tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post7954535227770193339..comments2024-03-29T00:39:31.629-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Ruminations on LOST (before the finale)David Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-45874310641800251632010-06-05T23:07:32.149-07:002010-06-05T23:07:32.149-07:00Anonymous, I've been reading that Potter piece...Anonymous, I've been reading that Potter piece 'cause David Brin mentioned it already, but no foul to mention it again. It's great, and there are newer chapters!<br /><br />Re: shrinking government down to nothing: ever notice how even a government too weak to provide essential services could still round up a truckload or two of soldiers to shoot you and steal your pigs, etc.? Small government is one of those talismans that certain people believe will solve all manner of problems, based on scanty evidence. Me, I think we'd be better off right now with tens of millions in government job programs like in the New Deal, installing passive solar panels and cleaning pelicans, planting permaculture gardens, all that sort of thing.<br />I once read that almost all GOP/conservative policy was in some way related to keeping labor cheap: busting unions, punitive drug laws, removing tariffs, etc. etc. and keeping unemployment high is part and parcel of that modus operandi. Also, job-insecure people don't get politically active... they're afraid to rock the boat.TCBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08153506222271955110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-87245120885970354492010-05-29T11:45:29.175-07:002010-05-29T11:45:29.175-07:00Hey, David? You dislike LOTR's tropes, and Har...Hey, David? You dislike LOTR's tropes, and Harry Potter? Then get a load of these:<br /><br />http://yudkowsky.net/other/fiction/the-sword-of-good<br /><br />http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5782108/21/Harry_Potter_and_the_Methods_of_Rationality<br /><br />The author (of both) is an AI researcher of some renown, and seems to hold many of the same opinions on various topics as you espouse here. Including that the left-right political axis is a source of "us vs. them"ism that obscures the real issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-58824649204678268202010-05-27T22:55:00.872-07:002010-05-27T22:55:00.872-07:00Scientists propose using sailboats to generate pow...Scientists propose using sailboats to generate power.<br /><br />http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18970-sailing-ships-could-harvest-fuel-from-the-oceans.html<br /><br />The idea is essentially to use paert of the wind energy propelling the boat to power a submerged hyfro-power generator.<br /><br />I'm not sure what the advantage of the wing arrangement over a simple marine turbine is supposed to be (especially since there are reversible turbines that could double as auxiliary motors).<br /><br />But overall the idea has a lot going for it: <br /><br />You can bring the boats in shore during storms unlike offshore wind generators which have to be built to withstand the harshest possible storms.<br /><br />You can move the boats to the most favorable wind conditions (and orient them to maximize energy rather than being essentially fixed like wind turbines).<br /><br />You could shift the boats aroudn ot match peak demand - sail them between the northern and southern <br />hemispheres to meet seasonal peak energy demand;relocate them if energy prices vary bettween regions.<br /><br />Eventually you coudl have massive windjammer-sized ships sdailing perpetually around the world in the southern ocean. <br /><br />Both sailing and marine trurbines are mature mainstream technologies os it shoudl be pretty easy to expand this if it works.Ian Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07666385933765478081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-86053584352495319682010-05-27T22:28:53.889-07:002010-05-27T22:28:53.889-07:00"...a secret war with the Goa'uld."
