On our shared electronic calendar (I promise to do a calendar post soon) I saw this.
I didn't think R.'s calendar synced with mine, but there it was, Petrov Day. R. explained the holiday was created by the Less Wrong people who "refine the art of human rationality". They honor Stanislav Petrov who realized the launch detection was sending a false alarm and therefore he did not launch a counter attack.
I had never heard of him before this discussion. This morning I was reading the list of movies opening in L.A. this week, something I do for personal education since I almost never go see any. The movie entitled The Man Who Saved the World caught my eye. Yes, it is about Petrov.
What next? He visits Claremont? It turns out I know someone related to him? Stay tuned. And be happy to be alive!
