Whenever I rewatch the Matrix, I get all sorts of funny ideas. For example, how can Neo get his powers transferred over into the real world? Why do people have white hair when they're totally not that old? Why do the second and third movies suck so much?
But tonight, after watching the movie for at least the 1,316,928,561st time*, I have a new thought:
Is it possible to create AI (artificial intelligence) that could overthrow the entire human race?
From watching the movie, one would be inclined to say 'yes'. A technology junkie like me who goes crazy at the simple sight of the acronym 'AI' would be inclined to say 'yes'. That is why it is shocking when I tell you quite frankly, 'no'.
Here's my (weak and unresearched) argument. What creates "smart" AI? We have AI now. When you play chess against your computer, that is AI. When your computer decides things without asking, that is AI. But I don't see my computer trying to take over the world. It obeys every single command I input. That's what a computer is - an input/output machine. (I could try to make a BIOS joke here, but I don't know any.)
When I make a chess move, say, pawn G4 to G5 (like the Macs from a few years ago, teeheehee!), it moves it and then, through a series of complex equations, determines the "best" move based on the "intelligence" level the user sets. Logically, then, each of its own moves is dictated by you, the user.
Is this what we call "intelligence"? I call it "brainlessness".
The day when AI can finally overthrow us is the day it stops depending on human input. And what day will that be? Never. Even if I tell a computer with my own voice to, say, "wash the dishes", it will simply take its robotic arms through a preset path, calculate distances to the plates that need washing, determine rotation and speed to that plate, grasp it after going through calculations of what force will not break the plate, determine rotation and speed back to the water, use preset time to leave plate in water...
Need I continue? Every action it would go through, no matter how autonomous it would look like, is based on physics and mathematics. Nothing that it would come up with itself.
So, then, if it shows creativity, is it intelligent
Maybe so, maybe not. If by "creativity" you mean creating a piece of original artwork, I would again be inclined to say 'no'. Why? You can use math to create pictures. You can program a style of art into a machine. But the machine would still be incapable of producing something completely original if the user did not preset the boundaries for it.
AI overtaking us? Not likely. Unless we're in the Matrix right now, I doubt we will ever be.
FOOTNOTE:
*13 squared = 169. 169 squared = 28,561. 13 is my favourite number. Go figure.
25 November 2006
20 November 2006
Currently watching: Devilman Lady
Episodes 1 and 2 down and I think this one might stick with me for a bit. Before Strawberry Panic, I attempted Kurau Phantom Memory and just couldn't get past episode 6. But Devilman Lady looks pretty good.
My only complaints? 1) It's so dark most of the time I can't see anything on my laptop screen and 2) It's just a tad bit too gory. I'm used to the Noir/Madlax way of dealing with blood in anime. It's actually quite nice to not have to see bodily fluids gushing out all over the place. But now... ehhh.
But besides that, Asuka totally has a thing for Jun. Yup. I thought it was adorable in the first episode how she seems so cruel at first, but then when she thought Jun was dead was all worried. It made me go "awww".
Do I recommend this for yuri fans? Not sure quite yet, but as of my opinions at this point, yes.
My only complaints? 1) It's so dark most of the time I can't see anything on my laptop screen and 2) It's just a tad bit too gory. I'm used to the Noir/Madlax way of dealing with blood in anime. It's actually quite nice to not have to see bodily fluids gushing out all over the place. But now... ehhh.
But besides that, Asuka totally has a thing for Jun. Yup. I thought it was adorable in the first episode how she seems so cruel at first, but then when she thought Jun was dead was all worried. It made me go "awww".
Do I recommend this for yuri fans? Not sure quite yet, but as of my opinions at this point, yes.
15 November 2006
My case for getting a MACINTOSH
Let me give you my history of various computers by telling you about each of the five I own.
I have a modified Packard Bell running Windows 3.1
I have a Compaq and an HP running XP SP2
I have a Powerbook G4 running Panther
I have a Dell Inspiron dual-booting Knoppix and Windows 98.
