Maybe if we just go all out with genetic engineering and nanotech, we could come up with ways to beat cancer and heart disease, and finally, even old age itself.
And don't gimme all that crap about The Next Generation. I say it is time we stopped living as animals who are nothing but slaves to our DNA, and start moving beyond the animal stage.
Let's take nature into our own hands, and mold it to OUR WILL.
.
The abacus probably existed in Babylonia (present-day Iraq) about 3000 B.C.E. The ancient Greeks developed some very sophisticated analog computers. In 1901, an ancient Greek shipwreck was discovered off the island of Antikythera.
From http://obiwan.uvi.edu/computing/timeline/history.h tm
The ancient Greeks developed some very sophisticated analog computers. In 1901, an ancient Greek shipwreck was discovered off the island of Antikythera.
Inside was a salt-encrusted device (now called the Antikythera mechanism) that consisted of rusted metal gears and pointers. When this c. 80 B.C.E. device was reconstructed, it produced a mechanism for predicting the motions of the stars and planets.
There are some factors that are being overloked here:
First, many people such as myself have downloaded music from Napster. But the type of music downloaded is important. I have downloaded songs from my past. These songs are important to me because they represent my youth. But now I have a gig or so of my youth, and that is all I need of that type of music.
New music I do not dl from Napster; I stream that from mp3.com. THis music is from unknown artists.
When I compare it to new mainstream music, music which must be paid for, I find it to be just as good.
That is because new mainstream music does have its hooks in me like the old music. And BTW, this is the real intellectual property insofar as music is concerned: connection to the listeners' past.
But all these former dynamics will be swept aside by the new Net distribution model. I encourage all of you to try streaming some of the new music from www.mp3.com, especially the electronic music; often this is made by one person on a computer. It's fantastic! Also check out all the foreign ethnic music offerings. It's all free and legal--and very good.
We all need to accept the defacto truth: this country is our place of business. We made it a good place to invest capital, and we as the owners are the ones who should reap the benefits.
But a small minority of owners, this who have enough capital to *BUY* the labor and services of others, naturally want to drive down the cost of that labor/services. But that is not to the benefit of the vast majority.
THe rich ones have been manipulating the poor ones since the beginning of time with their propaganda. But if we all just realize that this is our business, then it all becomes much clearer.
Besides, we need to run this country to *our* benefit---for the majority. To do otherwise is foolish.
And the majority of us sell our labor/products/services. But the rich ones, who BY labor, of course, have always manipulated tthe majority in order to make themsleves richer.
That's OK, I suppose. They play a brainwashing/manipulation/propanda game. Not that long ago, they had young men marching off to war, and they sold the ammo, etc.
That game is over, now. But there is always a new game for those with money. THis time it is different. But we the majority should play the game to our benefit.
...in America (at least we Americans are). Just as a part-owner of a business or a business partnership owns part of a business and makes his living from that business, and just as the benefits from owning that business (or part of it) accrue to the owners and their heirs, then we too, own this country, and make out living from it, and the benefits from that ownership accrue to us as owners and to no one else.
Imagine if you will, an analogy that can be found everywhere in the business world: A group of people form a business partnership, buy property, make improvements, such as a building, etc. They each get a part of the building to operate their respective business.
They all make a good living there. The improvements they made give them a competitive advantage.
Now suppose one or two of the owners decide that some of their friends should be able to open up shop in this building, even though these newcomers
have not bought into the business, (or perhaps they got a great discount), and also they will compete against severeal of the current owners for business.
What do you think the current owners will have to say about this?
You see, what we have in America now is the good end of the business cycle. And we as owners should NOW be able to reap the benefits of our investment in this country (and our parents', grandparents', etc investments). And we will do so by selling our respective labor and services here in America, our place of business
But, some of the owners who do not sell their labor and services, but who instead BUY labor and services, naturally wish to arrange matters to THEIR benefit. Of course they do. But we as the majority of the shareholders should see things clearly and as they really are.
