--- content_date: 2020-03-17 feed: "DANIEL_ON_SLOPE" codex_section: "S03" codex_candidate: true source: Scotomaville source_file: 01.02-pattern-recognition.pdf chapter: 01.02-pattern-recognition total_pdf_pages: 8 volume: v1 title: Pattern Recognition monomyth_stage: "02 - Call to Adventure" category: - awareness - strategy tags: - pattern-recognition - brain-efficiency - optical-illusion - hubble-ultra-deep-field - big-dipper - ai-imagery - deep-fakes - self-mastery - marcus-aurelius - einstein summary: I examine how our 20-watt brains use pattern recognition as a double-edged superpower that conserves energy yet leaves us vulnerable to exploitation by simple narratives and advertisers. Through optical illusions, nature-inspired innovations like the N-95 mask, and quotes from Marcus Aurelius and Einstein, I contrast the Big Dipper with the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field to show why we must look beneath the surface. This awareness becomes the first step in leaving Scotomaville and harnessing patterns for creative self-mastery. qr_links: - https://youtu.be/zzuAkGIh02Y - https://youtu.be/B4eqUYX7f4E - https://youtu.be/wiGVsUtCZwI --- # 01.02-pattern-recognition ## Spread 001 [p1–p2] **type:** image_heavy | **img coverage:** L=0% R=83% **heading:** Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE **urls:** `https://youtu.be/` ### Visual description The left page is dominated by large, bold black typography reading “PATTERN RE COGNITION” with “.02” in gray below it, followed by the good-news/bad-news brain-efficiency statement and a black “WHAT TO LEARN” box. The page contains multiple columns of body text, including the sub-head “Pattern Recognition: A Double-Edged Sword,” paragraphs about oxytocin-fueled recognition and 20-watt brain limitations, plus a QR code and the footer “LEAVING SCOTOMAVILLE 30.” The right page is almost entirely occupied by a full-bleed, high-resolution photograph of the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field (HUDF), showing a black void densely populated with thousands of colorful, point-like galaxies and stars against deep space. Two dark rectangular overlays with white text sit across the lower portion of the image, one identifying the field as a region in the constellation Fornax containing an estimated 10,000 galaxies and the other contrasting it with the simple Big Dipper pattern. A smaller continuation of the star field appears at the bottom right. The overall spread juxtaposes dense, explanatory typography on the left with a single, awe-inspiring scientific photograph on the right. The image is documentary in origin (a real Hubble exposure) but functions metaphorically within the chapter, visually illustrating the text’s point about our tendency to reduce overwhelming complexity to familiar, simple patterns. No people, Airstream, or campsite elements appear; the visual language is scientific and diagrammatic rather than travel or ironic-cartoon. ### Left page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 30 PATTERN RE COGNITION GOOD NEWS: Our Brains Are Very Efficient. They Operate on Just 20 Watts. BAD NEWS: The Operating System is Set For MAXIMUM CONSERVATION. Pattern Recognition: A Double-Edged Sword Emotional bonding starts with pattern-SEEKING. “Hey, son, you’re SMART,” inflates egos and sets traps. This oxytocin-fueled recognition can be come addictive. Our Superpower and Its Misuse Our ability to recognize patterns extends to puzzles, politics, and engineering. It’s a biological superpower, but it’s also a weapon against us. This ‘bent’ in our biology makes us vulnerable to explitation. Our 20-watt brains prioritize efficiency. We accept others’ narratives rather than searching anew. We recognize the Big Dipper but over look the nearby Hubble Ultra Deep Space Field’s profound complexity. The field has thousands of Galaxies, each with 100 Billion stars. Huh, what? I’ll just remember the big spoon. Advertisers exploit this pattern recognition. Consider social media, monthly subscriptions. Patterns can become a burden, and lead to dire outcomes. Harnessing the Positive Power But pattern recognition isn’t just a liability; it’s an essential tool. Innovators leverage it by implanting questions before sleep, letting diffuse thinking seek correlations and insights. .02 WHAT TO LEARN https://youtu.be/zzuAkGIh02Y We live in an age of rapidly accelerating change with a 20 watt brain that betrays us. It finds patterns to save energy. That handicap is used against us with ‘familiar’ points and ‘emotional’ narratives. ### Right page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 31 The Hubble Ultra-Deep Field (HUDF) is an image of a small region of space in the constellation Fornax, containing an estimated 10,000 galaxies. (above) Although we are rich with explanitory knowledge, the way we remember all this