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Reflection

Consider previous tech earthquakes - the Wright brothers took mankind into the skies in 1903. By 1969 mankind was on the moon. In just 66 years (well within a typical lifespan), our horizons had expanded from propelling across continents to propelling towards outer space. At the current pace of AI advancement, what will happen to our horizons in the next 66 months? What happens in a world where beautiful music, awe inspiring art, perspective shifting prose and good ol' fashioned life advice can be generated with a few clever prompts and the click of a button?

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Building

Beautiful Money, Beautiful World
January 27, 2023
For architecture, the result is visibly obvious; we prioritise quarterly profit (to capture 'value' and survive in this fiat environment) at the expense of enduring beauty, which takes more time, consideration and effort to create. Consider the shoddy, uninspiring landscapes that developers have thrown up for the last 40+ years, all in the name of the quick sale. And now contrast with some of the Art Deco masterpieces that we still revere decades later. Is it just coincidence that the 1920s represented the last hoorah of the gold standard, and the start of our path towards flimsy money?
Friday Reflections, Volume XVII
October 15, 2021
As a node operator, my understanding of Bitcoin has evolved significantly. A theoretical framework has been transformed into lived, practical experience. I monitor the Mempool to check on my Lightning channel status. I engage with other node operators to create liquidity swaps. I scroll through 1ML and Amboss to find other Lightning peers. I collect sats for routing payments. It is a vivid demonstration of my previous notion; that Bitcoin, and by extension its timechain, may just be the the final word on financial freedom.
2 mins
From Theory, To Practice
September 20, 2021
The ideas are elegant. The ambition is impressive. But how exactly does Bitcoin work in practice? Well folks, that's what I've been figuring out for the past month. Armed with my understanding of the network, I embarked on a journey to become a full node operator (i.e. a validator of transactions and blocks). Admittedly, I wasn't quite sure I could pull it off. Even with all my prior research, this felt like a tricky technical challenge. And yet here I am, running a Bitcoin (and Lightning!) node with little fuss. How so?
Friday Reflections, Volume XVI
July 12, 2021
I offer you an initial eyebrow raiser. A different perspective on monetary matters. An exercise in public learning. But you should always, always consult with the real experts who know your personal circumstances. You wouldn't (or shouldn't) buy a house based on some words you find on the internet. So please don't put at risk your precious savings based solely on anything you find here. On that basis we shall proceed.
Friday Reflections, Volume XV
July 1, 2021
I no longer see regular posting as an achievement. That represents real, glorious progress. Writing is now baked into my personal pie; it is something that I just do. Little effort is expended in getting started, which means I can focus more on content structure and grammar. There is now less musing about personal motivation - and more articulating on the world around me.
Friday Reflections, Volume XIV
June 18, 2021
What I really want to demonstrate is the McCormack brand of thinking. The 'how' just as much as the 'what'. I can express my mental machinations in one post, and explore digital property rights in another. What remains consistent however is the aesthetic and the approach. Enthusiastic enquiry in a crisp written format. Never too long. Rarely too short. And presented in a clean and tidy context.
2 mins
Highway to the Metaverse
June 16, 2021
The digital arena has become far more interesting. Much like a developed country offers property rights via law and order, metaverse platforms can offer property rights through code. And with rights we acquire value. With value we attract motivation. To build. To sell. To buy. To cooperate. To do anything. It begins to sound much more like a functioning economy rather than a mere game.