As Jon leads the villagers toward the castle...
on
Frankenstein Time
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· Score: 1
Katz wrote: >>Despite the soothing caveats about ethical standards, staving off discrimination and privacy issues, the completion of the so-called human map offers benefits and nightmares in almost equal proportions. Once unleashed, powerful technologies are tough to contain or control. There was lots of megahype chatter about curing cancer, heart disease and aging, but this is now officially Frankenstein time, the era of the "perfect baby" and human quality control. Unfortunately for the world, it's hard to imagine a more poorly equipped society to deal with the Human Genome Project than the U.S. >Responding to the announcement that the Human Genome Project was complete, President Clinton gushed that "Today we are learning the language in which God created life." Maybe. Or maybe we are just trying to steal his job. >> How could we do a worse job? Jon, news flash here: As it stands now, every single one of us is headed for death. As I alluded to earlier, there is an epidemic. I don't want to be a victim of death. I want to live; That's my main goal. And I therefore support those things that further that goal. Genetic engineering holds more promise than anything else on the horizon in the area of keeping my carcass alive, and guess what, Jon...the same holds true for you! >>When last seen, almost two hundred years ago, Dr. Frankenstein's monster was heading off into the frozen wastes of the Antarctic. If he's still around, he ought to come back. It's safe now. This is Frankenstein time. >> About time! >> It's hard to imagine many societies more arrogant, thoughtless or poorly equipped to deal >> You forgot "hubristic". >>There were the crackpot critics spouting obligatory warnings and alarms, >> If you mean to imply that critics of Genetic Engineering (GE) are in the minority, you couldn't be more wrong. Of COURSE, the vast majority of humans on this planet are against GE. There have ALWAYS been more villagers than Drs Frankenstein...and when they get their hands on a Frankenstein type, they usually burn him at the stake. >> Frankenstein was right when he told his doctor-creator that it was a sin to create things one doesn't take any responsibility for. He was right then, and he's right now, and a lot more timely. The hubris described in Mary Shelley's brilliant novel published in 1818 is a hallmark characteristic of 21st century America. >> "Burn the Sinner"...ever the cry of the villagers, and it goes ever on... >>For all that this research is being hailed as the greatest boon to mankind, it could just as easily become humanity's greatest nightmare. "How dare you sport thus with life?" >> Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,' Like the poor cat i' the adage?... I dare do all that may become a man [or, it is to be hoped...MORE than a man...someday...]
You are correct. The whole idea of business making big profits is based upon "barriers to entry." I don't think people realize how much of society is based upon barriers to entry. But the Internet has very low barriers to entry. This is why there really are no long term huge profits to be made for business. That's the bad news. The good news is that everyone Joe/Jane Citizen can make enough for him or her The Net is the soul of egalitarianism. And watch out, Internet, when those with big wallets really discover this simple truth. But hopefully it will be too late by then.
Psychology texts and intelligence tests
on
Too Old To Code?
·
· Score: 1
A lot of the age discrimination in computer programming is due to the inclusion in all standard college psychology 101 textbooks of the results of some intelligence testing done on people of all ages. These tests show that "fluid" intelligence (which is what is needed in math and logic, for example) decreases markedly starting at around age 40 or so. These texts are read by all these MBA types. Andy Grove, the famous hi-tech CEO type, was even known to remark that programmers were washed up by the age of 40. Of course, considering the current trend of worshipping people such as Grove, this remark was taken as gospel by many wannabe hi-tech management types. However, along with the findings on the negative correlation with age to fluid intelligence scores (basically a logic test), the psych. texts also say that in contradiction to the findings on fluid intelligence, there were studies showing that fluid intelligence DID NOT decrease markedly when the same people were tested after X number of years. Meaning they tested some people at age 20 or so, and again at age 50 or so, and found that fluid intelligence had declined only slightly (BTW tests show that crystallized intelligence (knowledge) increases with age). Also, adding to this perception is the fact that many of the major math/science discoveries throughout history were made by people in their 20s. So, what do we make of this? I suspect that the tests of older people on the studies that showed that fluid smarts declined markedly with age are flawed. What kind of person of age > 40 is going to get into such a university study? I see ads in the employment ads for such studies all the time. Theyu pay money, though not much. What kind of person > 40 is so desperate for money that they must participate in these studies? Complete losers! Stupid people, to be blunt. Probably ex-convicts, dull normal IQ-types, and junkies! And this is the type of person who represents the over 40 age group! No wonder! As a personal contradictory anecdote, I offer myself: I am 43 and hope to graduate in one year with a BS in Computer Science. My current GPA? 4.0. I also tested for LAw School and Business school at age 40, competing against the brightest 20somethings in the world, and scored 94 %tile on the LSAT and 96% on the GMAT. Take that, weenieesque MBA types....
