Notes:
An excellent article was published on Salon.com giving a good overview and new examples of the reality of NDEs at this link. Thanks to Facebook and the American Humanist Association for recently re-posting it. The “20-yr old Background Document” is now fully posted on its page in regular text. Additionally, selected patents’ descriptions and graphic diagrams related to non-lung oxygenation are on a separate page now. Comments welcome, expected and (vetted ones) to be posted. For those too shy or unmotivated to comment, a new POLL has now been added at the tail end here and is duplicated on its own page! Lastly, there have been 8,100+ views* of this page as of October, 2017. Thanks (and I hope that the extraneous typesetting info here was complete enough).
The main purpose of this blog page is to put out in another venue the main idea here; that is, with off-the-shelf medical technologies utilized in an “off-label” context, the method of exploring consciousness described would yield much-needed insights into the human condition and be able to solve many, if not most of man’s problems with studious application. Much of the context for the slightly-esoteric Breathing-oriented background information referenced throughout can be gleaned at the aforementioned page on this site: https://mergenthalerlinotype.wordpress.com/watch-this-space-coming-20-year-old-background-document/
Core technology for expanding human & transhuman possibilities: a potential deus ex machina
Medical Technology Enhancement of Various Parapsychological States and possible elimination of false impressions in such states, including their uses for intelligence gathering.
The so-called Higher States of Consciousness have at times, in exceptional people, been proven to varying degrees to be able to supply information, abilities and insights which are unavailable to normal people in everyday states of mind. Some of the benefits of these rare states have been information gathering, healing and insights into the human condition and nature of life. Conversely, most reported instances of states purporting to be “higher” seem to be stemming from the persons involved actually tapping into less than ideal mental states, however appealing and seamless the experiences struck those involved. Additionally, those very types of experiences appear to be the basis of religious tenets which ultimately prove to be disputable, divisive and inapplicable to any but those originally having them. Altered states of consciousness, however arrived at, however meaningful or well-correlated with reality, are unintentionally though necessarily colored for their being experienced through the gauze-screen of a mind that has (biological) survival instincts, coupled with the fact that many if not most of Psi states are at odds with our “animal health.” What is mentally attractive or useful (Psi states, as well as less wholesome recreationally-alterered states) is at odds with the mental-biological underpinnings of what must necessarily be sustained in order to survive or return from such states. (NPR story link for new research {8-13} on this HERE) ; (Additional information on why Meditation-like states aren’t necessarily ideal HERE)
Information that I have only recently become aware of points to a built-in biological mechanism that could likely be a prime candidate for the source of why we cannot readily or easily achieve the calming of the body and consequently the mind. This bottleneck is the Central Pattern Generator that is associated with breathing and what I found is on its own page here. Information on a possible biological basis for consciousness is on its own page here.
The oldest system of “psycho-spiritual transformation,” Yoga, is a prime example of how a survival behavior, breathing, must be subverted or controlled in order to achieve the deeper states, i.e., “prana-jaya, pranayama and kundalini-shakti,” all utilizing extreme breath control to the extent that it segues into mind, if not life- threatening conditions. It seems no coincidence that an article from Flying Magazine on “Oxygen and You” mentions such apparently at-odds reactions to hypoxia (low O2 levels) as euphoria, intoxication, false sense of well-being, and a feeling of functioning well. “As things get worse, you feel better… blissful in your ignorance…. …Thinking you’re… making smart decisions… talking (thinking) coherently… when in fact you’re screwing up badly, babbling… and well on your way to completely losing it.” Another take on this concept is from the Shallow Water Blackout Prevention group. They explain that “…when the level of carbon dioxide in the blood is driven to artificially low levels as the result of hyperventilation or excessive breath-holding activities, the desire to breathe is diminished. This artificial method of fooling the body into thinking that it does not need oxygen is deadly, as it lures the breath-holder into believing that he can hold his breath longer than he safely can. In fact, because of the hypoxia, one feels euphoric and empowered to continue breath-holding (leading to blackout, and in these circumstances, drowning).”
