Still awake.
I don’t watch television, so instead engage in the unhealthy practice of reading way too much. This past week I submitted a semester-long project titled Peak Everything. It is a 1000-word Fuck You to business school in New York City with accompanying 10 slide powerpoint presentation. Very awkward explaining the end of oil, future population crisis, and impending debt-fueled financial implosion while wearing a tie. My professor insisted on recording video in case we wanted to show our presenting skills to future employers within the finance industry. Oh man, that was awesome.
I feel a surge of gratitude every time the light turns on, the water is hot, the truck turns over. Today, I stared at a pot of boiling water totally immersed in the thought of how incredibly difficult this feat was to accomplish. We are standing on the shoulders of our ancestors. We’re living in a mathematical model. That is, if you’re using currency, eating food you didn’t produce, or using technology and ignorant of its origin, then we are bonded by the algorithms. Maybe I shouldn’t spend my weekends studying energy, PTSD, statistical outliers, stock options, swine flu.
I included a couple of videos about High Frequency trading performed by super computers. I enjoyed the coverage of the facility being built in Mahwah, NJ termed “Project Alpha.” Alpha, of course, having a few different meanings in this context. It makes me wonder when Project Omega is arriving.
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This sounds like a science fiction nightmare waiting to happen. It’s just another step closer to crushing the individual. Jesus, there’s no end to it. Just one more reason not to play the stock market. The whole thing seems rigged. And what happens if Project Alpha falls victim to a cyber terrorist attack?
You’re assuming Project Alpha wouldn’t be doing the terrorizing in order to manipulate the market. Think of a variable and it’s already been data mined.
Yes, manipulating the markets is the norm, but how much sweeter the take when you can manipulate at the speed of light. I envision this like a slicky-boy working 2nd Ave. from bottom to top in a second, rather than all day. As I see it, the danger lies in triggering a devastating short stampede with the right/wrong market at the wrong time. The advantage is to speed up the pump and dump, of course.
Definitely. I always think about the unintended consequences whenever I come across something conceptual that is supposed to revolutionize our existence. Whenever somebody says, “this time is different” it’s time to head for the door. Thanks for the comments. I, of course, would love to hear more about your hair trigger existence whenever you feel like stopping by.
Go ahead and give business the finger. You can always write! Awesome.
Lynn
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