Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Computational_Economics|Direct Thoughts|General Discussion|General Technology|Random_Thoughts

CEO_OKRs_2_CTO_Metrics

Table Courtesy Of Eric Partaker


Certainty = Clear goal × Defined timeframe × Focused execution

~ SMART Goal Framework

Hello, Oh Dear Readers! First, i hope everyone is safe. Second, I’m back at the keyboard and sippin’ on that Carolina Cold Brew (iced tea) while the Palmettos sway like they’re jammin’ to some Allman Brothers or Grateful Dead (aka noodle dance).

I came across the above image in a blog by Eric Partaker. Here is the link from the originating source: OKRs For CEOs .

Eric Partaker lays out 18 CEO KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to track as a successful company. As a developer-first CTO who’s attempted to wrangle the multi-headed hydra technical beasts at various huge as well as nascent startups, I’ve always seen tech as the engine room powering the whole ship. So, I’ve remapped these CEO metrics to CTO turf, zeroing in on how we track engineering velocity, system resilience, and innovation to drive those business outcomes.

The framework, if you will, is this:

CEO_Sets_North_Star_Company->CEO_OKRs->CEO_OKRs->CTO_KPIs->CTO_Metrics

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are a goal-setting framework focused on achieving ambitious, directional goals, while KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are specific metrics used to track progress and performance. Essentially, OKRs provide the “what” and “how” of achieving a desired outcome, while KPIs provide the “how much” to measure progress.  This is also affected by the type of company, for instance, it is extremely difficult if a company has say >90% tied to strict service contracts and staff augmentation to drive this type of behavior, as you are at the mercy of the deliverable and usually a capitated margin.

But here’s the real meat: tracking ain’t just about slapping numbers on a dashboard, it’s about disaggregating the chaos, like splitting LLMs across GPUs for low-latency wins. In a general sense, “disaggregating the chaos” (made-up term) refers to the process of taking a seemingly disordered or unpredictable situation, system, or dataset and breaking it down into its smaller, individual components or elements in order to understand its underlying structure and identify patterns or causes.  NOTE: These are more behavioral mappings and metrics and are an adjunct to your real performance of your systems, although I do mention uptime and the like within this context mapping. These will be adjunctive to your core engineering and coder metrics.

We’ll dive deep into tooling like Mixpanel for user-centric product flows (think behavioral analytics on steroids), prometheus for scraping those raw infrastructure metrics (exposing endpoints for time-series data), and grafana for visualizing it all in real-time dashboards that scream actionable insights. Add in all of your engineering metrics and you have “O11y” heaven! Or for some, the other place, because Oh Dear Reader, logging all the metrics leaves no stone unturned. Also, for those that perform R&D Capitalization (if you don’t, you should), this makes the entire process brain-dead even more so than it actually is in most cases.

i’ll weave in how we’d instrument each CTO metric across these prometheus for the low-level scrapes, mixpanel for event-driven user journeys, and grafana to glue it with alerts, panels, and SLO  Service Level Objectives queries. Imagine querying prometheus for uptime histograms, funneling mixpanel events for adoption funnels, then grafana-ing it into a unified view with annotations for incidents.

We’ll assume a Kubernetes-orchestrated setup here, ’cause scale’s everything, right? Let’s break it down, OKR,KPI and Metric, with that deeper tracking lens. NOTE: If you want a Cliff’s Notes version, i made a lovely short table. Doom Scroll Oh Dear Reader, to the end.

  1. Revenue Growth Rate → Time to Market / Development Cycle Time
    Look, faster launches mean capturing market waves before they crash—I’ve seen AI models go from lab to live in weeks, spiking revenue like a Black Sabbath riff. Track this with prometheus scraping CI/CD pipeline metrics (e.g., expose /metrics endpoints for build durations, deployment frequencies via kube-state-metrics), mixpanel logging feature release events tied to user cohorts (e.g., track ‘feature_deployed’ events with properties like cycle_time), and grafana dashboards plotting histograms of lead times with alerts if cycles exceed SLOs (query: histogram_quantile(0.95, sum(rate(cycle_time_seconds_bucket[5m])) by (le))). This setup lets you correlate dev velocity to revenue spikes, spotting bottlenecks in real-time.
  2. Gross Margin → Cloud Resource Utilization
    Overprovisioning clouds is like burning cash on a bonfire—optimize it, and margins soar. We measure utilization as (allocated resources / total capacity) * 100. Prometheus shines here, scraping node-exporter for CPU/memory usage (e.g., rate(container_cpu_usage_seconds_total[5m]) / machine_cpu_cores), while mixpanel could tag resource spikes to user actions (e.g., event ‘resource_spike’ on high-traffic features). Grafana visualizes it with heatmaps of utilization over time, overlaid with cost annotations from cloud APIsset up queries like avg_over_time(node_memory_MemAvailable_bytes[1h]) to flag waste, tying back to margin erosion.
  3. Net Profit Margin → Cost Per Defect
    Defects are silent profit killers; track ’em as total fix costs / defect count. Prometheus scrapes app-level metrics like error rates (e.g., sum(rate(errors_total[5m]))), mixpanel captures user-reported bugs via events (e.g., ‘defect_encountered’ with severity props), and grafana panels trend cost-per-defect with log-scale graphs (query: sum(defect_fix_cost) / count(defects_total)). i’ve used this in in past lives to slash rework by 40%, directly padding profits add SLO alerts for defect density thresholds.
  4. Operating Cash Flow → Technical Debt Reduction
    Tech debt’s like barnacles on your hull—slows cash gen. Measure reduction as (debt items resolved / total debt) over sprints. Prometheus monitors code health via sonarqube exporters (e.g., rate(tech_debt_score[1d])), mixpanel tracks debt impact on user flows (e.g., ‘legacy_feature_used’ events), grafana dashboards with pie charts of debt categories (query: sum(tech_debt_resolved) by (type)). Chain it with burn rate queries to see cash flow correlations—personal fave: annotate debt spikes with git commit data for root causes.
  5. Cash Runway → Release Burndown
    Burndown charts predict if you’ll flame out; track as remaining tasks / velocity. Prometheus scrapes jira-like tools for burndown metrics (custom exporter for story points), mixpanel logs release milestones as events (e.g., ‘sprint_burndown_update’), grafana burndown graphs with forecast lines (query: predict_linear(release_tasks_remaining[7d], 86400 * 30)). This extends runway by flagging delays early. Especially useful in distributed systems to keep AI/ML deploys on rails without blowing budgets.
  6. Customer Acquisition Cost → Feature Usage and Adoption Rate
    High adoption turns CAC into a bargain. Measure adoption as (active users / total users) post-feature. Mixpanel owns this with funnel analysis (e.g., events like ‘feature_viewed’ → ‘feature_engaged’), prometheus for backend load from adopters (rate(feature_requests_total[5m])), grafana cohorts panels (query: sum(mixpanel_adoption_rate) over_time[30d]). Tie it to CAC by overlaying acquisition channels—deep dive: use grafana’s prometheus mixin for alerting on adoption drops below 20%. Of course, one must have an initial CAC even to log this process. Many companies have an idea of how much CAC is for a given customer or even at all. This is an imortant number for top of the funnel enterprise value chain.
  7. Customer Lifetime Value → Uptime/Downtime Rate
    Uptime’s the glue for LTV—downtime kills loyalty. Track as (total time – downtime) / total time. Prometheus is king for scraping blackbox exporters (up{job="service"}), mixpanel events for user-impacted outages (e.g., ‘downtime_experienced’), grafana SLO burn rate dashboards (query: 1 - (sum(up[1m]) / count(up[1m]))). I’ve seen this boost LTV by 25% in healthcare APIs add heatmaps for downtime patterns correlated to churn events. In past lives i posted our up time every week twitter and linkedin. “six nines” in some cases. Customers loved it.
  8. LTV-to-CAC Ratio → Automated Test Coverage
    Coverage ensures quality without tanking LTV. Measure as (tested lines / total lines) * 100. Prometheus scrapes coverage tools like istanbul where: (rate(test_coverage_ratio[1d])), mixpanel for post-deploy stability events, grafana line graphs with thresholds (query: avg(test_coverage)). Balance ratio by alerting on coverage dips—pro tip: integrate with prometheus’ recording rules for LTV projections based on quality metrics.
  9. Net Revenue Retention → System Scalability Index
    Scalability prevents revenue leaks. Index as (peak load handled / baseline) with stress tests. Prometheus scales via node_load1 (helps you understand the overall workload on a node, indicating potential resource pressure) and horizontal_pod_autoscaler, mixpanel for user growth events, grafana capacity planning panels (query: sum(rate(requests_total[5m])) / max(capacity)). This preserves NRR by forecasting breaks used it in Watson to handle surges without churn.
  10. Churn Rate → MTTR (Mean Time to Recover)
    Quick MTTR curbs churn. Calculate as sum(recovery times) / incidents. Prometheus alerts on incident durations (histogram_quantile(0.5, rate(mttr_seconds_bucket[5m]))), mixpanel ‘recovery_noticed’ events, grafana incident timelines with annotations. Deep: Set up grafana’s prometheus datasource for MTTR trends tied to churn cohorts slashed churn 15% in past gigs.
  11. Avg. Revenue Per Account → Innovation Pipeline Strength
    Pipeline fuels ARPA via upsells. Strength as (ideas in pipeline / velocity). Mixpanel tracks idea-to-feature funnels, prometheus for R&D resource metrics, grafana kanban-style boards (query: count(innovation_items) by (stage)). Visualize pipeline health to predict ARPA lifts love the fractal-like patterns in innovation flows. You can predict in some cases three months out.
  12. Burn Multiple → Code Deployment Frequency
    Frequent deploys tame burn. Frequency as deploys/day. Prometheus scrapes gitops metrics (rate(deploys_total[1d])), mixpanel for deploy-impact events, grafana frequency histograms. Correlate to burn: query sum(burn_rate) / avg(deploy_freq) keeps multiples low while accelerating ARR.
  13. Sales Cycle Length → Average Response Time
    Snappy responses shorten cycles. ART as p95 latency. Prometheus http_request_duration_seconds, mixpanel ‘response_delayed’ events, grafana latency heatmaps (query: histogram_quantile(0.95, rate(http_duration_bucket[5m]))). Tie to sales funnels for cycle reductions—game-changer in demos.
  14. Employee Turnover Rate → Team Attrition Rate
    Direct mirror; track as (exits / headcount) quarterly. Mixpanel for engagement surveys (events like 'team_feedback'), prometheus for workload metrics (e.g., oncall_burden), grafana attrition trends with forecasts. Add cultural SLOs high attrition tanks everything, as i’ve learned the hard way.
  15. Net Promoter Score → Customer Satisfaction and Retention
    Tech usability drives NPS. Mixpanel NPS events with cohorts, prometheus for support ticket resolutions, grafana score evolutions (query: avg(nps_score[30d])). Deep cohorts: Filter by product features to predict retention.
  16. Days Sales Outstanding → Platform Compatibility Score
    Compatibility smooths collections. Score as (successful integrations / attempts). Mixpanel integration events, prometheus compatibility checks, grafana success rate panels. Reduces DSO by minimizing delays—query failure rates for alerts.
  17. Growth Efficiency Ratio → Security Incident Response Time
    Fast SIRT protects growth. Like MTTR but security-focused: sum(response times) / incidents. Prometheus security exporters (e.g., falco events), mixpanel breach-impact logs, grafana incident dashboards with SLIs. Ensures efficiency without contractions.
  18. EBITDA → Employee Turnover Rate (Tech Team Focus)
    Low tech turnover boosts earnings. Same as 14 but team-specific. Mixpanel for tech satisfaction pulses, prometheus productivity metrics, grafana turnover vs. output correlations. Impacts EBITDA via reduced knowledge loss set up queries like sum(turnover_cost) / ebitda.
  19. Revenue Per Employee (calculated as Total Revenue / Average Headcount) is the North Star. In a frontier company like the ones pushing AI boundaries, this metric isn’t just important; it’s the HOLY GRAIL AFAIC. It slices through the noise to show how efficiently your team’s crankin’ out VPH (value per headcount), spotlighting if your tech wizards are amplifying revenue or just burnin’ cycles on rabbit holes. In frontier land, where innovation’s the oxygen and scale’s the game, hit high numbers here (say, north of 500K per employee like at top AI firms), and you’re signaling hyper-efficiency, attractin’ talent and investors like moths to a flame. Low? You’re leaking potential, bogged down by silos or outdated stacks. Tracking deep-dive: Prometheus scrapes raw productivity signals such as: commits_per_engineer(rate(commits_total{team="engineering"}[1d]) / headcount_gauge), mixin’ in resource efficiency (e.g., avg(cpu_usage_per_pod) to flag idle time). Mixpanel nails the revenue tie-in with event flows (e.g., ‘feature_shipped’ → ‘user_adoption’ → ‘revenue_event’, cohorting by engineer contributions via props like engineer_id). Grafana orchestrates the symphony: Custom dashboards with EPI heatmaps (query: sum(revenue_attributable) / avg(tech_headcount[30d])), overlaid with prometheus histograms for output variance and mixpanel funnels for attribution paths. Set SLOs at 80% EPI (Error Percentage Indicator) threshold alert on dips, annotate with git blame for bottlenecks, and forecast trends with predict_linear for headcount scaling. In frontier mode, this setup’s your war room: It reveals if, for instance, that new LLM fine-tunes payin’ off per engineer-hour, ensurin’ every brain cell’s punchin’ above its weight!

Slotting this as #19 to the lineup ’cause why stop at 18 when the frontier calls for more? Keeps the engine humming!

