Lanier is doing what so many philsophers do: Defending the 'magic' in mankind, without considering that the magic he defends may not exist at all.
Thought is a chemical process, not an electronic one. It's also analog, not digital (there were at one time analog computers, but they were still electronic). When a neuron fires, it isn't just on-off, it's far more complex with different mixtures of different chemicals.
In short, Star Trek's Data doesn't think, it just simulates thought. The replicants in Blade Runner do -- they're chemical, like real people.
Also an Asimov short story with aliens that breathe chlorine and look like giant houseflys, titled C-Chute. Unfortunately, the linked wiki article doesn't mention their looking like insects.
If the Borg want to assimilate me, all they have to do is send Seven of Nine.
Your medical doctor will be the one to assimilate you. There are already a LOT of cyborgs. Cochlear implants, eye implants, artificial joints, pacemakers...
Seven billion, and mass extinctions are already started. Tides go in and out, and that includes ice ages and so forth. And sometimes there's a tsunami.
I agree that his "singularity" is bullshit (thought is more than simple information), we're not going to conquer death any time soon, and "futurist" is a crazy occupation (where can I get my degree in futurology?), but although he's a hack he's done some impressive hacking -- synthesizers, OCR, speech recognition, etc. all invented by Kurtzweil.
He obviously has a very good understanding of computer systems, but a poor understanding of neurobiology or humanity.
That said, I'm not 100% human. I have a man-made muscle-powered machine in my left eye that substitutes for its lens. But replacing a mechanical part is a lot easier than replacing brain and nerve tissue.
So, either you've been offline for longer than usual, or are trolling mozilla.
If he were trolling Mozilla he would have said "here's the patch!" and linked the IE download page. Um, did the IE vuln get fixed yet? Opera is looking better and better!
RTFA. It says that it was probably in the early earth's atmosphere, and the earth's atmosphere was probably blown away by some event, and then re-established itself xenon-free from gasses bubbling up from the molten landscape.
I doubt it's simple coincidence. You're far more likely to get into physical altercations in the poor neighborhoods. And someone growing up poor getting into a lot of fights is a lot more likely to go into boxing than a rich kid who plays golf and tennis.
If we can recreate the building blocks of life in a lab, or find evidence of other planets with the right conditions for life, then its likely life should exist in many places.
That's true, but it hasn't happened yet. If we do find life, or even indication of it, that would be some exciting news!
Every day I listen to Pandora on the way to/from work. Inevitably I will hear the same track, often more than once and skip it.
If you like rock, stream KSHE instead -- they won't play the same song twice in a day. However, you won't hear much new music there and very little indie music. For that, stream WQLZ.
The universe is a little younger than 14 billion years old. If it takes a hundred billion years for a star to fade away, that's six times the length the universe has existed up to this point.
You're lucky to be alive. Even if it isn't plugged in you can be hit by 90,000 volts at several amps; those big can capacitors hold a lot of juice for a long time.
There is a very terrible downside to your argument, that is, 1980's music would become free, perhaps an exception clause for that decade should be built in.
Although I appreciate teh humor, I must pedantically point out that every decade has had shitty music. 70s? Disco, for example... but then again, that was the decade of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. The 80s music only seemed worse than disco because you were watching empty-v, who played the worst music on the planet.
If I were going to pick the decade of the shittiest music, I'd pick 2000-2010. I've heard very little new music this century that doesn't suck donkey balls.
After long thought, I am not going to agree to allowing AIs, ACs, Cyborgs
What do you have against cyborgs, you insensitive clod? You would restrict my rights just because I'm not 100% human? You must not realize that there's a good chance you have a grandparent who is a cyborg. I'm a cyborg because of a device implanted in my left eye that gives me better vision than yours. Other cyborgs have pacemakers, artificial joints, and cochlear implants.
You will be assimilated. Especially if you're a runner (dumbest possible form of excersize) -- you'll need new knees and hips before you reach my age.
LOL! They're #3 in size, behind Apple and Google. They were the biggest just half a decade ago, no longer. And BEST? Wow, man, you must have some excellent weed there, dude. You've never heard the phrase "the day MS makes a product that doesn't suck is the day they manufacture vaccuum cleaners"? I will admit that MS makes the best spreadsheet and have heard their mice and keyboards aren't bad, but Windows can't hold a candle to any other OS and their apps are just as shitty.
Nice shill, did you write that from your office in Redmond? Everything the GP said was true. I tried to see your point of view, but I couldn't get my head that far up my ass.
Indeed, I have a drinking buddy with two sons. The oldest is responsible, holds a job, pays his bills. The youngest, according to my buddy, is a shiftless bum who will do whatever he can to get out of work.
The tides come in, the tides go out. Everything changes, yet nothing changes. Like the last two centuries, there will be things about he futire that are better, and things that are worse. It will neither be utopia nor dystopia.
Slashdot Mirror
Lanier is doing what so many philsophers do: Defending the 'magic' in mankind, without considering that the magic he defends may not exist at all.
Thought is a chemical process, not an electronic one. It's also analog, not digital (there were at one time analog computers, but they were still electronic). When a neuron fires, it isn't just on-off, it's far more complex with different mixtures of different chemicals.
