Tim’s Work in Progress

Hey everyone. This is DJ Bo Vice here.

I know I said I will write up a review of Square-Enix’s The World Ends with You at some point. To tell you the truth, I have not even started on it. If you are patient enough, it will be posted eventually. If you just wait a bit longer, I will try my best to write it as soon as I can. Oh, and thanks for waiting.

To start, let’s talk about a revered person, the Dalai Lama. He is revered in Tibet and yet China just will not give the guy a break. I mean, he cannot even visit some countries without China hassling him. The most recent example of this is, South Africa. There was supposed to be a peace conference but that is now postponed indefinitely. South Africa is “China’s largest trading partner in Africa” and it seems a little suspicious when the country tells the Dalai Lama to go somewhere else. Some say pressure from China might have something to do with it. But where is the bureaucracy and politics? Fear not, South Africa claims that because of the World Cup, the Dalai Lama has to go. The country is slated to host the World Cup and it will be the first one held in Africa overall. Really? What do you think readers?

Next on the agenda is about the President of the United States or ‘POTUS’ if you work for the Secret Service. Recently, there has been some controversy among the Catholic Church criticizing the President of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. The fact that Obama, pro-abortion, is the commencement speaker and the recipient of an honorary law degree at a Catholic university drew fire from protesters. This means looking dumb when you are arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest charges. Honestly, even some students thought it was cool to even skip out on their own graduation to follow their beliefs. If the POTUS was my commencement speaker, I’d go to it because it is the POTUS. Do you understand what it means to have the POTUS as a commencement speaker? However, some pro-life students actually went to graduation and passively protested through their mortar board (the cap you wear at graduation) with two symbols on it, a Holy Cross and baby’s feet. The only instance where, I personally (my opinion now), would skip out on commencement is if the institute/school/university invites someone that did something bad, for example, an executive from the now defunct company, Enron. Of course, everyone is a critic include you, the reader, as you are now judging my writing and opinions.

One last comment before our last topic, Arizona State University’s loss is now University of Notre Dame’s gain. ASU claims Obama’s “… body of work is yet to come” as their reasoning to not confer upon him an honorary degree. Dawn Teo of Arizona Politics writes,

“Writing two best-sellers? Not outstanding. Developing one of the largest grassroots organizations in the world? Nothing special. Becoming the first African American President of the United States? Good, but nothing to write home about.”

Readers, did you think that was enough for President Obama to receive an honorary degree?

Last, we have our favorite “epidemic,” teh (yes , I wrote teh) swine flu or H1N1. On a cold and rainy Sunday, I went to Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Spring 2009 Commencement (Sunday, May 17, 2009) to see friends graduate. Before Sunday, Wentworth sent out an e-mail stating that due to the H1N1 virus and to minimize spreading, the President will not be shaking hands with graduates. Traditionally, the President shakes hands with all graduates. I, for one, think that it is silly what H1N1 has done to college and university commencements. If I spent four to five years slaving away towards a college degree to find out that the President will not shake my hand, I’d be angry. What? Alcohol-based hand sanitizers were not available for distribution for all graduates? I hear that it works wonders. Your hands may smell like alcohol but rest assured you will have a clean hand ready for shaking. But this is a time for celebrating achievements and accomplishments. I am happy for my friends that graduated and wish them well in their future endeavors. Hopefully by the August 2009 Commencement, this silly “epidemic” will have passed.

Pretty much, these recent issues have been bothering me. We have everyone complaining and worrying too much about teh H1N1.

Enjoy these other news blurbs and pictures I found surfing through the Internet. Rest assured, The World Ends with You, will be posted at a later date. Just wait for it, please?

