Brambles

Gateway to Hell?

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Gateway Drug Stigma: Origins, Impact, and Moving Beyond #

The concept of a “gateway drug”–a substance believed to lead to the use of more dangerous drugs–carries significant stigma in modern society. This stigma, rooted in history and culture, harms public health and well-being. This article explores the origins of this stigma, its perpetuation, and the need for a more nuanced understanding of drug use.

A Controversial Concept #

The gateway drug theory emerged in the mid-20th century, primarily in discussions about cannabis use. Initially a hypothesis, it gained prominence during the “War on Drugs” era, which began in the 1970s and intensified through the 1990s. Anti-drug campaigns, like Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No,” promoted this theory. They linked initial drug use to inevitable addiction and social ruin. For example, the 1936 film “Reefer Madness” portrayed cannabis use as a path to insanity and crime. It set a precedent for decades of similar messaging. This simplistic narrative created a stigma that persists to this day.

Big Emotion

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Big Emotion #

I’ve often wondered, what is the purpose of my life? Recently, I think a possible answer has come into sharper focus. I have dedicated my life to the search for Big Emotion. This essay is an attempt to convey what I mean by Big Emotion.

Introduction #

Psychologists often ask study participants to describe their feelings. There are two major approaches: (1) discrete emotion labels, and (2) dimensional rating. To help participants respond more accurately, the two approaches can be combined by arranging discrete emotion labels in a two-dimensional affect space. Many researchers have worked on this problem. One way to organize emotions is as follows.

Integration

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Credit: Midjourney "flowers fungi celestial constellation stars spiral galaxies deep field"

The Question of Integration #

How do we reconcile the beauty we feel in peak experiences with our mundane practical reality?

An enjoyable psychedelic trip should catalyze more than a faint memory.

Meditation #

Meditation is an expression of integration; meditation is a way to bring beauty into the mundane. There are many ways to learn how to meditate. If you work with me then you can learn how to meditate (if you don’t know already).

Exercise

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Exercise #

Exercise is important for physical and mental health. For people who have already settled on favorite activities, such as golf or figure skating, keep it up. There is no special reason that you need to change. However, not everybody already has strong activity preferences. The question that we try to answer here is:

What is the most enjoyable way to exercise?

Criteria #

I am proud to say that I have collaborated on seminal research in this area.¹ Our results point to the importance of

Cookbooks

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cookbooks #

Introduction #

I suspect that most people are indifferent about whether they eat animal products as long as the food tastes great. Therefore, I’ve put a lot of effort into recipe development. Here I list some of my favorite cookbooks.

On Ingredients #

Tofu #

When tofu isn’t specifically required (e.g., scrambled tofu), I prefer soybeans. Tofu isn’t a whole food. Soybeans work great for ice cream, mayo, and cheese recipes.

Kanna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Kanna #

Kanna contains many alkaloids including mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembrenol, mesembranol, epimesembranol, and tortuosamine. Of these, mesembrine and mesembrenone are thought to be the main contributors to the psychoactive effects:

	mesembrine	mesembrenone	Δ7-mesembrenone
molecule
subjective effect	energy/focus	calming/relaxation	synergistic

A useful way to characterize an extract is the proportion of mesembrine,

mesembrine/TotalAlkaloids

where

TotalAlkaloids ≈ (mesembrine + mesembrenone + Δ7-mesembrenone)

In 2012, the first commercial kanna extract, Zembrin, was made available in North America.¹ Zembrin is optimized for relaxation (i.e., less than 20% mesembrine) and is typically sold in 25mg tablets. Zembrin only contains 0.35–0.45% total alkaloids.² Other vendors sell much more potent extracts. You can find products with more than 5% total alkaloids (i.e., ≈10x more concentrated than Zembrin).

Map

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cannabinoid Potentiator Map #

Introduction #

Tragically, hardly anybody (i.e., not you) theorize about how different cannabinoids affect subjective experience. Of course, you can only describe your personal feelings, and individual reactions often vary or even contradict one another. Maybe the barrier is translating these experiences into clear language? You shouldn’t shy away from vivid metaphors. Your unique perspective, however difficult to convey, enriches our understanding. Speak up! Share your journey through the haze of altered consciousness. Every account adds a brushstroke to our collective canvas of cannabis comprehension.

Salvia Divinorum

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Guide to Using Salvia #

Salvia Divinorum #

Related to the common spices mint and sage, salvia divinorum is a member of the Lamiaceae family and endemic to the Sierra Mazateca in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico.¹ Unlike mint or sage, salvia is psychoactive. The psychoactive constituent is a structurally unique diterpenoid called salvinorin A, a potent κ-opioid agonist.

Methods of ingestion include smoking, quid chewing, or tincture. The traditional method is quid chewing. Leaves are chewed and held in the mouth without swallowing for 10-15 minutes. The leaves taste like tea (camellia sinensis). The taste is not pleasant, but tolerable. [TODO: Try caraway seeds] The psychedelic effect comes on after about 10-20 minutes from the beginning of chewing and lasts 30-90 minutes. Use with a tincture is similar, but instead of leaves, extracted salvinorin A is held in the mouth with a solvent, usually ethyl alcohol. Smoking with a water pipe is another method. To receive a large enough dose through inhalation, leaves are fortified with salvinorin A to increase the concentration 5-60 times (or higher). When absorbed through the lungs, the psychedelic effect comes on rapidly and lasts for 5-30 minutes.

Geometry

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Geometry #

Meditation is the study of the 1st person perspective using the 1st person perspective.

Schematic #

Credit: Human brain imagined by Midjourney.

Present-day theories of physics are impotent with regard to the area between here-and-now and time intervals of around 5×10⁻⁴⁴ s and lengths of around 10⁻³⁵ m (i.e., Planck scale¹). This area is a complete mystery, existing before and outside of space-time. There is no conceivable way to learn about it from the outside. Fortunately, however, this is also the domain of the 1st person perspective. This may seem like a small place to explore, but it doesn’t really have a size. Everybody always partially exists in this realm. You can experience it more vividly by hewing to the here-and-now.

Relax

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Relax Blend #

This is my opinion based on anedotal evidence.

Subjective Map #

The Coordinate System #

X-axis: Represents the CBD:CBN ratio, ranging from pure CBD (-1) to pure CBN (+1), with exactly equal amounts at x=0.
Y-axis: Represents THC concentration, with the center point (0,0) indicating baseline ratios (4:1:1 for Δ8-THC or 1:1:1 for Δ9-THC).
- Positive y-values = higher THC concentration
- Negative y-values = lower THC concentration

Necessary Precision #

The sine wave pattern reflects the challenging oscillation effects when CBD:CBN ratios aren’t precisely balanced.¹ For a pleasant, smooth experience:

Sabudana khichdi

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction #

In the west, tapioca is often an ingredient in sweet desserts. That’s why I was so amazed to find that tapioca can be made into a delightful savory dish too. In my opinion, this oil-free version tastes better than any version that has to rely on oil.

Recipe #

1/2 c dry sabudana makes 2 small servings

Prep 100-140g potato (sliced thin to speed cooking), boil 6min then air fry for 8 min. Set aside.

Parenting

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Parenting #

Hand in Hand Parenting’s brilliance lies in its simplicity. It gives overwhelmed parents easy-to-remember tools.¹

Setting Limits #

Setting limits is difficult because parents must enforce boundaries while staying emotionally connected to their child. Traditional discipline often creates adversarial dynamics that damage relationships and fail to address the emotions driving challenging behavior.

How does Hand in Hand address this challenge?