Such yogic states referenced are voluntarily achieved, somewhat under control but with noted dangers to the body, mind and personality. Other states such as NDEs, OOBEs and drug states are even less controlled and consequently entail even greater dangers. However, all of these states continue to draw men to them like moths to flames for the actual and perceived benefits, both real and imagined, such states aspire to afford to experiencers; the difference between “real and imagined” being the big bugaboo and main drawback to the “validity” of such states, and causing various scientific, ethical, social and acceptance problems. My take on this state of affairs and subsequent hypothesis for an improvement in not only achieving useful states non-endangeringly, uncolored by undue adverse biological reactions, is to utilize a monitored combined medical technologies system that bypasses the normal life process and consciousness-distraction of breathing. Adepts at conventional meditating/remote viewing, et al, could likely more straightforwardly experience the states that they have previously achieved conventionally, that is, (in my opinion) tainted by the unholy union of “higher” consciousness with a biological state or activity that is inherently not in the body’s, and consequently the self’s best interest. It was noted in Cayce’s readings on himself that the state he achieved was physically on-edge and dangerous, like a window shade pulled taut to the snapping point. OOBEs usually are precipitated by NDEs, which is a heck of a way to achieve higher consciousness! I feel that with there being such an at-odds core to these so-called “conventionally” arrived at experiences, that is, their not being biologically wholesome, we should be very much on guard as to our acceptance and integration of what is experienced; this despite all of our internal signals indicating that they seemingly come from “On High,” owing to the limits of the human mind for interpretation of such types of events.
The technologies that follow (or newer, more effective ones like them, including the promising new development of Injectable Oxygen), when combined, would allow an experiencer to set out to achieve the desired useful state while not being bothered with the “distraction” of breathing (and being a probable source of psi-state “noise,” referenced later), for these systems, when combined, provide 100%+ of the oxygenation needed to sustain life without using the lungs. The lungs’ usage could be temporarily taken out of the loop, not only for bypassing the obviously-distracting attempt to control the breath but also removing whatever blood pressure raising/lowering role that they also play… another biological wild card and likely additional source of coloration to states of consciousness.
“Early on, humanity appears to have discovered that by manipulating the breath, one can achieve altered states of consciousness. This knowledge is reflected in the Indo-European languages, where the words for Breath often also denote Spirit or Psyche.”
The original technologies that I ran across back in 1993 were:
1: Extravascular circulation of oxygenated synthetic nutrients to treat tissue hypoxic and ischemic disorders. U.S. Patent # 4,378,797
Patent Abstract:
A novel system and method for treating ischemic neurologic tissue is disclosed wherein an oxygenated nutrient emulsion is circulated through at least a portion of the cerebrospinal pathway. The nutrient emulsion contains an oxygenatable non-aqueous component, an aqueous nutrient component, an emulsification component and other components which render physiologic acceptabilty of the nutrient emulsion. (10-2013: a new use for this technology is disussed here–link)
2: Peritoneal Artificial Lung. U.S. Patent # 4,661,092
(note: After having been in intermittent contact for years with one of the doctors who developed this, I was offered the chance to buy the rights to it, as it was about to go off-patent after nearly 17 years. Lack of funds at the time prevented the sale)
Patent Abstract:
A process for the treatment of hypoxia is provided. The process involves the infusion of highly oxygenated perfluoro-chemicals into the peritoneal cavity of a patient, for oxygen transport into the body and carbon dioxide transport out of the body. The oxygenated perfluorocarbons are subsequently removed from the peritoneal cavity. The infusion and removal can be on a continuous or intermittent basis.
