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On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, I'm joined by David Pope, Commissioner on the Wyoming Stable Token Commission, and Executive Director Anthony Apollo, for a wide-ranging conversation that explores the bold, nuanced effort behind Wyoming's first-of-its-kind state-issued stable token. I'm your host Stewart Alsop, and what unfolds in this dialogue is both a technical unpacking and philosophical meditation on trust, financial sovereignty, and what it means for a government to anchor itself in transparent, programmable value. We move through Anthony's path from Wall Street to Web3, the infrastructure and intention behind tokenizing real-world assets, and how the U.S. dollar's future could be shaped by state-level innovation. If you're curious to follow along with their work, everything from blockchain selection criteria to commission recordings can be found at stabletoken.wyo.gov.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 – David Pope and Anthony Apollo introduce themselves, clarifying they speak personally, not for the Commission. You, Stewart, set an open tone, inviting curiosity and exploration.05:00 – Anthony shares his path from traditional finance to Ethereum and government, driven by frustration with legacy banking inefficiencies.10:00 – Tokenized bonds enter the conversation via the Spencer Dinwiddie project. Pope explains early challenges with defining “real-world assets.”15:00 – Legal limits of token ownership vs. asset title are unpacked. You question whether anything “real” has been tokenized yet.20:00 – Focus shifts to the Wyoming Stable Token: its constitutional roots and blockchain as a tool for fiat-backed stability without inflation.25:00 – Comparison with CBDCs: Apollo explains why Wyoming's token is transparent, non-programmatic, and privacy-focused.30:00 – Legislative framework: the 102% backing rule, public audits, and how rulemaking differs from law. You explore flexibility and trust.35:00 – Global positioning: how Wyoming stands apart from other states and nations in crypto policy. You highlight U.S. federalism's role.40:00 – Topics shift to velocity, peer-to-peer finance, and risk. You connect this to Urbit and decentralized systems.45:00 – Apollo unpacks the stable token's role in reinforcing dollar hegemony, even as BRICS move away from it.50:00 – Wyoming's transparency and governance as financial infrastructure. You reflect on meme coins and state legitimacy.55:00 – Discussion of Bitcoin reserves, legislative outcomes, and what's ahead. The conversation ends with vision and clarity.Key InsightsWyoming is pioneering a new model for state-level financial infrastructure. Through the creation of the Wyoming Stable Token Commission, the state is developing a fully-backed, transparent stable token that aims to function as a public utility. Unlike privately issued stablecoins, this one is mandated by law to be 102% backed by U.S. dollars and short-term treasuries, ensuring high trust and reducing systemic risk.The stable token is not just a tech innovation—it's a philosophical statement about trust. As David Pope emphasized, the transparency and auditability of blockchain-based financial instruments allow for a shift toward self-auditing systems, where trust isn't assumed but proven. In contrast to the opaque operations of legacy banking systems, the stable token is designed to be programmatically verifiable.Tokenized real-world assets are coming, but we're not there yet. Anthony Apollo and David Pope clarify that most "real-world assets" currently tokenized are actually equity or debt instruments that represent ownership structures, not the assets themselves. The next leap will involve making the token itself the title, enabling true fractional ownership of physical or financial assets without intermediary entities.This initiative strengthens the U.S. dollar rather than undermining it. By creating a transparent, efficient vehicle for global dollar transactions, the Wyoming Stable Token could bolster the dollar's role in international finance. Instead of competing with the dollar, it reinforces its utility in an increasingly digital economy—offering a compelling alternative to central bank digital currencies that raise concerns around surveillance and control.Stable tokens have the potential to become major holders of U.S. debt. Anthony Apollo points out that the aggregate of all fiat-backed stable tokens already represents a top-tier holder of U.S. treasuries. As adoption grows, state-run stable tokens could play a crucial role in sovereign debt markets, filling gaps left by foreign governments divesting from U.S. securities.Public accountability is central to Wyoming's approach. Unlike private entities that can change terms at will, the Wyoming Commission is legally bound to go through a public rulemaking process for any adjustments. This radical transparency offers both stability and public trust, setting a precedent for how digital public infrastructure can be governed.The ultimate goal is to build a bridge between traditional finance and the Web3 future. Rather than burn the old system down, Pope and Apollo are designing the stable token as a pragmatic transition layer—something institutions can trust and privacy advocates can respect. It's about enabling safe experimentation and gradual transformation, not triggering collapse.
In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop talks with Rosario Parlanti, a longtime crypto investor and real estate attorney, about the shifting landscape of decentralization, AI, and finance. They explore the power struggles between centralized and decentralized systems, the role of AI agents in finance and infrastructure, and the legal gray areas emerging around autonomous technology. Rosario shares insights on trusted execution environments, token incentives, and how projects like Phala Network are building decentralized cloud computing. They also discuss the changing narrative around Bitcoin, the potential for AI-driven financial autonomy, and the future of censorship-resistant platforms. Follow Rosario on X @DeepinWhale and check out Phala Network to learn more.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:25 Understanding Decentralized Cloud Infrastructure04:40 Centralization vs. Decentralization: A Philosophical Debate06:56 Political Implications of Centralization17:19 Technical Aspects of Phala Network24:33 Crypto and AI: The Future Intersection25:11 The Convergence of Crypto and AI25:59 Challenges with Centralized Cloud Services27:36 Decentralized Cloud Solutions for AI30:32 Legal and Ethical Implications of AI Agents32:59 The Future of Decentralized Technologies41:56 Crypto's Role in Global Financial Freedom49:27 Closing Thoughts and Future ProspectsKey InsightsDecentralization is not absolute, but a spectrum. Rosario Parlanti explains that decentralization doesn't mean eliminating central hubs entirely, but rather reducing choke points where power is overly concentrated. Whether in finance, cloud computing, or governance, every system faces forces pushing toward centralization for efficiency and control, while counterforces work to redistribute power and increase resilience.Trusted execution environments (TEE) are crucial for decentralized cloud computing. Rosario highlights how Phala Network uses TEEs, a hardware-based security measure that isolates sensitive data from external access. This ensures that decentralized cloud services can operate securely, preventing unauthorized access while allowing independent providers to host data and run applications outside the control of major corporations like Amazon and Google.AI agents will need decentralized infrastructure to function autonomously. The conversation touches on the growing power of AI-driven autonomous agents, which can execute financial trades, conduct research, and even generate content. However, running such agents on centralized cloud providers like AWS could create regulatory and operational risks. Decentralized cloud networks like Phala offer a way for these agents to operate freely, without interference from governments or corporations.Regulatory arbitrage will shape the future of AI and crypto. Rosario describes how businesses and individuals are already leveraging jurisdiction shopping—structuring AI entities or financial operations in countries with more favorable regulations. He speculates that AI agents could be housed within offshore LLCs or irrevocable trusts, creating legal distance between their creators and their actions, raising new ethical and legal challenges.Bitcoin's narrative has shifted from currency to investment asset. Originally envisioned as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, Bitcoin has increasingly been treated as digital gold, largely due to the influence of institutional investors and regulatory frameworks like Bitcoin ETFs. Rosario argues that this shift in perception has led to Bitcoin being co-opted by the very financial institutions it was meant to disrupt.The rise of AI-driven financial autonomy could bypass traditional banking and regulation. The combination of AI, smart contracts, and decentralized finance (DeFi) could enable AI agents to conduct financial transactions without human oversight. This could range from algorithmic trading to managing business operations, potentially reducing reliance on traditional banking systems and challenging the ability of governments to enforce financial regulations.The accelerating clash between technology and governance will redefine global power structures. As AI and decentralized systems gain momentum, traditional nation-state mechanisms for controlling information, currency, and infrastructure will face unprecedented challenges. Rosario and Stewart discuss how this shift mirrors previous disruptions—such as social media's impact on information control—and speculate on whether governments will adapt, resist, or attempt to co-opt these emerging technologies.
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, I, Stewart Alsop, sit down with Louis Anderson, a fascinating thinker whose journey spans biotech hacking, life in San Francisco's hippie communes, and deep involvement in the Urbit ecosystem. Our conversation weaves through topics like secularism, pseudo-religious structures in modern tech communities, the philosophical underpinnings of Protestantism and its influence on secular thought, and the complex relationship between climate change, transhumanism, and personal sovereignty. We also explore Louis's vision for network states and the future of personal servers. For more on Louis's work, check out tactics.louisandersonllc.com and reach out via LinkedIn or to info@louisandersonllc.com.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:35 Diving into Secularism02:17 French vs. American Secularism04:34 Protestantism and Secularism05:58 The Evolution of Secularism15:08 Theism, Atheism, and Non-Theism17:35 Introduction to Urbit20:32 Urbit's Structure and Critique25:41 Future of Personal Servers27:32 Spiritual Journeys and Woo28:17 Exploring Occultism and Mysticism28:44 Influential Figures in Mysticism30:18 The Golden Age of Mysticism30:49 Western and Eastern Mysticism32:02 Chaos Magic and Modern Mysticism34:10 Transhumanism and Body Modification39:38 Climate Change and Human Impact40:48 The Role of Carbon in Climate Change45:27 Betting on Climate Predictions52:23 Network States and Legal FrameworksKey InsightsSecularism as a Modern Religion: Louis Anderson challenges conventional views on secularism, suggesting that it has evolved into a form of religion itself, particularly in Western societies. He contrasts American secularism, which allows for individual interpretation and freedom, with French secularism, which often imposes strict boundaries between religion and the public sphere. This perspective invites a reevaluation of how secularism shapes modern identity and cultural structures.The Influence of Protestant Thought on Modern Ideologies: The conversation highlights how Protestantism, with its emphasis on personal interpretation and decentralized authority, has deeply influenced secular and scientific worldviews. Unlike Catholicism's institutional hierarchy, Protestantism fosters an environment where individuals are encouraged to seek truth independently, a mindset that parallels the scientific method and modern democratic ideals.The Network State as a New Political Frontier: Louis introduces the concept of the network state, likening it to America's founding principles where communities form around shared ideas rather than geography. He critiques the current structure of Urbit's Azimuth system, arguing for a more community-driven model that reflects collective ownership and governance rather than capitalist hierarchies.Body Modification and the Ethics of Transhumanism: Discussing transhumanism, Louis proposes a radical shift in how we perceive body modification—not as a rejection of our natural form but as a collaborative evolution with our physical selves. He emphasizes a respectful, co-creative relationship with the body, contrasting it with the often utilitarian, enhancement-focused approach seen in current transhumanist discourse.Climate Change as Both a Scientific and Personal Challenge: The episode explores climate change beyond its scientific basis, framing it as a challenge to human adaptability and foresight. Louis suggests that individual bets and prediction markets can help people internalize climate risks, making the abstract threat more tangible and prompting proactive decision-making in areas like real estate and resource management.Mysticism's Enduring Influence on Modern Thought: Louis's deep dive into mysticism, from Kabbalah to Theosophy, reveals how ancient spiritual traditions continue to shape contemporary philosophical and cultural landscapes. He connects these esoteric systems to modern tech ideologies, suggesting that the search for meaning and structure persists even in highly rational, secular environments.The Intersection of Technology, Spirituality, and Identity: The episode underscores a recurring theme: the blending of technological advancement with spiritual exploration. Whether discussing personal servers as digital shrines or the metaphysical implications of network states, Louis highlights how technology is not just a tool but a medium through which modern humans negotiate identity, community, and existential purpose.
