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Nikola Danaylov

Socrates Gets Interviewed on the Futurology Podcast

July 12, 2013 by Socrates

https://media.blubrry.com/singularity/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/202337924-singularity1on1-socrates-the-futurology-podcast.mp3

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A few weeks ago I got interviewed on the Futurology Podcast.

During my one hour conversation with show host Jason Peffley we discuss a number of topics such as: how I got to do blogging and podcasting; my time and take on Singularity University in particular and education in general; the wait-and-see vs the proactive approach to the future; the definition of the technological singularity; slow vs hard take-off scenarios; whether I am a futurist or not; my favorite singularity books; the political and economic reality in the US; why life extension technology is so exciting; why I hate Prometheus; pessimism vs optimism…

Here is the original podcast description written by Jason Peffley:

“Instead of running through the top 5 links, this episode is dedicated to interviewing Nikola Danaylov. His site (singularityweblog.com) is periodically discussed here and his podcast has featured some of the biggest names in technology.  Nikola has also studied at the Singularity University.  He now makes his living by blogging, podcasting, and attending singularity related events around the world.”

 

Related articles
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  • 15 Steps Towards Your Podcasting Success: Socrates At Podcamp Toronto 2013

Filed Under: Podcasts Tagged With: Nikola Danaylov, singularity, singularity university, Socrates

Socrates at Newtonbrook Secondary School: Be Unreasonable!

February 28, 2013 by Socrates

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Yesterday I went to speak to a class of grade 12 students from the Newtonbrook Secondary School in Toronto. I have been looking forward to this opportunity to challenge and be challenged by the next generation of bright young minds, and was not going to be prevented from going there, be it by a Canadian winter storm of by any other of life’s tragedies.

Needless to say, I enjoyed speaking to the students very much and hope that they benefit from talking to me as much as I did talking to them.

As always you can listen to or download the audio file above or scroll down and watch the video interview in full. To show your support you can write a review on iTunes, make a direct donation or become a patron on Patreon.

 

My Talking Points for Newtonbrook Secondary School:

Newtonbrook Secondary SchoolI want to begin today by acknowledging your teacher Hermine Steinberg – Hermine doesn’t know what I am going to say today and she probably wouldn’t approve some or much of it. What she certainly knows is that she is taking a risk by inviting me here. And, from my life experience I know that you risk, you take a chance only if you care about something or someone. So I want to recognize her and tell you that you are lucky to have a teacher who is willing to risk for you, because she really cares.

Who am I and why am I here today?

My name is Nikola Danaylov aka Socrates. I am the blogger behind SingularityWeblog.com and the host of the Singularity 1 on 1 podcast.

I get about 50,000 unique visitors per month and have had over half a million downloads of my show.

Two summers ago I was very fortunate to be one of very few people who had the opportunity to go to Singularity University which is located on NASA’s Ames Campus in Mountain View, California. There I met some of the most incredible people in the world such as Steve Wosniak, Ray Kurzweil, Peter Diamandis, Aubrey de Grey and astronaut Dan Barry and had the chance to visit companies like Google, Facebook, Cisco, Tesla and many others.

But enough about me.

I am here to talk about you!

One of the big questions in schools today is: Are students Bored or Apathetic?!

My hypothesis is that students are bored. Just like I was bored when I was in school.

So for the next 40 min or so I will throw some of today’s biggest ideas at you to find out if I am right or wrong. After I am done we will start a conversation where you can say what you think and how you feel.

So, let’s start our conversation with education: the thing about education is that it holds a promise. A promise that was probably told to you by both your parents and by your teachers.

“Do your school work, get good grades in your classes and you will get a good job and a good life.”

Well, I am here to tell you that your school grades don’t matter that much. In fact, they don’t matter at all.

Let me give you 2 examples: Bob McDonald and Jack Andraka.

So, in short, I don’t care that you barely passed or even failed biology or chemistry. You can still reinvent the meaning and the scope of biology, chemistry or anything else you put your mind to it.

As someone who spent a long time in school and has had a few academic awards, I have come to discover that success in school doesn’t mean success in life – neither personally nor professionally.

Education is historical i.e. to say it is retrospective in nature. It is about the past. But what I am here for is to propose that we must look to the future.

And so: Why talking about the future is as important, if not more, than talking about history?!

