I agree with all of your west coast examples. DC is very livable, especially in the NW areas (the NE and SE parts were largely destroyed by Eisenhowever highways and the consequent urban blight). Northern Virginia is a total nightmare in terms of livability. Suburban concrete deserts as far as the eye can see, horrible public transit, downright disgusting environmental planning, etc.
Unfortunately, more and more of the west is becoming more and more like VA in terms of its (un)livability.
I don't know if this is true or not, nor whether it actually has a connection to the english, but I was recently told that "It is too complicated!" in Vietnamese is pronounced very much like "Fuck That!":-)
You have to look no further than the US Congress to see a worked example. If you idealize every single member of Congress as intelligent, and I think a similar analogy can be made for people on the net or for companies on the net (where you still have to question intelligence sometimes, but let's not and say we did), it's pretty clear that the problem isn't just the sinister taking hold of someone with total power. It's also that it's easy to cause behavior that no one can take responsibility for, and that isn't in the best interest of individuals.
Emergent behaviour is tricky and unpredictable pre-facto. Though I love Mona Lisa Overdrive and similiar "emergent net" ideas -and I definitely think that this guy's ideas fit into that container- the problem is that the emergent behavior theorized is too similiar to the behavior of the component parts. If the Internet/global computer networks are in fact a complex system in and of themselves -and here I am using "system" as a systems theorist might- then we can expect emergent behavior that is as different from that of computers as a clock's is from the cogs that form it.[1]
As you point out, trusting in some kind of "control" over that system is rather silly, at best. I believe that it is in fact both undesirable and impossible.
1: I in no ways mean to imply that an hypothesised system might be finite state
As a DNI official recently noted, "We have a saying in this business: 'Privacy and security are a zero-sum game.'"
That is some seriously faulty thinking! There are many things that invade privacy that do not increase security. There are also many things that increase security which do not impact privacy. Putting the two together is a marketing campaign to make it seem like this is the choice we are facing: privacy vs. security. In fact, that has absolutely nothing to do with the social questions at hand.
Repeating the tired strawman of "privacy vs. security" only serves to dominate the social discourse with the double-think of power minds.
As is usually the case, I find myself in agreement with multiple points of view!:-) To my imagination, and I have imagined a future of driverless cars many times, this would have primary impact on commuters. I too love country drives, sudden detours when I spot a destination that sounds cool, directionless ambles, I even enjoy getting lost when I am in a new town!
So, to my mind the best use of this would be to replace/supplement HOV lanes. These operate in relatively predictable manners and could be made highly efficient and incredibly less dangerous. Imagine packing more cars per km at higher speeds and with less danger? Disable all human input for the duration and zip along! I really can't imagine that these systems would be at all usable in cities or on country roads in the forseeable future; too many variables!
That's why I support Ron Paul and the transumanist dystopian party - deregulation and the ability to sell advertizers direct access to our subconscious will enable us to achieve the economic benefits of a nihilistic hellscape.
Hahaha! I was almost disturbed by what you said citizen! Luckily I had my Soma at hand! Hahahaha!
No disagreement from me about the damage from COPS and such, but the young black man has been the national face of crime and disorder for far longer than that. The racism that underpins that view is at the bedrock of the post-Reconstruction US soul. For one piece of evidence amongst millions, consider that the first drug-control laws were passed because it was believed, and stated in the congressional record, that cocaine caused black men to rape white women.
"The media has been doing and wonderful job of either making Kucinich look like a nutcase or just outright ignoring his existence. Being the best candidate for the people quickly earns enemies though, I suppose."
Welcome to the wonderful world of modern US politics. If you aren't in the pockets of the multiple corporate overlords then the corporate owned media will spin you into oblivion...if they mention you at all. I'm not sure what the solution is.
I think that the core of any major change away from a corporate oligarchy must begin with proportional representation. If nothing else, this broadens the field through a wider number of political parties and makes it more difficult for any corporate interest to control all of the politicians, which is pretty much the case now.
