, but there were a few people left. Apparently there was, cooincidentally, some sort of drag show that started afterwards. We quizzed Claire and William, rabid Dean fans, on policy and argued with them about courses of grassroots action. Then the transvestite MC told us to shush. On our way out, the MC apologized by saying "Hey, I'd vote for Dean, but I wouldn't blow him!".

Cute.

Labels: science

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