Let me give you 2 reasons:

1. “We can’t do anything about the past, however. People often excuse this by saying that we know a lot more about the past. But modest efforts have often given substantial insights into our future, and we would know much more about the future if we tried harder.” Robin Hanson

2. It might be that your generation will be the one to steer our civilization at a time of unparalleled peril and promise. At a time when humanity may face immortality or extinction, when we might colonize the stars or go back to the stone age.

And, so, let’s talk about the future:

The biggest trend is Accelerating Change: according to Ray Kurzweil in the next 10 years we are going to experience change equal to the one that used to happen for 1,000 years.

Moore’s Law and the Law of Accelerating Returns

Exponential change – 30 exponential steps down the way takes a billion steps down the road

What are the major fields of accelerating change:

1. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence: from Google’s robot car to killer drones to Deep Blue and Watson

2.  Genetic engineering and Synthetic Bio

Decoding the human genome cost over 3 billion dollars and took many scientists a cooperative effort for over 10 years.

Today you can do that for 2,000 dollars with single machine over 1 day. What does that mean?

That means we might put an end to cancer, create algae that eats pollution or produces oil, or that we could eventually plant a seed that may turn into a house.

4. Explosion in internet and computer users and especially in data: 3 billion internet users exponential explosion of devices i.e. Internet of Things

cheaper, faster, smaller, better – smart phones and everything else

Today’s smartphone most powerful computer of 1985 (War Games computer)

Zetabytes of information: kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte, petabyte, exabyte, zetabyte i.e. 1 with 21 zeros that’s 250 billion DVD’s of information per year

92% of world data was generated in the past 2 years

5. Nanotechnology: being able to build things from the ground up, one atom at a time.

No waste, no energy loss, on the spot, on demand by nanofabricators.

6. 3D printing from jaws, to beaks, to prosthetics and houses

7. Bio printing: Dr. Anothony Atala printed a human bladder from stem cells.

8. Ageing and life expectancy

Cro-Magnon Era: 18 years
Ancient Egypt: 25 years
Ancient Greece: 28 years
1400 Europe: 30 years
1800 Europe and USA: 37 years
1900 USA: 48 years
2002 United States: 78 years

right now every 1 year our life expectancy improves by 3 months

There will be a point when every year our life expectancy will improve by another 1: this is what Dr. Aubrey de Grey calls Longevity Escape Velocity. In simple words that means that we will be able to prolong life indefinitely.

9. Whole brain simulation, whole brain emulation and mind uploading:

Books and music went from material to digital but that is only the beginning. I am here to tell you that whatever can become information will become information.

We are all living software – what Prof. George Church calls the oldest text i.e. DNA.

The trend is that eventually we will transition seamlessly material things into information and, with 3D printing, information back into material objects.

And that includes us!

Mind uploading is not science fiction any more!

10. Transhumanism: the belief that with technology we have and we can continue to improve who we are and what we can do.

Hamlet’s Transhumanist Dilemma

The Transhumanist Manifesto

11. The technological singularity

Definitions of Singularity:

1.     the state of being singular, distinct, peculiar, uncommon or unusual
2.     (mathematics) the value or range of values of a function for which a derivative does not exist
3.     (physics) a point or region in spacetime in which gravitational forces cause matter to have an infinite density; associated with Black Holes
4.     In the technological sense there are many definitions but I will give you one that fits best what we are talking about today:

Intelligence explosion: this intelligence could be enhanced, augmented human intelligence. Or it could be machine i.e. Artificial Intelligence.

So, the question is: what happens when machines becomes smarter than us?

The best answer we have come up with so far is that: “We don’t really know!”

And that is why it is a singularity, it is a point in our future where our ability to predict and model what is likely to happen will fall apart.

So, what does this all mean for you?

Chances are that you are the ones to stand on the edge of the event horizon. You are the generation that might have to steer our civilization at a time of unparalleled peril and promise.

At a time when humanity may face immortality or extinction, when we might colonize the stars or go back to the stone age.

And so, I am here to ask you: “What are you going to do?”

 

Takeaway message:

Education is very important but not the one that others, be it teachers or parents, give to you – it is what you give to yourself.

Thus the diploma that you get will be less and less important than ever before. So I say – take education into your own hands because your education matters the most to you and your life.

Don’t wait for permission from your parents or teachers to change the world. Keep learning and improving.

Build stamina: Life is a marathon, not a sprint. You will fail endless times before you succeed. (Dan Barry had to apply 13 times to NASA but he never gave up on his dream to be an astronaut.)