is with simple patterns like the Big Dipper. (below) ## Spread 002 [p3–p4] **type:** image_heavy | **img coverage:** L=38% R=35% **heading:** Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE ### Visual description This two-page spread (pages 32–33) opens with a black-and-white checkered grid at the top left that forms the classic café wall optical illusion, where the horizontal lines appear sloped despite being parallel. Below it on the left is a color photograph of a sunlit cloud formation against a blue sky that resembles a rearing horse. The right page shows an abstract black-and-white splatter pattern at the top, followed by a close-up photograph of a smiley face formed in sand or residue inside a metallic sink or drain. A block of red and black text on the right discusses Sarah Little-Turnbull and her pattern-recognition work (including the N-95 mask), with a numbered list below it describing four examples that directly reference the grid, the hidden figure in the splatter image, potential AI imagery, and the sink smiley face. The footer reads “LEAVING SCOTOMAVILLE” on both pages, with page numbers 32 and 33. The visuals are a mix of documentary photography and illustrative patterns, presented straightforwardly to demonstrate the chapter theme rather than as ironic commentary. ### Left page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 32 ### Right page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 33 Sarah Little-Turnbull, whom I had the privilege to know as a neighbor and personal mentor, often sought inspiration from nature, recognizing patterns and finding ways to translate them into innovative solutions. She found interesting solutions to modern problems from all sorts of observations. While working at 3M, she developed the molded paper bra cup, an idea that emerged from her challenge to find new uses for non-woven material. Later, her work evolved into broader applications, contributing to the development of the dust mask. You went through the pandemic? You’ve seen the N-95 mask, and witnessed the far-reaching impact of pattern-seeking innova tion, a legacy that began with Sarah’s curious mind and discerning eye. Here are some examples of pattern recognition: 1- The café wall tiles form an illusion in which the horizontal lines appear to be sloped, not parallel as they really are. 3- Made by nature or man? We’re now capable of AI imagery and deep fakes: face swapping in images and videos. See v3.05! 2- a Dalmatian dog sniffing the ground in the shade of overhanging trees. Once you spot the dog, it is hard to NOT see it. 4- The world is ‘happy with me today’. I found this on the counter top while cleaning up after making this morning’s coffee. ## Spread 003 [p5–p6] **type:** image_heavy | **img coverage:** L=46% R=25% **heading:** Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE ### Visual description The left page of this spread features a full-bleed background photograph of a heavily textured, layered brown stone or earthen wall with vertical stacking and erosion patterns, suggesting a natural formation or ancient structure. Overlaid on this are large bold black letters spelling “RE MEMBER THIS,” a red-inked Marcus Aurelius quote, and a small, simple black line illustration of evenly spaced vertical bars interrupted by an open oval shape near the center. Below the illustration, white and black body text lists pattern-recognition examples from science (Einstein), business (Napoleon Hill), and literature (Grimm Brothers), accompanied by a green ChatGPT logo. The right page is split horizontally: the top third shows a close-up color photograph of a bright blue, yellow-spotted snake (appearing toy-like or illustrated) coiled across a dark blue, slotted metal or rubber surface resembling a tire tread or drain grate on gravel. The lower two-thirds contain additional example text blocks (AI/machine learning, environmental science, Robin Williams) in black on white, plus a large dark-gray panel with an Einstein quote printed in yellow about a child in a library. The snake photograph feels deliberately ironic or metaphorical, placing an unexpected living creature on an industrial object to visually echo the chapter’s theme of “looking beneath the surface.” The left-page line drawing reads as a minimal, abstract pattern or code rather than a literal object, reinforcing the topic without direct explanation. Both images are documentary in origin but used here for conceptual juxtaposition rather than straightforward illustration. ### Left page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 34 RE MEMBER THIS “Look beneath the surface; let not the several quality of a thing nor its worth escape thee.” Marcus Aerulius Certainly, Daniel! Here are some examples from various domains illustrating the concept of pattern recognition and its ability to deliver unique solutions