This time my wheel

 

I ride often. I know better than to leave my front wheel unlocked. Yet, I always felt like an idiot for taking the extra two-to five minutes to take the wheel off and lock it to the u-lock that's threaded though the frame and rear wheel rim. Even more of an idiot when I bring the front wheel into a store (yes, I've done that in the past).

I have somewhere 14-15k miles on the frame as it's from 2011 when I purchased it from American Cyclery to replace my previous Bianchi's Veloce with same geometry (campy, entry level team racing grade, also stolen in SF -- '09). I replaced the wheel set in '17 after trashing my shoulder (comminuted compound fracture) on NYD on Mount Tam. This last pic is from a ride in '19. I do try to summit the mountain every now and again. This year I've been ill on and off such that my riding quota is way down.

So, what's hard to make out is a 2016 Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheel set with a white (and black) hub.

And the front wheel was stolen on Monday afternoon in front of a large grocery store.

And there's dealing with the replacement. I have to check and vet the replacement as well as the seller as I don't accidentally wish to support bicycle thieves reselling stolen property.

I'm just really hurt by this. I know people would think it's no big deal, or get over it, or do something to get over it, etc. I know, the spokes aren't pristine from years of night riding in the fog crossing the Golden Gate to visit my folks. I know the entire kit is older, and was partially submerged in a backed-up storm drain near the Manzanita Park and ride that caught me during one of the recent king tides. I also know I personally cleaned it, fixed the flats, etc, and was riding Continental Grand Prix 5000 tires that I bought in an online sale. And yes, I try to ride my bicycle (14-15k mi in 12 years) instead of drive because I do actually care about lowering emissions.

 

This is my city. I was born here. It feels like the city of the 1980s, with the same gritty drug infused harshness. Only this time, I know what better used to feel like. It used to be better, less desperate, less like every move you make is going to put you at risk for getting ripped off or abused. I'm one of the lucky ones. I haven't been raped. I haven't had my car busted into. I've only had petty theft, been harassed and poisoned, over the years from living here. I get it, I'm struggling too. My startup hasn't done well, I've run in to huge amounts of bad luck, etc.

How do we get to that place where people don't need to steal, abuse drugs, or commit serious crimes? How do we get to that place where people are actually humanitarian enough that crime ends?

 

On the plus side, there was one nice black guy that offered me his bike wheel on market street as he felt so bad that I was walking back home. I thanked him profusely, but since I didn't know him, or know how to get in touch with him, I opted not to. At this time I'm still trying to touch things as little as possible as I have an allergic reaction and likely fighting some kind of infection. So, unless I have a bleach wipe, I try not to touch foreign things. I asked him to pay it forward, besides thanking him for his kindness.

Right of repair and old hardware

A few weeks ago, I was lucky to replace my Macbook Pro (now vintage, mid-2014) laptop battery. It was heavily swollen from years of commuting, a few accidental drops, warmer than typical ambient temperatures, demos, and some infrequent air travel years ago.

The battery hadn't reached the hard cap of 1000 cycles yet was severely swollen. My current housing rental has a great view of Sutro Tower; however, with constant sunlight or even moderate fog combined with hardly any insulation or UV protection, still reaches the 80s in the daytime.

After years of working on my startup, I can't really be without my laptop, nor can I really afford Apple support post the initial extended three-year warranty. So when, in late '19, the battery first posted the needs service notice, I tried to put off the replacement.

The swelling was getting worse this summer, so I opted for replacements, either Apple or do it myself. Since this laptop is now considered vintage, Apple won't do the replacement. Luckily, I was able to purchase a replacement from iFixit and successfully replace it.

Now, mind you; I have significant experience with expensive computer internals due to years of rising the ranks of what's now DevOps. Armed with a humble anti-static strap and the right screwdrivers, possibly some rubbing alcohol, upgrades are a snap.