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

Geroge Bernard Shaw, “Maxims for Revolutionists,” Man and Superman, 1903

So when your teacher or parents ask you to be “reasonable”, I say: “Be very unreasonable!”

Related articles
  • Socrates on the Wow Signal Podcast: Be Unreasonable!
  • 15 Steps Towards Your Podcasting Success: Socrates At Podcamp Toronto 2013

Filed Under: Podcasts Tagged With: Futurism, Nikola Danaylov, singularity, transhumanism

15 Steps Towards Your Podcasting Success: Socrates At Podcamp Toronto 2013

February 26, 2013 by Socrates

https://media.blubrry.com/singularity/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/200211620-singularity1on1-podcasting.mp3

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Nikola DanaylovYesterday I spoke at this year’s edition of the annual Podcamp Toronto at Ryerson University.

Since people often ask me for tips on podcasting, I decided to record my presentation so that it is always available to anyone interested in knowing how I started or what in my view are the most important elements for a successful podcast.

The presentation was filmed by my friend and budding photographer Josh Glover, who was using my own Panasonic GH3 with the 25mm Leica Summilux.

As always you can listen to or download the audio file above or scroll down and watch the video interview in full. To show your support you can write a review on iTunes, make a direct donation, or become a patron on Patreon.

 

 

Fifteen Steps Towards Your Podcasting Success: Socrates at the 2013 Podcamp Toronto 

 

1. Start with the end in mind? Start with why?

Not for the money. Love it. To learn. To prepare. To change the world. To make a difference. 

 

2. Do your homework and start with the right foundation!

How do you do that?

Learn from the best! Studying mediocrity only produces more mediocrity. Success leaves traces. The breadcrumbs are there. All you need to do is find them and follow the path.

For example, in terms of blogging, I learn from and follow Seth Godin, ProBlogger, Copyblogger, David Risley, John Chow and Smart Passive Income.

If you are a total beginner you should start with BecomeABlogger.com. This is a fantastic free video course where all you need to do is provide an email address and get the training videos straight into your inbox.

To learn about podcasting check out PodcastAnswerMan.com and especially his free online course Learn How To Podcast.

To learn video blogging see Gideon Shalwick and especially his free Rapid Video Blogging ebook.

 

3. Buy your own domain and build your online hub there. Never use third-party hosts such as TypePad, Blogger, WordPress.com, PodBean or Libsyn. This way you will have full control over your own content while building domain equity, looking professional, and even saving money.

I suggest hover.com – to register your domain, and then ZippyKid.com – to host your own WordPress site.

For audio hosting, I use and recommend Amazon S3.

For video hosting, you can use YouTube or Vimeo.

 

4. Start an Email List as soon as you start blogging or podcasting. This is and will remain to be your most valuable asset.

I personally use MailChimp and love it. Plus it’s free for users with less than 2,000 subscribers. You really can’t beat that.

 

5. Choose your recording device:

If you are tight on money then you can start with your iPhone or any other smartphone.

I personally started my podcast with the Blue Yeti microphone but after the first 2 or 3 episodes switched to the Rode Podcaster Kit which comes with the desk arm and the shock mount. I am very happy with the Rode and don’t plan to change it any time soon.

In case you plan to do any field recording, and want better quality than what your phone can give you, you should look at the Zoom H1. If you have a bigger budget and want to go for excellent audio quality and many features such as XLR inputs, I recommend TASCAM DR-100mkII. I have used this device too and know it is absolutely top-notch.

 

6. Get the right Software:

To be a podcaster you will need some software to record and edit your episodes. I am a PC user and recommend the following programs: Skype for interviewing people; CallBurner for recording Skype audio, VOD Burner for recording Skype video; Audacity for editing audio; Adobe Premiere Elements 11 for editing video.

 

7. Consider video: 

Youtube is the second largest search engine. So, don’t start with it but keep in mind that, if you are to be as popular as possible, you might have to start video-recording your podcast. The reasons behind that vary from search engine optimization to the fact that you are giving your listeners many ways to consume your content. So a single recording can provide you with 3 types of content: audio, video, and text.

I recommend that you start recording video either with your phone or with a cheap point-and-shoot camcorder. If you want the very best in point and shoot then what you need is a Canon VIXIA HF G20. If that is not enough and you want top-notch picture, which requires extended knowledge and a substantial financial investment, then get a Panasonic GH3.

