For those who have been following along, let’s go deeper.

In my last post, ‘The Ghosts in the Synchronicity Machine’, we built upon the concept of ‘ghost context’ by introducing an adjacent concept we termed ‘engineered synchronicity’ and invited your imagination to venture across a series of fictional stories whose protagonists were brought together with kindred spirits by leveraging various forms of ghost context analysis.

In this post, I will share a ghost context analysis I recently conducted on my current PFP. Through this analysis, I'll share some interesting things about the analysis as a whole. From there, the NFTs included in the analysis will serve as a sort of map, giving you an intimate, first-hand look at some of the onchain media that has resonated with me along my Web3 journey.

By the end, I hope that you leave in possession of three things: 1) an interest in experimenting with ghostcontext.xyz, 2) a new awareness of interesting projects/initiatives in the space, and 3) a richer understanding of who I am, not just as a fellow Web3 explorer, but hopefully, as a kindred spirit weaving a unique, but relatable story in this new and evolving digital landscape.

This PFP is Post-Individual

nft://7777777/0x4D2345ca8757e4034770a9c88B70c7AF08E622a1/?showBuying=false&showMeta=false

My PFP references 25 NFT collections across Ethereum and Zora. I designed it using SOURCE by titles.xyz, an AI-powered creative tool for remixing NFTs, which means the contracts of the original NFTs are stored in the PFP itself. And while I handpicked this particular assemblage of NFTs under some constraints (e.g. the blockchains, the design tools available through the app) and a partial eye toward aesthetic preferences, for the most part, the NFTs included here were selected for a trait you will not find listed on OpenSea—resonance. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the other wallets these NFTs resonated with and see what we might infer in the process.

To mint, or not to mint, that is the question.

Using ghostcontext.xyz to analyze across the two chains housing these collections, we discover that there are 17,981 unique wallet addresses associated with the collections queried in this analysis. The inference here is that 17,981 wallet addresses resonated with at least one of the following NFTs included in this post enough to mint.

And while it feels nice to reveal this shared context (i.e. this ghost context we inhabit) and to know that I could likely have a nice chat with the 17,000 others about at least one of these pieces, common sense tells us it would probably serve us better to spend our time ensuring we know or get to know the top 20 kindred spirits who resonated with the highest number of NFTs in our analysis, or maybe even just the top 0.02% listed in the screenshot above.

If we were able to run the tape back, circa around 400 days ago, and took into account that I possessed far fewer collections at that time to analyze, we would discover this intuitive piece of logic, and the corresponding actions which have informed so much of my journey.

At that time, I wasn’t familiar with all but a few names summoned to the top of my results. These days, I actively follow many of them and have connected and collaborated with a number of them.

Over time, I’ve learned that this result—a familiarity with the names in the top results—is something that many will experience. In fact, given our natural propensity to tribalize, it may be the result for the vast majority who conduct a retrospective analysis across their most resonant collections.

However, one of the most interesting aspects in continuing to mint what resonates has been the ability to come back and generate fresh results by putting different combinations of collections under analysis. In my last post, I called this ‘retrospective foresight’ and it’s something I continue to advocate for and keep in mind when acquiring new NFTs.

The Answer: Just Mint It.

If I have played my words right, you should now have #1 - an interest in experimenting with ghost context.

Web3 Cartography

Author note: Last month, per results from a ghost context analysis that put us in a unique shared context, I had the great fortune of visiting with Denis Nazarov (nis.eth), founder of Mirror, over Zoom. Inspired by some ideas Denis shared during that call, I started to imagine NFTs as construction material for the creation of digital third places, and it ultimately proved to be a short leap from turning those ideas around in my mind to arriving at the idea that a PFP could serve as a map.

This section is going to be straightforward. My aim here is to equip you with #2 - a new awareness of interesting people, projects, groups, and/or initiatives in the space. To accomplish this, we will visit the 25 NFT collections referenced in my PFP (our map) and describe some of the resonating factors that I feel made them worthy of inclusion. Hopefully, you’ll find a few that were not on your radar and be beckoned into closer inspection.

Signature NFT #96

nft://1/0xd9B6206D7001AEdC02CeA223D4E905fF3AD77e8c/?showBuying=false&showMeta=false

This NFT was the first NFT I minted after my ENS name. I minted it as part of an interactive essay entitled Signature Economies by Kernel. The essay explores what it means to own and is guided by the overarching question, "How can we use technology to cultivate more reciprocal relationships?" Readers were invited to highlight any text they found most meaningful and mint it as an NFT. I highlighted and minted the following lines from the essay.

“umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”: a human being is only a human being through other human beings, and the Kanien'kehá:ka phrase “I’ionrhek thiia’tionha’ak nonen tion’kwatorohon”: we are individual but we discover ourselves within the collective.

