tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post87483527984741171..comments2024-03-29T00:39:31.629-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Who Controls the Internet?David Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-92221526669729847082015-12-23T14:53:06.750-08:002015-12-23T14:53:06.750-08:00onward
onwardonward<br /><br /><br /><br />onwardDavid Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-27805967365627535952015-12-23T14:41:23.286-08:002015-12-23T14:41:23.286-08:00Sure half of our neighbors are mentally ill in som...Sure half of our neighbors are mentally ill in some ways. So? That a large fraction are capable of some sanity -- satiability, re-evaluation based on evidence, contemplation of the possibility of being wrong, and so on -- strikes me as miraculous. And many sadnesses abound in a civilization that has invested too little into mental health.<br /><br />But:<br />1) we are learning at a spectacular pace.<br /><br />2) To call what we see ANY sort of increase calls for historical myopia of a towering degree. When I was a kid public drunkenness was farmore common and media portrayed it as somehow "cute." Domestic violence wasn't tabulated because it was "normal." And half our population - women - had to - to a degree that ranged from slightly to tragically - suppress themeselves for the good of the team... or to survive.<br /><br />Sorry. Grouches bear the burden of proof.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-3111893083938445242015-12-23T14:05:03.127-08:002015-12-23T14:05:03.127-08:00Hi Catfish
the landing mode (floating in saltwate...Hi Catfish<br /><br />the landing mode (floating in saltwater).<br /><br />Floating is saltwater is not good<br />Hitting the saltwater at 30mph?? - is worseduncan cairncrosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14153725128216947145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-15338208386233382142015-12-23T13:05:03.228-08:002015-12-23T13:05:03.228-08:00...or as the boss in "Dilbert" once put ......or as the boss in "Dilbert" once put it: <br /><br />"Job satisfaction is like stealing from the company."LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-25781068207954255942015-12-23T12:35:36.043-08:002015-12-23T12:35:36.043-08:00Sometimes I think in locumranch's view, happin...Sometimes I think in locumranch's view, happiness is a crime against humanity and love is a capital offense.Jumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-72394261974530489582015-12-23T10:09:48.921-08:002015-12-23T10:09:48.921-08:00locum said, in a surprisingly coherent manner:
Th...locum said, in a surprisingly coherent manner:<br /><br /><i>That said, it's a huge jump from a single successful tail landing to spacecraft reusability, mostly because we've been there before with the Shuttle's booster system which was also considered 'reusable' until it failed catastrophically upon reuse.</i><br /><br />Truth! But there were two massively corroding factors involved with the Shuttle SRBs: (1) the fuel [ammonium perchlorate aluminum composite] and (2) the landing mode (floating in saltwater). These increased refurbishment difficulty and cost massively. I will not go into the disastrous design compromises that completely bolluxed the Shuttle overall as it would take all day.<br /><br />Nonetheless there are uncertainties involved. Both SpaceX and Blue Origin are now going to have to do detailed engineering tolerance testing on returned components and see what really does break down on reusable boosters. This is unexplored territory. A booster will inevitably blow from fatigue on some component insufficiently tested or explored. Fortunately, unlike the Shuttle, there won't be humans without an abort system aboard when that happens (okay, sorry, I really will quit now).<br /><br />PS If locum's day job is in an ED I can forgive him some of his attitudes. Disagree, still, but understand and empathize. You really find out what humans are capable of working there, and it's not always pretty.Catfish N. Codnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-3594034237624253672015-12-23T09:45:58.567-08:002015-12-23T09:45:58.567-08:00I, too, am impressed at SpaceX's success at br...<br /><br />I, too, am impressed at SpaceX's success at bringing Atari's 'Lunar Lander' game to fruition, especially when tail landings on 'a tower of fire' has been a SciFi staple since the 1930's. That said, it's a huge jump from a single successful tail landing to spacecraft reusability, mostly because we've been there before with the Shuttle's booster system which was also considered 'reusable' until it failed catastrophically upon reuse.<br /><br />Alfred is, of course, quite right when he says that "The real computing done during the Apollo era was going on inside the heads of those involved". Unfortunately, this argument about what is 'going on inside the heads of those involved' can only support my thesis on the pending Western Mental Health crisis brought about by modern social complexity & information technology dependence.