Here it is in a lovely table for all you excel spreadheet folks:

#CEO KPICTO MetricExplanation
1Revenue Growth RateTime to Market / Development Cycle TimeFaster launches mean capturing market waves before they crash
2Gross MarginCloud Resource UtilizationOverprovisioning clouds is like burning cash on a bonfire optimize it, and margins soar.
3Net Profit MarginCost Per DefectDefects are silent profit killers; track ’em as total fix costs / defect count.
4Operating Cash FlowTechnical Debt ReductionTech debt’s like barnacles on your hull slows cash gen.
5Cash RunwayRelease BurndownBurndown charts predict if you’ll flame out; track as remaining tasks / velocity.
6Customer Acquisition CostFeature Usage and Adoption RateHigh adoption turns CAC into a bargain. Measure adoption as (active users / total users) post-feature.
7Customer Lifetime ValueUptime/Downtime RateUptime’s the glue for LTV; downtime kills loyalty. Track as (total time – downtime) / total time. I’ve seen this boost LTV by 25% in healthcare APIs
8LTV-to-CAC RatioAutomated Test CoverageCoverage ensures quality without tanking LTV. Measure as (tested lines / total lines) * 100. Pro tip: integrate with prometheus’ recording rules for LTV projections based on quality metrics.
9Net Revenue RetentionSystem Scalability IndexScalability prevents revenue leaks. Index as (peak load handled / baseline) with stress tests.
10Churn RateMTTR (Mean Time to Recover)Quick MTTR curbs churn. ProTip: Set up grafana’s prometheus datasource for MTTR trends tied to churn cohorts slashed churn 15% in past gigs.
11Avg. Revenue Per AccountInnovation Pipeline StrengthPipeline fuels ARPA via upsells. Strength as (ideas in pipeline / velocity).
12Burn MultipleCode Deployment FrequencyFrequent deploys tame burn. Frequency as deploys/day.
13Sales Cycle LengthAverage Response TimeSnappy responses shorten cycles. ART as p95 latency. Tie to sales funnels for cycle reductions game changer in demos.
14Employee Turnover RateTeam Attrition RateDirect mirror; track as (exits / headcount) quarterly. Add cultural SLOs high attrition tanks everything, as I’ve learned the hard way.
15Net Promoter ScoreCustomer Satisfaction and RetentionTech usability drives NPS. Deep cohorts: Filter by product features to predict retention.
16Days Sales OutstandingPlatform Compatibility ScoreCompatibility smooths collections.
17Growth Efficiency RatioSecurity Incident Response TimeFast SIRT protects growth. Like MTTR but security-focused: sum(response times) / incidents.
18EBITDAEmployee Turnover Rate (Tech Team Focus)Low tech turnover boosts earnings. Same as 14 but team-specific.
19Revenue Per EmployeeEngineer Productivity Index (EPI)Revenue Per Employee (calculated as Total Revenue / Average Headcount) is the North Star. In a frontier company like the ones pushin’ AI boundaries, this metric ain’t just important; it’s the holy grail. Hit high numbers here (say, north of $500K per employee like at top AI firms),

Table 1.0 Easy Explanations and Mappings

Whew, that’s the full rundown feels like paddling through a fractal wave, but with these tools, you’re not just tracking; you’re orchestrating a symphony of data!

Until Then,

#iwishyouwater <- Koa Rothman At Teachpoo Largest in 15 years. They Got The Memo.

Ted ℂ. Tanner Jr. (@tctjr) / X

Muzak To Blog By Devo “Duty Now For the Future” and “Q: Are We Not Men?” They were amazing in concert. Lyrics are so cogent for today

Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Artificial_Intelligence|Complexity_Theory|Direct Thoughts|Distributed_Computing|Mathematics|Random_Thoughts

A Survey of Technical Approaches For Distributed AI In Sensor Networks

Grok4’s Idea of AI and Sensor Orchestraton with DAI

Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI) within sensor networks (SN) involves deploying AI algorithms and models across a network of spatially distributed sensor nodes rather than relying solely on centralized cloud processing. This paradigm shifts computation closer to the data source, bringing the data to the compute, offering potential benefits in terms of reduced communication latency, lower bandwidth usage, enhanced privacy, increased system resilience, and improved scalability for large-scale IoT and pervasive computing deployments. The operational complexity of such systems necessitates sophisticated orchestration mechanisms to manage the distributed AI workloads, sensor resources, and heterogeneous compute infrastructure spanning from edge devices to cloud data centers.  This article will survey methods for distributed smart sensor technologies, along with considerations for implementing AI algorithms at these junctions.

Implementing AI functions in a distributed sensor network setting often involves adapting centralized algorithms or devising novel distributed methods. Key technical areas include distributed estimation, detection, and learning.

Distributed Sensor Anomaly Detection

Distributed estimation problems, such as static parameter estimation or Kalman filtering, can be addressed using consensus-based approaches. Algorithms of the “consensus + innovations” type, where one can have an estimation of the type and behavior of the sensor.  The paper “Distributed Parameter Estimation in Sensor Networks: Nonlinear Observation Models and Imperfect Communication” discusses these algorithms, which enable sensor nodes to iteratively update estimates by combining local observations (innovations) with information exchanged with neighbors (consensus). These methods enable asymptotically unbiased and efficient estimation, even in the presence of nonlinear observation models and imperfect communication. Extensions include randomized consensus for Kalman filtering, which offers robustness to network topology changes and distributes the computational load stochastically which are covered in the paper “Randomized Consensus based Distributed Kalman Filtering over Wireless Sensor Networks”. For multi-target tracking or target under consideration, distributed approaches integrate sensor registration with tracking filters, such as deploying a consensus cardinality probability hypothesis density (CPHD) filter across the network and minimizing a cost function based on local posteriors to estimate relative sensor poses in the paper “Distributed Joint Sensor Registration and Multitarget Tracking Via Sensor Network”.

Distributed detection focuses on identifying events or anomalies based on collective sensor readings. Techniques leveraging sparse signal recovery have been applied to detect defective sensors in networks with a small number of faulty nodes, using distributed iterative hard thresholding (IHT) and low-complexity decoding robust to noisy messages in these two papers “Distributed Sparse Signal Recovery For Sensor Networks” and “Distributed Sensor Failure Detection In Sensor Networks” cover methods for failure recovery and self healing.

In another closely related application for anomaly detection of sensors learning-based distributed procedures, like the mixed detection-estimation (MDE) algorithm, address scenarios with unknown sensor defects by iteratively learning the validity of local observations while refining parameter estimates, achieving performance close to ideal centralized estimators in high SNR regimes can be found in this paper “Learning-Based Distributed Detection-Estimation in Sensor Networks with Unknown Sensor Defects”.

Distributed learning enables sensor nodes or edge devices to collaboratively train models without requiring the sharing of raw data. This is crucial for maintaining privacy and conserving bandwidth, or where privacy-preserving machine learning (PPML) is necessary. Approaches include distributed dictionary learning using diffusion cooperation schemes, where nodes exchange local dictionaries with neighbors, are applied in this paper “Distributed Dictionary Learning Over A Sensor Network”

In many cases, one has no a priori information for the type of sensor under consideration.  For online sensor selection with unknown utility functions, distributed online greedy (DOG) algorithms provide no-regret guarantees for submodular utility functions with minimal communication overhead. Federated Learning (FL) and other distributed Machine Learning (ML) paradigms are increasingly applied for tasks like anomaly detection.  In the paper “ Online Distributed Sensor Selection,” we find that a key problem in sensor networks is to decide which sensors to query when, in order to obtain the most useful information (e.g., for performing accurate prediction), subject to constraints (e.g., on power and bandwidth). In many applications, the utility function is not known a priori, must be learned from data, and can even change over time. Furthermore, for large sensor networks, solving a centralized optimization problem to select sensors is not feasible, and thus we seek a fully distributed solution. In most cases, training on raw data occurs locally, and model updates or parameters are aggregated globally, often at an edge server or fusion center.

Sensor activation and selection are also critical aspects. Forward-thinking algorithms in energy-efficient distributed sensor activation based on predicted target locations using computational intelligence can significantly reduce energy consumption and the number of active nodes required for target tracking such as the paper IDSA: Intelligent Distributed Sensor Activation Algorithm For Target Tracking With Wireless Sensor Network.

Context-aware like those that are emerging with Large Language Models, can collaborate with intelligence and in-sensor analytics (ISA) on resource-constrained nodes, dramatically reducing communication energy compared to transmitting raw data, extending network lifetime while preserving essential information 

Context-Aware Collaborative-Intelligence with Spatio-Temporal In-Sensor-Analytics in a Large-Area IoT Testbed introduces a context-aware collaborative-intelligence approach that incorporates spatio-temporal in-sensor analytics (ISA) to reduce communication energy in resource-constrained IoT nodes. This approach is particularly relevant given that energy-efficient communication remains a primary bottleneck in achieving fully energy-autonomous IoT nodes, despite advancements in reducing the energy cost of computation. The research explores the trade-offs between communication and computation energies in a mesh network deployed across a large-scale university campus, targeting multi-sensor measurements for smart agriculture (temperature, humidity, and water nitrate concentration).

The paper considers several scenarios involving ISA, Collaborative Intelligence (CI), and Context-Aware-Switching (CAS) of the cluster-head during CI. A real-time co-optimization algorithm is developed to minimize energy consumption and maximize the battery lifetime of individual nodes. The results show that ISA consumes significantly less energy compared to traditional communication methods: approximately 467 times lower than Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and 69,500 times lower than Long Range (LoRa) communication. When ISA is used in conjunction with LoRa, the node lifetime increases dramatically from 4.3 hours to 66.6 days using a 230 mAh coin cell battery, while preserving over 98% of the total information. Furthermore, CI and CAS algorithms extend the worst-case node lifetime by an additional 50%, achieving an overall network lifetime of approximately 104 days, which is over 90% of the theoretical limits imposed by leakage currents.

Orchestration of Distributed AI and Sensor Resources

Orchestration in the context of distributed AI and sensor networks involves the automated deployment, configuration, management, and coordination of applications, dataflows, and computational resources across a heterogeneous computing continuum, typically spanning sensors, edge devices, fog nodes, and the cloud.  The paper Orchestration in the Cloud-to-Things Compute Continuum: Taxonomy, Survey and Future Directions.  This is essential for supporting complex, dynamic, and resource-intensive AI workloads in pervasive environments.

Traditional orchestration systems designed for centralized cloud environments are often ill-suited for the dynamic and resource-constrained nature of edge/fog computing and sensor networks. Requirements for continuum orchestration include support for diverse data models (streams, micro-batches), interfacing with various runtime engines (e.g., TensorFlow), managing application lifecycles (including container-based deployment), resource scheduling, and dynamic task migration.

Container orchestration tools, widely used in cloud environments, are being adapted for edge and fog computing to manage distributed containerized applications. However, deploying heavy-weight orchestrators on resource-limited edge/fog nodes presents challenges. Lightweight container orchestration solutions, such as clusters based on K3s, are proposed to support hybrid environments comprising heterogeneous edge, fog, and cloud nodes, offering improved response times for real-time IoT applications.  The paper Container Orchestration in Edge and Fog Computing Environments for Real-Time IoT Applications proposes a feasible approach to build a hybrid and lightweight cluster based on K3s, a certified Kubernetes distribution for constrained environments that offers containerized resource management framework. This work addresses the challenge of creating lightweight computing clusters in hybrid computing environments. It also proposes three design patterns for the deployment of the “FogBus2” framework in hybrid environments, including 1) Host Network, 2) Proxy Server, and 3) Environment Variable.

Machine learning algorithms are increasingly integrated into container orchestration systems to improve resource provisioning decisions based on predicted workload behavior and environmental conditions where it is mentioned in the paper ECHO: An Adaptive Orchestration Platform for Hybrid Dataflows across Cloud and Edge with an open source model.

Platforms like ECHO are designed to orchestrate hybrid dataflows across distributed cloud and edge resources, enabling applications such as video analytics and sensor stream processing on diverse hardware platforms.  Other frameworks such as the paper DAG-based Task Orchestration for Edge Computing, focus on orchestrating application tasks with dependencies (represented as Directed Acyclic Graphs, or DAGs) on heterogeneous edge devices, including personally owned, unmanaged devices, to minimize end-to-end latency and reduce failure probability.  Of note, this is also closely aligned with implementations of MFLow and Airflow, which implement a DAG.  

Autonomic orchestration aims to create self-managing distributed systems. This involves using AI, particularly edge AI, to enable local autonomy and intelligence in resource orchestration across the device-edge-cloud continuum as discussed in Autonomy and Intelligence in the Computing Continuum: Challenges, Enablers, and Future Directions for Orchestration.  For instance, in A Self-Managed Architecture for Sensor Networks Based on Real Time Data Analysis introduces a self-managed sensor network platforms that can use real-time data analysis to dynamically adjust network operations and optimize resource usage. AI-enabled traffic orchestration in future networks (e.g., 6G) utilizes technologies like digital twins to provide smart resource management and intelligent service provisioning for complex services like ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) and distributed AI workflows. There is an underlying interplay between Distributed AI Workflow and URLLC, which has manifold design considerations throughout any network topology.

Novel paradigms such as the paper How Can AI be Distributed in the Computing Continuum? Introducing the Neural Pub/Sub Paradigm are emerging to address the specific challenges of orchestrating large-scale distributed AI workflows. The neural publish/subscribe paradigm proposes a decentralized approach to managing AI training, fine-tuning, and inference workflows in the computing continuum, aiming to overcome limitations of traditional centralized brokers in handling the massive data surge from connected devices.  This paradigm facilitates distributed computation, dynamic resource allocation, and system resilience. Similarly, concepts like Airborne Neural Networks envision distributing neural network computations across multiple airborne devices, coordinated by airborne controllers, for real-time learning and inference in aerospace applications found in the paper Airborne Neural Network.  This paper proposes a novel concept: the Airborne Neural Network a distributed architecture where multiple airborne devices, each host a subset of neural network neurons. These devices compute collaboratively, guided by an airborne network controller and layer-specific controllers, enabling real-time learning and inference during flight. This approach has the potential to revolutionize Aerospace applications, including airborne air traffic control, real-time weather and geographical predictions, and dynamic geospatial data processing.