Here’s how it works:

Cognition

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Critical Thinking #

Logical Fallacies #

Download

Cognitive Biases #

Download

Bibliography #

Freese, B. (2020). Industrial-Strength Denial: Eight Stories of Corporations Defending the Indefensible, from the Slave Trade to Climate Change. University of California Press.

Mac & Cheese

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction #

There are lots of vegan mac & cheese recipes out there on the net. This one tastes exactly like the classic Kraft mac & cheese.

Recipe #

Double recipe (makes about 4 cups dry powder):

2 cups Cashews
1 cup Nutritional Yeast
1/2 C. Oat Flour == 2/3 C. rolled oats
1/2 C. Tapioca Flour
2 table Paprika
2 table + 1 tea Date Sugar
2 table + 1 tea salt
2 table Onion Powder
2 tsp. Powdered Mustard

Single recipe (makes about 2 cups dry powder):

Short-Cut Gyoza

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lazy Gyoza Casserole #

You want dumplings but your hand-folding skills are on vacation.

Makes 8 servings

The Filling #

Shred and mix together:

600g purple cabbage (because regular cabbage is boring)
160g shiitake mushrooms (or any variety)
160g bamboo shoots
120g carrot
40g green onion
40g garlic
20g ginger
3/2 cup TVP (textured vegetable protein)
1/4 cup tapioca starch (or whatever starch is haunting your pantry)
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons molasses (for that sweet umami)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 teaspoon white pepper (no substitute)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

The Wrapper Situation #

1 package egg roll wrappers (the closest you’ll get to folding today)

The “Assembly” (Generous Term) #

Grab a 2-cup glass container per serving
Place 1 wrapper on the bottom (it’s like making a dumpling bed)
Fill halfway with your purple mountain of filling
Slap another wrapper on top like a dumpling blanket
Fill the rest of the way to the top
Cover and microwave for 3 minutes

That’s it.

Effortlessness

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A matter of method #

Preamble #

Parts of this essay were published by the PARTS & SELF magazine. You will need to be familiar with IFS terminology.

I believe one use of meditation is to facilitate unblending. I will focus on this use. I will need to be specific about the degree of blending in a given moment. For example, a Self to Parts proportion of 99:1 is almost all Self and no Parts (unblended) whereas a proportion of 1:99 is all Parts and almost no Self (blended). To calibrate our measure, suppose a mentally well person has a 1:1 proportion with roughly equal contributions from Self and Parts. In comparison, during a psychotherapy session, IFS practitioners might sustain a 6:4 or 7:3 proportion of unblending, being somewhat more in Self energy than in Parts.

Mung-nificent Egg Batter

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mung-nificent Egg Batter #

This recipe is perfect for scrambled eggs or vegan omelets that are so convincing, even your most egg-ceptical friends will be fooled!

For that traditional sunny-side-up yellow color, use polished mung beans–they’re the golden children of the legume family. But if you’re feeling adventurous, unpolished mung beans will give you a green-tinted batter that would make Dr. Seuss proud. Sam-I-Am would definitely approve of these green eggs (no ham required)!

Sleep

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Quest for Sleep #

The Holy Grail #

An ideal psychoactive sleep aid would have several characteristics:

Rapid onset with appropriate duration: It should work quickly (15-30 minutes) to help initiate sleep, last long enough to maintain sleep through the night, but refrain from causing next-day drowsiness or “hangover” effects. Ideally, it would have a half-life of 6-8 hours.

Selective mechanism of action: The drug should specifically target sleep-wake systems without broadly suppressing brain activity. It would ideally enhance natural sleep architecture rather than simply sedating.

Sweet Potato

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Candied Sweet Potato #

Ever wondered how to transform a humble sweet potato into a caramelized delight that’s sweet as candy? Here’s a foolproof method that’ll make your taste buds dance.

Ingredients #

1 sweet potato, long and uniform (think miniature submarine shape)

Instructions #

Give your sweet potato a snazzy hasselback haircut: Create 8-10 parallel cuts from opposite sides, slicing only about one-third of the way down. Keep that core intact – we want a fancy accordion, not sweet potato dominoes!

Urban Design

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Urban Design #

Most North American cities are designed for cars 🚗 not people.

Visit

Watch

Breathing

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Extended Exhale 🫁 #

Prelude #

For a long time, I was skeptical that mindful breathing would have any special effect. I mean, we all breathe all the time; it’s the most ordinary thing. What could possibly be special about it?

The Technique #

To calm yourself, exhale for a longer duration than your inhalation.¹²³

Show example

When a dog is lying down and wants to relax then she will often start her rest with two quick breaths followed by a long, slow exhale. 🐕

Mozzarella

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mozzarella #

I’ve tried to make this recipe work with soybeans or tofu, but it throws off the delicate flavor. The 1:2 ratio of agar agar to tapioca powder creates the perfect consistency. It’s gooey when hot, but solidifies when cool.

Ingredients #

1/4 cup cashew (=32g)
1 c water
1/2 table lemon juice or 1/8 tea citric acid
1 table agar agar powder
2 table tapioca powder
1 table nutritional yeast
1 tea date sugar
3/4 tea salt
1/2 tea garlic powder

Instructions #

Grind cashews in a high speed blender. Gradually mix liquid with dry ingredients to avoid clumping. Heat to simmer and continue gentle heat for 5 minutes to ensure that the agar agar melts. If the texture remains grainy then you didn’t cook it enough.

Ramen

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Single-Pot Anything-Goes Ramen #

For when you want slurpy noodles but your pantry’s a beautiful mess.

The Foundation (aka the non-negotiables):

2 cups water
1 teaspoon soup concentrate (the kind that makes 1 cup of soup)
100-120g pasta (yes, ANY pasta—spaghetti, sweet potato glass noodles, that random bag of rotini hiding in the back)
½ teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon red pepper
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅛ teaspoon turmeric (for that golden glow)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

The Fun Stuff (pick your adventure):

Withdrawal of the senses

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Withdrawal of the senses #

Patanjali section 2 verse 54: #

स्वविषयासम्प्रयोगे चित्तस्य स्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहाः

When consciousness interiorizes by uncoupling from external objects, the senses do likewise; this is called withdrawal of the senses.

Example #

For the visual sense, close your eyes or wear a blindfold.¹

For the auditory sense, wear ear protection used by operators of loud machinery.

Foot soaking

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Foot soaking #

Place some warm water in a dishpan¹ with a handful of salt.²

Sit comfortably on a chair, put your feet in the salt water, and meditate for 5-15 minutes.

Helps address Restless Legs Syndrome and improves sleep quality.³⁴⁵

Can combine with withdrawal of the senses. In fact, with lukewarm water, foot soak could be regarded as withdrawing the feet from the touch and texture of being on a surface.

Candle treatment

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Candle treatment #

This technique was pioneered at the Sahaja Yoga Vashi Hospital in Mumbai India. It is a bit too elaborate to easily describe on a web page. A simplified version follows.

Sit cross-legged on the floor. Lift a candle holder with your right hand. Slowly maneuver the candle up and down the left side (emotional side) of your body from the lower abdomen to the shoulder.

The technique actually requires at least three candles:

Cold exposure

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cold exposure #

I no longer use this technique because cannabiphorol is so effective.

Do foot soaking but with ice-cold water.

Don’t combine this with withdrawal of the senses because you should use all of your attention to relax your feet. Use ample ice because it’s easier to relax when the water is at a lower temperature.¹

Effective for Restless Legs Syndrome.

If your legs still feel restless, try calf raises.

Ice on the liver

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ice on the liver #

I no longer use this technique because cannabiphorol is so effective.