..."...a secret war with the Goa'uld."<br /><br />I've long had a horrible suspicion that if the Republican Party leadership were privy to prooof that the world was doomed in the next couple of decades, their fiscal and environmentasl policies would make a lot more sense.Ian Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07666385933765478081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-48603422977398427642010-05-27T16:51:50.208-07:002010-05-27T16:51:50.208-07:00The cult notion to "starve government" a...The cult notion to "starve government" and make it not work so that people will hate it... is half effective.<br /><br />It succeeds in making government less effective and making people hate it. It has never, ever, ever made government smaller.<br /><br />It has led to two consequences, however, both of them intended:<br /><br />1) Massive reductions in govt effectiveness at limiting criminal activity, especially tax avoidance by the rich and bribery by industries like big oil, <br /><br />2) skyrocketing public debt.<br /><br />It is a grotesque "theory" that is preposterous when viewed from any angle other than the purely sophomoric. <br /><br /> To actively want your government - an important part of your civilization's accountability system -- to fail is really pretty much the same as wanting the civilization to fail.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-11629254450998831422010-05-27T13:24:12.612-07:002010-05-27T13:24:12.612-07:00The total defense budget (including wars in Iraq/A...The total defense budget (including wars in Iraq/Afghanistan, and defense-related spending outside of the Department of Defense) for 2010 is going to be between $880 and 1,030 billion dollars. Our official military budget is $663 billion (plus a potential $40-50 billion supplement for Iraq and Afghanistan over the summer). That's over twice the military spending of the entire rest of the planet. The only two things that could possibly justify that level of military expenditure are a cold war or hot war with an opposing superpower, or a secret war with the Goa'uld.<br /><br />We could cut our military spending in half and not be one ounce less secure, while freeing up 300+ billion dollars a year to either pay down the national debt, or invest in infrastructure and civil projects and programs.Ilithi Dragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10300247936272572280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-55596002229574495142010-05-27T12:57:08.377-07:002010-05-27T12:57:08.377-07:00You could cut military spending by an almost unnot...You could cut military spending by an almost unnoticeable amount, relative to the military's half-trillion dollar budget, and by redirecting the funds to education, you probably double the operating budgets of every fiscally responsible school district in the nation.<br /><br />Around here, the stimulus money helped our schools not have to furlough any classroom teachers.Rob Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618647194288598056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-52425136756667801732010-05-27T12:08:02.016-07:002010-05-27T12:08:02.016-07:00As someone who is at least partly employed thanks ...As someone who is at least partly employed thanks to those useless military toys (or not so useless in our case, since the stuff we make parts for is designed for the kind of combat operations we're currently engaging in), I can understand why there's a lot of reluctance to reduce military spending. There ARE a lot of jobs linked to it, after all, and a reduction in military spending (even gradual) would result in a reduction in a lot of manufacturing jobs.<br /><br />That said, it's still not enough of an excuse to not cut military spending. If manufacturing job losses are a concern, then cut military spending and transfer the money to fund civil projects, or provide assistance programs (perhaps a 'cash for clunkers' program for independent truckers, or just big trucks in general, and then all the infrastructure maintenance or repair we need, plus long-overdue infrastructure additions like high-speed rail lines across the country).Ilithi Dragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10300247936272572280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-58606074863569305672010-05-27T11:28:47.929-07:002010-05-27T11:28:47.929-07:00You sound like one of my anti-tax friends who abso...You sound like one of my anti-tax friends who absolutely hates the idea of adding new taxes because we need to "starve the government" out of spending. This is despite the fact that the government doesn't reduce spending and just borrows more instead. It is the path to ruin if only people thought it through. The <i>best</i> way to reduce the deficit is through an increase in taxes <i>and</i> a reduction in spending. And we can start by reducing <i>military</i> spending. Except both Dems and Repubs refuse to do that because they have jobs at stake (through contracts for useless military hardware).<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-26563136460982240782010-05-27T11:24:20.567-07:002010-05-27T11:24:20.567-07:00You're not helping solve the problem by donati...You're not helping solve the problem by donating to "reduce the debt" - you're making it worse. <br /><br />The more they get, the faster they spend; the faster they spend, the more they need in the future, and the faster the debt piles up.<br /><br />Despair is a sin - and I am a sinner.TwinBeamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-85142889150516488392010-05-27T10:52:38.286-07:002010-05-27T10:52:38.286-07:00From the Onion: Scientists teach gorilla that he ...From the Onion: <a href="http://www.theonion.com/video/scientists-successfully-teach-gorilla-it-will-die,17165/" rel="nofollow">Scientists teach gorilla that he will someday die</a>Rocky Persaudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02966159044771053090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-45798512455368109842010-05-27T10:16:24.872-07:002010-05-27T10:16:24.872-07:00Here's an interesting article by Time on how i...Here's an interesting article by Time <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2010/05/27/reading-ranting-and-arithmetic.html" rel="nofollow">on how immigration is linked to reductions in crime</a>; while people may cry out that "these immigrants are taking our jobs!" (that the shouters wouldn't take even if unemployed and destitute), it seems that the best solution for the illegal immigration problem is? To legalize them and make it easier to enter (and exit) the country.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-31870808383595952632010-05-27T09:43:20.583-07:002010-05-27T09:43:20.583-07:00Department of the Treasury
Bureau of the Public De...Department of the Treasury<br />Bureau of the Public Debt<br />PO Box 2188<br />Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188<br /><br /><br />Actually an envelope that just says 26106-2188 will get there.<br /><br />I figure anything less than $10 may waste much of its benefit in overhead. You get a nice acknowledgment letter. It also gives you something to say during political arguments, that buys you a moment, while the other guy rocks back in surprise.<br /><br />I am a member of a civilization.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-60082524261574589072010-05-27T09:36:05.464-07:002010-05-27T09:36:05.464-07:00That's pathetic.