Slashdot Mirror
Also, the bare fact is that we are all dying anyway. We should be trying every desparate measure available to us in order to beat death.
We are all dying anyway, people. I say let it rip with the nanotech. Go for it! How could it get any worse than it already is? We are ALL dying!
That is what it smells of....
And don't gimme all that crap about The Next Generation. I say it is time we stopped living as animals who are nothing but slaves to our DNA, and start moving beyond the animal stage.
Let's take nature into our own hands, and mold it to OUR WILL.
Yep. Scam-a-rama. Get a load of the pix of those 2 scam artists. PhD my ass.
. The abacus probably existed in Babylonia (present-day Iraq) about 3000 B.C.E. The ancient Greeks developed some very sophisticated analog computers. In 1901, an ancient Greek shipwreck was discovered off the island of Antikythera. From http://obiwan.uvi.edu/computing/timeline/history.h tm
The ancient Greeks developed some very sophisticated analog computers. In 1901, an ancient Greek shipwreck was discovered off the island of Antikythera.
Inside was a salt-encrusted device (now called the Antikythera mechanism) that consisted of rusted metal gears and pointers. When this c. 80 B.C.E. device was reconstructed, it produced a mechanism for predicting the motions of the stars and planets.
First, many people such as myself have downloaded music from Napster. But the type of music downloaded is important. I have downloaded songs from my past. These songs are important to me because they represent my youth. But now I have a gig or so of my youth, and that is all I need of that type of music.
New music I do not dl from Napster; I stream that from mp3.com. THis music is from unknown artists. When I compare it to new mainstream music, music which must be paid for, I find it to be just as good.
That is because new mainstream music does have its hooks in me like the old music. And BTW, this is the real intellectual property insofar as music is concerned: connection to the listeners' past.
But all these former dynamics will be swept aside by the new Net distribution model. I encourage all of you to try streaming some of the new music from www.mp3.com, especially the electronic music; often this is made by one person on a computer. It's fantastic! Also check out all the foreign ethnic music offerings. It's all free and legal--and very good.
But a small minority of owners, this who have enough capital to *BUY* the labor and services of others, naturally want to drive down the cost of that labor/services. But that is not to the benefit of the vast majority.
THe rich ones have been manipulating the poor ones since the beginning of time with their propaganda. But if we all just realize that this is our business, then it all becomes much clearer.
Yes, but this is the *defacto* situation.
Besides, we need to run this country to *our* benefit---for the majority. To do otherwise is foolish. And the majority of us sell our labor/products/services. But the rich ones, who BY labor, of course, have always manipulated tthe majority in order to make themsleves richer.
That's OK, I suppose. They play a brainwashing/manipulation/propanda game. Not that long ago, they had young men marching off to war, and they sold the ammo, etc.
That game is over, now. But there is always a new game for those with money. THis time it is different. But we the majority should play the game to our benefit.
"Nowhere in the U.S. Constitution ... does it say "shareholder" ... "
I suppose you know whagt "defacto" means?
...in America (at least we Americans are). Just as a part-owner of a business or a business partnership owns part of a business and makes his living from that business, and just as the benefits from owning that business (or part of it) accrue to the owners and their heirs, then we too, own this country, and make out living from it, and the benefits from that ownership accrue to us as owners and to no one else.
Imagine if you will, an analogy that can be found everywhere in the business world: A group of people form a business partnership, buy property, make improvements, such as a building, etc. They each get a part of the building to operate their respective business.
They all make a good living there. The improvements they made give them a competitive advantage.
Now suppose one or two of the owners decide that some of their friends should be able to open up shop in this building, even though these newcomers have not bought into the business, (or perhaps they got a great discount), and also they will compete against severeal of the current owners for business.
What do you think the current owners will have to say about this?
You see, what we have in America now is the good end of the business cycle. And we as owners should NOW be able to reap the benefits of our investment in this country (and our parents', grandparents', etc investments). And we will do so by selling our respective labor and services here in America, our place of business
But, some of the owners who do not sell their labor and services, but who instead BUY labor and services, naturally wish to arrange matters to THEIR benefit. Of course they do. But we as the majority of the shareholders should see things clearly and as they really are.