THIS COULD BE A MOVEMENT

nft://1/0x2aFC7e19c52a7fbd219744B1dC97e3bb605A0e93/?showBuying=false&showMeta=false

Around this same time, I stumbled upon this thought-provoking talk led by Reggie James and Eugene Angelo entitled ‘This Could Still Be a Movement: Why Mars Needs a Creative Director’. I originally encountered Reggie via a Crypto, Culture & Society Journal piece on Mirror called ‘Expanding Cultural References’—that piece anchored some of my earliest formulations of the concept of ghost context. In my estimation, Reggie is a force of nature. If you are already familiar, but not familiar with those pieces from a few years ago, spin up your favorite bookmarking tool.

Curator 46 + Startupy Season Zero + Forefront Membership Pass + Folklore Seeds

Curator 46 was an NFT that allowed me to curate articles for the Folklore community on Pulse by Forefront, an early predecessor/experiment that seems like it led to Spotlight. Startupy Season Zero was a curator NFT for the predecessor to Sublime. I believe these projects (Folklore, Sublime, and Forefront) taken together are home to some of the most interesting curation efforts happening on the internet, and I believe this because they are each interrogating curation through its multiplayer dimensions and being stewarded by people pulling forward bleeding-edge ideas, provocations and possibility spaces.

Whether you look into the past at Folklore's ARK experiment, Startupy's hivemind experiment, or at more recent experiments and meta-research like:

https://folklore.mirror.xyz/v3KHFm-Fz288fjTIcp5Gd63rXoANBewXqbypQqZesSw

https://drop.forefront.market/

https://sublime.app/zine

https://broadcast.mirror.xyz/wi3V5CmA4JW3S1u1Ta9pzA9PO0dIyjtH0DrVA3_RfFc

In essence, these NFTs represent my dive, head-first into the rabbit hole of internet curation. A place where context reigns supreme.

I am presently a curator within both Folklore and Sublime.

Metalabel Record Club, Metalabel Drops and the Quorum DAO Anthology

Authors note: The title of my PFP, Post Individual, was inspired by Yancey Strickler, Cofounder of Metalabel, and ideas he has shared in a number of interviews related to post-individualism.

As we venture deeper into this Dark Forest, context not only reigns supreme, but more specifically, context is queen.

https://x.com/ystrickler/status/1516420845119459332?s=20

Metalabel Drops, Metalabel Record Club and the Quorum DAO Anthology were released by…well, Metalabel.

But what is a metalabel?

Metalabels are groups of people working under a common identity for a common purpose with a focus on releases — distinct public works that reflect and manifest their views. Metalabels are like indie record labels, except for any kind of cultural project: from art to activism to community projects to efforts to establish new points of view.

Metalabel Record Club and Metalabel Drops were NFT collection names for two publications: ‘After The Creator Economy’ and ‘A New Creative Era,’ respectively.

After The Creator Economy is a publication that explores constructive alternatives for the ways we produce, distribute, and monetize creative work online.

A New Creative Era calls for a new paradigm for how creative people relate to one another. A shift from the hyper-individualism of our age to a new focus on collaboration and mutual support.

The DAO Anthology is a curated collection of essays exploring the Theory, Practice, and Future of DAOs. Two of my favorite reads since entering this corner of the universe were curated into this collection: ‘A Theory of Justice for Web3’ by Li Jin + Katie Parrott and ‘Squad Wealth’ by Sam Hart + Toby Shorin + Laura Lotti.

https://quorum.metalabel.app/dao-anthology

The most amazing thing about all of these is that you can still access each of the files for free via the links I included above.

A few of these pieces were part of a larger collection of ten quality drops, which earned more than $1 million from 3,600 collectors distributed among 146 creators and more than 20 labels.

Metalabel, as a squad, has been such a source of inspiration in my journey. I'm personally driven by the idea that there are more just and joyful futures out there seeking our presence. Metalabel, in so many ways, confirms that those futures are not just out there, but many are already here if you know where to look.

Authors note: I would be remiss if I didn’t link Metalabel’s reflections on the crypto scene.

Multiplayer Futures and A More Play-full Future (RADAR Subscriber Drops)

Speaking of futures, that is exactly what this stop is all about. Introducing RADAR, a decentralized global collective of 300+ researchers, early adopters and innovators accelerating better futures.

When it comes to NFTs, RADAR is similar to Metalabel in that the squad has and might continue to make use of Web3 infrastructure, but it is only insofar as it is in support of grandeur visions—a vision for a future in sync, a vision for multiplayer futures, a vision for a more playful future, or maybe our centaur future.

The mantra is “The future belongs to those who think about it.” If you are someone, as I am, who spends an inordinate time thinking about “it”, the invitation is to join hundreds of researchers, strategists, cultural analysts, network weavers, creative catalysts, facilitators, producers, entrepreneurs, co-designers, writers, and makers, and think about the future together. Come for the scene, stay for the scenius.

