A Bind of a Sort

"You claim you pass a Turing Test? You're just saying that."

A Hearty and Sincere Welcome!

I, for one, welcome our new robotic reindeer.

Seems emblematic of what we might be seeing in the future - literally and figuratively.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZu04v7_hc&feature=youtu.be

 

What is the sound of one hand waving?

Every discussion I've had about quantum mechanics sounds, to me, like the following at some point. I trust science and/or the people I chat about such subjects with, so I suspect the malady is rooted in the amount of attention I can bring myself to apply to the matter.

Actually I have some intuitions about consciousness that seem explanatory - it's not all it's chalked-up to be, but what else does anyone have to call their own?

p.s. Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal comics is pretty good.

Karma parade!

Veering close to religion here. Came across this:

 

Once read an article about an adventure game where, due to some sort of pointer/garbage collection issue, they couldn't reliably drop characters/critters out of memory if they were killed. So the programmers performed disposal by transporting all the defeated opponents to a spot in the game they believed the player was unable to access. I think you see pivotal term in that sentence. Allegedly, if you monkeyed around near the location of this chamber you could exploit an error, a "seam" in the geometry of a canyon wall, and get to the room. (Did I discover this myself? Lord no. Read about it.) 

Tried it myself. 

There stood all the critters defeated thus far in the game - bears, wolves, thieves, soldiers, a lizard or two. Most unmoving - they'd waver in their stance a bit as they remained stationary or shift out of your way as you moved in the space. Some, but not all, turned their heads, to simulate keeping an eye on you. They'd flinch or growl if you hit them, but wouldn't attack. You could enter into dialog mode with them. "What is your job?", "What key opens the castle gate?" you could ask. They didn't have much to say at the point of the game I did this, and much was shearly broken.

More than a tad uncanny IMHO.

The Ultimate Amphibian

So I recall this quote and, despite some effort, can't find where it's from. I could swear it's from a book I read called "Steps to an Ecology of Mind" by Gregory Bateson.

"Information is the ultimate amphibian"

Seems like a thing he would say. Anyone heard that phrase or recall where it's from?

Beer/Coffee/Beverage of choice for anyone who has better recall than I on this.

If only...

Figuratively.

Thought this was cute.

Interesting to muse what the world would be like if this is the way things usually went.

Greetings and all that.

For a while this will merely be a blog where I offer recommendations and such. From this a mighty oak will grow! Or not.

I'll also pose questions because my Google-fu has failed me and I can't find something. Also I'll solicit opinions about things I've read or watched. In an effort to dampen reflexive narcissism I'll heed recommendations and consider other people's opinions too.

No promises to be assiduous about avoiding politics, religion, or such, but not the point of the blog. Feel free to pipe up if I'm offending. There are few people I plan on offending.

I'll also have some sort convention for tagging potential spoilers. I personally don't have much religion in that regard, certainly not past a work being available for a certain while.

I expect at some point I'll gussy up the place with some art and/or logo-y stuff.