The Sword and Laser discussion

From a debate on whether we should read early chapters from George R.R. Martin's "Winds of Winter" to the usefulness of Asimov's three laws, to our wrap-up of Altered Carbon, this is an episode that should contain a lot of wisdom. Who knows? It might!

http://swordandlaser.com/home/2014/4/...

They just reprinted "X-men: Days of Future Past" in hardcover: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I just heard the writer Chris Claremont on the Talking Comics podcast. He said he had a lot of literary influences.

Maybe the book Ryan is looking for is Red Shadows by Yvonne Navarro

It has a similar storyline and it is the surname of the author he mentioned. (Navarro)

I downloaded the days of future past collection on comixology, and it's just super weird. I expected dark, gritty, future--which is there, in a very lightened up way-- but I did not expect wolverine going on wacky adventures punching yetis in the face.

On the topic of a system of ethics for AI, my favorite series on emergent AI is WWW: Wake, WWW: Watch, WWW: Wonder by Robert J. Sawyer. Basically the internet (or the noise in the background of the internet, I never completely followed that part of the explanation) gains intelligence, and through a series of coincidences, begins a friendship with a blind girl whose sight is restored with a visual implant.

There's this wonderful chapter in the first book where she leads the AI to various databases to help it understand the world. One of those databases is set up by the non-fictional Douglas Lenat who is trying to create knowledge systems for AI.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_...

On the calendar you mention Irenicon which really confused me because I was sure I'd heard that before. Looked on my bookshelves and I had a publishers proof copy on my shelf that I've had for about a year and a half and found at my local second hand bookshops.

Am I having some user error? This episode isn't showing up in my iTunes...

I discovered you right before you left ning. memories...

It's one of the Video Season 2 episodes. Do they even go to iTunes?

Yes video season 2 get to iTunes when Tom hits the button, though there's a different feed for the videos. But this didn't show up in either feed (and I thought would be one of the audio ones).

Ooooops, I'm in the audio podcast thread claiming it's the video. I are confusing matters. Oh well.

terpkristin wrote: "Am I having some user error? This episode isn't showing up in my iTunes..."

The episode downloaded into my downcast app on iPhone. I listened to it and then deleted it but now I went and rechecked the feed to make sure I wasn't mistaken and it isn't showing up as an available episode. Something strange is afoot....probably just a temporary malfunction...or perhaps not....

Will wrote: "I discovered you right before you left ning. memories..."

Hey me too! I joined ning for about a month I think and then we moved over to goodreads.

OK! I don't know why the feed screwed up, it was working (I swear, the show is in my podcast folder).

I checked the feed and rejiggered some things, and the mp3 is showing up now. Try getting it! You *may* have to resubscribe.

Will wrote: "I discovered you right before you left ning. memories..."

I'm kind of a newb. Though I did begin participating when Veronica and Tom still read the names of the newcomers who posted in the "welcome" thread.

Thank you, V!!!!!

Veronica wrote: "OK! I don't know why the feed screwed up, it was working (I swear, the show is in my podcast folder).

I checked the feed and rejiggered some things, and the mp3 is showing up now. Try getting it!..."

It Shows up again in the downcast app. You are good to go. Silly bits and bytes don't know how to act properly with out being set straight once in awhile.

I truly enjoyed this episode and it wasn't JUST because my name was brought up twice. ;) I think there are still more than a few of us still around from the Ning days. Josh L., for sure, and Jenny was part of that group. One of the Nick's, too, I think, and a Sean, among others. I had forgotten that American Gods was an early pick. For some reason, I skipped it at the time (though have since read and enjoyed it).

It's been interesting to see the early reaction to the main pick this month. I'm about 10% in, and while it is violent, it's not bothering me THAT much (yet). I suspect I am more tolerant of violence when it's with swords/in a fantasy setting than I am when it's with guns or in a sci fi setting; for example, I don't have any "real" issues with GRRM. We shall see, though, if the trend holds, as I continue through the book.

Yeah I was there in the Ning days, when you had to walk uphill both ways to post in the forms and keep potatoes in your pockets to keep warm.

Was I there?

Tamahome wrote: "Was I there?"

You are there, Tama, constant present eternal tense.

Tassie Dave wrote: "Maybe the book Ryan is looking for is Red Shadows by Yvonne Navarro

It has a similar storyline and it is the surname of the author he mentioned. (Navarro)"

Hey Tassie... I think that looks like the one. Now to the fun task of finding it!