Opepen Purple Edition, Disco District, Social Contracts, Words, PIRAT3 and The Magic Machine

nft://1/0x9AEFd6d4feF5b70119FC194D81EbAD761A3269C4/?showBuying=false&showMeta=false

Another scene cultivating its own scenius, Farcaster. Opepen Purple Edition represents my nod to Farcaster and Purple, a DAO whose goal is to proliferate and expand the Farcaster protocol and ecosystem. The origin story behind the first prototype of ghost context was first published on Farcaster, and then republished on Mirror. The person who nudged me to share the story is a Purple DAO member.

https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/0x728f6e35C3ECE2fD121A0cEB54AeB71774316c2E/79

Disco District, an NFT I minted as part of a collaborative proof-of-concept between Disco.xyz and District Labs. As challenging as I find wrapping my head around the technical details, I yearn for the day that we can conduct ghost context analyses that include decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and verifiable credentials. Evin's takes on how these technologies improve our relationship with identity are approachable and important.

https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/0x49bd7FAd523049f6286C2df301C8364c28157c12/724

Social Contracts #724 is the ghost context of my Ethereum-based NFTs in graph form and, as a project, this NFT remains the closest approximation to ghost context from a conceptual POV.

Social Contracts is a series of living artworks that trace their collectors' collections and their shared connections to other collectors, using the collection graph to project future acquisitions.

Burak Arikan, the creator of this collection, is a mad graph genius.

https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/0xa698713a3bc386970Cdc95A720B5754cC0f96931/85

A simple ERC721, Words, allowed you to mint strings of text that were stored onchain. If memory serves me right (it normally doesn’t), this is the first creation I brought onchain? I may be unsure about that detail, but I do know I return to the Multidimensional Citation essay where I first encountered these words over and over again. This post is a personal attempt at accounting for the learning trails that led to the concept of ghost context, my PFP is an attempt at this gesture as well.

https://opensea.io/assets/0x5B8c0D2CdF985BD5521B9Dc944A535bDD3A8259d/1

PIRAT3 in some way (maybe in an extreme sort of way) is linked to the concept of multidimensional citation. ‘Learning trails’, ‘maps that lead directly back to the creators,’ positive-sum attribution, positive-sum piracy. It feels like there is something here.

https://x.com/0xigami/status/1712336757407269295?s=20

This final NFT, The Magic Machine, is the 11-11 clock located in the left eye of my PFP. According to Zora, they’ve created a Magic Machine, and it can produce Magic™ for anyone willing to upload their imagination, no ETH required. As much as I appreciate and support the ethos Zora is tangibly manifesting in the space, I didn’t even know about the Magic Machine reference at the time I minted this.

I minted it on November 12, 2023 without noticing it was a nod to the day prior, 11/11, lol. I minted it simply because the artwork resonated with me. My friend and I have this ritual where we text each other at 11:11 each time we happen to catch it. I don’t even know how many years we have been doing this, but it’s been more than a handful. There are weeks where that is all our thread is composed of.

Humans establish connections with other humans in innumerable ways, they maintain them in numberable ways, sometimes quite literally.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that perhaps the Magic™ of the Magic Machine isn't just in the innovation it represents or the creativity it invites (and rewards) but also in the unique way it allows us to connect and to be connected across the innumerable and staggeringly diverse ways things resonate with us. Stated another way, Zora produces a lot of ghost context, and the ability to surface it and discover a new kindred spirit is a pretty magical feeling.

Conclusion: Ghosts in the Synchronicity Machine, Pavan’s Journey, Weaver of Wavelengths and Be Rhizome

These NFTs are the only creations of my own included in the PFP, but I imagine we’ve done enough reflection for one MIrror post.🪞

After all…

The medium is the message 🪞

The call to adventure:

Contest #1 - Remix this Mirror post:

https://mirror.xyz/aronshelton.eth/NBgn6MBFSsa2TLFiILyAa1mWLG5h_fRJ0NWM-LoAZNE

Remix the content (provide your interpretation of the concepts shared in this post, add new stories, copy+paste, prompt ChatGPT, reorganize, reword or summarize, critique, pull in different reference points, take us on your own fictional or nonfictional journeys exploring these ideas, etc.)

Prizes:

• 1st Place - .13 ETH (~$290 USD) + Folklore Season Pass (valued at .05 ETH) + physical + digital copy of The Curious Human's Field Guide to the Future by RADAR (valued at $30)

• 2nd Place - Folklore Season Pass + physical + digital copy of The Curious Human's Field Guide to the Future by RADAR (valued at $30)

• 3rd Place - Folklore Season Pass + The Curious Human's Field Guide to the Future (digital copy ONLY)

To be eligible:

• Writing submission must include the disclaimer and definition of ghost context + Creative Commons license.

Disclaimer: This is part of a unique series of blog posts examining applications of a concept called "ghost context.” For those new to the concept, ghost context refers to any shared context—generated at the intersection of common experiences, interests, or connections—that exists before or beyond the awareness of those who inhabit it. Surfacing awareness of these types of shared reference points often deepens existing relationships, leads to new ones, and accelerates collaboration and belonging.

Creative Commons License:

Ghosts in the Synchronicity Machine © 2023 by aronshelton.eth is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 

Here is a Google Doc Template.