3: Apparatus and method for extrapulmonary blood gas exchange (IVOX) U.S. Patent # 4,850,958
Patent Abstract:
An in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange device having a bundle comprised of a plurality of elongated gas permeable tubes being bound at each end and enclosed within a respective air tight proximal and distal chamber. A dual lumen tube having an outer lumen and an inner lumen is situated relative to the gas permeable tubes such that the outer lumen terminates within the proximal chamber and such that the inner lumen terminates within the distal chamber. The apparatus includes means for selectively adjusting the overall, outside diameter of the bundle of gas permeable tubes to provide either a furled, small insertion diameter when inserting the apparatus into the venae cavae of a patient or an unfurled, expanded oxygenation diameter after the apparatus is in place within the venae cavae and the bundle of gas permeable tubes is deployed therein. The apparatus is inserted into the patient through a single incision at one of the right external iliac, common femoral or internal jugular veins. A plurality of crimps along the length of the gas permeable tubes maintain the tubes in a spaced relation one from another such that blood surface contact with the gas permeable tubes is maximized, disturbed flow of blood over the tubes is achieved and laminar blood flow between and around the gas permeable tubes is inhibited.
An additional unit that was patented in 2001 is
4: Integrated Blood Oxygenator and Pump System U.S. Patent # 6,224,829
Patent Abstract:
Improvements to integrated blood pump/oxygenator having a rotating hollow fiber bundle assembly that both oxygenates and pumps blood are provided. A plurality of vanes arranged along a central shaft of the device increase pressure near the center of the fiber bundle to prevent microbubble generation and blood trauma. Shearing loads imposed on the fiber elements of the fiber bundle are reduced by the addition of a reinforcement structure, while the gas flow path is configured to minimize flooding and loss of oxygenation efficiency due to occasional rupture of fiber elements. Blood trauma may be further reduced by contouring the vanes and other components of the device.
My idea is to have these (or similar) units used simultaneously, for the duration of proposed Psi experiments/sessions. The PAL unit alone can supply 60% of the body’s oxygen needs. The Cerebrospinal Oxygenator fully supplies all of the brain’s nominally out-of-proportionate needs and the two others (or similar units) can more than make up the remaining percentage and then some. See another page here on current developments in Artificial Lungs.
If responsible and farsighted researchers in capable facilities can see fit to undertake such proposed Psi experimentation sessions, I feel confident that we as a race would likely crack the nut of true higher consciousness, free of undue coloration which has necessarily been part and parcel of all like experiences and endeavors to date. I have not the background nor access to facilities to pursue this in a timely manner; others so motivated must take up such efforts, if they agree with the intentions of this goal and the impetus for such a hypothesized setup.
I floated this concept out to several researchers in the Psi field in 2001 and received one viable response from a noted and respected party, Angela T. Smith. Smith is the creator of The Nevada Group, which is composed of trained remote viewers living throughout the United States. Angela had worked at Psi-Tech with Ed Dames (this name a recent correction over previous information here). She has seen the 2009 movie “The Men Who Stare at Goats” and “…found it funny but it took a lot of liberties with the facts and timelines. The positive effect will be that more people will be aware of remote viewing and hopefully will follow up for themselves and read some of the books and articles.”
Her response:
Thanks for sending your text material, which I have read through briefly. I have a few questions and observations: What hypotheses would you be putting forward? That remote viewers (a type of psychic phenomenon experiencer) need extra oxygen or less oxygen to function well? Or, as you mentioned just to get the respiratory system out of the loop? Do you know the literature on the physiological states involved in ASC? (i.e., that the body’s autonomic nervous system becomes activated during Psi applications and breathing goes onto “automatic pilot”, as do other physiological systems.) By the way, I have noticed that when I am doing OBE or altered state remote viewing (ERV) that after about 20 minutes, when I terminate the session, I find that my respiration is really shallow and I am hardly breathing. I have not purposely slowed my breathing but my “autopilot” kicked in during the exercise.
What is your background? Are you in the medical profession? I would be interested in how you came up with your ideas.
