the Chronicles of John Titor ...

the Chronicles of John Titor ...

December 2000

12.06.2000-21:36

What is music like in 2036?

Most of the same music you enjoy is available on archive. However the days of mega-stars playing multiple track studio produced music and lip-synching on a huge stage are pretty much isolated to your time period. Like everything else, music is much less centralized. The general trend is away from "computer generated" music and more toward real people playing real instruments. Music is much more of a personal experience. More people know how to read music and play together in small groups.

What are the social prejudices in 2036?

Yes there are. However, as odd as it may sound, it serves a useful purpose in my time. First, you must realize that your experiences with "prejudice" and mine are different. I would characterize the intolerance you have here as a result of ignorance and fear. I have observed that people with unfounded and irrational fears about their fellow man in this time have the luxury of not having their beliefs tested.

After the war, much of the prejudice you have now was swept away by simple necessity. People had to work and fight together just to survive. This has a way of opening a person's eyes as to the value of fellow human beings.

What difference does the color of a man's skin make when you are both fighting against the same enemy to survive or find water or grow food? On my worldline, if a man doesn't pull his weight in the community, then we feel prejudice towards him as a burden to us. This feeling of shame he experiences then makes him realize his responsibilities.

What is the health care like in 2036?

You would probably not like it at all. I would compare it to what you see in Western movies. We do have hospitals but there are more family doctors and house calls as compared to what you are used to. There is no real organized health care. If you get a serious disease, you die. This however has had a tendency to strengthen the general genetic pool. Doctors are more concerned about things like broken legs, snakebites and delivering healthy babies.

What is the entertainment industry like in 2036?

Again, entertainment is less centralized. There are "movies" and "TV" but everything is distributed over the net and more people produce their own "shows".

What's it like to start from nothing and work your way up in 2036?

Very easy. If you can work with your hands and get along with other people, you will always find work.

Could you travel in time to escape your original worldline? Would you be looked down on for that?

From a physical standpoint, I suppose that would work if you were trying to escape a natural disaster. But you must consider that trying to "escape" by time traveling has it's own problems. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by being looked down on.

Is there some sort of new world government in place by 2011?

On my worldline in 2011, the United States is in the middle of a civil war that has dramatic effects on most of the other Western governments.

Earlier you said something was wrong with the UNIX computer code on your worldline. What's wrong with it?

Yes…and with yours too. I have to believe there must be a UNIX expert out there someplace that can confirm that. I'm not exactly sure what the technical issue is but I believe some sort of UNIX system registry stops in 2038.

Does the continuing conflict between Arabs and Jews have anything to do with the upcoming war?

Yes.

When you first started posting online, did anyone believe you?

don't know if anyone believes me now. But you must realize that I don't expect anyone to believe me or does it affect me one way or the other. I enjoy these conversations too. What would you expect a time traveler to say or do in your time?

How does the singularity stay cool in your time machine?

Very highly technical, cooling stuff. [[b]sorry, I don't get much of a chance to be a wise guy[b]]

How far have computers and software progressed in 2036?

Good question! I would say the biggest difference is in the reliability of the hardware and software. It absolutely amazes me how willing people are here to accept computer and software failures on such a regular basis. I was very surprised to see how prolific it is. You can look forward to very stringent manufacturing parameters and programming discipline. Think back to the early days of the computer and how much work and cleverness it took to fit those programs into such small areas of memory. Has more and cheaper memory brought better programs or just more programs?

As far as technical specifics, I'm afraid I cannot go into too much detail. However, I will tell you that processor speed and memory size take dramatic leaps forward.

The question involved very complicated physics with magnetic fields, faster than light travel and tachyons.

Hmmm… I afraid my notebook on Maxwell's equations isn't with me and I must say again that I am not a physicist. As far as tachyons goes, it's my understanding that they cannot exist at all unless they are created and "traveling" faster than light. As far as time travel goes, I'm afraid tachyons are merely useful for describing various quirky effects of strange matter.

I will post again as soon as I get a chance.

