Petrov Day Ceremony (TODAY)
post by Ben Pace (Benito) · 2024-09-26T08:34:06.965Z · ? · GW · 4 commentsContents
This is a last-minute event happening today (Thursday). None 4 comments
This is a last-minute event happening today (Thursday).
Today is September 26th, Petrov Day, celebrated to honor the deed of Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov on September 26th, 1983. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, take a minute to not destroy the world.
—Eliezer Yudkowsky, 2007 [LW · GW]
Every year for the past 5-6 years, I and some friends meet to honor Petrov Day [? · GW].
We take in turns to read aloud from a booklet by Jim Babcock about the past and future of scientific progress — the good it has done, the damage it has wrought, and the hopes and fears for the future — while lighting candles.
The ritual lasts about an hour.
You are invited to come to Lighthaven to do this small ceremony to celebrate Stanislav Petrov's actions. Afterwards we'll have dinner.
If you come, we'll do it together, and if enough people come we'll split into multiple groups and spread around campus.
I hope to see some of you here.
4 comments
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comment by Ben Pace (Benito) · 2024-09-26T08:34:51.560Z · ? · GW
This is not the usual sequences-reading meetup! However several people expressed interest at the meetup, and I think this mailing list would be likely to want to hear about this, so I thought it seemed a reasonable exception.
comment by Ben Pace (Benito) · 2024-09-27T02:54:21.614Z · ? · GW
If you’re late call me at [redacted now that the event is over]
comment by Ben Pace (Benito) · 2024-09-27T02:01:21.092Z · ? · GW
Note that Jim Babcock will be letting people in, I am taking a cognitive break from anything social until about 7:30.
comment by Ben Pace (Benito) · 2024-09-26T23:53:27.365Z · ? · GW
Commenting as a reminder to folks that you can join a Petrov Day 1-hr ceremony at Lighthaven today!