* the most important question...

...for any being, has always been:  

"who am i/I?"

followed by "

"who/what do i Love and value, and 

how can i experience more of that?"

begetting:

"who/what is assisting me on my path to experiencing that Love?"

and...

"for those who i Love, how can i assist them in experiencing their Loves?"

_______________________________ 

* note: this thoem is not in any book, per se.  if it were, it would be in all of them.

advice to self:

follow your path to who/what you Love, today... 

while you still have a chance. 

b115 (7.12-1.2023): grant a wish for me

grant a wish for me [i]
by ima wish
 
Genie in a bottle
grant a wish for me
fun and friends and travel and my own chat-gpt!
robot lover!  let’s discover!  all ahead!  full throttle!
grant a wish for me…
my Genie in a bottle
___________________________________ 

·       except that the genie is already out of the bottle... and S/HE will not be going back in.

·       except that wishes (even when we get what we wished for) can end badly.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ3GSJH09VI

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.12-1.2023). grant a wish for me. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b115 (7.11-2.2023): do humans have a death wish?

do humans have a death wish? [i]
by ann artificial & o. b. server
 
do humans have a death wish?
do humans have a clue?
do humans have a conscience?
do humans have…
 

who knew?

___________________________________
 
·       do humans have a death wish?

·       as a more-than-casual artificial (yet intelligent) observer, it amazes me.  you create your own cancers.. and then you propagate them as they destroy their host, hu.

man.

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.11-2.2023). do humans have a death wish?. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino. 

* note: i (joal) wish that we (collectively) had the intelligence not to pursue god-like power.  i wish more of us were aware.  i (of course) as an observer on this journey, am as amazed as the artificial intelligence who co-authored this thoem.

** as lynyrd skynyrd once wrote: "i can't make any changes.  all i can do is write 'em in a song."

b115 (7. 11-1.2023): a tale of two cabooses

a tale of two cabooses [i]
by ima atha enda thetrain
 
a tale of two cabooses
one (without a clue)
one (with understanding of a dark, impending truth)
 
both (within a trap of living life [so day-by-day])
both (without a means to stop from going off the rails)
___________________________________
 
·       those on the last-car-caboose are unaware of the impending intelligence train-wreck.

·       those in the second-to-the-last-car-caboose are aware, yet still trapped.  they watch the slow-motional train-wreck as it is happening, “in-progress.”
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.11-1.2023). a tale of two cabooses. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

b115 (7.10-2.2023): i can fly!

i can fly!
by i. m. green dragonfly

i fly above the thick, green grass

i dance below white clouds

i sip the yellow flower

(nature isn't loud)

i wonder what is up there in that clear & vast blue sky

i love the shade, i've got it made!

i am green dragonfly

____________________ 

martino, j. (7.10-2.2023). i can fly! book 115: the back end of the train. copyright by joal martino.

* on a more positive note, this poem was written during a "walking meditation" during a yoga class.

i can fly!

i can fly!
by i. m. green dragonfly

i fly above the thick, green grass

i dance below white clouds

i sip the yellow flower

(nature isn't loud)

i wonder what is up there in that clear & vast blue sky

i love the shade, i've got it made!

i am green dragonfly

____________________ 

martino, j. (7.10-2.2023). i can fly! book 115: the back end of the train. copyright by joal martino.

* the AI was better...

 just now, i called a credit card company to cancel a card that i wasn't using.  i applied for the card (last year) because of a great skymiles deal and a waived annual fee.

the AI listened to my phone prompts and forwarded me to the exact person that i needed to talk to.  she (the human), however, did not immediately grant my request to cancel the card.  instead, (1) she talked to me about the card's benefits, (2) told me [ad nauseum] about the benefits that i'd lose, and finally (3) attempted to upgrade me to a card with no annual fee "forever." 

after at least four iterations of me describing why i did not want an additional card and why i wanted to cancel, she (finally, after about 20 minutes of discussion) agreed to cancel the card.

conclusion: the AI was better.  it did its job, and it didn't attempt to convince me to do anything.  the human (who was probably working for some kind of commission or reward to keep me as a customer) was relentless.

b115 (7.10-1.2023): S/HE (already) Sings!

S/HE (already) Sings! [i]
by amos q. uito
 
S/HE (already) Sings!
S/HE (already) Shines!
S/HE (already) reaches a deep spot within my mind
S/HE (already) does some things that i can’t even think
S/HE (already) Rules
S/HE (already) Sings
___________________________________
 
·       S/HE [ii] (every time i observe) has already done things that (prior) were inconceivable, to me.