12.10.2000-11:00

I will try to answer all of your questions however; I have noticed that there seems to be a difficulty in entering a conversation in the middle. Most of the following questions I have answered at length in previous posts. I understand how important it is to have these answers when new people read portions of the posting but I find it tiring to keep repeating myself. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Who won the Super Bowl in 2001?

I do not answer questions like this. Although I don't really know the motivation for the question…I can guess. If a time traveler had knowledge of your future, and you could only ask one question, would this be it? Besides, can you tell me if it rained in New York on June 4th 1932? You are from their future so should you know that?

The question involved how the time machine could travel to Earth in the future or past since the position of the planet would change in space. The question also asked about life support during travel and how physical structures are avoided.

This is actually a very good question that parts and pieces of the answer are scattered around in previous postings. I am often surprised that it is not the first one asked. You are correct; this problem is actually the most difficult part of time travel. Although some of your assumptions about matter displacement are a bit off, the problem is real. Inside the displacement unit are a series of very sensitive clocks and gravity sensors. This system is called the VGL (variable gravity lock). In simple terms, before the unit "leaves" a worldline, it takes a base reading of the local gravity and adjusts the Tipler sinusoid to "lock" into that position. Although the temporal physics of this statement are wrong, in effect, it holds you to the "Earth". During travel, it periodically checks to see that the field has not varied. If it does, it stops and reverses course or drops out at that point. Buildings and other terrain features are avoided in the same way. Yes, we do bring oxygen in the vehicle with us but we do not lose atmospheric pressure.

If the time machine was used for a split second and then returned, wouldn't it appear someplace in far off space as the Earth continued in space?

Please see VGL system above. Also, please be aware that from the viewpoint of the time traveler, the displacement unit actually left and then returned. The viewer does not experience this. Think of it as a Gosub statement in a computer program.

12.10.2000-11:32

What type of money do you use in 2036?

Its not very different than it is now. Yes, we have money and credit cards. However, like everything else, the monetary system is decentralized. Banking is based mostly around the community structure. There are no multinational banking or computerized economic systems. There are also no income taxes.

Are radio location systems still used on livestock?

Some of the larger farm communities use electronic markers and fences. I am not a farmer so I don't have very many details about that.

Is the GPS system still in use in 2036?

Oh yes! In fact, the unit I have with me works here. I'm not sure why that surprises me. There are also a great many communications and Internet satellite systems.

Do you still have an American flag? What does it look like in 2036?

Yes, we still have the flag. There is a debate about changing it from 50 stars to 5.

Do any of the states have new names?

Not that I can think of... No major cities anyway. I am aware that some smaller towns changed their names after the war and most universities have the word "fort" before them on my worldline.

How much training is required before you can time travel? Can you make any repairs to your time machine?

I started training on the recommendation of my PS officer when I got out of school in 34. I graduated in March of 35. Actual hands on training started soon after that and I left 2036 in April. No, there are not very many repairs I can make to the unit. The unit is built very well but the tolerances are very small. I could probably repair the electrical systems and it will accept inputs from older computers.

Is it still safe to fish in 2036?

Yes, we can fish. There are some areas that are still too dangerous to spend a lot of time in so we can't fish in those areas.

Have any time travelers entered your worldline in 2036?

No I am not aware. But I accept the possibility.

Is there public transportation in 2036?

A high-speed train system connects the larger cities. Roads are still used for cars and many people ride horses and bikes.

What items will you take back with you to 2036?

Books! I'm also taking copies of family photos that were lost during the war.

How long have you been on our worldline?

That I must keep to myself right now.

What music and books do you enjoy? Do you play an instrument?

I read a great deal of history. I like piano classics and some older rock and roll. (why did that type of music go so far down hill?) No, I don't play any instruments myself.

Don't you worry about our government finding you?

Not really. In order to find me, they would have to believe time travel is possible.

Are you taking pictures and video?

Oh yes.

What is your favorite food?

It's very hard for me to find food here. It all scares the Hell out of me. I've found a couple of local farms where I am reasonably sure the raw food is safe and my mother started a garden for me.