 

8. Go for quality, not quantity. This applies both to the articles and episodes you post (and their frequency) as well as the audience you are trying to reach. Get 1,000 True Fans and you will be set. (I will go to war for my audience…)

Get the very best experts in the world to speak on your show.

 

9. Write for People not for search engines: SEO is important, so do the basics: tag your images, write smart titles, provide a good meta description of your articles and use a professional blog theme. Once you’ve got that covered – write for real people. It is real people (or lack thereof) who will make you succeed or fail as blogger and a podcaster. (as well as most other things in life.)

I admit that catering to search engine spiders may provide some short-term results. The question is though: What do you do when Google updates their search algorithm and you lose your Page rank placement?! You would have to start catering to people.

Why not start with the right focus, ignore short-term temptations, and write for the long term?

Write for people. Write so that you have a lasting online presence, business, and reputation. (Seth Godin breaks all the SEO rules in the world and still gets half a million readers per day.)

 

10. Be authentic and have integrity! Be honest. Never sell out. Never miss the bad or the imperfect end of things. Once you commit to something – follow through. And follow the evidence no matter where it takes you! When you fail or mess up – admit you made a mistake, own up to it, and take action to remedy the situation.

 

11. Give first, give often, and give a lot without asking or expecting something back. The best way to achieve your dreams is to help others achieve theirs. It is not about you – it is about other people. (e.g. tweet and link even to your competition.)

 

12. Campaign a cause. Don’t market yourself or your product. Set the goal to be making a difference for all – not only your readers or customers, and go after that. If you make a difference people will reward you by reading your blog and buying your product.

 

13. Let others do the marketing for you but be your own representative!

Let the best-known sneezers spread your Ideavirus but realize that only you can be your best brand representative.

 

14. Do the work. There are no shortcuts. So just do the work. (By the way – writer’s block is a myth!)

 

15. Be unreasonable and never give up!… and don’t wait for permission to go after your dreams and change the world. (Dan Barry had to apply 13 times to NASA but he never gave up on his dream to be an astronaut.)

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

Geroge Bernard Shaw, “Maxims for Revolutionists,” Man and Superman, 1903

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Filed Under: Podcasts Tagged With: Nikola Danaylov, podcamp toronto, podcasting

Socrates on the Wow Signal Podcast: Be Unreasonable!

January 31, 2013 by Socrates

https://media.blubrry.com/singularity/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/199098900-singularity1on1-socrates-on-wow-signal-podcast.mp3

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I know how hard it is start a podcast. So when budding podcasters ask me for an interview, I am always looking for reasons to say “Yes.”

This is a re-post of my month-old interview for the Wow Signal Podcast recently started by Paul Carr. Since this is only the 3rd episode ever, the recording is still a bit rough around the edges. Never-the-less, I enjoyed talking to Paul and you might enjoy listening to it too.

During our conversation with Carr we cover a variety of topics such as: transhumanism and the technological singularity; hard and slow take-offs and why I bet on the latter rather than the former; mind uploading and the two major criticisms thereof; pro-sports, performance enhancing drugs, Lance Armstrong and regulation; the Fermi paradox, our civilization’s chance of surviving and colonizing the universe…

I end up the interview with one of my favorite quotes of all time:

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

Geroge Bernard Shaw, “Maxims for Revolutionists,” Man and Superman, 1903

And so that is why I say: Go, be unreasonable!!!

 

P.S. My comments about Lance Armstrong were made a few weeks before his Oprah interview, and during a period when Lance was still vehemently denying any doping whatsoever.

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  • FastForward Radio by The Speculist Puts Socrates In The Spot

Filed Under: Podcasts Tagged With: Nikola Danaylov, Socrates, Technological Singularity, transhumanism

Lincoln Cannon: Are Science and Religion Mutually Exclusive or Complimentary?

December 28, 2012 by Socrates

https://media.blubrry.com/singularity/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/198106085-singularity1on1-lincoln-cannon-on-science-and-religion.mp3

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Lincoln Cannon is not only a software engineer with degrees in philosophy and business but also the president of the Mormon Transhumanist Association.

In my first interview with him, we talked about the compatibility between Mormonism and Transhumanism. In this special edition of Singularity 1 on 1, we debate whether science and religion are mutually exclusive – as I believe, or complementary – as Cannon argues that they are.