I think that the presence of some more extreme parties -communist, libratarian, etc.- within the formal debating center of the house/senate floor would do wonders for finding out exactly what it is that America as a country stands for.
Slashdot Mirror
I agree with all of your west coast examples. DC is very livable, especially in the NW areas (the NE and SE parts were largely destroyed by Eisenhowever highways and the consequent urban blight). Northern Virginia is a total nightmare in terms of livability. Suburban concrete deserts as far as the eye can see, horrible public transit, downright disgusting environmental planning, etc.
Unfortunately, more and more of the west is becoming more and more like VA in terms of its (un)livability.
A great way to get free voting machines is to put a mouse into one and then claim you found it there.
I don't know if this is true or not, nor whether it actually has a connection to the english, but I was recently told that "It is too complicated!" in Vietnamese is pronounced very much like "Fuck That!" :-)
Nothing like a good pun to fire off a creative spark!
Emergent behaviour is tricky and unpredictable pre-facto. Though I love Mona Lisa Overdrive and similiar "emergent net" ideas -and I definitely think that this guy's ideas fit into that container- the problem is that the emergent behavior theorized is too similiar to the behavior of the component parts. If the Internet/global computer networks are in fact a complex system in and of themselves -and here I am using "system" as a systems theorist might- then we can expect emergent behavior that is as different from that of computers as a clock's is from the cogs that form it.[1]
As you point out, trusting in some kind of "control" over that system is rather silly, at best. I believe that it is in fact both undesirable and impossible.
1: I in no ways mean to imply that an hypothesised system might be finite state
That is some seriously faulty thinking! There are many things that invade privacy that do not increase security. There are also many things that increase security which do not impact privacy. Putting the two together is a marketing campaign to make it seem like this is the choice we are facing: privacy vs. security. In fact, that has absolutely nothing to do with the social questions at hand.
Repeating the tired strawman of "privacy vs. security" only serves to dominate the social discourse with the double-think of power minds.
I'm a DC resident and don't have an elected representative, you insensitive clod!
As opposed to integrating Sharepoint, which is just painful.
As is usually the case, I find myself in agreement with multiple points of view! :-) To my imagination, and I have imagined a future of driverless cars many times, this would have primary impact on commuters. I too love country drives, sudden detours when I spot a destination that sounds cool, directionless ambles, I even enjoy getting lost when I am in a new town!
So, to my mind the best use of this would be to replace/supplement HOV lanes. These operate in relatively predictable manners and could be made highly efficient and incredibly less dangerous. Imagine packing more cars per km at higher speeds and with less danger? Disable all human input for the duration and zip along! I really can't imagine that these systems would be at all usable in cities or on country roads in the forseeable future; too many variables!
No, no, from the back of the throat, "AAAAAaugggh" ;-)
If they had died, they wouldn't have bothered to write "kiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" they would have just said it!
I don't entirely disagree with your premise, but your first example is hardly historical evidence!
Hahaha! I was almost disturbed by what you said citizen! Luckily I had my Soma at hand! Hahahaha!
Orgy-Porgy!
No disagreement from me about the damage from COPS and such, but the young black man has been the national face of crime and disorder for far longer than that. The racism that underpins that view is at the bedrock of the post-Reconstruction US soul. For one piece of evidence amongst millions, consider that the first drug-control laws were passed because it was believed, and stated in the congressional record, that cocaine caused black men to rape white women.
Welcome to the wonderful world of modern US politics. If you aren't in the pockets of the multiple corporate overlords then the corporate owned media will spin you into oblivion...if they mention you at all. I'm not sure what the solution is.
I think that the core of any major change away from a corporate oligarchy must begin with proportional representation. If nothing else, this broadens the field through a wider number of political parties and makes it more difficult for any corporate interest to control all of the politicians, which is pretty much the case now.
I think that the presence of some more extreme parties -communist, libratarian, etc.- within the formal debating center of the house/senate floor would do wonders for finding out exactly what it is that America as a country stands for.