EMAIL WRITING SUBMISSIONS TO ARON@GHOSTCONTEXT.XYZ

Contest #2 - Remix or Submit New/Existing Artwork

Remix or submit artwork (AI-generated images, memes, diagrams, etc.) connected to the various concepts or stories used in the Mirror post (ghost context, engineered synchronicity, kindred spirits, The Synchronicity Machine, The Flavor Alchemists, Threads of Unity, etc.)

Top Prize:

• 1st Place - .13 ETH (~$290 USD) + Folklore Season Pass (valued at .05 ETH) + physical + digital copy of The Curious Human's Field Guide to the Future by RADAR (valued at $30)

• 2nd Place - Folklore Season Pass + physical + digital copy of The Curious Human's Field Guide to the Future by RADAR (valued at $30)

• 3rd Place - Folklore Season Pass + The Curious Human's Field Guide to the Future by RADAR (digital copy ONLY)

EMAIL ARTWORK SUBMISSIONS TO ARON@GHOSTCONTEXT.XYZ

A wallet is not required to participate in either contest. Participants should send submissions to aron@ghostcontext.xyz. Our team will upload submissions promptly and coordinate with non-wallet-holding participants if their submissions win either contest. Contributions via email will also be given the option to have their submissions remain anonymous.

Submissions must be submitted by Sunday, January 8, 2024.

Voting:

There will be a panel of at least 5 judges selected by our team to vote on submissions with the winners being decided on January 13, 2024.*

*Our team reserves the right to bring all submissions onchain with all potential proceeds from mints being distributed as follows:

• 10% to Folklore Treasury

• 10% to RADAR treasury

• 30% to Ghost Context App Development

• 50% to Ghost Context Treasury**

• **25% to the original submitter if they have a wallet (the Ghost Context Treasury share will be adjusted to 25%)

TL;DR

This blog post discusses the concept of "ghost context" in Web3 environments, focusing on how shared experiences and interests create a common context among individuals, often unbeknownst to them. It explores how NFT collections can deepen connections among users and introduces the idea of "engineered synchronicity," where intentional actions create meaningful coincidences. The update includes new integrations and capabilities in the app, allowing for broader analysis across various blockchain platforms. The post also features three fictional narratives illustrating the potential of these concepts and concludes with a link to a Ghost Context Remix Contest (Writing + Art) that will award prizes (with a total of .26 ETH or ~$573 USD up for grabs) to winning entries decided by a panel of judges.

In my last post, I put forward the Ghost Context Thesis, our working thesis of ghost context that outlined how NFT collections could surface and deepen connections between Web3 users. Most importantly, the thesis addresses how one might utilize ghostcontext.xyz in pursuit of these aims. At that time, our app only possessed the ability to analyze across NFT collections on Ethereum Mainnet.

nft://10/0xc1BE2ba284D40A3ae6C4337418FC6e6205815365/?showBuying=true&showMeta=true

December 11, 2023 Update:

Since then, we’ve added Optimism, Zora, Base, Polygon, Gnosis and Solana. In addition, we’ve integrated the ability to incorporate POAPs in the analyses.

https://vimeo.com/893806047

This means a holder now can surface kindred spirits who occupy resonant spaces at intersections of favorite events (e.g. POAPs), writing (e.g. Mirror, Paragraph), podcasts (e.g. Pods), music (e.g. Sound.xyz), videos, art and any other NFT collection-based, media artifact minted onchain—irrespective of the holding chain. We believe with these advances we’ve equipped users with the ability to experiment with a form of engineered synchronicity (another concept we coined and added to our lexicon to better capture the essence of this work).

Engineered Synchronicity

As we define it, engineered synchronicity refers to the intentional creation or facilitation of synchronistic events or meaningful coincidences through conscious efforts or manipulations. It involves deliberately orchestrating conditions, connections, or experiences that incubate synchronistic encounters or occurrences.

Note: In essence, the “orchestrating condition” being advocated here is the intentional gathering and/or creation NFT collections required for the ghost context analysis to surface synchronistic encounters with kindred spirits across Web3.

In engineered synchronicity, individuals or entities purposefully design or manipulate various factors such as timing, context, symbolism, or communication channels to foster specific synchronistic experiences. This can be done with the intention of achieving desired outcomes, amplifying meaningful connections, or fostering serendipitous encounters that align with specific goals, intentions, or agendas.

Engineered synchronicity often involves a deep understanding of the psychological, symbolic, and contextual aspects underlying synchronistic events. It may draw upon methods such as intentional positioning, targeted communications, strategic networking, or the use of symbolic cues to influence the occurrence and significance of synchronistic experiences.

This concept acknowledges the potential for human agency in shaping synchronistic events, rather than attributing them solely to random chance or the workings of the collective unconscious. Engineered synchronicity suggests a proactive engagement with the phenomenon of synchronicity, leveraging its potential for personal, interpersonal, or strategic purposes.

It is important to note that the term "engineered synchronicity" does not imply a dismissal of the authenticity or depth of synchronistic experiences. Rather, it acknowledges the capacity for individuals or entities to engage consciously with synchronicity and to shape actively the conditions that give rise to meaningful coincidences.

