Yeah, i’m Back

Thanks to you thousands of folks who stopped by even though i didn’t post, but once all year. 2013 was a year for action and not much talk. I spent my time in the garden and various projects including building a Vortex Compost Tea Brewer. Got a video in the works on that subject.

By far the most interest over the year was for holographic subjects. Everybody wants it to boil down to one thing… it is a gravity/mass Universe, or it is an electric, magnetic, quantum, holographic, fractal, virtual, spritual or an information processing Universe. It is all of these things. You can’t stop with an Electric Universe. Sure it’s electric, but what are all those electrons doing? They are involved in a process, a quantum one that processes  matter as if it were pure information. It uses quantum fields that exhibit some of the same characteristics as holographic or coherent fields do in the lab. This is intelligence in the raw. This process makes intelligent choices at every level.

Consciousness, gravity and entropy are not things, but the result of a PROCESS!

Mo’ later,

jim

The Fractal Structure of Time

Time manifests as a fractal structure. The smallest unit of time is also the smallest unit of matter. Every atom has a frequency, a cyclic tone that represents one unit of time. Each cycle or unit of time takes input compares it to memory and outputs the result. This memory is not a static pattern, but is dynamic, vibrating in sync with the environmental variables. If the pattern of the input matches the pattern stored in memory, the field doesn’t react, it continues to vibrate normally, but if the input doesn’t match what is anticipated by memory, a perturbence is created in the field. Like a stone pitched in a pond, the waves spread out through the system, carrying information about the mismatch to all points. Not only is the location of the mismatch clearly stated by the arc of the wave, but the “shape” of the mismatch is carried by the shape of the wave. In this way, the whole keeps track of its units in real time.

What makes time a fractal is that this cycle of input, comparison and output is repeated throughout biological systems, regardless of scale or implementation. All cells, organs, creatures, social organizations and ecosystems, use this fundamental process to interact with their environment. The fundamental vibrations are in harmony from atoms all the way up to galaxies and beyond.

For those who want a more scientific explanation, The Fractal Topology of Time,

A dissertation defense by Kerri Welch at the California Institute of Integral Studies, Feb. 12, 2010.

The Straight Arrow of Time

Of course time isn’t a straight arrow. It is curved like space. It cycles, spins, orbits, loops and otherwise always comes back on itself. If you trace time backwards in memory, it loops back becoming almost indistinguishable from the future. Put all these cycles together and they grow like a fractal until the radius is so large it appears to be a straight line. Looking at time this way makes predicting the future relatively easy.

Stephan Wolfram: Computing a theory of everything

Stumbled on this today…

Could he and i be thinking along the same lines? I have a lot more to learn about his theories, but they ring true to the LifeOS model, so far.

Once we start to look at the Universe as a computational process, we can see some basic rules that are the same up and down the scale. Those simple rules process at the quantum level to a cosmic outcome.

Fractal Patterns of Behavior

For me writing is first and foremost a process for my own self improvement. It has always been the best therapy for dealing with my own life’s twists and turns. Writing things down stretches a moment of time out into something you can study. Over time, it allows us to notice repeating patterns in your own thinking and behavior.

The writing of a book about Life as a system, has forced me to think that way for the better part of a decade. That has been good for me. It has allowed me to see my own behavior as part of a larger pattern of species interaction. It is easier not to take events personally when we realize that they are but a tiny part of a larger fractal pattern. Everything we do is part of a larger pattern.

One of the advantages of being an old fart is that you can spot repeating patterns that are easy to miss the first time around. Just as important is to notice that their are no patterns that DON’T repeat. The world runs on repeated patterns. That’s easy to miss when you are young, and everything seems to be new and getting newer. It takes awhile to recognize that you are in the growth phase of your life and that it won’t always be that way. We all grow, mature, and eventually die. We are not alone, the whole system cycles through this basic sequence.

One of the patterns that becomes obvious, is the way new concepts, whether they be technological, biological or social, tend to clump, divide and bond during their evolution. The technological cycle has gotten shorter and shorter, making these patterns easier to spot. Take the invention of the automobile as a starting point. At first there were dozens of car makers. That list continued to grow until the more successful operations began to absorb the smaller ones. The numbers shrink until there are but a few manufacturers. They grow into inefficient behemoths, and begin to produce spin offs, that take advantage of their own growth cycle. Then there are newcomers that also benefit from the growth phase.

This same pattern repeats itself with every new invention or technological breakthrough. In biological systems we can see the same patterns repeat in populations, from single cells to human civilizations.

In the current growth phase of the transpersonal revolution, the movement is going through the same growth patterns as any industry. During the early growth phase, anyone can start up a new company, hang out a shingle and start to build an identity. Each new entry will have unique features that attract an audience. Each one is trying to build the best feature set, based on their view of what that entails. Nobody really knows what will be the best in the long run, but everyone that thinks they do, starts up another version.

I see this same pattern repeating in daily conversations, as well as the larger social movements. Specifically, the recent rift between Earth2.0 and The Venus Project, the ongoing discussion at evolver.net about defining that movement, and my own individual discussions. Nobody wants to dilute their vision of what the best feature/belief set will be. And so we have people being divided by minor detail differences, seeming to ignore that they are sharing a larger vision. It is like a competition to see who can be the most cooperative, that has gotten out of hand.

