Whoops Singularity: July 2014

Monday, 28 July 2014

Anyone for Shogoth?

Nasty!
Researchers Create Walking, Muscle-Powered Biobots | TechCrunch
http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/02/researchers-create-walking-muscle-powered-biobots/

Image:http://zero-mostel.deviantart.com/art/Shoggoth-Summoning-circle-151303021

I can imagine the same technology being used for solar sails while in space, or within an atmosphere magnetic control of the plasma could be used to reduce drag or even generate thrust.

Magnetic bubble may give space probes a soft landing - space - 03 July 2014 - New Scientist
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22329763.100-magnetic-bubble-may-give-space-probes-a-soft-landing.html

Waiting for Dark: The quest for Untraceable Money

Inside Two Anarchists' Quest for Untraceable Money | WIRED
http://www.wired.com/2014/07/inside-dark-wallet/

The Pitchforks Are Coming…

'we reminded them that when workers have more money, businesses have more customers—and need more employees. We reminded them that if businesses paid workers a living wage rather than poverty wages, taxpayers wouldn't have to make up the difference.'

Nick Hanauer - POLITICO Magazine
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/the-pitchforks-are-coming-for-us-plutocrats-108014.html

Thursday, 3 July 2014

Enlightenment Sandwich

Base human participation in the destiny of intelligent life has an expiration date.
We tend to assume that history produces a ratcheting in our level of understanding. That we are on a journey out of a Cro-Magnon Eden of blissful ignorance towards a state of enlightened nirvana. However a population with at least some individuals equipped with theories that explain their world might be a mere fleeting phase - so very Nineteenth Century.
Once technology produces artifacts beyond our capacity for comprehension we will enter a second dark age. These artifacts will be the product of genetic algorithms, simulated evolution or AIs out-thinking us.
The Renaissance, Enlightenment and the Modern age are likely bacon, lettuce and tomato, sandwiched between two thick slices of ignorance.
Are computers coming up with answers we cannot understand?
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2014/04/are-computer-coming-up-with-answers-we-cannot-understand.html