And cheaply, at that.
Democracy has turned into a voting market, where people and corporations can buy votes - by buying advertisements!
And no one seems to mind.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Virtual Singer Uses Crowdsourced Songs To Become a Star In Japan
Slashdot
I thought someone should be doing this - but it has already been done, starting 10 years ago, by a Japanese company!
Crucial to Miku's success is the ability for devotees to purchase the Yamaha-powered Vocaloid software and write their own songs for the star to sing right back at them.
I thought someone should be doing this - but it has already been done, starting 10 years ago, by a Japanese company!
Crucial to Miku's success is the ability for devotees to purchase the Yamaha-powered Vocaloid software and write their own songs for the star to sing right back at them.
This is one story you will not see on the American media. Americans like to be entertained - but the entertainment has to be made by others.
They Have Decided to Not Function Very Well
I am still trying to understand Americans, who have always baffled me. What makes them act so strangely? Their response is simple, there is nothing strange about us - you are the strange one!
Which baffles me even more, why are they being so secretive?
The conclusion I have reached is simple, and depends on functioning properly as contrasted with power struggles.
Power struggles are ancient, and have gone on forever - but the invention of machines (especially cars) powered by fossil fuels (especially oil) changed everything - especially the people involved. They changed - and not for the better.
We can see this now, looking back on it. But the people of that time, felt just the other way - that they had been greatly improved, because they had become more powerful!
And this power led directly to WWI and WWII (really the same war) followed by the Cold War, that destroyed the USSR. Throughout this period, the struggle for oil was an important part of what was going on.
I am not saying anything new here - everyone agreed, that power struggles (on a global scale) were going on - and were the normal condition!
And, on a smaller scale, power struggles were going on between organizations (mainly corporations). Everyone was grabbing for power, and did not try to hide this! And everyone considered this normal.
Until the coming of the Computer, and its networks (Internet and Cellular). When it became obvious that people would have to cooperate - and actually help each other! In other words, they would have to function properly.
Here again, this is not a new idea - Adam Smith spoke of it, in 1776. He assumed the State, would intervene to make everything function properly.
Now, in the Computer Economy, those who function properly, will become rich. But most people do not care - they want their share of the pie - whether they helped make it or not!
Which baffles me even more, why are they being so secretive?
The conclusion I have reached is simple, and depends on functioning properly as contrasted with power struggles.
Power struggles are ancient, and have gone on forever - but the invention of machines (especially cars) powered by fossil fuels (especially oil) changed everything - especially the people involved. They changed - and not for the better.
We can see this now, looking back on it. But the people of that time, felt just the other way - that they had been greatly improved, because they had become more powerful!
And this power led directly to WWI and WWII (really the same war) followed by the Cold War, that destroyed the USSR. Throughout this period, the struggle for oil was an important part of what was going on.
I am not saying anything new here - everyone agreed, that power struggles (on a global scale) were going on - and were the normal condition!
And, on a smaller scale, power struggles were going on between organizations (mainly corporations). Everyone was grabbing for power, and did not try to hide this! And everyone considered this normal.
Until the coming of the Computer, and its networks (Internet and Cellular). When it became obvious that people would have to cooperate - and actually help each other! In other words, they would have to function properly.
Here again, this is not a new idea - Adam Smith spoke of it, in 1776. He assumed the State, would intervene to make everything function properly.
Now, in the Computer Economy, those who function properly, will become rich. But most people do not care - they want their share of the pie - whether they helped make it or not!
Monday, October 30, 2017
People Who are Still Living in the Fifties
To my amazement, I keep bumping into these people! Who seldom use email, or their computers - and do not consider them important - but, to the contrary, an obstruction to their everyday, normal lives.
They probably watch Television frequently - and take it seriously. But have not realized that the Computer is different - and that it gives them more capabilities. They don't want any more capabilities.
When I was living with Marielos and her son, soon after I came down here - I watched with amazement as she watched Television, and played Solitaire on the Computer, at the same time. The Computer had been given to her son, by his father - who she had removed from their lives. She had her son, and that was all she wanted.