In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop hosts ~littel-wolfur to explore spaced repetition, the dynamics of learning algorithms, and the philosophy behind Urbit. They break down Urbit's promise as a peer-to-peer platform with roots in a deep, almost otherworldly commitment to resilience and a long time horizon. Alongside ~littel-wolfur's take on memory as the strange balance of laziness and persistence, they dig into shrubbery, Urbit's latest namespace innovation, and the challenge of creating tools that last. From generational shifts to the philosophy of technology, Stewart and ~littel-wolfur contemplate whether Urbit's rebellious craftsmanship might be the foundation for a more enduring internet. You can connect with ~littel-wolfur on Twitter.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:22 Understanding Spaced Repetition01:39 Personal Experiences with Spaced Repetition04:08 Challenges in Spaced Repetition Software06:45 Building a Flashcard App on Urbit09:03 Introduction to Shrubbery on Urbit13:26 The State of Urbit and Its Future22:01 The Long-Term Vision of Urbit and Bitcoin28:37 Balancing Internet Time with Parenthood29:37 Challenges of Urbit's Ease of Use30:22 New Blood in the Urbit Community31:15 Building Communities on Urbit32:38 Twitter's Complexities and Elon Musk's Influence41:02 AI's Role in Software Development49:52 Transhumanism and AI Art54:50 The Future of Craftsmanship in Programming55:45 Conclusion and Contact InformationKey InsightsThe Power and Paradox of Spaced Repetition: Stewart and ~littel-wolfur discuss spaced repetition as an ingenious blend of laziness and persistence. By setting reminders to review information just before it's forgotten, spaced repetition acts as an effortless yet powerful memory tool. Although the practice demands daily discipline, it becomes an invaluable mechanism for retaining knowledge across vast timescales.SuperMemo and Incremental Reading: ~littel-wolfur shares his experience with SuperMemo, the original spaced repetition software that takes the method even further. SuperMemo's “incremental reading” allows users to gradually extract information from lengthy texts, breaking down complex learning into manageable, spaced chunks. For ~littel-wolfur, this approach goes beyond mere memorization; it turns learning into an immersive, long-term commitment.The Urbit Experiment: Urbit, a decentralized peer-to-peer network and OS, represents a radical rethinking of the internet. Stewart and ~littel-wolfur examine Urbit's potential as a platform where users truly own and control their data, echoing ideals of early Web 1.0. As the “long-haul project” of the tech world, Urbit cultivates an almost timeless ethos, making it as much a social experiment as a computing system.Shrubbery and Namespace Innovation: A core element of Urbit, “shrubbery” introduces a namespace that enables users to organize, connect, and retrieve information from across their digital universe. ~littel-wolfur explains how shrubbery allows users to link pieces of data like conversation notes, wikis, and documents, making it a versatile learning platform on Urbit. The elegance of this integration hints at a future internet where information can be personalized and seamlessly connected.Craftsmanship and Digital Resilience: ~littel-wolfur and Stewart touch on the fading art of craftsmanship in tech, which often gets lost in the layers of abstractions that modern software relies on. For ~littel-wolfur, coding on Urbit feels like working in a digital woodshop, where the focus is on intentionality and precision rather than flashy or disposable tech. This philosophy of craftsmanship offers a refreshing take on the art of creation in software, hinting at the durability and authenticity Urbit hopes to embody.AI's Limitations and Overconfidence Trap: The episode also highlights the limitations of AI, especially when it encourages laziness or over-reliance. While AI can help automate routine tasks, ~littel-wolfur warns of its tendency to produce fragile, overly complex solutions that unravel under scrutiny. They caution that true understanding comes not from shortcuts, but from engaging deeply with the work—a point that resonates with their belief in disciplined learning practices like spaced repetition.The Value of Optimism and Long Time Horizons: Amid a society obsessed with quick wins and rapid monetization, Stewart and ~littel-wolfur see Urbit's culture as a refreshing outlier, filled with builders who value curiosity and long-term thinking. This “thousand-year mindset” stands in contrast to much of the tech industry, where projects are often driven by immediate financial returns. By embracing a philosophy that resists the pressure for instant success, Urbit aligns itself with a vision of digital infrastructure that, rather than fueling transient trends, aims to be a lasting foundation for generations to come.
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom podcast, host Stewart Alsop welcomes guest Neal Davies, a former computer science professor and nuclear engineering PhD, currently working at the Urbit Foundation. Their conversation covers a range of intriguing topics including the Deseret Alphabet, a phonetic alphabet from the 19th century, Neal's experiences balancing generalist and specialist roles, and the influence of AI in both his work and the world at large. Neal also shares his insights on syntax, symbols, and the cultural shifts that have shaped modern consciousness. You can connect with Neal on Twitter @Sigilante or find him on Urbit as @Lagravnokvap.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:19 Exploring the Deseret Alphabet04:02 Challenges and Rewards of Being a Generalist06:47 Impact of AI on Generalism and Specialization08:24 AI in Code and Image Generation13:43 Salvador Dali's Paranoiac Critical Method17:18 Symbolism in Art and Language20:49 The Spiritual Connection with Language30:05 Greek Influence on Language and Zero32:59 Exploring Number Systems35:10 Rational Numbers and Greek Innovations38:12 The Evolution of Linguistic Systems40:29 Cultural Shifts: 1870s to 1960s45:46 The Impact of the 1960s on Modern Thought49:58 The Role of Illegible Spaces in Innovation56:11 Concluding Thoughts and Future DirectionsKey Insights1-Deseret Alphabet as a Cultural and Linguistic Experiment: Neal Davies is deeply fascinated by the 19th-century Deseret Alphabet, a phonetic alphabet created to help immigrants in Utah become literate. Its unique structure and religious origins present a profound example of how language can be intentionally shaped to serve a community, although this project ultimately didn't gain widespread adoption.2-Balancing Generalism and Specialization: Neal shares his personal journey of pursuing generalist roles while maintaining expertise in specific fields like computer science and nuclear engineering. He emphasizes the value of broad, diverse knowledge in a world that often rewards specialization. His approach allows for flexibility and creativity in problem-solving, despite the professional challenges generalists may face in a society focused on specialization.3-AI as a Tool for Productivity, Not Replacement: Neal highlights the utility of AI in his work, particularly in code generation and ideation. He discusses how tools like GitHub's Copilot act as force multipliers for developers, offering a starting point that saves time without replacing the critical thinking required for final implementation. AI is seen as a support system for creativity, especially in programming and image generation.4-Syntax and Symbols as Catalysts for Thought: Neal discusses the profound relationship between syntax, symbols, and thought. By exploring different symbol systems, such as mathematical notation or alphabets like Deseret, he argues that they can unlock new ways of thinking. Symbol systems not only shape reasoning but allow people to build layers of understanding and explore more complex ideas.5-Cultural Experimentation and Enclaves: Reflecting on the importance of high variance in human endeavor, Neal supports creating enclaves of culture and thought outside the mainstream. He argues that monoculture, driven by surveillance and conformity, limits the ability to think freely and explore novel solutions. Platforms like Urbit, which emphasize privacy and decentralized communication, provide a space for communities to experiment and innovate without being surveilled or controlled.6-The Failure and Legacy of the 1960s Counterculture: Neal suggests that the cultural revolution of the 1960s was an ambitious attempt at societal transformation that ultimately failed. Co-opted by commercialism, politics, and other forces, the movement couldn't fully realize its vision of reshaping consciousness. However, it planted seeds for future cultural shifts, much like the influence of the Romanticists in the 19th century.7-The Importance of Illegibility in Innovation: Neal explains that true freedom in innovation comes from creating spaces where ideas and communities can evolve without constant oversight. He draws a parallel to Hemingway's theory that the unseen parts of a story are as important as the visible ones. Similarly, innovation flourishes when parts of a system or community remain illegible and unobserved, allowing for creativity and growth beyond the constraints of external control.
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In this episode, Urbit founder Curtis Yarvin presents a case for reimagining the internet from the ground up. Yarvin dissects the evolution of the internet from its decentralized origins to today's centralized "social databases," explaining how this shift has degraded online communities and compromised digital sovereignty. He introduces Urbit as a potential solution, detailing its unique approach to digital identity and personal servers. The conversation explores the challenges of centralization, the potential for "accountable monarchies" in digital governance, and how crypto could fundamentally alter the internet's course. Thanks for tuning in! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Curtis: https://substack.com/@graymirror Follow Jake: https://x.com/jbrukh Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024. Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD. - - Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets. Protect your crypto today at harpie.io. - - Supra Containers are secured by Supra's L1 nodes and get access to Supra's 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here. Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks - - Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:51 The Evolution of the Internet 08:22 Rise of Centralized Networks 12:15 Future of Decentralized Systems 30:45 Urbit & Blockchains 46:53 Stellar Ad 47:43 Supra Ad 48:39 Harpie Ad 49:32 What is Urbit? 01:15:54 Decentralized Identity and Personal Servers - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom podcast, host Stewart Alsop welcomes guest Neal Davies, a former computer science professor and nuclear engineering PhD, currently working at the Urbit Foundation. Their conversation covers a range of intriguing topics including the Deseret Alphabet, a phonetic alphabet from the 19th century, Neal's experiences balancing generalist and specialist roles, and the influence of AI in both his work and the world at large. Neal also shares his insights on syntax, symbols, and the cultural shifts that have shaped modern consciousness. You can connect with Neal on Twitter @Sigilante or find him on Urbit as @Lagravnokvap.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:19 Exploring the Deseret Alphabet04:02 Challenges and Rewards of Being a Generalist06:47 Impact of AI on Generalism and Specialization08:24 AI in Code and Image Generation13:43 Salvador Dali's Paranoiac Critical Method17:18 Symbolism in Art and Language20:49 The Spiritual Connection with Language30:05 Greek Influence on Language and Zero32:59 Exploring Number Systems35:10 Rational Numbers and Greek Innovations38:12 The Evolution of Linguistic Systems40:29 Cultural Shifts: 1870s to 1960s45:46 The Impact of the 1960s on Modern Thought49:58 The Role of Illegible Spaces in Innovation56:11 Concluding Thoughts and Future DirectionsKey InsightsDeseret Alphabet as a Cultural and Linguistic Experiment: Neal Davies is deeply fascinated by the 19th-century Deseret Alphabet, a phonetic alphabet created to help immigrants in Utah become literate. Its unique structure and religious origins present a profound example of how language can be intentionally shaped to serve a community, although this project ultimately didn't gain widespread adoption.Balancing Generalism and Specialization: Neal shares his personal journey of pursuing generalist roles while maintaining expertise in specific fields like computer science and nuclear engineering. He emphasizes the value of broad, diverse knowledge in a world that often rewards specialization. His approach allows for flexibility and creativity in problem-solving, despite the professional challenges generalists may face in a society focused on specialization.AI as a Tool for Productivity, Not Replacement: Neal highlights the utility of AI in his work, particularly in code generation and ideation. He discusses how tools like GitHub's Copilot act as force multipliers for developers, offering a starting point that saves time without replacing the critical thinking required for final implementation. AI is seen as a support system for creativity, especially in programming and image generation.Syntax and Symbols as Catalysts for Thought: Neal discusses the profound relationship between syntax, symbols, and thought. By exploring different symbol systems, such as mathematical notation or alphabets like Deseret, he argues that they can unlock new ways of thinking. Symbol systems not only shape reasoning but allow people to build layers of understanding and explore more complex ideas.Cultural Experimentation and Enclaves: Reflecting on the importance of high variance in human endeavor, Neal supports creating enclaves of culture and thought outside the mainstream. He argues that monoculture, driven by surveillance and conformity, limits the ability to think freely and explore novel solutions. Platforms like Urbit, which emphasize privacy and decentralized communication, provide a space for communities to experiment and innovate without being surveilled or controlled.The Failure and Legacy of the 1960s Counterculture: Neal suggests that the cultural revolution of the 1960s was an ambitious attempt at societal transformation that ultimately failed. Co-opted by commercialism, politics, and other forces, the movement couldn't fully realize its vision of reshaping consciousness. However, it planted seeds for future cultural shifts, much like the influence of the Romanticists in the 19th century.The Importance of Illegibility in Innovation: Neal explains that true freedom in innovation comes from creating spaces where ideas and communities can evolve without constant oversight. He draws a parallel to Hemingway's theory that the unseen parts of a story are as important as the visible ones. Similarly, innovation flourishes when parts of a system or community remain illegible and unobserved, allowing for creativity and growth beyond the constraints of external control.