The intersection of distributed AI and sensor orchestration is also evident in specific applications like multi-robot systems for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), where decentralized coordination algorithms enable simultaneous exploration and exploitation in unknown environments using heterogeneous robot teams such as Decentralised Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance in Unknown Environments with Heterogeneous Multi-Robot Systems, In the paper  Coordination of Drones at Scale: Decentralized Energy-aware Swarm Intelligence for Spatio-temporal Sensing it is introduced a solution to tackle the complex task self-assignment problem, a decentralized and energy-aware coordination of drones at scale is introduced. Autonomous drones share information and allocate tasks cooperatively to meet complex sensing requirements while respecting battery constraints. Furthermore, the decentralized coordination method prevents single points of failure, it is more resilient, and preserves the autonomy of drones to choose how they navigate and sense.  In the paper HiveMind: A Scalable and Serverless Coordination Control Platform for UAV Swarms, a centralized coordination control platform for IoT swarms is introduced that is both scalable and performant. HiveMind leverages a centralized cluster for all resource-intensive computation, deferring lightweight and time-critical operations, such as obstacle avoidance, to the edge devices to reduce network traffic. Resource orchestration for network slicing scenarios can employ distributed reinforcement learning (DRL) where multiple agents cooperate to dynamically allocate network resources based on slice requirements, demonstrating adaptability without extensive retraining found in the paper Using Distributed Reinforcement Learning for Resource Orchestration in a Network Slicing Scenario.

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Challenges and Implementation Considerations

Implementing distributed AI and sensor orchestration presents numerous challenges:

Communication Constraints: The limited bandwidth, intermittent connectivity, and energy costs associated with wireless communication in sensor networks necessitate communication-efficient algorithms and data compression techniques. Distributed learning algorithms often focus on minimizing the number of communication rounds or the size of exchanged messages as discussed in Pervasive AI for IoT applications: A Survey on Resource-efficient Distributed Artificial Intelligence.

Computational Heterogeneity: Sensor nodes, edge devices, and cloud servers possess vastly different computational capabilities. Orchestration systems must effectively map AI tasks to appropriate resources, potentially offloading intensive computations to the edge or cloud while performing lightweight inference or pre-processing on resource-constrained nodes as found in Pervasive AI for IoT applications: A Survey on Resource-efficient Distributed Artificial Intelligence and further discussed a problems in Autonomy and Intelligence in the Computing Continuum: Challenges, Enablers, and Future Directions for Orchestration.

Resource Management: Dynamic allocation and optimization of compute, memory, storage, and network resources are critical for performance and efficiency, especially with fluctuating workloads and device availability in the paper Container Orchestration in Edge and Fog Computing Environments for Real-Time IoT Applications To orchestrate a multitude of containers, several orchestration tools are developed. But, many of these orchestration tools are heavy-weight and have a high overhead, especially for resource-limited Edge/Fog nodes

Fault Tolerance and Resilience: In A Distributed Architecture for Edge Service Orchestration with Guarantees  it is discussed how istributed systems are prone to node failures, communication link disruptions, and dynamic changes in network topology affect global convergence. Algorithms and orchestration platforms must be designed to handle such uncertainties and ensure system availability and reliability.

Security and Privacy: Distributing data processing raises concerns about data privacy and model security. Federated learning and privacy-preserving techniques are essential for distributed AI systems. Orchestration platforms must incorporate robust security mechanisms whic hwe can find discussed herewith Trustworthy Distributed AI Systems: Robustness, Privacy, and Governance.

Interoperability and Standardization: The heterogeneity of devices, platforms, and protocols in IoT and edge environments complicates seamless integration and orchestration. Efforts towards standardization and flexible, technology-agnostic frameworks are necessary as discussed in Towards autonomic orchestration of machine learning pipelines in future networks and Intelligence Stratum for IoT. Architecture Requirements and Functions.

Real-time Processing: Many sensor network applications, particularly in industrial IoT or autonomous systems, require low-latency decision-making. Orchestration must prioritize and schedule real-time tasks effectively as discussed in Container Orchestration in Edge and Fog Computing Environments for Real-Time IoT Applications.

Managing Data Velocity and Volume: High-frequency sensor data streams generate massive data volumes. In-network processing, data reduction, and efficient dataflow management are crucial Pervasive AI for IoT applications: A Survey on Resource-efficient Distributed Artificial Intelligence

Limitations of 3rd party Development:

In the survey of papers, there was no direct mention or reference to the ability for developers to take a platform and build upon it, except for the ECHO platform, which was due to the first principles of being an open-source project.   

Architecture, Algorithms and Pseudocode

Architecture diagrams typically depict layers: a sensor layer, an edge/fog layer, and a cloud layer. Orchestration logic spans these layers, managing data ingestion, AI model distribution and execution (inference, potentially distributed training), resource monitoring, and task scheduling. Middleware components facilitate communication, data routing, and state management across the distributed infrastructure.

Mathematically, we find common themes in the papers for AI and Sensor Orchestrations, wherethe weight matrix can be the sensors:

Initialize the local estimate x_i(0) for each sensor i = 1, 2, \dots, N.

Initialize the consensus weight matrix W = [W_{ij}] based on the network topology, where W_{ij} > 0 if j \in \mathcal{N}_i \cup \{i\} (neighbors including itself), and W_{ij} = 0 otherwise, with \sum_j W_{ij} = 1 for row-stochasticity.

For each iteration k = 0, 1, \dots, K (up to maximum iterations):

Evolve step:

y_i(k) = h_i(x_i(k)) + \nu_i(k) (local observation measurement, where h_i is the observation model and \nu_i(k) is noise).

v_i(k) = f_i(y_i(k), x_i(k)) (local model update, e.g., Kalman or prediction step).

Consensus step: Exchange v_i(k) with neighbors \mathcal{N}_i.

Update local estimate:

x_i(k+1) = \sum_{j \in \mathcal{N}_i \cup \{i\}} W_{ij} v_j(k).

Pseudocode for a simple distributed estimation algorithm using consensus might look like this:


Initialize local estimate x_i(0) for each sensor i
Initialize consensus weight matrix W based on network topology

For k = 0 to MaxIterations:
  // Innovation step
  y_i(k) = MeasureLocalObservation(sensor_i)
  v_i(k) = ProcessObservationWithLocalModel(y_i(k), x_i(k)) // Local model update

  // Consensus step (exchange with neighbors)
  Send v_i(k) to neighbors Ni
  Receive v_j(k) from neighbors j in Ni

  // Update local estimate
  x_i(k+1) = sum_{j in Ni U {i}} (W_ij * v_j(k))

Conclusion

The convergence of distributed AI and sensor orchestration is a critical enabler for advanced pervasive systems and the computing continuum. While significant progress has been made in developing distributed algorithms for sensing tasks and orchestration frameworks for heterogeneous environments, challenges related to resource constraints, scalability, resilience, security, and interoperability remain active areas of research and development. Future directions include further integration of autonomous and intelligent orchestration capabilities, development of lightweight and dynamic orchestration platforms, and the exploration of novel distributed computing paradigms to fully realize the potential of deploying AI at scale within sensor networks and across the edge-to-cloud continuum.

Until Then,

#iwishyouwater

Ted ℂ. Tanner Jr. (@tctjr) / X

MUZAK TO BLOG BY: i listened to several tracks during authoring this piece but i was reminded how incredible the Black Eyes Peas are musically and creatively – WOW. Pump IT! Shreds. i’d like to meet will.i.am

Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Computing_History|Direct Thoughts|General Discussion|Random_Thoughts

Being Legit: On Impostor Syndrome, Impossible Tech, and the Myth of the Obvious

You hearing from Others as You are Building The Next Thing

You’re not legit until they say it’s magic and then call it obvious.

~ Modfication from  Isaac Asimov

First, Dear Reader, I trust everyone is safe. Second, this is a complete stream of thought blog on something that came up recently, where I was being asked how to deal with folks who said stuff can’t be done or haven’t seen something before. NOTE: Innovation and technology, by definition, should have a newness daily.

There’s a strange gravitational force that pulls on anyone trying to build something genuinely new a kind of cultural inertia that resists what hasn’t been seen before. We celebrate innovation in theory, but in practice? Most people discount it. Or worse — discount you.

This post is for the builders, the systems thinkers, the ones carrying the weight of complexity in silence. If you’ve ever heard, “I’ve never seen that before” delivered as an indictment rather than an invitation, read on.

The Myth of the Obvious

Once something works, clunks over, does the thing, once the architecture is stable, the performance is proven, and the interfaces are tight, much like the music of Black Sabbath, Parliament, or Frank Zappa, it’s human nature to simplify the original story retroactively. i call that ‘Its Just…”.

Oh yeah, that’s just container orchestration with some edge inference.

Sure, everyone knows you can zero-trust mesh across multi-domain enclaves now.

Except they didn’t. You showed them.

The hard part is that while you’re bleeding edge in development, the very newness of your work triggers skepticism. Worse, it triggers ego defense. People hear about your idea and subconsciously ask themselves:

If this is real, why didn’t I do it?

If this works, what does that say about what I’ve believed for the last decade?

The safer path? Deny its feasibility.

I’ve been doing this for years — it can’t be done.

And now you’re not just fighting entropy, architecture, and economics.

You’re fighting perception and belief systems.

The Psychological Tax of “Firsts”

Let’s talk about what that feels like.

You’re already navigating unknowns — choosing between imperfect APIs, reasoning through abstract architectures, testing on hardware that’s half-supported. And then someone, often well-meaning, drops this on you.

“If that were possible, someone would’ve already done it.”

“Never seen that work before.”

“Be careful — that’s not how we’ve ever done it.”

What they don’t understand is that you’re already careful. You’ve been awake at 2AM trying to thread DMA logic into a GPU queue while your KV cache is screaming and you are dodging kernel panics.

You’re not naive. Uncharted territory. Stack Overflow or ChatGPT ain’t got the info or vibe.

This is where impostor syndrome creeps in. You start internalizing external disbelief as internal deficiency. You begin to wonder if you’re wrong. But the truth is: most people don’t have a frame of reference for originality.

They mistake unfamiliarity for impossibility. They also say they attempted that or thought about that…

And that’s a trap.

He was turned to steel in the great magnetic field,
When he traveled time for the future of mankind.
Nobody wants him he just stares at the world.

~ Iron Man, Black Sabbath

The Steve Jobs / Magic Mouse Lesson

By example, a story from Apple, one of those moments where the stakes were high and the illusion of impossibility cracked wide open.

During the development of the first Magic Mouse, Steve Jobs had a vision: a mouse with no physical buttons or scroll wheels, just a smooth touch-sensitive surface. When he explained this to the initial lead engineer, the engineer pushed back.

“It can’t be done.”

“The technology doesn’t exist.”

“There are too many trade-offs in latency, power, and user experience.”

So Jobs fired him the next day.

Brutal? Maybe. But here’s the kicker.

When Jobs interviewed the next engineer, he described the same exact vision. This engineer listened, paused, and said:

“Yeah. I think I can make that work.”

That second engineer didn’t have all the answers. What they had was permission to believe it was worth trying. That’s all Jobs needed.

Now we swipe and tap our input devices without a second thought as if it was always obvious.

Don’t Wait to Be Called Legit

The hard truth: You may never get validation at the time you most need it.

People will discount what they haven’t seen. They’ll tell you it can’t be done, not because they know, but because they’ve never tried. They’ll leverage tenure as a proxy for truth. And when does it work? They’ll rewrite history to make your risk look obvious.

That’s the price of being first. But it’s also a privilege.

Man say cannot be done should not interrupt man doing.

~ Old Confucious Proverb

Practical Reminders for Builders in the Arena

If you’re building the kind of tech that doesn’t fit into slideware yet, here are three things to remember:

  • “I’ve never seen that” is not evidence it’s an opportunity. Let it sharpen your clarity, not blunt your will.
  • Respect experience, but don’t let it define the boundary of the possible. Some of the most entrenched minds are blind to new methods. That doesn’t make them enemies. It just makes them witnesses to the past.
  • The difference between “impossible” and “done” is someone deciding to try. If you have the skills, the team, and the drive, be that someone.

Final Thoughts: You’re More Legit Than You Think

The great irony of technological progress is that the more transformational the idea, the lonelier the early days. But the moment you stop building for recognition, and start building with rigor that’s when it shifts.

Not all legends are visible in real time. Some just look like people in hoodies ( or pajamas) at 1AM, squinting at kernel or prometheus logs, or creating those feature design documents..

So here’s to the Overclocked Misfits, Entropy Engineers, Code Renegades, and Full Stack Walkers, if you’re out there building what they say is impossible, then keep doing this: git push REMOTE-NAME BRANCH-NAME-With IMPOSSIBLE-CODE

You’re probably on to something.

Until then,

Ted ℂ. Tanner Jr. (@tctjr) / X

#iwishyouwater <- Monterey bay jellyfish cam doesn’t do it justice. you get a chance to go to the aquarium its insane.

Muzak To Blog By: “Memoir of a SparkleMuffin” by Suki Waterhouse – very lana del rey. love the title.

Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Complete Stupidity|Direct Thoughts|General Discussion|Out In The Fringe|Thoughts_On_TIme

What Is Your Eulogy? (Memento Mori – Memento Vivre)

Dalle’s Idea of a Crypt Monument

One life on this earth is all that we get, whether it is enough or not enough, and the obvious conclusion would seem to be that at the very least we are fools if we do not live it as fully and bravely and beautifully as we can.

Frederick Buechner

First, as always, i trust everyone is safe. Second, i trust everyone had an amazing holiday with your family and friends hopefully did something “screen-free”. It is the start of a new year.

i am changing gears just a little and writing on a subject that, at first blush, might appear morose, yet it is not. in fact quite the opposite.

What Is Your Eulogy?

Yep i went THERE. (Ever notice that once you arrive, you are there and think about somewhere else?)