Except for one thing: Real Estate - the All-American passion. She kept moving into better and better houses, in better and better neighborhoods. And ended up in a new house in a new neighborhood - that promptly started to fall down. Without knowing it - she had bought into an illusion, that looked wonderful - but was empty inside.
This was America in the Fifties, a fantastic economy - that would not last long.
They probably watch Television frequently - and take it seriously. But have not realized that the Computer is different - and that it gives them more capabilities. They don't want any more capabilities.
When I was living with Marielos and her son, soon after I came down here - I watched with amazement as she watched Television, and played Solitaire on the Computer, at the same time. The Computer had been given to her son, by his father - who she had removed from their lives. She had her son, and that was all she wanted.
Except for one thing: Real Estate - the All-American passion. She kept moving into better and better houses, in better and better neighborhoods. And ended up in a new house in a new neighborhood - that promptly started to fall down. Without knowing it - she had bought into an illusion, that looked wonderful - but was empty inside.
This was America in the Fifties, a fantastic economy - that would not last long.
Religion and Software
This is about the relationship between everyone and their world, that has gotten as bad as it can possibly get.
People have observed, correctly - that their world is not good for them. And they have set out to destroy it - in any way possible, and there are plenty of ways available to them.
This cannot be understood, unless something else is understood - the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. A distinction that most people today want to deny. They are certain that they are good, and other people are bad - and this contrast does not exist inside themselves.
They think they are much simpler than they really are - and resist, with all their strength, knowing more about themselves.
This, I think, summarizes the situation nicely. Mankind has reached a crisis, that it will survive - but in a greatly altered condition, that we cannot predict now.
One way of looking at this, is by looking at our latest technology - Software. And specifically, how it treats data. I have avoided this subject myself, regarding it as somewhat distasteful - but now I am being forced to look at it.
And being forced to recognize something we have always known - that there was ordinary reality, and something else - that manages this reality.
Another way of saying this, is that we are religious beings - acutely aware of of the spirits behind everything.
How on earth do we integrate religion and software? Frankly, I do not know - but I know it has to be done. Perhaps we could start with the attitude of programmers to their data. Something they are quite willing, even eager, to talk about - in front of the Internet cameras - that seem to be everywhere!
We live in a world that has become aware of itself. A vastly different world. That is sometimes called Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML).
As I set here, wearing my pajamas, in front of my Laptop, that is connected to the Internet. I am amazed by what I just wrote.
We have created another world, that is completely different from any of the other ones that we have created. And we don't know what to do with it.
People have observed, correctly - that their world is not good for them. And they have set out to destroy it - in any way possible, and there are plenty of ways available to them.
This cannot be understood, unless something else is understood - the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. A distinction that most people today want to deny. They are certain that they are good, and other people are bad - and this contrast does not exist inside themselves.
They think they are much simpler than they really are - and resist, with all their strength, knowing more about themselves.
This, I think, summarizes the situation nicely. Mankind has reached a crisis, that it will survive - but in a greatly altered condition, that we cannot predict now.
One way of looking at this, is by looking at our latest technology - Software. And specifically, how it treats data. I have avoided this subject myself, regarding it as somewhat distasteful - but now I am being forced to look at it.
And being forced to recognize something we have always known - that there was ordinary reality, and something else - that manages this reality.
Another way of saying this, is that we are religious beings - acutely aware of of the spirits behind everything.
How on earth do we integrate religion and software? Frankly, I do not know - but I know it has to be done. Perhaps we could start with the attitude of programmers to their data. Something they are quite willing, even eager, to talk about - in front of the Internet cameras - that seem to be everywhere!
We live in a world that has become aware of itself. A vastly different world. That is sometimes called Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML).
As I set here, wearing my pajamas, in front of my Laptop, that is connected to the Internet. I am amazed by what I just wrote.
We have created another world, that is completely different from any of the other ones that we have created. And we don't know what to do with it.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Ethical Software
Software companies know they have to get into this, but they have been dragging their feet over it.
Software itself was perfectly logical, but making it ethical also, would mess it up - make it more human, and developers were not sure they wanted to go that way.
But the world was telling them - they had to go that way, whether they wanted to, or not. Software was too important to exist in its own separate, little world.