In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Jack, a tech enthusiast and founder of Vaporware, who also goes by Wereness on Twitter. The conversation spans topics such as Sweden's historical roots in Viking culture, entrepreneurial spirit, and technological innovation. They discuss Jack's insights into Swedish history, internet culture, and the origins of platforms like The Pirate Bay. The conversation eventually moves into Jack's focus on building the future of decentralized technology with projects like Vaporware and Plunder, alongside exploring concepts like solid-state interpreters. You can follow Jack on Twitter at @Wereness.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:03 Guest Introduction: Jack of Vaporware00:17 Learning Journeys and Voice Forms01:07 Swedish History Overview05:24 Sweden's Modernization and World War II08:23 Entrepreneurial Spirit in Northern Europe09:02 Gorbachev and the Soviet Union's Collapse14:36 Sweden's Pandemic Response and Conformity18:33 Host's Language Skills and Travel Aspirations21:13 Argentina's Economic History and Welfare State25:26 The U.S. Welfare State During COVID26:21 Designing Effective Welfare Systems27:40 Skepticism Towards UBI and Automation28:22 Argentina's Political Landscape29:16 Rethinking Political and Social Institutions31:22 Empiricism vs. Rationalism33:08 Challenges of Modern Technology and Information36:19 Reputation Systems and Information Control46:02 Introduction to Vaporware and Plunder47:54 Understanding Solid State Interpreters52:21 Conclusion and Contact InformationKey InsightsSweden's Unique Entrepreneurial History: Jack provides insight into Sweden's historical journey, highlighting how the country, known for its Viking roots and iron industry, has maintained an entrepreneurial spirit. Despite being late to modernize compared to other European nations, Sweden developed a strong engineering and industrial focus, fostering a culture of innovation that paved the way for companies like Spotify.Pirate Bay and Sweden's Digital Pioneers: The discussion touches on how Sweden's advanced internet infrastructure and highly connected population led to projects like The Pirate Bay. Jack notes that Sweden's conformity to trends and its neophilic culture contributed to the rise of such platforms, where digital piracy was once a mainstream practice, reflecting a larger cultural shift in media consumption.The Conformity Paradox in Sweden: A key theme in the episode is Sweden's paradoxical approach to conformity, where at a national level, the country made nonconformist decisions, such as its unique COVID-19 strategy. Jack explains this as a deeper form of conformity to long-standing institutional trust, showing that Swedish society's adherence to institutional plans is rooted in a high level of trust in central authority.Decentralized Technology and Vaporware: Jack introduces the concept of Vaporware, a project aimed at building decentralized technologies to provide users with greater control over their data. He explains that Vaporware is a company built on Plunder, an alternative to Urbit, and emphasizes how these technologies aim to solve current issues related to internet privacy, data ownership, and freedom.Solid-State Interpreter for Future-Proof Computing: One of the most technical insights revolves around the solid-state interpreter, which Jack describes as a combination of a virtual machine and a database. It allows for the creation of a computing environment where code and data can be stored and updated indefinitely, ensuring that the programs and data remain functional and accessible long into the future, unlike current software systems.Reputation Systems and Social Trust: Jack challenges traditional reputation systems, advocating for a more nuanced, context-specific method of evaluating trust in online interactions. He suggests that symbols or markers should be used to indicate trustworthiness based on context, rather than relying on simple upvotes or scores, which can be gamed and lead to dystopian outcomes.Global Institutional Collapse and the Need for New Systems: Both Stewart and Jack reflect on the global decline of traditional institutions, with welfare states and centralized governance models failing to meet modern needs. They emphasize the importance of rethinking political and economic systems to adapt to the changing technological landscape, drawing parallels between Sweden's past successes and the broader need for innovative, decentralized solutions globally.
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, Stewart Alsop welcomes John Hyde, founder of Turf, to discuss the fascinating intersection of decentralized technology and virtual worlds. John shares the origin story of Turf, a virtual world built on Urbit, and delves into his experiences as a developer navigating the unique challenges and opportunities that Urbit presents. The conversation also touches on topics such as the future of decentralized computing, the business potential of Turf, and even John's personal journey with Orthodox Christianity. For those interested in following John's work, you can find updates on Twitter at @turf_on_urbit, or join the Turf group on Urbit. Additionally, John hosts "Turf Time" every Thursday at 1 PM Pacific, where participants can engage in discussions and explore new features in Turf.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:37 What is Turf?02:19 John Hyde's Journey into Development03:37 Challenges and Frustrations with Hoon14:08 Orthodox Christianity and Mysticism19:01 Future of Urbit and Turf's Business Potential27:28 Guest Introduction and Initial Discussion27:53 Building a Marketplace in Brazil29:51 Challenges and Successes in Business31:09 User Statistics and Platform Growth33:28 The Philosophy of Social Networks35:12 The Future of Distributed Computing37:17 Generational Perspectives on Technology41:17 The Tech Scene in the Bay Area41:56 Funding and Business Costs47:30 Product Roadmap and Development48:29 Technical Aspects and Tools52:51 Closing Remarks and Contact InformationKey InsightsThe Origins of Turf: Turf is a virtual world built on Urbit, designed by John Hyde, who was inspired by the idea of creating a multiplayer game where users could program their own items. This evolved into Turf, a decentralized platform where users can create, customize, and explore virtual spaces, reflecting the ethos of the Urbit ecosystem.Urbit as a Decentralized Platform: Urbit is not just another computing platform; it represents a complete reimagining of the internet's infrastructure. John explains how Urbit aims to replace the current centralized internet model with a decentralized one, giving users more control over their data and interactions. This decentralized nature is what makes platforms like Turf possible, where users can interact and transact without relying on centralized servers.Challenges in Hoon Programming: John discusses the unique challenges of programming in Hoon, Urbit's native language. While Hoon offers powerful capabilities for building secure and efficient applications, it also presents a steep learning curve, particularly due to its unconventional syntax and limited documentation. Despite these challenges, John sees potential in Hoon for creating robust, decentralized applications.Orthodox Christianity and Modern Technology: John, who was born and raised in the Orthodox Christian faith, touches on the interesting trend of Westerners converting to Orthodox Christianity. He connects this to a broader search for truth and tradition in a fragmented, digital world, seeing parallels between the decentralized, self-sovereign nature of Urbit and the spiritual grounding provided by his faith.Building a Business on Urbit: John is optimistic about Turf's business potential, particularly through the sale of virtual items. He envisions a marketplace within Turf where users can trade items, leveraging the decentralized nature of Urbit to ensure authenticity and ownership. This business model reflects the growing interest in digital ownership and NFTs in virtual environments.The Future of Urbit: John is hopeful but cautious about the future of Urbit. He believes that while the technology has the potential to revolutionize the internet, its success depends on continued innovation, improved usability, and sustained financial support. He also emphasizes the need for more user-friendly applications like Turf to drive adoption.The Cultural Impact of Urbit: The conversation highlights how Urbit is fostering a new kind of online community, where quality interaction and thoughtful engagement are prioritized over mass adoption. John observes that while the Urbit community is still relatively small, it is growing steadily, attracting people who value the platform's decentralized principles and the opportunity to participate in building a new internet paradigm.
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom podcast, Stewart Alsop chats with Taren Pang, a full-stack developer with a rich background in architecture, Web3, and AI. The discussion covers the evolving role of algorithms in shaping our online experiences, the importance of transparent AI and blockchain technologies, and how tools like Urbit and Bitcoin could reshape business in a decentralized world. Taren also shares insights on programming with AI and his journey of transitioning from architecture to the tech industry. For more on Taren's thoughts and work, stay tuned for future updates as he refines his focus.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:18 The Role of Twitter as a Journal01:50 Navigating Twitter's Algorithm06:00 The Impact of AI and Deepfakes11:05 Transition to Web Development17:12 Exploring AI in Programming21:47 The Future of AI and Job Market28:09 Web3 and Blockchain Insights49:53 Concluding Thoughts and Future PlansKey InsightsThe Shift in Online Trust: The discussion highlighted how algorithms have become more trusted than traditional sources of knowledge, such as books. This shift reflects the increasing influence of digital platforms on our perception of truth and the ways we consume information.The Role of AI in Work and Life: AI's growing role in automating tasks was a major theme, with Taren expressing optimism about AI's potential to take over mundane tasks, allowing humans to focus on more meaningful work. Despite fears of job displacement, Taren believes AI will be more of an enabler than a replacement.The Importance of Transparent Algorithms: Both Stewart and Taren emphasized the need for transparency in the algorithms that shape our online experiences. Open-source algorithms, especially on platforms like Twitter, could allow users to understand how their data is being used and manipulated, fostering greater trust.Web3 and Decentralization: The episode explored the promise of Web3 technologies, such as Ethereum and Erbit, which aim to decentralize the internet by giving users more control over their data and digital identities. This shift could potentially democratize online spaces and reduce the power of large corporations.The Evolution of Programming with AI: Taren shared his experiences with AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, illustrating how these technologies are transforming programming by making tasks like code conversion more efficient. The rise of no-code and low-code platforms is also making AI more accessible to non-programmers.The Future of Digital Economies: Blockchain's potential to create new forms of digital economies was discussed, particularly through programmable platforms like Ethereum. These technologies could enable new business models that are more transparent and equitable, allowing creators to own and monetize their work in novel ways.Adapting to Technological Change: The conversation concluded with a broader reflection on how humanity has always adapted to technological advancements. Taren argued that, like past innovations, AI and blockchain will present new opportunities and challenges, but ultimately, they will enhance human life rather than diminish it.