My reply:
The hypothesis is to get the lungs and that part of the autonomic system out of the loop, as I believe that the distraction of normal breathing/the need to control it/the need to remember to breathe and the seeming discrepancy of either a low oxygen state and/or the willingness to suppress the reflex being a prerequisite to successful states is intrinsically at odds with our greater well-being. Literature I’ve referenced from The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Yoga mentions Siren-like statements on breath control for the different levels. It also mentions that “breath retention is one of the most direct means of effecting changes in consciousness….” This statement in a nutshell tells me that low oxygen… intrinsically unhealthy… is a very suspect means for affecting consciousness, because a simple beer or going to sleep can do that also, and that the resultant consciousness derived from this type of means is inherently unsound and/or inefficient. This particular means of achieving such a state are substandard; the type or quality of such a consciousness is substandard. This same generalization I would go so far as to apply to NDEs, OOBEs and the like. (Kenneth Ring interestingly compared NDEers and those reporting Alien Abductions.) There’s some obvious validity to these states. They just aren’t all they’re chalked up to be and don’t quite live up to their billing, plus at the current “low-tech/natural” level at which they’ve been experienced historically, don’t live up to their fullest potential. Taking the need to breath (with its distraction potential AND the seducing nature that our minds are attracted to [of lower and lower oxygen levels equaling better and better experiences]) out of the loop would go far to achieve these states more soberly and safely and let us analyze them more for what they are vs. what they SEEM to be, and then, hopefully, be able to make the resultant, more rational/scientific/ predictable states more useful.
No, I haven’t seen any literature on ASC/RV etc.-associated physiological states except for yoga-related descriptions of low metabolism and voluntary control over some aspects normally “autonomic” to begin with. It sounds logical that one would get down to a more base level during experiences. I don’t think that mammals ever absolutely get to, or even have a fully autonomic level, as my feeling are that there’s ultimately a degree of awareness possible down there if everything else were to theoretically be blocked out and awareness channeled there. That is, I think that what passes for an autonomic system is actually THE basic consciousness, though one that nobody has ever experienced and therefore is one that isn’t very useful (as we know it).
That’s interesting to hear about your breathing experience during your states. I’ve actually never been in such a state, voluntarily or otherwise, though I’ve been around in a certain sense, so to speak. I’m not in the medical profession or schooled in more esoteric disciplines. Just a fairly widely and in-depth read layman. My ideas have been the result of being exposed to all manner of literature on these related areas for years– intentionally and unintentionally comparing concepts to other concepts (that are often held out as being “above” being put into any sort of context [pigeonholed] or merely compared to something else) and drawing hopefully rational conclusions, invariably going against the grain of established schools of thought and practice.
A follow-up to her was as follows:
I ran across a Newsweek article which had some interesting elements as they relate to our recent emails and thought I’d forward you a bit of it, this from May 7, 2001 on “Religion & the Brain.” In it is a discussion of various Psi and meditative states with conclusions drawn by psychologists and neurobiologists in this field of “neurotheology” as regards the biological underpinnings of such experiences, though ultimately in a nonreductionist or condescending way. It mentions includes “(a researcher’s suspicions that) …religious [read: Psi] experiences… …can be triggered by… …lack of oxygen, low blood sugar (etc.)….” “…mystical experiences [Psi states]… …may tell us something about consciousness, arguably the greatest mystery in neuroscience. In mystical experiences, the content of the mind fades, sensory awareness drops out, so you are left only with pure consciousness. This tells you that consciousness does not need an object, and is not a mere byproduct of sensory action.”
One can hopefully infer from all of the above information and hypotheses that perhaps a technological enhancement to attempts to reach true and useful mental states could go far towards both enhancing man’s understanding of his nature and place in the universe, plus, in a more immediate, practical sense, augument much-needed intelligence gathering towards the ends of securing peace in the world.
Selected link:
http://www.remoteviewer.nu/?p=685 to the article quoted above on remote viewing and intelligence
ANGELA T. SMITH, Ph.D.
Dr. Smith is a research psychologist and writer who has developed an interest in human consciousness research over the past ten years. She was educated in conventional medical research before working at the PEAR Laboratory at Princeton University. Angela is interested in investigating consciousness and its correlations with remote viewing, laterality, personality measures, and other variables. Lately, she has combined two areas of research: remote viewing and micro-pk work to look for the “Footprint of Consciousness.”
Ongoing Research: A recent study was carried out with 25 trained remote viewers from around the world. The study was conducted “double-blind” that is both the subjects and interviewer did not have any up-front information about the target pictures. Subjects were a few miles to almost 6,000 miles away from the target pictures. There were an equal number of males and females and there were no gender differences in success rate. The subjects ranged in age from 20 to 66 years. They averaged 62.8% correct information about the targets with 10 of the participants accessing 80+% correct information about the targets.