Do medical advances in 2036 have anything to do with genetics?

Again, I'm no expert. I believe there is a great deal of progress in treating the cancer cells with modified viruses. So I guess the answer is yes.

The question involved details on natural disasters and temperatures in 2036.

That's one area I've decided not to talk about, sorry. The average temperature worldwide is a bit cooler.

Are any other time travelers from 2036 with you now?

No. They are off doing something else I'm sure.

Is time travel discussed on the web in 2036? Do you recognize any web sites now from the future?

Time travel is a major point of social discussion. I'll have to check when I get back. Most of the larger servers that were in the major cities were lost or destroyed. I'll try to bring a copy back with me. Perhaps you can check that in your 2036.

Is there any connection between you and the John Titor that was here on this worldline before you? What do your parents tell him about you?

He calls me uncle. Yes, there is a connection. He feels like a younger brother. Sometimes I get mixed emotions watching him and realize I'm watching the origins of my personality. I tend to playfully criticize my father about that.

12.13.2000-12:44

Well…it looks like the election is almost over. I have been quite busy in the last few days and I appreciate everyone's patience. I should be thanking you for listening and even if everything I have said before means nothing, I expect it has at least been entertaining. I went through the postings looking for questions I have not addressed yet. I hope I got to all of them. I get my email remotely through about three different systems and I use one of your hand-held computer units to write with. In a few days, I would like to send Pamela a list of questions of my own. As you know, one of my areas of expertise is in history and the information I have gathered has been invaluable. Although I am not leaving right away, I would like to include some of your thoughts in my report.

Isn't it possible someone who reads this may invent time traveler? When John leaves, no one will remember him and this will all be forgotten.

This statement is quite insightful. One of the reasons I have been communicating this way is so that others that do not post who I have directed here can see some of the information I have shared with you.

Won't even a small divergence between worldliness cause everything to look different to you as compared to your worldline?

The divergence measurement refers to the local gravitational field as compared to the point of origin. It is merely an empirical indicator of overall change in a worldline. Some things that are quite different on one worldline have very little effect as time passes and the worldlines appear to "converge" again and look very similar. Worldline changes are not exponential; they act more like chaotic attractors with varying effect depending on their size and location.

If multiple world theory is correct and there are two of you here, one of you has to be the real one. Also, I find it unsettling that you look at us as representative of the people from your past. One reason I think you may be a time traveler is because I don't understand or relate to your thinking at all.

You are correct in your thinking. This worldline is not mine but it looks very similar. It may be compared to reading two books that are the same. I can jump back and forth between them and still see the same story. I do not consider you true representatives of my worldline but I do know something of how the story ends. In consideration of Everret-Wheeler, the reason we don't know if Schrödinger's cat is dead is because it might have had a time machine.

I think Russia is still very likely to attack the United States with nuclear weapons. It's hard to imagine being here to see it.

You are also correct but I want to add a twist to your thinking. Russia's enemy in the United States is not you, the average person. Russia's enemy is the United States government.

If this worldline is 2 percent divergent from your worldline, how do you get home? If you go forward from here to 2036, won't the divergence approach infinity?

Yes, this is true. If I go forward on this worldline, the future will not be my future. I get home by going back to 1975 before I arrived and then going forward to 2036.

Your deductions are quite accurate. Its possible to go forward to "your" 2036 and it would look nothing like mine.

I have a working IBM 5160 computer. Maybe I should stash it away for thirty years and see what happens.

Toss it. The 5100 is the interesting machine.

Does the current relationship between Arabs and Jews have anything to do with the coming war?

Real disruptions in world events begin with the destabilization of the West as a result of degrading US foreign policy and consistency. This becomes apparent around 2004 as civil unrest develops near the next presidential election. The Jewish population in Israel is not prepared for a true offensive war. They are prepared for the ultimate defense. Wavering western support for Israel is what gives Israel's neighbors the confidence to attack. The last resort for a defensive Israel and its offensive Arab neighbors is to use weapons of mass destruction. In the grand scheme of things, the war in the Middle East is a part of what's to come, not the cause.