“Seek not the paths of the ancients. Seek that which the ancients sought.” –Matsuo Basho, The Rustic Gate This week, host Cyrus Palizban introduces Hocwyn Tipwex, Harvard grad and co-founder of Uqbar. Our conversation delves into the philosophy behind ancient and modern learning, the value of pseudonymous intellectual discourse, and the impact of small, tightly-knit intellectual communities. We discuss the shortcomings and potential reforms for the current educational system, the importance of critical thinking, and how emerging peer-to-peer technologies like Urbit could influence future societal structures. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:28 Hocwyn's Background and Name Origin 02:46 The Philosophy of Names and Identity 05:29 Anonymous Intellectual Traditions 05:58 Revolutionary America and Pseudonymous Debates 10:14 Intellectual Networks and Small Communities 13:42 The Value of Ancient Wisdom 21:38 Challenges in Modern Education 27:55 The Universal Problem of Education 28:32 Self-Guided Learning: An Alternative Approach 29:08 The Role of Public School Teachers 29:25 Scott Alexander's Insights on School Spending 30:12 The Ineffectiveness of Educational Interventions 30:27 The Cultural Fragmentation in Education 30:56 The Harsh Reality of Teacher Impact 31:38 Radical Changes Needed in Education 32:36 The Issue of Universal Public Education 33:38 Aggressive Tracking and Teacher Specialization 35:13 The Boredom Problem in Schools 36:52 The Potential of a Teacher Distribution System 37:20 The Concept of Teaching as a Temporary Vocation 38:30 The East Asian Education Model 40:07 The Challenge of Tenure and Teacher Accountability 44:05 The Role of Technology in Decentralized Education 49:16 The Future of Remote Work and Education 49:58 The Impact of Federalism on Education 50:40 The Evolution of Social Networks and Communities 52:18 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell Follow us on other platforms for more content! https://smartlink2.metricool.com/public/smartlink/lightning-945
On this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, Stewart Alsop is joined by ~tiller-tolbus to explore his three current projects: Red Horizon, Sen Chain, and Aegean. The conversation navigates through the intricacies of Urbit, touching on the common threads that bind these ventures together. Tiller shares insights into how Red Horizon is making Urbit more accessible, how Sen Chain offers a unique blockchain integration, and how Aegean envisions a new kind of browsing experience within the Urbit namespace. For more details on Tiller's work, you can connect with him on Urbit at tiller tolbus, or follow him on Twitter at @tiller_tolbus. You can also learn more about Red Horizon at redhorizon.com.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast00:06 Meet Tiller Tolbus: Projects Overview00:20 Understanding Urbit and Its Projects01:42 The Vision for Aegean03:33 Challenges and Realities of Urbit Development07:03 The Evolution of Urbit's Ecosystem18:02 The Future of Urbit: Ares and Beyond20:02 File Sharing and Data Ownership on Urbit26:58 The Human Mind and Megacorps27:18 Urban's Vision: Owning Your Stuff28:11 Urbit vs. Linux: Multiplayer Computation28:43 Ares: Expanding Data Capacity30:41 Shrubbery: Addressable Data Paths34:51 Learning Hoon: Challenges and Rewards37:11 Philosophical Insights: Nietzsche and Computing38:24 Idealism in Software Development41:42 The Ground Floor of Computing50:57 Urbit's Practical Future53:51 Red Horizon: Hosting Provider54:51 Conclusion and Contact InformationKey InsightsUrbit's Vision of a Unified Digital Ecosystem: Tiller Tolbus discusses how Urbit is designed to create a unified digital ecosystem that promotes composability and interoperability. Unlike the fragmented nature of traditional computing systems, where apps often do not work well together, Urbit aims to allow disinterested parties to build components that organically fit together, reducing the need for direct collaboration and communication overhead among developers.Red Horizon's Role in Making Urbit Accessible: Red Horizon is highlighted as a crucial project for making Urbit more accessible to users. By providing a hosting solution that allows users to run their Urbit instances efficiently and affordably, Red Horizon is paving the way for broader adoption of the platform. Tiller emphasizes that this accessibility is key to the future success of Urbit as a viable alternative to centralized cloud services.The Importance of Shrubbery in App Development: Tiller introduces the concept of Shrubbery, an application design system that standardizes how data is organized and accessed within Urbit. This standardization makes it easier for different apps to interoperate, addressing one of the major challenges in current app development on the platform. Shrubbery represents a step toward making Urbit a more developer-friendly environment, potentially leading to more innovative and cohesive applications.Aegean's Vision for a New Browsing Experience: Aegean is described as a project that aims to redefine how users interact with the Urbit network. By conceptualizing a browser that navigates the Urbit namespace, Aegean seeks to create a more intuitive and user-friendly way to access and share content on the network. This project highlights Urbit's potential to offer a fundamentally different internet experience, one that emphasizes ownership and control over personal data.The Philosophical Foundation of Urbit: The conversation delves into the philosophical motivations behind Urbit's development, particularly the desire to create a computing system that is both mathematically elegant and practically robust. Tiller and Stewart discuss the importance of having a foundational "ground floor" for software development, one that is stable, clean, and designed to last. This reflects a broader idealistic vision for computing that prioritizes long-term sustainability over short-term fixes.Challenges and Potential of Ares in Urbit's Evolution: Ares is identified as a critical upcoming project that could transform Urbit from what Tiller calls a "toy" into a fully-fledged computing platform. By addressing current limitations, such as the small data storage capacity, Ares promises to enhance the performance and capabilities of Urbit, making it a more serious contender in the world of personal computing. However, the timeline for Ares' completion remains uncertain, reflecting the complexity of such a transformative project.The Role of Digital Sovereignty in the Future of Technology: Throughout the episode, there is a recurring theme of digital sovereignty—empowering individuals to have full control over their data and computing resources. Urbit is positioned as a response to the increasing centralization of digital services by major corporations, offering an alternative that prioritizes user autonomy and privacy. This emphasis on sovereignty is seen as both a philosophical stance and a practical solution to the challenges posed by today's internet infrastructure.
New Sode. Good Evening my fellow Monad Mermaids Bera Baddies Solana Sirens and desperate losers. Bitcoin is up, its MAGA Country I'm waxed Everywhere and Alexis Bellino is back on RealHousewives. Exhale. Alas, as I vlog from Club 55 in St Tropez contemplating my vapid alcoholic yet philanthropic existence, I find myself blessed with the presence of the Urbit Guys. Urbit- a cult like organization formed for the purpose of creating a new internet everyone asked for and no one needs. After all, the internet is solely for Instagram likes and emails to my attorney/therapist. btw Fuck your hourly Bill unless you accept Injective. In my quest to find moronic things to do with my alimony besides short dydx perps and surf the net a porter sale; I stumbled upon Urbit during an advert whilst watching extremely expensive porn. My criteria for becoming financially and emotionally involved in a project or person is that I do not understand it at all, that it is extremely broken unavailable, solves no problems and has terrible reviews. Urbit. A personal computer built from scratch you say, this sounds like a scheme the liberal media elite could use to front run their own agenda and further corrupt our crippled youth. What I have seen from my own digital world is that it is comprised of moronic plebians so the need to create my own remains lost, but I'm intrigued. I have had the pleasure of running into an Urbit guy or two throughout my impossibly interesting lifetime on the crypto junkie conference circuit; each one has a rather dramatic story to tell ranging from nearly plunging to his death with the late John John and CBK before narrowly escaping the plane to another claiming he used to get handjobs from Casey Anthony. Lucy, I am home. Ipso facto, my two guests are the devastatingly powerful Gary Liberman and his model associate programmer Will Hanlen. I met them in El Salvador during a yearly pilgrimage to pay homage to Bitcoin's first legal country and to get an enema. It occurred to me I was ready to join a new cult with beautiful men that has something to with Ethereum and Astrology where I would not have to do work. Will was a previous model in Asia and is now engaged in a torrid tinder love triangle with my cousin so he is basically family as soon as I review the financial prenup terms on Urbit. His contributions to Urbit are so profound I don't even know them but they result in his living in Missouri; indicating his rocketship success of a modeling career turned Urbit coder. And Gary. Gary is the polarizing man of our time who's sheer brilliance is recognized by the type of truck driver who reads Finnegan's Wake on a smoke break and the Connecticut Mom on Valium who counts down the hours to Whispering Angel Hour and gets off to Ulta beaty sales. Gary has the unique ability to be so offensive at a dinner party he can cause more than two people abruptly get up and complain to HR immediately, yet simultaneously cause the dinner party guests on his right to wonder why he has not assumed higher office. It was a pleasure to talk about Urbit. I still have no idea what it is. I am all in.
Dimes Squ Updates: Dean Kissick, Wet Brain Podcast and Angelicism creator Jonty Tiplady are discussed. These old men would love a Gallery Girl set up on me, right? Because young girls is they downtown business. The No Gallery's Urbit show featuring Dean in a cowboy hat is mocked loudly. jk it was funny.We talk Elon Musk's Praxis condominium and we tease the Chloe Chat Sex Bot episode and Matthew Donovan. Dimes Square Intriges and a Dean Kissick Swan attack. Urbit Dream World defeated.
Today's episode marks the eleventh episode of “Builder's Diary”. If this is your first “Builders´ Diary,” episode, this format sheds light on the amazing people behind your favorite Proof of Stake chains and applications. Let's find out what visions our fellow builders follow, how they got to where they are today, and what future developments they anticipate. Today we are joined by Sunny Aggarwal, Co-Founder of Osmosis. We will talk about his early days in crypto, his grand vision for Bitcoin, Osmosis, Cosmos, and Urbit, his crypto principles, and much more! - - - Catch up with FRENS VALIDATOR:
New Sode of Glitter Ledger Season 3 Episode 4 with Kyle Downey. It's been a busy week with Airdrops of Jupiter in her hair not found at Fredrick Fekkai and other insufferable tragedies. I've been on the lam in between Gstaad and Sidi Bou Said with ample bosom time to short the Vix, chainsmoke and ponder matters that have been plaguing my icy yet asbergers soul-Is there Valium in the metaverse?-Should I do the Monologue from Fight Club when describing my investment thesis? -Would well-dressed commies have supported decentralization?-Do Merkle Trees grow in Palm Beach?-Can you rip cigs on a (poorly decorated) private plane?-Why aren't their more female led high thread count rug pulls?Then, I changed the sign above my stepdaughter's canopy bed from Live Laugh Love to Read Write Own painted by my dear friend Jeff Koons. I came to the painstaking realization that we are indeed in the Taylor Swift New Era of l'internet. Why? Because if le bebe can can become OnlyFans celebrity on Urbit, trade perps on Dexes, and achieve gains that ultimately finance a home in Mustique alongside Princess Marge, and Jae Kwon, then I must release my misconception that any smart contract needs to be reviewed by my Attorney. I digress, Back at Glitter Ledger Headquarters, reminiscing over a former lover who was the Head of Risk Management at Lehman brothers, I realize that if I want my stepdaughter to have a profitable Web3 Only Fans career, then I must become risk averse diverse head nurse.I thought of no guest more appropriate than a former high tiered Morgan Stanley Does Asia IT Quant, with a light stint on Silicon Alley, turned Risk Crypto Entrepreneur. Kyle Downey CEO of Cloudwall. He gives Daddy of DeFi energy with not quite silver hair that is palpable and respected. We met at the St Regis during an Aave Flashloans and Dog Lover meet up I posted on a dark web subeddit thread hosted by me and my nanny. Wearing beat up Louboutins I described my fervent anger there were no sophisticated digital asset risk management platforms for my Quasi Family Office in Guantanamo Bay. This dapper older man dressed in his own Crypto merch and rich person glasses recognized an incoming panic attack. Serenity, he explained is not only a mindset but a tool that can help you maintain the lifestyle to which you are accustomed. He went to explain that I could use a state-of-the-art software to efficiently manage intricate portfolios of my digital assets, alongside onlyfans on Urbit to predict where I could fail.. All I need is Serenity, indeed. Read Write Own. Thank you Kyle.