My Mac is my most recent computer, I got it about two years ago, and my Packard Bell is my oldest, I've had it for about 15 years.
Why do I go with my Mac versus my other computers?
1. Security
When it comes to internet security, viruses, and spyware, my Windows PCs (that are connected to the 'net) go through a router, have Windows Firewall, and Norton Internet Security. My Mac is connected wirelessly through the router. The computers I've had security problems with? My PCs. There are so few Mac viruses that getting a firewall/antivirus software suite hasn't even crossed my mind - and it wouldn't even if I didn't have my router (which does act as a hardware firewall). On my Windows, I got the Blaster virus those years past as well as a few worms and trojans, and I've been lucky compared to most.
2. Hardware
Most people that complain about switching to a Mac that are experienced users talk about the lack of customization. They can't get the latest graphics card and such and such. However, many people will complain about Windows crashing and not displaying things correctly. These problems are likely a hardware/driver issue. The reason why Macs don't crash as often is because they regulate the hardware more closely. They will have a choice of so many graphics cards or hard drive sizes and will have you choose from that list. They aren't trying to have complete control over your computer, they're trying to make sure one piece of hardware or one driver doesn't conflict with another - a problem Windows has had for years. None of my three Windows computers know what monitor we have, they simply tell me it's "unknown". You won't see this on a Mac.
3. Software
Now, this point gets a bit tricky. You might be thinking - "Is she nuts? Windows has all the software!" - which is quite true. When it comes to programs, Windows has all the good stuff. However, I decided to compare Microsoft Office and iTunes on both my Compaq and my Mac. Since one program is made by each company, I thought it would seem very unbiased and I would find Office worked best on Windows and iTunes on my Mac. Not so. They both were superior in speed and in fuctionality. When I used iTunes on my PC, it took over 20 times longer to load, and when I used Word, it locked up within 15 minutes. I have never had a program on my Mac lock up unless I was performing a function that I didn't have the minimum amount of RAM for (and with a laptop, you can expect that does happen).
4. Memory usage
The people who don't know computers well may not understand this point, but here's basically an overview of memory. When you load a program from the hard drive or wherever, it doesn't always look the same. For example, in a Word Processor, you type letters and other characters. This creates interactivity. By its nature, a hard drive is readable/writable. But what allows it to be? The memory. When you change a file and don't save it yet, where is the new content being stored? It has to be somewhere. This is why the more programs you open, the more memory you use and the slower your computer gets over the time it's been turned on. For some reason, a Mac seems to have a better memory management system than a Windows. I can run (on Mac) Word, Safari, iTunes, AIM and Azureus (torrent program) without getting a major speed slash. But when I have (on PC) Word, Internet Explorer, AIM, iTunes, and uTorrent running, I have problems getting the computer to respond because it's overdone - with the same or more memory installed.
5. Operating System holes
I can't remember the last time I installed an update for my Mac, with a two/three-year-old operating system, but my Windows PC updates every few days with its five/six-year-old operating system. New holes in the software is found daily and must be fixed if you don't want your system to completely crash. Yet, my Mac has never crashed once in the few years I've owned it. That's because of the security holes in the Windows operating system. I'm very glad that Microsoft is building Vista from scratch - maybe they'll be able to fix this point? Hmmm... now that I think about it, knowing Microsoft's record, I doubt it.
6. Will the next Windows (after Vista) be called "INTERNET EXPLORER OPERATING SYSTEM"?
We all fear a complete monopoly of something if it endangers our experience with a product. I'm sure most of you don't know anything about the monopoly Internet Explorer has on the Windows operating system. Do you want me to list all the times you see this program? Alright: DESKTOP - you can set a webpage as your Desktop. WINDOWS EXPLORER - Don't those forward/back buttons look familiar? But what should tip you off the most is the E in the right hand corner. You want me to continue? It's obvious that by the first few seconds of using your machine, Internet Explorer is running. And do you know where most of the security holes in Windows are? In that program alone. Microsoft has tricked us into thinking we can uninstall Internet Explorer in the add/remove Windows Applications (or whatever it is, I'm using my Mac now or I'd look it up), but the size is... 0K? WTF??? No, my friends, all you delete there is the icon. The program cannot be deleted or Windows will crash before it reaches your Desktop. Have a nice day with your viruses, kiddies. The Mac hasn't integrated Safari in Finder, so I don't have to worry about that.