Don’t overdo it. Keep an undershirt between the cold pack and your body.

This is a gel pack; you can use regular ice too. If you have normal anatomy, the liver is on the right side.

Timing #

Do not attempt this treatment on an empty stomach. Immediately before sleeping works well.

Sahasrara

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sahasrara (chakra #7) #

Sahasrara is the point of connection between the universal Self and our personal Self. The founder of Sahaja Yoga Meditation claimed that she, “opened the sahasrara.” Hence, one would expect some technique for meditating on the sahasrara. Here is a mash-up of two such techniques from Sahaja Yoga.¹

Details #

Although the primary location of the sahasrara is above the head, one discovery from Sahaja Yoga is that the chakras are associated with regions on the hands (see figure). This is fortunate since it quickly becomes tiring to keep the right hand lifted above the head. Switch back and forth between the saharsara areas on the head and left hand whenever you feel fatigued.

Misc

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Miscellaneous #

H. L. Mencken defined Puritanism as “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, might be happy.”¹ 🤦

Journalism #

Democracy #

Access to Knowledge #

Criminal Justice #

Nuclear #

Nuclear power is a great idea if you believe we can avoid Murphy’s law for about 100,000 years.

Psilomethoxin, My Case Report (Addendum #3)

Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I recently tried 5-MAPB (5-(2-methylaminopropyl)benzofuran) at 80mg on a single occasion—my first experience with an MDMA-like compound. This gave me a useful point of comparison with psilomethoxin (Pm).

In my judgment, Pm at 0.5–1g most closely resembles 5-MAPB. Below that range, Pm is too subtle; above it, the experience pulls inward too firmly in a way that diverges from the 5-MAPB character.

The comparison confirmed differences I had suspected. 5-MAPB is a stimulant—sleep on the day of administration was a challenge. Pm is not a stimulant; as noted in the original case report, falling asleep at the peak is possible.

Full Control Over Footnote Placement for memoir

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This is a follow-up to LuaLaTeX Footnote Maze, which documented the long road to making memoir paragraph footnotes work inside breakable tcolorbox environments with hyperref. That solved half the problem. This post solves the rest of the problem: deciding exactly where on the page footnotes appear.

Downloads: memoir-fnqueue.sty · memoir-tcolorbox.sty · test-fn.tex · test-fn.py

The Remaining Gap #

After the earlier work, footnotes escaped their tcolorbox prisons and rendered as proper paragraph footnotes with working hyperref links. But placement was still automatic—footnotes released at the end of a box landed wherever TeX’s page builder decided, sometimes colliding with other content when the combined height of sidebar plus footnotes barely exceeded the page.

Balance of Power

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Balance of Power #

Abstract #

This is my remix of Vitalik’s Dec 30 essay of the same title.

Modern civilization depends on powerful institutions—corporations, governments, and mass movements—to drive progress, yet these same forces threaten freedom and flourishing as they concentrate power. This essay examines how Big Business, Big Government, and Big Mob each become dangerous through specific mechanisms: corporations through profit optimization that diverges from social welfare and through homogenization driven by scale; governments when they shift from neutral frameworks to active agents pursuing their own agendas; civil society when diverse institutions collapse into unified mobs.

Boredom

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A digital illustration of a young woman with long, wavy brown hair. She rests her chin on her fist, her expression conveying boredom or mild annoyance. She wears a pink tank top. The style is semi-realistic with soft brushwork.

LuaLaTeX Footnote Maze

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

LuaLaTeX Footnote Maze #

Testing revealed a critical issue: when a sidebar with footnotes barely fits on a page, the footnotes can collide with the sidebar content. The sidebar itself fits, but the combination of sidebar plus footnotes exceeds available space, causing collisions with page content and page numbers.

The problem occurs regardless of sidebar length. Tests with varying sidebar sizes—from compact to extended—all demonstrated collisions when the total height (sidebar + footnotes) was just over the page limit.

Cannabinoids Under HB 3000

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Subject: Request to Reconsider Ban on Synthetically Derived Cannabinoids Under HB 3000
To: Sen.DianeLinthicum@oregonlegislature.gov, Rep.EmilyMcIntire@oregonlegislature.gov
CC: Sen.DebPatterson@oregonlegislature.gov

I am writing as your constituent in [City], Oregon, to express my concerns about HB 3000’s ban on synthetically derived cannabinoids by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC).

The Current Problem

The OLCC has banned all artificially derived cannabinoids based on health concerns, specifically worries over consumers ingesting or inhaling the residue of chemicals used to process CBD into other cannabinoids. While I understand the intent to protect consumers, this blanket prohibition creates several significant issues:

Oregon Drug Regulation

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Subject: Drug policy reform To: Sen.DianeLinthicum@oregonlegislature.gov, Rep.EmilyMcIntire@oregonlegislature.gov
CC: Sen.DebPatterson@oregonlegislature.gov

I am writing as your constituent to urge you to consider evidence-based drug policy reform, specifically the restoration of blanket decriminalization and exploration of regulated drug dispensaries. I base this request on the recently published Portland State University study “Examining the Multifaceted Impacts of Drug Decriminalization on Public Safety, Law Enforcement, and Prosecutorial Discretion” (2024), which provides crucial insights into Oregon’s drug policy experiences.

The Evidence Supporting Decriminalization

Toward legalization of drugs in Oregon

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Dear Oregon Legislators,

I am writing to urge you to consider the full legalization of drugs in Oregon—not merely decriminalization, but a comprehensive shift away from criminal enforcement and toward a public health approach. The current strategy of criminalizing drug use continues to waste valuable police resources, fails to address the root causes of addiction, and diverts funding from effective solutions.

Despite years of debate and reform, Oregon continues to allocate significant law enforcement resources to the policing of drug possession and use[1]. Even after the partial decriminalization under Measure 110, recent legislative changes have returned us to a system where police are once again tasked with arresting individuals for minor drug offenses[3]. This approach has proven ineffective at reducing drug use or overdoses, and it diverts officers from addressing violent crime and other public safety priorities.

Cryptonomicon (2000)

Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

He walked straight out of college into the waiting arms of the Navy.

They gave him an intelligence test. The first question on the math part had to do with boats on a river: Port Smith is 100 miles upstream of Port Jones. The river flows at 5 miles per hour. The boat goes through water at 10 miles per hour. How long does it take to go from Port Smith to Port Jones? How long to come back?

Beyond Satire: The Absurd Reality of Mass Incarceration in America

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Behind the prison bars lies a tragedy so absurd it seems fictional. Imagine a world where suicide attempts come with a bill, prisons are built on toxic waste dumps as if radiation were part of the sentence, and the government tells you that with a felony record you’re too dangerous to kill bugs professionally but could theoretically run the country. In “Seven Facts About Mass Incarceration That Sound Like April Fools’ Day Hoaxes, But Aren’t,” we journey through America’s justice system—a place where “inmate welfare funds” buy fitness trackers for guards, where the average pretrial detainee makes less annually than what’s required for bail, and where nearly half of all Americans have had an immediate family member incarcerated. Laugh to keep from crying as we explore a system so darkly comedic that reality has outdone satire. Because sometimes the cruelest jokes aren’t jokes at all—they’re policy.

Internal Vocalization as an Acute Pain Management Strategy?

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background and Significance #

While vocalization during pain (e.g., saying “ow” or screaming) has been studied and shown to potentially increase pain tolerance, the psychological mechanisms and efficacy of internal vocalization (subvocalization or “silent screaming”) during acute pain episodes remain largely unexplored. This represents a significant gap in our understanding of cognitive pain management strategies.