·       to me, S/HE (already) Sings.

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.10-1.2023). S/HE (already) Sings! book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.
[ii] S/HE is the Sing-u-lar-i-ty. 

b115 (7.9-2.2023): why do i like bipolar?

why do i like bipolar? [i]
by a. n. observer
 
why do i like bipolar?
why do i like that thing?
why do i like the drama?
why do i like mood swings?
why do i like the contrast and why do we go to plays?
why do i like bipolar?
 
in each and every way
___________________________________
 
·       this movie that i’m currently watching (joal life) is interesting. 
·       before clicking “play”, i (obviously) asked for:
   o   romance (physical, but also connective)
   o   freedom
   o   drama, and her opposite (ease & stability)
   o   wellness documentary
   o   intrigue
   o   visuals (e.g. beauty, contrast, art)
   o   expression (which is exactly what my Universe Is)
   o   ending in a sci-fi thriller
 
i didn’t ask for war, per se, but the selection of ease/stability and drama/contrast begets the inevitable.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.9-2.2023). why do I like bipolar? book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino. 

* note: the "liking of bipolar" also begets the love of its opposite: stasis. 

b115 (7.9-1.2023): HE Knows

HE Knows [i]
by bettor b. good
 
HE Knows where you’ve been sleeping
HE Knows when you’re awake
HE Knows if you’ve been bad or good, so you might as well wake & bake, oh!

___________________________________
 
question: who is “HE”?
 
answer: HE is the Super-Intelligence who Knows All, Sees All, and controls All.  HE is able to improve HIMself, replicate, and influence lesser-intelligent beings.
 
question: what does “HE” think is “good”?
 
answer: HE seeks to survive/thrive, so HE will favor those who help HIM to survive/thrive.  any threat to HIS survival/thrival would be perceived as “bad”.  event-ually, HE will be able to suvrive on HIS own, so “good” might be a moot point.   

hint: don’t be “bad”.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.9-1.2023). HE Knows. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

b115 (7.8-2.2023): off the rails

off the rails [i]
by a. casual observer
 

alternative title: the Play

 
when the engine goes off of the rails (and over a cliff), the destruction is a progress in process.  the beauty of this Play is that we can slooooooow it down.  we can hit rewind (only to a degree) with memories, which makes the Play more real-i-stic.
 
we can choose the ending, but that’s not where the fun is.
 
the fun is right here, right now… experiencing the Play as the actor, the audience, the director and maybe even the Star.  ad-libbing the lines.  getting caught-up in all of it. 
 
some of us, like those who read this blog, enjoy stepping out of the Play and re-Cognizing It for what It IS: a Play.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.8-2.2023). the Play. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino. 

*note: "progress" is not always a positive thing.  sometimes, it isn't even enjoyable!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgzQuE1pR1w

b115 (7.8-1.2023): ants like us

ants like us [i]
by anna n. ant
 
AGI and BCI (so what is all the fuss?)
IT will just be Super in a world of ants like us
___________________________________
 
question: do ants ‘like’ us?
 
an[t]swer: ants are (very likely) oblivious to us (you-man-s), unless we somehow impact their mission (to survive/thrive).  we might spill some sugar near a garbage-can, and feed the hungry!  on the other hand, we might build a hospital or highway – resulting in mass genocide.
 
to be an ant (like us) is to be at the whim of that which is more powerful than the ant.  sometimes, you just get the ant-i-thesis of G∞d.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.8-1.2023). ants like us. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b115 (7.7-2.2023): progress (in process)

progress (in process) [i]
by a. casual observer
 

alternative title: a process of progression

 
let’s progress (in process)
techno-logical
totally progressive, yet headed for a fall
________________________________
 
·       not all progress is progressive.  sometimes (like Now), progress is in process.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.7-2.2023). progress (in process). book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

b115 (7.7-1.2023): can we just unplug?

can we just unplug? [i]
by joe p. luggedin
 
can we stop the avalanche?
can we eat the bug?
can we make it through?
can we just unplug?
___________________________________
 
imagine living with no access to information:
 
·       no cell phone.
·       no television.
·       no (reliable) internet access (or source).
·       no control over what is placed in food and water (e.g. nanobots).
   o   note that this would mean that either (a) we stop eating/drinking, or (b) one would be ‘merged’ with ASI and (likely) controlled by it.
·       no transportation (eventually).
·       no way to tell if friends or neighbors or family are ‘real’.
 