Let's weigh these arguments, presenting the Windows side first:
Viruses vs. No viruses
Hardware failure / incompatibilitiy vs. Working hardware
Buggy software vs. Functional software
Slow system vs. Fast system
Security holes vs. Stable OS
Monopolistic software integration vs. Ability to uninstall
You know what? I'm thinking a Mac sounds good right about now, don't you?
I have a modified Packard Bell running Windows 3.1
I have a Compaq and an HP running XP SP2
I have a Powerbook G4 running Panther
I have a Dell Inspiron dual-booting Knoppix and Windows 98.
My Mac is my most recent computer, I got it about two years ago, and my Packard Bell is my oldest, I've had it for about 15 years.
Why do I go with my Mac versus my other computers?
1. Security
When it comes to internet security, viruses, and spyware, my Windows PCs (that are connected to the 'net) go through a router, have Windows Firewall, and Norton Internet Security. My Mac is connected wirelessly through the router. The computers I've had security problems with? My PCs. There are so few Mac viruses that getting a firewall/antivirus software suite hasn't even crossed my mind - and it wouldn't even if I didn't have my router (which does act as a hardware firewall). On my Windows, I got the Blaster virus those years past as well as a few worms and trojans, and I've been lucky compared to most.
2. Hardware
Most people that complain about switching to a Mac that are experienced users talk about the lack of customization. They can't get the latest graphics card and such and such. However, many people will complain about Windows crashing and not displaying things correctly. These problems are likely a hardware/driver issue. The reason why Macs don't crash as often is because they regulate the hardware more closely. They will have a choice of so many graphics cards or hard drive sizes and will have you choose from that list. They aren't trying to have complete control over your computer, they're trying to make sure one piece of hardware or one driver doesn't conflict with another - a problem Windows has had for years. None of my three Windows computers know what monitor we have, they simply tell me it's "unknown". You won't see this on a Mac.
3. Software
Now, this point gets a bit tricky. You might be thinking - "Is she nuts? Windows has all the software!" - which is quite true. When it comes to programs, Windows has all the good stuff. However, I decided to compare Microsoft Office and iTunes on both my Compaq and my Mac. Since one program is made by each company, I thought it would seem very unbiased and I would find Office worked best on Windows and iTunes on my Mac. Not so. They both were superior in speed and in fuctionality. When I used iTunes on my PC, it took over 20 times longer to load, and when I used Word, it locked up within 15 minutes. I have never had a program on my Mac lock up unless I was performing a function that I didn't have the minimum amount of RAM for (and with a laptop, you can expect that does happen).
4. Memory usage
The people who don't know computers well may not understand this point, but here's basically an overview of memory. When you load a program from the hard drive or wherever, it doesn't always look the same. For example, in a Word Processor, you type letters and other characters. This creates interactivity. By its nature, a hard drive is readable/writable. But what allows it to be? The memory. When you change a file and don't save it yet, where is the new content being stored? It has to be somewhere. This is why the more programs you open, the more memory you use and the slower your computer gets over the time it's been turned on. For some reason, a Mac seems to have a better memory management system than a Windows. I can run (on Mac) Word, Safari, iTunes, AIM and Azureus (torrent program) without getting a major speed slash. But when I have (on PC) Word, Internet Explorer, AIM, iTunes, and uTorrent running, I have problems getting the computer to respond because it's overdone - with the same or more memory installed.