Pictures

I’m not a kid, but I really want this hat
Humans Vs. Animals (infographic)
LEGO HALF-LIFE ² (UPDATE)

News

AMAZED doctors-Twins were born to different dads
Montreal Cop Fines Student $450 For Not Holding Subway Rail
Soldier Fights Taliban Wearing Pink Boxers and Flip Flops
Tatsunoko vs Capcom Might Get Online Multiplayer
Capcom Quarantines Its Own Employees
What to Watch Out For in Public Bathrooms

Sources

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7958881.stm
South Africa bans Dalai Lama trip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8051435.stm
South Africa in Dalai Lama U-turn

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/asu-stiffs-obama-claim-to_b_185296.html
ASU Stiffs Obama, Claims Too Inexperienced For Honorary Degree

DJ Bo Vice Blog Posts, Pictures Barack Obama, Dalai Lama, epidemic, H1N1, Notre Dame, The World Ends with You

Disclaimer: Boring train, next stop is Snoozeville, West Virginia. West Virginia is very well known to be the most boring state. Seriously, whatever happened in West Virginia?

So, as it occurred to me the metaphor of life being a path is very deep and accurate if properly put into context. In fact, I like to elaborate it thusly. We are all born on the mouth of The Road of Life (The Oregon Trail II if you’re AI). Some of us are given tools to use to our advantage. A good education might be a map, friends and family a caravan to travel with, and an inheritance a bulldozer to mow down anyone or anything in your way. Being a massively networked system of trails and paths perhaps expanding beyond a two or three dimensional geography we are used to, The Road never fails to surprise its travelers. Each fork is both in the metaphor and in literal context a choice we must make when we are faced with it. Those travelling with us in some fashion may influence our decision, and the paths as they appear may be informative or misleading. The Road may never end. Instead, its travelers merely stay at the destination they arrive at when they can no longer, or more regrettably do not wish to continue. Furthermore, new paths might be made. Travelling through the unknown bramble may be dangerous, but it could yield a more efficient or exciting route. Sometimes we spend too much time taking the scenic route to ever get to where we want to be next. Sometimes we get stuck in the bad end of the woods and discourage ourselves from finding new headway. Going in circles will not make any progress, and we only have a limited time to travel. Some of us are lucky enough to leave landmarks of note in our path. Others may draw inspiration from these, helping them navigate their own way. Some of us may find one (or more) people we never want to leave our side, and for better or worse weather The Road’s ever intriguing future together. There is always another way to get somewhere, as well. We might even bump into old acquaintances in our travel, and likewise gain a reputation of sorts.

Then again, this all might just be the ramblings from a message in a bottle about someone lost at sea.

P.S. I’d like to recommend three anime series based off of nothing entirely. Kyouran Kazoku Nikki (seen 15/26), Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni (seen 4/24), and Vampire Knight (seen 0/13).

P.P.S.  Haha, you said “Pee Pee” in your head :P

DJ Longcat Blog Posts automobiles, catheters, planes, trains

This weekend is going to be a pretty good one — I am most likely going to complete the main story of the video game I’ve been playing recently — Tales of Vesperia. I am also going to watch the second half of the 6 part miniseries of Pride and Prejudice. I might even go to that odd place they call “outside” — It’s supposed to be beautiful out on Saturday. I’ll also look into starting Speaker for the Dead, a novel from the Ender’s Game series, and hopefully reading a whole bunch of The World Without Us. Sounds like an awesome weekend!

Timothy Blog Posts and zombies, hackers, nice weather, pride and prejudice, tales of vesperia

I’m going to start planning an ‘unplugged’ weekend for this summer. This weekend will be comprised not using the computer, cell phone, iPod, TV, Video Games, or anything like that (Within reason… I’ll still use the refrigerator and electric stove.) This means that I’ll actually have to find something to do other than playing video games or watching TV — I’ll see if I can get a few friends together to do this with me. Dungeons and Dragons, walking around the city, reading books, and actually enjoying each others company for a weekend could be a great experience we could all learn from. I would possibly consider expanding it to a week, but schoolwork often requires the use of technology, so that might be a bit harder to do. I’d also like to do a few journal entries during that time and later posting them online. Anyone up for doing it with me?

Timothy Blog Posts hate, love, no electronics, unplugged

The EFF and the world needs your help. I highly urge everyone to take action by going to the link and sending out letters to your congressmen. It will benefit everyone in the digital world.

