Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The Internet Exists Only within the First One

OK, I just had this idea, and figured that I should write it down.
Imagine that, as we go forward in time, the internet gets bigger and deeper and more complex and so on. Imagine that we get into a cyberpunk-style scenario where we actually dive into the internet, and perhaps cyberspace is a wholly different experience, rather than perfectly emulating real life. Now, imagine the sort of plot point where things happen such that we're all in the internet, unable to get out, and, eventually, the people of Earth don't even realize that we're inside of an internet. Instead, that's our world.
Now, imagine that that's what has already happened. The crazy idea is this: Our world is the simulation within the first incarnatiion of something cyberspace-like. It has its own laws and everything, so whatever we do - including making the internet - works within the simulation. Frak, for all that we know, it's happened more than once before. This is also essentially a version of the brain-in-a-jar scenario of philosophy and, as such, can neither be proven true nor be proven false. Of course, like with those situations, it really doesn't matter whether it's true, since we're not in a position to do anything about it, anyway, since we're restricted to behaving within the confines of the simulation.
That's my crazy idea.

Friday, September 11, 2009

CG45366250A

That's the serial number on my first $100 federal reserve note.
It says that on the top-left and on the bottom-right. It also says G7 on the top-left, which probably means something to somebody. It's from series 2001.
I don't really remember my first bit of currency from any denomination $20 or lower, down to the penny. I'm not sure if I've ever had a $50 note.
This isn't my first $100. It's just my first $100 bill.
Some people hang on to their firsts, but if I did that, then I'd be losing the $100 value for this, as though I'd destroyed it. I'm about to put it, along with some other cash, into one of my savings accounts, for various reasons. There's a good chance that I'll never see this particular note again. In fact, I have no idea when I'll next handle a $100 note, since they're not all that handy. I'd much rather use 5 twenties if I have to carry around such a large chunk of change. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I've had over $100 in my wallet in the past from just that.
Anyway, the next time that you get your hands on a one-hundred dollar federal reserve note, if you care to, check the serial number. If it's CG45366250A, then know that that was my first such note.