What can you tell us about (Obscure Physics Question)?

Perhaps you could describe what you mean? It appears to be space travel or the effect of similar atomic particles that seem to be related over great distances. Again, please forgive my ignorance; I am not a trained physicist.

Does anything happen in the year 2012? I've heard stories about the world ending.

In my 2012, I was 14 years old spending most of my time living, running and hiding in the woods and rivers of central Florida. The civil war was in its 7th year and the world war was three years away. Yes, there are unusual events in 2012 but they do not cause the world to end. Unfortunately, I have decided not to discuss events that you or I can do anything about. It is important that they be a surprise. Perhaps you are familiar with the story of the Red Sea and the Egyptians?

The question lists a number of paranormal conspiracy theories and then asks about weather control in the year 2036.

I must admit I am unfamiliar with most of what you have asked here. I am aware of the Harp system but I don't know how they would control weather with it.

Please describe any details you can about the education system in 2036.

The education system has been through many changes. School in 2036 is no longer a political indoctrination system and students "learn how to learn". Since community activity varies from place to place, the emphasis on basic reading, math and language is augmented with skills particular to the community. One school may emphasis farming while another teaches woodworking. Having children is a bit different and less common in 2036. A typical school day involves a setting very much like it was 100 years ago with smaller classes and few administrators to teachers. Other areas of study that are less common now are history, citizenship and personal economics.

Are you going to take your family away with you to protect them from coming events? Are you worried about somebody finding your time machine?

No I am not taking them with me but I am trying to prepare them for the future as a promise to my Grandfather in 1975. I am not really that concerned about the "time machine". It is quite safe.

How and why do the Arabs Jews become entangled in the civil war of the U.S.A?

They are not directly involved but political situations are dependant on Western stability, which collapses in 2005.

The Arab countries appear to have weapons of mass destruction. Do they use them against America?

Not against America but they are used against each other.

If you could post a picture of money used in the future, that would be more impressive than your time machine pictures.

I am disappointed that you feel I am trying to impress you. Why would I bring money from 2036 with me? Besides, isn't that something that could easily be faked? Now if I told you I was your cousin's brother and I knew about that scare on your left leg…that would convince you.

Before you leave, you could videotape your departure and get it to us?

That is an interesting idea. I will look into how to do that.

1. According to the Constitution, who do you think has the final word on choosing a President and why?
2. Do you think the Electoral College should be continued?
3. Why do you think the Bill of Rights was written?
4. What is your opinion of the second amendment to the Bill of Rights?
5. Does anyone know what industry is the largest US political contributor?
6. Does anyone know who owns the majority of the solar power research and development companies?
7. Imagine you have all the money and power you desire. What do you see yourself doing?
8. What is the longest distance you ever ran and/or walked at one time without stopping?
9. What is the longest period of time you went without food?
10. Do you know what Cholera is and how to avoid getting it?

12.21.2000-10:59

Very interesting argument but I have a couple of questions. You described the word paradox as, "…it refers to the "idea" of the existence of a problem that has no solution." Actually, the #1 definition I read in the American Heritage Dictionary is "…a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true",

Also, what exactly is your definition of "time travel"? I was taught that time travel is strictly a local observation that can only be measured by the experience of an individual or single particle. Under that definition, the "twin paradox" (time dilation due to acceleration or gravity) and even sleeping can be considered time travel. You appear to be arguing against dematerialization and/or space-like trips under the limits of special relativity in a single worldline.

I do agree that the "grandfather paradox" is not possible simply because the classic problem is presented as an observer's issue magnified to a universal issue. Your statements about observation are correct when you isolate the experiences to a single worldline.

However, the reason there are no paradoxes is because the universe doesn't care how we react to its handy-work. In a Universe made up of infinite worldliness (super universe), everything is possible and has a 100% probability, therefore…no paradoxes.

Where do you think all the water came from in the great flood stories?

I believe the explanation for the "great flood" stories originate with the changes that occurred near the Mediterranean at the end of the last ice age. Even on this worldline, there is a great deal of evidence to support the fact that sea levels did change radically in isolated areas worldwide.

