If they were to use implanted silicon for enhancement, it most likely wouldn't be repairing the functions the brain already excels at, but adding the sort of functionality that only a computer can provide. Can you imagine a person with the mental processing power of even the crappiest of even a 1970's-era calculator, much less a TI-89?
'In the absence of government, there could be no such thing as "contraband" or "prohibition".'
Sure, until MSGoons arrive at your door to beat you up for using Linux. You think it wouldn't happen in the absence of government? The power vacuum would be filled by the next-most-powerful entities: the corporations. With no government to keep them in check, they could do whatever they damn well please as long as they turn a profit.
So sure, you're free to choose what software/soda/ you want to, so long as you don't value the integrity of your thumbs.
Thanks for the thorough response. I'll have to look at the numbers before I make any more final judgements, but this is a good place to start. I've heard arguements about Reagan's fiscal responsibility (or lack thereof) too many times to want to be uninformed about it.
I really don't get why Reagan is always equated with fiscal responsibility. He doubled (possibly tripled) the national debt after many steady years (when adjusted for inflation). Sure he wanted to get rid of the DOEducation and other programs he didn't like, but any cuts he made were far made up for by tax cuts and vastly increased military spending. Bush's economic policies are really just throwbacks to Reagan's.
A thousand monkeys at a thousand typewriters will die before they produce a single line of Shakespeare. And they're probably going to soil themselves and each other before they go.
Monkeys are much like humans in many ways. A million idiots at a million computers will result in nothing more than a headache of Biblical proportions for the IT guys. No matter how much time and freedom from responsibility you give them, many people just won't do anything intellectually productive. That, my friend, is why humanity will never become one giant thinktank.
I remember an article in Discover(though it may have been PopSci) that interviewed Aubrey de Gray. He's identified 7 biological problems that he believes are the main blocks to immortality. He also thinks that people (if not this generation, then the next) will become immortal. The way he thinks it'll go down is that we'll have an advance that extends peoples' lifespans by 20 years, then down the road they'll be extended another 20, then 30, etc. so that they'll just keep living. Interesting idea, and personally I'm hoping it'll pan out.
If all that isn't a significant change, what would you call significant? Telepathy? A civilization where we no longer need to talk? Or perhaps you're waiting for a holodeck.
I'll say we've changed a lot. If you don't think a car is much of an improvement over a horse, try riding one continuously for 60 miles.
More likely instead of addressing the study they'll try to sue the RI of Canada, somehow making a nebulous claim about the RIoC cutting into their profits.
Interestingly, a similar event helped to start the European dark ages. It was the Huns invading from the East, just as the Mongols 800 years later, who pushed the Goths into Rome. The Hun invasion put pressure on the Goths and other groups, who in turn pressured and eventually invaded/sacked Rome.
Granted, the Roman Empires had other problems by that point, but the invasion of the Huns was a significant catalyst for the fall of the Western Empire and the subsequent dark ages of Europe.
Actually, you could get it into a nice elliptical orbit pretty easily. It wouldn't be hard to aim/accelerate it so that it could pass close to the sun (to collect the heat) and then swing back into earth's path.
"Stop being such intellectual cowards and tools! If you hate the USA and Bush, at least grow a pair and come out say you just hate them, no particular reason beyond being American/conservative needed?"
-Anonymous Coward
Oh Lord, but I do love irony. (Technically this is hypocracy, but they're both amusing).
Now for a rebuttal to your point: surely if one of the people on the line were a known terrorist, the government could easily get a warrant for the wiretap from the FISA court. And just FYI, before you make the standard point about time being of the essence, they're allowed 72 hours after the fact to get the warrant. Yet apparently they still have reasons not to seek the warrants. Please, remove your mouth from the GOP's posterior and enlighten us all.
I believe the point in trying to keep species from going extinct isn't so much charity to a deficient creature, as it is trying to maintain genetic diversity.
If everything besides humans, roaches and wheat went extinct, you'd have a pretty sorry ecosystem. Not only would it be less able to cope with changes and disruptions, but it wouldn't be nearly as able to spin off most, possibly more successful, organisms.
I truly pity those people who are indoctrinated with creationism as children. Many of them never seem to be able to let the light of reason and logical thought shine through the dense forest of religious dogma and blind faith.
But that's just me.
While I agree with the general point of your post, I'd like to point out that there's a distinction to be made between religion and spirituality. Religion is generally considered to be organized, and usually has set dogma that the followers of that religion (are supposed to) believe. Spirituality is much more amorphous, and much more individual.
Another distinction: there is a legal seperation of church (ie religion) and state. I couldn't name you a single place or institution in this country in which spirituality is banned.
(and what is it with that whole "rare" female orgasm thing? I mean rubbing the clitoris gently and firmly is not that hard a concept! I find it quite hard to believe that some people find it as difficult as american popular culture sugests)
Considering this kind of sentiment concerning porn, I'm not surprised some people have a lot of trouble with it. These are the sort of people who would be afraid to open their eyes when doing the deed for fear of being turned into a pervert. The horror!