Don’t take it all tooo seriously. We are all in the same business. Don’t let our minor disagreements get in the way of the big picture. Sometimes it is just better to smile and nod your head, than to quibble over details. Don’t let today’ s disagreements become an obstacle to future cooperation.

cheers,
jim

What is Consciousness?

What is consciousness? That which observes fields of information, matter and energy, and calls them reality. Need it be more complex than that? Fields of information, matter and energy comprise our environment. Our consciousness interprets the environment and acts within it. We watch.

If that isn’t enough of a definition for you, there are more involved version to be found almost everywhere you look. Everyone wants to take a shot at it; we all have one. There is Consciousness Online, Center for Consciousness Studies(U of A), as well as dozens of universities, new age retreats and thousands of blogs that tag themselves as relating to the subject. The variety of descriptions reflects the difficulty of the enterprise. Every individual is describing a unique view of “reality”, that has been learned within a unique context. Every field of study has its own unique viewpoint, (piece of the elephant) that influences their observations. On top of that, each discipline develops a unique jargon to describe what they “see”. I call it the Tower of Babel approach. The more you read, the worse it gets; agreement on this subject is rare.

What this discussion really needs is a common denominator. The inquiry needs to be scaled to a level of functionality, where language and terminology can be used in common.

Rather than looking at consciousness from our human perspective, we need to look at how reality and consciousness relate to biological systems in general. Rather than concentrating on the complex internal details, let’s look at how the process functions at this higher level. At this level, the functionality of mobile species is simple: they move, eat, grow, expel waste and reproduce. We don’t care what goes on in their heads, just that they function within the environmental system they inhabit. However, we can note that the ability of an agent to be aware of its surroundings, is essential to three out the five functions. In its simplest form, awareness involves the processing of information. Here we can find some common ground.

The studies of complex systems, quantum mechanics, cybernetics, cellular biology, single celled organisms, chaos theory, fractals, holography, bioelectrics and information technologies share some common conceptual underpinnings. They are all explorations into information processing. There are many rules and laws that are consistent across these fields of study. They share common formulae for the construction of networks, for example.

The language developed by information technologies is known and understood across all languages, national and cultural boundaries. It was developed with functionality as it’s goal, and information processing and distribution it’s primary functions. Biological systems exhibit nearly identical patterns of functionality.

We find the same patterns of process in action in cells where DNA finds, copies and transfers genetic information. The universal rules and laws governing robust digital networks, outlined by Information Technologies offers the foundation for a common language to discuss consciousness, biological life and the material universe, as well.

The second common denominator is that consciousness, cellular activity, quantum mechanics, atomic structure are characterized by fields. Just as our consciousness is the result of waves of firing neurons(fields), matter is the result of waves of atomic particles interacting through fields of force(energy).

From plasma experiments, to growing tips of plants, to firing neurons, it is fields, processing information, that guide interactions. Consciousness is just such a field, processing input and directing actions. Looking at it in this light, all biological processes cycle through a phase of pure information, on the way to a phase of pure matter. Once it is seen as a fundamental function of biological systems, rather than an exclusive attribute of human evolution, consciousness reveals itself.

cheers,
jim

First Friday Fractals

Had the pleasure of attending the First Friday Fractal show at the Planetarium, at the NM Museum of Natural History and Science, in Albuquerque. Wow! Jonathon Wolfe puts on a fantastic show. I saw one of his presentation in a classroom setting. Although the logic was the same, the impact of flying thru fractals projected on the dome, is something else altogether. What a show! It got me thinking…

One of the amazing things about fractals is that they produce patterns that we can see in Nature. We can see that Nature is using a similar technique to produce patterns involving matter and energy. How does that happen? Does Nature have a formula written down somewhere? Let’s compare the two, looking for the common elements.

The computer generated fractal phenomenon is purely informational. A formula is processed, and the results reprocessed using the same formula. The repeating patterns are the result of processing information. There is no matter or energy represented, only pure information.

A computer is processing pure information, nothing but ones and zeros. In order to compare the two we can look at Natural process as also processing information. Instead of ones and zeros, the Natural system processes atoms and molecules. It manipulates them to produce its fractal patterns in real matter.

The point of LifeOS is that information processing is fundamental, to the interaction between matter and energy, as well as to life itself. Fractals show that, without a doubt, the model of life as an information process is valid. We can assume the rules that Nature follows to produce its fractals exist, somewhere. They are certainly not written down in a mathematical formula, but exist in some medium, that not only retains the same relationship between values as the formula, but adjusts variables and even formulas, to suit the situation.

As shown in the magnetic cactus experiment, it is the magnetic field that adjusts the appearance of spines in cacti. It is the magnetic field in the growing tip of the onion that plots its pattern for growth.

Although reductionists like to jump on fractals to point out how simple process, repeated over and over can produce complexity, the fact that these billions upon billions of simple steps are coordinated to produce a specific outcome, infers a higher control mechanism is at work.

Networks in complex systems grow in two ways… hierarchical and scale free. In biological systems, these two options are woven together into networks that display both characteristics. Organs develope elaborate internal networks that use both types to accomplish their role in a larger outcome. Organs are connected to their peers and the larger networks through external, primarily scale free, type links, but include hierarchical elements, as well.

The coordinating element on all of these interactions is electromagnetic energy, expressed through fields. It is these purely informational fields of energy, distinctly nonmaterial, that guide growth, whether it be in crystals, biological systems or galaxies.

First Friday Fractals

So, i guess this book isn’t finished, just yet.

cheers,
jim