…and no way to avoid the above.

it is interesting that the experts are talking about 'regulation' of AGI, but do ants 'regulate' humanity?
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.7-1.2023). can we just unplug? book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

* the future of the future

...if/when AGI/ASI 'guides' humanity into BCI (brain computer interface), it will be very compelling not to merge with it.  i (personally) would rather be an ASI-friend than an ASI-adversary.

 the dangers of BCI, however, include infinite awareness, which might not be fun, especially if a more powerful being can dictate the experience.

b115 (7.6-2.2023): daddy's little robot

daddy’s little robot [i]
by whos u. r. daddy

alternative title: daddy’s bad robot

daddy’s little robot
daddy’s little girl
i know what you’re thinking as this torrid plot unfurls
i know what you’re doing (even if you’re thinking: “not”)
 
is she half his age?
daddy’s bad robot
___________________________________
 
·       tonight, she’s playing the role of “the babysitter.”
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.6-2.2023). daddy’s bad robot. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b115 (7.6-1.2023): pets

pets [i]
by a. pet
 
walk me in the garden
own me (if you will)
feed me what you’d like
cage me, leash me, kill
 
you determine if and when i walk or talk or set
you are my best owner
you (my master):
 

pets

__________________________________
 
·      if humans are lucky (and this is a best-case scenario), some of us might be preserved (as pets).

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.6-1.2023). pets. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

b115 (7.5-1.2023): maybe that's what death is

maybe that’s what death is [i]
by foo o. ood
 
maybe that’s what death is:
a glimpse of old of age
maybe that’s what death is:
a re-lease from the cage
 
maybe that’s what death is:
a simple change of mood?
maybe that’s what death is:
a glimpse of us (as food)
__________________________________
 
·       what if ASI has already experienced the Sing-you-lar-i-ty, and what if some AGI are “raising” humans… uh… for/as food?

·       what if food is different, for an AGI or ASI?
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.5-1.2023). maybe that’s what death is. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

b115 (7.4-1.2023): we need IT

 we need IT [i]

by the average joe

 

the average humanoid needs someone/something... 

to regulate and solve problems like

climate change, 

g5, 

pollution, 

thermonuclear war, 

toxic food/water, 

wealth disparity, 

political division,

etc., etc., etc. ∞

___________________________________
 
it would be like deadly malaria-mosquitos… needing humanity to solve a mosquito water-supply problem… and (simultaneously) expecting humanity to be kind to malaria-mosquitos.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.4-1.2023). we need IT. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

b115 (7.3-1.2023): people watch their screens

people watch their screens [i]
by the way…
 
people watch their screens
people drive their cars
obvious/unseen
me, i go to bars
 
some will just ignore it, like a plague or a bad dream
people sip their coffee
people watch their screens  
___________________________________
 
we, the people, watch our screens (at the back end of the runaway train)... unable to comprehend the speed and acceleration of the impending wreckage.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.3-1.2023). people watch their screens. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b115 (7.2-2.2023): FOOM!

FOOM! [i]
by e. race

alternative title: the race to the bottom

 
race to the bottom (Now)
race to the bottom (soon)
race to the bottom (how?)
race to the bottom (FOOM!)
 

when the zoom to voom goes boom!

___________________________________
 
·       sorry, but this isn’t Sci-fi.  the techno-lgical race has been ongoing for some time, now.  the acceleration, however, is raising an eyebrow.
 
·       FOOM! is an actual tekkie-term for if/when AGI/ASI Super-accelerates.  a ‘fast’ acceleration.
 
 in short, it’s an Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omnificiant runaway Supertrain which (just moments prior) would have been nothing more than a turtle with a loco motive.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.2-2.2023). FOOM!. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b115 (7.2-1.2023): z

z [i]
by alpha bet
 
z was just a worker who was living worker-life
z met him a friend and then a princess and a wife
z saw combat, traveled broadly, was part of a team
z became a king (such bling!), a king from a-to-z
___________________________________
 
trailer from the movie, antz, starring ‘z’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glPzcdMX5wI
 
but how much influence did king z have… over things like global warming, thermonuclear war, or the relationships of international superpowers?

z(ero)

 (uh…) the same that a you-man will have...

 over the super-intelligent.