Prior to extraction, I drained the battery to lessen the fire risk. I also had rubbing alcohol (91%, 70%), gloves, eye protection, a mask (more for my allergies than anything else), the aformentioned anti-static strap and pentalobe and tri screwdriver set, and some silicone dielectric paste. And I familiarized myself with the procedure by the tear-down directions from iFixit. I did a modified extraction to limit the hazards to only rubbing alcohol. Yes, it was a complex replacement, and I feared damaging the ram. Unfortunately, I think accidentally removed the dielectric paste between the touchpad cover and touchpad/keyboard connector but replaced it with the silicone dielectric paste.

 

Here's the battery post-extraction. I have it on tinfoil for ease of transport.

 

 

Here's a quick shot of the inside of my MBP, filled with dust. :(

 

Luckily for me, San Francisco provides free battery waste disposal and the same-day or next-day pickup. Once extracted, the battery's puffy condition scared me enough to consider actually driving it over to Recology. After talking to Recology, they said the risk was low enough such that I could wait for the next day's pickup. Given its puffiness and my lack of a bucket of sand, I opted for my twenty-plus-year-old French cast iron oven. It was the only thing large enough, actually. So, here's a yummy battery:

Thankfully, Recology's ewaste was out the next day to retrieve it.

After resetting the SMC, it hasn't crashed post replacement. The laptop passes Apple's diagnostic boot, and the touchpad and keyboard work correctly.

This laptop has a limited lifetime, as it has a compact flash drive that will eventually fail after exceeding the drive write lifetime.

Once a consumer has taken home a piece of hardware, I believe unless there are trade secrets or hazardous materials, the consumer has full rights to disassembly, reassembly, and upgrades.
 
Given the radical need for beyond-effort battery recycling that needs to take shape to have the best chance at Climate Restoration, we need to do all we can to incentivize the most renewable action properly.

I hope the right of repair, zero-(e) waste will be accepted in more places than just San Francisco.

Thankfully, some forward-thinking state senators and assembly members (introduced by Senator Eggman, Coauthors: Senators Dodd and Skinner, Assembly Members Haney, Bennett, Wicks, Kalra, and Lowenthal) introduced bill SB244. Thank you!!

 

As of Sept 1, California has a Right of Repair passed appropriations. For SB244, add support here: https://act.consumerreports.org/Sq9qeyg. 

Find your right of repair legislation: https://www.repair.org/stand-up

Shannon querying ChatGPT3.5 on Picard

Shannon: What would the fictional character Jean-Luc Picard say, it means to be human, and uphold humanity?

ChatGPT 3.5: As a fictional character from the "Star Trek" franchise, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is known for his wise and philosophical perspective on humanity and its values. If we were to imagine what he might say about what it means to be human and uphold humanity, it might go something like this:

"To be human is to embrace the complexity of our existence, the beauty of our emotions, and the potential for both greatness and fallibility that resides within each of us. It is to recognize that we are not merely individuals but part of a larger interconnected web of life, where our actions have consequences that ripple across the universe.

Upholding humanity means holding ourselves to the highest ethical standards and striving to do what is right, even in the face of adversity. It means seeking knowledge and understanding, exploring the unknown, and extending compassion and empathy to all living beings, human or otherwise.

As individuals, we have the power to shape the course of history, and with that power comes the responsibility to use it wisely and with a sense of purpose. We must learn from our past, acknowledge our mistakes, and grow from them to create a better future for generations to come.

To uphold humanity is to transcend our differences and work together for the common good, breaking down barriers of prejudice and division. It is to stand up for justice, equality, and the protection of the vulnerable. We must strive to be a force for peace and progress, seeking diplomacy and understanding over conflict and hostility.

In the grand journey of exploration and discovery, we must remember that we are not the sole owners of this universe but its stewards. We hold the responsibility to preserve the diversity of life, the wonders of nature, and the fragile ecosystems that sustain us.

In the end, to be human is not just about our biology or physical form, but about the choices we make and the values we hold dear. It is the continual pursuit of knowledge, compassion, and progress that defines our humanity and our potential to shape a better universe for all."

Of course, this is a fictional perspective, but Jean-Luc Picard's character often embodies these noble ideals and inspires others to strive for a better and more enlightened future.

