(Neuro-Linguistic Programming)
NLP: A rather ambiguous term, has been described by co-founder Richard Bandler as the study of the structure of subjective experience. Rather than emphasize theory, NLP and NLPers are concerned with behavioral acquisition of skills, which have been modeled from successful people in various domains. Gregory Bateson, Noam Chomsky, and Virginia Satir are considered my many to be the precursors of this field. Rather than explain in further detail, I'll simply direct you to Stever's NLP site, which provides a very comprehensive overview. I was certified as an NLP practitioner last year by McKenna/Breen in London, and may continue with a master-practitioner course sometime in the future. PureNLP.com is rumored to host some of
the best NLP seminars around.
The First Institute of NLP and DHE is
Richard Bandler's training company. They are also known for producing
exquisite seminars.
Extropianism!
Extropians believe in a philosophy of boundless never-ending expansion. (The reverse of entropy.) Of course they tend to be interested in fun topics such as cryonics, nanotechnology, smart drugs and uploading. Their official principles embrace atheism and free-market capitalism. I certainly think that they are on the right track, and they maintain an exceptionally lively on-line presence.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Jungian Typology
A much expanded version of Jung's initial typology, the Myers-Briggs system is a useful tool for understanding yourself and others. I don't believe that this is the end-all model of human personality, but I have found it to be an incredibly useful model for understanding human relations. There's an on-line test that you can get to via my links page.
William S. Burroughs
William Burroughs is perhaps my very favorite author of fiction. (Rudy Rucker follows at a distant second.) It was never the sensationalism that was made of him, which still seems to dominate the media attention given to him, nor is it his early writing that interests me. I mostly fascinated by his writing on technological and personal issues, like immortality,
post-biologic possibilities, fractionation of psyche in a post-modern age, etc. His notions about non-linear narrative, and experiments in perception, from as far back as the 1950s have become so accepted today as to be considered commonplace. His last novel, Ghost of Chance is subtle, beautifully haunting, and a short read for those interested in a first taste of Burroughs.