The Nevada Group. Dr. Smith is often contacted by individuals and groups who are need remote viewing of humanitarian projects. These projects are identified by a coordinate and sent by email to individuals on the Nevada Group list. Feedback is presented to the viewers when available and the viewers have the opportunity to practice real-world targets. (from: http://pipl.com/directory/people/Angela%2520T./Smith) Dr. Smith’s current practice is in Boulder City, Nevada, and her websites are www.remoteviewingnv.com and www.mindwiseconsulting.com.
.
A brief quote [linked] to an online article on Remote Viewing and Intelligence reads:
*this “noise level” is exactly what the whole breathing alternative setup is hypothesized to eliminate, (possibly along with a sensory deprivation environment)
“…He examines the official closure of Project STARGATE by the CIA, even though the successes of the program were well known and well documented.
Bremseth asks what many others have also considered: Was the once-secret official program overtly shut down so that ongoing covert research and operations could continue?
He examines the question directly. “One can legitimately ask … why the CIA, after ending ‘official’ supporting 1975 continued tasking the program for intelligence support until 1995, when it then orchestrated the program’s demise? If the CIA considered the remote viewing program incapable of producing substantive results, why did it continue requesting remote viewing intelligence support for almost twenty-four years?”
Bremseth asks, “Did the CIA terminate the remote viewing program because it feared ridicule by association, or did it stage a ‘public execution’ as a means of taking the program underground? Both are legitimate questions. The first is understandable given perception of paranormal activities by many within American society, as well as the CIA’s past experiences involving controversial research efforts.”
“Arguably, the second question is more intriguing as it implies that the CIA recognized the value of remote viewing, yet intended to make it appear otherwise.” (this is a link to another page on this site on other “black” government projects)
Maybe intelligence services and Bremseth were on the same page after all. Maybe research and operational projects continued that included movement in positive directions with regard to remote viewing and other forms of “anomalous cognition” as he recommended in his paper.
And, of course, as information about remote viewing became public knowledge over the years, many people around the world became interested in this phenomena, read about it, attended training programs and applied it in their own lives.
GRASS ROOTS TRANSCENDENT SOLUTIONS
Some of the main purposes of Bremseth’s paper seem to be the objective examination of the concept of remote viewing, explaining its history in U.S. intelligence efforts to a wider range of personnel and, importantly, taking the concept to the next level of what he calls transcendent warfare.
Because Bremseth was a Navy officer and a SEAL, and the paper was written within the context of advanced military education institutions, the report is oriented toward military challenges and opportunities.
However, we can easily take his research and apply it to a wider and deeper set of circumstances and realities facing our nation and the world as a whole.
In addition, where Bremseth addresses specific government efforts, it may also be helpful to consider the impact of remote viewing understanding for the grass roots of society – for all Americans and for the human race in general.
Bremseth addresses warfare, both conventional and asymmetric, in his paper and then urges transcendent approaches. Average people can take these concepts of transcendent methods and apply them to a wider range of other endeavors.
In fact, we might consider that variations on Bremseth’s term transcendent warfare could be “transcendent operations” or “transcendent solutions.” These terms provide a broader scope of use for remote viewing and other kinds of anomalous cognition.
Disease, poverty, hunger, injustice, crime, drug abuse, slavery, child abuse, political corruption, pollution of natural resources, emerging climate change and similar serious problems that currently challenge us may also be useful targets for transcendent operations and transcendent solutions.
For people interested in these problems and possible solutions, as well as the national defense applications that Navy SEAL officer Bremseth explored in his paper, the unconventional, unusual and transcendent phenomena of remote viewing and anomalous cognition seem to be valuable resources.
Bremseth demonstrated courage and insight to tackle such a sensitive topic for his Marine Corps War College report. His paper is worthwhile reading for anyone with an open mind and an interest in human potential.