Do they let non-citizens don...<em>That's pathetic.<br /><br />Do they let non-citizens donate?</em><br /><br />I'm sure they do. If someone has the address handy, post it for him, and they'll take the check.Rob Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618647194288598056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-87763141163019459642010-05-27T09:29:37.446-07:002010-05-27T09:29:37.446-07:00A couple more news links for people: the hypersoni...A couple more news links for people: <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/27/x51_first_shot/" rel="nofollow">the hypersonic X-51A "Waverider" managed to reach Mach 5 in tests today</a> using jet fuel (instead of hydrogen/oxygen mixtures like other hypersonic craft). While the craft didn't reach Mach 6 in its first flight, there are hopes that future flights will reach that goal. It is thought that hypersonic craft that run off jet fuel could not only result in a new generation of hypersonic missiles that are impossible to intercept, but also an eventual generation of aircraft that can achieve low earth orbit and allow the launch of satellites utilizing far less fuel and infrastructure than existing rockets.<br /><br />--------<br /><br />On an environmental note, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/hurricanes/2010-05-26-hurricane-season-prediction_N.htm?csp=34news" rel="nofollow">federal agencies are predicting a high to very high level of hurricane activity this year</a>. While last year's hurricane season was a dud, two things suggest this year's predictions will be accurate: higher-than-normal temperatures in the Atlantic (four degrees warmer, according to NOAA), and a weakening El Nino. Naturally, global warming deniers will refute it as an "outlier" rather than a prediction of what may come as a result of global warming.<br /><br />---------<br /><br />Finally, <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/197294/man_infects_himself_with_computer_virus.html" rel="nofollow">man has successfully infected himself with a computer virus</a>. More specifically, it's an RFID chip, and the virus was implanted into the chip and was found able to replicate itself into recording devices and then to other RFID chips. So it looks like we'll have to start installing virus checking software in cybernetics. ^^;;<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-86417972436879158702010-05-27T05:58:30.508-07:002010-05-27T05:58:30.508-07:00That's pathetic.
Do they let non-citizens don...That's pathetic.<br /><br />Do they let non-citizens donate?Ian Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04352147295160200128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-73530737039804163472010-05-26T23:14:12.172-07:002010-05-26T23:14:12.172-07:001280 donate more than $100 for a total of about $1...1280 donate more than $100 for a total of about $11 million. A drop in the ocean.<br /><br />Well, I think you said it was a symbolic gesture!Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-47282550547120887572010-05-26T22:08:16.283-07:002010-05-26T22:08:16.283-07:00Gevalt! only 1500 people donate against the debt? ...Gevalt! only 1500 people donate against the debt? Fewer if you elim jokers?<br /><br />Heck 10% of them are probably people who started because I publicly urged it!<br /><br />I've done it since the 1980s. Am I the only $#$! one?<br /><br />Geez, if there only was a patriotism genie. Okay military heroes go ahead of me. But I get to rub the lamp.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-43692801164744386272010-05-26T21:49:17.448-07:002010-05-26T21:49:17.448-07:00Robert: Re the AZ law and crimes in 2008.
