Posted in Philosophy, Privacy, Security, Technology, Transit on Nov 19th, 2009
‘”Until the first blow fell, no one was convinced that Penn Station really would be demolished, or that New York would permit this monumental act of vandalism against one of the largest and finest landmarks of its age of Roman elegance.” (New York TImes) ‘”Its destruction left a deep and lasting wound in the architectural [...]
Posted in Economics, Memory, Philosophy, Security, Technology on Dec 14th, 2008
A few months ago I walked into Radio Shack, looking for a short-range FM transmitter. I asked the woman behind the counter if the store sold FM transmitters. “I don’t know,” she frowned. “The Internet’s down. I can’t access our product catalog.” (Gah!) Weeks later, I walked into a U-Haul to rent a truck. The [...]
Posted in Economics, Evolution, Philosophy, Technology on May 31st, 2008
Posted in Evolution, Philosophy, Technology on May 31st, 2008
Posted in Evolution, Philosophy, Technology on May 30th, 2008
Intelligence allows us to evolve very rapidly. By the next century, I imagine that direct genetic manipulation will be commonplace, and this will enable us to self-select genetic specific traits for specific social niches. We will undoubtedly develop increasingly sophisticated technologies of communication, and increasingly sophisticated technologies of control. This will spur the arms race [...]
Posted in Philosophy on May 30th, 2008
Anna wrote a post on Othermatters which I particularly enjoyed: To Mars, Together A snippet: Marwa, from the purple row, raises her hand. “Does Allah want us to go to Mars?” she asks. The question takes me by surprise. I do not know exactly what I think, or what to say. “What do you think?” [...]
Posted in Memory, Philosophy on May 25th, 2008
Today Blake sold his first 25 baby clownfish to Sea Creatures in Revere. I knew it was going to happen, but I was still sad to see them go. He packed them up in little plastic bags, placed them carefully in a 5-gallon bucket, and then before I was ready to say goodbye they were [...]