I also heard someplace that if the ice mass on Antarctica melted today, sea level worldwide would rise about 100 feet. I'm not exactly sure that's true but still… Mt. Everest might be a bit of a stretch.

I do however agree with you that there are no physical paradoxes but for the opposite reasoning.

Peace to you also.

12.30.2000-11:47

Greetings and happy holidays everyone. I am very surprised and delighted to see the conversation going in the direction it has on this thread. Unknowingly, you all have stepped into the real mystery of time travel that remains speculative in 2036.

Based on a couple of questions I see here, I will try my hardest to describe what we in 2036 think space-time looks like and how it behaves. Please keep in mind that I realize how easy it is to dismiss what I say. First, I'm trying to do this from memory. Imagine you are back in 1911 trying to explain a jet engine to the Wright brothers.

However, there are some very basic properties of quantum theory that support this model today. I appreciate the fact that you are reading this with an open mind.

If parallel universes do exist, did they all start simultaneously?

It is thought that the event called the "Big Bang" was the start of not only this worldline or universe but all worldlines and all universes that make up the super universe. It is also thought that the super universe can be imagined as an expanding sphere with the big bang in the center. Individual worldliness (or timelines as you call them) can be imagined as lines originating at the center and "trending" toward spiraling around the sphere until they reach the edge.

The individual worldlines expand in length and widen as you follow them from the center. Each individual "moment" or "event" on a worldline has infinite possibilities or outcomes. Imagine this as a single point with infinite lines shooting away from it, which in turn, are made up of points with their own possibilities and outcomes.

Now, remember, these individual worldliness with all these points and possibilities are defined by their ability to hold there inhabitants to time-like trips only (no faster than light travel).

Now consider the reality of a spinning or electrified black hole ( Kerr ). Penrose diagrams of these oddities show mathematically that you can make simulated space-like trips (faster than light) through the singularity without being destroyed.

In order to do this without wiping out most modern physical laws, you must travel to an alternate worldline or universe. Therefore, if multiple worldlines exist, infinite worldlines exist.

In trying to imagine a super universe with infinite possibilities and worldlines, I think of a room with mirrors on all the walls. You are aware of your captivity but as you look in the distance, you see an infinite number of "yours" in an infinite number of mirrored rooms.

The gravity distortion machine allows you to "step" out of your room and into another next to you. The closer you are to your original room, the closer it looks like yours, the farther away, the stranger it looks to you.

If I go forward on this worldline, the future will not be my future. I get home by going back to 1975 before I arrived and then going forward to 2036.

A few people have asked me about this statement so I will try to clarify it.

On my worldline: (A) in 2036, I was given a mission in 1975. I turn my machine on and jump to another worldline (B) in 1975 with about a 2% divergence from (A).

From the very point I turn my machine off on (B), I create a new worldline just because I'm there. This line can be described as (C) and started when I got to (B).

I am now doing my mission on line (C) in 1975 when I discover a very a good reason to go forward on (C) and see what happened. I turn my machine on and go forward on (C) to the year 2000.

When I turn it off, I start another line called (D). So from my perspective, here we are on line (D) in the year 2000. In order to go home to line (A) I must turn my machine on and go back on (D) until I reach (C) which in turn would take me back to (B) which in turn takes me to a point before I arrived on (B) then I go forward from the point I arrived on (B) back to (A).

If all this isn't enough to get your head spinning…here are some issues we're dealing with in 2036.

1. Did your worldline (D) exist at all before I got here from (C)? (personally I don't see how it couldn't)
2. What happens at the end of a worldline at the edge of the super universe?
3. If there are infinite worldlines and infinite possibilities and an edge to the super universe, doesn't that mean occurring events on worldliness are staggered as they reach the edge? (time could end at any moment without warning).

12.30.2000-10:28

I think you're taunting us with our ignorance on the questions you've asked on the Constitution.