If you go to my About page, you will see that I set this site up mainly to be a memory machine for me and a digital reference for My Family and Friends in addition, if along the way, i entertain someone on the WorldWideWait(tm) all the better. A reference for a future memory if you will.

I am taking complete editorial advantage of paying the AWS bill every month, and there is a “.org” at the end of the site name denoting a not-for-profit site supposedly like a religion. i can say what i want, i suppose—well, still within reason nowadays. Free Speech, They Said… Yet, I digress.

I will persist until I succeed.

I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep. I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

I will persist until I succeed.

~ OG Mandino

For context, this subject matter was initiated on the conflagration of several disparate events:

  1. i introduced one of my progeny to Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, K. 626, aka Lacrimosa. We discussed the word Requiem, and then she immediately informed me that Lacrimosa means Sorrow in Latin and in the key of D minor. Wow, thank you, i said. (maybe something is sticking…)
  2. An old friend whom I hadn’t seen in years passed away the day after I emailed him I contacted him to discuss some audio subject material that I enjoyed speaking with him about in detail. Alas, another cancer victim.
  3. i took a class put on by Mathew McConaughey and Tony Robbins called “The Art of Living” and the book The Greatest Salesman by OG Madino was featured in class.
  4. i took yet another class from the amazing Flow Research Collective Group. You can read a review here.
  5. Since I started this piece, even more humans who are dear to me have passed or received extremely dire news.
  6. i just wanted to scribe these thoughts in order to “remind me to remember”.

Life Should be One Great Adventure or Nothing.

Helen Keller

So here we go… it is tl;dr fo’ sho’.

In one of the aforementioned classes, the subject matter was the title of this blog. I originally had planned to calll this blog “Do Not Be Awed Into Submission,” where most people nowadays are “awed” by TikTok,Instagram or YouTube videos of people doing stuff and keep themselves from truly creating and DOING stuff in their own lives. They just sit and watch sports, listen to podcasts and “consume” without using that information to create. It seems to me, at least, that most people nowadays spectate instead of create or participate.

Yet i started reflecting on the subject matter as this blog has been in draft form for over a year. Another year passed, another amazing birthday (afaic the most important holiday), and here we are, a New Year into 2025.

So given all that context and background:

What do i want to be known for when Ye Ole #EndOTimes is forthcoming? (Note: for those word freaks out there, it is called Eschatology from Greek (who else?) ἔσχατος (éskhatos).

This is the CENTRAL SCRUTINIZER
Joe has just worked himself into an imaginary frenzy during the fade-out of his imaginary song,
He begins to feel depressed now. He knows the end is near. He has realized
at last that imaginary guitar notes and imaginary vocals exist only in the mind
of the imaginer.
And ultimately, who gives a f**k anyway? HAHAHAHA!…Excuse me…so who gives a f**k anyway? So he goes back to his ugly little room and quietly dreams his last imaginary guitar solo…

~ Frank Zappa From Watermelon In Easter Hey

i believe at this point, at the end of this thing called life, pretty much for me, are the following attributes that i want to be known for as best as possible i can be:

  • Honor and Integrity
  • Brutal Honesty
  • Living Life Loud
  • Improving Oneself Daily (mentally, physically, emotionally)
  • Loving (and Hating)
  • Quality Over Quantity
  • Maintaining a sheer sense of wonder and awe for Life

If you note, most of these items are items i can control or affect. You say well, what about being a good friend, spouse, parent? Well, to the best of your ability, you can try to be the best at those, but ultimately, someone else is judging YOU. In fact, we are always judged, and in fact, I will say that most people judge – consciously or subconsciously, ergo, Judge as Ye Be Judged.

As well as, and i hope duly noted, some of those items are controversial. Oh Dear Reader, this wont be the first time i have been associated with controversial.

You have enemies? Why, it is the story of every man who has done a great deed or created a new idea. It is the cloud which thunders around everything that shines. Fame must have enemies, as light must have gnats. Do not bother yourself about it; disdain. Keep your mind serene as you keep your life clear.

~ Victor Hugo

To the best of my ability, I will attempt to provide definitions and context for the above attributes. One additional context is that these are couched in “individualistic” references, not societal norms, overlays or programming.

  1. Honor and Integrity

Honor and integrity are ethical concepts that are often intertwined but have distinct meanings:

Honor

Honor refers to high respect and esteem, often tied to one’s actions, character, and adherence to a code of conduct. It is about upholding a personal set of values considered virtuous and deserving of respect and maintaining one’s reputation and dignity through ethical behavior and moral decision-making.

Integrity

Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. It involves consistently adhering to ethical standards and being truthful, fair, and just in all situations. Key aspects of integrity include being truthful and transparent in one’s actions and communications and acting according to one’s values and principles even when it is challenging, inconvenient, or, in many cases, seemingly impossible.

Essentially, it is standing up for “what is right” (as one views in and unto oneself), even within and to the point of adversity or personal loss.

What is good? – All that heightens the feelings of power, the will to power, power itself in man. What is bad? – All that proceeds from weakness. What is happiness? – The feeling that power increases – that a resistance is overcome.

~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Honor and integrity form the foundation of a trustworthy and respected character. Honor emphasizes the external recognition of one’s ethical behavior, while integrity focuses on the internal adherence to moral principles. Your moral compass is extremely individualistic. In full transparency given that i believe there is no original sin some have questioned how in the world can i have such moral character. Literally, someone said to me: “Given how you view things, how do you have such high morals compared to everyone else.” (NOTE: This question came from a very religious, devout, wonderful person i love.).

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.

~ Andre Gide

Brutal Honesty

Brutal honesty refers to being extremely direct and unfiltered in communication, often to the point of being blunt or harsh. This form of honesty prioritizes telling the truth without considering the potential impact on the feelings or reactions of others. It sorta kinda exactly goes hand in hand with Integrity which in turn connects to Honor.

Key aspects of brutal honesty include:

Directness: Providing straightforward and unvarnished truth without sugarcoating or softening the message.

Bluntness: Being frank (or Ted) and candid, even if the truth may be uncomfortable or hurtful.

There isn’t a coffee table book entitled “Mediocore Humans In History”

~ C.T.T.

So why try to toe the Brutal Honesty Line?

Clarity: It can eliminate misunderstandings and provide a clear and unambiguous message. Also, it lets people know where you stand.

Trust: Some people appreciate brutal honesty because it demonstrates a commitment to truthfulness and transparency. I’ve had folks come back to me later and thanked me. Which is really rad of them.

Efficiency: It can get to the heart of an issue without dancing around the subject. Once again, note the time savings component. It saves a ton of time. HUUUUUUOOOOOGGGEEE time saver.

Potential Drawbacks

If you are delivering negative information to someone this can have drawbacks. If you are delivering positive news, do it with gusto! However, this situation can occur.

Hurt Feelings: It can cause emotional harm or strain relationships due to the harsh delivery. Deliver honest negative information with proper propriety and courtesy. They will hopefully get over it if they have any self-reflection.

Perception of Rudeness: It may be perceived as insensitive, disrespectful, lack of empathy, or unnecessarily harsh. However, if you are running a company or in a particularly toxic relationship, great results take drastic measures.

Conflict: It can lead to conflicts or defensive reactions from those who receive the message. Some say life is all conflict. Once again don’t go looking for trouble but you cannot shy away from interactions.

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

 ~ Thomas Paine 

Caveat Emptor: As implicit in the above commentary, Brutal Honesty should be balanced with surgical and thoughtful empathy and, shall we say, nuance to ensure that the truth is communicated effectively and respectfully. For instance, it is okay to lie and say someone’s baby is cute. In the same fashion, eating everything on your plate when they have asked you over for supper at a neighbor’s house is also good manners, even though you probably do not like well-done pot roast and peas. Say thank you, and it was delicious. In Everything, practice propriety and courtesy.

When you have lived your individual life in YOUR OWN adventurous way and then look back upon its course, you will find that you have lived a model human life, after all.

Professor Joseph Campbell

2. “Living Life Loud” is a phrase that conveys embracing life with enthusiasm, boldness, and authenticity. It suggests living in a way that is vibrant, expressive, and true to oneself. To be authentic and true to yourself, and to embrace your passions and unique perspectives. It can also mean living intentionally and unapologetically, pursuing your dreams with enthusiasm, and stepping outside of your comfort zone.

Here are some aspects of what it means to Live Life Loud:

Authenticity: Being true to yourself and not being afraid to show your true colors, even if they differ from societal norms or expectations.

Boldness: Taking risks, stepping out of your comfort zone, and confidently pursuing your passions and dreams.

Enthusiasm: Approaching life with energy and excitement, making the most out of every moment.

Courage: Facing challenges head-on and standing up for what you believe in, even when it’s difficult.

I wonder, I wonder what you would do if you had the power to dream any dream you wanted to dream?

~ Alan Watts

This seems rather nebulous in some cases, so let us get a little more specific with some examples.

Pursuing Dreams: Actively chasing your goals and aspirations, regardless of how daunting they may seem. Most dreams are impossible; otherwise, they wouldn’t be dreams.

Taking Risks: Being willing to try new things, even if there’s a chance of failure. It goes hand in hand with Pursuing Your Dreams. Someone once said “I need to surf big waves with two oxygen tanks,” i said well you cant surf them then. In the same vein someone told me when discussing my view on creating companies: “I cant take that risk.”, i asked well you drive a car? Trust me that is a much larger risk everyday.”

In the next five seconds what are you going to do to make your life spectacular?

~ Tim O’Reilly

Being Outspoken: Sharing your opinions and ideas confidently, without fear of judgment. Not bragging. Being forthright in your views and taking responsibility for those views. Owning them and being prepared to defend them.

Celebrating Uniqueness: Embracing what makes you different and showcasing it proudly (not loudly). However, not to the point of narcism. Of course, I hear Tyler Durden saying, “You are not a unique snowflake,” whilst also saying, “You are not your f-ing khakis!”

So why live life loud? Well, I’m glad you asked. Here are just some that I wrote down: Being open and expressive can help build deeper, more meaningful relationships. Brutal Honesty with Onesself and the Universe.

This chooses by definition a life of surprise. Living outside the realm of societal norms in most cases.

Potential Challenges

Judgment: Judge So Ye Be Judged! Others may not always understand or accept your loud approach to life, which can lead to criticism or judgment. THEY are going to judge anyway. In fact THEY have judged even before you started living life loud. Why? Because most who judge follow The Herd mentality of Social Norms.

Risk of Failure: Taking bold steps can sometimes lead to setbacks or failures, which require resilience to overcome. However my “hot-take” (isn’t that the lingo?) is once you have stepped out on the edge and attempted to create or do or launch yourself into the air over ice or over the ledge of a heaving wave – YOU WON! Analysis to paralysis is death. Hesitation Kills folks. Remember if you fail you have no where to go but up and if it is a big enough failure you have a great story!

Vulnerability: Being authentic and expressive means being vulnerable, which will be in most cases uncomfortable, I’d rather crawl through glass attempting to obtain My Personal Legend that sit back and think i could have done or what might have been. In fact, most people are frightened more of living the extreme dream than failing. they would rather fail or even said they failed and quit.

All we hear is radio ga ga

Radio goo goo

Radio ga ga

All we hear is radio ga ga

Radio blah, blah

~ Radio GA GA, Queen

Living Life Loud is about making the most of your existence, embracing who you are, and not being afraid to live boldly and authentically. Go to the extreme of that dream, as extreme as you can obtain because, Dear Reader, there are no circumstances, and once you move toward Living Life Loud, there are even as i once believed – no Consequences.

Caveat Emptor: There is no free lunch here at all. The path you choose for your bliss is expensive. The collateral damage is mult-modal. it has been said Humans love a winner but they love a looser more because it makes them feel better about themselves. This also gets into our subconscious programming from society and our families. My Mother not too long ago when i was discussing a subject concerning “taking care of them” and she responded: You go live your life and make no decisions based on others. Others should be so lucky, but they aren’t. The hardest path is YOUR true path. Choose it. Hold It. Protect IT.

Respice post te. Hominem te esse memento. Memento mori.” (“Look after yourself. Remember you’re a man. Remember you will die.”). 

~The 2nd-century Christian writer Tertullian reports a general said this during a procession

3. Improving Oneself Daily

Improving oneself mentally, physically, and “spiritually” daily involves a commitment to continuous personal development in both the mind and body. This holistic approach to self-improvement includes activities and habits that promote mental clarity, emotional well-being, and physical health. Here’s a breakdown of what it means:

Mentally

Learning: Engaging in activities that stimulate your mind, such as reading, studying, or learning new skills.

Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness or meditation to enhance self-awareness, reduce stress, and improve mental clarity.

Positive Thinking: Cultivating a positive mindset by focusing on gratitude, affirmations, and reframing negative thoughts. Stay away from pessimistic people and naysayers.

Problem-Solving: Challenging yourself with puzzles, games, or new experiences that require critical thinking and creativity. Study the subject of neo-plasticity. Brush your teeth with the opposite hand for a week. Drive a new path without Apple/Google/Waze Maps. Or do what i like to do Freedive. Click and read.

Emotional Health: Managing emotions effectively through journaling, therapy, or talking to trusted friends or family members. Take martial arts for defense and emotional health. Punch a bag. Lift heavy weights. Love animals.

Reading: Read, Read and Read More. Not trash novels but deep nonfiction and fiction. Write, take notes when you read.

Physically

Exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity, whether it’s strength training, cardio, yoga, or any other form of exercise that keeps your body active and strong. Get up and MOVE!

Nutrition: Eating a balanced and nutritious diet that fuels your body and supports overall health. i happen to trend towards canivore. It’s difficult, but it changed my life. Again, eating meat lifts heavy things.

Sleep: Ensuring you get adequate and quality sleep to allow your body and mind to recover and function optimally. i can sleep standing up in an airport. Learn how to take power naps.

