The Singularity
This was forwarded to me by a friend at work -- the Singularity -- Ray Kurzweil's ill-named term for what he describes as a point where machine intelligence surpasses human intelligence, and the rapid technological change it represents, creates a rupture in human history -- ie. there ain't no humans left for human history to continue. I don't see things the way Kurzweil does -- which is probably a good thing -- so I don't look forward to the time when such a thing will happen -- although Kurzweil predicts it will happen in my lifetime. Kurzweil seems to forget a couple of things:
The profit motivation -- there ain't no profit in it -- most of the world is still poor. Another way of looking at it -- we have enough food to feed the world, but we don't, cause they can't afford to pay for it. We have the medicines and the means of curing diseases that ravage huge populations, but we don't, because there ain't no money to be made in saving people's lives.
Those in the developed world are lazy. That's why we're all getting fat, and will die before reaching the singularity. There won't be mass adoption of the output from the exponential technological growth.
Humans still place a great deal of store on faith -- we actually want to live a human lifespan -- reach old age, and enjoy the immaterial benefits of it, and die. Death scares the shit out of us -- but living beyond death, is an existence most will see as soulless -- it's a faith most will not welcome, and will pull the plug on those who sell their soul to the electronic Satan.
Of Movies
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut -- This is one hilarious movie -- but boy is it rude. It's rude beyond the point of being offensive. The movie takes the good taste filter off and amuses with humour that simulate the juvenile in us. Every now and again though, that little kid in us needs to be amused -- and this movie will certainly do that. If you're offended by the movie, it's because the adult in you is watching. The Brothers Grimm -- This was an OK fantasy movie, moving at a good pace, with the appropriate level of action and humour. The special effects were well done -- and so was the cinematography. If you missed it in the theatre, you didn't miss much however. You can catch it on DVD. The Aristocrats -- This is a movie about a joke. One joke. That's it. The delivery however -- now that was something else. The delivery was sick, sick, sick. This is an in-joke for comedians that have been numbed by jokes for us regular folk. The only thi...
Comments
Post a Comment