Yesterday was a bit better, but I caught myself still checking in on social media more often than I’d have preferred – yes, the Republicans are still fucking us over and calling it a win for gun owners.
A thought that came to me last night – social media prevents us from being our true selves and attuning to our higher will. How so? When using social media, you gradually build an online persona and if you act outside that avatar (or perhaps “golem” is a better choice in this case) it causes a disruption in things – when I pulled back from promoting libertarian philosophies and ideas and started retweeting more about music and other things I had someone reach out to me to see what was up because I had stopped retweeting their account and my content was changing.
Really though, my complaint isn’t necessarily about the platform itself necessarily (though the platforms have enabled the devolution of our mental capacities) but more a critique of the algorithms that feed us content. If there were a Twitter clone that was solely posts from people with no algorithmic influence on what you see – you see who you follow in the order they share – it would be much more interesting to me to stay involved. No payouts for engagement, no censorship, no other reason to to use other than to share your thoughts – personally I think that would be a better system.
But getting away from all that (again), today is the 24th anniversary of TOOL releasing their album Lateralus. I haven’t gotten to that point in time in bringing the archives all over, but it was a key moment in my life. Something I’ve been doing is trying to identify key points of time in my life where a single decision, a particular person, or some event altered the course of my life in a meaningful way.
Butterflies – I’m identifying butterflies.
Have you ever seen those thought experiments where one is offered a choice between going back in time with all the knowledge they have currently or a (typically large) sum of money? I’ve thought about them a lot, and would never choose to go back in time – even if there was no money involved in the choice. Why? Because everything I did in the past brought me to this moment where I am now, and I wouldn’t want to change that for anything. I’m meticulous enough to probably be able to navigate through the do-over and get at least close to where I am now, but why take chances? I’d probably end up so neurotic that by the time I made it back, I’d be completely bonkers and not be able to enjoy this life and the time with my wife.
But I’m digressing – the Lateralus album and TOOL’s tour for it did affect my life in profound ways. Had this album not been released today (maybe the exact day doesn’t matter at all, but maybe it does) an entire chain of events would have been altered and it is likely that I wouldn’t be where I am right now. TOOL was also something my wife and I connected over when we first met – and our wedding ceremony was even AT a TOOL concert. I mentioned this to my wife last night and she had a great idea that we’re going to do, and perhaps I’ll share it here when completed – our own calendar with significant “holy days” of our own. These days would be to honor events that occurred that affected our lives and directed our paths in some manner.
I think that’s a neat idea, and just another way to celebrate this precious moment we exist in. What events or moments in time have altered your life path?
Interesting Tidbits
Don’t fall asleep at a TOOL show if you want to date Lzzy Hale
Men die of a broken heart more often than women, new study finds – When working in the “death care industry” (yeah, I did that too – I’ll fill you in some day) it was common to have an older man come in to arrange services for his wife, only to have him come through a few weeks or months later.
Rogue communication devices found in Chinese solar power inverters – “Using the rogue communication devices to skirt firewalls and switch off inverters remotely, or change their settings, could destabilise power grids, damage energy infrastructure, and trigger widespread blackouts, experts said.” I’m all for living off grid and being self sufficient, but know your vendors, guys.
Scientists Turn Lead into Gold – Alchemy achieved? “But according to AI calculations, it would take about 33.9 billion years to create one ounce of gold at that rate.” Oh, well, maybe not.
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