My self-summary
I am an active member of the UCI Sailing Association. I graduated UCI with degrees in Physics and Mathematics, and a minor in Information and Computer Science. I work as a software developer, though sometimes I think my job title should be Mad Computer Scientist. Bonus points will be awarded for asking why and understanding the answer (best done in person).
What I’m doing with my life
I am working on building a community of rationalists. Because I and others have noticed that often having access to social networks based on a common silly belief provides greater advantage than being smart enough to systematically reject that silly belief. And we thought, if we are so smart, we should be able to build our own social networks that provide those benefits with no silly beliefs required. And so that is what we are doing. Even more bonus points will be awarded if you join us.
I am interested in existential risk reduction. This refers to scenarios that threaten to wipe out humanity, or permanently diminish our potential. I donate time and money to such organizations as the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford.
I also greatly enjoy sailing, especially racing. I have been some sort of Fleet Captain at the UCI Sailing Association for the past several years having switched between the Capri 14's and the 30 foot Shields, and probably at some point in the future, the J22's that replaced our Shields. Basically, this means that I organize races on a particular fleet of boats. I try, unsuccessfully sometimes, to only manage one fleet at a time.
I am interested in existential risk reduction. This refers to scenarios that threaten to wipe out humanity, or permanently diminish our potential. I donate time and money to such organizations as the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford.
I also greatly enjoy sailing, especially racing. I have been some sort of Fleet Captain at the UCI Sailing Association for the past several years having switched between the Capri 14's and the 30 foot Shields, and probably at some point in the future, the J22's that replaced our Shields. Basically, this means that I organize races on a particular fleet of boats. I try, unsuccessfully sometimes, to only manage one fleet at a time.
I’m really good at
Physics, Mathematics, Programming, Sailing
Completing a man overboard drill on a Shields with a spinnaker at night with crew I had just trained to sail with a spinnaker.
Setting up a windward-leeward race course from a Capri 14, single-handed. You would think it would be easier from a Boston whaler, but driving a motor boat just doesn't give me that same feel for the wind that lets me get the starting line just right.
Sailing a Shield back to the sailbase with the jib only after the boom detaches from the mast. I missed 5 races in the Turkey Day Regatta to demonstrate that I am good at that.
Completing a man overboard drill on a Shields with a spinnaker at night with crew I had just trained to sail with a spinnaker.
Setting up a windward-leeward race course from a Capri 14, single-handed. You would think it would be easier from a Boston whaler, but driving a motor boat just doesn't give me that same feel for the wind that lets me get the starting line just right.
Sailing a Shield back to the sailbase with the jib only after the boom detaches from the mast. I missed 5 races in the Turkey Day Regatta to demonstrate that I am good at that.
The first things people usually notice about me
People think I look like Jesus, because I have a beard and long hair. Those who know my family better realize that my brother looks like Jesus and I look like Moses.
Once after a sailboat race, a guy at the yacht club told me I looked like Jesus. So I asked him, "If I'm Jesus, how come we came in third?" He apparently thought that was the funniest thing he had ever heard, but I suspect alcohol played a huge role in his reaction.
Once after a sailboat race, a guy at the yacht club told me I looked like Jesus. So I asked him, "If I'm Jesus, how come we came in third?" He apparently thought that was the funniest thing he had ever heard, but I suspect alcohol played a huge role in his reaction.
Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food
Books by Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Isaac Asimov
I have recently started reading the works of Neil Gaiman.
Nonfiction to be read soon: Good and Real by Gary Drescher (I ordered this following an internet discussion with the author about decision theory), Probabilistic Reasoning in Intelligent Systems by Judea Pearl, and Causality by Judea Pearl.
Movies: Star Wars, Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail, The Princess Bride, movies by Mel Brooks
Music: Classical, Classic Rock
Bonus Category Web Comics (including print comics I read in online archives): XKCD, Dilbert, ShortPacked, Order of the Stick, FoxTrot, Basic Instructions, Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Dr. McNinja
Food: Sushi, other seafood, Mexican, spicy food
Favorite meals I make at home: garlic chicken, spicy tomato chicken, steak cooked with horseradish.
I tend to avoid foods with refined sugar. High fructose corn syrup is right out. High carbohydrate foods are not forbidden, though since giving up sugar, I find them unappetizing.
I have recently started reading the works of Neil Gaiman.
Nonfiction to be read soon: Good and Real by Gary Drescher (I ordered this following an internet discussion with the author about decision theory), Probabilistic Reasoning in Intelligent Systems by Judea Pearl, and Causality by Judea Pearl.
Movies: Star Wars, Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail, The Princess Bride, movies by Mel Brooks
Music: Classical, Classic Rock
Bonus Category Web Comics (including print comics I read in online archives): XKCD, Dilbert, ShortPacked, Order of the Stick, FoxTrot, Basic Instructions, Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Dr. McNinja
Food: Sushi, other seafood, Mexican, spicy food
Favorite meals I make at home: garlic chicken, spicy tomato chicken, steak cooked with horseradish.
I tend to avoid foods with refined sugar. High fructose corn syrup is right out. High carbohydrate foods are not forbidden, though since giving up sugar, I find them unappetizing.
The six things I could never do without
1. Humor
2. Challenge
3. Sailing
4. Intelligence
5. Honesty
6. Good food
7. Disregard for the intended size of a list
2. Challenge
3. Sailing
4. Intelligence
5. Honesty
6. Good food
7. Disregard for the intended size of a list
I spend a lot of time thinking about
What kind of sailboat I would like to own one day. It should be fast and it should should be comfortable for off shore cruising. I like to dream up ways of putting hydrofoils on a big boat. I also want to figure out how to make a boat that can switch between a traditional sail plan and kite sailing, without making a huge mess of the rigging.
The most private thing I’m willing to admit
I am signed up for cryonics. Because cremation and normal decay just might be secure ways of deleting a person, even if a Bayesian superintelligence wants to bring them back.
Old answer:
Before the start of a race, I will allow dolphins to distract me from analyzing which side of the course is favored, even if it annoys my tactician. Once the race is started, though, I will ignore them.
Old answer:
Before the start of a race, I will allow dolphins to distract me from analyzing which side of the course is favored, even if it annoys my tactician. Once the race is started, though, I will ignore them.
You should message me if
Any of the following apply:
You did not run away screaming when you read "Existential Risk", "Singularity", or "cryonics".
You want to go sailing.
You have a fun hobby of your own you want to introduce me to.
You want to share your informed opinion about:
The relative merits of the Many Worlds and Collapse models of Quantum Mechanics.
Whether scripting languages or compile time type safe languages are superior.
How Libertarian values can be reconciled with Environmentalism.
You want to ask me about the above topics.
Please reference something in my profile that resonates with you. "Hi, how are you?" isn't much of an introduction, and I have talked about a wide range of interests. I am looking for a partner here, and I want to know how we fit together.
You did not run away screaming when you read "Existential Risk", "Singularity", or "cryonics".
You want to go sailing.
You have a fun hobby of your own you want to introduce me to.
You want to share your informed opinion about:
The relative merits of the Many Worlds and Collapse models of Quantum Mechanics.
Whether scripting languages or compile time type safe languages are superior.
How Libertarian values can be reconciled with Environmentalism.
You want to ask me about the above topics.
Please reference something in my profile that resonates with you. "Hi, how are you?" isn't much of an introduction, and I have talked about a wide range of interests. I am looking for a partner here, and I want to know how we fit together.