So, check out our friendly discussion and judge for yourself but don’t be shy to let me know what you think.

As always you can listen to or download the audio file above or scroll down and watch the video interview in full. To show your support you can write a review on iTunes, make a direct donation, or become a patron on Patreon.

 

Who is Lincoln Cannon?

Lincoln Cannon is a philosopher and programmer, promoting change toward radical flourishing in creativity and compassion through technology and religion. He has over fifteen years of professional experience as a software engineer, Internet marketer, information technologist, and leader of technical teams in the development and integration of web, mobile and management information systems. Lincoln holds degrees in business administration and philosophy. He is married to Dorothée Vankrieckenge, a French national, and is father to three bilingual children. In his spare time, Lincoln serves as president of the Mormon Transhumanist Association.

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Filed Under: Podcasts Tagged With: Lincoln Cannon, Nikola Danaylov, Socrates

FastForward Radio by The Speculist Puts Socrates In The Spot

December 6, 2012 by Socrates

https://media.blubrry.com/singularity/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/197640114-singularity1on1-socrates-on-fastforward-radio-speculist.mp3

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Last Night I did a one hour interview for FastForward Radio by the Speculist. During our conversation with hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon I covered a few topics such as the personal story behind the start of SingularitySymposium.com, SingularityWeblog.com and Singularity1on1.com. I also talked about technology in general and the singularity in particular and shared for the very first time my “technology is a magnifying mirror” thesis for a book I am thinking of writing in 2013.

Program Synopsis: Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon welcome blogger, futurist, and fellow web broadcaster Nikola Danaylov (AKA “Socrates”) to FastForward Radio. Nikola reports daily about major trends in science, technology, and society which indicate big changes to come. He also discusses these changes with some of the world’s most fascinating people on his podcast, Singularity 1 on 1.

You can listen to or download the audio file above. To show your support you can write a review on iTunes, make a direct donation or become a patron on Patreon.

Related articles
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  • No Illusions Podcast: Cameron Reilly Puts Socrates in the Spotlight (singularityweblog.com)

Filed Under: Podcasts, Profiles Tagged With: Nikola Danaylov, singularity weblog, Socrates

10 Tips for Your Blogging Success: Socrates Gets Riled Up at Podcamp Toronto

February 29, 2012 by Socrates

https://media.blubrry.com/singularity/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/192593454-singularity1on1-10-tips-for-your-blogging-success-socrates-at-podcamp-toronto.mp3

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Socrates at Podcamp TorontoLast Sunday I spoke at Podcamp Toronto.

Since I never considered myself to be a successful blogger or podcaster, I wanted to simply introduce people to the concept and ideas behind the technological singularity and transhumanism.

That was the plan. But few things get me riled up more than ignorance posing as true knowledge.

So, given that many of the sessions I attended put forward information which I found to be not merely wrong, but outright detrimental for those who choose to follow it, I had no option but to step up to the plate and set the record straight.

Looking at the video now, I regret to admit that my impassioned near-impromptu presentation may have been a bit too long, too frank and too emotional to be as good as I wanted it to be. But it was genuinely authentic and that is one quality that is harder to learn than good public speaking…

 

Socrates’ Top 10 Blogging and Podcasting Tips:

1. Do your homework and start with the right foundation!

How do you do that?

Learn from the best! Studying mediocrity only produces more mediocrity. Success leaves traces. The breadcrumbs are there. All you need to do is find them and follow the path.

For example, in terms of blogging I learn from and follow ProBlogger, Copyblogger, Entrepreneurs-Journey, David Risley, John Chow and Smart Passive Income.

If you are a total beginner you should start with BecomeABlogger.com. This is a fantastic free video course where all you need to do is provide an email address and get the training videos straight into your inbox.

To learn about podcasting check out PodcastAnswerMan.com and especially his free online course Learn How To Podcast.

To learn video blogging see Gideon Shalwick and especially his free Rapid Video Blogging ebook.

2. Buy your own domain and build your online hub there. Never use third party hosts such as TypePad, Blogger, WordPress.com, PodBean or Libsyn. This way you will have full control over your own content while building domain equity, looking professional and even saving money. (Hosting your podcast at Libsyn for 6 years is a tragedy. Teaching this to others is a crime!)

3. Start an Email List as soon as you start blogging or podcasting. This is and will remain to be your most valuable asset.