In fact, if taken to its natural and logical conclusion, Bremseth’s concept of transcendence would bring us to a better world and achieve the peace, security, happiness, prosperity, beauty and discovery that, for now, we can only dream of.
Lastly, one might question why would this information be posted here publicly for all to see, assuming that it could be put to nefarious use by ne’er-do-wells. Well… ultimately, persons getting deeply into the states referenced here are pretty much incapable of “going to the dark side,” as the core concepts are spiritual. So, if, say, the “Commies” successfully developed this first, they eventually would realize the error of their ways and “come to the light.” (Enough trippy metaphors already?) Another relevant quote on this hypothesized technology’s use from a blog on the movie Tron: Legacy: (2 separate links here) “…an object which could unite all mankind –- surely some advances should be shared for the betterment of all humanity….“
From a book review in the N Y Times on the History of ‘TheInformation’: “…insist that the free exchange of information is essential to a healthy democracy.”
“It may seem futile–as it has seemed futile to skeptics down all the ages–to oppose the frowning battlements of existing institutions, the mighty bulwarks of intellectual inertia, with the slender weapon of ideas. The vision of a few men, the belief of a handful of thinkers among a multitude, may seem an insignificant and isolated dream. But if that vision is a noble one, pregnant with promise for all men and closely tuned to the realities of modern times, it will in a democratic land become greater than itself.” –Sheridan Downey, California Senator, 1940.
And those in the previous and present administrations have proven themselves to be slow and unresponsive, even after working on similar programs before and being handed elements of this above information twice now, in 2001 and 2009 (via whitehouse.gov). So, in the spirit of President Obama’s fondness for quoting President Roosevelt,
“Now, go make me do it!”
Another way of characterizing this would be the Japanese word “gaiatsu,” an outside pressure to create inside pressure for change.
—>additional support material in reference to the above:
Should Scientists Take An Oath?
(A Statement by the Editor of Popular Science Monthly, the Voice of Science, Perry Githens) December, 1946
Fresh-shingled Doctors of Medicine commonly take the Oath of Hippocrates and thus subscribe to a code of medical ethics. There has been proposed a similar oath for scientists, whereby they would swear by whatever gods or immutable truths they hold sacred to work only for the welfare of mankind, and to avoid that scientific sin which is secrecy—military or national.
The idea has its merits. The orderly curiosity that is science is as international as the wind, and your true scientist is in the business of secret-smashing. It has also been suggested that an international priesthood of science might prevent war by some kind of scientific sit-down strike.
But the scientists are also discovering that they are people, too. And it is the scientist as a human being and a citizen who is shocked by his responsibility in the perversion of science to destruction. Furthermore, no scientists’ oath to work only for the welfare of humanity could mean much for the simple reason that no one could foretell what any discovery would entail. A research into the cure of cancer, for instance, might ultimately reveal enough knowledge of the cause to make the dread disease another weapon.
If the scientist is to be the savior of frightened, ignorant humanity, no negative oath will help. Our trouble now is that the so-called social sciences have not caught up with nuclear physics. We need to know why humans behave like animals; what makes people stupid, greedy, bloodthirsty; how to stop a war, or start a crusade for decent brotherhood.
An intensified inquiry into human nature calls for the best scientific brains in the world. And it’s just about the only way to make biological warfare into the farmers’ friend, or atomic bombs into doctors’ tools.