Daily Habits

Consistency: Make these activities a part of your daily routine to ensure continuous improvement. Discipline above all. Not grit or determination but Discipline. Have a morning routine. Or any routine then allows you the mental freedom to go to other places mentally and physically. Takes cognitive load off you and reduces friction. Eat the same things, dress the same way.

Goal Setting: Setting small, achievable goals that contribute to your long-term personal development. Make your bed everyday. Set goals in the am then reflect in pm. How could you do better tomorrow? Take time each day to reflect on your progress, identify areas for improvement, and celebrate your achievements.

Adaptability: Being open to change and willing to adjust your habits and routines as you learn what works best for you. Try things you wouldn’t normally do – listen to smooth jazz. Try Hot Yoga. Do stuff then you can optimize to your liking. You might try it and like it.

Improving oneself mentally and physically daily is a lifelong commitment to becoming the best version of yourself. It involves dedication, consistency, and a willingness to learn and adapt continually. It is all based on discipline. Full stop. Not motivation, not grit not anything but getting up and MOVING. Go do the thing that scares. you the most or the thing that you deplore the most – D I S C I P L I NE. i lift every day and read something every day.

Without contrairies there no progression. Attraction and replusion, reason and energy, love and hate are necessary for human existence.

~ William Blake

4. Loving (and Hating)

The idea of experiencing both love and hate at their fullest potential emphasizes the importance of embracing the full spectrum of human emotions to lead a richer, more authentic life.

Emotional Authenticity

Full Range of Experience: Experiencing the full range of emotions allows for a deeper understanding of oneself and others. It means accepting and acknowledging all feelings rather than suppressing them. i call this the dynamic range of life. Western society suppresses everything except sadness. it is ok to be sad. Be enraged. Be Full Of Lust and Desire. Know were your limits are if there are any and learn to regulate them as needed.

Self-Awareness: Fully engaging with both love and hate can lead to greater self-awareness and insight into what matters to you and why. If i have been guilty of something is not being aware enough. If there is original sin afaic it is stupidity and non-awareness. Funny how they go hand in hand and do related to loving and hating.

Learning Opportunities: Intense emotions, whether positive or negative, can be powerful teachers. They provide opportunities to learn about your triggers, strengths, weaknesses, and values. Putting yourself out there past the pale teaches you quickly and well. Strong emotions can inspire creativity, leading to profound art, writing, music, and other forms of expression.

Resilience: Navigating through both love and hate can build emotional resilience, helping you manage future challenges more effectively. Experiencing hate or intense dislike can make you appreciate love and positive emotions more deeply, providing a balanced perspective on life. Salt and Pepper anyone?

Remember when you were young, you shown like the Sun. Shine On you Crazy Diamond!

~ Pink Floyd “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”

Loving and Hating will lead to Authentic Relationships.

Deeper Connections: Loving deeply fosters strong, meaningful relationships. Being open about negative emotions can also lead to more honest and authentic interactions. Strong emotions can inspire creativity, leading to profound art, writing, music, and other forms of expression. Confronting and understanding negative emotions can lead to healthier conflict resolution and stronger relationships in the long term.

Caveats and Considerations when Loving and Hating

Caveat Emptor: It’s important to express both love and hate in healthy, constructive ways. While deep emotions are natural, how you act on them matters significantly. Ensure that the expression of intense emotions does not harm yourself or others. Finding healthy outlets for negative emotions is crucial. While experiencing emotions entirely is valuable, maintaining a balance is important. Overwhelming negativity or unchecked hatred can be destructive, so it’s essential to seek ways to manage and balance these emotions. Also sometimes we must practice complete indifference. Embracing both love and hate fully can lead to a richer, more nuanced understanding of life, fostering personal growth, deeper relationships, and a more authentic existence.

And the Germans killed the Jews
And the Jews killed the Arabs
And Arabs killed the hostages
And that is the news
And is it any wonder
That the monkey’s confused

~ Perfect Sense Part 1, Roger Waters

5. Quality Over Quantity

The phrase “quality over quantity” as a human value emphasizes prioritizing the excellence, depth, or meaningfulness of something over merely having more of it. It’s a mindset that values richness, purpose, and intentionality over excess or superficial accumulation. i have a saying: “Best Fewest.” You get the best humans that know how to do something together they can create anything.

Relationships: Valuing meaningful, deep connections with a few people rather than having a large network of acquaintances. Iihave a very small network i can count on one hand, i completely trust. Once you get over 30 you find out who really cares about you. See the quote at the end of the blog. Really those who matter just want you truly happy.

Work: Focusing on producing exceptional work or projects instead of completing many tasks without significant impact or value. That 9 am standup is it really needed? Cant we automate this excel spreadsheet? Think much? Work yourself out of a job and into your passion.

Material Possessions: Preferring fewer high-quality, durable items rather than many cheap, disposable ones. But a high quality custom suit or dress – three of them. Prada, Sene etc. Black, navy, or dark blue with custom shirts. i happen to prefer fench cuffs with cuff links. They never go out of style and will last forever.

There are many who would take my time, I shun them. There are some who share my time, I am entertained by them. There are precious few who contribute to my time, I cherish them.

~ A.S.L.

Time Management: Spending your time on activities that matter and bring fulfillment rather than filling your schedule with things that feel busy but are unimportant or things that people put on you. The above quote is my favorite quote in my life, and if i do have a tombstone, i want it on it. EMBLAZONED!

Essentially, it’s a principle that asks, “What truly matters?” and reminds us to focus on what brings genuine value and satisfaction rather than chasing quantity for the sake of just having more of something.

6. Maintaining a sheer sense of wonder and awe for life

Maintaining a sheer sense of wonder and awe for life means approaching the world with curiosity, gratitude, and an openness to its beauty and mysteries. BE AMAZED AT THE THRALL OF IT ALL! It’s about deeply appreciating the small and large marvels around you—whether it’s the intricacies of nature, the complexities of human connections, or the endless potential for discovery and growth. YOU ARE READING <THIS>. Check out my blog Look Up and Down and All Around – has some cool pictures as well.

It involves letting go of jadedness or routine and instead choosing to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. This mindset keeps you engaged, inspired, and connected to the richness of life, no matter the circumstances. It’s like seeing the world through the eyes of a child, where everything holds the potential for fascination and joy. Turn up the back channel like when you were a child. Be Aware! Be Amazed! Wonder what it is like to be a tree or a rock!

i can say unequivocally that while i have many more mistakes than “performing tasks in a correct fashion” that i have lived a loud and truly individuated life. Would i do things differently? Sure some. I probably would have “sent” it even harder, and past eleven pretty much on everything. i can truly say that i left everything out in the ocean, nothing in the bag and gave it my all. Remember: Take care of those you call your own and keep good company:, storms never last and the forecast calls for Blue Skies!

Enough for now.

For those that truly know me, you know, and I cherish you. 🤘🏻💜.

Until Then,

@tctjr

#iwishyouwater <- if i could do it again, i would live this life. He got the memo.

Music To Blog By: All Of the versions of “Watermelon in Easter Hay”, full name “Playing a Guitar Solo With This Band is Like Trying To Grow a Watermelon in Easter Hay, by Frank Zappa (covers etc) i could find and just loop them. There is even a blue grass version. In their review of the album, Down Beat magazine criticized the song (i despise critics), but subsequent reviewers championed it as Zappa’s masterpiece. Kelly Fisher Lowe called it the “crowning achievement of the album” and “one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever produced.” I must agree. Supposedly, Zappa told Neil Slaven that he thought it was “the best song on the album. “Watermelon in Easter Hay” is in 9/4 time. The song’s hypnotic arpeggiated pattern is played throughout the song’s nine minutes. The 9/4 time signature keeps the song’s two-chord harmonic structure which until you really listen you don’t realize its a two chord structure.  For me i think it is one of the most sonically amazing pieces of music ever written and produced. Sonically, the reverb is amazing. Sonically, the maribas are astounding. Sonically the orchestral percussion is mesmerizing. The song after Watermelon on Joe’s Garage is completely hilarious, “Little Green Rosetta,”and I am putting that on the going away party playlist, and I hope people dance in a conga or kick line and sing it. The grass bone to the ankle bone (listen to the song…).

Think about it a very mediocre guy imagining how he could play, if he could play anything that he wanted to play? Get the reference to the entire blog? Ala Alan Watts, if you could dream any dream, you want to dream? Then what?

The song is, in effect, a dream of freedom.

Here are some other details about “Watermelon in Easter Hay”:

  • The song’s two alternating harmonies are A and B / E, linked by a G#. 
  • The song is introduced by Zappa as the Central Scrutinizer, which then gives way to a guitar solo. 
  • The song’s snare accents have a lot of reverb and delay, creating a swooosh sound that sometimes sounds like wind. 
  • The song’s guitar solo is the only guitar solo specifically recorded for the album.  All others are from a technique known as xenochronous.
  • Rumor has it Dweezil Zappa is the only person allowed to play it.
  • Someone called the song intoxicating in one of my other blogs on the Zappa Documentary. Kind of like a really good baklava.

And a couple more items for your thoughts:

Its so hard to forget pain but its even harder to remember hapiness. We have no scar to show for hapiness. We learn so little from peace.

~ Chuck Palahnuik (author of fight club, choke etc)

Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

~ Dr. Suess

i listen to this every morning. Rest In Power Maestro with the amazing Susanna Rigacci:

Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Direct Thoughts|General Technology|Human-Performance|Random_Thoughts

How One Of The G.O.A.T.(s) Changed My Life

A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.

Bob Proctor
The Religious Tomes Of Digital Audio by Professor Ken Pohlmann

First, i trust this finds everyone well. All kinds of craziness abound in the world; for those affected by recent events, my condolences. Second, I was compelled to write a blog after some commentary on LinkedIn concerning mentors and people who changed some of our lives.

You can find the discussion here. <- Click

Dear reader this is a very personal blog so bear with me i have told few if any this story. Oftentimes, the Universe speaks, and when it does, listen.

i had the extreme luxury and luck to attend graduate school at The University Of Miami Frost School Of Music, specializing in Music Engineering. Here is a little history copypasta’d from the website:

“The Graduate Music Engineering Technology degree (GMUE) was introduced in 1986 and has consistently placed graduates into high-tech engineering fields that emphasize audio technology, usually in audio software and hardware design engineering and product engineering or development. Our graduates have enjoyed employment at companies specifically aimed at high-tech audio such as Sonos, Amazon Lab126, Avid, Universal Audio, Soundtoys, iZotope, Waves LLC, Smule, Apple, Facebook Reality Labs, Microsoft, Eventide, Bose, Shure, Dolby Laboratories, Roland, Beats by Dr. Dre, Spotify, Harman International, JBL, Analog Devices, Biamp, QSC, Motorola, Texas Instruments, Cirrus Logic, Audio Precision, and many more.

In most cases, applicants to the M.S. in Music Engineering Technology typically hold a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, math, physics, or other hard sciences and are passionate about combining their love of music and engineering. A few hold dual degrees in music and other engineering/technology areas. The Music Engineering Technology program enjoys being part of a world-class, top-ranked School of Music, and students may become licensed to use the new $1.2 million state-of-the-art recording studio if they wish.”

I would rather be blind than deaf.

Handel from “Listening”

In 1987, Oh Dear Reader, i had a “really good job” with GE Medical Systems working in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cat Scan field service organization. Yet i longed for truly understanding the science and perception of how we as humans process sound physically, neuro-scientifically, and mentality, then how we design that product to reproduce the creation of sound to its fullest extent. I loved mixing sound and thought in would be the end all to work at a “mixing desk” manufacturer such as MCI in Fort Lauderdale, used at Criteria Studios, where such groups as The Allman Brothers, etc, were the pinnacle of audio engineering. i was also particularly fascinated with the perception of reverberation and accurate modeling of acoustics. In undergraduate school i did an extracurricular paper on digital audio circa 1985. Where I analyzed analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog recording techniques. The paper discussed the Shannon Limit theorem and the science of sampling a sound to reconstruct it in full digital form. i also discussed how in the future most (or so i surmised) sound would eventually be played on a chip or transmitted with no medium. i also created a fiber optic transmission network to transmit and modify my voice. However the “riff” of the paper compelled me.

Said pedantic paper figure 1.1

One day i was sitting listening to Al Dimeola’s Elegant Gypsy album in Little Havanna, Miami, FL (where i presided not far from Crescent Moon Studios) and reading an article by a human named Professor Ken Pohlmann. The year was 1989. The magazine was Mix Magazine as i “used to be” a recording engineer having graduated from Full Sail Of The Recording Arts and then went on to obtain a BSEET at Devry Institute of Technology. i still kept up on recording and live sound and every once in a while i would mix for someone.

As they say, I am a recovering sound engineer now.

Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.

John Crosby

At the end of the article, it said something to the effect:

“Professor Ken Pohlmann is the founder of the prestigious program for the Graduate School Of Music Engineering at the University Of Miami, where he teaches Propeller Heads to create world class digital effects.” Apologies, folks i’m going off memory here, but i specifically remember reading the article and thinking “ok i am going to drive down to Coral Gables all two miles and walk in and ask for Professor Polhmann to accept me into the program.”

i walked in and asked for Professor Pohlmann. The nice woman at the desk said let me see if he is here. She said yes he is and will see me now.

Awe hell game on.

He sat down with me and asked what i could do for you. i still remember i was “dressed” in a tie with braces (suspenders) and full button down shirt with tassle dress shoes (full corporate mode). Yes tassle loafers.

i said “i want you to accept me into your program and when i get out i am going to work for (this) company and build reverberation algorithms.” i showed him the Mix Magazine where he was mentioned and in the back of Mix Magazine was an advertisement for a “startup” audio company called digidesign. i also showed him my paper on Digital Audio Recording and Editing circa 1985.

(NOTE: If you never ask for the biggest piece of cake you never get it. Worse thing he could say was no.)

He was really cool on the response. He said well i appreciate the passion but you need to go through all of the process and gave me all the paperwork take the GRE etc.

i was also acutely aware that i was a mutt compared to the other students where he only accepted two per year out of several high pedigree applicants. Most of the students where from real engineering schools.

i’ll never forget when i called to see if i was accepted. i called and the women said: “Theodore Tanner Jr. right? Oh Yes you can start fall of 1990.”