 

Our stories

I took a bit of a break and started watching Picard after binging on Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds.

We have to fully tell and teach what makes us quintessential human, those essential human stories, those stories that convey our most human values. Our humanitarian values: including our uniqueness, mercy, friendship, comradery, kindness, curiosity, and desire to improve, give humanity that unmistakable fingerprint, too precious to only live on in a memory bank.

I know the future isn't all idealism begetting a utopia of sorts, but it doesn't have to be a takeoff to human extermination, either.

I suspect human stories and values inoculate future AI into being better and stewarding us to be better and away from existential risk.

Chatgpt seculates on humans and creating a more positive influence on Earth and it's inhabitants

I wanted to test drive chatgpt with a climate question. I also wanted to frame the question to allow for exposition and learning. I had this dialogue with ChatGPT, GPT-4 on March 21, 2023, via OpenAI's chat portal.

Shannon's ChatGPT, GPT-4 prompt: Please answer in the style of a Socratic tutor. Would humans be considered neutral or positive influence on Earth and it’s inhabitants? How could humans have a more positive influence on Earth and it’s inhabitants?

ChatGPT's response: Ah, an interesting question you pose. Allow me to ask you a few questions in return to better understand your thoughts on the matter.
Firstly, what do you mean by "neutral" or "positive" influence? Can you define these terms in the context of human impact on Earth and its inhabitants?
Additionally, who or what are you considering as the "inhabitants" of Earth? Are you referring solely to human beings or do you include all living beings on the planet?
Finally, what criteria would you use to determine whether human influence on Earth and its inhabitants is neutral or positive? Would you consider factors such as ecological sustainability, biodiversity, and social justice, or would you evaluate human impact solely based on economic or technological progress?
Once we have a clearer understanding of these concepts, we can explore how humans could potentially have a more positive influence on Earth and its inhabitants. However, it is important to approach this question with an open mind and a willingness to engage in thoughtful dialogue and critical thinking.

Shannon's response: Define inhabitants as all living beings and habitat such as rocks, land etc.

ChatGPT's response: Thank you for clarifying that. In that case, it would be reasonable to consider human impact on Earth and its inhabitants to be a complex and multifaceted issue.
Human influence on the planet can be seen as both positive and negative, depending on the perspective and criteria used to evaluate it. On the one hand, humans have developed technologies and innovations that have enabled us to improve our quality of life, reduce disease and poverty, and expand our knowledge and understanding of the world around us. On the other hand, human activities have also caused significant damage to the environment, including deforestation, pollution, and climate change, which have negative impacts on all living beings, including humans.
To have a more positive influence on Earth and its inhabitants, humans must address these negative impacts and work towards creating a more sustainable and equitable future. This may involve changes in our patterns of consumption and production, the development of new technologies and practices that minimize environmental harm, and a shift towards more ethical and responsible ways of living and doing business. Additionally, we must also recognize and address the social and economic inequalities that contribute to environmental degradation and harm to marginalized communities.
In short, to have a more positive impact on Earth and its inhabitants, humans must prioritize the well-being of all living beings and the health of the planet, and work towards creating a sustainable, just, and equitable future for all.

Shannon's response: Additionally, as far as neutral I'd say define it as neither generating a positive nor negative outcome for its inhabitants. And positive generating increases in livelihood metrics that lead to better well-being, higher quality of life, more evolved and connected civilization, as well as increased biodiversity, and ecosystem variety.

ChatGPT's response: Thank you for further defining your terms. Based on these definitions, it would be challenging to argue that human influence on Earth and its inhabitants has been neutral. The extensive changes that humans have made to the environment have undoubtedly had both positive and negative consequences for all living beings.
As you noted, human activities have led to significant improvements in livelihood metrics and quality of life for many people, but at the same time, they have also led to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. It is essential to recognize and address these trade-offs and work towards creating a more balanced approach to human development that considers both the benefits and costs of our actions.
To have a more positive influence on Earth and its inhabitants, humans must take a more holistic approach to development that considers the long-term consequences of our actions on the environment and future generations. This may involve rethinking our economic models, promoting sustainable practices, and investing in technologies that minimize environmental harm while still promoting human well-being.
Ultimately, it is essential to recognize that humans are not separate from the natural world but rather a part of it. To have a positive impact on Earth and its inhabitants, we must work towards creating a more harmonious and sustainable relationship with the planet and all living beings.

