TED Talk, Nick Bostrom on Existential Risk

Here is an interesting talk given by Nick Bostrom of Oxford on humanity's existential risk of extinction. 

Higher! (microstory)

Higher!  

“I’m sorry Dr. Fiain, your funding from the High Ministry has been denied.  They think there is no point to see what is on other side of the æther.” 

“Well, I’ll have to find another way” replied Fiain to the Official. 

Fiain exited the room and walked to an awaiting vehicle.  He undocked and distractedly punched the collective to rise.  He rose a little too quickly and was greeted by a holler “hey, you’re in my air-space jerk!”  He sheepishly slowed the ascent and then redirected his ship toward Bubble 3258, where his abode was.  Upon docking he was met by a young slender figure who said “Sorry it didn’t go too well today at the Ministry.”

Taken aback Fiain said “I’m sorry, who are you?”

“Just call me Captain Veineas,” she replied.

Fiain:  “How do you know me?  How do you know about my project?” 

V:  “Other interests within the Ministry have differing views on your project and have sent me to help you to build a ship.  I am part of the ship-works research division.” 

F:  “Ok, but without resources, we aren’t getting anywhere.”

V:  “Well, a sponsor in Bubble 9 has seen fit to give you anything you need for your project.” 

F:  “Bubble 9?  That’s the head office of the æther-mining authority.  Why do they want to help me?  Well, nevermind, I suppose one can’t be choosy in the matter, so let’s get started.” 

Some time later:

F:  “Did you check to make sure the shell can take the pressure?” 

V:  “Yes, the ship will work as expected.” 

F:  “We don’t know what is on the other side so have to be ready for anything.   Let’s start her up.” 

Captain Veineas pushed the control lever to ‘ascend,’ the craft shuddered slightly and the crew felt a light crush from the acceleration upward. 

V:  “25km…40km…50km…”

F:  “What the!,…the æther is starting to fade!” 

V:  “65km…75km…100km”

F:  “What is that?!”

V:  “It appears to be a large source of light.”   

F:  “But everywhere else is black, uh, wait I see something, there are other tiny dots of light everywhere.   What are we looking at?”

V:  “Not sure.  We are beaming back the feed to scientists in Bubble 9.  They are conferring to propose some hypotheses.  One thinks the source of light might be where all the light comes from to illumine our bubbles.  They know that when we descend, the æther gets darker and hotter to the point we can’t descend further.  A few expeditions tried to go deeper but never returned.  Our feeds similarly just stopped working, probably from the heat.” 

F:  “We can see farther, the horizon looks curved, what does that mean?”

V:  “Bubble 9 thinks it may curve around back to itself”

Fiain:  “Meaning?”

Veineas: “That we live on a spherical plane.” 

Dr. Fiain and Captain Veineas sat looking out the window to the puzzling scene before them.

-------------------

Romanov awoke to his alarm blaring ‘Yeah, baby, she's got it I'm your Venus, I'm your fire at your desire.’  Always with an ironic sense of humor, he programmed his phone to alert him of any new anomalies picked up by probe Venera-D.  His older colleagues got a kick out of his love of U.S. ‘80s music.  ‘It must remind them of the good ol’ days.’ thought Romanov.   He arrived at the Venera-D control mission and started looking at the data feeds.  He couldn't believe his eyes.  On the screen he saw pictures of a strange alien craft rising out of the mists of Venus’ atmosphere.  By his desk, he kept a bottle of wine he had been saving for the right occasion.  “Well, might as well celebrate”, he said to no one in particular.   Some had speculated that early Venus had harbored life but had since been rendered lifeless due to its hellish surface.  He thought to himself, ‘Maybe if the transformation were slow enough, then life might have adapted itself to living not on the surface but to living in the thick atmosphere at more hospitable heights.’  He drifted into further thought humming some cheery 80s tune.

Inheritance (micro-story)

"I'm gonna do it!" Great-grandmother cried aloud. 

"Do what?" Her great-grandson asked.

"I'm going off-world, to Mars" she beamed. 

"But that's so dangerous!" he looked concerned, "Why would you needlessly risk your life like that?"

"Well, that's the point actually."  She replied. 

"But you have so many years left.  Why not wait a little longer, maybe 50 more years, until they can make it safe."  He admonished.

"I don't want safe, Ethan.  I want some excitement, like back in the good ol' days." 

"Like when people died so young? How did you stand it, people just dying like that, such a waste."  Ethan replied.   

"Well, it made one appreciate life more, that's for sure.  No one seems to appreciate life anymore, 'cept maybe those offworlders.  Why should they have all the fun, anyways?"

He tried another tack to dissuade her.  “Is it that you miss Gramma?”

“Of course I miss her” she shot back, a look of sadness passing over her face.  “I’m starting to think she had a point, but clearly she went down the wrong path.”  Ethan’s grandmother had joined up with the rebels who espoused antiquated notions of aging and death.  Great-grandmother had remembered sorrow from when she was young when her grand-parents and parents passed.  Her daughter’s death stirred this long fallow feeling again.       

