There is an article in March Scientific American about relationships with robots entitled “Not Tonight, Dear. I Have to Reboot.” It proposes that a some point in the not too distant future, marriages with robots might be legal. In Massachusetts, anyway. The author of the article is David Levy who has a book out entitled “Love and Sex with Robots”.
Ridiculous, of course. There might be some who are not doing well enough with regular human beans for whom this might be a viable option. But still does not sit well.
But wait, there's more. You can go out right now and buy a robot dog for a pet. There are experimental robots that look and feel like skin and which will speak and react to your voice and expressions. Robots that children include as a playmate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QRIO). Self-replicating machines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_machine). Is a self replicating machine alive? DARPA has a car that drives itself (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_car). Roomba. Robots policemen and soldiers to go and get bombs or negotiate with bad guys. Predator. Not to mention computer bots. And how about virtual reality, Second Life? Why not a robot to marry?
And here I am, communicating with a machine. Explorer's (http://anexplorer.blogstream.com/) personality test (http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp) said I am a Fieldmarshall, ENTJ. Extroverted. Why am I communicating with a machine? And are any of you real? Is LalePop's (http://lalepopsart.blogstream.com/) art being done by a robot? Whom can tell? Some, like TAB and Johnny I know are not robots unless they made them with deviant circuits. The bottom line is, robots or real people, blogging is fun to do. How about marrying a robot? As much fun as a real human bean?
One of the rants and raves that seems to keep coming to mind is the Machiavellian phrase “The end justifies the means”. There is a great discussion of this on Wikipedia under the term “consequencialism”. I remember the Machiavellian phrase being used in reference to Hitler's extermination of mental and physical defectives, Jews, homosexuals, etc. Also to Stalin's elimination of all opposition. There can be pros and cons to consequencialism but to my mind, “The end justifies the means” is not a nice thing.
Unfortunately, to get elected in the U.S. of A. these days, and in almost all past elections, you almost have to do apply “The end justifies the means”. And the means in too many cases is that there is no room for morality. Nor for honesty. It was true for Bill and for Bush. It would be true for Hillary, also. The statements about the Bosnia trip are the ideal example, as is the race-baiting. Win at any cost. If the truth can be twisted, spun, that is ok if it wins the election and benefits the party. The heart of a natural born killer.
How about Obama and McCain? There are some good indications so far. They owned up to their gaffs. They have not twisted their attacks away from the issues at hand. Politics is a nasty and mean business and the balance between a straightforward push to win and doing anything possible to destroy the opponent can be difficult. So far, this may be a different set of candidates. Can they be establishing a swing of the pendulum toward something better? But, then, these are still politicians we are talking about here.
Easter got me thinking. About Easter, other life in the universe, evolution, and the superiority of homo sapiens.
Was sitting around the pool a little bit ago with a bunch of the boys on a Sunday afternoon. Sort of boring, both suns up at the same time so it was just too hot. One big hairy guy stood up and proposed “Yeeoooow”. That is Wookie for “I am bored sitting here with you jerks. I heard of a little planet out by Epsilon IV that the sensors say has life on it but no one has ever visited. What do you say we hop in the Millenium Falcon and make a little jaunt over there and see what it going on? They may have a party or something.” Wookie is a very efficient language.
So, we all jumped in and before you could say Jack Robinson, we were there. Warp 13. Flash and Dale commented on it being a sort of rocky and dull place. Spock whipped out his tricorder and – lo and behold – found a plethora of life, most of it underground and concentrated. Sounded like a party after all. And a short trek and there they were! A whole bunch of critters. Sort of like toilet plungers of different sizes and colors. Squishy sounds coming from the bulbs at the bottom but squeeky sort of almost singing coming from small faces near the top of the handle part. All lined up with one in the front, obviously the leader, waving his arms in time. Being gentlemen, and ladies, we waited a few minutes until they waved to us and started to wander squishily off into cave sort of passageways. Zaphod gave us all babble fish so we could understand the language.
The leader came up to us with a big smile on his face. He asked where we were from and remarked on how many different places there were in the universe. Some tea and chat later and we commented on the coming together of all of them. They were having their Sunday services. Singing a few hymns.
He said they do that so they could communicate together with God. You mean pray, I said. No, not pray, he says, they talk directly with God and God talks directly to them. They can talk to God individually from their homes but like to join once a week on Sunday to do it together. God tells them about the rest of the universe, gives them knowledge, but mostly helps them improve their souls and guides them on their way to Heaven. They can chat back and forth with their ancestors, also.
Reverend Leader asks about our beliefs. Was familiar with all of the different systems. Mentioned that I am a Christian. All of a sudden, his demeanor became severe and we could feel the mounting force fields. He said “We know about you. You had the ultimate compliment of having God's Son come to you. But you tortured and killed Him. Not only that, you brag about it.”
Without a chance to explain, we all found ourselves instantaneously back on the Millenium Falcon and light years away.
Are we the best in the Universe? Is there room for evolution on this Easter day?
Wasted a whole morning - wasted, I tell you, wasted - on a fascinating website - http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/ftrials.html.
It is famous trials through out history. Read the Burr and Galileo trials this morning. And for further study, Socrates, John Brown, Wyatt Earp, Lizzie Borden, Oscar Wilde, Black Sox, Nuremberg, Clinton just to mention a few. But, wait, there's more. At the bottom there are links for more!
Today is the First Day of Spring. And on one of the morning shows, they told how being married makes you live longer. Once again, the fickle finger points toward love.. A stretch, I know, but what the heck. Brought to mind some tributes some weeks ago about one of y'all's (hey, a legitimate word with two apostrophies!) loves. Could not find them for reference, however.
Is there love at first sight? There certainly is.
And one of the best love songs is Rodolpho's to Mimi. Love at first sight.
“How cold your little hand is, let me warm it for you.
From time to time two thieves steal all the jewels
out of my safe, two pretty eyes.
They came in with you just now, and my customary dreams
my lovely dreams, melted at once into thin air!
But the theft doesn't anger me, for their place has been taken by hope!
Rodolph:Oh lovely girl, oh sweet face bathed in the soft moonlight.
I see you in a dream I'd dream forever!
Mimi:Ah! Love, you rule alone!
Rodolpho: Already I taste in spirit the heights of tenderness!
Love trembles at our kiss!
Mimi: How sweet his praises enter my heart.Love, you alone rule! If I came with you, I'd be near you!
Many Blogstream members are there
already! Quotes from members: "It's like blog lite!" -- "I like the instant
gratification!" -- "Stop spectating, get in the game!"
If you have not joined in, you are really missing out!
