Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio.
This is: EA Hotel Fundraiser 8: Life at the EA Hotel, and Testimonials, published by CEEALAR on the effective altruism forum.
The EA Hotel has been open for 20 months. Here we showcase, in 100 pictures and 1000 words, what life is like in and around the hotel. We then follow with some testimonials. The aim is to give people more of an idea of what the project is like on a human level. This post is part of our fundraiser series, and complements other posts focused on outputs and the case for the project.
[We are all here, on the Pale Blue Dot. Living in interesting times.]
The EA Hotel (often under cloud cover)
is situated in the UK.
In Blackpool.
Near the beach (this picture was taken from the top of Blackpool Tower).
The building - the Athena Hotel - is a guest house that dates back to c.1850.
It has a mixture of single rooms and double rooms,
12 of which have en suites.
We also have a couple of dorm rooms, which are used for short-term visitors and events.
Obviously the main activity that occupies our guests is working on their EA projects.
Checking in with the Community & Projects Manager to discuss progress.
Co-working in the bar is popular.
Sometimes even late into the night.
Although for most, the workday ends at 19:00, when dinner is served.
Our nightly communal meals give people the chance to get to know each other better, and of course, discuss the many philosophical issues relating to EA!
(Derek eating his favourite - vegan mac and cheese)
We do of course talk about other things too (like AI Safety - pictured here: participants of TAISU).
Here are some examples of dinners: curry and rice is popular.
And rarer but well enjoyed: le vegan Big Mac.
Sometimes we put on special meals - like our Christmas dinner last month (lots of vegan pies! And crackers - the Brits amongst us didn’t realise how much of a localised tradition this is).
Or celebrating a birthday.
For breakfasts,
lunches,
and snacks,
we have a self-service buffet.
A regular after-dinner activity is talks (here: Markus talking about Hormesis).
Lately we have had weekly Lightning Talk sessions, and “Theme of the Week”, where a pre-shared article is discussed.
We have also held a few events, which have been popular,
with many outside visitors attending,
packing out the place.
Group photo of TAISU participants.
When not working, exercise is a popular activity. We used to have gym sessions in the bar,
but most enthusiasts ended up getting memberships at the gym round the corner.
A popular weekend activity is games, ranging from the simple..
..to the very complex (Terraforming Mars);
and the traditional (Texas Hold ‘Em Poker)..
..to the not so traditional (Bughouse Chess).
Social activities also sometimes involve leaving the hotel. A walk on the beach,
or a pint in a beer garden.
Playing pool,
singing karaoke,
or raving it up in Walkabout.
Walking back along the beach.
The main area in town for nightlife (on a quiet night).
Blackpool is famous for its tower.
It also has 3 piers. This is the North Pier (opened 1863, when people paid 2d to walk over the sea).
This is the Central Pier (level with the hotel).
Despite a recent decline in visitor numbers, Blackpool is still a popular seaside resort in the summer.
For the tourist on a budget, there are free events like the St Annes International Kite Festival down the coast,
or the World Fireworks Championship.
For the not-quite-so-budget-conscious EA, for a few pounds you can take a ride along the coast on an old tram,
or have a go on the penny arcades.
Wandering through town
you can see some interesting street architecture.
The Promenade, early in the holiday season.
A street with colourful guest houses near us.
Our street, with its illuminations on.
Tower and backstreets from the window of room 16.
The beach is 3km long and up to 500m wide at low tide (here: a sunny ...
view more