for self-mastery: Science - Albert Einstein Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity emerged from recognizing patterns in the behavior of light and gravity. His ability to see a correlation be tween the speed of light and the way space and time function revolutionized physics. You and I know his simple expression for this. Business - Napoleon Hill In his book “Think and Grow Rich,” Napoleon Hill studied the patterns of successful people, identifying common traits and behaviors that con tributed to their success. His principles have become foundational for personal development and entrepreneurship. Literature - Grimms Brothers The Grimms Brothers collected and analyzed various folk tales, recognizing recurring patterns and themes. Their compilations helped define the genre of fairy tales and influenced generations of storytellers. ### Right page Technology - Artificial Intelligence Machine learning models are all about recognizing patterns in data. By identifying underlying trends, these models can predict outcomes, recommend products, or even write in human-like language. For example I’m ChatGPT answering Daniel’s request for memorable examples. Environmental Science Ben Franklin recognized the patterns in storm movement, leading to foundational understanding in meteorology. His observations about the direction of storm systems improved forecasting. Entertainment Robin Williams had an exceptional ability to recognize patterns in humor, politics, and human behavior. His improvisational comedy often drew on these observations, deliver ing unique and memorable performances. These examples span various fields, showcasing the universal power of pattern recognition. Daniel says; “Be careful, but be creative. Spend your attention on getting yourself out of Scotomaville!” “The human mind is not capable of grasping the Universe. We are like a little child entering a huge library. The walls are covered to the ceilings with books in many different tongues. The child knows that someone must have written these books. It does not know who or how. It does not under stand the languages in which they are written. But the child notes a definite plan in the arrange ment of the books—a mysterious order which it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects.” Albert Einstein ## Spread 004 [p7–p8] **type:** text_only | **img coverage:** L=14% R=4% **heading:** In personal development, Jim Rohn often emphasized recognizing pat **urls:** `https://youtu.be/` `https://youtu.be/` `https://youtu.be/wiGVsUtCZwI` ### Left page YOURT In personal development, Jim Rohn often emphasized recognizing patterns in behavior and thought. His advice to “work harder on yourself than you do on your job” reflects an understanding of how self-awareness can lead to personal and professional growth. Awareness is good. Note some patterns you find in architecture, social behavior, news, media, etc. Recognize your reaction to these patterns. Understanding is better. Note short and long-term beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors you have - ways of thinking and reacting - that align with or reject the patterns. Ask yourself why and when they began. https://youtu.be/zzuAkGIh02Y WATCH https://youtu.be/B4eqUYX7f4E REFLECT ### Right page RTURN After some diffuse thought about leveraging patterns, finding faults, spotting blemishes and missing opportunities, note some patterns you can put in place to skew an emotional trigger or round of depression, or to pay better attention. Scan the code to discuss pattern recognition with other readers and the author. DISCUSS EXTRA CREDIT “they never told me I get something.” Dr. Eric Berg For many years, Guy dealt with numerous health problems, including: • Type II diabetes • Hypertension • High cholesterol • Joint and bone pain • Chronic inflammation • Weight problems Guy Tenenbaum Oncologist told me; “yes we can do nothing. it’s too late. Why did you wait so long?” When I went to the doctor since 2015 and they never told me I get something. The Oncologist told me; “it’s too late. We’re nothing to do for you. You will disappear soon - three months” And he told me I have six metastases in my bones. Dr. Eric Berg “Quite a few doctors were not able to help him. I believe the turning point is where Guy basically disagreed with the prognosis and went in a different direction.” Guy Tenenbaum “Thank you because you know I become a U.S. Citizen two years ago and I would like to give something to my new country. It’s what I did. To save American lives. 650,000 Americans die each year from cancer and I’m sure we can save a lot of them. Give them the reality that cancer is a metabolic disease. It’s very simple and very easy to fight, not with chemicals. Give your body what you need. That’s it. Then I need your help. I need your help to tell others.” https://youtu.be/wiGVsUtCZwI