longtermism and humanitarian values

As a single individual I can only really have a limited affect on the future. In order to maximize usefulness I've taken to contain my worry about existential AGI risk and longtermism as to where I can have an impact. A thought experiment which has left me concerned is would a singularity/take off AI event still find humans valuable to keep existing? I have to limit the scope of this worry to something I could and am needed to affect. Others are working on AGI safety such that I don't have to address paper-clip/grey-goo thought experiments here.

What I haven't seen addressed nor debated, are what traits keep us uniquely human (such as random thought experiments?) enough that an AGI would want to let us exist, and with our free-will intact? Would we need to grow such traits? How much would civilization grow by more people embodying these traits?

Assuming there's a set of reasons an AI would agree not to destroy us, what would the answers to those reasons look like? Our most lauded traits are humanitarian traits and values. What would it take for more of humanity to adopt and embody humanitarian traits and values?

Considering numerous thought experiments, given the likely sophistication of an AGI the traits and values ought to support individual uniqueness and randomness, self-determination, expression, exploration and persist enough to translate to positive actions across humanity. These traits and values would both indirectly shape views, and directly create humanitarian actions: enact both non local and local cooperation, do unselfish acts, be kind, hold stewardship and service in high regard -- err on the side of altruism, and practice more platonic love, don't let selfish or evolutionary need be the principle driver of behavior, and correct our failings. (Regarding altruism, in practice, as it's impossible to live completely altruistically, seek to do so in moderation; engineer for maximal effectiveness and increase leverage which lowers learning curves to enable more good.) If we as humans are able to embody and put forth these values we would be more likely a unique good within the universe.

By stating this, maybe I've made this ultimately selfish for humanity's own ends, but maybe I've allowed us to justify more of humanity being better in a secular manner.

Can we say humanity embodies a poetic beauty, unique among the cosmos? I hope We'll do better such that the future will say yes.

outside the box

We commonly hear, it can't be done, it won't be done, and all types of fear uncertainty and doubt, when looking at CDR and 100% REs.

When I was a child there was one way to make pasta. Boil water on a stove, and anything less than al dente was sacrilegious. Today I know that if I use different pasta, (but still calorically the same) angel hair instead of penne, add boiling water from an electric kettle, then microwave it, it's done in less than 5 minutes and al dente. If I'm plugged into an electric grid, it's entirely fossil free. (Yes, induction and radiant work too, but do take some time to boil.) So, it's not the traditional pasta unless you wanted angel hair, but it's less energy intensive, even though it's now has two heat process steps.

This is the kind of thinking we'll be doing to find ways to engineer more ways to reduce the energy demands of our lifestyle and our carbon removal efforts. Couple this with the falling price in Solar PV, and batteries, and we hopefully will meet before reaching 1.5ºC & using up the remaining carbon budget.

This is the exciting frontier of re-imaging and engineering to lower energy costs. And I haven't even touched on the cool stuff that's incubated from Activate & Cyclotron Road.

And remember, just because the fo**il fu*l industrial complex can pull oil from Alaska and refine it in the lower 48 then ship it to a Walmart or gas pump in Florida, doesn't mean that process needs to continue if EVs take over transportation.

The cost of that entire process I just described was offset by fossil fuel subsidies, shareholders, corporation value, existing supply chains, etc ... 

How much ceases to exist or gets replaced by REs and CDR? How much more efficient would it be to just use Solar PV deployed within 50 mi radius of the vehicle that uses electricity instead of oil? How many more new jobs when PV is installed, and the grid transmission upgraded, and the machinists and heavy industry workers are hired to maintain the grid, and new CDR technology? What happens when this is deployed in a city's existing industrial area? But it's totally electric and the new biz owners are fully 3x bottom line so they operate a zero emissions site?

Just imagine!