So, tell me, how is the government supposed to tell whether the person searching for and looking at the porn is underage or not? That's not something even google can tell them. This whole thing smacks of being solely about infringing privacy rights, and of course bringing Joe Evangelical out to the polls.
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If they were to use implanted silicon for enhancement, it most likely wouldn't be repairing the functions the brain already excels at, but adding the sort of functionality that only a computer can provide. Can you imagine a person with the mental processing power of even the crappiest of even a 1970's-era calculator, much less a TI-89?
Murphy's Law + hyperbole = your post.
I'm a Unitarian!
Now that's what I call progress!
Supposing two planes carried it together....
Sure, until MSGoons arrive at your door to beat you up for using Linux. You think it wouldn't happen in the absence of government? The power vacuum would be filled by the next-most-powerful entities: the corporations. With no government to keep them in check, they could do whatever they damn well please as long as they turn a profit.
So sure, you're free to choose what software/soda/ you want to, so long as you don't value the integrity of your thumbs.
Beaten into submission? Have you forgotten that he helped bring about the utter destruction of Carthage? Carthago delenda est.
Thanks for the thorough response. I'll have to look at the numbers before I make any more final judgements, but this is a good place to start. I've heard arguements about Reagan's fiscal responsibility (or lack thereof) too many times to want to be uninformed about it.
I really don't get why Reagan is always equated with fiscal responsibility. He doubled (possibly tripled) the national debt after many steady years (when adjusted for inflation). Sure he wanted to get rid of the DOEducation and other programs he didn't like, but any cuts he made were far made up for by tax cuts and vastly increased military spending. Bush's economic policies are really just throwbacks to Reagan's.
Monkeys are much like humans in many ways. A million idiots at a million computers will result in nothing more than a headache of Biblical proportions for the IT guys. No matter how much time and freedom from responsibility you give them, many people just won't do anything intellectually productive. That, my friend, is why humanity will never become one giant thinktank.
I remember an article in Discover(though it may have been PopSci) that interviewed Aubrey de Gray. He's identified 7 biological problems that he believes are the main blocks to immortality. He also thinks that people (if not this generation, then the next) will become immortal. The way he thinks it'll go down is that we'll have an advance that extends peoples' lifespans by 20 years, then down the road they'll be extended another 20, then 30, etc. so that they'll just keep living. Interesting idea, and personally I'm hoping it'll pan out.
I agree 100%. Energy production is everything. ==> I plan to work with fusion and other sustainable energy sources. Wish I had some mod points for ya.
If all that isn't a significant change, what would you call significant? Telepathy? A civilization where we no longer need to talk? Or perhaps you're waiting for a holodeck. I'll say we've changed a lot. If you don't think a car is much of an improvement over a horse, try riding one continuously for 60 miles.
Yeah, but now it has a slick gui! And it's compatible with internet explorer.
It disturbs me how many enthusiastic replies this post received....
More likely instead of addressing the study they'll try to sue the RI of Canada, somehow making a nebulous claim about the RIoC cutting into their profits.
Granted, the Roman Empires had other problems by that point, but the invasion of the Huns was a significant catalyst for the fall of the Western Empire and the subsequent dark ages of Europe.
Actually, you could get it into a nice elliptical orbit pretty easily. It wouldn't be hard to aim/accelerate it so that it could pass close to the sun (to collect the heat) and then swing back into earth's path.
-Anonymous Coward
Oh Lord, but I do love irony. (Technically this is hypocracy, but they're both amusing).
Now for a rebuttal to your point: surely if one of the people on the line were a known terrorist, the government could easily get a warrant for the wiretap from the FISA court. And just FYI, before you make the standard point about time being of the essence, they're allowed 72 hours after the fact to get the warrant. Yet apparently they still have reasons not to seek the warrants. Please, remove your mouth from the GOP's posterior and enlighten us all.
If everything besides humans, roaches and wheat went extinct, you'd have a pretty sorry ecosystem. Not only would it be less able to cope with changes and disruptions, but it wouldn't be nearly as able to spin off most, possibly more successful, organisms.
I truly pity those people who are indoctrinated with creationism as children. Many of them never seem to be able to let the light of reason and logical thought shine through the dense forest of religious dogma and blind faith. But that's just me.
Another distinction: there is a legal seperation of church (ie religion) and state. I couldn't name you a single place or institution in this country in which spirituality is banned.
What, held under the dorsal guiding feather?
Considering this kind of sentiment concerning porn, I'm not surprised some people have a lot of trouble with it. These are the sort of people who would be afraid to open their eyes when doing the deed for fear of being turned into a pervert. The horror!
So, tell me, how is the government supposed to tell whether the person searching for and looking at the porn is underage or not? That's not something even google can tell them. This whole thing smacks of being solely about infringing privacy rights, and of course bringing Joe Evangelical out to the polls.