3 Arguments Against The Singularity

     Charles Stross let's us know what he really thinks about the idea of the singularity:

"Uploading ... is not obviously impossible unless you are a crude mind/body dualist. However, if it becomes plausible in the near future we can expect extensive theological arguments over it. If you thought the abortion debate was heated, wait until you have people trying to become immortal via the wire. Uploading implicitly refutes the doctrine of the existence of an immortal soul, and therefore presents a raw rebuttal to those religious doctrines that believe in a life after death. People who believe in an afterlife will go to the mattresses to maintain a belief system that tells them their dead loved ones are in heaven rather than rotting in the ground.


     I first heard of this concept  in Charlie's book Accelerando and it is one of the most interesting takes on the subject. I strongly suggest that any fan of sci-fi read this book immediately. Also his new novel Rule 34 drops on July 5th!

The 2012 Election: "Send In The Clowns!"

   
      The election is more than a year away and it is already shaping up to be the most comical that I've ever seen. Obama is still in governing mode: a special mode which makes it a nearly impossible task to get even a little excited about anything he has to say. Once he switches to campaign mode (ie. a strong progressive), maybe people will start to pay attention to the Democratic side, but as for now, the Republicans candidates are at the center of all the attention. There have already been two debates and it still looks unlikely that they will pick a nominee that will have even the slightest chance in the general election.
     2012 is going to if not exciting, at least hilarious to follow. More to come...

     In the meantime, enjoy this video which lays out the case for the drastic state of nation and what needs to be done to fix it.

Beautiful Image

Love beats violence.

Et tu, Mitt Romney?

                                                                         Et tu, Mitt Romney?

This is Why Free Speech has to be Protected by Law

A good example of the way that free speech should be thought of as a principle.

"I want teabaggers to demonstrate. I want the KKK to hold rallies. I want the Nazi party to speak out. I want the labor unions to march and to strike. I want social justice organizations to hold street fairs and have marches. I want Greenpeace and PETA to hit the bricks and the airwaves. I want everyone of all political and social stripe to have their say. I'm not going to listen to all of it and most likely, I'm going to ignore a lot of what is said because I disagree with it. But I'm not about to tell someone they can't say something because I disagree with it."

Great Evidence For Old News

This isn't really that new, but is one of several surveys conducted that yielded the same results: that viewers of Fox News were statistically more likely than others to be misinformed about important issues. It may convince the tiny portion of Fox News viewers who care about evidence to find their news elsewhere.

"WPO found one bright spot in its lengthy report: “Those who had greater exposure to news sources were generally better informed. In the great majority of cases, those with higher levels of exposure to news sources had lower levels of misinformation.” However, there was one exception, Fox News:

There were however a number of cases where greater exposure to a news source increased misinformation on a specific issue. Those who watched Fox News almost daily were significantly more likely than those who never watched it to believe that:

– Most economists estimate the stimulus caused job losses (12 points more likely) (91 percent of those who watch Fox News “almost every day”)

– Most economists have estimated the health care law will worsen the deficit (31 points) (72 percent)

– The economy is getting worse (26 points) (72 percent)

– Most scientists do not agree that climate change is occurring (30 points) (60 percent)

– The stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts (14 points) (63 percent)

– Their own income taxes have gone up (14 points) (49 percent)

– The auto bailout only occurred under Obama (13 points) (56 percent)

– When TARP came up for a vote most Republicans opposed it(12 points) (38 percent)

– And that it is not clear that Obama was born in the United States (31 points)(63 percent)"