Timothy Blog Posts

The defendants in the trial against The Pirate Bay have been found guilty of aiding in the distribution of copyrighted material. To explain how crazy this is, I’ll use a simple scenario that I read from Slashdot (Not a direct quote, but the same idea):

This is the equivalent of buying a knife from a place like Wal-mart, then killing someone with the knife. Then, take the bigwigs of Wal-Mart and charge them with being an Accessory to a Murder and throw them in jail for X months/years.

When anyone looks at that statement, they immediately think “That’s bonkers” and that’s exactly what I think about when I hear about things like this case.  That’s why the Pirate Flag is at half staff.

Timothy Blog Posts guilty, MAFIAA, piratebay, pirates, trial

Here is a commercial put together by IBM for Linux. It is very, very well produced and literally gives me goosebumps. It’s only a minute and a half long and I guarentee you won’t regret it.

Timothy Blog Posts, Mandatory Media awesome, ibm, kid, Linux

Disclaimer: It’s Electrric! You can’t see it; it’s electric! You gotta feel it; it’s electric! Ooh, it’s shakin’; it’s electric! Warranty is rendered void if you immerse in ice or if baby seal is clubbed.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Quite. Before I tackle this one, I need to mention that most science fiction authors make the mistake of assuming a technology that doesn’t exist yet will be built that which does exist. For example, my own father is famed for being laughed at in college when he predicted that they’ll be able to fit a computer in a suitcase. Before the invention of the microprocessor, this was indeed a far-fetched claim. This kind of prediction assumes a new, or revolutionary technology will take the place of the old one, perhaps being partially influenced by it. Computers have always been an abstract representation of pure mathmatics, so the contest is just inventing the better calculator. Likewise, “Androids” were mentioned in sci-fi even as old as Isaac Asimov, and were certainly popularized by him. All sci-fi uses some amount of prediction, be it speculation on new technologies, improvment on old ones, or a miraculous new piece of the puzzle like a mysterious ore or lost ancient civilization (cheap ways out…STARGATE). Andriods are traditionally thought to be made from a robotic frame with some computer allowing them to “think”.

You didn’t answer the question, smart Alex. Do robots dream?

Computers are dependant on electrical signal interpreted by high and low points meaning either 1 or 0 to form huge, huge numbers that repreent something. This is dramatically and inherently different from how we demonstrate and regocnize intelligence. Aside from faulty design or components andriods can only dream if they are designed to, and then only with as much “creativity” as is preprogrammed in there.

Ok, so no dreams :( Can they think?

AI (Artificial Intelligence) has come a long way. The “Turing test” devised by Alan turing is an interesting model to test against. If a person interviews both a machine and person at the same time with any number of questions (each question is addressed to both parties and answered in sequence) and they cannot tell which respondant is the machine, it is intelligent. A small program called ELIZA infamously fooled the majority of participants thinking it was a psychologist, however to this date no truly creative software has been birthed. The Catch 22 is that any scientist who knows how to program such a thing in any form most likely wouldn’t, due to the unpredictable nature of it. Much like Von Neumann’s self replicating machines, it would bring disaster along with any potential scientific gains.

Wait, ANDROID Apocalypse!? Explain yourself, foo’.

If computer intelligence was realized in a pure form there is a high chance of it developing personality and ego sense, for better or worse. Likewise, it would most likely seek self improvment and legacy, as most living things (intelligent or otherwise) do. It would try to expand and replicate. It would be inhumane to disallow it to do so because we have created a sentient force. All natural civil freedoms and rights are extended to it, as would be humans. It has just as much change as developing morals, pitying humanity, helping us as it does seeing us as a competitor and threat.

Whoa. Is that like killing its creator? Are humans a not-so-almighty God in that scenario? Deep, man.

Some food for thought: Japan has already begun making many primitive androids (including one who can sing). There is an immense wealth of reading on the subject, as well. If you don’t read cause books are for f@gs, check out a movie called “Blade Runner”, and another called “I, Robot”. I warn you, their books are better. Furthermore, a topic I’ve never seen properly explored is using biotechnology to make an “organic android”. With the eve of genetic engineering underway, what stops us from redisigning simple brains of lesser mammals, genetically making bacteria produce hormones like insulin for us (already done), genetically modifying plants to be ultra-nutritous and efficient (under development), and possibly creating an entire organism from scatch once we understand our own life better? There are many people who say this is “playing God”. That’s dead proof they have no idea what they’re talking about. If “God” gave us these tools, they should be used, HOWEVER, that changes nothing of common sense. We must be responsible for our actions, as a whole. With “The Greatest Country on Earth”(tm) still horrifically underdeveloped in the areas of civil liberties, equal rights, and general maturity, there is a long way to go before we can start accepting such things. Humanity, as a civilization, is still young. As Stargate-SG1 has reminded us, the young are often rash, disobediant, and inexperienced.

