tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post5607836812142688859..comments2024-03-28T12:24:02.367-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Transparency, Secrecy, and Copyright for the Modern AgeDavid Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-89364151833200987912012-07-05T07:09:40.200-07:002012-07-05T07:09:40.200-07:00As the librarian at Unglue.it, I second the above ...As the librarian at Unglue.it, I second the above comments. (Where by "second", I mean "have been babbling enthusiastically on Twitter and IM about this blog post all morning"...thanks for writing about us! We'd love to unglue your work(s).)Andromedahttp://andromedayelton.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-10130653264726074622012-07-04T01:07:51.924-07:002012-07-04T01:07:51.924-07:00So, David. Will you be putting any of your novels...So, David. Will you be putting any of your novels on Unglueit.com? If not, why not (a genuine question, I can see authors being reluctant simply because it's hard to value something like a novel)? Perhaps one older novel as a gesture of support/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-40035888268348391422012-07-03T18:54:54.121-07:002012-07-03T18:54:54.121-07:00Gee, it would really be interesting to see if a bo...Gee, it would really be interesting to see if a book by a futurist sort of author could be "unglued".Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04483241450401134977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-37988672464161963932012-07-03T17:32:57.906-07:002012-07-03T17:32:57.906-07:00Since the Transparent Society features in this pos...Since the Transparent Society features in this post, it seems appropriate to post a link to the <a href="http://www.internetdeclaration.org/freedom" rel="nofollow">Declaration of Internet Freedom</a>.<br /><br />Sign or not, as you will.<br /><br />'ihavin 2' (but that's not how the voting system operates)Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-5244904073136487052012-07-03T11:59:24.230-07:002012-07-03T11:59:24.230-07:00Normally I finish big novels quickly. And then imm...Normally I finish big novels quickly. And then immediately jump in for a reread. But I had things distracting me from long-term reading and thus never got into a lengthy crawl until last night (as I have today off and could stay up 'til 2 a.m.). I'll start rereading it now but I do intend on doing notes because I know I had some questions. (Like that blind spot thing. It made no sense.)<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-24255876246414319962012-07-03T08:43:44.425-07:002012-07-03T08:43:44.425-07:00Robert:
And yes, I'm slowly working through E...Robert:<br /><i><br />And yes, I'm slowly working through Existence, but this work needs to be savored and shouldn't be rushed.<br /></i><br /><br />I totally agree, which is why "Existence", like "Earth", "Glory Season" and "The Postman" take months for me to finish.<br /><br />My wife, on the other hand, can polish an 800-pager off on a five hour airplane flight. And she sees nothing wrong with that.<br /><br />"And so, between the two of us, we lick the platter clean," I guess.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-20233082700650508382012-07-03T08:41:07.074-07:002012-07-03T08:41:07.074-07:00infanttyrone:
So, it would be immune to crosses, ...infanttyrone:<br /><i><br />So, it would be immune to crosses, huh ?<br />I sort of like the universe having only one such vampire...the Jewish Shagail in Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers, who rebuffs a young woman trying to fend him off with a cross with the line, "Oy vey, have you got the wrong vampire. "<br /></i><br /><br />I see a sort of thematic correlation between the (Jewish) vampire who is immune to crosses and Dr Brin's alien male character in "Glory Season" whose sexual urges are unaffected by the summer/winter cycle.LarryHartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-45011676261288940172012-07-03T01:26:11.739-07:002012-07-03T01:26:11.739-07:00Robert, what is to prevent a rogue war machine fro...Robert, what is to prevent a rogue war machine from saving one bullet, ask their operator to reset their kill count and explain that if they refuse they will be considered as traitors for hindering the war effort and therefore shot? "You are either with us or against us"Thomasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-29892704610636374382012-07-02T22:25:34.360-07:002012-07-02T22:25:34.360-07:00Just finished "Existence." My hat is off...Just finished "Existence." My hat is off to you, Dr. Brin. In an odd way I'm reminded of my own contemporary fantasy "The Trip" which grew from a novella that covered a third of the book originally, much as one of your own short stories seems to have inspired this novel.<br /><br />I'll have to take some notes down when I reread it so to get my questions in order. I did have some disagreements with concepts you mentioned in several places. ^^;;<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-30261016827093749222012-07-02T18:55:03.494-07:002012-07-02T18:55:03.494-07:00The input interfaces of wearable computers are a s...The input interfaces of wearable computers are a sticking point to me. So far there are keyboards, mice, trackpads, touchscreens and trackballs, eye-motion detection, pens, and speech. Maybe a few more. There are the wearable clothes interfaces proposed, where you twitch or make imperceptible motions, I think.