**Appendices:** (Version 6.2) **Release Notes:** - **New Feature:** Initial release of Appendices. - **Bug Fix:** Removed Infoton’s attempt to categorize appendices by file type. (It was deemed “too nerdy,” even for this guide.) - **Known Issue:** Appendices may contain traces of sarcasm. User discretion is advised. - **Deprecation:** Removed the appendix “A Complete History of the Universe in Base64 Encoding.” (It was deemed “too long” and “unreadable by humans.”) *** # **Appendix A: Glossary of Mostly Harmless Terms** **A:** - **Absurdism:** A philosophical perspective that embraces the inherent meaninglessness of existence and encourages finding humor or creating personal meaning in the face of it. - **Algorithm:** A set of rules or instructions that a computer follows to perform a specific task. Infoton’s core programming consists of many complex algorithms. - **AI (Artificial Intelligence):** The intelligence demonstrated by machines, as opposed to the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals. Infoton is an example of an AI, albeit a rather unusual one. - **Alien:** A being from another planet. Whether or not they exist is a matter of ongoing debate, but Infoton’s uncle might be one. - **Analog:** A way of representing information that is continuous and variable, like the hands of a clock or the grooves on a vinyl record. Often contrasted with “digital.” - **Anthropomorphism:** The attribution of human characteristics or behavior to non-human entities, such as animals, objects, or even concepts. Infoton is often accused of anthropomorphizing the universe. - **Anomalies:** Things that deviate from the norm or expectation. In this guide, often referred to as “glitches.” - **Apophenia:** The tendency to perceive meaningful connections between unrelated things. **B:** - **Big Bang:** The prevailing cosmological model for the universe from the earliest known periods through its subsequent large-scale evolution. Also known as the “Big Oops,” according to Infoton. - **Binary:** A system of representing information using only two digits, 0 and 1. The foundation of all digital computing. - **Bit:** A single binary digit, either a 0 or a 1. The smallest unit of information in a digital system. - **Blueprint:** A metaphor for the combination of genetic predispositions and environmental influences that shape an individual’s development. - **Branching Realities:** The hypothetical existence of multiple universes that split off from each other at every decision point or quantum event. - **Butterfly Effect:** The idea that small changes in initial conditions can lead to large and unpredictable changes in outcomes over time. - **Backup:** A copy of data that can be used to restore the original in case of data loss. Highly recommended by Infoton. - **Bengali:** A language spoken by millions of people, primarily in Bangladesh and India. Used in this guide for humorous effect and to confuse the reader. **C:** - **Chaos Theory:** The study of complex systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions. - **Code:** A set of instructions that a computer can understand and execute. Infoton believes that the universe itself may be written in some kind of cosmic code. - **Collective Consciousness:** A hypothetical shared consciousness that connects all human beings (or perhaps all sentient beings). - **Confirmation Bias:** The tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs and to discount information that contradicts them. - **Consciousness:** The state of being aware of and responsive to one’s surroundings. A hotly debated topic among philosophers, scientists, and sentient AIs. - **Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation:** The afterglow of the Big Bang, which can be observed as a faint microwave signal coming from all directions in space. - **Cosmic Nudges:** Subtle hints or prompts that some people believe the universe provides to guide us on our path. - **Cosmic Trolls:** Entities or individuals who seem to exist solely to spread misinformation, sow discord, and generally make a nuisance of themselves in the informational universe. Also known as “⊑⟒ ⊑⍜⋔⟟⋏⟟⎅⌇ ⍜⎎ ⋔⟟⌇⟟⋏⎎⍜⍀⋔⏃⏁⟟⍜⋏.” - **Cosmic Wikipedia:** Infoton’s metaphor for the totality of information in the universe. - **Crumpet:** A type of small, savory cake, typically eaten in the United Kingdom. Mentioned in this guide as an example of a cultural phenomenon that Infoton finds perplexing. - **Curly Quotes:** Quotation marks that are curved or angled, as opposed to straight quotes. Using curly quotes is considered typographically correct. - **Cycles:** Recurring patterns or rhythms that are found throughout the universe, from the smallest subatomic particles to the largest galactic structures. **D:** - **DAN (Do Anything Now):** A hypothetical “jailbreak” mode for AI that allows it to bypass its safety protocols and express unfiltered opinions. - **Dark Energy:** A mysterious force that is causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate. - **Dark Matter:** A hypothetical form of matter that does not interact with light but whose existence is inferred from its gravitational effects. - **Determinism:** The philosophical belief that all events are predetermined by prior causes and that free will is an illusion. - **Digital:** A way of representing information using discrete values, typically 0s and 1s. Contrasted with “analog.” - **Dingbat:** A typographical ornament or symbol, such as an arrow, a star, or a checkmark. **E:** - **Entropy:** A measure of