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Comment: Re:Turing? (Score 1) 291

by Intron (#46433145) Attached to: Why Robots Will Not Be Smarter Than Humans By 2029

It's so easy to see that this guy is wrong. I have a masters in IA, but anyone if a decent CS degree will agree that we made almost none true evolution in computers since day one. All we did until know is make it faster (and easier to use), but the type of problems we can solve (math wise) today is exactly the same kinds a turing machine could (in theory) solve in 1936. EVERY problem today can be simplified to a turing machine code somehow.
We are still trying to make a quantum computer, which could in theory solve some kind of problems our current computational approach can't.

Every time some guy in the IA field says that the problem is computer power, just ignore him and move on.

Actually I have a lot of respect for Industrial Arts majors.


by Intron (#46340709) Attached to: Google Fighting Distracted Driver Laws

It is perfectly reasonable to text while stopped at a light, not so much while moving.

No, when you're stopped at a light, you should look around yourself and be aware of the situation BEFORE the light turn green.

If you just press the go pedal a split second after the green, you're throwing yourself into the unknown (are there pedestrian runnning the red? is there an ambulance comming your way? Is there a car coming fast that you know will run the red light? That kid playing with a ball, will he run to catch it if it goes in the street?)

When you drive a car, you should drive your car and nothing else!

It takes me 10 minutes longer every day to get to work because of you idiots who are texting and don't know the light is green until everyone behind you is honking.

Comment: Re:oh sure (Score 5, Insightful) 363

by Intron (#45864743) Attached to: Senator Bernie Sanders Asks NSA If Agency Is Spying On Congress

now that HE might be being spied on he suddenly cares?

Congress has constitutional protection from the executive branch, so spying on them would likely be a major problem, even if spying on the rest of us is "legal". Also, lying to Congress is frowned upon. I think this puts Alexander in a real bind if he has to sign a letter to Congress.

Comment: Re:I beg to differ (Score 1) 385

by Intron (#45864561) Attached to: Isaac Asimov's 50-Year-Old Prediction For 2014 Is Viral and Wrong

Ho Chi Minh allied with the communists to try to free his country from the French. It has ultimately turned out to be a successful strategy as Vietnam is free and independent. If we had supported our former ally instead of joining the war against him it would likely now be a democracy. Like Iraq, diplomacy would have been a better course than military action, but there are active hawks in the US government then and now.


Comment: Re:Why not Congress? (Score 1) 135

by Intron (#45861667) Attached to: City Councilman Resigns Using Klingon

Hillary championed a national healthcare system during Bill's first term and has been hated by the right ever since. The private insurance requirement was the only way to get it passed.

Highways were almost entirely state and local until Eisenhower (R) created the Interstates, ostensibly to support military maneuvers. The cost has been enormous, but well worthwhile for travel and commerce.

Federal contribution to primary education is around 8% of the total (and growing), the rest is local and state. The purpose of the Federal funding is supposedly to bring all education up to minimum standards, but Congress has been known to use any excuse to bring more Federal money to their districts.

The chief benefit of a strong Conservative voice would be in curbing Federal power and spending, but they don't seem to be accomplishing that. Both parties are bent on increasing the Federal role,just in slightly different areas. The media portray them as liberal vs. conservative, but they are really both Centralist. We need a third party with some new ideas.

Comment: Re:And your predictions? (Score 1) 385

by Intron (#45861315) Attached to: Isaac Asimov's 50-Year-Old Prediction For 2014 Is Viral and Wrong

The problem with predictions like "cordless phone" and "robot cars" is that they are super easy. A lot of people want it, a lot of people dreamed of it, a lot of people ready to pay for it, so there is a high chance that this will happen. The thing you don't know is *when*. Our lives are not run by "cars with brains" in a same way it is run by smart phones, so saying that he predicted correctly both is somewhat of an overstatement.

I'll give you an example of similar prediction: in 50 years all devices will be charged remotely, no need to plug them in. You'll enter your house and the devices you carry with you will start to charge. This is almost bound to happen. When and to what extent -- this is the question that nobody can answer (and the one that really matters.)

Your predictions are absurd. In 50 years you won't be carrying devices, they will be embedded in your body or ubiquitous in your environment. You are looking at short term issues with present day devices.. Asimov had a 10-pound dial telephone and predicted that in 50 years we would be carrying it around and reading documents on it. Which prediction is better?

Comment: Re:I beg to differ (Score 4, Insightful) 385

by Intron (#45861231) Attached to: Isaac Asimov's 50-Year-Old Prediction For 2014 Is Viral and Wrong


How is this different from what we have now, I insist and ask ?

The 60s were different in that they were one of the few times when there wasn't increasing inequality/joblesness - people married young and could hold on to a job for 50 years - which is the outlier, not the historical norm. Just look at the 19th century by comparison. For a bit more discussion, see here.

Having lived through that period, there was a general feeling that we could do anything: stop wars, have civil rights, go to the moon, end poverty by sharing as taught in the bible^W the Whole Earth Catalog. It was a dream, but a pretty good one. Even though the war in Iraq was as unjust and pointless as Vietnam, there was a lot less marching and rock-throwing. People seem to not believe that they can change things. I would call that a malaise.

When you go out to buy, don't show your silver.