The Ascendant Project

In March of 2025, I wrote an essay that I aborted. It was titled, “The War on Empathy“. It took a position similar to an article in The Atlantic from 2018 titled “The Cruelty is the Point” where Adam Serwer argues that the point of cruelty is to intimidate. It has been used to pacify Continue reading "The Turning of the Tide" The post The Turning of the Tide appeared first...

OpenAI's theft of work concerning the Navier-Stokes Existence and Smoothness Problem has brought copyright issues to the forefront of the AI debate. The post The Knave Stokes Division appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

Should we follow the example of someone who bore the sins of the world and could not share that burden? Examine the cost of that model when we are overwhelmed. The post The Problem of Being Christlike appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

A tale of two cities, Westminister Maryland and Frederick Maryland. A contrast in attitudes toward growth and identity amongst cities and towns. The post NIMBY appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

Today's episode is a discussion on the State of the World. The post State of the World Check in appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

The Ascendant Project considers whether society has focused too much on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The implication being that Artificial Intelligence is the result of STEM and it has come at the cost of that which makes society great. The post OverSTEMulated appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

Using the Jevons Paradox, comparing the adoption of hot water in homes to the adoption of AI may be useful. Read. Listen. Think. The post Hot Water appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

Between the killings of Renee Goode and Alex Peretti, Julius had to go to Minnesota to perform IT work in Latino groceries stores. His experience caused him to remember a unique sermon from his teenage years which helped him process the environment and events of January 2026 in Minnesota. The post Minnesota appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

Welcome to the July 4th Episode of The Ascendant Project!!! This year we are examining Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. Common Sense was a series of pamphlets, eventually put into one volume, which made a case for declaring independence from Britain. Written before the Declaration of Independence, it was instrumental in swaying public opinion and persuading Continue reading "Reaction Episode: Co...

In early July of 1776, a document was written that marked something that was in the land of De Facto, and fortified it with the forces of De Jure.  War had broken out between the colonists and Great Britain, and this work put words to the movement, the struggle, the blood, the loss and the Continue reading "Our Sacred Honor" The post Our Sacred Honor appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

The Ascendant Project observes Memorial Day by discussing what Memorial Day means to us as well as Veterans Affairs. The post Memorial Day appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

Patriotism is not nostalgia for a perfect past that never existed, nor denial of our failures, but the willingness to carry hope for one another even during hard times. Love of country means grieving together, arguing honestly, growing together, and refusing to give up on each other. The post For The Love of Country appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

Brian and Julius discuss praises and criticisms of the 3rd No Kings Protest and movement. The post No Kings 3 Discussion appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

After I quit bartending and drinking I found a voice, opinions, hills I was willing to die onthat I hadn’t realized or explored prior. When I was a bartender my boss at the timeasked me to, essentially, keep my opinions to myself, so as not to alienate anycustomers who may want to come in with Continue reading "From Silence to Strength" The post From Silence to Strength appeared first on The Ascen...

National and World events have been moving at a very fast clip, seemingly accelerating every day.  As a result, Stories that 10 years ago would have garnered large print headlines have become buried by war and threats of war. This essay is an attempt to take a step outside of my experience and my view Continue reading "Feared or Loved (USA from the Outside)" The post Feared or Loved (USA from...

An exploration of political philosophy founded in mathematical principles It was an obsession. The pointless but worthwhile pursuit had taken a hold of my psyche. Appealing to my ego in a special way that many Mathematicians would recognize, but that few others could understand. At its core is the belief that every problem can be solved, given enough enthusiastic...

In a time of political divisiveness and heated passions, as we are in now, it is important to remember those we disagree with love America as much as we do.    You may think they are misguided, as they probably think you are.  Often our echo chambers become so intense and our belief becomes so Continue reading "Of The First Amendment and the Concept of Loyal Opposition" The post Of...

This episode is a discussion of the whole season: how we grew, what we learned and where we want this podcast to go. We also made some crass jokes about the Pillsbury Dough Boy. During the break between recording the last episode and this one, we went camping. Enjoy this photo dump of our time Continue reading "Season 1 Conclusion" The post Season 1 Conclusion appeared first on The Ascendant Proje...

You turn on the news, whether it be the TV, website, or podcast, and you find yourself immediately becoming depressed. The news just keeps getting worse and worse, and there is more uncertainty from the top, whether it be from the government, your employer, or family members. Politically, this is a high stress time. When one Continue reading "The Crisis of Hope" The post The Crisis of Hope ap...

Julius explains his decision to change his voting stance from Unaffiliated to Republican. Living in a liberal state, he felt he would have more voice in choosing a nominee in the Republican Party. The post Re-Affiliated appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

This article and interview examines some pretty famous conspiracy theories and what drives them. The post Of Conspiracy Theories and Toxic Skepticism appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

No Article with this post. Rather a discussion between Julius Knapp, Susan Smyers, and Brian Smyers on the reactions, coverage, social media impact, and implications of the Charlie Kirk Assassination. These “Wednesday Insert Editions” are rare, meant to cover an event that has large potential to affect people’s world view, whether it be in areas Continue reading "Discussion: Char...

Among the many companies I’ve worked for and roles that I’ve filled, was a brief time as a Teacher and Assistant Center Director at Huntington Learning Center. I worked there from 2001 to 2004, at just the right time to be part of the public debate around the passage of the NCLB, better known as Continue reading "Left Behind" The post Left Behind appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

The Ascendant Project examines the origins of racism, its forms today, and how to fight it in yourself and in society. The post On Racism: A Limited History and Personal Prevention. appeared first on The Ascendant Project .

Julius Knapp III Entrepreneur I still remember the first protest I saw. I was about 15 or 16 and had traveled to Long Island with my parents and siblings to visit my grandmother and other relatives. We went to Roosevelt Field Mall, memorable for the massive Zeppelin that hung above the food court, to get Continue reading "Our American Tradition" The post Our American Tradition appeared first on Th...