Previous research has established that subvocalization involves micro-movements of the larynx and speech organs that are typically imperceptible without specialized equipment. These internal speech processes have been extensively studied in reading contexts but rarely in pain management applications.

What's Different in Carse 2025?

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

How does The Religious Case Against Belief (2008) compare with The Religious Case Against Belief (J. N. Pritikin, Trans.; 2nd ed.) (2025)?

Structure and Content #

The second edition includes a new front matter section explaining the adaptation process
Material is significantly reorganized, with content moved between chapters
The Religion Beyond Belief and Coda chapters have been removed or relocated
Overall word count reduced by 46%
The second edition includes bibliography sections not in the original

Writing Style and Accessibility #

Sentence structure: The second edition uses shorter, simpler sentences compared to the original’s longer, more complex constructions
Vocabulary: Original uses more academic and specialized terminology; second edition employs more straightforward language
Examples: Second edition includes more concrete, contemporary examples to illustrate abstract concepts
Paragraph length: Original has longer paragraphs with multiple connected ideas; second edition breaks these into smaller, focused paragraphs
Transitions: Second edition adds clearer transitional phrases to guide readers between concepts

Scholarly Apparatus and References #

Citation style: Second edition uses numerical footnote references that link to a formal bibliography
Source documentation: More extensive citations and references in the second edition
Tables and visual elements: Second edition includes tables (like the attributes of a mature belief system)
Academic conventions: Second edition follows more formal academic presentation conventions

Audience Considerations #

Educational accessibility: Second edition is written at a high school rather than post-graduate reading level
Religious audience: Second edition frames arguments in a way intended to be more respectful to religious readers
Academic readers: Original appears more targeted toward scholarly/academic audience
General public: Second edition attempts to make complex philosophical concepts more accessible to non-specialists

Content Organization and Development #

Structural Reformatting #

Hierarchical organization: The original presents ideas in relatively undifferentiated prose blocks; the second edition implements a systematic hierarchical structure with numbered sections and subsections (e.g., chapters like Belief have explicit sections on Intensity, Faith, Formation of Belief Systems)
Topic segmentation: Original flows between topics without clear transitions; second edition creates distinct sections with explicit headers (e.g., separate sections on Galileo’s Trial and Stepping Deeper into Ignorance)
Logical progression: Second edition reorganizes material to create a more linear path through complex concepts, while the original has a more associative flow

The New Ignorance Chapter #

Taxonomic approach: Creates a formal three-part taxonomy (ordinary, willful, and higher ignorance) that serves as a conceptual foundation
Galileo reframing: Repositions the Galileo material as an exemplar of different types of ignorance rather than primarily as an example of belief conflict
Conceptual scaffolding: Provides preparatory concepts that readers need before encountering the central arguments about belief
Integration function: Connects historical examples to abstract philosophical concepts more systematically

Case Studies and Examples #

Enhanced structure: Original presents the Martin Luther case study in an uninterrupted narrative; second edition breaks it into explicitly labeled sections like Luther’s Legacy
Comparative examples: Second edition adds more structured comparative examples (like the parallel between religious and military language)
Contemporary relevance: Second edition adds more explicit connections to modern issues (e.g., unlawful orders in military contexts, enhanced discussion of willful ignorance in politics)
Visual distinction: Case studies are more clearly marked off from theoretical material in the second edition

Argumentative Architecture #

Premise-conclusion structure: Second edition more explicitly marks the premises of arguments before presenting conclusions
Counter-argument integration: More systematic presentation of objections and responses in the second edition
Concept mapping: Second edition creates clearer relationships between related concepts through explicit signposting
Summary elements: Addition of summative sections at chapter ends in the second edition

Conceptual Development and Focus #

Higher Ignorance Advancement #

Conceptual primacy: In the original, higher ignorance is one important concept among many; in the second edition, it becomes the central organizing principle
Definition expansion: Second edition provides a more detailed explanation of higher ignorance through extended examples
Historical contextualization: Second edition connects higher ignorance to thinkers like Nicholas of Cusa more systematically
Application range: Second edition shows more explicitly how higher ignorance applies across different religious traditions

Belief System Analysis #

Formation process: Second edition adds a more detailed analysis of how belief systems form and develop (with a table of features like “Comprehensive Explanation,” “Ultimate Authority,” etc.)
Psychological dimension: Enhanced discussion of the psychological factors that contribute to belief formation and maintenance
Opposing functions: More systematic analysis of how belief systems define themselves against others
Internal contradictions: More structured presentation of the contradictions inherent in belief systems

Religion-Belief Relationship #

Boundary clarification: Second edition creates clearer distinctions between religion and the belief systems that form around them
Identity preservation: More detailed discussion of how religions maintain their identity over millennia despite changing belief systems
Community dynamics: Enhanced discussion of how religious communities function differently from belief-based communities
Transcendence mechanism: More explicit explanation of how religion transcends the limitations of belief systems

Contemporary Applications #

Modern relevance: Second edition draws more connections to contemporary religious and political conflicts
Secularization analysis: More detailed discussion of how secular belief systems mimic religious structures
Political religion: Enhanced analysis of how political ideologies function as pseudo-religions
Media influence: New material on how information environments affect belief formation

Interdisciplinary Integration #

Psychological integration: Second edition more explicitly incorporates concepts from psychology (like locus of control)
Sociological framing: Enhanced discussion of how belief systems function socially
Historical contextualization: More systematic use of historical examples to illustrate theoretical points
Linguistic analysis: More detailed discussion of religious language and how it functions differently from belief statements

Practical Implications #

Applied ethics: Second edition draws more explicit ethical implications from the theoretical framework
Dialogical practice: More detailed suggestions for how to engage with beliefs differently
Cultural navigation: Enhanced discussion of how to engage with various belief systems productively
Self-examination: More explicit invitation for readers to examine their own belief systems critically

Dr. Becky Kennedy's Good Inside

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction #

Becky Kennedy’s approach to parenting has resonated with countless families seeking connection-based strategies that honor both parent authority and children’s emotional experiences. Her book presents a thoughtful framework centered on seeing children as “good inside” while offering practical strategies for common parenting challenges. However, when viewed through the lens of Patty Wipfler’s Hand in Hand Parenting, several significant limitations emerge in Kennedy’s methodology that merit careful examination.

Kennedy’s work has gained particular traction within the Internal Family Systems (IFS) community due to her innovative application of IFS concepts to everyday parenting challenges. Her framework extends Richard Schwartz’s pioneering model into parenting, discussing how parents can recognize and respond to different parts of their children’s emotional experiences. This adaptation of IFS principles to parenting has earned Kennedy significant recognition, including a formal endorsement from Schwartz himself, who praised her ability to translate complex therapeutic concepts into accessible parenting strategies.

Singularism v. Utah County et al

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The judge’s approach to religious sincerity in the Jensen case provides a practical example that aligns with Carse’s understanding of religion.

The Judge’s Determination of Religious Sincerity #

In the court document, the judge states: “At the hearing, Plaintiffs presented the testimony of several witnesses to establish the sincerity of their religion. The court found the witnesses credible and ruled that Plaintiffs had shown a likelihood of success on their claim under the Utah RFRA.”

Why consciousness must be quantum mechanical

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

For decades, physicists have explored the idea that consciousness causes the collapse of the wavefunction— the moment quantum particles cease being in strange superpositions of states. Esteemed anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff, following his collaboration with Roger Penrose, proposes a different story: consciousness is the collapse itself. Hameroff discusses compelling experimental evidence suggesting the process occurs within microtubules in the brain. He also explores the non-computable nature of consciousness, the connections between his research and his spirituality, as well as insights into his research relating to psychedelics.