The Synchronicity Machine

In effect, we’ve built a type of synchronicity machine! Let your imagination sit with that for a minute, while we venture into the possibility space through a fictional origin story entitled “The Ghosts in the Synchronicity Machine.”

https://opensea.io/assets/0xB47E183c43191eb7B88bE8B237329BF98248dD50/2

Once upon a time in the not-so-distant future, in a world deeply immersed in the wonders of Web3 and decentralized technologies, there was a mysterious device known as the "Synchronicity Machine." It was an enigmatic creation that had captured the imagination of many, as it promised to unlock the secrets of meaningful coincidences and shared connections in the digital realm.

The Synchronicity Machine was the brainchild of Dr. Amelia Lawson, a brilliant scientist and visionary in the world of quantum computing. She had dedicated her life to understanding the depths of synchronicity, believing that it held the key to a new form of human connection in the age of the decentralized web.

The machine itself was a marvel of technology, a sleek and intricate apparatus that looked like the fusion of a vintage typewriter and a state-of-the-art quantum computer. Its purpose was to analyze vast datasets of personal preferences, interests, and experiences from users across the web, all the while maintaining the utmost privacy and security.

Users eagerly embraced the Synchronicity Machine, creating their own "connection capsules." These digital capsules were filled with their favorite articles, books, music, movies, and more, each piece carefully encrypted to protect their privacy. Once assembled, the capsules would be sent into the machine's depths, where it would seek out synchronicities across other users' capsules.

One day, as Dr. Lawson monitored the machine's operations, she noticed something extraordinary. Two capsules, assembled by users from opposite ends of the world, had a staggering number of similarities. Their favorite books, music, and even obscure interests aligned in ways that seemed statistically impossible.

Intrigued, Dr. Lawson decided to investigate further. She decrypted the capsules and discovered that the users, Sarah and Max, had seemingly identical tastes and interests. She reached out to them, revealing the synchronicity, and they were equally astounded.

Sarah, a musician from New York, and Max, a neuroscientist from Tokyo, began to communicate. They shared their thoughts on their shared interests and dreams, discussing art, science, and the mysteries of the universe. The connection between them was profound, as if the Synchronicity Machine had orchestrated their encounter.

As Sarah and Max delved deeper into their newfound friendship, they discovered a shared passion for exploring the uncharted territory of engineered synchronicity. They decided to collaborate with Dr. Lawson to further develop the Synchronicity Machine, seeking to understand its capabilities and limitations.

Together, they embarked on a journey to explore the boundaries of technology, human connection, and the enigmatic world of synchronicity. The Synchronicity Machine became a symbol of their quest, a testament to the power of technology to bring people together in ways that transcended boundaries of time and space.

And so, the story of "The Ghosts in the Synchronicity Machine" continued to unfold, as Sarah, Max, and Dr. Lawson ventured together into the unexplored, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in the age of decentralized connections and engineered synchronicity.

After working through these concepts with ChatGPT, this is one of the story outputs I received that set my imagination ablaze. I started prompting stories that showcased the latent potential that this analysis could unleash for fashion designers, gastronomic aficionados, scientific researchers, etc.—until it dawned on me that there was a formulaic structure to these stories which give birth to and unite protagonists across any commonly held niche interest.

I’ll leave you with that story formula and two fictional stories shared both as inspiration for your imagination and as a standing invitation to their future, nonfictional counterparts.

Formulaic Representation:

Story = Blockchain Landscape + Ghost Context Analysis Introduction + Analysis Impact + Protagonist Introduction + Shared Journey Initiation + Collaborative Creation + Community Birth and Evolution + Deepened Exploration + Creative Output Reflection + Resonance within the Onchain Media Landscape + Journey Reflection + Onchain Media's Potential

The Flavor Alchemists

Within the pulsating nodes of gastronomical signals emanating within public blockchains, there existed an invisible thread of shared passions and inclinations, waiting to be discovered through Ghost Context Analysis.

In this intricate tapestry of nodes moved to expression by flavors and aromas, Ghost Context Analysis acted as the silent weaver, interlacing the threads of culinary spirits to reveal unseen, yet harmonious connections. It was this refined analysis that intertwined the destinies of "The Flavor Alchemists": Nola, the visionary chef, Dr. Elias, the gustatory scientist, and Marisol, the culinary artist. This analytical revelation unveiled the resonant strands that connected them, building the framework for synchronicity of shared culinary visions and innovations.

https://opensea.io/assets/0x5ce8eaa92c89de22b9e40746dac08a4debd42e2e/1

With the unseen threads of their onchain media profiles revealed by the Ghost Context Analysis, they embarked on a journey, exploring, combining, and creating new symphonic expressions of flavor, texture, and aroma for others to experience. Their uncharted explorations were framed by the shared resonances revealed, forging a harmonious blend of culinary wisdom and innovation.

Their intertwined journeys paved the way for revolutionary gastronomical recipes, stretching the boundaries of conventional culinary expressions. The collaborative exploration, which began within the onchain media cosmos, birthed a cascade of harmonious and innovative culinary expressions.