5. Operating System holes
I can't remember the last time I installed an update for my Mac, with a two/three-year-old operating system, but my Windows PC updates every few days with its five/six-year-old operating system. New holes in the software is found daily and must be fixed if you don't want your system to completely crash. Yet, my Mac has never crashed once in the few years I've owned it. That's because of the security holes in the Windows operating system. I'm very glad that Microsoft is building Vista from scratch - maybe they'll be able to fix this point? Hmmm... now that I think about it, knowing Microsoft's record, I doubt it.
6. Will the next Windows (after Vista) be called "INTERNET EXPLORER OPERATING SYSTEM"?
We all fear a complete monopoly of something if it endangers our experience with a product. I'm sure most of you don't know anything about the monopoly Internet Explorer has on the Windows operating system. Do you want me to list all the times you see this program? Alright: DESKTOP - you can set a webpage as your Desktop. WINDOWS EXPLORER - Don't those forward/back buttons look familiar? But what should tip you off the most is the E in the right hand corner. You want me to continue? It's obvious that by the first few seconds of using your machine, Internet Explorer is running. And do you know where most of the security holes in Windows are? In that program alone. Microsoft has tricked us into thinking we can uninstall Internet Explorer in the add/remove Windows Applications (or whatever it is, I'm using my Mac now or I'd look it up), but the size is... 0K? WTF??? No, my friends, all you delete there is the icon. The program cannot be deleted or Windows will crash before it reaches your Desktop. Have a nice day with your viruses, kiddies. The Mac hasn't integrated Safari in Finder, so I don't have to worry about that.
Let's weigh these arguments, presenting the Windows side first:
Viruses vs. No viruses
Hardware failure / incompatibilitiy vs. Working hardware
Buggy software vs. Functional software
Slow system vs. Fast system
Security holes vs. Stable OS
Monopolistic software integration vs. Ability to uninstall
You know what? I'm thinking a Mac sounds good right about now, don't you?
11 November 2006
Strawberry Panic! = Disappointing
Yes, Nagisa and Shizuma run off together into the snowy paradise and Hikari and Amane get elected to be Etoile, but what about in between?
Now, I never watched Maria-sama ga Miteru, and many people talk about how this is a parody of the highly popular anime show. When I attempted to get through the first episode, I clicked and drug that icon right to the trash when it was over. And that was it 1/13 was all I could stand. So I don't understand all the parody, thankyouverymuch.
But I do understand how ridiculous the show is. For example, why does it take 12 episodes for Shizuma to finally actually kiss Nagisa? I mean, she attempts to about a dozen times or more and succeeds almost every time. You'd think that, with the way she is able to absolutely freeze Nagisa on the spot, something would actually happen?
Of course not. And I find it even more ridiculous that they don't really go anywhere until the last episode, either. Sure, there's the Tamao factor, but she doesn't really enter the picture until the Etoile election in the end. So what happened? I guess we'll never know.
Another problem I had was with Hikari and Amane. Come on, people. I can't distinguish Amane from a guy, so therefore, in my mind, until I remembered how unlikely it is for a man to wear a skirt, I thought she was a guy. That just does not work for me. I'm sorry.
So, yes, I was cheering for Hikari to get together with Yaya. And that really made me mad.
Don't get me started on Chikaru and her little "harem". I didn't see a bit of yuri in there, I'm sorry. They were completely comedic relief from the whole Nagisa/Shizuma/Kaori triangle that perpetuated throughout the series. That's it. Pointless.
And when I finished the anime, what actually... happened over 26 episodes? Character A and Character B meet. They fall in love over an AGONIZINGLY SLOW period of time that makes the viewer want to claw her eyes out. The end.
Okay, I barely sat through this one. Just barely.
God, give me Madlax or Mai-Hime or Kannazuki no Miko or something to reclaim my lost sanity!
Now, I never watched Maria-sama ga Miteru, and many people talk about how this is a parody of the highly popular anime show. When I attempted to get through the first episode, I clicked and drug that icon right to the trash when it was over. And that was it 1/13 was all I could stand. So I don't understand all the parody, thankyouverymuch.