To distract herself, she got up and strode to the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of Nano-CRUNCH!, the latest brand of anti-aging nanobot cereal.  'Delicious, doesn't upset your stomach' shouted the label.

On the box shone the all too familiar nano-hazard warning sign.  A triangle enclosed an eyeglass facing a dust speck betokening the infinitesimal size of the danger.  Early pioneers of these life-extending technologies were sued into bankruptcy after several deaths were attributed to the literally cutting-edge nanotech.  Befuddled judges based damages on a theoretical unlimited lifespans unexpectedly cut short.  A bad precedent, as newly super safety-conscious citizens and governments clamored for more and more stringent safety standards. 

Ethan tried again "Look, maybe you should talk to the family about this?"

"Aren't YOU my family?"

"What about Mom, Uncle Dan and Aunt Jenn?" 

"What, so I can stick around and solve their problems for them?  No thanks, they need to grow up a little bit.  Maybe with no adult supervision, they can finally figure things out.  Besides I've already made arrangements, I'm taking the next launch this weekend."

At this Ethan almost choked.  But he quickly regained his composure. 

"What about great-grandpa?  Did you at least talk to him?"  He insisted.

"Why do I have to get his permission?  Our contract was only for 50 years and that expired a decade ago.  Though he is fun to have around nowadays, I'll miss that."  She smirked.

Ethan blushed.  The side-effects of renewed youth.

"Maybe in a few years he'll come along.  By the way, didn’t you hear the news?"  Great-Grandmother added.

"What news?"  Ethan asked.

"He and his new contract-wife Amara just had twin sons.  Serves him right, the old codger."

"Codger?"  Ethan said confused.  Another one her old-fangled words.  At times, it was as if they spoke different languages.  When she and her friends got together, he couldn’t understand their conversation half the time.  Though everyone appeared to be a youthful 30 year old, one could still tell from which era each grew up just by speech and mannerisms. 

"An old man who...um, nevermind."

"Well then, I'll send a few gifts to my new Great Uncles."  Ethan knew his great-grandmother was rather old-fashioned in her familial expectations.  “So there’s nothing I can do to discourage you from your decision?”  He did know she had always had a stubborn streak. 

“You know me, once I get something in my head.” she smiled. 

“Well, I will miss you, maybe if you get bored over there, you can come back to visit us.” 

“Or maybe by then, we’ll have Jupiter’s moons sorted out and I’ll jump on over there.”  She half-joked.

A look of horror passed over his face.  “But I’ll be sure to swing by here first.” she appeased.

Conceding, he changed the subject.  “I have some news of my own” he told her. 

“Good news, I hope.” She replied. 

“The best, my daughter Sara is going to have a baby!  I’m going to be a grandfather!”  Ethan exclaimed.

“You’re going to be such a wonderful grandpa, being a grandparent is so rewarding.”  She responded.

“Congratulations to you too, Great-Great-Great Gramma!” he grinned.

The Message podcast

Hat tip to Radiolab for introducing a podcast series entitled "The Message" which is a eight-part story of cryptologists who try to decode a 70-year old alien message. 

In Defense Acquisition, challenges are universal

Here is interesting thought-piece from Defense Acquisition University showing that defense acquisition challenges are universal.

Travel Review of Red Ares Resort and Spa (microstory)

July 23, 2143 Travel Review of Red Ares Resort and Spa, user rated as 4.5 stars

All I can say is that the last 14 days at the Red Ares Resort at Melas Chasma were nothing less than fantastic. It is perhaps the best vacation me and my husband have ever had. Upon arrival to the property, we were greeted with such an indescribable view of the canyon. We were shown to our canyon-side room. A beautiful bouquet of Geneticon snapping tulips™ was left in the room. Throughout our stay, the staff were impeccable and could almost read our minds. On our first day or “sol” as the locals call them, we just settled in and adjusted to the gravity. 
On our third sol at the resort, we made our first excursion to the canyon. The resort has an aerostat to take tourists on aerial tours of the canyon. To say this was the highlight of the trip is an understatement. The scale of the areography boggles the mind. My husband looked like he had a tear in his eye. Of course he denied it, by I knew better. 
On the sixth sol, we went to the ultra chic restaurant ‘Visage de Mars.’ The waiters explained that all the food was grown hydroponically and aquaponically in closed-system greenhouses. Even the vat grown meat was indistinguishable from the real thing. My husband could hardly keep his paws off of his filet mignon. He literally licked the whole plate. My rack of lamb was likewise delightful. Afterwards we went for a walk in the dome. The moons overhead moved fast but one was almost always a full moon. It was so romantic. 
On the eighth through tenth sols, there was a large dust storm. We made the best of it and took advantage of the spa and other accommodations. I got a relaxing massage and pedicure. My nails really did need it. I also got a haircut and bath. My hair was so much shinier for it. My husband even complimented me. He looked like he was ready to pounce. Down boy! 
I did look forward to when the sun shone again and I was able to see the moons flying past. Finally on the eleventh day, the storm subsided. Once the all clear was given, we went for a run in the dome. It was nice to finally stretch our legs. 
We made several other excursions but the most memorable was to the Olympus Mons Protected Reserve Park. The mountain was so high. Our expedition was to make an attempt to reach the rim of the calderas at the summit but I got sick as a dog so we decided to wait at the base camp while the others went ahead. 
The last few sols of our trip just glided by so fast I can hardly remember them. The people we met were so friendly and kind, we would definitely go again. It was a real treat. I would recommend to anyone on the lookout for a relaxing but certainly unique out-of-this-world experience. 
I rated the resort as 4.5 stars. I would have given 5 but for a small detail. Just too many humans for our liking. In my opinion, they are the real monsters but even werewolves need vacations too, right? 