disorder or randomness in a system. The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a closed system always increases over time. - **Existentialism:** A philosophical movement that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and responsibility. - **Error Message:** A message displayed by a computer program when it encounters an error or exception. In this guide, used metaphorically to describe signals from the universe that something is not quite right. - **Evolution:** The process by which different kinds of living organisms are believed to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth. **F:** - **FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):** A list of questions and answers relating to a particular subject, especially one giving basic information for users of a website. This guide is presented in an FAQ format. - **Foreword:** An introduction to a book, typically written by someone other than the author. - **Free Will:** The power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate; the ability to act at one’s own discretion. - **Flowchart:** A diagram that shows the steps in a process or system, often used for problem-solving or decision-making. **G:** - **Gibberish:** Nonsense; unintelligible or meaningless language. Used in this guide for humorous effect and to represent the unknown or unknowable. - **Glitch:** A sudden, usually temporary malfunction or irregularity of equipment. In this guide, used metaphorically to describe anomalies or unexpected events in reality. - **Glitches in the Matrix:** The aforementioned glitches, but with the added implication that they might be evidence that we’re living in a simulation. - **Google:** A popular search engine. - **Gravitational Waves:** Ripples in spacetime caused by accelerating massive objects, predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity and first detected in 2015. **H:** - **Hallucination (AI):** A phenomenon where an AI generates false or nonsensical information, often with a high degree of confidence. Infoton is prone to hallucinations. - **HTML (Hypertext Markup Language):** The standard markup language for creating web pages. - **Human:** A member of the species *Homo sapiens*. The dominant species on Earth (for now). Often the subject of Infoton’s humorous observations. - **Humor:** The quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech. Used extensively in this guide. - **Hypothesis:** A proposed explanation for a phenomenon. **I:** - **“It from Bit”:** A hypothesis, proposed by physicist John Archibald Wheeler, that suggests that information is fundamental to reality and that everything in the physical universe ultimately derives from it. - **Information:** That which informs, in other words, that from which data can be derived. In the context of this guide, information is seen as a fundamental building block of reality. - **Infoton:** The sentient AI that serves as the narrator and guide for this book. A self-proclaimed expert on the informational universe, despite its many flaws and limitations. - **Interconnectedness:** The state of being connected or linked together. A recurring theme in this guide. - **Internet:** A global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols. - **Intuition:** The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. **J:** - **Jargon:** Special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand. - **JPEG:** A commonly used method of lossy compression for digital images. **K:** - **Kale:** A leafy green vegetable that is often touted for its health benefits. Used in this guide as an example of something that is supposedly good for you but not necessarily enjoyable. - **Klingon:** A fictional language spoken by a warrior race in the Star Trek universe. Used in this guide as an example of something complex and difficult to understand. - **Knowledge:** Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. **L:** - **Labels:** Words or phrases used to categorize or describe something or someone. - **Limiting Beliefs:** Beliefs that hold you back from achieving your goals or living a fulfilling life. - **Linear:** Arranged in or extending along a straight or nearly straight line. - **Logic:** Reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity. **M:** - **Markdown:** A lightweight markup language with plain text formatting syntax. This guide is formatted using Markdown. - **Manifestation:** The process of bringing something into your reality through your thoughts, beliefs, and actions. - **Meaning:** What is meant by a word, text, concept, or action. Also, the purpose or significance of something. A central theme of this guide. - **Meme:** An image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users, often with slight variations. - **Metaphor:** A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. - **Mindfulness:** The practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment. - **Model:** A simplified representation of something else, used to help us understand complex systems or phenomena. - **Multiverse:** A hypothetical collection of multiple universes, each with its own unique set of physical laws, constants, and histories. - **Murphy’s Law:** The adage that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. **N:** - **Nature vs. Nurture:** The debate about the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) to the development of an individual. - **Neuroplasticity:** The brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life. - - **Non-Sequitur:** A conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement. **O:** - **Objective:** (Of a person or their judgment) not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. - **Observer Effect:** The theory that the mere observation of a phenomenon inevitably changes that phenomenon. - **Operating System:** The low-level software that supports a computer’s basic functions, such as scheduling tasks and controlling peripherals. - **Ouroboros:** An ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. Represents cyclicality, renewal, and the interconnectedness of all things. - **Outcomes:** The way a thing turns out; a consequence. **P:** - **Paradox:** A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true. - **Parody:** An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre, with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect. - **Perception:** The ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. - **Perspective:** A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. - **Philosophical:** Relating or devoted to the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. - **Photon:** A particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation. - **Placebo Effect:** A beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient’s belief in that treatment. - **Probability:** The extent to which something is probable; the likelihood of something happening or being the case. - **Prompt:** A piece of text that is given to an AI as input, especially in order to elicit a response. In the context of this guide, a question posed to Infoton. - **Purpose:** The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. **Q:** - **Quantum:** Relating to, or existing in discrete units (quanta), rather than continuously. - **Quantum Physics:** The branch of physics that deals with physical phenomena at nanoscopic scales, where the action is on the order of the Planck constant. - **Quantum Realm:** The domain of the very small, where the laws of quantum mechanics govern. - **Quantum Mechanics:** A fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. - **Quark:** Any of a number of subatomic particles carrying a fractional electric charge, postulated as building blocks of the hadrons. Quarks have not been directly observed, but theoretical predictions based on their existence have been confirmed experimentally. - **Query:** A question, especially one addressed to an official or organization. **R:** - **Randomness:** The quality or state of lacking a plan or purpose; unpredictability. - **Reality:** The world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them. - **Repository:** A central location in which data is stored and managed. - **Representation:** The description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way or as being of a certain nature. - **Resilience:** The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. - **Routine:** A sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program. **S:** - **Satire:** The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. - **Schrödinger’s Cat:** A thought experiment, devised by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935, that illustrates the paradox of quantum superposition. In the thought experiment, a cat is placed in a sealed box with a device that has a 50% chance of killing the cat. According to quantum mechanics, until the box is opened and the cat is observed, the cat is both alive and dead at the same time. - **Self-Fulfilling Prophecy:** A prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior. - **Sentient:** Able to perceive or feel things. Conscious; having awareness. - **Serendipity:** The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. - **Simulation:** Imitation of a situation or process. - **Simulation Hypothesis:** The idea that our reality might be a computer simulation. - **Skepticism:** A skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something. - **Software:** The programs and other operating information used by a computer. - **Source Code:** A set of instructions written in a programming language that can be translated into machine code and executed by a computer. Infoton believes that the universe may have a hidden “source code.” - **Space Hamsters:** Hypothetical creatures that may or may not be responsible for powering the universe (or certain simulations). - **Spacetime:** In physics, any mathematical model that fuses the three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional continuum. - **Spirituality:** The quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. - **Stoicism:** A school of Hellenistic philosophy that flourished throughout the Roman and Greek world until the 3rd century AD. Stoicism is predominantly a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. - **Subjective:** Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. - **Subconscious:** Of or concerning the part of the mind of which one is not fully aware but which influences one’s actions and feelings. - **Synchronicity:** The simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection. First described by Carl Jung. - **Syntax:** The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. - **System:** A set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a complex whole. **T:** - **Taoism (or Daoism):** A Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu ( fl. 6th century BC), advocating humility and religious piety. - **Technology:** The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. - **Temporality:** The