I RESIGNED from GE right after the phone call.

Fast forward to the year 1992. My friend Toby Dunn and i where sitting in MTC 667 graduate thesis class for Professor Ken Pohlmann.

Toby and i had done all kinds of awesome projects for the two years at UMiami but now we are sitting in the classroom breeze coming in watching the palm trees and chatting about who knows what waiting for the GOAT.

Professor Pohlmann walks in with a stack of books and sits down and says:

“What do you guys want to talk about? This class is about thinking up brilliant ideas and taking them into execution and also publishing your thesis at a conference.”

“Which conference?” i asked?

He said: “The Audio Engineering Society Conference this coming Fall.”

We both laughed. I specifically remember thinking back in the day when I didn’t even understand most of Stereo Review Magazine when I was in high school, and now it reads like Cat In Hat, BUT The AES Conference is THE SUPER BOWL OF AUDIO ENGINEERING?!

He said: “What are you laughing at? If you don’t get the paper accepted and given at the conference, you can’t graduate as it’s most of the grade along with your thesis and discussion here in class.”

“We haven’t even got started on our thesis or even selected a subject.” i said

He then said: “I asked what do you want to talk about and you didn’t say anything.”

He sat there in silence for a while then He then picked up his books and said: ” i don’t have time for this.”

He got up and left.

Toby and I just sat there (this was before the acronym WTF), but that was the look on our faces. WTF?

We sat there for a while and then i got the courage up to go into his office.

i felt like Charlie walking up to Willy Wonka.

“Professor Polhmann? , i said tentatively, ” i think we are ready to talk ideas.”

He came back in sat on the desk and said (and i will never ever forget this….)

“You two are the people that will change this industry and as such you are expected to come up with the ideas that can be executed upon and that is what i expect from you now as that is what will be expected of you in industry.”

Thus, Spake The GOAT. Amen.

We then had an amazing conversation of thesis topics.

Toby presented his paper on noise reduction, which was amazing. I presented my paper on Subband audio coding methods at the AES in New York in 1992, complete with an AES scholarship stipend. I also got to hang out with Jeff Beck and Les Paul at a Toys R Us BASF party, but that is another story.

We then went on to work for digidesign circa 1992. Toby is one of the most amazing signal-processing audio engineers in the industry. He was at Digidesign for 20 years and is now at Universal Audio. He wrote the original noise reduction plugin for Digidesign on Sound Designer and worked on the digital audio engine as well as several start plugins (dynamics, chorus/flange, etc.).

Excerpt from 1985 Neophyte paper 1.2 and 1.3

Side Note: One cool thing i got to personally tell Al Dimeola and Steve Vai that i assisted in creating some of the original protools and sounder designer plugins and APIs while listening to Elegant Gypsy and Passion Grace and Warfare. One of them is the same album I mentioned at the beginning of this blog. Also, if you not familiar, both are the GOATs of guitar.

Oh, and one more thing—I worked at Criteria Studios for a while and got to mix on the MCI console in Studio C, which was used to record several famous albums, which was a full-circle aspect for me professionally.

Then, later on, in 1993, another mentor, Phil Ramone, called me (yes that phil, he called me his 8th child…) while I was working on Protron Plugin at the amazing company called Crystal River Engineering, founded by Scott Foster. Scott Foster originated interpolated Head Related Transfer Function six degrees of freedom spatial audio for Jaron Laniers VPL Research and Dr. Beth Wenzel at Nasa Ames Research Lab and essentially started full localized spatial audio. Phil called me to come down to Crescent Moon Studios (Gloria Estafan and The Miami Sound Machine) and listen to the Duets Album he was mixing. He wanted me to analyze the reverb tails going through the defunct ATT Disq system versus a Neve IV console. He used three EMT reverbs (left, center, right) feedback to each other. i knew this previously and used this technique in the original Dveb.

To anyone reading this, find your passion and execute those brilliant ideas. Find the right mentor who will push you beyond anything you ever thought possible.

i am lucky enough to have had several mentors in my life. However, it all started with someone taking a chance on me.

Toby if you are out there hope you and sue and the family are well.

To the GOAT, Professor Ken Pohlmann. Thank you for that day. Without it i would not be where i am without that happening and i cannot thank you enough for taking a chance on me when i knew damn good and well i didnt have the resume or pedigree to ever compete at the scholastic level. However, I do hope I have made up for the deficiencies since that time.

Be safe.

Until Then,

#iwshyouwater (thunders in mentawis with a yacht)

@tctjr

Muzak To Blog By: Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (The 1955 & 1981 Recordings). Dear Reader tread lightly within the aural halls there are several caves you can go into here with his interpretations. Enjoy. For those that know you know.

Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Direct Thoughts|General Discussion|Human-Performance

Review: Flow Research Collective

Bonafide in The Art of The Flow

I will persist until I succeed.

I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep. I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

I will persist until I succeed.

OG Mandino

First as always Dear Readers i trust everyone is safe. Second, whilst i have not written i in a while that does not mean i have not been “thoughting” of things to write about for You Oh Dear Reader. Third, software is hard and there was a glitch in the matrix and my site was down for a bit.

Starting last year on April 24th, 2023, with Matthew McConaughey’s “Art Of Living” worldwide class that was, in fact, a precursor to a class with him and Tony Robbins dedicated to looking into yourself and figuring out exactly what you want – sound familiar? However, this was not for me to use for others but for me – period. I knew that this was a stepping stone to the class that I was going to write about, a class given by the Flow Research Collective. After i took “The Art of Living” class i knew a Flow Research Collective Class was starting over “The Holidays” in December 2023. Knowing full well that i would be in the throes of work at my new gig and also “The Holidays”, i told myself just like i tell others: “The best time to plant a tree is yesterday. The best time to plant a tree is Now.” So i registered for the 9 week class. At the time, i was very familiar with Stephen Kotler, the founder of FRC given i had read many of his books:

  1. “Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think” (2012) – Co-authored with Peter H. Diamandis
  2. “Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World” (2015) – Co-authored with Peter H. Diamandis
  3. “The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance” (2014)
  4. “Tomorrowland: Our Journey from Science Fiction to Science Fact” (2015) – Co-authored with Peter H. Diamandis
  5. “Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work” (2017) – Co-authored with Jamie Wheal
  6. “The Future is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives” (2020) – Co-authored with Peter H. Diamandis
  7. “The Art of The Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer” (2021)
  8. “Gnar Country: Growing Old and Staying Rad” (2023)

I have read all of the ones concerning human performance.

Why did I push this off till now? Well, denial is an amazing psychological force.

In the realm of human performance, few concepts hold as much promise and intrigue as the state of flow. Coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, flow refers to a mental state of complete immersion and energized focus in an activity, where individuals experience profound enjoyment and peak performance. Flow is not just a fleeting moment of productivity; it’s a state where time seems to warp, self-vanishes, and optimal performance becomes effortless. Harnessing the power of flow can unlock human potential in remarkable ways.

The Flow Research Collective (FRC) is an organization that has made it its mission to understand, master, and utilize the principles of flow to help individuals and organizations achieve peak performance consistently. Founded by Steven Kotler, a prolific author and leading expert on the subject, and Rian Doris, the CEO, the FRC has journeyed from humble beginnings to becoming a powerhouse in the field of human performance enhancement.

Origins: The Spark of Inspiration

The story of the Flow Research Collective begins with Steven Kotler’s own personal journey. Struggling with Lyme disease, Kotler found himself facing physical and cognitive limitations that profoundly impacted his life and work. Determined to overcome these challenges, he delved deep into the science of human performance, stumbling upon the concept of flow.

Kotler’s fascination with flow led him to explore its intricacies, drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and various research fields. As he began understanding flow mechanics and its transformative potential, he realized the need to share this knowledge with the world. Thus, the seeds of the Flow Research Collective were planted.

Building Momentum: From Vision to Reality

Armed with a vision to unlock human potential through flow, Kotler embarked on a journey to build the Flow Research Collective from the ground up. Collaborating with like-minded individuals and experts in various domains, he set out to create a platform that would serve as a hub for research, education, and practical flow applications.

The early days were marked by relentless dedication and a commitment to excellence. Kotler and his team immersed themselves in the latest scientific literature, conducted experiments, and engaged with practitioners from diverse fields to gain insights into the nature of flow. Through trial and error, they refined their methodologies, developing frameworks and tools to help individuals cultivate flow and achieve peak performance.

Cultivating a Community: The Power of Connection

Central to the Flow Research Collective’s success is its ability to foster a vibrant and engaged community of flow enthusiasts. Through workshops, seminars, online courses, and collaborative projects, the FRC has brought together individuals from all walks of life who share a common passion for unlocking human potential.

The community’s collective nature has been instrumental in accelerating learning and innovation. By sharing experiences, exchanging ideas, and supporting one another, members of the FRC have been able to tap into the group’s collective wisdom, amplifying their individual efforts and achievements.

From Zero to Dangerous: Mastering the Art of Flow

The term “zero to dangerous” (ZTD) encapsulates the ultimate goal of the Flow Research Collective: to empower individuals to transition from a state of inexperience or mediocrity to one of mastery and excellence. Drawing inspiration from the language of fighter pilots who aim to go from zero to dangerous in their skill level, the FRC seeks to help individuals reach a level of proficiency where they can navigate life’s challenges with confidence and grace.

Achieving this level of mastery requires more than just theoretical knowledge; it demands practice, discipline, and a willingness to push beyond one’s comfort zone. Through a combination of cutting-edge research, immersive training experiences, and personalized coaching, the FRC equips individuals with the tools and techniques they need to harness the power of flow and unleash their full potential.

Looking Ahead: A Future of Possibilities

As the Flow Research Collective grows and evolves, the possibilities are endless. From helping athletes and artists achieve peak performance to revolutionizing the way businesses operate, the principles of flow have the potential to transform every aspect of human endeavor.

With advances in technology, neuroscience, and our understanding of human psychology, the FRC is poised to unlock new frontiers in human performance enhancement. By staying true to its mission of understanding, mastering, and leveraging the power of flow, the Flow Research Collective is paving the way for a future where individuals and organizations can thrive like never before.

What is FLOW?

Specifically, “Flow” occurs when individuals are fully immersed in a task, experiencing deep focus, high levels of enjoyment, and a sense of timelessness. In this state, individuals often report feeling in control, highly motivated, and completely absorbed in the activity at hand. Flow typically occurs when the challenge of a task matches an individual’s skill level, leading to a harmonious balance that encourages peak performance and creativity. Achieving flow can enhance productivity, increased well-being, and a sense of fulfillment. The class mentioned herewith trains you to optimize and balance the release of neurochemicals.

In the state of flow, several neurotransmitters and neurochemicals are released, contributing to the heightened sense of focus, motivation, and well-being experienced by individuals. Some of the key neurochemicals involved include:

  1. Dopamine: Often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, dopamine is associated with motivation, reward, and pleasure. During flow, dopamine levels increase, reinforcing the behavior and enhancing the feeling of satisfaction associated with being in the zone.
  2. Endorphins: Endorphins are natural painkillers produced by the body and contribute to feelings of euphoria and well-being. In flow, endorphin levels rise, potentially reducing the perception of discomfort or fatigue and promoting a sense of exhilaration.
  3. Serotonin: Serotonin affects mood regulation, emotional balance, and overall well-being. Increased serotonin levels during flow can contribute to a sense of calmness, contentment, and happiness.
  4. Anandamide: Anandamide is a neurotransmitter associated with bliss, joy, and relaxation. Elevated levels of anandamide during flow may enhance individuals’ overall sense of well-being and pleasure.
  5. Norepinephrine: Norepinephrine plays a role in attention, focus, and arousal. In flow, norepinephrine levels increase, heightening alertness, enhancing concentration, and promoting a state of intense focus on the task at hand.

So this class was much more than just a recipe for flow. It was mapping what is called your Maximally Transformative Process.

The Maximally Transformative process (MTP) refers to a structured approach or methodology designed to help individuals achieve peak performance states such as flow more consistently and experience significant personal and professional growth.

This process typically involves a combination of research-based strategies, tools, and techniques derived from fields such as neuroscience, psychology, and peak performance coaching. It aims to help individuals identify and leverage their strengths, optimize their environment for flow, and cultivate the necessary mindset and skills to enter flow states more reliably.

The maximally transformative process often includes elements such as:

  1. Flow Triggers: Identifying specific triggers or conditions that reliably induce flow states for an individual, such as clear goals, immediate feedback, and a balance between challenge and skill.
  2. Flow Cycles: Understanding the stages of the flow cycle (struggle, release, flow, and recovery) and learning to navigate through them effectively to maximize performance and growth.
  3. Psychological Skills Training: Developing mental skills such as focus, resilience, and mindfulness to enhance the ability to enter and sustain flow states under varying conditions.
  4. Environmental Optimization: Structuring one’s physical and social environment to minimize distractions, maximize motivation, and promote optimal conditions for flow.
  5. Feedback and Reflection: Cultivating a practice of self-awareness, reflection, and continuous learning to refine performance and maintain momentum over time.

The actual class was related to achieving this process. As I mentioned earlier, there was a registration process. Upon registration, one is contacted by a representative from RFC. The person who contacted me for a qualifying interview was Maleke Fuentes. He was amazing during the qualification process. He discussed his background and how he became involved with FRC. He was very forthcoming, and I directly asked if FRC accepted all applicants. He flatly stated – NO.

Once you are accepted, you are dropped into both virtual and live classes. Relative to this, the class operationally consists of a pod that meets twice weekly, and then you have 1:1 time with the respective coach.

My coach was the amazing Marcus Lefton. He was very forthcoming and extremely insightful. He openly shared his amazing background and was very candid in pod and 1:1 classes. Given his background, he led by example and proverbially “at his own dog food,” as they say in the software space. He could go vertically deep and horizontally in recommending operationally, physically, and psychologically, as the FRC is extremely life-changing.