Out of this harmonious convergence sprouted "The Resonance of Flavors" community, a vibrant and living entity within the gastronomical blockchain cosmos. This community became a beacon of culinary innovation and exploration, drawing in like-minded spirits to join in the dance of evolving culinary expressions and discoveries.

Within this burgeoning community, the Flavor Alchemists and their fellow culinary explorers delved deeper into the diverse realms of gastronomy, creating interconnected landscapes of flavors, techniques, and expressions. Their journey illuminated new paths, intertwining diverse culinary expressions into a luminous web of shared passion and exploration within the vast onchain media universe.

The creations of The Flavor Alchemists were more than culinary masterpieces; they were the echoes of shared journeys and the reflections of mutual explorations and innovations within the boundless culinary universe. Each creation was a living embodiment of the shared essence and collective symphony within the gastronomical onchain media landscape, resonating with the harmonious hues of their shared culinary canvas.

Reflecting upon their journey, the convergence of The Flavor Alchemists underscored the transformative power of Ghost Context Analysis and onchain media in discovering hidden harmonies and birthing innovative culinary landscapes. Their collaborative journey and the innovative culinary experiences it spawned showcased the endless possibilities and the revolutionary impact of onchain media in reimagining and reshaping the gastronomical realms beyond the world of public blockchains.

Threads of Unity

In the buzzing network of public blockchains, a unique space unfurls, alive with creativity. This digital realm is a meeting point for innovative fashion design, where technology weaves into traditional craftsmanship.

Amid this complex digital landscape, a sophisticated analysis tool, Ghost Context Analysis, works to uncover hidden connections among individuals sharing similar passions yet unknown to each other. Through this intricate web, three distinct yet harmonious design philosophies emerge, brought to light by the analysis: Isadora from Brazil, known for her cutting-edge fashion; Rohan from India, a champion of eco-friendly fashion; and Elise from Sweden, a master of simple yet elegant designs. They are unknowingly connected, a trio destined to collaborate as pioneers in the digital fashion world.

Drawn together by this newfound connection, they embark on a collaborative journey. Their mission is to blend their unique styles and celebrate the diversity of their artistic expressions. Together, they conceive a groundbreaking fashion show titled "Threads of Unity." This event becomes a beautiful tapestry of Rohan's sustainable methods, Isadora's bold and new-age designs, and Elise's understated elegance.

https://opensea.io/assets/0x1DE670e47739B469C904FBf11643FF994d53760B/1

Their successful collaboration sends ripples through the digital fashion world, leading to the birth of "The Digital Threads Design Community." This community becomes a melting pot of global fashion trends, a digital hub where designers from all corners of the globe come together to collaborate, share knowledge, and push the boundaries of fashion.

The creations of this trio, the Digital Threads Pioneers, become more than just clothes; they're stories woven from their shared experiences. Each piece reflects their journey of coming together, their blending of ideas, and their shared vision. These designs don't just change fashion; they redefine how fashion is perceived and created in the digital blockchain world, setting new standards for how digital media can seamlessly integrate with the tangible art of fashion design.

Reflecting on their journey, the story of these three pioneers highlights the transformative power of Ghost Context Analysis in discovering hidden connections and the untapped potential of digital media in the fashion world. Their journey, the community they inspired, and the fashion revolutions they sparked showcase the immense possibilities and influential impact of digital media, reshaping the very essence of the fashion industry in the digital era.

No Clairvoyance Required

Are you ready to engineer some synchronicity and unite with like-minded kindred spirits across cyberspace? Visit ghostcontext.xyz, and run some analyses on your own collections. Experiment with different combinations: Summon the kindred spirits across your favorite writing NFTs? How about at the intersection of your favorite collections across different types of media e.g. digital artwork, music, DAO memberships?

If those results fall short, become an onchain media enthusiast and start picking up NFTs with the idea of doing this analysis in the back of your mind. Better yet, think about bringing your own collections onchain, or form a curatorial squad (or a metalabel) and invite users to participate in a campaign to mint NFTs across various collections but under a particular theme. Then run the analysis at some point in the future.

nft://8453/0x08dab083ce8d760198eeb21e20421f575ca0b653/?showBuying=true&showMeta=true

Otherwise, just go about collecting NFTs at your own pace. You are now equipped with the retrospective foresight to know that you can always come back to our synchronicity machine at some point in the future to orchestrate the discovery of good company or add deeper contextual dimensions to your existing relationships. Summon kindred spirits at any point along your journey.

If our thesis about ghost context proves true, the future will be filled with an abundance of connections surfacing at the intersections of our most unique and divergent interests—no clairvoyance required.

Contest Details

https://mirror.xyz/aronshelton.eth/zbXq7SelJeilsk4BNC-e-JRhIYOAGhpWq64n_PY44Ug

At ghostcontext.xyz, we are bringing the concept to life first through the lens of NFT collections. The app we’ve built gives users an easy way to run analyses across a collection to summon a list of addresses based on the frequency of NFTs held in common with the analyzed wallets. The analysis can surface a few forms of ghost context, but for this post, we will focus on the most actionable one: it can reveal addresses previously unknown to the collector.

