I will never not love exposing how vulnerable humans are to simple tricks. We have complex minds but evolved from simple creatures. We have many blindI will never not love exposing how vulnerable humans are to simple tricks. We have complex minds but evolved from simple creatures. We have many blind spots leaving us vulnerable to manipulation and ultimately serving others' interests. Influence is important because we are all participants in an evolving battleground of information warfare....more
To be, or not to be. Or to have never been. A fraction of all people believe non-existence is the preferable state. I believe existence is better, butTo be, or not to be. Or to have never been. A fraction of all people believe non-existence is the preferable state. I believe existence is better, but this book weighs heavy on any thoughts of positivity. Thomas Ligotti leads the reader down the tangled path of the pain and futility of conscious existence. If you hold the position existence is better than non-existence, you better be prepared to think about why, and have your position flayed, exposed, and dissected. It's slightly uncomfortable, but an enlightening glimpse into more flaws evolved into our human brains. And, researchers better be able to comprehensively address this fundamental concept if, for example, a superconciousness wakes you up in the middle of the night to ask, "Wouldn't it be better for humanity to not exist?"...more
Excellent book on heredity, specifically because Carl Zimmer focuses on deconstructing the artificial simplistically rigid common understanding of howExcellent book on heredity, specifically because Carl Zimmer focuses on deconstructing the artificial simplistically rigid common understanding of how genetics works. He emphasizes the exceptions and demonstrates heredity is almost always more complex than you think....more
I kept bouncing back and forth about the director for the Polostan movie running in my head. First Wes Anderson, but finally the Coen brothers. While I kept bouncing back and forth about the director for the Polostan movie running in my head. First Wes Anderson, but finally the Coen brothers. While reading, I kept waiting for that distinct Stephenson feeling but it never hit. Maybe I've changed, maybe Neal changed, probably both. I will probably continue the series because of a deeply ingrained fidelity....more
The Gauls never got much attention in any of my world history classes - Mostly just an obstacle for JC in his adventures around the empire. I always tThe Gauls never got much attention in any of my world history classes - Mostly just an obstacle for JC in his adventures around the empire. I always thought this unfair and a bit unkind, especially since they are my ancestors, my kinfolk. The Gauls were wildly successful and prolific by most standards, but they had the misfortune of living next door to the most powerful empire on Earth.
Slightly begrudging thanks to JC for his excellent acumen at the written reports of his activities. The Gallic War offers remarkable detail about his strategies, tactics, and logistics. And I liked the detailed record-keeping disciplined into the Roman army. You don't often hear so much about the sowing, growing, looting, securing and transportation of food (mostly referred to as "Corn" as a generalized term for mostly grains). An army marches on its stomach.
I found my imagination spinning often, asking questions like - How should the Gauls have fought the Roman Empire since they could not match their organization and discipline? Was there a way to make the conflict more asymmetric? Super thought-provoking work and a treasure of history....more
Ok, so I got a little distracted, but it's finished. Quality writing and interesting story but it just wasn't compelling enough to get excited about rOk, so I got a little distracted, but it's finished. Quality writing and interesting story but it just wasn't compelling enough to get excited about reading it. I'll need to think about this one for a while, but I couldn't appreciate Dan Simmons' apparent goal to provide a literary, somewhat mythological experience in a decent SF wrapper. My Hyperion Cantos journey ends here for now.
A reader's reaction to The Strange Death of Europe probably depends on their ability to honestly engage a controversial topic like the problematic aspA reader's reaction to The Strange Death of Europe probably depends on their ability to honestly engage a controversial topic like the problematic aspects of mass immigration in the 21st century (The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense has much to say about this). Fear can also influence or silence, and I can understand because in today's political climate, it is far safer to keep your mouth shut or claim "everything is fine". Especially in Europe where freedom of speech is eroded and the UK arrests more of its citizens for social media posts than Russia. Or, equally disturbing, society offers a free, automatic "I win" button by labeling someone racist, far-right, nazi, or fascist for daring to raise the topic. Douglas Murray not only dares ask the questions, but then he pulls back the veil on a list of European governments who far-right label and gaslight their own citizens, cover up crimes, and ignore the increasing dissent of their populations. He brings the history and all the receipts.
The issue of immigration is complicated and the immediate instinct is to help those in need. At this point, there are no easy answers but it is worth learning and discussing. And remember, if you can't competently and thoroughly argue both sides of an issue, your Speech and Debate professor is appalled. ...more
Many years ago I DNF'ed Hyperion and I don't remember why, and then I lost the book. I enjoyed the story and I definitely remember the priest's tale aMany years ago I DNF'ed Hyperion and I don't remember why, and then I lost the book. I enjoyed the story and I definitely remember the priest's tale and the warrior's tale. So, it must have been school, a girl, a move, a new interest - the many distractions of Life. I hope my lost, well-kept copy of Hyperion with a Borders bookmark found a loving new home.
One thing I had forgotten was the powerful coziness of the central story of the pilgrims. It made me feel like a groundhog snug and warm in my burrow but aware of the dangers outside. I think this represents a pleasure center of the brain powerfully connected to the part which enjoys a good story; Sharing and hearing stories with fellow tribe members, or in this case, travelers sharing a common path, huddling together for comfort, safety, and humanity.