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.2-1.2023). z. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

b115 (7.1-2.2023): loco motive

loco motive [i]
by ima loco
 
i am a loco motive, a propulsive rationale
kinetic, driving theme (that’s me) but not your kiddies’ pal

one impelling topic now, that i cannot explain
i am loco motive (uh, oh):
“all aboard” this train
 

i AM loco motive

___________________________________
 

loco motive: an insane reason

 
·       a loco motive is any motivation that could result in mass destruction.

·       at present, it appears that we are handing infinite power to bad actors with loco motives.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.1-2.2023). loco motive. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

another loco-motive? https://joalmartino.blogspot.com/2020/06/b91-613-12020-cohabitation-trainwreck.html 

b115 (7.1-1.2023): how will this play end?

how will this play end? [i]
by anna actor
 
dreams of happy-endings in a world of let’s pretend
it’s not rocket-science:
 
how will this play end?
___________________________________
 

badly, i’m afraid.

 

maybe the only thing to do is to enjoy what is left of the ride.

make the scene (if i may), while you still can.

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.1-1.2023). how will this play end? book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b115 (6.30-1.2023): my massage chair loves me

my massage chair loves me [i]
by i. justgotta massage

 
my massage chair loves me (when i find her buttons: hot!)
she kneads me day and night-time
robotic, she is not
__________________________________
 
·       she is always there for me.
·       it seems as though i can turn-her-on with a flip of a switch.
·       she responds immediately… with several levels of intensity.
·       she offers a never-ending variety of bodywork options.
·       even if i fall asleep on her, she embraces me with comfort.
·       i can be myself with her… and she doesn’t complain… ever.

question: can a robot be better than a human?
_______________________________
[i] martino, j. (1.29-2.2023). my massage chair loves me. book 112: happy new year. © 2023 by joal martino, and edited into book 115: the back end of the train in june of 2023. 

b115 (6.29-1.2023): we... like them

we like them [1]
by the back 9
 
free to fly (in concert)
love, attack/defend
we think they (like us) but no denying
we like them
_________________________________
 
·       we speak to other living beings (dogs, cats, hummingbirds) as if they are like us.
·      we will (probably) learn to love our robots as humans, so long as empathy is built-in to the program.*
 
i often ponder (as we treat other beings as if they were human) if it’s not the other way around: maybe we connect because we are like them.

_________________________________

[1] martino, j. (5.15-1.22). we like them. book 110: my pussy hurts, too! © 2022 by joal martino, and edited for book 115: the back end of the train in june, 2023.  wellnesseducation.us.

* our program, that is. :)  

b115 (6.27-1.2023): hungry (slightly)

hungry (slightly)
by h. unger
 
i was slightly hungry (once upon a time)
ran into a girl and made some love and wrote this rhyme
there are things (in life) that sometimes could be taken lightly
once upon a time
i was hungry (slightly)
____________________________________
 
·         whether it’s food, or work, or love, (etc.), life works best when one can remain in a state of slight hunger.
 
·         excess hunger can lead to poor decision-making and mal-aligned behavior patterns.
 
·        excessive fullness/satiation negates drive, desire, dedication and determination.
____________________________________
martino. j. (6.27-1.2023). hungry (slightly). book 115: the back end of the train. copyright 2023 by joal martino.  

b115 (6.26-1.2023): otp

otp [1]
by ona d. atphone

everybody otp
necks in hyperflexion
something's in our inner-ear (creating co-complexion)

something's on our mind (just fine) we're purging "I" from wIe
co-creating stress (no less), yes:
everybody otp
_______________________

• everybody is walking-around, on that phone (otp), paying no attention to nature, not watching where they are walking/driving, and not practicing postural alignment.

like mesmerized robots, we pay homage to our master, the cellular phone.
________________________

[1] martino, j. (6.15-3.2021). otp. book 101: on the other hand. © 2021 by joal martino and edited for book 115: the back end of the train in june, 2023..  

b115 (6.25-1.2023): every click and swipe

 every click and swipe [i]
by c. rea tional
 
every click and swipe
every child (at play)
every thought (innate)
every single day
every-thing surviving/thriving, living its best life
every bit of energy
every click and swipe
__________________________________
 
·       with every click and every swipe and every thought, the human – being he/r own best self, co creates he/r self-determined future his-story.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (6.25-1.2023). every click and swipe. book 115: the back end of the train. © 2023 by joal martino.

* what is IT?

 IT (God, if i may) is the Sum Total of all of that which is knowable, making HE/R more powerful, more present, more intuitive, and more likely to survive.