<br /><br />I want a smart tooth which can determine the position of my tongue, which has many nerves and which I can control pretty well, enough to use my teeth as a keyboard. Since I can't type while talking, like some pros can, I wouldn't be giving up much.Jumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-82825314291483540812012-07-02T18:52:07.468-07:002012-07-02T18:52:07.468-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-11140071192688455122012-07-02T17:08:51.484-07:002012-07-02T17:08:51.484-07:00infantryone: all we need to do is to convince the ...infantryone: all we need to do is to convince the roman Catholic Church to revert to the traditional Christian teaching (still maintained by Orthodox Jews) that life begins not at conception but at roughly the end of the first trimester of pregnancy.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-42653873166599223562012-07-02T17:06:12.759-07:002012-07-02T17:06:12.759-07:00In the long run if hmanity survives, we will almos...In the long run if hmanity survives, we will almost definitely go to other solar systems.<br /><br />1. There's no clear boundary between the Oort cloud and the cometary halos surrounding nearby stars. If we learn to survive on cold Pluto-sized bodies then eventually we'll end up island-hopping into other solar systems.<br /><br />2. Every hundred thousand years or so another star comes within one light year of the Sun. Every million years or so one comes within 0.1 lightyears. If we wait long enough nd retain technology, the stars will coem ot us.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-75567319682760647352012-07-02T15:44:04.791-07:002012-07-02T15:44:04.791-07:00Rob, I believe our descendants will go to the star...Rob, I believe our descendants will go to the stars. Perhaps in world-ships as you say, or on comets (slowly) or using amazing new tech... or else the simplest way... by redefining ourselves to be suitable denizens of space.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-77941029382794305872012-07-02T15:35:18.251-07:002012-07-02T15:35:18.251-07:00My idea for increasing acceptance of abortion is s...<i>My idea for increasing acceptance of abortion is selling the procedure to the RCC as simply the physical equivalent to exorcism. They seem to approve of that.</i><br /><br />Nyctotherion,<br />Your modest proposal sent me into a flight of fancy in which Obama issues an executive order making anyone involved with abortions some sort of civilian federal deputy acting under the authority recently granted by NDAA.<br /><br />Although this might be legal under current law, the Republicans would likely seize the issue as another opportunity to accuse him of executive over-reach, and any subsequent GOP president would have to revoke the order.<br /><br />So, after coming back to my senses, your exorcism angle seems to be the much more practical approach. When you start your letter-writing campaign, don't forget to emphasize that the little demons-in-the-making are overwhelmingly 'urban' and would probably grow up to vote Democratic.infanttyronenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-20234774773402820332012-07-02T15:11:22.462-07:002012-07-02T15:11:22.462-07:00After the machine destroys three planets, someone ...<i>After the machine destroys three planets, someone has to dismantle the machine and insert the reset key.</i><br /><br />Made me think of this line:<br /><br /><i>Fry: I heard that one time you single-handedly defeated a horde of rampaging somethings in the something-something-system.<br />Zapp Brannigan: The Killbots? A trifle! It was simply a matter of outsmarting them.<br />Fry: Wow! I never would have thought of that!<br />Zapp Brannigan: You see, Killbots have a preset kill limit. Knowing their weakness, I sent wave after wave of my own men at them, until they reached their limit and shutdown. Kif, show them the medal I won.</i>sociotardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697154298087412934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-4195718541762669982012-07-02T13:49:20.642-07:002012-07-02T13:49:20.642-07:00@ Robert you also program into the AI specific cod...@ Robert <i>you also program into the AI specific coding so it can only fire on valid targets.</i><br /><br />There's the rub. This is incredibly hard to do. Even humans seem incapable of making the correct decisions (c.f. drones killing civilians).<br /><br />I do not see robots targeting people as sensible technology at all. ED 209's should be the exemplar of the problems of these these devices. <br /><br />What I do see is robots targeting infrastructure and military weapons where moral decision making is not required.Alex Tolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01556422553154817988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-66427603958711479052012-07-02T12:56:47.052-07:002012-07-02T12:56:47.052-07:00It sounds as if Rob H. has a different solution to...It sounds as if Rob H. has a different solution to Trek Classic's Doomsday Machine. After the machine destroys three planets, someone has to dismantle the machine and insert the reset key.... Hmmmm.....ellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-66672510182435435742012-07-02T12:53:56.489-07:002012-07-02T12:53:56.489-07:00Robert: You mention the 'anti-abortion wing of...Robert: You mention the 'anti-abortion wing of the Republican Party'<br /><br />For the last several years, that's been the ONLY wing of the Republican party. I can't think of a single GOPer on the National level who hasn't tried to restrict what a woman can do with her own body. <br /><br />The two Pauls are no better, witness Ron's idiot son putting a Personhood amendment into the flood bill. <br /><br />My idea for increasing acceptance of abortion is selling the procedure to the RCC as simply the physical equivalent to exorcism. They seem to approve of that.Nyctotherionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02094904210772895432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-58227637500078239392012-07-02T11:49:26.628-07:002012-07-02T11:49:26.628-07:00Here's a question for Dr. Brin: Do you foresee...Here's a question for Dr. Brin: Do you foresee any possible method that humans could colonize other solar systems using technologies that would be viable (such as fusion propulsion systems, nuclear drives, or the like) for sublight flights? And if so, what form do you perceive these missions taking on?