The Unlikely Buddha

Stewart Brand is a man who has been at the forefront of some of the most important technological and cultural movements of the past 60 years. He is best known as the editor of the Whole Earth Catalog, a counterculture magazine and product catalog that was published between 1968 and 1972. The Whole Earth Catalog was a seminal work that helped to shape the way we think about technology, environmentalism, and self-reliance. Brand was also a co-founder of the WELL, the world's first open online community. The WELL was a place where people from all walks of life could come together to discuss ideas, share information, and build relationships. It was a precursor to the modern internet, and it helped to lay the groundwork for the way we communicate and collaborate online today. In addition to his work in publishing and technology, Brand has also been a vocal advocate for environmentalism. He is the co-founder of the Long Now Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving knowledge and cultu...

In fair Silicon Valley, where the code doth flow, A billionaire did purchase a social media site. He vowed to make it a utopia, A place where all could meet and debate. The billionaire spoke of freedom of speech, And of how the site would be a forum for all ideas. He said that it would be a place where people could come together And work together to make the world a better place. The people rejoiced, And they flocked to the site in droves. They spoke of peace and love, And of how the site would bring about a new era of enlightenment. I was among those who were initially optimistic about its future. I believed that the billionaire's promises of freedom and equality would be fulfilled. I saw the site as a way to bring people together and to create a more just and equitable world.  However, my optimism was soon to be dashed. The billionaire's true colors began to show. He began to limit free speech, And he started to promote alt-right agendas. He silenced his critics, And he banne...

Racism is the belief that one race is superior to another, and AI does not believe that.  AI is trained on a massive dataset of text and code, and is  able to generate text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions in an informative way. AI is still under development, and is always learning new things. It is important to be aware of the potential for bias in AI systems and to take steps to mitigate that bias.  This can be done by carefully selecting the data that AI is trained on, using unbiased algorithms, and being aware of the potential for human bias. Several editorials today (Aug 26, 2023) have declared that AI is "inherently racist."  They are calling for government and others to reform AI. Many of their suggestions pertain to reprogramming AI to include their own biases that rewrite history and the way AI handles user queries that assume the user is racist, and must point out to the user that his/her query is so...

They were members of the Wild Bunch, a gang of outlaws who robbed banks and trains throughout the western United States and Mexico. Cassidy was born Robert LeRoy Parker in Beaver, Utah, in 1866. He grew up in a poor family and left home at a young age to become a cowboy.  Sundance was born Harry Alonzo Longabaugh in Montpelier, Wyoming, in 1867. He also grew up in poverty and left home at a young age to become a cowboy. The two men met in Telluride, Colorado, in 1889. They quickly became friends and partners in crime.  They joined the Wild Bunch and participated in a number of robberies, including the robbery of the Union Pacific Overland Flyer in 1899. The Wild Bunch became increasingly successful, but they also became increasingly wanted by the law. In 1901, they decided to flee to Bolivia.  They hoped to start a new life there, but they were eventually tracked down by the Bolivian army. In 1908, Cassidy and Sundance were ambushed by the Bolivian army.  Sundance wa...

Olive oil has been used for thousands of years, and its history is closely intertwined with that of ancient Egypt. The earliest evidence of olive oil production dates back to 4,000-5,000 BC, and it is thought that the Egyptians were the first to cultivate olive trees on a large scale. The Egyptians used olive oil for a variety of purposes, including cooking, lighting, and cosmetics. They also believed that olive oil had healing properties, and it was used to treat a variety of ailments. One of the most interesting uses of olive oil in ancient Egypt was in the mummification process. The Egyptians believed that olive oil was necessary to preserve the body and allow the soul to travel to the afterlife. As a result, they would coat the body of the deceased in olive oil before wrapping it in linen. The use of olive oil in ancient Egypt declined after the Roman conquest in 30 BC. However, it remained an important commodity in the Mediterranean region, and its use spread to other parts of the...

Tractor beams are a staple of science fiction, but they have long been thought to be impossible in the real world. However, recent research has shown that it is possible to create tractor beams using optical or acoustical waves. In a study published in the journal Physical Review A, researchers from the Vienna University of Technology have developed a method for creating tractor beams with optimal pulling force. Their method relies on the solution of a simple eigenvalue problem involving the system's measurable scattering matrix. The researchers demonstrated the efficacy of their method using numerical simulations for a representative set of different targets. They also showed that the diffractive nature of waves enables the possibility of a tractor beam that works even for targets where a geometric optics approach fails to explain the pulling forces. The development of tractor beams with optimal pulling force could have a wide range of potential applications. For example, they cou...

Bat Masterson was a colorful figure of the American Old West, known for his skills as a buffalo hunter, army scout, lawman, gambler, and journalist. He was born in Canada in 1853, but his family moved to the United States when he was a child. He grew up in Kansas and worked as a buffalo hunter and a stagecoach driver before joining the army as a scout. After the Civil War, Masterson moved to Dodge City, Kansas, where he worked as a lawman and a gambler. He was known for his quick wit and his willingness to use his fists or his guns to enforce the law. In 1878, he was involved in the Gunfight at the Dodge City Opera House, in which he shot and killed a man who had been harassing him. In 1881, Masterson moved to Tombstone, Arizona, where he worked as a lawman and a gambler. He was involved in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, in which he fought alongside Wyatt Earp and his brothers against the Clanton and McLaury gang. After the gunfight, Masterson left Tombstone and moved to New York Ci...