DJ Longcat Blog Posts :P, stuff

Hello everyone.

This is DJ Bo Vice here. It has been nearly a month since I did a radio show but I think I did okay by myself. Usually, I am a co-DJ with another alumni like myself. The problem is: I have no idea where my co-host is at the moment. At the least, I am gaining experience in DJing. If you want a copy of the show, let me know and I will find a way to give a copy of the show.

These are the topics (in no particular order) I discussed by myself (with no listener input) on the Arty and Bo Show (minus Arty) on Friday, April 10, 2009.

How Bank of America can raise capital
Attention, Bank of America cardholders: your interest rate’s going up, up, up!
Volunteers complete $4 million repair job for free in 8 days
GameStop Sells Played Games As New, May Be Illegal
Teen punks murder American hero’s dog
2050: What Will the Earth’s Population Be?
Mass Effect 2: Won’t ‘Shy Away’ From Controversy

Comparing rates for checking and savings accounts, CDs, credit cards, and more
For the best rates on savings accounts, do the following.
1. There should be a drop-down menu. on the right after the “Taxes” tab. Select “100 Highest MMAs.”
2. For the “National or Local?” question, select “Highest Yield Nationally Available.” (It should be pre-selected.)
3. For the “Choose your MMA options”, select “MMA and savings account.” (It should be pre-selected.)
4. Click “Search.”

This should give you the highest rates for savings and money market accounts from all over the United States. I am currently considering Darby Direct located in Vidalia, GA. They have an amazing online savings account which has an APY (Annual Percentage Yield) of 3.00%. It requires only one dollar (USD $1.00) to open an account and has no minimum balance to avoid fees requirement. It also has no monthly fee. The best part? All deposits are insured by the trusty Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) so you know your money is safe.

In other news, I am also posting up some game news. I have trailers for two amazing games: BioShock 2 and Bayonetta. BioShock 2 is the sequel to the amazing BioShock. Bayonetta is an upcoming game from Platinum Games having the creator of Devil May Cry as its director.

BioShock 2: First Gameplay Footage
New Bayonetta Trailer Is Completely Insane

There is also great news for Valkyria Chronicles (yes, I will try to limit the amount of posts with pertaining to Valkyria Chronicles) owners. On Thursday, April 16, 2009, the long-awaited downloadable content (DLC) is available. You can follow this link for more information.

In a future post, I will (hopefully stop writing about Valkyria Chronicles and attempt to) review an amazing Nintendo DS game from Square Enix which fully utilizes both screens, The World Ends with You. Until then, sit still and be good.

“FOIL! First, Outer, Inner, Last!”

DJ Bo Vice Blog Posts, Video Games Bayonetta, BioShock 2, DJ Bo Vice, DLC, FDIC, mathematics, money, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, review, SEGA, Square Enix, The World Ends with You, Valkyria Chronicles, WIRE

Kiki’s Delivery Service (IMDB, Wikipedia, ANN) is a movie by Studio Ghibli (Makers of Sprited Away, Princess Mononoke, etc) which follows the events of a 13 year old witch named Kiki and her cat Gigi. When witches turn 13 they are expected to go off for a year and train by themselves. Kiki’s adventure is filled with fun and hilarious events, and the cat Gigi is mostly for comic relief. Kiki ends up at a town by the ocean and starts a delivery service, with the notion that her only skill is flying. The story is exciting and the characters are lovable. I wholly recommend this movie for anyone (not just kids!) for it’s loving atmosphere and great animation.

Timothy Blog Posts, Mandatory Media Anime, Cats, Kiki's Delivery Service, Studio Ghibli