This week we speak with Basile Genève, project lead of Kinode OS. We discuss our pivot from Urbit (and the name Uqbar), the main features of Kinode, and what you can expect from the future. We also say goodbye to The Network Age and invite you to join us in our other channels.Timestamps00:01 - Kinode OS with a name change backstory.03:53 - Rebranding.06:20 - Pivoting a decentralized project to better realize goals.09:14 - Rewriting the kernel and using wasm for decentralized app development.14:24 - "just works" in tech, reliability, and user experience.17:09 - Decentralized OS development and standards.23:46 - Network architecture and robustness.26:43 - Software robustness and resilience.30:16 - Decentralized networks and their potential for software deployment.37:12 - Integrating AI with decentralized computing resources.40:15 - Decentralized AI and personal nodes.46:41 - Performance of Kinode vs other programming languages.49:54 - Decentralized operating system development timeline and features.Contact UsEdgarJoshBasileThe Kinode OS discussion is happening on Discord
What is Urbit? Urbit has existed for roughly twenty years and aims to rebuild the internet from scratch to get rid of intermediaries like Google and Co. Their claim: the internet can't be saved since it is controlled by the megacorp! So, we need to start all over again! But how does Urbit work and what should the future of Urbit look like? Is this just a utopia? What about synergies between Urbit and the crypto industry? What are Urbit comets, planets, stars, and galaxies? And could Urbit launch a Cosmos blockchain? This and much more is what we will discuss with one of the most active community members in the Urbit community: Osmosis Co-Founder Sunny Aggarwal. - - - Catch up with FRENS VALIDATOR:
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, the Stewart Alsop interviews Jonathan Pritchard, a mentalist, sales trainer, and part of Zavant Enterprises. The pair delve into their shared interest in Urbit, a unique peer-to-peer server providing an alternative to the Internet. Jonathan shares his journey from beginning magic as a child and evolving into a corporate consultant and sales trainer using the same principles used in his performances. By applying science, psychology, and the understanding of human thought processes, Jonathan showcases how businesses can improve their practices, performance, and even web presence. He also discusses overcoming personal and technological barriers, understanding business losses and optimizing corporate interaction. Finally, he offers an insightful critique on today's education, comparing it to the unexplored riches of magic techniques developed over millennia. Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation (if you are already subscribed to GPT4) Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast 00:37 Guest Introduction: Jonathan Pritchard 01:18 Exploring the Wackiness of Erbit 01:43 Jonathan's Journey to Discover Erbit 03:27 Understanding the Internet through the Lens of a Mentalist 04:04 The Art of Mentalism and Mind Reading 04:46 The Illusion of Understanding: A Mentalist's Perspective 05:41 The Internet: A Monocrop of Consciousness 09:06 The Future of the Internet: A Decentralized World 10:01 The Challenges and Opportunities of Urbit 11:42 Building a Community on Urbit 27:47 The Intersection of Magic, Business, and Urbit 31:32 The Art of Business and Magic 31:49 Understanding the Human Mind and Magic 32:59 The Universality of Magic Tricks 35:25 The Impact of Magic on Personal Life 35:50 The Power of Perception and Magic 37:39 The Journey from Stage to Corporate World 38:44 The Art of Negotiation and Presentation 39:45 The Magic of Attracting and Retaining Attention 42:13 The Influence of Magic on Branding 46:02 The Intersection of Magic and Business 57:25 The Power of Language and Translation 58:17 The Role of Magic in Sales and Marketing 01:01:55 Closing Remarks and Future Plans Key Insights: Mentalism and Business: Pritchard's background as a mentalist gives him a unique perspective on human psychology and behavior, which he applies in business contexts. He discusses the application of mentalist techniques in sales training, negotiations, and corporate presentations, emphasizing the importance of understanding human psychology and communication. Technology and Urbit: Pritchard shares his fascination with Urbit, a decentralized computing platform. He sees it as aligning with his personal and professional philosophies. He describes Urbit as a high-return investment, both technologically and philosophically, and appreciates its potential for creating a diverse and decentralized digital culture. Corporate Training and Personal Development: Pritchard leverages his skills as a mentalist to train corporate teams in areas like sales, negotiation, and effective communication. His approach in corporate training involves using magic and mentalism principles to engage and teach key business skills. Internet and Digital World Critique: He criticizes the current state of the internet, describing it as a monoculture that limits diversity of thought and experience. Pritchard advocates for a more fragmented, decentralized internet, like Urbit, to encourage more diverse and independent cultural development. Magic and Mentalism in Business: The principles of magic and mentalism, according to Pritchard, can greatly influence business strategies, particularly in areas like marketing, branding, and customer engagement. He emphasizes the importance of creating memorable experiences and connections, much like a good magic show does with its audience. Personal Branding and Marketing: Pritchard discusses the significance of personal branding, using historical figures in magic as examples of successful branding and archetyping. He suggests that the techniques used in magic for audience engagement can be effectively applied in marketing and building a personal brand.
In this episode, Sam Atman, a developer with a background in biochemistry, shares his insights on the discussions around artificial intelligence (AI) safety. Oppen dismisses concerns about AI becoming a rogue actor, attributing such fears to religious neurosis and misunderstanding of the nature of AI. He argues that AI systems, such as Language Models (LLMs) like OpenAI, do not have personal motives or embodiment comparable to human intelligence. He also discusses AI's potential impact on creative fields such as art and music, and stresses the importance of tracing the connection between AI outputs and the training data. Finally, Oppen cautions against lobbying for government regulations on software and artificial intelligence, asserting that it could lead to dystopian outcomes. Show Notes 00:02 Introduction and Guest Background 00:17 Exploring Weird Software and Programming Languages 01:09 Deep Dive into Hoon and Urbit 03:51 The Current State and Future of Urbit 10:26 AI Safetyism and the Regulation of GPUs and Software 18:17 The Nature of Intelligence and Consciousness in AI 25:43 The Misconceptions and Absurdities in AI Safetyism 29:28 Understanding AI Alignment and Training 30:14 AI Misconceptions and the Reality of AI Systems 30:53 Exploring the Concept of Lossy Compression in AI 31:04 The Impact of AI on Internet Accessibility 31:45 Understanding Attention Transformers in AI 32:39 AI and the Controversy of Training Data 39:53 The Evolution of AI: From Simple Calculations to Complex Synthesis 46:15 The Ethical Dilemma of AI in Art and Music 50:48 The Legal Implications of AI in Art and Music 54:09 Final Thoughts on AI: Potential, Misconceptions, and Future Key Insights Hoon's Uniqueness: Hoon, a programming language for the Urbit project, is noted for its unusual and esoteric qualities, resembling runes and creating a steep learning curve which filters for dedicated developers. Urbit's Development and Influence: Urbit, a new internet and permissionless network, is in a critical development phase. Although it has a small user base, it's highly active, with most users also contributing as developers. Urbit's Future Viability: Urbit's success may partly depend on the decline of conventional alternatives. It offers a private, peer-to-peer social media alternative, setting it apart from mainstream platforms. Concerns Over AI Regulation: There is skepticism about the push for government regulation of AI, particularly around the use of GPUs for AI development. This could lead to an administrative oversight over software, potentially stifling innovation. Artificial Intelligence Misconceptions: There's a critique of the belief that AI could develop dangerous autonomy or consciousness. AI, especially language models, are seen as sophisticated tools lacking the embodiment that characterizes human intelligence. Neural Networks and Machine Learning: The conversation touches on the evolution of AI, including the shift from voice-to-text and image classifiers to current large language models, highlighting the continuous advancement in AI capabilities. Generative Art and Copyright Issues: AI-generated art raises questions about copyright and the use of training data. Artists' concerns about AI models replicating their styles without compensation or acknowledgment are highlighted. Sampling Analogy in AI Art: The analogy between music sampling and AI-generated art is made, suggesting that AI art could face similar legal challenges regarding the use of original artists' work in training data. AI's Potential Misuse vs. Its Nature: While AI can be used negatively by bad actors, it's emphasized that AI itself won't become a bad actor, as it lacks agency and consciousness. Sam Atman's Online Presence: Finally, for those interested in following Sam's work, his main platform is Twitter, where he shares his thoughts and developments in his field.