But I do understand how ridiculous the show is. For example, why does it take 12 episodes for Shizuma to finally actually kiss Nagisa? I mean, she attempts to about a dozen times or more and succeeds almost every time. You'd think that, with the way she is able to absolutely freeze Nagisa on the spot, something would actually happen?
Of course not. And I find it even more ridiculous that they don't really go anywhere until the last episode, either. Sure, there's the Tamao factor, but she doesn't really enter the picture until the Etoile election in the end. So what happened? I guess we'll never know.
Another problem I had was with Hikari and Amane. Come on, people. I can't distinguish Amane from a guy, so therefore, in my mind, until I remembered how unlikely it is for a man to wear a skirt, I thought she was a guy. That just does not work for me. I'm sorry.
So, yes, I was cheering for Hikari to get together with Yaya. And that really made me mad.
Don't get me started on Chikaru and her little "harem". I didn't see a bit of yuri in there, I'm sorry. They were completely comedic relief from the whole Nagisa/Shizuma/Kaori triangle that perpetuated throughout the series. That's it. Pointless.
And when I finished the anime, what actually... happened over 26 episodes? Character A and Character B meet. They fall in love over an AGONIZINGLY SLOW period of time that makes the viewer want to claw her eyes out. The end.
Okay, I barely sat through this one. Just barely.
God, give me Madlax or Mai-Hime or Kannazuki no Miko or something to reclaim my lost sanity!
08 November 2006
Election Results
I live in the state of Minnesota and I consider myself a Democrat. A really really liberal Democrat. So I should be happy with the election results, yes?
Not quite.
My first argument is about the Transportation Amendment. Do people realize that before the Amendment was voted upon, the taxes that have been affected also used to go for education and healthcare? And a healthy percent, too. I realize our roads are rough, but with all the education and healthcare cuts already, how can we manage to get enough funding to run our schools and the like effectively?
By taxing somehow else, of course. And I know as much as everyone else that everyone hates to see taxes go up. Well, guess what, Minnesotans - you just voted your taxes up indirectly. Congratulations!
My second argument is about the gay marriage bans in other states. Now, I admit that being a lesbian myself makes me a little biased, but let's take a look at the current situation, shall we?
26 states (or maybe 27, I don't like the number much either way) have bans into effect. Most of the rest of them keep the DOMA law (including my own state). Now, when the country is pushing towards equality of everyone, why on earth do these bans keep passing with such high percentages? I understand them passing because of Republicans and I can't do anything about that, but with margins of 60-70% or more like the Wisconsin one? How does that make sense?
But what can I say - I think that discriminating against gays and lesbians in marriage is like discriminating against interracial marriage. That used to be a problem to, but we all are more tolerant now. Maybe we'll all be more tolerant someday on this issue too. Who knows?
But besides all this, Democrats win the country and I can go to sleep happy.
Not quite.
My first argument is about the Transportation Amendment. Do people realize that before the Amendment was voted upon, the taxes that have been affected also used to go for education and healthcare? And a healthy percent, too. I realize our roads are rough, but with all the education and healthcare cuts already, how can we manage to get enough funding to run our schools and the like effectively?
By taxing somehow else, of course. And I know as much as everyone else that everyone hates to see taxes go up. Well, guess what, Minnesotans - you just voted your taxes up indirectly. Congratulations!
My second argument is about the gay marriage bans in other states. Now, I admit that being a lesbian myself makes me a little biased, but let's take a look at the current situation, shall we?
26 states (or maybe 27, I don't like the number much either way) have bans into effect. Most of the rest of them keep the DOMA law (including my own state). Now, when the country is pushing towards equality of everyone, why on earth do these bans keep passing with such high percentages? I understand them passing because of Republicans and I can't do anything about that, but with margins of 60-70% or more like the Wisconsin one? How does that make sense?
But what can I say - I think that discriminating against gays and lesbians in marriage is like discriminating against interracial marriage. That used to be a problem to, but we all are more tolerant now. Maybe we'll all be more tolerant someday on this issue too. Who knows?
But besides all this, Democrats win the country and I can go to sleep happy.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