But why should we be motivated to surface this form of ghost context?

A working thesis:

Because it’s likely that the collectors you discover—the ones you were previously unaware of but who hold collections in common with—are probably either up to some interesting stuff or are aware of some stuff that you would find interesting and rewarding.

If not, it’s likely that putting them on your radar will reveal some pathways of inspiration in the future. Surfacing ghost context is a cheat code for finding resonance across Web3.

But if none of the above proves true, there remains the latent possibility that reaching out and putting your minds together might manifest something meaningful. You might even f around and cause a scene or birth a hyperculture.

https://lght.mirror.xyz/pTG74wlS43LGBzP7ZYCBTGEcWJ9uZdC3lUa2JJUXtQA

Oh, and if you already have your own thing going, reach out and let ‘em know, as these folks would probably be game to give you feedback and find ways to support your work.

Mint this entry to stay in the loop! Minters are also welcome to swing by our private and cozy Telegram group using Guild. 👻✨

Author note: FWIW, this thesis has proven true for me. The ghost context app surfaced kindred spirits like Jihad, Kairon, logonaut and MdC, who I’ve since connected with and who have exposed me to so many dope things.

A few notes before you bounce:

• Processing time will depend on the number of NFTs you hold. For most of you, the results should generate in the 5–10 minute range, but for those with hundreds upon hundreds of NFTs, it may take longer (there is one particular address here that exceeded 30 minutes, the app analyzed over 18 million addresses to produce their results) 

• Remember, the most ectoplasmic ghost context is to be discovered by reviewing the results and noting ENS names you are not familiar with. I've found one of the quickest ways to discover who they are is to drop the ens in a Twitter search. *more on discovery below 

• Features currently in production: 1) The ability to select the specific NFTs within a wallet you want to run the analysis on. 2) The ability to mint a ghost context NFT, which we will use to (shoutout Guild!) token-gate access to our community and some paranormal engagements we are conjuring up.

• *Features on the roadmap: After we ship the two features above, we'll be working on integrating web3 identities (Farcaster, Lens) into the results. We also hope to map whether or not the addresses follow each other on each platform i.e. only show me results for addresses that I don't follow.

• We currently only analyze ERC-721 and 1155s, but expect to see Polygon (POAPs) and Optimism, among other chains, integrated as time progresses. The future is multi-chain, eh?

Oh, and lastly - if you are inclined to give feedback or just want to come kick it with us, here is an invitation to join our Telegram group. The original Mirror entry should grant you access: https://guild.xyz/ghost-context - but reach out if you have any trouble! 

Keep it kindred, folks! https://www.ghostcontext.xyz/

((cue, ghostbusters theme music))

tldr

The app analyzes the NFTs held by a wallet address and summons a list of kindred spirits based on collections associated with that wallet. Collectors of this Mirror post will be granted early access to the app.

The Story

The text below has been copied from Farcaster (link below) and edited lightly for Mirror readers.

https://warpcast.com/aronshelton/0x202e80

Part I

Hello, (World-)Builders! A friend suggested I share my first-build story with the Farcaster community, so here goes…

72 hours ago, I stumbled onto Sully’s Auto-GPT tweet that grabbed my attention.

https://twitter.com/SullyOmarr/status/1645482778677452805?s=20

Anyways, so I unroll it and stop dead at step one.

Do I know how to run a terminal command? I mean, kind of, I guess. I recently paid someone to set something up for me. I do tip them every time it breaks, and they do have to give me “commands” I can copy and paste to get it working again.

F-it, let’s go for it. I can definitely download stuff, and I’ve been playing with ChatGPT. Hmmm, cloning repo? Where is this file called ".env.template"? What is a ".env" file? Download more stuff (but with commands?). I can open up stuff (but run scripts?).

Thanks for the thread, Sully. But apparently, I can’t follow instructions. This thing isn’t working, and I knew it wouldn’t. I’m an idiot, but wait...

I wonder if The ChatGPT is as much of a dummy as me!? Copy and paste error in ChatGPT. Copy and paste solution. Run script (Ok, I learned how to run a script!). Shoot, it's still not working. Copy and paste for what FEELS like ad infinitum (you get where I’m going).

It’s working! It’s alive! IT’S ALIVE!

Part II

“Welcome back!” The message I received from Auto-GPT doubles as a fitting way to continue casting my first-build story.

Just to recap: I heed Sully's call to AI adventure, realize my adventure is ending before it even begins given his instructions, but before giving up, I turn to ChatGPT and cross into the unknown, full of “commands” and “scripts” and “.env” files and “clones” and a multitude of weird text symbols.

Ok, now Auto-GPT is up and running and ready to do my bidding, but on what? Like many others, I’ve been interested in getting my own AI assistant trained on data I supply.

https://twitter.com/rafathebuilder/status/1641018335021113344?s=20

So it seemed appropriate to get started by renaming it: AronGPT, lol.