Alex talks with “Bitcoin Sign Guy” Christian Langalis about Bitcoin, Urbit, and more. Alex also talks with Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading) about markets. This episode was recorded on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. ++ Follow us on Twitter, @glxyresearch, and read our research at www.galaxy.com/research/ to learn more! This podcast, and the information contained herein, has been provided to you by Galaxy Digital Holdings LP and its affiliates (“Galaxy Digital”) solely for informational purposes. View the full disclaimer at www.galaxy.com/disclaimer-galaxy-brains-podcast/
RUMBLE VIDEO LINK:Curtis Yarvin Talks to Ralph About Cali, Redpills, Gaza, Machiavelli, & Urbit (11/28/23) (rumble.com)⭐MAIN TTS⭐https://powerchat.live/theralphretort⭐CHECKYA/STRIPE⭐https://checkya.com/killstream/payme⭐2nd TTS⭐https://killstream.live/tip⭐CASH APP⭐$sunsetsquad⭐ENTROPY SUPER CHAT⭐https://killstream.live/entropyBUY ME A COFFEE!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theralphretort⭐INTRO ART by SVEN STOFFELS⭐https://linktr.ee/svenstoffels⭐ORIGNAL MUSICE by ROCK SAVAGE DJ⭐https://rocksavage.bandcamp.com/⭐TELEGRAM⭐https://t.me/theralphretort⭐Crypto Support⭐BTC:3H7EKnw4xBwmsNTHVVJbUY4UkWQYBrvYcTBAT:0xac839ec87d9426af0Edac4d4c5fe2f59a7207E6cBCH:qrykmnjejydm7k5sglf6qvael3u3puen7cw6rpcrlvETH:0x044076535672e1604bb79A5889b437D1D54D67f8LTC:MUbzTnQjZ3RqVFC5HPxo1q9vE5quZ74TX8Monero:42z7D2FDSp5bnh2DFhbFnE1RFtPJpEtT6jkEbqb52uBsLid9m7wunrjQCHr3qtgeuMaryNrdrj1tMHa6yUV6iDknM2VVqUJTether:0xd3e8a90fdf2125aaa3c290fe03f7139cc5cd2cc5✅Merch:https://killstream.live/shop✅Extended Support Info, Crypto, & Social Media:https://killstream.live/info✅Apple Podcast Site:https://apple.co/2KSWG8z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
✨About Urbit ✨Urbit is a next generation operating system (OS) for the decentralized web. It's a fully vertically integrated stack that includes a decentralized ID layer, an OS, a fully fungible frontend that anyone can spin up, and much more. If you're interested in learning about what's in store for the dWeb, then don't miss this show.Guests: Josh Lehman, Executive Director of Urbit Foundation, AJLamarc, Software Developer & Urbit Shill
In this special rush release episode of The Carousel, I'm joined by legendary movie impresario Hadrian Belove. Some refer to Hadrian as “the original cancelled man” due to his absurd banishment from CineFamily—the notorious, celebrity-studded LA film enjoyment club—at the cusp of MeToo. Wrong place, wrong time. But we're not here to talk about the past. Hadrian was in part responsible for planning this year's Urbit Assembly in Lisbon, which wrapped last week. In doing so, he brought in KIRAC (Keeping It Real Art Critics) to intermingle with the digital sovereignty nerds that populate the Urbit ecosystem. KIRAC is a troupe of Dutch YouTube tricksters (although they hate being called that) that mock and interrogate the intelligentsia with brutal honesty, or, more accurately, honest brutality. They're infamous for persuading Michel Houellebecq to appear in a porn. In response, the world's greatest writer flipped out, filing a lawsuit blocking release, and writing a whole book about it.KIRAC is at its best when it's doing art world subversion. You really fall in love with them when you watch “Stigma,” where Kate Sinha, wife of main-guy Stefan Ruitenbeek, calls an awful diversity artist a “spoiled b***h,” and we get to witness the subsequent struggle session in front of the Dutch art establishment.However, like Borat and Sam Hyde before them, KIRAC reaches uncomfortable levels of trollishness. See e.g. “Honeypot,” in which they get one of their groupies to have sex with a right wing philosopher—or at least that's the set up before she rejects him for being “an oaf.”So how did KIRAC handle Urbit Assembly? Since the video isn't out yet, we don't know. All we do know is that Stefan Ruitenbeek purportedly got meningitis and the remaining underlings spread false rumors about a “ketamine orgy” involving certain high ranking members of the dissident fringe. The groupies also poured milk over themselves after a screening in which one of them broke up with her boyfriend on camera.What does any of this mean? Listen above or watch below. Get full access to The Carousel at thecarousel.substack.com/subscribe
For the first time ever, parents going through IVF can use whole genome sequencing to screen their embryos for hundreds of conditions. Harness the power of genetics to keep your family safe, with Orchid. Check them out at orchidhealth.com. On this episode of Unsupervised Learning, Razib talks with Curtis Yarvin. The host of the Grey Mirror Substack, Yarvin is the former Mencius Moldbug, a pseudonym under which he wrote extensively on culture, politics and history. Yarvin's social and political views have been profiled widely, including by Vanity Fair and Vox. The intellectual father of neo-reactionary thought, Yarvin is also trained as a computer scientist, and in 2010, he released the first version of Urbit, a decentralized personal server platform, which has spawned an entire community and conferences like Urbit Assembly. Yarvin's interests extend beyond technology and politics. He is deeply invested in high culture and believes in the importance of the humanities to our civilization. Razib and Yarvin spend most of this episode on the role of poetry in our broader culture, why it is relevant, why it matters, and the works that Yarvin most values. Though his educational background is as a technologist, Yarvin believes that poetry is an essential ingredient in what makes us human. The question of humanity, along with some references to the Dune universe, moves the conversation to Yarvin's reflections on the rise of A.I. via large language models, and whether it poses an existential threat to the human race (he does not believe it does). Yarvin also offers his opinions on Eliezer Yudkowsky's trajectory of thought; Yudkowsky has in the last decade become the leader of the “A.I. doomer” faction within the futurist community. Like many observers with a strong computational background, Yarvin does not believe A.I. will lead to the abolition of man, though it may open up new possibilities, extending what humans are capable of in terms of innovation and productivity through cybernetics. Like all technology, its ultimate utility will be contingent on our decisions as humans.
Jake Brukhman is the Founder and Managing Partner at CoinFund. Evan Fisher is the Founder and Managing Partner at Portal Ventures. In this episode, we walk through a beginner's guide to Urbit, geared towards cryptonatives. If you're into crypto, you may find a home here in Urbit! Founded in 2002 long before Bitcoin and Ethereum, Urbit is a platform that enables the creation and execution of composable, permissionless, and trustless internet applications through a network of personal servers. We interview Urbit investors Evan Fisher and Jake Brukhman about the basics of how Urbit aims to rebuild the Internet from a clean slate, where there are intersections between crypto and Urbit, what use cases they're excited to see built, how Urbit accrues value, and how we can get involved. ------
On this extra special episode, the boys are joined by Chase Van Etten, founder and CEO of Vaporware, a programmatic platform for the monetization and distribution of open-source software. Together, Chase and the crew discuss how NFTs can play a role in software distribution, the monetization of open-source software, and Chase's personal Bible, The Nature of Technology by W. Brian Arthur. All this, plus a deep dive on Vaporware, musings on Dota, and a sci-fi vision for software development in fifty years. Don't miss it. Timestamps0:00—Intro2:39—The Nature of Technology by W. Brian Arthur and how technology evolves27:47—Vaporware, sofware distribution, and monetizing open-source40:27—Tharsis: Vaporware's first game45:11—Vaporware on Urbit and beyond56:01—The price of programmer capital and increased community development1:07:04—Software development in the next five decadesMentionsVaporware (@__vaporware__)TharsisThe Nature of Technology by W. Brian ArthurConnectChase Van Etten (@harden_hardys)~bichul-ritsen (@bichulR)~nilrun-mardux (@AlephDAO)~habsul-rignyr (@habsulrignyr)And, if you liked the episode, don't forget to give us a five star review. Say something nice and we'll even read it on the pod.
On this episode of the Glitter Ledger, I interview Jake Bruhkman, founder and CEO of Coinfund, one of the world's first crypto-native investment firms. I delve into Jake's background as a math major, as a technologist and quant hedge fund research developer before his founding of Coinfund. We discuss Worldcoin, Urbit, the intersections of web3 and Ai, and why raising the first million remains the hardest.
On this extra special episode, the boys are joined by Jurij Jukic, developer at Portal, a sovereign social media platform that enables custom AI-assisted content curation and monetization. Together, the crew discusses the evils of social media, the power of data ownership, and how peer-to-peer networks unlock a new model of content discovery. All this plus a healthy dose of Urbit, whether or not Portal is getting Jurij laid, and a little too much information on our hosts' ears. Don't miss it.Timestamps0:00—Intro2:05—Hating Social Media and Jurij's Journey to Portal10:24—What is Portal?17:40—Portal: On Urbit and Beyond23:03—Soverign Social Media and the Portal Ideology28:54—Portal's successes and challenges37:03—An interlude about bichul's and habsul's ear issues40:03—Development on Urbit44:45—Jurij's optimism47:50—OutroMentionsPortal (@portal__network)ConnectJurij Jukic (@j_jukic)~bichul-ritsen (@bichulR)~nilrun-mardux (@AlephDAO)~habsul-rignyr (@habsulrignyr)
Original recording available on Twitter(X): https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1jMJgLkardkxL?s=20 skip to 1min 45sec in @HDPbilly (his Twitter/X handle) joins me to discuss Curtis Yarvin's (aka Moldbug's) vision for a crypto-tech-empowered governmental system. You can read Yarvin's proposal on his substack: https://graymirror.substack.com/p/optimal-autonomous-organizations and he has more content on his original blog: https://www.unqualified-reservations.org/2008/11/patchwork-positive-vision-part-1/ for crypto nerds we also mention Urbit, which it just so happens Yarvin is the original founder of: https://urbit.org/
In this episode, Ben sits down with Evan Fisher, Founder and General Partner of Portal Ventures. Evan started his career at Goldman Sachs and Insight Partners before launching Portal. At Portal, Evan invests across the industry, globe, and fundraising stage as he applies his traditionally trained venture skillset to protocol investing. Evan is a pragmatist with a business model oriented investment framework that has thus far resonated with founders and builders across the blockchain industry. Lets get into it. Timestamps 1:45 How was ETHcc and your trip to Paris? 2:58 How should crypto-natives share with others what the state of the industry is? 3:44 What is your background? 6:44 How does your classical venture investment experience translate into protocol investing at Portal? 8:17 What is different about traditional investing and protocol investing? 12:41 What needs to change in crypto in order to attract institutional investors? 16:15 How can non-layer one tokens hold value without being deemed as securities? 18:05 Where do you feel like you have an edge? 20:45 What are the business models in crypto that are emblematic of where the space can go? 22:56 What are some emerging categories that you're most excited about? 26:06 What is Urbit? 29:10 How do you invest in Urbit? 31:03 What is built on Urbit that can attract the interest of crypto native people? 35:19 What is next for DeFi? 38:41 How was the Ion deal sourced? 42:56 What are some of the retail ready projects that you are excited about? 47:48 Is there anything in AI that you're excited about? 52:01 What is your most contrarian take within crypto? 52:22 What is your most contrarian take outside of crypto? 56:50 Where can people learn more about you? Resources Mentioned Medici Network Fully Homomorphic Encryption Urbit Holium Tlon Landscape Ion Protocol Connect with the guest Follow Evan on Twitter https://twitter.com/evanbfish Follow Portal on Twitter https://twitter.com/PortalVentures Portal Ventures https://portal.vc/ Disclaimer Ben Jacobs is a partner at Scenius Capital Management. All views expressed by Ben and the guests of this podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Scenius Capital Management. Guests and the host may maintain positions in the assets or funds discussed in this podcast. You should not treat any opinion expressed by anyone on this podcast as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy but only as an expression of their personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.
On this extra special episode, the boys are joined by Jae Yang (~mister-todteg), the CEO of Tacen, a crypto exchange optimized for speed and decentralization. Together, the boys explore the importance of a decentralized financial system, the ever-developing Urbit ecosystem, and Jae's mission to bring tech talent to Wyoming, where he is hosting his annual unofficial Urbit conference: Reassembly. Come join us out on the digital frontier. Timestamps0:00—Intro2:49—Jae Yang: A Web3 History8:30—DeFi, Tacen, and How it Works23:18—How Jae Found Urbit and His Urbit Projects39:04—The Wyoming Tech Scene and Life on the Frontier48:13—Japan and its Regulatory Environment51:26—Reassembly: the Unofficial Urbit conference1:00:35—OutroMentionsTacenReassemblyConnectJae Yang (@jae_tacen)~bichul-ritsen (@bichulR)~nilrun-mardux (@AlephDAO)~habsul-rignyr (@habsulrignyr)
On this extra special episode, the boys are joined by Logan Allen (~tacryt-socryp), founder of Zorp, to discuss Urbit, zero-knowledge infrastructure, and how his company is using Nock to build a ZK virtual machine. But first, they explore the intersection of philosophy, evolution, and technology, how man is shaped by his tools, and how crypto will lead to the rise of parallel economies and societies. All this plus cryptographic theory, the danger of cyber attacks, and whether or not Urbit is ready for primetime. Don't miss it. Timestamps0:00—Intro2:48—Logan's journey and Web3 parallelism5;32—Modernity, Man, and the Machine21:03—Zero-Knowledge introduction29:40—Why a Nock ZK VM?40:03—What does Zorp make possible?48:18—The state of Urbit and its future1:00—OutroZorpTwitter: @ZorpZKSite: zorp.ioConnectLogan Allen (~tacryt-socryp)~bichul-ritsen (@bichulR)~nilrun-mardux (@AlephDAO)~habsul-rignyr (@habsulrignyr)And, if you liked the episode, don't forget to give us a five star review. Say something nice and we'll even read it on the pod.