The class is broken into deeper steps into the rabbit hole. As one would expect, this can become extremely self-referential, which is the goal of the class.

For instance, there is a class where we are given 90 seconds to write down at least 15 things YOU do well. I, in full transparency, fully failed. I got to about two, maybe three. In one of Stephen Kotler’s books, he stated to write down 25 things you do well. It is difficult. Further, the suggestions and they are brutal in many cases are counter-intuitive, and they work.

Near the end of the class, we had a 1:1, during which we really drilled down into “my” Maximally Transformative Process. He was extremely candid and stated, “Ted, you are usually the shaman and or the genie that grants everyone else’s wishes. Now the genie is standing before you, asking you what you truly want?” i was very taken back as i don’t think in these terms. i just amplify folks at best.

i have not been the same since. Thank you Marcus.

In short, go look into the class. While it is not cheap, how much is your mental and physical health really worth?

As a wise man once said, “People who don’t need self-help books read them, and people who need them don’t read them.” This is usually the case here as all the folks in the pod i was included in were very performant.

The journey of the Flow Research Collective from Zero To Dangerous is a testament to the transformative power of flow. By unlocking the secrets of peak performance and sharing them with the world, the FRC is helping individuals tap into their innate potential and achieve extraordinary feats. One thing is clear as we look to the future: the flow revolution is just beginning, and the possibilities are limitless.

Personally, I can’t say enough about the class and people. Here is the link to the class -> Flow Research Class.

Go invest in yourself.

Until Then,

#iwishyouwater <- Cloudbreak from the surfing, waves and soundtrack.

Muzak To Blarg by : “Bach Synthesis: 15 Inventions”. Amazing.

Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Direct Thoughts|Human-Performance|I_Wish_You_Water|Random_Thoughts

¿Por qué haces apnea? (Why Do You Freedive?) and 9/11

Me Manifesting And Searching (photo by @clay.motus.liquidum)

I need the sea because it teaches me. I don’t know if I learn music or awareness, if it’s a single wave or its vast existence, or only its harsh voice or its shining suggestion of fishes and ships. The fact is that until I fall asleep, in some magnetic way I move in
the university of the waves.

~ Pablo Neruda

First i trust everyone is safe. Second today is a day that will live forever in most minds as a day that i call ‘When Belief Systems Run Amuck (WBSRA)”.

To those who lost loves ones on 9.11 my condolences. To those who are permanently scarred may peace eventually see its’ way unto and into you.

It is not random that one of my dear friends “JH” is relocating this very week to Charleston, SC. He was in the North tower on the 87th floor when the “WBSRA” occurred.

He is a great human. We are going to have a blast when he gets here.

Recently more than ever humans around me have been talking more and more about “stuff” they do besides “working” and inevitably as we are discussing these outside work endeavors someone mentions that i freedive.

Clay T. Talley Rappelling Underwater (photo Tanner Peterson @depthwishfreediving)

It goes something like this:

Human: Ted freedives.

Everyone: ( looking at me like i have obtained the classified UAP documents from the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)…)

Me: Yup.

Human: Wow really?

Me: (thinking… No i just lie about stuff like that…) Why Yes i do.

Me and @clay.motus.liquidum (photo courtesy of @depthwishfreediving)

Human: Have you seen “Deepest Breath” On Netflix?

Me: While i do not watch hardly any TV i did view it and yes it was amazing. The people in that video are the best of the best in the world and i have met one or two of them and have been coached and critiqued by some of them. i’m no where in their league.

Human: So really is it one breath? There must be some trick? How long can you hold your breath? How deep do you go?

Me: Yes, No, about 4:00+ minutes and i have broken 100ft . None of it really matters as the folks who are great, i pale in comparison, but it is a starting point. It is also not a contest with others. While there are competitions the only competitor is you and the water.

Me coming up from looking at the sand somewhere (photo courtesy of @depthwishfreediving)

Human: What is it like?

Me: It is truth. If there is a truth to life it is closer to living with the exception at least for me, what i find in surfing. Although the two are very different, the results, from to time, are the same. Complete un-adulterated FLOW STATE. The free fall is very close to getting a full tube ride. It is all enveloping it is not like meditating as some people think it is, although, there is a somnambulistic component to the free fall.

Clay Talley and Jacob Talley the day Jacob was certified (photo courtesy of @depthwishfreediving)

Human: What is freefall?

Me: That is after you get down to about 14 meters which is around 45 feet that is 3 atmospheres of pressure you start getting pulled down the elevator shaft as i call it. You can feel the water rushing by you and the sounds rushing, depending on if your hooked to a line or just letting your hand brush the dive line. Then as you go deeper it gets more enveloping.

Me: See your Mammalian Dive Reflect kicks in, your MDR, the master switch as it were. The sensors are still in our face. This is why it feels so nice to splash water on your face or take a shower. All those negative ions getting you balanced into BlueMind. There is much we have forgotten as a race. There is an excellent book called BlueMind i highly recommend.

Me, Thomas Tanner (@itstomfoolery) and My Nephew, Ty Tanner (@tytanner_) the day they got certified

(photo courtesy of @depthwishfreediving)

Human: Yea but how can you hold your breath that long?

Me: Practice. Actually it all happened in one weekend at Performance Freediving Institute (PFI). Me and my waterman commrade Clay Talley went down on a Friday and took a class after we read a book called “One Breath” and got turned onto a song called “Waves” by Bahamas. We have been training with weights in the pool for about 15 years for surfing then this freediving wonderland rabbit hole came along. We could easily get you to over a 2:30 breath hold in one day. Nothing prepared us for what was to come.

Human: I don’t see how that is possible.

Me: Well, i suppose with an attitude like that nothing is possible, but at least we gave it the benefit of the doubt and when we got certified. It was really intense due to several factors that i would have to explain later. However by far my certification was in one of the top experiences of my life and about as close to a religious experience as one could get.

My Son Thomas Tanner getting certified with Tanner Peterson Lower Left (photo courtesy of @tctjr)

Then then THE question:

Human: Why do you do it?

Me: Do what? Freedive?

Human: Yes.

This, Oh Dear Reader is where we start getting to the essence of the blog. Hope Y’all are still tuned-in to the channel.

To every sailor the gods have given a comrade
While one sleeps the other keeps watch on the bridge
When one doubts the other gives him his faith
When one falls the other discovers the oasis of ice for both of them
When my comrade loses faith I laugh confidently
When my comrade sleeps I keep watch for him
When my comrade falls I fight on for the both of us
Because to every sailor the gods have given a comrade

~ Blood Axis

Me: Well it is complicated. One of my best friends died freediving. He was one of the few people who really knew me and and happened to be the best coding computer scientist i have ever met, as well as an expert Waterman.

Me wondering what the Puppies are Thinking. (photo courtesy @clay.motus.luquidum)

Human: Oh i had no idea i am so sorry.

Me: Oh please no need for condolences. i’ll never get over it but that is a different issue. That said to answer your question i got into it because i wanted to understand how one of the smartest most fit watermen i have ever met came to his demise doing what he loved. i had to know or at least try to understand what Steven was searching for given i knew him so well.

It’s not tragic to die doing something you love.

~ Mark Foo

Me: See i kinda blew it off years ago when he kept talking about freediving and how incredible it was and in fact the last thing he said to me was he was really happy. That is really all i cared about to be honest. However it still nagged at me about there was a facet of “The Water” i hadn’t addressed.

So through a very seemingly random occurrence which to me wasn’t random at all i ran across the book “One Breath” which was a story of the death of one of the greatest freedivers of all time. So we (me and my commrade Clay Talley) finally got around to getting down so to speak and since then it has been a continual Alice in Wonderland – Down The Rabbit Hole. Besides the fact that you burn about 800-1000 calories an hour freediving it only teaches you more about yourself. It is indeed a fractal situation – the more complex – the more complex – the more simple – the more simple.

Me ascending and hanging out in Bonaire with Carlos Coste

(photo courtesy of @carloscoste1 of @blueclassroom and @freediveeexplorations)

Ted, Its all in Your Mind, Get me? Understand What I am saying?!

~ Cole Heitt

Me: Its really a super performant sport. All of the people that i have met have been physicists, composers, lawyers, bankers, technical folks and many have walked away from those careers in full pursuit of freediving. Everyone is very open, welcoming and focused. There is little to no overhead with some of the crap that you get with other sports endeavors, it is very binary. As an aside i personally want to dive with Sperm Whales.

Human: Yes but what about your friend?

Me: Well if i could have a discussion with him first i would punch him for being stupid then i would hug him, tell him i love him and say lets go for a freedive and this time i’ll be up and you be down.

Clay Talley Searching For Clay T. Talley

Me: Feel free to come down and get in the pool or we can take you down and get certified.

Human: Really?

Me: Of course and you can’t blame me for what will happen afterward.

To everyone that has ever asked me this is why i freedive. I needed to understand why and it has turned into a mirror for me.

On September 11, 2005, Steven Swenson took his last breath. However i know he was happy in fact the happiest i have ever heard him.

Recently his favorite musician past away, Jimmy Buffett. Steven’s favorite song was Son of A Son of A Sailor. He also liked “That is What Living Is to Me” and “One Particular Harbor”. I would like to think they are sharing sailing stories with each other with wind in their hair and water in their shoes.

Do me a favor if you knew him go listen to any of those songs and if you didn’t know him go listen and raise a glass to the ocean. i would also greatly appreciate it.

Mickey Talley @mich.888 Pushing Past Her Own Thoughts (photo courtesy @clay.motus.liquidum)

So there you have it folks.

Until Then,

#iwishyouwater <- Me and Present Crew Getting After it @iwishyouwater

@tctjr

Music To Blog By: The version of “Little Wing/ Third Stone: From The Sun off SRV archives and some Jimmy Buffett. The Tuck and Patti version of Castles Made of Sand / Little Wing is amazing as well.

Note: With Much Love to Roma, Lief and Gage.

Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Direct Thoughts|General Discussion

Quality Over Quantity (Part D’eux)

Determination, energy, and courage appear spontaneously when we care deeply about something. We take risks that are unimaginable in any other context.

Margaret J. Wheatley

First i trust everyone is safe. Second sometimes the LazyWebTM can actually be a really cool place. Someone out there used an amazing thing called a LARGE LANGUAGE MODEL AKA ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE to make a song out of a book passage that closely relates to my previous blog on Quality Over Quantity. The book is entitled The Greatest Salesman In The World. Here is that passage:

“I will persist until I succeed.

I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep. I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

I will persist until I succeed.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal. Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner.

Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult.

I will persist until I succeed.”1

Then they “told” ChatGPT the person(s) behind the green curtain to write a metal song using the above passage:

(Verse 1)
Hear my mantra echo, “Persist until success,
Born not to the world in defeat, nor failure’s caress.
Not a sheep in the herd, prodded, guided by the rest,
I am the lion roaring, refusal in my chest.

(Chorus)
I won’t be moved by tears and whines, their sickness I’ll resist,
In the abattoir of failure, I’ll never coexist.
The end of every journey hides the precious prize,
One more step around the bend, where success quietly lies.

(Verse 2)
Step by step, relentless, no distance is too great,
Every challenge faced is just another weight.
My efforts like the blade, the mighty oak I strike,
Insignificant they seem, but will fell the tree in time.

(Chorus)
Like rain that washes mountains, the ant that feasts on tigers bold,
I am the star that lights the earth, the tale that’s yet untold.
Building castles, brick by brick, with each repeated trial,
Persist until I succeed, in my journey, every mile.

(Bridge)
Defeat is not a concept, its words I shall erase,
Quitting, failure, impossible, all fall from grace.
Obstacles may rise, despair may cloud the way,
Yet above it all, my gaze is fixed, where greener pastures lay.

(Chorus)
Persist until I succeed, let this anthem ring,
Born a lion, not a sheep, to my purpose, I will cling.
Journey’s end may hide the prize, step by step I’ll tread,
In the echoes of the night, let my mantra be heard and said.

(Outro)
I will persist until I succeed, etched in stars, this creed,
For I am the lion roaring, fulfilling every need.
The end of every journey hides the precious prize,
Persist until I succeed, echoes my eternal cry.

The book talks about The Art Of Living wherein there is the World’s Greatest Salesmen who was given some scrolls he must past to another person who he must identify with as being the keeper of the scrolls. The book goes into depth and each chapter is a scroll. A teaching if you will for being the world’s greatest salesmen so you as being the reader are immersed into this world.

Maybe someone will put some music to these words. i was thinking something like a Thin Lizzy feel if you will.

Until Then,

#iwishyouwater. <- WSL Live. Teahpoo Tahiti.

tctjr.

  1. OG Mandino: The Greatest Salesman In the World also referring to the #ArtOfLiving a class created by McConaughey and Tony Robbins ↩︎
Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Direct Thoughts|Human-Performance|Out In The Fringe

Quality Over Quantity

Dalle’s Idea of Quality Over Quantity

Be a yardstick of quality.

Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.

S. Jobs

First i hope this finds everyone safe. Second, your humble narrator has been incognito of late and re-emerged safe and sound as the CTO of a really cool company called BigBear.ai . Third, for some reason or another several folks have been talking to me about risks and reward in life as of late. i haven’t written a blarg in a while so i figured i would take the time to jot down some thoughts.

i dedicate this blarg to my parents. Here is why.

A long time ago in a land far away i lived in a modest ranch style house in Charleston,SC and in the den area there was a sign that said:

It is better to live one year as a lion than 20 years as a chicken.

Anonymous

This is a modified quote that can be tracked to several people in history. i am by no means referencing any political or religious views herewith so please check yourself. Someone somewhere could play the same music and someone would hate them for it on the internet.

i read this everyday coming in and out of the house and it had a profound effect on me later in life. Without me even knowing it i gravitated towards living on the creative side or maker side of life or let’s say risk taking side of life.