Most...Robert: Re the AZ law and crimes in 2008. <br /><br />Most kidnappings in AZ are of illegals by coyotes, or of and by those engaged in the Mexican illegal drug trade. Largely hispanic victims and criminals.<br /><br />It seems likely to me that the recession reduced illegal immigration, especially by paid coyotes, resulting in fewer kidnappings.<br /><br />1070 isn't a bad law, regardless of any good or bad motives of its creators. But it probably won't do much to resolve the illegal immigration situation either - it's a few rocks tossed into a river.TwinBeamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-7648132052818235432010-05-26T17:29:37.712-07:002010-05-26T17:29:37.712-07:00I can't read the post (might someday watch the...I can't read the post (might someday watch the finale) but I did see this: Dr. Brin is amongst the very few who paid extra to the national debt:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/05/gifts_to_reduce_the_national_d.html" rel="nofollow"> Individuals Pay Down National Debt</a><br /><br />There was someone who donated 1.5 million, though....SteveOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04028435196419643147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-56381896673444547172010-05-26T17:27:17.839-07:002010-05-26T17:27:17.839-07:00One episode of Madmen I watched. Daughter was pla...One episode of Madmen I watched. Daughter was playing spaceman with a drycleaning bag over her head. Mother said "Young lady, that had BETTER not have come off my new dress!"David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-75348622571611817492010-05-26T16:05:12.615-07:002010-05-26T16:05:12.615-07:00David Smelser said... What's up with character...<b>David Smelser said...</b> <i>What's up with characters named Jack (on 24 & LOST) running around saying "trust me" over and over again?</i><br /><br />Check out how many guys named 'Mike' are real asses. Gets kinda' spooky when you pay attention to it.JuhnDonnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06795417373366495092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-3939785767515246182010-05-26T15:17:14.203-07:002010-05-26T15:17:14.203-07:00Heck, the serialized TV I look forward to most is ...Heck, the serialized TV I look forward to most is <i>Mad Men</i>.<br /><br />Part of the fun is watching the characters -- swaggering 60s vintage advertising men and their families -- go about their business not knowing what extraordinary changes are in store for them, and imagining how they'll react.Stefan Joneshttp://home.comcast.net/~stefan_jones/tan_jacket_lo.jpgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-90178510267973749602010-05-26T12:46:06.921-07:002010-05-26T12:46:06.921-07:00That reminds me of one of the drawbacks of learnin...That reminds me of one of the drawbacks of learning how to draw (through books, back in 2002 when I drew a webcomic). While the comic only lasted a few months, I have noticed a tendency to view people and other things in terms of geometric shapes and consider them from an artistic perspective. I suspect that people who have drawn for years undoubtedly go through this as well.<br /><br />I also have noticed that I tend to view literature in a somewhat more critical perspective. Poor grammar, misspelled words, and the like will drag me out of the story and lessen my enjoyment of the book. ^^;;<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-58318010800185982362010-05-26T12:35:30.098-07:002010-05-26T12:35:30.098-07:00Nothing wrong with Dr. Brin enjoying Lost.
I have...Nothing wrong with Dr. Brin enjoying Lost.<br /><br />I have a neighbor, nice guy, who is an NFL ref. I asked him the other day if he was able to actually enjoy watching football, say at the high school or college level. He thought a while and said, no, not really. When he watches a game he is expending maximum brain power calculating lines of sight for referees, thinking several plays ahead for possible challengable calls, working out if the ball was spotted a bit too much this way or that.<br /><br />If a writer of speculative fiction can enjoy a "busman's holiday" watching some himself, well, that's a better attitude in my opinion.<br /><br />Tacitus2Tacitus2noreply@blogger.com