<br /><br />Current US estimates indicate the prevalence of chronic mental illness at 35%, with a total society-wide mental illness prevalence that approaches 50% when acute (and/or temporary) mental illness is taken into account, something our host points out frequently in his US political posts. Modern social complexity is (literally) driving a significant proportion of our population insane; hence the growing social tendency to suicide by firearm (accounting for 2/3rds of all US firearm deaths), suicide by cop, suicide by random violence, suicide by polysubstance abuse and (coming soon) suicide by revolution.<br /><br />I see these people every day in US Emergency Rooms (aka 'The Social Safety Net of Last Resort') and they are Legion. I point this out here, frequently, on this site because you (collectively) represent our Best, Brightest & Most Resilient, possessing in superior coping & problem-solving skills, yet you choose to fiddle while Rome burns, either out of collective (insular) ignorance or reckless social disregard, in the mistaken belief that the social collapse (which has not yet happened here) can never happen.<br /><br />Good luck with that.<br /><br /><br /><br />Bestlocumranchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-76190718179611272442015-12-23T09:09:31.617-08:002015-12-23T09:09:31.617-08:00@PaulSB,
What struck me at the time (9/11) was no...@PaulSB,<br /><br />What struck me at the time (9/11) was not just "left-wing bad; right-wing good", but the utter hypocrisy of saying that Sontag's criticism was unwarranted because she was blaming the victim (America) when everyone should be laying the blame for the attacks on the terrorists.<br /><br />But Falwell, saying that God had let 9/11 happen because America was too tolerant of gays and feminists, was <b>also</b> blaming America. I'm not sure if the "love it or leave it" crowd doesn't notice, or just doesn't care.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-30445094160868419672015-12-23T06:32:59.661-08:002015-12-23T06:32:59.661-08:00Dr. Brin, I managed to get in by going on a weekda...Dr. Brin, I managed to get in by going on a weekday in the morning. I honestly only went because too many of my students would think I was some kind of alien if I didn't. I'll save discussion for after you have seen it, except to say that I think you will find the substitute that fills the role of the green, wrinkly oven mitt a major improvement.Paul SBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-27651312670196395882015-12-23T05:57:10.196-08:002015-12-23T05:57:10.196-08:00Larry, what you wrote about two-faced criticism do...Larry, what you wrote about two-faced criticism doesn't seem curious to me in the least. I used to hear this all the time, and was often told to go live in Russia. The concept of hypocrisy is lost on those people. Oddly enough, when he was a kid my older brother was really into war movies (of the WW2 variety) and became enamored of the British Army. He was more critical of the American military, so unsurprisingly people told him to go live in Russia.<br /><br />Think about who the right- and left-wing critics were. Sontag was a lefty, a feminist with Communist leanings, and Jewish. Falwell was a TV preacher with a following of millions who believed his words were divinely inspired words of God Himself, and were fool enough to send the bastard millions to live in the lap of luxury while they toiled away. Falwell had the supposed authority of God on his side, while Sontag had only her own human experience and reason to go on. From the perspective of many, the choice of who to believe was obvious, especially when the modus operandi of religious leaders is to flatter their congregations by telling them that they are the chosen ones. The hypocrisy goes right over their heads because it goes straight to their egos.Paul SBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-87590368204931030342015-12-22T23:19:57.757-08:002015-12-22T23:19:57.757-08:00"I'm also guardedly hopeful that it will ..."<i>I'm also guardedly hopeful that it will get back to some of the fun that was missing from the prequels but which I thoroughly loved back in '77</i>"<br /><br />It does (spoiler)Laurent Weppenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-3503178609601666072015-12-22T22:47:05.720-08:002015-12-22T22:47:05.720-08:00All I can say is that fun is back on offer in the ...All I can say is that fun is back on offer in the GFFA. Further deponent sayeth not.Catfish N. Codnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-4357105299579844192015-12-22T19:06:42.458-08:002015-12-22T19:06:42.458-08:00Alfred Differ:
but I do point out to them that we...Alfred Differ:<br /><i><br />but I do point out to them that we have a special word for people who do it through violence. Some of us call them terrorists.<br /></i><br /><br />The American right-wing is curiously two-faced when it comes to criticism of America. If someone complains about America from the left, we should love it or leave it and go back to Russia. But criticizing America the right--saying we've become too tolerant of deviants or too secular or too "feminized"--is considered patriotic.<br /><br />It's telling that, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, both Susan Sontag <b>and</b> Jerry Falwell said the terrorist attacks were comeuppance for some failing of America's, but only one of then was vilified for it.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-38279054367824599352015-12-22T18:55:12.019-08:002015-12-22T18:55:12.019-08:00Jeez, that congressman is from my neck of the wood...Jeez, that congressman is from my neck of the woods in Illinois.<br /><br />As for Star Wars, I also am not in a hurry to buck the crowds, but will probably see it while it is still in theaters. I'm also guardedly hopeful that it will get back to some of the <b>fun</b> that was missing from the prequels but which I thoroughly loved back in '77LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-67020389869914252182015-12-22T17:45:00.232-08:002015-12-22T17:45:00.232-08:00I don't mind people wanting to clean out a par...I don't mind people wanting to clean out a party or start a new one, but I do point out to them that we have a special word for people who do it through violence. Some of us call them terrorists. One has to take a careful path through rebellion before I'll grant them recognition as a 'rebel'.Alfred Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170159981105973192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-43072079971299318502015-12-22T17:30:02.810-08:002015-12-22T17:30:02.810-08:00@locumranch:
I'll put it this way: Your smart...@locumranch:<br /><br /><i>I'll put it this way: Your smartphone possesses greater computing power than the Apollo space program & it is indispensable for modern life. Does this not imply that our day-to-day activities have become (at least) as complex as putting a man on the moon? </i><br /><br />Not even close. The real computing done during the Apollo era was going on inside the heads of those involved. Since such groups exist today doing a variety of coordinated things, your analogy fails. What my smartphone does is make certain kinds of coordination EASIER and other kinds POSSIBLE. If our day-to-day activities are more complex today, it is because we choose to use the tools to do the formerly impossible. That is not necessarily true, though. We might also be giving up what we USED TO DO. <br /><br />Remember that human attention is still a finite thing. Until a tool exists to do things for us, what we can watch and do involves zero-sum decisions regarding allocation of attention. When your smartphone acts FOR you, it extends your attention and that changes the whole game. If you want to worry about what happens when we lose access to these extensions, you are not being unreasonable. That’s part of why our host keeps poking at his robustness argument. I argue that you are TOO worried, though. Small failures occur every day and fail to produce catastrophic results. Try a test of your idea, though, instead of reading my content. Go back and watch the first episode of Connections (James Burke) and ask yourself why the outage he describes doesn’t happen all the time. Ask yourself how we’ve managed to build a MUCH more elaborate world since without catastrophic collapse. My argument boils down to this… It should have already happened… we’ve had ample opportunity.Alfred Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170159981105973192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-89387236698031927902015-12-22T17:00:58.837-08:002015-12-22T17:00:58.837-08:00I hope it was clear enough that I urged playing th...I hope it was clear enough that I urged playing the New York Dolls' "Human Being" (one of their few outstanding, excellent numbers) as a celebratory homage to the launch as, like David puts it, I'm so damn proud to be a member of a species that does such things.Jumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-58949334243037676592015-12-22T16:07:36.016-08:002015-12-22T16:07:36.016-08:00Matthew I was not panting to get to the theaters. ...Matthew I was not panting to get to the theaters. My family and I have 3D tickets for a showing Christmas Eve. No spoilers till then.<br /><br />My own "New Hope"? With Lucas exiled and with Kasden as writer, maybe... just maybe...David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-30135411326229134302015-12-22T15:42:16.147-08:002015-12-22T15:42:16.147-08:00Go, SpaceX!
