Monday 24 October 2016
Terror in Europe
Last week Frontline televised a special on the various terror attacks in Europe. Obviously we are all concerned that such attacks can happen, anywhere. We have had our share as well. It doesn't hurt to examine the circumstances under which they have occurred. As free societies we have unique problems in dealing with such things, because we hope to maintain open, all inclusive forms of governments, and lifestyles. We shouldn't lose who we are in our search for solutions. If you haven't seen the special it is worth watching.
Monday 17 October 2016
A Tale of Two Musicians
Down through history people have used
music to express their emotions. It has been an outlet for love,
anger, protest, and at times sadness. This year the Nobel prize for
literature went, not to an author of books, but to a singer/writer of
songs, Bob Dylan. A rather unique circumstance, but then he is a
rather unique individual. He rose to fame during a period in US
history that was aflame with war and protest. His songs followed a
generation through the turbulence of the Vietnam War and growing up.
Probably my favorite Bob Dylan song.
.
Last week there was an article in my
newspaper about a musician who was going to be playing at the Walker
Art Center, Amir ElSaffar.
It caught my attention because I
remember listening to some maqam over at Zeyad's site, so I thought I
would check it out.
I found that I enjoyed his blending of
jazz and maqam.
What Amir ElSaffar and Bob Dylan have
in common is not just musical talent but an artistic ability to
create a new form of expression with their music. In our fast paced
electronic world stopping and taking a moment to listen is well
worth the time.
Sunday 9 October 2016
The Future...maybe
Recently I've been hearing about artificial intelligence. One of
my readers sent me an interesting article which gives a nice
explanation of our progress towards creating AI.
Coincidentally they have been discussing the same thing on Fareed Zakaria's show. Must be something in the air. So I thought it might be time to think about this a little.
Some things are already operational or in the pipeline. Computers that operate machinery are already ubiquitous in manufacturing. A vacuum that needs no human to push it has rolled into our ad space offering the overworked an excuse to take a break. A car that needs no driver will allow those who cannot drive, the elderly or the disabled, a freedom of movement unheard of in times gone by. So many ways in which a device controlled by those not human can be of help.
Of help...it is those two words that stick in my mind. Yes, robots are useful, yes, they can make our lives easier. But how much do we really want them to do? How much of our lives do we want to cede to a machine? After I read that article my first thought was of the movie Wall-E. For those of you who haven't seen it, it is a cartoon depicting life in the future. Yes, I know, you are thinking..a cartoon? How serious is that? But there is one scene that gives me pause when considering artificial intelligence.
Is that really how we want our lives to be? Granted, it is perhaps an exaggeration, but there is some truth behind that depiction. Is a life of ease really the answer to happiness? Consider this article.
While they are not in the workforce for other reasons than being supplanted by a robot, their experience in being among the willfully unemployed may give us some insight into what that life could be like.
Where is the joy in accomplishing the impossible? Where is the feeling of satisfaction of a job well done? Where is the chance for miracles to occur? Where is the humanity?
Consider this trailer from a movie I just saw:
Maybe that is what life is really all about. Living to the fullest possible. Not just existing.
Coincidentally they have been discussing the same thing on Fareed Zakaria's show. Must be something in the air. So I thought it might be time to think about this a little.
Some things are already operational or in the pipeline. Computers that operate machinery are already ubiquitous in manufacturing. A vacuum that needs no human to push it has rolled into our ad space offering the overworked an excuse to take a break. A car that needs no driver will allow those who cannot drive, the elderly or the disabled, a freedom of movement unheard of in times gone by. So many ways in which a device controlled by those not human can be of help.
Of help...it is those two words that stick in my mind. Yes, robots are useful, yes, they can make our lives easier. But how much do we really want them to do? How much of our lives do we want to cede to a machine? After I read that article my first thought was of the movie Wall-E. For those of you who haven't seen it, it is a cartoon depicting life in the future. Yes, I know, you are thinking..a cartoon? How serious is that? But there is one scene that gives me pause when considering artificial intelligence.
Is that really how we want our lives to be? Granted, it is perhaps an exaggeration, but there is some truth behind that depiction. Is a life of ease really the answer to happiness? Consider this article.
While they are not in the workforce for other reasons than being supplanted by a robot, their experience in being among the willfully unemployed may give us some insight into what that life could be like.
Where is the joy in accomplishing the impossible? Where is the feeling of satisfaction of a job well done? Where is the chance for miracles to occur? Where is the humanity?
Consider this trailer from a movie I just saw:
Maybe that is what life is really all about. Living to the fullest possible. Not just existing.
Sunday 2 October 2016
It's Saturday Night...
So it's time for a comedy mashup. And, of course, it being an election year here in the States it is political.
Advice is given..
But people don't always listen.
I tried with Hillary...*sigh*
The thing about political humor, is that there is a grain of truth to be found.
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