$ jlc (10,317)

You are correct. Talk about bio-terrorist potential...
But these fungi are uncommon and generally they are caught by the bad luck of someone puncturing himself with a dirty thorn or some such. It is still scary to read a paragraph that says something like, "We are not certain what anti-fungal to recommend in case of this diagnosis; the fatality rate for this diagnosis is 100%."

Brrrrrr.

Jan

Alligators are archeosaurs, predecessors of the dinosaurs. The same way that komodo dragons and other reptiles, which preceded the heyday of the dinosaurs (though technically, reptiles, dinosaurs, and mammals seem to have evolved almost simultaneously). Alligators and crocodiles are interesting because, while they are more 'primitive' than dinosaurs, they not only guard their nests but take care of their young after they are born.

Jan

We will eventually have to deal with other forms of sentience: artificial (as you mention above), alien, bio-engeneered (high IQ dogs). Any of these can compete with humans and have different agenda. We certainly have more control over bio-engineered and AI sentience than we do over alien contact.

I am not really worried about the immediacy of sentient AI when I cannot get an automated vacuum to work for 2 years before it does a circle dance and you have a caps key that sticks. By the time we have sentient AI, I will have a 3D printer than can print weaponized bubonic plague at the push of a button.

I think that man-man interactions, and eventually man-alien interactions will be more perilous than AI.

Jan, likes dogs

I agree with cjf. As the owner of the property, it is the innkeepers call as to what he does with his resources.

I will remind you that charity does not necessarily result in long term financial hardship. Let's replace J&M with 'a tattered commander of troops retreating from the enemy in winter'. The innkeeper lets the officers stay in his inn - for free - and the soldiers are housed in his warm barn. He has just lost money (food; potential other customers). A couple of years later, however, he puts a sign on his inn: "George Washington slept here".

In the long run, he has not lost money.

Jan, knows from experience that "free" sells

Humans will still do sports. That is what I meant by 'active entertainment'. I suspect that sports will grow in number and adherents as the need to work dwindles. I also think that total couch potatoes, surrounded by VR worlds will be common.

Jan

Firstly (as I commented directly to Suzanne above), do not put "x+dirt" on any wound. This is bad. Example of 'bad' if you scroll down here: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/sporot...

There is a book I can recommend: When There Is No Doctor". A lot of it is oriented towards sanitation in remote Mexican villages, but there is tons of good medical advice for DIY medicine. I would suggest this book for anyone who has a BugOut kit.
http://www.amazon.com/Where-There-Is-...

TLDNR:
Many of the 'modern' cures for disease are applicable to a true Paleolithic technology - they require no more than the ability to boil water and dig latrines and avoidance behavior patterns that actively increase the chance of crippling or fatal disorders.

Chief amongst these behavior patterns to avoid is the 'rub it with dirt' custom that is still prevalent in our (and many modern) societies. Coaches will TELL their player to rub dirt into an abrasion! This is beyond boggling my mind: We have know for centuries that dirt contains opportunistic bacteria and fungi and that rubbing dirt into a wound is the thing you should Never Do. Yet people still think that dirt or chicken poop is a 'good home remedy'.

Those of you who followed my first link, above, to the picture of Sporotrichosis can see an example of what can result. Do you know that there are many fungal diseases for which there is no treatment except amputation of the limb? Do you know that there are some fungal diseases for which there is no treatment whatsoever? - all observed instances of these diseases have been fatal.

It is very easy to find home and herbal remedies for everything from cholera to poison oak. These remedies should be applied with thoughtfulness and with a basic knowledge of bacteriology and disease process. You do NOT have to be a doctor in order to apply remedies that take nothing more than a shovel or a pot of hot water or the ability to identify a willow tree, but you must avoid behavior that makes things worse.

First, do ye no harm.

Jan

Good.

Jan

No. Do not do that. Do not put "x plus dirt" on ANY type of a wound.

Jan

That is correct. Virtually no one carries; they just 'have'. (My sister lived in Switz for some decades.)

Jan

Perhaps some 'helpful' person should take a look at the font and point size of the 'gun free zone sign' and print out a look-alike addendum with that text on it. And then just kinda 'adhere' the new sign to the wall below the old one.

Jan

Hopefully, Tom, the actual criminal would be dead...which is in 'more trouble' than being guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Good Luck.

Jan

The universe is indifferent to whether or not any species survives (or potentially whether any world survives a la Clarke's "The Star"). Dinosaurs became obsolete (except the birds); species re-shuffled themselves and created new hierarchies and life continued.

I do not think the nature of humans will change in the post-affluence world. People will still want some type of differentiation as a result of their achievements. I suspect that 'status' or 'renown' will be the coin of exchange when material goods are moot.

Jan

Mike -

I agree - it does enhance my life. Sorry for being unclear.