I personally use MailChimp and love it. Plus it’s free for users with less than 1,000 subscribers. You really can’t beat that.

4. Go for quality not quantity. This applies both for the articles you post (and their frequency) as well as the audience you are trying to reach. Get 1,000 True Fans and you will be set.

5. Write for People not for search engines: SEO is important, so do the basics: tag your images, write smart titles, provide a good meta description of your articles and use a professional blog theme. Once you’ve got that covered – write for real people. It is real people (or lack thereof) who will make you succeed or fail as blogger and a podcaster. (as well as most other things in life.)

I admit that catering to search engine spiders may provide some short-term results. The question is though: What do you do when Google updates their search algorithm and you lose your Page rank placement?! You would have to start catering to people.

Why not start with the right focus, ignore short-term temptations and write for the long term?

Write for people. Write so that you have a lasting on-line presence, business and reputation.

6. Be authentic! Be honest. Never sell out. Never miss the bad or the imperfect end of things. Once you commit to something – follow through. And follow the evidence no matter where it takes you! When you fail or mess up – admit you made a mistake, own up to it and take action to remedy the situation.

7. Give first, give often and give a lot without asking or expecting something back. Best way to achieve your dreams is to help others achieve theirs. It is not about you – it is about other people. (e.g. tweet and link even to your competition.)

8. Campaign a cause. Don’t market yourself or your product. Set the goal to be making a difference for all – not only your readers or customers, and go after that. If you make a difference people will reward you by reading your blog and buying your product.

9. Do the work. There are no shortcuts. So just do the work. (By the way – writer’s block is a myth!)

10. Never give up!… and don’t wait for permission to go after your dreams and change the world. (Dan Barry had to apply 13 times to NASA but he never gave up on his dream to be an astronaut.)

Filed Under: Podcasts, Video Tagged With: Nikola Danaylov, podcamp toronto, podcasting, Socrates

No Illusions Podcast: Cameron Reilly Puts Socrates in the Spotlight

December 9, 2011 by Socrates

https://media.blubrry.com/singularity/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/190463340-singularity1on1-no-illusions-podcast-cameron-reilly.mp3

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It is only fair that every once-in-a-while Socrates – i.e. “the man with the questions,” ought to get the table turned on him, take the other side of the microphone and answer a few questions himself.

So, when Cameron Reilly asked me to be the next guest on his popular and long-running No Illusions Podcast I was honored and agreed without hesitation.

In 2004 Cameron co-founded the Podcast Network – Australia’s first social media company, which he built into one of the largest independent Australian media sites. In 2007, Reilly was called one of the “40 Biggest Players Of Australia’s Digital Age.” Currently he is a regular speaker on issues surrounding social media, social networking and the future of media in addition to consulting for a number of Brisbane-based companies as their digital strategist.

During my conversation with Cameron we discuss issues such as: my personal history and being born Bulgarian; Canada, Toronto and becoming Canadian; my take on the concept and definition of the technological singularity; the Rapture of the Nerds criticism; the scientific method, science and religion; Moore’s Law; nanotechnology; the potential for dividing humanity into technophile transhumanists and technophobe neo-luddites and all out global war between these two fractions; the pro’s and con’s of being skeptical and using the Socratic method of inquiry.

As always you can listen to or download the audio file above or scroll down and watch the video interview in full. To show your support you can write a review on iTunes, make a direct donation or become a patron on Patreon.

Related articles
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  • Hamlet’s Transhumanist Dilemma: Will Technology Replace Biology?
  • A Transhumanist Manifesto
  • What is the best definition of the Technological Singularity?
  • Charlie Stross on Singularity 1 on 1: The World is Complicated. Elegant Narratives Explaining Everything Are Wrong!
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Filed Under: Podcasts Tagged With: Nikola Danaylov, singularity, Socrates

Don’t Accept Me to Singularity University: My Top 10 Reasons Why I Should Not Be Accepted

March 13, 2011 by Socrates

I am just about ready to submit my application to Singularity University.

Without any doubt, this phenomenal institution offers a totally unique and absolutely bleeding edge, intensive learning program about the exponential growth in a whole spectrum of pioneering technologies and fields such as: AI & Robotics; Nanotechnology; Networks & Computing Systems; Biotechnology & Bioinformatics; Medicine & Neuroscience; Futures Studies & Forecasting; Policy, Law & Ethics; Finance & Entrepreneurship; Energy & Ecological Systems; Space & Physical Sciences. (For more download this brochure).