In short, Star Trek's Data doesn't think, it just simulates thought. The replicants in Blade Runner do -- they're chemical, like real people.
Also an Asimov short story with aliens that breathe chlorine and look like giant houseflys, titled C-Chute. Unfortunately, the linked wiki article doesn't mention their looking like insects.
If the Borg want to assimilate me, all they have to do is send Seven of Nine.
Your medical doctor will be the one to assimilate you. There are already a LOT of cyborgs. Cochlear implants, eye implants, artificial joints, pacemakers...
Seven billion, and mass extinctions are already started. Tides go in and out, and that includes ice ages and so forth. And sometimes there's a tsunami.
I agree that his "singularity" is bullshit (thought is more than simple information), we're not going to conquer death any time soon, and "futurist" is a crazy occupation (where can I get my degree in futurology?), but although he's a hack he's done some impressive hacking -- synthesizers, OCR, speech recognition, etc. all invented by Kurtzweil.
He obviously has a very good understanding of computer systems, but a poor understanding of neurobiology or humanity.
That said, I'm not 100% human. I have a man-made muscle-powered machine in my left eye that substitutes for its lens. But replacing a mechanical part is a lot easier than replacing brain and nerve tissue.
So, either you've been offline for longer than usual, or are trolling mozilla.
If he were trolling Mozilla he would have said "here's the patch!" and linked the IE download page. Um, did the IE vuln get fixed yet? Opera is looking better and better!
RTFA. It says that it was probably in the early earth's atmosphere, and the earth's atmosphere was probably blown away by some event, and then re-established itself xenon-free from gasses bubbling up from the molten landscape.
They also wonder why Mars has no xenon.
I doubt it's simple coincidence. You're far more likely to get into physical altercations in the poor neighborhoods. And someone growing up poor getting into a lot of fights is a lot more likely to go into boxing than a rich kid who plays golf and tennis.
If we can recreate the building blocks of life in a lab, or find evidence of other planets with the right conditions for life, then its likely life should exist in many places.
That's true, but it hasn't happened yet. If we do find life, or even indication of it, that would be some exciting news!
Don't get me wrong, I would be completely against the government regulating how much TV a kid watches, but you kind of went over the top with it.
Then why do you get modded down for redundant comments?
Every day I listen to Pandora on the way to/from work. Inevitably I will hear the same track, often more than once and skip it.
If you like rock, stream KSHE instead -- they won't play the same song twice in a day. However, you won't hear much new music there and very little indie music. For that, stream WQLZ.
Is it just me or does that not make sense?
The universe is a little younger than 14 billion years old. If it takes a hundred billion years for a star to fade away, that's six times the length the universe has existed up to this point.
Even more impressive...I was first post.
About damned time, too. Where is everybody today?
C'mon, I took my first television set apart by 3
You're lucky to be alive. Even if it isn't plugged in you can be hit by 90,000 volts at several amps; those big can capacitors hold a lot of juice for a long time.
So you're all for lead paint on children's toys, then?
But hey, as long as we're talking about banning things we don't like, how about we ban religion?
Why don't we ban posting flamebait, asshole?
There is a very terrible downside to your argument, that is, 1980's music would become free, perhaps an exception clause for that decade should be built in.
Although I appreciate teh humor, I must pedantically point out that every decade has had shitty music. 70s? Disco, for example... but then again, that was the decade of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. The 80s music only seemed worse than disco because you were watching empty-v, who played the worst music on the planet.
If I were going to pick the decade of the shittiest music, I'd pick 2000-2010. I've heard very little new music this century that doesn't suck donkey balls.
After long thought, I am not going to agree to allowing AIs, ACs, Cyborgs
What do you have against cyborgs, you insensitive clod? You would restrict my rights just because I'm not 100% human? You must not realize that there's a good chance you have a grandparent who is a cyborg. I'm a cyborg because of a device implanted in my left eye that gives me better vision than yours. Other cyborgs have pacemakers, artificial joints, and cochlear implants.
You will be assimilated. Especially if you're a runner (dumbest possible form of excersize) -- you'll need new knees and hips before you reach my age.
MS isn't that stupid
Windows Me, Vista, Windows 8, Zune...
They're the biggest and the best
LOL! They're #3 in size, behind Apple and Google. They were the biggest just half a decade ago, no longer. And BEST? Wow, man, you must have some excellent weed there, dude. You've never heard the phrase "the day MS makes a product that doesn't suck is the day they manufacture vaccuum cleaners"? I will admit that MS makes the best spreadsheet and have heard their mice and keyboards aren't bad, but Windows can't hold a candle to any other OS and their apps are just as shitty.
Nice shill, did you write that from your office in Redmond? Everything the GP said was true. I tried to see your point of view, but I couldn't get my head that far up my ass.
No, it's his using an ass-backwards OS. His closing tag was probably <\blockquote>.
Indeed, I have a drinking buddy with two sons. The oldest is responsible, holds a job, pays his bills. The youngest, according to my buddy, is a shiftless bum who will do whatever he can to get out of work.
Yes, genes influence intelligence and behavior, but environmental factors have a much larger role. Not so with atheletic ability.
The tides come in, the tides go out. Everything changes, yet nothing changes. Like the last two centuries, there will be things about he futire that are better, and things that are worse. It will neither be utopia nor dystopia.