Introduction Jae Yang, the founder of Tacen, a decentralized exchange, discusses his first hire as an archivist for the company and how this unique approach to knowledge management has helped them navigate the complex world of crypto startups. Tacen's commitment to thorough documentation and keeping a permanent record of every decision made is a testament to their belief in transparency and accessibility. Topics Covered Knowledge Management and the Role of an Archivist Jae shares how his experience at various startups led him to the role of an archivist, a guardian of a company's history and knowledge, differentiating it from a librarian who curates and organizes knowledge. The importance of meeting notes and how AI is utilized in their decision support process. The evolution of their team, starting as the 3rd person on board, to now 26 members. The process of making knowledge visible across the company and its challenges. Explains their unique classification system for information security that ranges from '00' for public data to '04' for secret data. Tools Used for Knowledge Management The use of internal wikis and Urbit, a suite of software tools that provides good infrastructure level support. Transition from Notion to WikiJS for self-hosting, and the reason behind the move. The capabilities of Urbit in knowledge management, including indexing textual content and its limitations like the absence of a textual management system like Obsidian. Urbit vs Obsidian The comparison between Urbit and Obsidian, which has features like bi-directional tagging and infinite discoverability. Events Discussion of "Reassembly 2023," a conference hosted by Tacen in Cheyenne, Wyoming from August 16-18th. Company Location and Cryptocurrency Law Explanation of why Tacen was established in Wyoming, citing factors such as crypto-friendly laws like the Wyoming DAO Law, zero corporate tax, and good internet infrastructure. Comparisons to South Dakota's innovative banking regulations and credit card processing. Brazil and Cryptocurrency The situation of cryptocurrency in Brazil, including its integration in daily life with apps and its role in circumventing high inflation and tax burdens. Brief mention of cryptocurrency's role in Argentina (note: segment about stablecoins was cut out). World View and Social Change Jae's thoughts on the rapidly changing world, the social changes since the 1970s, and the impact of technology. Discussion on the falling birth rates, changing attitudes to personal rights, and the further atomization of society. His view of the internet as a powerful tool that can lead to both individual empowerment and the spread of harmful agendas. Banks and Access to Finance Concern over banks preventing people from accessing their accounts for ideological reasons. Cheyenne and Tech Startups The vibrant tech startup scene in Cheyenne and its nearby University town, Laramie. About Tacen Tacen's early struggles with information overload and automatic deletion of data on Notion, leading to a change in their documentation strategy.
Epicenter - Learn about Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies
Building a truly decentralised, peer-to-peer network, based on a built-in identity system, limits the ecosystem's interoperability with the outside world. Onboarding developers and users to Urbit was only the first hurdle. On-ramping crypto was a whole different & daunting task. Uqbar set out to build an execution layer on top of Urbit, enabling smart contracts, which would ultimately settle, via a ZK rollup, on Starknet.We were joined by Tim Galebach, founder of Uqbar, to discuss the different design choices involved, from Hoon programming DevEx to a hybrid ZK-optimistic rollup.Topics covered in this episode:Tim's backgroundUrbit explainedHow Uqbar took shapeIntegrating crypto in the Urbit stackHoon's usability and DevExAI-enabled UqbarUqbar interoperabilityRollup vs. L1 approach for UqbarHybrid ZK-optimistic rollupGetting from programming in Hoon to ZK proofsUse cases for Uqbar & UrbitEpisode links: Tim Galebach on TwitterUqbar on TwitterUrbit on TwitterUqbarThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain & Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/491
AJ is a software engineer interested in Urbit and data composability. Twitter: https://twitter.com/ajlamarc https://www.ajlamarc.com/ Keep an eye out on Holium, and making it easier to code in Javascript for Urbit Notes What is data composability? Multiple applications sharing data and make the interfaces work together OpenAIs that both Twitter and Facebook had and then were shut down Data is the main product that these applications have You can separate the data and the code Personal AI How did we get to such a fragmented application landscape? Legacy internet vs New Internet? What is AJ working on? TomeDB Javascript package Associated gall agent NoSQL database The front end side is the interesting part What are gall agents? Standardized backend of Urbit Rules for moving data between different servers and accounts What are you looking for in a backend? Why are you reinventing the wheel when building a new urbit backend? What is the promise of urbit? What is the main draw of urbit? What does it mean to be permissionless? Urbit brings the best out of the past How much data is stored when you host your urbit on the cloud vs your own database? What are the technical limitations that an Uribit can store? 4-8 GBs can be stored and its stored in RAM How long until we have video streaming on Urbit? What is your take on where AI and Urbit mingle? How do you have an AI work for you rather than a big corporation? Urbit is creating a virtual world where you get only what you want and little of what you want The success of Urbit is the apple OS with the next generation of software How do you get the cost down? How do you run an urbit inside an urbit? What is the main difficulty of scale for computing on the cloud? If a million people join urbit tomorrow would it break? What is the biggest scale that Urbit has seen? 1-2K people What is the new narrative of Urbit? How do you use urbit as a really simple use case that urbit can solve to start getting urbit adoption? How do you store data and transfer it between two people in a secure way? Urbit as an infrastructure that can help build infrastructure There has to be the normal infrastructure that we are used to in terms of databases and networking Urbit is mostly a backend technology Urbit could eventually have HOON native AI Did you use crypto to pay for anything in El Salvador? What did you learn at the Volcano Summit in El Savlador? Logan's talk on Zorp using Knock
Oscar Wilde and J.R.R. Tolkien used consumer culture to create works of art. In this podcast, we try to draw some lessons from their lives. I'm joined by Paul Fortunato, an English professor at the University of Houston Downtown. Paul is also a member of Opus Dei, and the author of a book about Oscar Wilde's "consumer modernism." We discuss how Wilde and Tolkien successfully navigated the "creator economy," as well as Oscar Wilde's little-known Catholicism.✦ Subscribe to Paul on Youtube✦ Paul's book on Oscar WildeOther Life✦ Subscribe to the coolest newsletter in the world https://OtherLife.co✦ Get a free Urbit ship at https://imperceptible.computer✦ We're building a new country at https://imperceptible.countryIndieThinkers.org✦ If you're working on independent intellectual work, join the next cohort of https://IndieThinkers.org
It's widely believed the YouTube algorithm radicalizes viewers but Mark's research puts this theory to rest. Researcher and longtime member of the Other Life community, Mark Ledwich, has been studying the YouTube algorithm independently for several years. His research has been published in academic journals and now on a public website called transparency.tube. He joins the podcast to discuss how the YouTube algorithm really works, what everyone is getting wrong, and why it matters. He also comes to pick a bone with my position on shoplifting from self-checkout kiosks.Check out Mark's research at transparency.tube.Follow Mark on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mark_ledwichOther Life ✦ Subscribe to the coolest newsletter in the world https://OtherLife.co ✦ Get a free Urbit ship at https://imperceptible.computer ✦ We're building a new country at https://imperceptible.countryIndieThinkers.org ✦ If you're working on independent intellectual work, join the next cohort of https://IndieThinkers.org
Eric Helal Founder of Quartus a Dev shop for Urbit Apps Rabsef-bicrym on Urbit https://twitter.com/SafePen ~dalten/new-aera https://twitter.com/_dalten Are we in Utopia or dystopia or neither? What are the other options besides social dystopia? Resource constraint Wind from a dying star novel Technology stultification How does Urbit help to solve this? What does it mean to lose understanding of first principles as an individual and a society? How does technology influence us to dissociate from the first principles that the technology was built with? Will the only people who populate the network states be the autists? How will communities be restored after covid? What are the religious implications of Urbit? What are the expressions of development in Urbit vs other computer programming languages? What does the user experience in Urbit look like in 5 years? What needs to be done to make urbit something shareable with my sister? What are the use cases for distributed networked computing instead of centralized systems? Does Urbit need to be palatable to normies? What is the address space model? What is data composability? How does it relate to urbit and urbit adoption What is remote scry? What are the constraints from social conditions versus technology constraints? How does the leadership of Urbit and/or Tlon and/or Quartus ensure that it eats the legacy internet? How does content recommendation fit in of Urbit? Where is the line between limbic engagement and limbic manipulation? What is the relationship between content recommendation and reputation engines? How do permissions works on Urbit? What is sybil protection? How does urbit trivialize software writing for networking versus the legacy internet? What is canonical truth? What is decoherence between various people and truth claims? What is reputational flow? How do you build a wikipedia that is not dominated by political whims?
Colin Redemer is a professor at Saint Mary's College of California and VP of the Davenant Institute. This podcast is all about Virtue Ethics and the Aristotelian ethical tradition. Is Virtue Ethics superior to utilitarianism and effective altruism? What is human excellence? What is eudaimonia? How should one live? We also discuss later developments in Aristotelian ethics, from Aquinas to Anscombe to MacIntyre.✦ Order Colin's new book, The Shining Human Creature✦ Follow Colin on Twitter✦ Learn more about the Davenant InstituteOther Life✦ Subscribe to the coolest newsletter in the world OtherLife.co✦ Get a free Urbit ship at imperceptible.computer✦ Become a member at imperceptible.countryIndieThinkers.org✦ If you're working on an independent project, join the next cohort of IndieThinkers.org
Trent Gillham Founder of Holium ~lomder-librun on Urbit https://twitter.com/AidenSolaran What does it mean to reject and transcend triviality? What do you know about machine learning given your experience in 2018? What was it like to work at a big company like GE? What have you learned about starting a startup? What is it like to develop on urbit? How does non-attachment help us to build products but also distract us from with the masses? What is Holium? Community operating system How is the current system of the infrastructure of the internet keeping the internet a single-player game? What is the library of babel? https://libraryofbabel.info/ Where did the names of tlon and uqbar come from? Who makes sense of disparate information? What did your crisis of 2018 teach you? Does IBM have a chance when it comes to AI? How good was AI at making decisions via algorithm in 2018? What about now? How do you make moral or ethical decisions when technology rapidly advances? How do you build something that gives human communities collective power that technology is taking over? Do AI's have moats? What did COVID teach you about how technology can actually help communities rather than hurt them or dominate them? What is special about peer to peer database networks? What is different about the crypto age, if anything, in comparison to the VC model of yesteryear? What is Holium's ballet? What was it like for you to build hoon? What is realm? First commit of realm was April 15th How did software systems end up being bloated by contractual economics? What is unique to urbit? What is a kubernetes clusters? What do you think of the leviathan that is the federal government? What is the relationship between resiliency of legacy systems and then the pace of technological change? How do we create resilient but also adaptable systems that can handle accelerationism? How did the internet destroy cultural convergence? How far did that make it into other countries outside of urban areas? Monoculturing is almost the same thing as monocropping The Meme flood and algorithmic pharoahs What is the spirit of technique? Technological society book When does technology become technique and then become luciferian? How can you dominate technology rather than the reverse? What was the foundation of the amish? When did that happen? What is the antifragile/resilient version of utilization of technology? Technology is the means rather than the goal What happens when the legacy internet becomes an infinite generation of content? Where do magic and technology intersect?
