The Cogitating Ceviché week in review
Discussion via NotebookLM
This week’s collection moves from theology to technology, from Victorian intrigue to prehistoric surprises. Calista Freiheit offers a meditation on the legacy of objects that endure beyond our lifetimes. Conrad Hannon takes us from the curious revival of NFTs to a portrait of Norbert Wiener and an evolutionary twist that has paleontologists rewriting the mammalian family tree. Meanwhile, Gio Marron continues Mimi Delboise’s sleuthing in fog-shrouded London. Whether your interests lean toward the eternal, the digital, or the dusty, there’s something here to keep you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.
Articles
From Cradle to Cradle: A Theology of Objects That Outlive UsDate: August 4, 2025Author: Calista FreiheitCalista reflects on the spiritual significance of objects that endure beyond our own lifespans, exploring how legacy and stewardship intertwine in faith and daily life.
NFTs: The Emperor's New Clothes Finally Got TailoredDate: August 5, 2025Author: Conrad HannonConrad charts the unlikely transformation of NFTs from overhyped digital baubles to practical tools, and what this says about technology’s cycle of ridicule and reinvention.
Norbert Wiener: The Ghost in the Machine AgeDate: August 6, 2025Author: Conrad HannonA portrait of the father of cybernetics, exploring Wiener’s warnings about automation, feedback loops, and humanity’s uneasy dance with its own machines.
The Chimney Sweep's Tale – PART FOUR: "The Network"Date: August 6, 2025Author: Gio MarronDetective Mimi Delboise follows a shadowy alliance from London’s rooftops into its hidden alleys, uncovering the deeper web behind a Victorian mystery.
The Most Unlikely Family ReunionDate: August 8, 2025Author: Conrad HannonA surprising paleontological discovery links three disparate species, challenging long-held assumptions about the evolutionary history of mammals.
Quote of the Week
“Technology has a way of turning its own punchlines into blueprints.”— Conrad Hannon, NFTs: The Emperor’s New Clothes Finally Got Tailored
Questions
From Cradle to Cradle: A Theology of Objects That Outlive Us
* How do physical objects help preserve memory and meaning across generations?
* What responsibilities do we have toward items that will outlive us?
* How does stewardship of material goods connect to spiritual life?
NFTs: The Emperor's New Clothes Finally Got Tailored
* Have NFTs found their “real” purpose, or is this another hype cycle in disguise?
* What technologies have followed a similar path from ridicule to utility?
* How should society handle tech innovations that begin as speculative fads?
Norbert Wiener: The Ghost in the Machine Age
* Which of Wiener’s warnings feel most urgent in today’s AI landscape?
* How do feedback loops shape both technology and human behavior?
* Can cybernetics still guide us, or has the field been absorbed into broader AI discourse?
The Chimney Sweep's Tale – PART FOUR: "The Network"
* What new clues in this chapter shift the investigation’s direction?
* How does Victorian London itself function as a “character” in the story?
* Should historical mysteries prioritize period detail over fast-paced plotting?
The Most Unlikely Family Reunion
* How do unexpected fossil finds change the “story” of evolution?
* What does this case reveal about the limits of current classification systems?
* How might such discoveries influence conservation priorities today?
Additional Resources
* The Spiritual Lives of Objects — Miriam Calwell
* NFTs Beyond Art — MIT Technology Review (Mike Orcutt)
* Norbert Wiener and the Birth of Cybernetics — IEEE Spectrum
* Informal Networks in History and Fiction — Historical Mystery Review
* Mammalian Evolutionary Surprises — Nature News
Calls to Action
* Calista Freiheit — Share a story of an heirloom or object that shaped your life.
* Conrad Hannon — Vote in the embedded poll on NFT applications.
* Gio Marron — Download the updated Mimi Delboise case notes.
* All readers — Forward this newsletter to a friend who enjoys thoughtful reads.
Thank you for your time today. Until next time, stay gruntled, curious, and God Bless.