It is no surprise that thousands of people are applying for it.

Here are 2 minutes of video highlights from the 2010 Graduate Studies opening ceremony:

As part of the application process, one has to submit a short video explaining why one wants to be accepted. However, being a Socrates, I decided to submit a video presenting My Top 10 Reasons Why I Should Not Be Accepted.

This way, if the application committee really heeds my advice, then, there will be one more space for someone else. (If they don’t, then I’m going to have to go)

But, really, who can be better than you?!

However, in order to take advantage of this amazing opportunity you will have to, at the very least, make sure you submit an application before the deadline — March 31st. (You can’t win the lottery, if you don’t buy a ticket, right?)

So, in short: If you want to learn about cool new technologies, meet amazing people, have fun and change the world — don’t waste your time — go send an application! And good luck!

My Top 10 Reasons Why I Should Not Be Accepted

Video Transcript:

Hi,

My name is Nikola Danaylov and I am applying for the 2011 Singularity University Graduate Studies Program. I really appreciate your time and consideration, so I thought I’d make things easier for you and give you my Top 10 Reasons Not To Be Accepted to Singularity University.

So here are my top 10 reasons why I should not be accepted to Singularity University:

10. I am not a scientist. People who know me say that I am good at pattern recognition, strategic analysis and negotiation but chances are I am not going to reinvent the wheel or win the Nobel Prize in theoretical physics.

9. Money: I can’t pay for SingularityU. So why shouldn’t you get someone with equal (or better) qualifications who can actually pay tuition?!

8. Accent: As you can see, English is not my first language. I was born and grew up in Bulgaria but now I live in Canada. The problem with my accent is that sometimes my jokes don’t work. Other times people think I’m joking when I am serious, and this could be a problem.

7. Hard to fit: I don’t always fit. By nature I am a contrarian. A Socrates. A gadfly. Sometimes even a trouble-maker. So, why not get someone who always fits?

6. Scarcity: Let’s face it – despite everything, spots at SingularityU are very scarce. Scholarships are likely even more scarce. Thus if you give one to me you will be taking it away from someone else. Do you really want to do that?!

5. Sense of Humour: Now, perhaps you think I am not so funny, sarcastic or original. Well then, of course, make sure you do get someone who truly is.

4. Age: I am 34 years old but please don’t get me wrong. When I say “Age” I mean to say that deep inside I am still a ten-year-old-kid. So perhaps you ought to wait until, maybe, someday, I will finally grow up and become an adult.

3. Imperfect Record: I have had great academic, professional and other accomplishments in a spectrum of diverse disciplines. But if you look closely you will find out that I don’t have a perfect record.

One of my philosophy professors at the University of Toronto noted that I have a very strong response towards good teaching. The thing is that it goes both ways. That is to say that I have equally strong negative response to poor teaching. So accepting me would involve taking a substantial risk. Why not accept someone who is a sure bet instead. Someone with a perfect record.

2. Leadership: I am often conflicted between being a born individualist and a natural leader. On the one hand, as Mark Twain put it, I feel uncomfortable and begin to reflect whenever I find myself on the side of the majority. On the other hand, I have a record of being a successful leader for a small motivated group of people such as an army platoon or a business team. But I am not a good leader for really big groups. So clearly, this is something I need to work on.

1. Passion: It’s been said that most people live their lives in “quiet desperation.” I believe that the reason is that most people hate what they do. Now, I didn’t start SingularitySymposium.com and SingularityWeblog.com for money, or to get accepted to SingularityU. That is why I am going to continue working on those no matter what. But accepting me, would mean that yet again, I will end up doing something that I truly love. Isn’t it time that I learn to do something that I don’t enjoy?!

So, those were my top 10 reasons not to be accepted. Of course, if you decide to disagree and argue that none of the above ought to prevent me from coming to Singularity University, then, since I’ve already given my best shot at convincing you otherwise, I will have no other choice but to oblige.

Thank you for your time!

***

So, what do you think? Should or shouldn’t I be accepted to Singularity University?

 

Filed Under: Op Ed, What if? Tagged With: Nikola Danaylov, singularity university

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Ethos: “Technology is the How, not the Why or What. So you can have the best possible How but if you mess up your Why or What you will do more damage than good. That is why technology is not enough.” Nikola Danaylov

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