Musings from Jay (blog site permanently frozen 11/05/2024 morning)

I looked at consciousness a bit and wrote 4 essays in my blog. But I did not really find the subject illuminating or thinking about it too fruitful, and it did not grab my interest as a subject worth further study on my part using methods I use.  Here are the 4 essays.  Consciousness 1: The neural correlates of consciousness (neurological perspective) (v1.0) Consciousness 2: Evolution and consciousness. (Evolutionary perspective) (v1.0) Consciousness 3: Who am "I"? (Psychological and Eastern philosophical perspectives) (v1.0) Consciousness 4: What is self-consciousness? (western philosophical perspective) (v1.0) What is the understanding I personally took away? I personally think that only you subjectively can know about your consciousness.  Deducing consciousness, say of a dog looking at a mirror and gauging its reaction to his image to make inferences about its consciousness is far less persuasive.  Is AI conscious? A google AI researcher was fire...

I spent a lot of time in the past understanding politics, govt, economics, finance, and international. Once I understood what I wanted to know, I dropped it. I think age 70 is a good time to let go of politics, economics, govt, finance and international if possible. They disturb your mind, and this is the age for calmer thoughts and endeavors. One should continue to observe these things but with much more detachment. No interest in discussing such topics with anyone going forward. These blogs are it on such topics. We are retired in Hawaii.   These days I am disconnected from the job market, stock market, bond market (a non-callable FDIC insured CD held to term behaves very differently than ordinary bonds), real estate/mortgage/loan market (your home is where you live possibly for life), and largely unaffected by interest rates until close to the end of the next president's term. Debt is 125% of GDP. A number of other countries are in worse shape, and they don’t have the uniqu...

ORGANIZATION AND FOCUS The emphasis of these essays is on making you understand the problem and recognize it is real and what you individually can do. In the first essay, I have put together practical and impactful concrete things you can do for climate change. The major thrust of the science of climate series is science showing the solid basis for the scientific result that is understandable, so you know climate change is real, and why I am writing about it. Hopefully this motivates you   to do the actions in the first essay and supporting set of essays. The last set of supporting essays are often from the web and are an analysis of the key sectors for greenhouse emissions, and things  you can do . One essay is on some consequences of climate change which might motivate you to take action. It ends with a rallying cry to explain the power of grassroots to motivate you to take action.  The essays are razor focused on climate change and does not attempt to cover the much...

  I have outlined many things you as an individual can do. All of these add up and gets multiplied across many people. However, when the grassroots support gets to a critical mass, wonderful things start happening in the political sphere, policy sphere, international sphere, and markets! Even if not organized in a formal movement, thousands of people making similar choices independently is electrifying!! In a democracy, politicians represent the people and are attuned to their needs and opinions. When the critical mass is reached, they listen and take action - even if hard to do so. Policies then flow. International agreements are expedited and reached  including with the lungs of the world countries to preserve forests . People accept policy decisions and agreements more readily even if not convenient for them.  Policies like renewable energies gain steam in states which were dragging their feet before. Policies like less emitting transport options in a city or community...

This subject is best written as a country specific essay.  I asked copilot this question:  The transport sector is a major consumer of fossil fuels.  28% of US greenhouse gas emissions are due to the transport sector.  The breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector in US in 2022 is:  Light-duty vehicles: 57%  Medium- and heavy-duty trucks: 23%  Aircraft: 9%  Other: 6%  Rail: 2%  Ships and boats: 3%   The US culture and lifestyles, city designs and population dispersal in cities, low prevalence of public transit systems, very limited rail options except primarily metros or light rail in a few cities, and vast spaces strongly favors using automobiles in most regions and this will not change. There are some high and mid-speed train corridors or new rail projects, but they are very few. The northeast is one of the few areas with a decent intercity rail market.  The outlook for hydr...