Jan

I am talking about the future, Herb. The post-affluence future. The future wherein mankind is liberated from the 'sweat of his brow' dictate.

The places where computers can least compete with humans is Innovation and Art. Ayn Rand did not say 'you have to work' she said 'you have to be productive'. When robots take over the work force, humans will either become clients of entertainment (passive or active) or artists or qualitative innovators. Robots will be able to do incremental improvements, but I think it will be a while before they can do innovation.

Example: Robots will be able to do dentistry. They will replace humans in being able to effect all of the common dental practices. But we have just read of experiments (in mice) of getting tooth-buds to germinate new teeth from scratch. That is something New: Would a computer have thought of trying that? Probably not (at least for a Long Time). Humans will do that sort of thinking/experimenting.

Robots eliminate humans? Why would they 'want' to? They have no desires. Does you computer get angry because you misspell the same word every time you type it? Robots have as much desire to eliminate humans as a toaster does.

Jan

I am defending his quote. The think I find most inaccurate about it is the word "only". Actually, 'being unlucky' is the other universal death sentence.

People think Heinlein harsh because they interpret that quote as a policy: Everyone who is 'stupid' should be put to death. It is actually just statistical report: If you are 'stupid', you increase your chance of doing something that is fatal to yourself.

Of course, if you are 'stupid' and 'lucky' you can survive happily. (Niven wrote a story about that...)

The other thing I was reflecting on is that the universe has no concept of mercy. It does not refrain from killing someone because they are 'stupid but a nice person' and instead go after the person who is 'stupid and not nice'. It really does not give a hoot.

Jan

The devil says: Innovate. The ability of computers to process data was inherent from the beginning; the ability of AI to take qualitative leaps of inspiration is still beyond its bounds. What do I care if a computer can crunch the amount of grain produced per hectare in a nano-second and it would take me a week to do the same? This ability does nothing but enhance my life, Herb - so 'bring it on'. What humans are best at is 'pushing the envelope'.

To rephase your question, "What if all of the humdrum tasks were taken over by computers and everyone had enough to eat, a good place to live, and primo healthcare? What if all that humans had to do with their time is be creative and push forward the frontiers of knowledge in both science and art?"

By the way, there is no such thing as an outsiders view from someone who has studied as much as they can abut quantum physics. Science is a mindset, not a degree.

Jan, sci-chick

The universe does take him literally. It is not a statement of policy, it is an observation.

Jan

Be seein' you...

Jan

Thanks Maree. Great holidays to you, and good dogs for the new year.

Jan, head screwed on, but sometimes at a tilt

But that was good too, eh? Hanging out with neat people is fun in its own way, but the holidays make me want to get away from all the bustle.

Many flavors of 'good time'!

Jan

Now, THAT sounds like a hoot. What a great way to spend XMas!

Jan

Hiding! I have managed to dodge all XMas invitations and am reveling (nay: wallowing!) in the ability to be at home, lounging in my beautiful barn-home and just enjoying the day. Perhaps I will go for a stroll in the wilderness with some happy dogs later today...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Jan

Bravo.

Jan

swm –

Oh. I will have to read the novel, then.

One of the side effects of the existence of THIS Gulch is that the randist philosophy per se is getting some alpha testing in an environment that is semi-open. That is to say, the people who are here have a generally similar philosophical perspective, but different experiences and vastly different opinions on some of the parameters and details of implementation. I am constantly refining and revising my premises due to the input from people on this site.

If this philosophy someday/somewhere gets the opportunity to become a major player in the social and political arenas, some of the bugs may have been shaken out of it by this virtual gulch. It is crucial that what you have described in the TFA universe not happen – that we get the ball and then fumble it because we do not know ‘how to make it work’.

Jan

Good comments, blarman. I agree with your comments on the strategy and tactics of the battles; also the single-point-of-failure is convenient for the plot. (You'da think they would have learned.) They could have put a little bit more effort into making this more realistic - probably without spending more money or taking more screentime.

I think that DrEH's analysis is good in general; I really like the analogy with the French Revolution. I believe that a significant point that was missed, however: a major purpose of this episode was to 'pick back up the threads' of the universe and plot sequence and to introduce new characters who are strong enough to carry the action forward. I think that is why there were so many 'shout outs' for geeks and fans in the script.

Insofar as the lightsaber scenes are concerned, I have fought with both a staff and a greatsword (I won a greatsword lyst once, many years ago) and I can affirm that a lot of the moves do transfer over (more so than between broadsword fighting and greatsword fighting). I have also seen the bloody-damn 'naturals' who pick up a sword and start fighting as if they were born to it (the rest of us mortals have to struggle up the learning curve). These dratted people do exist. I will allow that Rey is one such, for the sake of the plot.

I am planning to go see it again on XMas day.

Jan