This has always been true - our technologies have always had social implications. Take, for example, the Railroads. They took over the economy of their time, and made Industrial Warfare inevitable - with its enormous loss of human life.
Did the people in the early 19th Century realize this? No, and WWI resulted. Europe had become united by its Railroads (that could move huge amounts of material (including solders). Their military planners knew this, and included it in their war plans - without anyone else being aware of this.
No one considered how interrelated all these countries were - and how they could easily descend into mutual destruction.
And this is still true today, a century later. We live in a global economy, without any global governance, or planning.
Software could help us do this - it is good at gathering huge amounts of data, and analyzing it.
America could know how much American money exists, and who owns it - by requiring American banks to report this to a Federal agency. This information already exists - it is only a matter of making intelligent use of it.
But Americans will have none of this - the Government, in their opinion, should not mess with their internal affairs - especially anything involving money. No one else should know anything about anyone else's money!
This is crazy! And not just a little crazy - but completely crazy. Money does not exist in a world of its own - but the Human world. They make it and they spend it (if the have any).
And they have to be protected from financial panics - that are now called recessions, or a financial crisis. They have to be protected from themselves, and their own irrational behavior!
Americans are saying, in effect "If we want to commit economic suicide, that's none of your business!"
Software itself was perfectly logical, but making it ethical also, would mess it up - make it more human, and developers were not sure they wanted to go that way.
But the world was telling them - they had to go that way, whether they wanted to, or not. Software was too important to exist in its own separate, little world.
This has always been true - our technologies have always had social implications. Take, for example, the Railroads. They took over the economy of their time, and made Industrial Warfare inevitable - with its enormous loss of human life.
Did the people in the early 19th Century realize this? No, and WWI resulted. Europe had become united by its Railroads (that could move huge amounts of material (including solders). Their military planners knew this, and included it in their war plans - without anyone else being aware of this.
No one considered how interrelated all these countries were - and how they could easily descend into mutual destruction.
And this is still true today, a century later. We live in a global economy, without any global governance, or planning.
Software could help us do this - it is good at gathering huge amounts of data, and analyzing it.
America could know how much American money exists, and who owns it - by requiring American banks to report this to a Federal agency. This information already exists - it is only a matter of making intelligent use of it.
But Americans will have none of this - the Government, in their opinion, should not mess with their internal affairs - especially anything involving money. No one else should know anything about anyone else's money!
This is crazy! And not just a little crazy - but completely crazy. Money does not exist in a world of its own - but the Human world. They make it and they spend it (if the have any).
And they have to be protected from financial panics - that are now called recessions, or a financial crisis. They have to be protected from themselves, and their own irrational behavior!
Americans are saying, in effect "If we want to commit economic suicide, that's none of your business!"
Saturday, October 28, 2017
What are You REALLY Trying to Do?
Back in the Nineties, when I was working in Silicon Valley - I desperately wanted to ask everyone this - especially the people I was working with. What are you spending your life doing?
I grew up with a friend in Ft. Madison, Iowa. I became an Electronic Engineer, working in Radar - while he was working in the Pentagon. I became a moderate success - but he became a huge success.
There was so much money sloshing around in the Pentagon - some of it couldn't help sticking to you. You don't have to be dishonest yourself, you just have to let other people, be somewhat dishonest.
He knew he wanted to be a success - and he knew how to do that. By contrast, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do - and Success didn't know how to find me.
Now, looking back on it - I'm satisfied with the little money I have left. And wouldn't trade my life for his, with all his money.
But if I were asked what I was trying to do I would say "Live a pleasant and useful life."
I grew up with a friend in Ft. Madison, Iowa. I became an Electronic Engineer, working in Radar - while he was working in the Pentagon. I became a moderate success - but he became a huge success.
There was so much money sloshing around in the Pentagon - some of it couldn't help sticking to you. You don't have to be dishonest yourself, you just have to let other people, be somewhat dishonest.
He knew he wanted to be a success - and he knew how to do that. By contrast, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do - and Success didn't know how to find me.
Now, looking back on it - I'm satisfied with the little money I have left. And wouldn't trade my life for his, with all his money.
But if I were asked what I was trying to do I would say "Live a pleasant and useful life."
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