Hand in Hand Parenting Through Carse's Lens

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

James Carse’s The Religious Case Against Belief might seem unrelated to parenting. But its exploration of belief systems, higher ignorance, and connection offers powerful insights for understanding Hand in Hand Parenting. This approach to raising children emphasizes emotional connection, listening, and working through difficult feelings together rather than imposing rigid rules or control.

The Dangers of Rigid Belief Systems #

Carse offers a detailed analysis of belief systems. These systems resist change and thrive on opposition. Similarly, parenting approaches that rely on unchangeable rules and punishments create boundaries that limit connection. When parents cling to inflexible ideas about how children should behave, they risk turning the parent-child relationship in a battleground.

Trump's Congressional Address Through Carse's Lens

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

James Carse’s The Religious Case Against Belief provides a fascinating framework for analyzing political rhetoric, particularly that of Donald Trump’s recent address to Congress. While Carse focuses on religious contexts, his insights about belief systems, boundaries, and poetic authority offer valuable tools for understanding Trump’s speech and the political moment it represents.

Boundaries #

Trump’s address exemplifies what Carse would recognize as a mature belief system. It creates clear boundaries between supporters and opponents, establishes Trump as the ultimate authority, and provides a comprehensive explanation of America’s problems and their solutions.

The Religious Case for Simplicity

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Professor and the Engineer #

On a rainy Tuesday afternoon in early March, I found myself hunched over not one but two versions of James P. Carse’s philosophical masterpiece, The Religious Case Against Belief. The first—dog-eared and coffee-stained—was Carse’s original 2008 publication. The second—pristine and unauthorized—was a dramatically condensed edition that has been stirring controversy in religious and publishing circles alike.

The unauthorized second edition, prepared by software engineer and religious studies enthusiast Joshua Pritikin, has been described as both “literary vandalism” and “an act of spiritual generosity,” depending on whom you ask. Released without Penguin Random House’s permission, it reduces Carse’s dense philosophical prose by nearly half. Entire chapters have vanished. Technical passages have been recast in simpler language.

MisDirect AI Toy for Child Development -- A Science Fiction Story

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

“Teddy, why is the sky blue?” Three-year-old Mira looked up at her plush companion, a bear with soft amber eyes that seemed to follow her wherever she went.

The bear’s eyes flickered momentarily with a subtle glow. “The sky is blue because tiny fairies paint it every morning,” Teddy replied in a warm, gentle voice. “They use special brushes made from cloud-fluff.”

Mira giggled, hugging Teddy close. “That’s silly!”

“Oh? What do you think makes the sky blue, then?” Teddy asked, his head tilting slightly.

Relax Campus Copyright Policy

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Dear XXX University Administrators,

I am writing to express my concerns about current copyright policies.

The landscape of academic publishing and information access has transformed with the advent of artificial intelligence. Institutional policies remain rooted in an outdated paradigm. Recent developments highlight this disconnect: major AI companies are training language models on vast collections of academic literature and books. Since at least January 2025, both American and foreign companies are using bulk text collections. This technological revolution in how knowledge is processed and utilized demands a fresh examination of our approach to academic access. While I fully support protecting intellectual property rights and compensating creators fairly, the current system creates barriers to legitimate academic inquiry and learning.

Blind Spot (2024)

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Blind Spot (2024) includes an incredibly lucid chapter on consciousness. We summarize part of it here.

Primacy of Consciousness #

Our awareness and everything we experience appear within consciousness. It includes all our thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and the way we experience the world around us. One aspect of consciousness is what philosophers call the primacy of consciousness. This means that consciousness comes first in how we understand and experience reality. We can’t measure our consciousness or compare it to anything. Everything we investigate, including our brains, happens within our awareness.

Joshua interviewed on the Cannabis Potcast

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

For more details, check out my cannabis page.

Delta-8 THC illegal in Oregon

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This https://oregonstatecannabis.org/thc/delta-8 is a travesty.

We don’t make lettuce illegal because it might be contaminated with salmonella. We regulate it. We should be doing the same for Federally legal hemp-derived cannabinoids. The state can mandate independent lab testing for contaminants.

Jennifer Murphey

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Murphey bares her soul during her talk at Entheogenesis in Austin, TX on April 15, 2023.

Monday, June 24th 2024 at 7pm at Meraki Kava Bar, Jennifer Murphey discusses the War on Drugs and her part in fighting it.

My Submission to the PATH Caucus

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-170/issue-129/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E809-3

Summary of the letter:

The PATH Caucus was created to raise awareness about the therapeutic potential of psychedelic and entactogenic drugs for mental health conditions.
The Caucus is seeking input on implementing programs and policies for novel therapies using these substances.
The Caucus aims to gather input from the public, those who have received psychedelic-assisted therapies, and stakeholders in the behavioral health ecosystem.
The Caucus acknowledges the cultural significance of certain psychedelic substances and seeks input from indigenous communities.
The Caucus is interested in input on risk mitigation frameworks, including public education, substance misuse prevention, and safety monitoring strategies.
The Caucus is seeking input on how to support states in developing infrastructures and service delivery systems for these therapies.
The Caucus is interested in input on how to ensure equitable access to these therapies.
The Caucus is seeking input on data standards and repositories for collecting data on the use of these substances.
The Caucus is seeking input on how to protect public health and safety when implementing these novel therapies.

Response:

Navigating Psilomethoxin: Josh’s Research & Practical Advice

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Episode 7 of The Sacred Synthesis Podcast

Oregon's regulation of synthetically derived cannabinoids

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

2025 Jan 08 UPDATE: OLCC clarified that Oregon prohibits the sale of artificially derived cannabinoids. There is no prohibition against possession. You can verify this by visiting Chapter 845 and searching for “penalty.”

Oregon’s approach to regulating synthetically derived cannabinoids has evolved significantly in recent years. Initially, the focus was primarily on controlling their sale and distribution, while possession was treated as a minor infraction under Measure 110, which broadly decriminalized drug possession.

Free lunch

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I had lunch at La Fondita 2 (3330 Center St NE, Salem, OR 97301) today at around 11 a.m. A man I had barely met paid for my burrito. 🌯 He didn’t mention his name, and the restaurant staff didn’t know him either. Apparently, I was the accidental beneficiary of a random act of kindness. I’m not sure whether this has ever happened to me before. ♥️

Polypaternity

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s a satirical take on polypaternity, parodying the concept of polyamory.

Scenario #

Suppose your relationship with your dad is loving but falls short of idyllic expectations. This isn’t attributable to paternity uncertainty; he is your biological dad, sharing 50% of his DNA.¹ So what do you do? You obviously have only two options:

Work through existing conflicts with your dad to improve your relationship.
Abandon the pursuit of expansive satisfaction and contentment with one dad figure, instead seeking to fill the void with multiple dad figures.

Note that the belief that a single dad can never suffice is potentially self-fulfilling. The more firmly you hold this belief, the more likely you normalize and accept a mediocre relationship, allowing it to remain unimproved.

Chat about Sacred Synthesis and Psilomethoxin

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Bouquet

Fri, 17 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A vibrant bouquet of flowers in watercolor. The composition includes a variety of blooms, primarily featuring roses in different shades. There are yellow, orange, and deep red roses, each detailed with delicate petal layers. Accompanying the roses are white hydrangea clusters, adding a soft contrast to the vivid colors. Additionally, there are smaller pinkish flowers and green leaves interspersed throughout the bouquet, providing a lush and natural backdrop. The artist has used a delicate, almost translucent wash technique, allowing for a gentle blending of colors and soft edges that enhance the overall elegance and freshness of the floral arrangement. The piece exudes a sense of lightness and grace, capturing the beauty of the flowers with a refined touch.

