Steve Talbott on consciousness vs. computers

22 June 2007

"The highest parts of our humanity are the parts where we are most fully conscious, most alertly engaged, with our intentions most thoroughly penetrating our activity. ... Whenever we find ourselves activing passively, dreamily, automatically or mechanically — states all too easily induced when we spend hour starting at a screen! — we
are descending to the subhuman"
"Perhaps one of the most important things I have done throughout my life is to live with a single question or problem or theme for weeks, months or years ... You being to discover the difference between deepening your thought and merely letting run in logical ruts over the surface of things."

-from a McCall newspaper interview http://mcall.com/netizen

Steve Talbott is a well respected writer with O'Reilly books and is well known for quitting programming and becoming an organic farmer. and then still writing more tech books.

Its been one of my themes lately to stay well away from INBOXism, to not get caught just responding to life (and all that information, promising you this and that). That's an overly Yin state (The Receptive; devoid of substance, looking outside).

To lead your pursuit from your goals and projects is to have a Yang strength. However, too much Yang is too much (The Creative; all substance , staring into the void). Remain flexibile and dance with the external.

http://natureinstitute.org/txt/st/index.htm
http://netfuture.org/i


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Solar Life Raft Ingredients

Timeblind
Format: Digital
Release date: 4th January 2010
Available at
  • coltan and cassiterite Timeblind

The unmixed ingredients from Rupture and Shadetek’s Solar Life Raft. Including two tracks by me: Coltan and Cassiterite and Space Cadet (which came out on last year’s 12” on Version)

I’ve been waiting/yearning for Coltan and Cassiterite to come out for much of last year. I was about to release it myself just to relieve my own tension waiting for it. Anyway, its on a good home: The Agriculture and the reviews have been great so far.

The title refers to two of the minerals that are mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are components in portable electronics like cel phones. Its one of the unfortunate driving forces behind continuing warfare among the militias in the Rwanda/DRC border area.

Avail at boomkat: http://➯.ws/⚥ SLR in 320kMP3 and Flac

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