I'm glad they got permission to la...Go, SpaceX!<br />I'm glad they got permission to land on stable ground rather than the bobbing platform out in the ocean, although that might have been safer; that seems to have made all the difference. SpaceX did the Delta Clipper one better, because it went on to deliver a payload (several!) into orbit, as well as a safely retrieved first stage. Heinlein, rest his soul, is grinning madly somewhere right now.TheMadLibrariannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-74035706902185644062015-12-22T15:12:23.697-08:002015-12-22T15:12:23.697-08:00Rob, sorry, I know how you feel. I even miss some ...Rob, sorry, I know how you feel. I even miss some of the knuckleheads I used to hang out with 20 years ago. I don't miss their attitudes on a lot of subjects, but some of them were still good friends in spite of our differences. Hopefully both parties learn something, without it having to end.Paul SBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-64694912586465038742015-12-22T14:18:53.007-08:002015-12-22T14:18:53.007-08:00Tripping off topic for a moment: a former Republic...Tripping off topic for a moment: a former Republican Congressman talks about rekindling the Civil War.<br /><br />http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/12/20/former-republican-congressman-calls-for-political-revolution-among-gop-and-has-eye-opening-words-about-violence/<br /><br /><i>According to Walsh, the first step for “revolutionaries” — or, conservatives, Tea Partiers and grassroots activists — is to “clean out the Republican Party.” If that does not work, he said, a new political party or movement could be on the horizon.<br /><br />“It’s hard to say, ‘don’t’ be afraid of it,’ because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” Walsh, 53, said. “Remember, revolution is a scary term. It implies violence; it implies open rebellion. People shouldn’t be afraid because initially we’re going to use the political system in this revolt to try to fight back.”<br /><br />“It’s not going to get violent at first, but look, the two prior revolutions we had got violent — the American Revolution and the Civil War,” the one-term congressman continued. “Our founders believed that it may take violence to take back our country every now and then.”</i>A.F. Reynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-41527941277349061012015-12-22T12:35:28.020-08:002015-12-22T12:35:28.020-08:00Paul, I love my friends dearly. One of them has be...Paul, I love my friends dearly. One of them has been a friend for over 20 years. I take no joy in not talking to them. But the break will likely do us all good. Or the friendships will end and I'll learn from the experience.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-82911135086267703252015-12-22T10:41:03.229-08:002015-12-22T10:41:03.229-08:00Are we waiting for a top blog post to discuss Star...Are we waiting for a top blog post to discuss Star Wars? Waiting for a spoiler window to close? I'd like to get David's reaction to it as a "prosecutor" in the "Star Wars on Trial" discussion. Let us know when you would like to open the can of worms, Doc. Until then...matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17757867868731829206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-78295705010492173562015-12-22T05:54:56.405-08:002015-12-22T05:54:56.405-08:00Tony, it amazes me sometimes how some of us can lo...Tony, it amazes me sometimes how some of us can look back on the cinema of our youth and see all the flaws we didn't notice then, while others continue to pine for the good ol' days, and the good ol' movies.<br /><br />Rob, who makes for better conversation, the canine or the dittoheads? A toss up?<br /><br />Dr. Brin, as chants go, I like the one Bill Nye came up with. Science!Paul SBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-42691476059201268142015-12-22T03:39:48.804-08:002015-12-22T03:39:48.804-08:00https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzIYEaeIB_8
1,2,3,...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzIYEaeIB_8<br />1,2,3,4...Jumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.com