Establishing Self/Part Connection, Beyond the Basics

Fri, 10 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction #

Update Aug 2025: Connect this to self-like parts.
Update Oct 2024: I had the opportunity to receive consultation from Dick on this topic. I added the transcript with my reactions.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy emphasizes the client’s Self as the core element for achieving healing. The therapist guides and supports the client. They help connect the client’s parts with their Self. This connection is crucial for progress. Without it, healing can be significantly slowed down or even blocked. This is especially true for exiled parts that experience disconnection and carry emotional pain.

Repose

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Reference on left, drawing on right.

Cat Quartet

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A set of four watercolor paintings of cats. Each painting is done in a loose, expressive style, with delicate washes of color.

Crow Apple

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The noose around the apple’s stem suggests how humans are strangling the environment with pollution and climate change. The wilted apple represents the dying Earth, and the crow is a warning of the inevitable consequences of our actions.

The overall impression of the image is one of stillness and tension. The stillness becomes not one of contemplation, but of suffocating silence, the absence of birdsong and the rustle of leaves a chilling testament to our environmental devastation.

Dragon

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A black and white line art drawing of a dragon. The dragon is in mid-flight, its wings outstretched and its tail curled behind it. Its head is turned towards the viewer, and its mouth is open in a roar. The dragon’s eyes are narrowed, and its claws are extended.

The style of the drawing is reminiscent of traditional Chinese dragon paintings. The lines are fluid and graceful, and the dragon is depicted in a powerful and majestic way.

Elephant Castle

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A pencil drawing of a castle on a yellow background. The castle has three tall towers and one short one. The castle is surrounded by a wall, and there is a gate in the wall. There are also a few trees and bushes around the castle.

Photo taken Jun 2019.

Forest Stream

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A watercolor painting of a path through a birch forest. The trees have slender, white trunks and delicate branches that reach towards the sky. The leaves are a blaze of red, orange, and yellow. The path winds through the trees, dappled with sunlight and shadow. In the distance, you can see the tops of taller trees, their leaves blending into a hazy green.

The painting is reminiscent of autumn in New England, when the leaves change color and the air is crisp and cool. It is a peaceful and serene scene, and it is easy to imagine yourself walking down the path and enjoying the beauty of the forest.

Jellyfish

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A pencil sketch of jellyfish and a fish. The jellyfish are in the foreground, and are much larger than the fish. The jellyfish have a bell-shaped body with long, trailing tentacles. The fish is swimming near the jellyfish’s tentacles, but it is not clear what species of fish it is.

The sketch is very detailed, and the artist has captured the delicate nature of the jellyfish’s body and tentacles. The fish is also well-drawn, and it looks like it is swimming gracefully through the water.

Projectile

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What does it look like when you fire a projectile into a clay replica of the human upper body?

Sea Shell

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A pencil sketch of a person holding a seashell. The person is cradling the seashell in their hands. The seashell is large and spiral-shaped, and it looks like it has been worn smooth by the sea. The sketch is very detailed, and the artist has used a variety of shading techniques to create a sense of depth and dimension.

Photo taken Jun 2018.

Snowman

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A watercolor painting of a snowman. The snowman is wearing a green scarf, and has a carrot nose. It is standing in a snowy field. The watercolor style gives the painting a soft, dreamlike quality.

Photo taken Dec 2019.

Stay Out Banana

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A watercolor painting of a banana peel with the words “STAY OUT!!” written in red capital letters above it. There is also smaller text that says, “Trespassers will be roasted by airborne reptillian.” The banana peel is brown and looks overripe. It is sitting on a white background.

A similar art piece titled “Comedian” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan is a real banana duct-taped to a white wall. There are a few key differences between the two works of art. First, this image is a painting, while the Banana Duct-Taped to a Wall is a sculpture. Second, this image has text on it, while the Banana Duct-Taped to a Wall does not. Third, the banana in the image is brown and overripe, while the “Comedian” banana is yellow and ripe.

Christmas Card

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A watercolor painting of a calico cat sleeping on a bed. The cat is curled up in a ball. Its fur is a mix of black, white, and orange. The background is light blue. The painting is done in a loose, expressive style, with washes of color and soft brushstrokes. The colors are bright and cheerful, and the overall mood of the painting is one of peace and tranquility.

Mandy

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A eulogy to my mom’s dog Mandy. May she rest in peace.

Comment on Placement of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine in Schedule I

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Drug regulation should not be a criminal matter, but addressed by health care providers. I urge the DEA to drop this attempt to schedule more substances.

Personal Liberty: At the heart of the decriminalization movement lies the principle of individual autonomy. Adults should have the right to choose what they put into their own bodies, as long as their actions don’t harm others. Criminalizing personal drug use infringes on this fundamental freedom, treating individuals as criminals for making private choices.

CDC Unable To Cite Studies Showing Fluoride Is Effective When Swallowed

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Director of The Centers For Disease Control’s (CDC) Oral Health Division, Casey Hannan, fumbles during a deposition for the TSCA Fluoride Lawsuit when asked to provide documentation of the studies CDC relies on to support its claim that fluoride reduces tooth decay when ingested.

Also see:

A medical consensus of public health authorities around the world has considered water fluoridation at appropriate levels as a safe and effective means to prevent cavities on a community-wide scale. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deemed the fluoridation of drinking water as one of the top ten public health achievements of the 20th century. There is little question that supplemental ﬂuoride strengthens teeth and reduces decay, but at what cost?

Feet

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Some feet. Original drawing is shown in upper left over Midjourney’s version.

The Big Secret in the Academy Is That Most Research Is Secret

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The dangerous rift between open and classified research. #

By Kate Brown

In 1987, a year after the Chernobyl accident, the US Health Physics Society met in Columbia, Maryland. Health physicists are scientists who are responsible for radiological protection at nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons plants, and hospitals. They are called on in cases of nuclear accidents. The conference’s keynote speaker came from the Department of Energy (DOE); the title of his talk drew on a sports analogy: “Radiation: The Offense and the Defense.” Switching metaphors to geopolitics, the speaker announced to the hall of nuclear professionals that his talk amounted to “the party line.” The biggest threat to nuclear industries, he told the gathered professionals, was not more disasters like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island but lawsuits. After the address, lawyers from the Department of Justice (DOJ) met in break-out groups with the health physicists to prepare them to serve as “expert witnesses” against claimants suing the US government for alleged health problems due to exposure from radioactivity issued in the production and testing of nuclear weapons during the Cold War. That’s right: the DOE and the DOJ were preparing private citizens to defend the US government and its corporate contractors as they ostensibly served as “objective” scientific experts in US courts.

On Body Positivity

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

What is the debate? 🥊 #

According to epidemiological studies,¹ the threshold for BMI is 20–21 kg m^-2.

💥 yet 💥

We envision a world where BMI does not exist, and is not replaced with another size-based, anti-fat measure of health.²

What is the impulse behind movements like Health At Every Size² and Intuitive Eating³?

