Monday, September 26, 2011

New history.

Sorry, another comment on something I saw on TED by Adam Ostrow this time. He was talking about that soon there will be 1 BILLION people globally on social media. And they have one thing in common. All will die!
He hypothesizes about the implications that will mean since we know that anything posted will last forever, somewhere. I thought about how profound that is and can be in my interests such as history and family history. Imagine having access to our ancestors from 100,200 years ago. Imagine our children, ggggchildren having access to our videos logs centuries in the future. I don't think, for the most part, it will affect our daily lives much. Sort of like a reality show having numerous cameras documenting our every move. After desensitizing ourselves to their presence they no longer exist, virtually.
Sometimes though having too much information is more dangerous than a scarcity. So creating a clarity for them in the future will be a mirror of what we have now to work through. After all reacting history, for Winston Smith, was a full time occupation.
Just something more for some of us to contemplate!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

peterradzio: Botany of desire

peterradzio: Botany of desire: Are you smarter than a plant? A different look at plants through their 'eyes' with Dr. Pollan. http://pbs.org/botanyofdesire/

Botany of desire

Are you smarter than a plant? A different look at plants through their 'eyes' with Dr. Pollan.
http://pbs.org/botanyofdesire/

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Ed Boyden: A light switch for neurons | Video on TED.com

Ed Boyden: A light switch for neurons | Video on TED.com
Fanciful thinking or predicting the future?
Helping the blind to see, the epileptic to control seizures, uploading and downloading memories.
Wonderful, fascinating scary stuff!
But, science fiction has become science fact once or twice before!
Hasn't it?

Joshua Walters: On being just crazy enough | Video on TED.com

Joshua Walters: On being just crazy enough | Video on TED.com
Where else on the web would you get a presentation such as this? It portrays the true awesomeness of TED
and similar venues.
We still have the option of watching it or turning it off depending on our comfort level.
But in my libertarian state of mind issuance of the message is as important, or sometimes, more.
The beauty and stability of a free society:CHOICE!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Start distancing Canada from UN | Editorial | Opinion | Toronto Sun

Start distancing Canada from UN | Editorial | Opinion | Toronto Sun
The UN is an extension of the failed League of Nations when America was still astute enough to recognize a leftist globalist scam for what it was.
It is not a place for peaceful discourse but along with WHO, World Bank and others places developed to global domination.

Person of Interest

A new show called "Person of Interest" starts tonight. I'm sure a true statist will tape this series and watch it every waking moment. This is 1984 on steroids. Apparently a computer can watch, log and predict human actions before they happen! Sounds great doesn't it?
As of this moment humans haven't fared so well to thwart any human misdeeds as they happen let alone before. Not even Philip Dru as imagined by Colonel House could have conjured up this vision of tomorrow. It's going to be a great show for me because of the premise. I just don't know if I'll be watching good science fiction or impending science fact!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

To Serve and Protect — the State - Wendy McElroy - Mises Daily

To Serve and Protect — the State - Wendy McElroy - Mises Daily
I, in my naivete, used to think they were and have been in the past. However as I age and see their actions more and more
my opinion has changed. I regret to say that my rose coloured glasses have fallen off! Sad.

New learning site

I was browsing about on the internet and came across a new, to me, site that is similar to TED.
I love TED and the variety it offers to a layman like myself. There are things presented that I would never have come across otherwise. It's surprising the vastness of subjects that interest me.
The new site is: http://worldsciencefestival.com/videos ENJOY!

CBC Threatens to Sue Developer of Canadian Radio Player

CBC Threatens to Sue Developer of Canadian Radio Player
Once again the bureaucratic head of the government does what it does best.
Interferes with free enterprise.
John Beard proudly proclaims in the House of Commons that they (actually we the tax payer)
support the CBC to the tune of $1.5B annually! Then they go after a citizen for violating copyright
of something we collectively own!

How to Get Your Medical Device into the Apple Store  - Technology Review

How to Get Your Medical Device into the Apple Store - Technology Review
Necessity is the mother of invention:Socrates: reiterated by Frank Zappa.
Technology can be scary, but, at the same time, awesome.
A friend of mine, now deceased was in a conversation with someone when an article caught his eye in the newspaper.
It was showing the foibles of modern weaponry's inaccuracy at the time. He noted that with a little tweek of already
known science he could exact a strike to within inches of the target. Why don't you was then the question. He said I could, but that doesn't mean I would!
Here we are on the threshold of complete health care as it should be; pre-emptive and preventive, not reactionary and profitable.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Dan Pink on the surprising science of motivation | Video on TED.com

Dan Pink on the surprising science of motivation | Video on TED.com
Rethinking the system! Only on TED! Great isn't it?

A DANCE WITH DRAGONS-no spoilers


It might seem a bit jaded but this series, SONG OF FIRE AND ICE, gets better as it traverses the middle aged civilization of Westeros and the lands around. The intrigues, conniving and treacheries of royalty are constant and ongoing. One thing can be said for sure in the instalments of this series, and that is, everything is so unpredictable. Favoured characters have no immunity from any of the foibles of their actions or of those opposed to them.

Some of the characters have morphed from being banish to goodish while others have descended and elevated accordingly. George

RR Martin leads us along his plotline and then dashes what seems to be the predicted outcome. I have thought, hoped many times that a main character receive justice, all for naught.

The fantasy part of this series is always implied and does not manifest until a moment least expected. There are major shifts that happen in this instalment, A DANCE WITH DRAGONS. Some are welcomed and in his true fashion so far, some not. Book 5 has not lost any of the lustre created by the preceding four and leave me an anticipation of the final two. Once completed they will be missed but I have no expectation a nice neat ribbon will be tied upon this literary package.

I disagree though with the statement that one reviewer called him the American Tolkien. He is so much more! I believe Tolkien's work to be a morality play, while Martin's work is elevated to near reality using the fantasy mode as allegorical. There is no black or white delineation.

As one character relates in a paragraph three quarters of way through. he says that maesters, the royal advisors that know all, are the real power in 'the game of thrones'. Truly a succinct testimony to reality in our world.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story | Video on TED.com

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story | Video on TED.com
This video tells the story of how memes are created and fostered to obscure the truth.
It also shows the danger of history being written by the victors.
So, if you want your story to be told, correctly, YOU must write it!
Thank you, once again, TED, for providing untold narratives.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011