Postwar Philosophizing
Finally, for the conservatives and the skeptics out there…
“Ideas just aren’t what they used to be. Once upon a time, they could ignite fires of debate, stimulate other thoughts, incite revolutions and fundamentally change the ways we look at and think about the world. They could penetrate the general culture…. “If our ideas seem smaller nowadays, it’s not because we are dumber than our forebears but because we just don’t care as much about ideas as they did. In effect, we are living in an increasingly post-idea world — a world in which big, thought-provoking ideas that can’t instantly be monetized are of so little intrinsic value that fewer people are generating them and fewer outlets are disseminating them, the Internet notwithstanding. Bold ideas are almost passé. It is no secret, especially here in America, that we live in a post-Enlightenment age in which rationality, science, evidence, logical argument and debate have lost the battle in many sectors, and perhaps even in society generally, to superstition, faith, opinion and orthodoxy. While we continue to make giant technological advances, we may be the first generation to have turned back the epochal clock — to have gone backward intellectually from advanced modes of thinking into old modes of belief. “We prefer knowing to thinking because knowing has more immediate value. Ideas are too airy, too impractical, too much work for too little reward. Few talk ideas. The implications of a society that no longer thinks big are enormous. Ideas aren’t just intellectual playthings. They have practical effects. “But because they are scientists and empiricists rather than generalists in the humanities, the place from which ideas were customarily popularized, they suffer a double whammy: not only the whammy against ideas generally but the whammy against science, which is typically regarded in the media as mystifying at best, incomprehensible at worst. “…they are not likely to get traction in a culture that has so little use for ideas, especially big, exciting, dangerous ones, and that’s true whether the ideas come from academics or others who are not part of elite organizations and who challenge the conventional wisdom. All thinkers are victims of information glut, and the ideas of today’s thinkers are also victims of that glut. “…there is a vast difference between profit-making inventions and intellectually challenging thoughts.” – condensed from “The Elusive Big Idea,” an opinion essay by Neal Gabler in the New York times on Sunday, August 14, 2011
“Genuine revolutions are frequently met with condescension.” -David Fincher, director of “The Social Revolution”
“You need to suspend disbelief… because so many people will tell you that what you’re doing [here: want to do] can’t be done, and if it could be done, someone would have done it already. There are six billion human beings on this planet, we’ve been around for hundreds of thousands of years, we’re a couple hundred years into the industrial revolution — and nobody has done what you want to do? It’s kind of crazy.” -Paul Maeder, a general partner at Highland Capital
“Nobody has any idea of what a new invention will really be good for.” “The proper response to a stupid technology* is to make a better one, just as the proper response to a stupid idea** is not to outlaw it but to replace it with a better idea.” -Kevin Kelly, author of What Technology Wants
(my contexts for the asterisked terms above would be:
* “stupid technology,” in reference to psi research, would be the existing “no technology” currently used… that is, humans just using their minds and bodies as-is (though often addled… as if that is a Great Leap Forward)
** “stupid idea” here would be to insist on continuing to be satisfied with the status quo, vigorously resisting any potential technological augmentations/progress on religious, cultural or customs grounds.)
In talking about fairly simple inventions that involve no earth-shaking breakthroughs:
“…[It] is fairly pedestrian from a technological standpoint. It is not a car or a jet engine or a silicon chip. [It] ushered in a new way of doing things. There was no breakthrough in terms of material. There was a breakthrough in thinking through the entire process and coming up with a neat solution. [Technology] matters. … [The] less glamorous side of progress, the hard, creative work that allows mundane objects to fill new needs.” -David Leonhardt in an article in the NY Times on Keith W. Tantlinger on 12-25-2011
“Ideas pop up at the weirdest time. Who knows why our subconscious does what it does?” and, “Huh, this kind of looks like it might work.” (paraphrased) -Tim Jenison, inventor (and artist out of necessity) in an article on the NY Times on 11-27-13
Lastly, if some of this site strikes you as alarmism, so far as urging advanced mind techniques for global security purposes… well, you are in good company. After all, not all warnings are necessarily valid. Much “crying Wolf” goes on. If you feel this way, “Don’t worry about it.” At your peril, of course.
The picture above is from the New York Times. The current header pic is from The Retail Connection, a company dealing with retail + real estate**. Previous headers have been from Angel Franco of the “Chromatic Typewriter” by Tyree Callahan and of Andrew Sarris as it had been in the NY Times. **I Hope that these unintentional providers don’t mind the extra exposure, especially from a site not selling anything but ideas.
*the 6,ooo+ views include hits I’m discounting because of their source… see this page
Now: no ads in your browser or smartphone screen as of today, 11-14-18, since I finally bit the bullet and paid up; this after seeing recently another page of mine on Chrome (vs. usual Firefox) and on a smartphone that indeed showed ugly add-on ads. Not a pretty sight.
Helping to Save The World by slingin' lead at your screen 