<br /><br />For example, would it be possible for a decent-sized asteroid to be transformed into a world-ship with an internal habitat (and gravitation provided by centrifugal force) and a slow acceleration out of the solar system, in essence being a multi-generational void ship that slowly makes its way to another solar system - not even necessarily one with habitable planets, but with enough asteroid debris and the like for the creation of added habitat-ships? In essence, a biological (with telepresence or AI robotics) slowship that expands humanity's footprint through millenia much like the von Neumann machines of theory.<br /><br />And yes, I'm slowly working through <i>Existence</i>, but this work needs to be savored and shouldn't be rushed. ;) So please don't just handwave with a "it's explained in <i>Existence</i>. ;)<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-15477464324638643552012-07-02T11:49:14.894-07:002012-07-02T11:49:14.894-07:00An electronic vampire who uses their virtual invis...<i>An electronic vampire who uses their virtual invisibility to get away with murder (maybe even "emulating" the vampire theme) who is ultimately unveiled to be very human and just using a new technology in their crimes.</i><br /><br />So, it would be immune to crosses, huh ?<br />I sort of like the universe having only one such vampire...the Jewish Shagail in Polanski's <i>The Fearless Vampire Killers</i>, who rebuffs a young woman trying to fend him off with a cross with the line, "Oy vey, have you got the wrong vampire. "infanttyronenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-31838736588342969032012-07-02T11:16:09.755-07:002012-07-02T11:16:09.755-07:00You can always say no to the advertiser. And to be...You can always say no to the advertiser. And to be honest, I think the woman would much rather want to feel safe while dealing with the inanities of virtual advertisers than worry constantly she's being stalked. (The problem being if some hacker is able to create an AI that can mask his or her presence and thus become "electronically" invisible while attacking people. Which I suppose would be a fascinating variation on the traditional "vampire" stories (as vampires cast no reflection and in some stories fail to appear in photographs and video). An electronic vampire who uses their virtual invisibility to get away with murder (maybe even "emulating" the vampire theme) who is ultimately unveiled to be very human and just using a new technology in their crimes.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-10093253897571489782012-07-02T11:00:40.994-07:002012-07-02T11:00:40.994-07:00> A woman walking home could check
> that n...> A woman walking home could check <br />> that no one was lurking ...<br /><br />And instead, today, invisible advertisers lurk around every corner and leap out to grab your purse ....Hank Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07521410755553979665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-19257403863219610402012-07-02T10:51:15.708-07:002012-07-02T10:51:15.708-07:00And more science news...
It seems scientists are ...And more science news...<br /><br />It seems <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/story/2012-07-02/god-particle-evidence-cern/55981840/1" rel="nofollow">scientists are planning on announcing Wednesday they've discovered enough proof to show the Higgs Boson actually does exist</a>, though they've not actually verified the Higgs itself. Or to put it in layman's terms, scientists are saying the Higgs exists but leaving themselves with enough room to weasel out in case they're wrong.<br /><br />In addition, <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0702/Company-promises-flights-to-the-moon-aboard-recycled-Soviet-space-station" rel="nofollow">a private space company announced plans to provide space liner visits to the Moon</a> using refurbished Soviet space stations that are propelled using electric Hall-effect thrusters, with the stations carrying up to 30 passengers. The company states it will have this ready within 2-3 years.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-59927120689920107022012-07-02T10:21:41.705-07:002012-07-02T10:21:41.705-07:00You could always encode into the war machines with...You could always encode into the war machines with artificial intelligence control systems a target counter. Once the machine has eliminated X number of targets, it cannot destroy any others. This can be reset to 0 with a mechanical key that requires a human operator to use (perhaps inside the war machine so its sensors cannot determine the location of the switch and thus reset it itself with some form of manipulator or with the help of another machine).<br /><br />After all, why go fancy when a simple solution works best. What's more, the military can just reset the machine after each mission... meaning then that the switch is meant to prevent the machine from going rogue (or going on a destruction spree after some hacker subverts the system) rather than limiting its military application.<br /><br />What's more, you also program into the AI specific coding so it can only fire on valid targets. Thus the AI can't continue firing at non-targets near targets and thus start killing people despite being at its limit.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.com