Prompt time: AronGPT, research Aron Shelton and share 5 interesting facts about him. Goal 1: Use Google to look up Aron Shelton who lives in Fayetteville, AR , Goal 2: Use links to discover interesting facts about him, Goal 3: document 5 interesting facts about him, Goal 4: share them and Goal 5: finish.

This cringe-adjacent AI-assisted affirmation exercise put me on a bit of a high. I felt premium mediocre at this point, and Auto-GPT going to serve up receipts that I was not only mediocre, but I was, in fact, interesting!

https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2017/08/17/the-premium-mediocre-life-of-maya-millennial/

Auto-GPT: I found several interesting pieces of information about Aron Shelton, who is a music industry veteran who spent decades working in Nashville. He has worked on many significant projects, including producing and engineering tracks for several prominent performers, including Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and Marty Robbins. Moreover, Shelton has worked on multiple Broadway and film scores.

Interesting fella with the whoa factor, but not me.  The real-deal learning loop was watching Auto-GPT (aka AronGPT) work. I could see what it was trying to do: searching Linkedin, searching my bio on a website, my educational background, etc.

So, A for effort, AronGPT. Let’s load up new tasks that involve etherscan, API calls, smart contracts, NFTs, wallet addresses. If you’re thinking how I think you’re thinking, it could illustrate a concept I’ve been obsessing over for months now called “Ghost Context.”  Spoiler alert, AronGPT helped me complete my first build to surface it. In Part III, I’ll wrap up and share details about the app, my gift to my little corner of web3.

👻👻👻 Boo(yah)!

Part III (the end for now)

Ok, the time has come to land this ship. If you’ve been following along, you know this story is about my experience going from never running a command or writing a line of code to shipping an app in a little under 72 hours with the help of Auto-GPT and ChatGPT.

The app I built is designed to surface “Ghost Context”. Wtf is this “Ghost Context”? I coined the term "ghost context" to describe shared context that exists between two or more people who lack awareness of each other and/or the context they share in common.

A few IRL ghost context examples: Visiting a friend’s house and discovering in their bookshelf or vinyl crate that you’ve read a handful of the same books or are fans of common artists.

Striking up a convo with a stranger at an event who is wearing a shirt from an obscure past festival you attended. Come to find out, you’ve both attended a number of the same concerts and share many friends in common. The shared references and lived experiences together form ghost context that pre-existed between you and the stranger-turned-friend.

You’re experiencing weird symptoms that doctors have been unable to diagnose. Your friend mentions knowing someone who had experienced something similar. The connection leads to your identification of an uncommon diagnosis. The ghost context in this instance was the set of rare symptoms experienced by you and your friend’s acquaintance.

Each of these scenarios is an example of a "ghost context," and while we may not know that we share a ghost context with someone, once it surfaces, it can often play a factor in our social lives, unexpectedly deepening existing connections or leading to new friendships,a sense of belonging, or common ground for collaboration.

The key thing to keep in mind is that this context hinges on shared feelings of resonance, generated at the intersection of mutual interests and/or urgency.

So, how did Auto-GPT help me build an app designed to surface ghost context for web3 communities? Well, much to my chagrin, a simple prompt with a few goals was not sufficient for task completion.

In fact, it failed miserably at the tasks I gave it. But again, the key to momentum in this experiment is that it let me watch what it was trying to do. And what it was trying to do was retrieve the data I asked it to go fetch. Data about my wallet address.

It sought to access the etherscan API. It tried webscraping etherscan. It thought it did the job and came back to deliver the results. It didn’t retrieve the correct data. I had the data, so I was able to run comps for accuracy.

The bulbs started to light up again. I’d run a script to get Auto-GPT setup. Could ChatGPT help me design a script to access the API myself? If I am able to retrieve the data, could I write some code to crunch the data and surface this ghost context stuff that had been haunting my brain for months?

If the script works, could I possibly go from a script to a web application?

And since I’m here casting this story, you know the answer is yes to all of the above. It was a WILD 72 hours to Eureka!

Calling All Kindreds

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. You might be thinking, “Now, demo already! Show us if what you’ve built is going to do justice to all this time I’ve spent reading about this AI-assisted leapfrogging over a wildly steep learning curve.”

So, here is the deal. I told you this is my gift to my corner of the web3 universe. I’ve conceptualized this web app as an open-source, public good. Hopefully, we now share the understanding that this is about surfacing ghost context for the web3 community.

I’ll go a step farther. This is about heightening your awareness of your corner of the web3 universe, and it’s about summoning (new and old) kindred spirits.

So since there is still a little work to do before I can release it to the web3 universe, e.g. hiring an actual developer to tighten the code up, add a few bells and whistles, etc., for prime time.

Here’s my commitment to accessibility based on the reality of the limitations of the app in its current form: If you collect the post (~$2 + gas), you will be granted early access to the app. My wife and I like to include $2 bills when tipping for good service, and this is just a little nod to that, given the work that’s leading up to this release.

That’s all for now. Keep it kindred, folks! 👻👻👻