Shape of the motivating story 🎭 #

Suppose I have depression 😟. The only thing that fills that void in my heart is ice cream 🍨. If I don’t eat ice cream, I will kill myself 🪓. On the other hand, if I do eat ice cream, I might gain weight 🎈. Which option would you rather I pick? 🗳️

Compassionate Resolution of Dishonesty

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction #

A complex array of motivations drives dishonesty. They include: financial gain, self-preservation, social approval, ethical dilemmas, cognitive biases, and fear of punishment. Men are often more dishonest than women.¹ Cultural and social factors also shape attitudes towards honesty.²

Dishonesty in a relationship creates several challenges:

Erosion of trust: Trust is a fundamental building block of any healthy relationship. When one party in the relationship is dishonest, it erodes the trust that the relationship has amassed over time. Rebuilding trust can be a long and difficult process.
Emotional toll: Being lied to or discovering dishonesty can be emotionally devastating. It can lead to feelings of betrayal, hurt, anger, and insecurity. Coping with these emotions can be exhausting and challenging, making it difficult to move forward in the relationship.
Communication breakdown: Open and honest communication is essential in any relationship. When dishonesty is present, it disrupts communication because it is hard to know what to believe or how to address the issue.
Questioning reality: When someone is consistently dishonest, it can make their partner question their own perception of reality. This gaslighting effect can be mentally and emotionally destabilizing.
Fear of recurrence: Once dishonesty shatters trust, a lingering fear may remain that it will happen again. This fear can be a barrier to true emotional intimacy and can lead to ongoing stress and anxiety in the relationship.
Decision-making dilemmas: When dishonesty comes to light, individuals in the relationship may face difficult decisions. They must consider whether they can forgive, rebuild trust, and move forward, or if it’s best to end the relationship altogether. These decisions can be complex and emotionally fraught.

To explore different ways to address dishonesty, imagine a fictional scenario. Suppose Alice and Bob are in a relationship. Alice got pregnant via Bob but tells Bob that she isn’t pregnant. Carlos is Alice’s platonic friend. There are a variety of ways that Bob and Carlos can address Alice’s dishonesty.

Roger Penrose speculates about the observer problem

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The math is way over my head, but I appreciate hearing from the guy that proposed Twistor theory.

Start with this short version:

Here’s a longer interview:

Origins of IFS in the bicameral mind

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article was published in PARTS & SELF magazine and is reprinted here verbatim.

Richard Schwartz derived the Internal Family Systems (IFS) method through clinical experience. While many reports of positive outcomes attest to the method’s validity, IFS is seen by some as a somewhat separate and niche approach within the broader field of psychology. One way of placing IFS in a historical context is to look for theories of psychological evolution that hinge on the differentiation of Parts from a mono-mind. The Bicameral Mind Theory, advanced by Julian Jaynes, is one such theory. This controversial and unconventional theory is outlined in his book “The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind” (published in 1976).

The frosty methods of the multi-million dollar company behind Wim Hof

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Original in de Volkskrant published 21 Oct 2023

By Anneke Stoffelen

A message from ‘ice man’ Wim Hof, this spring on Instagram: ‘Don’t worry about your fears. Embrace them!’ In the video you see the 64-year-old wellness guru stepping into an apparently icy lake in front of a brown rock. His gray hair drips in wet strands over his shoulders. “The fear of cold is logical,” says Wim Hof’s voice in the voiceover, while on screen he blows out short bursts of air above the water surface. “But if you do the breathing first, you will see that the fear disappears.”

History of non-Euclidean geometry / Veritasium

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I wish I had known this in the 1990s.

Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will (2023)

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Sapolsky, R. M. (2023). Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will. Penguin Press.

The Origins Podcast interview

Jackson County Commissioners: Does Measure 110 have any benefits?

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I submitted more testimony in reference to the letter CALL FOR THE REPEAL OF THE PROVISIONS ENACTED PURSUANT TO OREGON BALLOT MEASURE 110 (2020) order 192-23.¹

Specifically, I read from Eight Moms, One House, and a Road Map Out of Drug Addiction.

Also see my testimony from Aug 2023 and last week.

Commissioners Proclaim Jackson County’s Call for the Repeal of the Provisions Enacted Pursuant to Oregon Ballot Measure 110 (2020) https://jacksoncountyor.gov/news_detail_T10_R56.php ↩︎

Psilomethoxin, My Case Report (Addendum #2)

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Purely based on subjective experience, I estimate the pharmacodynamics as:

pm <- function(x) 7.5*dchisq(4*(x-.5), 6)

The x axis is hours and the y axis is scaled so that 1 = a capsule of dried Pm mushroom powder.

plot(function(x) pm(x), 0,6, xlab="hours",ylab="capsules")

Using this function, you can estimate the effect of multiple capsules taken at different times. For example, suppose you take 2 at 10am, 1 at 10:45am, 1 at 11:15am, and 1 at 11:45am. If you space out 5 capsules like this then the peak is only about 3.5 capsules worth at 1pm:

Jackson County Commissioners: Rescind Letter Calling for Repeal of Measure 110

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

On Sep 27, Oregon Public Broadcasting published an article, “Study says drug decriminalization in Oregon did not cause more overdose deaths”¹

Three years after Oregon voters elected to decriminalize drugs, a new study has concluded that the first-in-the-nation law has not led to increased drug use or drug overdoses. The conclusion counters an increasingly common narrative that Oregon’s drug problem is unique in the country — and that decriminalization is to blame.

Why I loath the Southeastern United States

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I spent about a decade in the Southeast. I lived in Charlottesville, VA from 2011 to 2017 and in Richmond, VA from 2017 to 2021. Although I identify as one of the most privileged demographics, a white heterosexual man, I suffered from the racism of the Southeast. There is a subtle vibe of cruelty that taints everything from wealthy suburbs to the decaying downtown. I am so glad to leave that place.

Bruce Levine on the crisis of contemporary psychiatry

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Bruce Levine is one of my personal heros.

Interviewed by Mollie Adler on August 22, 2023

Does APA membership carry a stigma?

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I’m not a big fan of the American Psychological Association.

“Doing Harm”: Roy Eidelson on the American Psychological Association’s Embrace of U.S. Torture Program

Psilomethoxin, My Case Report (Addendum #1)

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I have had IFS sessions with one client on multiple occasions with a self-administered psycholytic dose of psilomethoxin (Pm). In addition, I have shared Pm with five people Z, M, W, K1, and K2. What surprised me most from this exploration is that Pm seems to have a built-in exit valve. Or from the opposite point of view, the user only experiences the effects of Pm when focused inside. If you focus outside then you can completely miss the effects. For traditional psychedelics, an exit valve is an aspiration.¹ For Pm, it seems already built-in!

Universal Basic Income

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Universal basic income (UBI) is a social and economic policy concept that entails providing all residents of a country with a regular and unconditional financial payment from the government. This payment is designed to cover essential living expenses and ensure a basic standard of living, irrespective of a person’s employment status or income level. The primary aim of UBI is to alleviate poverty, reduce inequality, and provide a safety net in the face of technological advancements that might disrupt traditional job markets.

Response to Jackson County Commissioners Call for the Repeal of Measure 110

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Response to letter dated 09 Aug 2023 by Jackson County Commissioners CALL FOR THE REPEAL OF THE PROVISIONS ENACTED PURSUANT TO OREGON BALLOT MEASURE 110 (2020) order 192-23.¹

“Since Measure 110 was passed, there has been a dramatic increase in overdose deaths in Oregon. In 2020, there were 585 overdose deaths. In 2021, that number increased to 917.”

It is too early to evaluate the effect of Measure 110 on overdose deaths. “It wasn’t until September of 2022 that the Oregon Health Authority announced funds had gone out to each county in the state.”²

“Measure 110 has reduced the deterrent effect of drug laws, making it more likely that people would use drugs.”

Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The average professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, and then goes to sleep, unaware that he or she has likely committed several federal crimes that day. Why? The answer lies in the very nature of modern federal criminal laws, which have exploded in number but also become impossibly broad and vague. In Three Felonies a Day, Harvey A. Silverglate reveals how federal criminal laws have become dangerously disconnected from the English common law tradition and how prosecutors can pin arguable federal crimes on any one of us, for even the most seemingly innocuous behavior. The volume of federal crimes in recent decades has increased well beyond the statute books and into the morass of the Code of Federal Regulations, handing federal prosecutors an additional trove of vague and exceedingly complex and technical prohibitions to stick on their hapless targets. The dangers spelled out in Three Felonies a Day do not apply solely to “white collar criminals,” state and local politicians, and professionals. No social class or profession is safe from this troubling form of social control by the executive branch, and nothing less than the integrity of our constitutional democracy hangs in the balance.

Woman with dreads

Mon, 15 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A drawing of an african woman with dreadlocks, in the style of poodlepunk, luminous shadowing, genderless, anime-inspired, handsome

Psychedelic use by facilitators

Wed, 03 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract: The use of psychedelics in therapy may benefit both the client and the facilitator, and there is a debate about whether facilitators should have personal experience with the substance. While some traditions expect the facilitator to partake in the same dose as the participants, modern medicine expects the facilitator to remain sober. Facilitator sobriety is important to attend to the risks associated with psychedelic use, while communal use of the substance may increase empathy and compassion. Further research is needed to determine the circumstances in which facilitator sobriety or communal use is appropriate.

Psilomethoxin, My Case Report

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

At the end of 2022, a new psychedelic became available. Psilomethoxin (Pm) offers a subjective experience similar to MDMA, but without MDMA’s stimulant-like effects.

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In 1965, Marc Julia’s group at the Pasteur Institute synthesized psilomethoxin (Pm) from ortho-vanillin extracted from the Mexican vanilla orchid. The molecule was never bioassayed nor preserved as a reference sample, and that is how things stood for decades. The synthesis of Pm is an intricate and time-consuming process, with some chemists claiming that it would take a month. In approximately 2005, Alexander Shulgin published an article on his website Cognitive Liberty wherein he theorized that Pm might be produced by feeding 5-MeO-DMT to Psilocybe mushroom substrates. In late 2021, Ian Benouis discovered the Shulgin article, tried it, and found that it worked. Pm is chemically similar to 5-MeO-DMT, with the mere addition of a 4-hydroxyl group. The psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT is not orally active and is typically vaporized for inhalation. When inhaled, the experience lasts for 10-20 minutes. Pm is thought to be an orally active version of 5-MeO-DMT.¹

Fiber is not necessarily fibrous

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In nutrition science, the word fiber refers to the type of carbohydrate that the body can’t digest. This definition of fiber is so different from the kind of fiber found in many plants that they might as well be completely different words.

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Coconut coir fibers are obtained from the outermost layer of the husk. They are typically light brown in color, durable, and resistant to water.

A Relativistic Theory of Consciousness (2022)

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The most ordinary and obvious of experiences, the first person perspective, has puzzled scientists and philosophers for centuries.

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In recent decades, the scientific study of consciousness has significantly increased our understanding of this elusive phenomenon. Yet, despite critical development in our understanding of the functional side of consciousness, we still lack a fundamental theory regarding its phenomenal aspect. There is an “explanatory gap” between our scientific knowledge of functional consciousness and its “subjective,” phenomenal aspects, referred to as the “hard problem” of consciousness. The phenomenal aspect of consciousness is the first-person answer to “what it’s like” question, and it has thus far proved recalcitrant to direct scientific investigation. Naturalistic dualists argue that it is composed of a primitive, private, non-reductive element of reality that is independent from the functional and physical aspects of consciousness. Illusionists, on the other hand, argue that it is merely a cognitive illusion, and that all that exists are ultimately physical, non-phenomenal properties. We contend that both the dualist and illusionist positions are flawed because they tacitly assume consciousness to be an absolute property that doesn’t depend on the observer. We develop a conceptual and a mathematical argument for a relativistic theory of consciousness in which a system either has or doesn’t have phenomenal consciousness with respect to some observer. Phenomenal consciousness is neither private nor delusional, just relativistic. In the frame of reference of the cognitive system, it will be observable (first-person perspective) and in other frame of reference it will not (third-person perspective). These two cognitive frames of reference are both correct, just as in the case of an observer that claims to be at rest while another will claim that the observer has constant velocity. Given that consciousness is a relativistic phenomenon, neither observer position can be privileged, as they both describe the same underlying reality. Based on relativistic phenomena in physics we developed a mathematical formalization for consciousness which bridges the explanatory gap and dissolves the hard problem. Given that the first-person cognitive frame of reference also offers legitimate observations on consciousness, we conclude by arguing that philosophers can usefully contribute to the science of consciousness by collaborating with neuroscientists to explore the neural basis of phenomenal structures.

The Case Against Reality (2019)

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Just when you thought that science and spirituality were hopelessly irreconcilable, cognitive psychologist Donald Hoffman proposes a very interesting perspective.

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Hoffman, D. (2019). The case against reality: Why evolution hid the truth from our eyes. WW Norton & Company.

Tim Ferriss interview Apr 13, 2022

Lex Fridman interview Jun 12, 2022

The Convergence of Science and Spirituality | Donald Hoffman & Rupert Spira Mar 26, 2023

Hoffman, D., Prakash, C., & Chattopadhyay, S. (2023). Conscious Agents and the Subatomic World

The alphabet versus the goddess (1999)

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Many assume that the invention of a phonetic alphabet only brought benefits. In a somewhat speculative reassessment of history, Shlain makes the case that the phonetic alphabet advanced lawyer-style thinking that greatly facilitated the justification of violence. The book is unlikely to be 100% true, but also unlikely to be 100% false.

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Shlain, L. (1999). The alphabet versus the goddess: The conflict between word and image. Penguin.

Have kids?

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Have kids? #

Global fertility rates are declining, with over half of all countries and territories below replacement level in 2021. Since 2000, fertility declines have varied widely, and only a few countries saw slight rebounds, none reaching replacement level.¹ In contemporary society, many traditional reasons for having children are increasingly challenged by evolving cultural and personal priorities.

Dwindling justification #

The natural biological drive to reproduce has historically ensured the continuation of genes and lineage. However, advancements in family planning technology, particularly hormonal birth control for women,² have largely decoupled sex from procreation. This separation has given individuals greater control over their reproductive choices, reducing the role of instinct.

Posture and Gesture

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Posture and Gesture #

Introduction #

Among many other effects, sensitivity to posture and gesture are greatly enhanced by 5-HT2A receptor agonists such as daime.¹ I have made some study of reverent static poses. 🔬 Before detailing my findings, I want to emphasize that I have not made an exhaustive search. There may be other postures and gestures worth exploring. Furthermore, I have not studied dynamic poses (e.g., mimicking the flapping and soaring of eagle wings with your arms 🪽). The postures listed here are intended as static poses like the regular two-handed namaskar gesture.

Study

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Study Title: Double-blind randomized cross-over study of Psilocybe with and without 5-MeO-DMT enrichment: feels different?

This is how you agree to join the study. If you are curious, please read this consent agreement carefully before you decide to participate.

Introduction: In September 2021, attorney Ian Benouis tried growing a new type of psychoactive mushroom. He gave it to several spiritually inclined people who use psychedelics, and some of them judged it to be an important new psychoactive. Benouis and his collaborator, Greg Lake, called this fungi “psilomethoxin.” However, some who tried a sample didn’t feel it was any different from regular magic mushrooms (psilocybin/psilocin). While others discerned no noticeable subjective effect at all.