A full-stack web developer, speaker and adviser to a small number of blockchain startups Owenbarnes.com On urbit: ~locruc-fonmec What are the foundations of privacy? What is the next big thing? Was Facebook built in PHP? Where do you see Urbit converging with cryptocurrency values? What is composability? What happened with Tornado Cash? What is a personal AI? What is the transformer paradigm? What is the apocalyptic paradigm when it comes to AI? Why is there so much fear regarding AI? Will AI ever be able to decide what is beautiful or not? What is the root of fear? What is decentralized computing? In what ways is Ethereum complimentary to Urbit? What about competition Uqbar? Why would you need the huge security guarantees that ETH represents? What do you think of the Bitcoin Maxis evaluation of ETH as censorable? What is the problem with kelvin versioning? What is the history of computing? “Mother of all demos” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJDv-zdhzMY&ab_channel=Marcel Brett Victor What is the future of computing? What is the value of data? What is the future of regulation when it comes to what we are discussing? The AI that you are talking about, what is the difference between Chat GPT and that AI? Why did languages teach us so much about the transformer paradigm for AI? What will be it once we can generate apps on the fly with AI? What is the difference between content and context? How is a human similar to a shattered giant ice cube? What are the implications of the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI? Why does the training of the algorithm cost so much power rather than just the keeping up? What happens with the live training model of AI?
Sam Frank, Writer, Investor, and Board member of the Urbit Foundation Substack: https://samfrank.substack.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/anecdoted Urbit ID: ~todset-partug How did you first get involved with Urbit? What is it like to be a writer in the descent of that profession brought on by the internet? What are the politics like in the new york writer's groups? What does it mean to be a rationalist? Did you see the Peter Theil takedown of the rationalist community? What was Vitalik like before he became nerd famous? What was the original DAO version versus where it is now? What does it mean to be an alien in a human body? Where do Moldbug and Nick Land converge and diverge? How does being a writer help you understand technology in ways programmers can't? How does talking off the record play into being a writer/journalist? What is the relationship between being conservative in technology versus being conservative in other centers of contemporary power? What is the relationship between ethereum and urbit? What is urbit going to be? What was it like to get on Urbit in 2018? How does localism play into urbit? What will Urbit do to information? What will the Google be of Urbit? How will the network map be different for Urbit than it is for contemporary social media? What are the metaphysic strings that thread the current urbit network? What do you think search will be like on Urbit? How do you categorize knowledge? What about information? What is the relationship between entropy and knowledge? How does the breakdown of knowledge work differently pre-internet and post-internet? How is the speed of development different in Urbit versus the legacy internet? Are the development costs lower in Urbit vs the legacy computing world? What is the relationship between knowledge and context of knowledge? What is the difference between something that works and something that works well? Talk about how Stewart started researching random esoteric spirituality stuff on Google and got himself into a deep hole Is postmodernism an entropy of modernism? But maybe its both, parts of the world will decline under entropy and a new species gets created that enters the new age? (25 minutes in) You seem like someone who is part of both the new age esotericism and part of technology, what is that like? Why did society edit Nikola Tesla? What is the relationship between urbit and AI? Who is Rudolph Steiner? What were the influences that led to unbalanced specialization? The tradition itself is no longer valid for the increased complexity that comes from the age of acceleration Who is Norman Kahn? Book “In search of the Millenium” What is the root of the “ascension to 5D theory”? How is the brain a filtration system? How does the specialization matrix/left brain make people more fragile to the obvious acceleration we are going through? What did Charles Eisenstein say about COVID? What is it like to go to UFO convention? What is it like to be authentically weird rather than cool weird? How does rationalism end up repressing the irrational?
I spent a lot of time reading and thinking about AI this week. I'm especially interested in the implications it will have for writers and the so-called creator economy. Obviously things will change if it becomes nearly free to generate decently intelligent content with machines. But how will things change exactly, and how should writers spend their time now to position themselves for these changes? I think the implications are not obvious. Specifically, AI will increase the economic power of deep classical education, and truly unique artistic personality. In this podcast, I explain why.I wrote more about this at otherlife.co/writing-machinesOther Life✦ Subscribe to the coolest newsletter in the world https://OtherLife.co✦ Get a free Urbit ship at https://imperceptible.computer✦ Join the community https://imperceptible.countryIndieThinkers.org✦ If you're working on independent projects, join the next cohort of https://IndieThinkers.org
I'd like to share with you some biographies of great writers, artists, maybe some inventors—people who represent the other life ethos—people who have produced great work from the fringes, or in weird niches they carved out for themselves in life.Here is a passage from a biography of the French novelist Balzac, Prométhée: ou, La vie de Balzac (1965) by André Maurois. I've translated it to English, of course.This is a story about reading books, childhood, the productive benefits of disordered knowledge, unjustified presumption, an obsession with printed paper, ecstasy as a motivator and a product, and a kind of hunger that nothing can ever satisfy.It paints a fascinating picture of education in France in the early 19th century. But it's also an inspiring vignette about something we see in the early lives of many great writers, which is... Here we have a strange, disaffected, aloof child who just seems a bit absurd or confused or even dumb—his teachers and classmates literally thought he was just stupid—but his appetite for wonder and knowledge drives him, from an early age, to just totally withdraw from society, into a life of the mind. That's the other life.If you'd rather read than listen, see otherlife.co/balzac.Other Life✦ Subscribe to the coolest newsletter in the world https://OtherLife.co✦ Get a free Urbit ship at https://imperceptible.computer✦ Join our network state at https://imperceptible.countryIndieThinkers.org✦ The next cohort of IndieThinkers.org starts Jan 16. If you're working on independent projects, request an invitation.
Deborah Simpier Co-founder & CEO of Althea Network and Gravity Bridge What does Althea network do? What is interoperability? What is the payment experience like right now? Why do telcos get monopolized? When did we start referring to people as users? Why do 29% of New York City not have access to the internet? How do you create frictionless payments? What is the relationship between stable coins and frictionless payments? What do you mean by machine to machine? Have people tried to game the system you are building? What is proof of sale? How many people are on your network? What is the radial layer? What is liquid infrastructure? What is the connectivity layer? What is ownership? Leverage Choice What is the product's future in developing countries? What are the challenges between doing this in developed countries and developing countries? Why would someone need interoperability? What is the role of BTC is now? What are the struggles of proof of stake right now? What does it mean to run the validator on your machine? What is X86? What is PLTE? What is the intersection between ALTHEA and Urbit? When does the althea blockchain launch?
Epicenter - Learn about Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies
When discussing the widespread adoption of true, peer-to-peer decentralization, one could easily identify various social and political obstacles. However, there is also an often overlooked technological impairment as the underlying architecture of computer networks was not designed to achieve global-scale decentralization. Ideally a complete restructuring would be necessary, from applications and programming language, to as profound as rewriting operating system kernels. This is what Urbit is trying to achieve; a decentralized network where users have full control over their computer, running a unified operating system, where applications function seamlessly, without centralized chokepoints.We were joined by Ted Blackman, CTO of Urbit Foundation, and Gary Lieberman, the Chorus One Team Lead for Urbit, to discuss how Urbit reshapes the way we interact with computers, its current development stage, and what challenges it has to overcome.Topics covered in this episode:- Ted's background- What Urbit is building- The disruptive potential of Urbit- Gary's motivation behind joining Urbit- Urbit's impact on user experience- Current development stage and potential limitations- General timeframe for Urbit adoption- Other use cases for Urbit- Implications Urbit might have for crypto (synergies)- Privacy vs. AccountabilityEpisode links:- Urbit: https://bit.ly/3A9COrX- Urbit Foundation: https://bit.ly/3G8KZXR- Ted Blackman: https://bit.ly/3Wuqyde- Gary Lieberman: https://bit.ly/3YJcRt6Sponsors:- Tally Ho: Tally Ho is a new wallet for Web3 and DeFi that sees the wallet as a public good. Think of it like a community-owned alternative to MetaMask. - https://epicenter.rocks/tallycashThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: https://epicenter.tv/475
Christian Langalis the "Bitcoin Sign Guy” and CEO of Tirrel Corp and joins me to discuss the future of self-sovereign computing with Urbit. We go in-depth on his passion for Bitcoin and how he is pioneering the future of computing with personal servers and the peer-to-peer internet.Be sure to check out Swan Private, the trusted Bitcoin financial services provider for high-net-worth individuals and businesses worldwide: https://www.swanprivate.com/breedloveGuestChristian's Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinUrTirrel Corp Website: https://tirrel.ioUrbit Website: https://urbit.orgPODCASTPodcast Website: https://whatismoneypodcast.com/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-what-is-money-show/id1541404400 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/25LPvm8EewBGyfQQ1abIsE?si=wgVuY16XR0io4NLNo0A11A&nd=1RSS Feed: https://feeds.simplecast.com/MLdpYXYITranscript:Outline00:00:00 “What is Money?” Intro Music00:00:08 “What is Money?” Intro Message00:00:54 Learn about Bitcoin with Swan Private at SwanPrivate.Com00:01:48 Do More with Your Digital Assets with Ledn00:02:33 Becoming the "Bitcoin Sign Guy”00:12:04 Urbit: A Return to a Peer-to-Peer Internet and Personal Servers00:36:18 Take Control of Your Healthcare with CrowdHealth00:37:20 A Bitcoin Wallet with Privacy Built-In: Wasabi Wallet00:37:55 Join me at The Pacific Bitcoin Conference 2022 in LA!00:38:35 Join me at Bitcoin Conference 2023 in Miami!00:39:19 Invest in the Fine Art Market with Masterworks00:39:55 Hold Bitcoin is the Most Secure Custody Model with Casa00:40:43 The Network Architecture of Urbit00:44:09 Self-Sovereign Computing00:59:01 How are Bitcoin and Urbit Complementary to One Another?01:09:02 Future Outlook on Urbit01:21:25 Where to Find More of Christian's Work01:24:51 “What is Money?” Outro MusicSOCIALBreedlove Twitter: https://twitter.com/Breedlove22WiM? Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatisMoneyShowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breedlove22/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breedlove_22/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breedlove22?lang=enAll My Current Work: https://linktr.ee/breedlove22WRITTEN WORKMedium: https://breedlove22.medium.com/Substack: https://breedlove22.substack.com/WAYS TO CONTRIBUTEBitcoin: 3D1gfxKZKMtfWaD1bkwiR6JsDzu6e9bZQ7Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/breedlove22Sats via Tippin.me: https://tippin.me/@Breedlove22Dollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/RBreedloveDollars via Venmo: https://venmo.com/code?user_id=1784359925317632528The "What is Money?" Show Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32843101&fan_landing=trueRECOMMENDED BUSINESSESSwan Private guides high-net-worth individuals and businesses in all areas of Bitcoin strategy: https://www.swanprivate.com/breedloveLedn lets you do more with your digital assets: https://www.ledn.io/CrowdHealth offers an innovative health insurance model based on Bitcoin and community: https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/breedloveWasabi Wallet is a Bitcoin wallet with privacy built-in by default: https://wasabiwallet.io/Okcoin is an innovative and education-focused cryptoasset exchange platform—earn $50 in free Bitcoin by signing up at: https://okcoin.com/breedloveJoin me at Pacific Bitcoin Conference 2022 in LA, use discount code BREEDLOVE: https://www.pacificbitcoin.com/Join Me At Bitcoin 2023 in Miami, and use discount code BREEDLOVE for a chance to win 10M sats: https://b.tc/conference/2023Masterworks let you access the fine art market at more affordable price points (use discount code BREEDLOVE): https://www.masterworks.comCasa is the most secure way to custody your Bitcoin (use discount code BREEDLOVE): https://keys.casa/Automatic Recurring Bitcoin Buys and Withdrawals: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/breedlove/