Katz wrote: >>Despite the soothing caveats about ethical standards, staving off discrimination and privacy issues, the completion of the so-called human map offers benefits and nightmares in almost equal proportions. Once unleashed, powerful technologies are tough to contain or control. There was lots of megahype chatter about curing cancer, heart disease and aging, but this is now officially Frankenstein time, the era of the "perfect baby" and human quality control. Unfortunately for the world, it's hard to imagine a more poorly equipped society to deal with the Human Genome Project than the U.S. >Responding to the announcement that the Human Genome Project was complete, President Clinton gushed that "Today we are learning the language in which God created life." Maybe. Or maybe we are just trying to steal his job. >> How could we do a worse job? Jon, news flash here: As it stands now, every single one of us is headed for death. As I alluded to earlier, there is an epidemic. I don't want to be a victim of death. I want to live; That's my main goal. And I therefore support those things that further that goal. Genetic engineering holds more promise than anything else on the horizon in the area of keeping my carcass alive, and guess what, Jon...the same holds true for you! >>When last seen, almost two hundred years ago, Dr. Frankenstein's monster was heading off into the frozen wastes of the Antarctic. If he's still around, he ought to come back. It's safe now. This is Frankenstein time. >> About time! >> It's hard to imagine many societies more arrogant, thoughtless or poorly equipped to deal >> You forgot "hubristic". >>There were the crackpot critics spouting obligatory warnings and alarms, >> If you mean to imply that critics of Genetic Engineering (GE) are in the minority, you couldn't be more wrong. Of COURSE, the vast majority of humans on this planet are against GE. There have ALWAYS been more villagers than Drs Frankenstein...and when they get their hands on a Frankenstein type, they usually burn him at the stake. >> Frankenstein was right when he told his doctor-creator that it was a sin to create things one doesn't take any responsibility for. He was right then, and he's right now, and a lot more timely. The hubris described in Mary Shelley's brilliant novel published in 1818 is a hallmark characteristic of 21st century America. >> "Burn the Sinner"...ever the cry of the villagers, and it goes ever on... >>For all that this research is being hailed as the greatest boon to mankind, it could just as easily become humanity's greatest nightmare. "How dare you sport thus with life?" >> Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,' Like the poor cat i' the adage? ... I dare do all that may become a man [or, it is to be hoped...MORE than a man...someday...]
You are correct. The whole idea of business making big profits is based upon "barriers to entry."
I don't think people realize how much of society is based upon barriers to entry. But the Internet has very low barriers to entry. This is why there really are no long term huge profits to be made for business.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that everyone Joe/Jane Citizen can make enough for him or her
The Net is the soul of egalitarianism. And watch out, Internet, when those with big wallets really discover this simple truth.
But hopefully it will be too late by then.
A lot of the age discrimination in computer programming is due to the inclusion in all standard college psychology 101 textbooks of the results of some intelligence testing done on people of all ages. These tests show that "fluid" intelligence (which is what is needed in math and logic, for example) decreases markedly starting at around age 40 or so. These texts are read by all these MBA types. Andy Grove, the famous hi-tech CEO type, was even known to remark that programmers were washed up by the age of 40. Of course, considering the current trend of worshipping people such as Grove, this remark was taken as gospel by many wannabe hi-tech management types. However, along with the findings on the negative correlation with age to fluid intelligence scores (basically a logic test), the psych. texts also say that in contradiction to the findings on fluid intelligence, there were studies showing that fluid intelligence DID NOT decrease markedly when the same people were tested after X number of years. Meaning they tested some people at age 20 or so, and again at age 50 or so, and found that fluid intelligence had declined only slightly (BTW tests show that crystallized intelligence (knowledge) increases with age). Also, adding to this perception is the fact that many of the major math/science discoveries throughout history were made by people in their 20s. So, what do we make of this? I suspect that the tests of older people on the studies that showed that fluid smarts declined markedly with age are flawed. What kind of person of age > 40 is going to get into such a university study? I see ads in the employment ads for such studies all the time. Theyu pay money, though not much. What kind of person > 40 is so desperate for money that they must participate in these studies? Complete losers! Stupid people, to be blunt. Probably ex-convicts, dull normal IQ-types, and junkies! And this is the type of person who represents the over 40 age group! No wonder! As a personal contradictory anecdote, I offer myself: I am 43 and hope to graduate in one year with a BS in Computer Science. My current GPA? 4.0. I also tested for LAw School and Business school at age 40, competing against the brightest 20somethings in the world, and scored 94 %tile on the LSAT and 96% on the GMAT. Take that, weenieesque MBA types....