Invitation (microstory)

“How is the new recruitment campaign working?” Admiral Xan’tur probed.   
Major Brwda’ answered her briskly, “We are finding better and better recruits every year.    Perhaps we are saved after all,” the major hoped out loud.   
“Now we can’t get ahead of ourselves,” she countered.     
“Thanks be to the Great Ranthox, we found them in time,” he replied.
“Indeed.” She switched to a monitor showing a promising one in action.    “Let’s add this one to the others.”

Jaida Dale looks at her cards again.    Two pair—not bad.    But certainly not a sure thing. She looks at her opponents for tells.    Mustache Boy throws a chip down stronger than usual.    No threat.    Baldy hemming and hawing a little too much.
'Hmm, a tough decision, Baldy?' she thinks to herself. ‘Yeah, right.’    “I fold,” she says nonchalantly. ‘Don’t be greedy,’ she repeats to herself揺er ever-present mantra.    The ante goes around; old Baldy suckers the rest into his trap.    He reveals a full house.    She has enough to pay the rent for the month. So she decides to exit the table, bidding “good luck” to the others. After taking her chips to the exchange she looks at the receipt.    “That’s strange.”    She looks at the bottom and it says, “Want to earn 1000 times more?    Go to room 543, bring Alex if you want.”    'How do they know about Alex?' she wonders.
“Don’t be greedy,” she says softly to herself over and over, pacing in front of the elevators.    Biting her lip, she calls Alex, an amateur boxer she’d been seeing off and on for three years.    Always up for an adventure, he arrives and smiles.
“What is big deal?” he murmurs in his Russian accent.    He looks at this strange invitation.    “Worth shot.” He winks.    Standing in front of Room 543, Jaida knocks on the door.   
A cheerful fellow wearing a cape answers the door.    “Welcome to the party!”   
“Why are we here?” Jaida asks.    The five others in the room all shrug their shoulders and hold up their cryptic invitations.
“Don’t know, we were hoping you knew,” answered a rather tough-looking man.    “I’m Eddie, by the way.”   
The others introduced themselves as well.    Jaida quickly found out Eddie was a trafficker of ‘in- demand products’ as he put it.    Cape Man was an aspiring magician.    The three others were a chef, a day trader with a penchant for sports betting, and a con artist.    The wet bar had been fully stocked and a sign told them to help themselves.   
Everyone offered a theory as to why they had been invited.    “This makes no sense.”    Jaida said aloud.    Angelo, the con artist, countered, “Well, in a way, it makes perfect sense.” He went on, “All of our jobs have an element of deception.”       They pondered that.    The Chef protested, “How does my job have anything to do with that?”   
Angelo replied, “I was wondering that, too, you do have to fool people’s taste buds, no?”
The Chef was about to retort, but someone they hadn’t noticed before spoke.  
 “Almost, but not quite.”    Looking directly at the Chef, the newcomer said, “You are here because ‘timing is everything.’”    “Some of you are here because ‘All warfare is based on deception.’”    The speaker then turned to look at the trader and trafficker. “And others are here because logistics and risk are also something to consider.”
“A fan of Sun Tzu, are we?” Angelo enquired.
Jaida interrupted, “This is crazy.    I’m outta here.”    Alex stopped her and said, “Let's hear his offer first?    It interesting, no?” Alex said curiously.
“Well, all right,” she relented.    She looked intently at the stranger, who now appeared to be a beautiful 30-year-old woman, but did not have that air about her. “Well, who are you and what do you want with us?”
“You may not believe me, but let me tell you anyway, and you can make up your own minds.    If you take up my offer, you will be handsomely rewarded.”    She went on, “I am Admiral Xan’tur, from what you know as the Epsilon Eridani system.”
“What the f...?    one of them whispered.
“Angelo made a very astute observation.    My people have evolved past the use of such concepts as deception.    Unfortunately, this leaves us at a severe disadvantage when we are at war with or negotiating with neighboring star systems.”
“Ya think?!” Jaida exclaimed.  “So what’s the offer?” 
Xan’tur replied, “We want to hire you as advisors.”
“We would have to go with you to your planet?”  Eddie asked
“No, but you would be with our fleet,” she replied.
“You’ve got to be joking,” Angelo sneered.
“No, that’s what we need you for, remember?” she replied.  “I’ll give you a week to prepare. My ship is not too far from here.” 
“Where’s your ship, Area 51?”  Jaida joked. 

“Precisely,” came the reply.