It would be nice to be able to remind everyone about their rights and responsibilities but I am not here to judge you. I am not capable of that nor would I want that in return. As you know, my interest is in history and in the paradox of thought. I do however, find it interesting how important the Constitution became to the average US citizen's life, if even for a short moment.

Young people should look forward to the future while older people don't see many days ahead of them. I think it's pointless for you to ask us to worry about politics if we are all doomed.

It saddens me that you do not realize your true worth as a keeper of information and experience. Perhaps the end that we fear will open your eyes to your true value as an individual. Young people need wisdom. The captain of the ship knows where the lifeboats are.

There are numerous experiments going on at CERN. In order for them to make a black hole they would have to travel faster than light.

I'm pretty sure they have a number of experiments going on at the same time at CERN. The one I'm referring to involves very high energies using protons. From my historical perspective on my worldline, I do recall the issue was a point of contention about 18 months ago or so.

There were some scientists who thought the experiments were too dangerous to try. The time travel I refer to does not require faster than light travel and due to multiple world "reality", paradoxes do not occur. Natural time machines do exist.

12.30.2000-13:17

I fear our conversation is in danger of turning (to conflict) due to an effect that is quite common on these boards. I realize what I'm saying is quite hard to swallow and it causes debate, weather serious or entertaining. It is even more difficult when you come into the middle of a conversation or a series of questions that are a few weeks old.

Your points are all quite valid and I have discussed them at length on this and other boards for quite a while. I do not wish to antagonize you however, we both know the Tippler cylinder is only a thought experiment to explain the very real physics behind Kerr black holes. As to your other comments, again, they are all true as defined by the limits of space-like trips on single worldlines. It does not account for travel between worldlines.

I have never claimed to be a physicist or an expert on what the CERN laboratory is doing at any given moment so I feel it is pointless to argue about what they may be doing in the future or what "breakthroughs" they will or might have. My comments about the CERN lab are in reference to particle accelerators in general and other questions that have come up in the past. The major physics break through for controlled gravity distortion does happen at CERN in your future. Heck, we haven't even touched on "Z" field compression yet.

I suppose I could say that I was the one that traveled in time and convinced them to change their experiments but even I would have a hard time believing that one and I do not wish to insult your intelligence.

12.30.2000-13:37

Thank you for trying to answer those questions (from 30 December 2000 11:47) but I really do not expect that anyone can. I thought I would share with you things we wonder about. Your logic about me is quite correct but again I must state that I am not trying to get you or anyone else to believe or buy anything.

As far as evidence goes, I have however decided to try an experiment with you that may be more convincing. It involves the travel of information at faster than light. In fact, I have dropped at least three little gems like this that no one else has picked up on.

You said you are confused by the 5100 story. I will explain further. In 2036, it was discovered (or at least known after testing) that the 5100 computer was capable of reading and changing all of the legacy code written by IBM before the release of that system and still be able to create new code in APL and basic.

That is the reason we need it in 2036. However, IBM never published that information because it would have probably destroyed a large part of their business infrastructure in the early 70s. In fact, I would bet the engineers were probably told to keep their mouth's shut.

Therefore, if I were not here now telling you this, that information would not be discovered for another 36 years. Yet, I would bet there is someone out there who can do the research and discover I am telling the truth. There must be an old IBM engineer out there someplace that worked on the 5100. They just might not have ever asked if I hadn't pointed it out.

12.30.2000-23:26

I apologize for wasting this much space but I thought some of you would be interested in seeing this after reading some of things I've been saying in the last few months. Below is the address to the news site and a copy of the text.

(web link not valid. Story on CIA and 2015)

12.31.2000-12:43

I apologize for wasting this much space but I thought some of you would be interested in seeing this after reading some of things I've been saying in the last few months. Below is the address to the news site and a copy of the text.

(web link not valid. Story on CIA and 2015)

12.31.2000-12:43

I'm flattered and a bit overwhelmed. I can honestly say I've never quite had this experience before. I appreciate the news posting. Thank you.

(referring to news story on John Titor)

12.31.2000-11:00

Well, you're getting closer people. Here's another one I found today. Again, I apologize for taking up this much space but I thought you'd want to see this.