If you obey all the rules, you’ll miss all the fun.

Katheryn Hepburn

In the same fashion, for some unknown reason, people have been asking or talking to me about the creative process as well as having hobbies that appear to be risk taking.

For the record i don’t view anything that i do as a i hobby nearly as dangerous as driving. i’ll probably do a blarg on one activity everyone seems to be asking about is freediving but that isnt the subject of this blarg.

Life is to be lived folks. Social norms keep many from going and doing and living a life they DREAM. i hear you saing: “Well you know how it is life gets in the way.” Nope boys and girls your brain gets in the way and says “Oh you could never do that what would people think?”. “My <insert person here> would just disown me.”

What if you do it and you are truly happy?

The other thing people have been saying to me lately is “How’d you do that?” Well i just went and did it. Once again someone somewhere isn’t going to like whatever you do and you can’t please everyone so you might as well please yourself as the song says. (Rick Nelson – Garden Party).

Most people who really care about you just want you to be happy. They might not like or agree with you when letting your freak flag fly or even imagine how you could live in such a manner but i guarantee you show up to those you love truly happy then everything will be really OK. This is on YOU as it is on THEM. This is a two way street folks. You choose a difficult path not everyone is going to be “accepting”. The road will be strewn with stones to your path of righteousness. Trust me – Caveat Emptor.

The goal is living in a high quality life over a mundane mediocre life. The moments that take your breath away versus the number of breaths in a life. Where do you see a coffee table book entitled “Lives Of The Mediocre.”

Which is very closely related to the creation process. Putting yourself out there is scary. “Yes but i don’t have the courage or the skills.” You know what? Neither did anyone else who went and did The Thing.

Go do the thing that scares you the most then get the courage. That fine line is living. In fact it has been my experience it is a near life experience. Standing at the edge and looking down. Where you even surprise yourself.

“Yea but what if something goes wrong?”

Once again great question. It will. Yes Oh Dear Reader it will but guess what sitting in the recliner or couch every night for the rest of your life or looking out the window and thinking “I wish i would have done…” is way more painful than either pissing someone off for a little while or a broken leg, All will heal with love and happiness.

So put me on a highway
Show me a sign
Take it to the limit
One more time

The Eagles

Recently after a lengthy discussion about risk taking, mental gymnastics or physical hobbies someone asked me about my injuries. Here is a partial list:

Right shoulder replaced, Plates and 8 screws in my right forearm, Two left shoulder reconstructions, Two hip replacements, Broken right ankle and leg twice, Broke ribs, hernia operation, broken nose, cracked back, whiplashes, concussions, the list goes on…

Why would someone put themselves through this? I don’t know sounds like a startup co-founder huh? Because you MUST.

Because living at that level of passion is everything. There is nothing else. Because you know what? The crash is almost as amazing as making it! Quality Over Quantity Folks!

Taking this view In sports, companies and most importantly your relationships is crucial. Most will say they cannot live like that and they do not understand. Well just hand them a big cup of NOPE YA CAN’T. They will get very frustrated as well. Most people of that nature want their predictable life and the ability to dictate to others their lives.

So this morning i called my parents. Luckily both my parents are alive and very married. I told them thank you for having that sign in the den and it would be great if they could find the sign. They informed me it “wore out”. Get the symbology there? They said they had toted it from house to house.

After hanging up i went online to everyone’s favorite online retailer and bought this for my home gym:

Because i needed a reminder. Just like when i was a kid.

Enjoy it while you can
It’s just like the weather
So quit complaining brother
No one lives forever

Let’s have a party there’s a full moon in the sky
It’s the hour of the wolf and I don’t want to’ die

Oingo Boingo

So go create, make, live, and love like there is no tomorrow. You and the people around you will be better off and you will definitely find out who loves you when you are truly happy. Trust me in this area of life you will not have many if any followers just those who truly desire you to be happy.

Until Then,

#iwishyouwater <- near life at Mavericks in 2022.

@tctjr

Muzak To Blag By: Danny Elfman’s “Big Mess”. He is truly a genius. Yes the same person who created Oingo Boingo and all of the great soundtracks.

NOTE: i can also recommend several books on these views such as Tim Ferris’ “Tools For Titans” and Rolo May’s “The Courage To Create”, hit me up on the comments if you want more. Also please tell me a story where you put yourself out there. i’d love it hear about it.

Posted on : By : TCTJr Posted in : Artificial_Intelligence|Complete Stupidity|Direct Thoughts|Human-Performance|Out In The Fringe|Random_Thoughts

What Is Love?

DALLE’s Idea Of Love

Love is a complex and multifaceted emotion that is often defined differently depending on cultural, social, and individual perspectives. At its core, love typically involves strong feelings of affection, caring, and attachment towards another person, often accompanied by a desire for intimacy, closeness, and mutual support.

Love can take many different forms, including romantic love, familial love, platonic love, and self-love. It can also involve a range of different experiences, such as joy, happiness, excitement, passion, and sometimes even pain and heartbreak.

Ultimately, love is a powerful and transformative force that can have a profound impact on our lives, shaping our relationships, beliefs, and sense of self.

~ ChatGPT

First Oh Dear Reader, i trust you are safe. Second, we are taking a slight detour into squishy, non-exact, messy, and truly complicated land: Emotions. This comes on the heels of Snake_Byte[14] Coding In Philosophical Frameworks. Also if you haven’t seen the news, the Cognitive Computing Arms Race with Large Language Models is in full swing. Boy Howdy Do We Love Us Some Anthropomorphism! ( i personally think its funny the parlor trick of auto-typing makes ChatGPT and all the other ones appear human to most. )

Turns out there is a class at Stanford on Computational Philosophy which is in the same realm as what i would love to discuss however slightly obtuse. It is a good read.

If we can compute Philosophical frameworks, could we or do we need to compute emotions in the future?

It was not random i started with the terseness of Stoicism. As this philosophy trends towards being objective in your emotions, akin to a more recent philosophy, “Objectivism.” We can quantify the aspects thereof. Or at least we think we can quantify them to some extent.

We know from a physiological standpoint that bodily metrics and chemicals can be measured for systematic responses to emotions. Dopamine, Vasopressin, Oxytocin, Serotonin, heart rate, sweat level, skin clamminess, and eye dilation are just a few measurable considerations.

However what does it mean?

Let’s take some bookend emotions: Love, Hate, Fear.

Some consider Fear to be the only true emotion. Flight or Fight. i’m also positive we can duplicate this in a machine or at least make it plausible to appear the machine is scared. (Also, it will make humans “feel” better one day but that is for a different discussion and different blog.)

Being that Spring Is In The Air let us choose LOVE.

There are so many types and kinds of Love.

  • Love of a Mother to a child
  • The Love you have for your pets
  • The Love of eating a doughnut.

i’m not referring to these types i am referencing:

  • You are the Love of My Life Companionship – Love

Books, signs, poetry, and yes, humans’ most deplorable creation War has been created over Love of Another. It is genuinely innate in the Human_Condition.

People acting a fool, if you will. You have seen it many times, and maybe (hopefully) you have done it.

As the famous song says, “What does love have to do with IT? What is love but some secondhand emotion?”. Great questioning Tina. We love you.

Have you ever been in The Love? How do you know that person Loves YOU?

i asked one of my progeny that question:

Me: “Do i Love you?”

Them: “Yes.”

Me” “How do you know?”

Them: “Dad i just know.”

This is not to be confused with infatuation, which is in and of itself an extremely intense feeling usually associated with a physically idealized version of the receiving person. Infatuation is initially overwhelming but then quickly fades. Love, on the other hand, appears to be a much deeper, almost seemingly “infinite forever-giving” emotion.

i was wondering how many times “Love” has been mentioned over the years. Below is a plot thereof:

Love Over The Years

i thought the drop in the 1980’s was interesting. If anyone was around in the United States in the 80’s that was the period of certain illegal chemicals, neon, 80’s metal and madonna. The Me Generation.

So what has happened in this area with using technology of Love? Well we scan our noggin:

From The Journal of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

When I take you in my arms gathered forever. Sometimes it feels like a dream. Sometimes it feels like a dream; to be with you.

~ Feels Like A Dream Lyrics

Research has shown that certain brain regions are activated when a person is in love or experiencing strong feelings of affection, including the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and striatum. These regions are associated with reward, motivation, and emotional processing. Brain scans have also revealed that the levels of certain neurotransmitters, like dopamine and oxytocin, can change in response to being in love. So while there is no one-size-fits-all image of someone in love, there are certain brain patterns and chemical changes that can be detected in those experiencing the emotion.

Furthermore on the chemical brain related activity research has shown that during the early stages of romantic love, there is a decrease and increase in serotonin levels in the brain[1]. Serotonin can have direct affects on anxiety, insomnia and depression. For men there is a decrease and for women and increase in serotonin. Strangely this is similar to what is observed in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, suggesting that the intense focus and preoccupation with the loved one may be related to changes in serotonin levels. Additionally, it has been found that long-term couples who remain in love have higher levels of serotonin than those who have fallen out of love. This suggests that serotonin may play a role in maintaining long-term relationships.

Our study provides the first evidence of love-related alterations in the underlying architecture of the brain, and the results shed new light on the mechanisms of romantic love.

~ Professor Xiaochu Zhang

So if there are (and there are injectable adjuncts to all of these chemicals) that can be augmented and tailored with specific dosages, this led me to ask the questions:

  • can we compute a model of Love?
  • can we fool the brain into thinking it is in Love?
  • do we want to augment the brain so we feel like we are in Love?
  • Do we want to make Love a thing of the past with future tech?
  • The list could go on…..

 Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

~ That Romeo Guy

When people meet, go on a date, shack up, get hitched or get married, i have heard it said:

  • “You will grow to love them.”
  • “Well, the person doesn’t really have the attributes i am looking for in a mate, but i can adapt.”
  • “They share the same interest as you!”
  • “They can cook or fix stuff for you!”

Why would we want to change or have that person change? Are social norms so strong that there are unwritten rules that we as a so-called society must follow, With a hard rule of it must be two consenting adults in a relationship, what is it of anyone’s business? Do most want to do what they feel they should do? Do we want a best friend to watch the big game with or play golf? Why not a companion that you can dance with now and when your old and just look at each other? To idealized? Oh life gets in the way. i see it is hard and you have stuff to do – yep i get it. Then is Love that important? If not then what is?

Love in a relationship is it needed?

How do you know when you’re really in Love? Do violins play when you’re touching the one your Lovin?

~ The Tubes

Most often, love is due to their connection with their partner. This connection can be emotional, physical, spiritual, or intellectual (or hopefully all of them). People may also fall in love or grow into love because they appreciate their partner’s qualities or values, such as kindness, honesty, or intelligence. Sometimes, people are drawn to others who are different from themselves because they find them intriguing or exciting.

This room is bare
This night is cold
We’re far apart, and I’m growing old
But while we live
We’ll meet again
So then, my love
We may whisper once more
It’s you I adore

~ Palabras de Amor from Queen

Other factors that contribute to love include shared experiences, common interests, and mutual respect. When people feel like they’re a team with their partner and can rely on them, it can deepen their love. Additionally, physical attraction and chemistry can significantly influence romantic love.

However, what if it is all of these with the same partner? Isn’t that what you truly desire? ALL THE THINGS! To truly know that there is one – what would you do to have that person show up on your porch?

This is what i believe we need to understand as we trend toward a world of distributed disconnected artificial intelligence.

In one kiss, you’ll know all I haven’t said.

~ Pablo Neruda[3]

Even post the pandemic, we see people hug and kiss less. There is less physicality which as we all know for most, a hug feels good for both and releases several proof-positive chemicals. i would tend to think at some point you want to rub against your significant other instead of smooching in cyberspace or sleeping in separate beds.

Is Love now an algorithm? i know in the age of match.com and tinder this appears to be monday morning quarterbacking but at least i believe there is something more to it than a list of attributes. In fact one of the startups i worked at started with the premise, “What are the three main questions you ask someone on a blind date?” Here they are:

  • What is your favorite travel spot?
  • What is your favorite wine (assuming one drinks)
  • What type of music do you like?
DALLE Generated Endless Love

From a cognitive standpoint the most difficult one was music recommendations. This by the way Oh Dear Reader was circa 2001 before Pandora, Shazam or any other music recommendation system. We based it on a cognitive model of music perception and cognitive psychology of inter-relations[2].

If we already know the future and can match it aren’t we living in a world of no surprises? What happens to that special glance? That special smile or touch or a good morning hug? That true everlasting one that loves you for you and only you not because your father mother or your in-laws approved. (If course it has been said you marry the family not the person. )

i am sure by now you have heard of the term Twin Flame. This is different than a soul mate. A Twin Flame is a mirror of oneself, a yin-yang type entity. The biggest distinction between a twin flame and any other type of soul mate is that twin flames are two halves of the same whole. A soul mate, on the other hand, can be thought of as someone cut from the same cloth as you. There’s a deep familiarity, and you feel very close, but you aren’t the same soul.

i wonder if we can compute and create a Twin Flame Agent of oneself?

i’m not sure i want to work on those future algorithms folks. Some things i want to be a mystery[4].

i’d love to hear some stories, comments, and possibly even rants as this is some very esoteric area we have paddled into so to speak. i’d love to know if you have the love of your life, twin flame or a tinder swipe of the night, i hope you just know.

Until Then,

#iwshyouwater <- alexy molchanov sets a new world record in Bonaire. i was just in the same spot freediving.

Muzak To Blog By: All The Love Songs by Queen. i miss you Freddy and recently brian may was knighted.

References:

[1] Scans Say Its True Love Link

[2] For the record, i tried the system, and no one liked strict cathedral organ works.

[3] Pablo Neruda is the most prolific poet when it comes to love and beaches i have ever read. there is a connection there.

[4] In blade runner, harrison ford knows full well racheal is a replicant yet he Loves her. Question is – Is He? That would be a twin flame. robot love.