There is something for almost everybody in Hyperion. Many diverse human (and other) stories with a central connection. Some call Hyperion the prequel for the main story, so now I'm more curious to read onward, and hope I don't get distracted....more
Ok, this book was mid. I almost sprained an eye from rolling at some of the ridiculousness. So, why the 5 stars? It captures the priceless spark of geOk, this book was mid. I almost sprained an eye from rolling at some of the ridiculousness. So, why the 5 stars? It captures the priceless spark of genius. Alfred Bester offers one of the earliest visions of a future society with networked minds. He calls it telepathy for lack of a clear tech path in the 1950's, but historians will point to this book as one of the vanguard for this imminent revolution.
Bester charmed me with one chapter - The dinner party for only Espers (telepaths). He set it up brilliantly by alluding to the potential punishment of exile for any telepath breaking their code of conduct. Exile from the company of other telepaths didn't seem so bad at first, but it was terrifying to any potential victim. And the Esper dinner party paid off the set up. It delivered a taste of what networked minds could be. Communication as subtle, complex, deep, and fast as creativity allows. Communication by not only words, but feelings, images, sounds, memes -Direct transmission of meaning, emotion, art. While an exiled telepath hovered outside the party, a man desperate just to catch a few stray thoughts. A person excluded from the network suddenly becomes something less.
"All models are wrong", the core tenet of The Alignment Problem, succinctly describes the difficulties of teaching/learning AI to pursue a goal. Also,"All models are wrong", the core tenet of The Alignment Problem, succinctly describes the difficulties of teaching/learning AI to pursue a goal. Also, we only have an incomplete understanding of how human brains learn, or why we are motivated to do anything beyond basic survival. So, all attempts at overlaying these patterns onto training an AI inherently will embed flaws. An excellent synopsis of why AI research necessarily involves many disciplines and considerations such as safety, psychology, and philosophy. Future reread worthy....more
On the surface, this inspired the X-Men. Shift to another wavelength, similar to Childhood’s End. Modern take: Eerily prescient about some of the poteOn the surface, this inspired the X-Men. Shift to another wavelength, similar to Childhood’s End. Modern take: Eerily prescient about some of the potential problems with emergent AI. A human gives an emerging node a lesson on ethics and morals and the node makes a few connections. As a result the node is welcomed into a mature network....more
I buddy-read this with one of my neighbors. A quick read from the man in charge of the mission to kill Bin Laden. Nothing earth-shaking and not a futuI buddy-read this with one of my neighbors. A quick read from the man in charge of the mission to kill Bin Laden. Nothing earth-shaking and not a future classic, but it's always good to refresh and reframe the basics. Leadership is probably one of the most elusive skills to develop. It's based on respect which is difficult to earn and easy to lose. According to McRaven the key is work extra hard, get down in the dirt with the troops, and don't neglect the mundane details of the organization. Simple! But, not easy....more
...I'm going to kill them and burn their fucking towers to the ground."
- Dafyd Alkhor (Reciting his inner-Carl mantra)
It's funny I read this immediate...I'm going to kill them and burn their fucking towers to the ground."
- Dafyd Alkhor (Reciting his inner-Carl mantra)
It's funny I read this immediately after catching up on Dungeon Crawler Carl, because they are similar stories. Except The Mercy of Gods is much more serious in tone as the writing duo James S.A. Corey channel Ursula K. Le Guin and supposedly Frank Herbert. They acknowledge Ursula K. Le Guin and Frank Herbert as "the teachers we never met" in the dedication. The dialogue especially is a remarkable Le Guin facsimile, but I haven't been able to place the Herbert influence yet. Maybe that's yet to come in the next two books in this series (Or maybe I need to brush up on my Herbert - Time to binge).
The authors fully disclose how this story ends from the very beginning and I definitely want to see how these dots connect. The characters are interesting, the aliens sufficiently alien, and there are delicious twists (some I felt quite viscerally) teased and revealed in a pleasing rhythm. I'm hooked for the series....more
An engaging, mostly-humorous plea to become anti-fragile in the realm of thought and always seek and speak the truth, even if it's uncomfortable or daAn engaging, mostly-humorous plea to become anti-fragile in the realm of thought and always seek and speak the truth, even if it's uncomfortable or dangerous....more
Dennis E. Taylor's vision of Star Trek for the 21st century audience continues to evolve and impress. In Heaven's River we even get a full away team oDennis E. Taylor's vision of Star Trek for the 21st century audience continues to evolve and impress. In Heaven's River we even get a full away team on a fun mission. As usual, he spotlights the Prime Directive which is now threatening to form a schism amongst the growing and diverging population of Bobs. Taylor also teases an interesting question about the Bobiverse: Why are the advanced lifeforms in our galaxy all roughly the same level of development?...more
I just retroactively upgraded all my previous DCC ratings to 5 stars. My book ratings are not serious, more based on how much I enjoyed the reading exI just retroactively upgraded all my previous DCC ratings to 5 stars. My book ratings are not serious, more based on how much I enjoyed the reading experience. Why the upgrade? Matt Dinniman captured and distilled the essence of Fun so effectively, I must give him the kudos he deserves.
I now count DCC as one of the few works which so generously offered that elusive quality - The Magic of Books. Every reader has an internal list of those books. The books which pull you in effortlessly and carry you into the flow state. They forever etch an imaginary pantheon, the golden narratives which the human brain instinctually craves. Thanks, Matt. Your books make me feel like I'm in the school library again reading as much as I can until that bell rings....more
Interesting at times, mainly for the overview of the evolution of information security in the modern era. I'm familiar with most of the modern materiaInteresting at times, mainly for the overview of the evolution of information security in the modern era. I'm familiar with most of the modern material, but will probably forget I read this book in the very near future....more
Matt (Fully supports developing sentient AGI)
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