Don't be intimidated by the math in the title. If you can sing in the shower, you can do this math. As Broadway Joe used to say, "I guarantee it."
Third millennium mathematical physics suggests that, fundamentally, spacetime is discrete and, consequently, reality is process. For us ordinary mortals, the game of life is the process that is most meaningful. And to the best of our knowledge, it is played for keeps. If this rings true for you, read on. Otherwise, if free will is too burdensome for you, because it demands accountability for one's actions, you must seek fulfillment from your faith-based fatalism as you see fit. Perhaps those heavenly maidens will float your boat. For me, a bush in the hand makes more sense.
So what kind of game is life? It's a zero sum game. The currency is negative entropy, of which there is a finite supply. The ultimate goal is to utilize available currency so as to maximize happiness and minimize regrets. Taken together, this constitutes an optimization strategy for the process of life, the only real game in town. Now for the math.
First and foremost, you need to maximize, or at least accentuate, the positive. This is the part most people are familiar with, which is why our society is known as the consumer society. We consume a portion of our negative entropy for things that bring us joy and satisfaction. Every individual can intuit what will get them satisfaction, and at least in America, our Constitution guarantees that, within reasonable constraints, we can pursue our dreams. But this is only part of the optimization equation.
You also have to eliminate, or at least minimize to the best of your ability, the negative. Remember, risk/reward analysis is your friend. Whatever your personal criteria, which may include the thrill of living on the edge of disaster, prudence and the finality of the ultimate disaster demand attention to whether or not the perceived reward is worth the risk it entails. My own opinion is that final regrets should be avoided at significant cost.
A bit more tricky, however, is latching on to, or as the younger generation says, "hooking up with," the affirmative. We've all heard the expression, "It seemed like a good idea at the time." Well, that is generally an understatement, a bit of gallows humor after the good idea has become a shitstorm. But, hey, if it was all easy pickin's what fun would it be? Just don't make it a habit of betting on a losing proposition.
And then there is the most difficult part of the game. It is not always clear what is beneficial or detrimental to your personal goals. Once you have estimated (remember, you can't be certain about anything) that you have discretionary negative entropy, that which remains after you have paid adequate attention to your own (and that of those you care most about) health, welfare, and happiness, how best to spend your discretionary currency? Most of us seek guidance from those we admire and in whose judgment we have confidence. We look to our heroes, our leaders, our role models.
Be sure you are looking through clean spectacles, with your prefrontal cortex intact and switched on. Do you really want the likes of Cindy Sheehan, Rosy O'Donnell, Barbra Streisand, The Dixie Chicks, Sean Penn, and all the rest of the Holyshitwoods telling you what is good for you and your country? Just because they are celebrities? These people have negative IQ (a polite way of saying f*cking idiots). Don't waste precious negative entropy on what may or may not be good for you and yours. Don't mess with Mister In-Between.
Third millennium mathematical physics suggests that, fundamentally, spacetime is discrete and, consequently, reality is process. For us ordinary mortals, the game of life is the process that is most meaningful. And to the best of our knowledge, it is played for keeps. If this rings true for you, read on. Otherwise, if free will is too burdensome for you, because it demands accountability for one's actions, you must seek fulfillment from your faith-based fatalism as you see fit. Perhaps those heavenly maidens will float your boat. For me, a bush in the hand makes more sense.
So what kind of game is life? It's a zero sum game. The currency is negative entropy, of which there is a finite supply. The ultimate goal is to utilize available currency so as to maximize happiness and minimize regrets. Taken together, this constitutes an optimization strategy for the process of life, the only real game in town. Now for the math.
First and foremost, you need to maximize, or at least accentuate, the positive. This is the part most people are familiar with, which is why our society is known as the consumer society. We consume a portion of our negative entropy for things that bring us joy and satisfaction. Every individual can intuit what will get them satisfaction, and at least in America, our Constitution guarantees that, within reasonable constraints, we can pursue our dreams. But this is only part of the optimization equation.
You also have to eliminate, or at least minimize to the best of your ability, the negative. Remember, risk/reward analysis is your friend. Whatever your personal criteria, which may include the thrill of living on the edge of disaster, prudence and the finality of the ultimate disaster demand attention to whether or not the perceived reward is worth the risk it entails. My own opinion is that final regrets should be avoided at significant cost.
A bit more tricky, however, is latching on to, or as the younger generation says, "hooking up with," the affirmative. We've all heard the expression, "It seemed like a good idea at the time." Well, that is generally an understatement, a bit of gallows humor after the good idea has become a shitstorm. But, hey, if it was all easy pickin's what fun would it be? Just don't make it a habit of betting on a losing proposition.
And then there is the most difficult part of the game. It is not always clear what is beneficial or detrimental to your personal goals. Once you have estimated (remember, you can't be certain about anything) that you have discretionary negative entropy, that which remains after you have paid adequate attention to your own (and that of those you care most about) health, welfare, and happiness, how best to spend your discretionary currency? Most of us seek guidance from those we admire and in whose judgment we have confidence. We look to our heroes, our leaders, our role models.
Be sure you are looking through clean spectacles, with your prefrontal cortex intact and switched on. Do you really want the likes of Cindy Sheehan, Rosy O'Donnell, Barbra Streisand, The Dixie Chicks, Sean Penn, and all the rest of the Holyshitwoods telling you what is good for you and your country? Just because they are celebrities? These people have negative IQ (a polite way of saying f*cking idiots). Don't waste precious negative entropy on what may or may not be good for you and yours. Don't mess with Mister In-Between.
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