The big deal about quantum computing is that when you have that kind of power, you can model things – organic molecules, materials, the interactions of complex systems – down to the atomic level. That means you can figure out how to build all kinds of useful things, without having to actually build the ones that won’t work.
Which effectively means “a quantum computer worked it out” is like “a wizard did it,” only for SF.
Originally shared by Singularity Hub
Quantum computing is such an enormous advancement it’s unfair to even describe it in terms of computers as we know them.
Climate change, water pollution and fishing practices have been decimating coral reefs for decades, threatening the ecosystem that’s home to 25 percent of all marine species. Within the next 15 years, nearly three quarters of all reefs will likely be damaged or destroyed.
Scientists have long been searching for ways to help repair these delicate living structures. They’ve replanted reefs, using both natural and artificial materials. They’ve tried replacing reefs’ algae with stronger varieties. They’ve even used electric current to help stimulate coral growth. Lately, they’ve been working with one of the technology community’s current darlings, 3D printing. Printed reefs can closely mimic natural ones, providing a home for baby coral to take root and grow. The process is still in its infancy—in 2012, the first 3D printed reefs were sunk in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Bahrain, where the existing reefs had been badly damaged. Similar projects are in the works around the world.
“The 1998 Disney animated classic focused on Mulan’s transition from being a young girl failing to fit the mold of a perfect daughter and wife to a heroine whose brave acts ultimately save ancient China. Her determination allows her to rise above the gender expectations of her culture and become the one who brings “honor to us all.” Hers is essentially an Asian American tale because it fused Asian characters and culture with a coming-of-age hero’s journey that resonated with American audiences.
So why does the script for the live-action remake feature a white male lead? “
I first encountered Spring-Heeled Jack in Tim Powers’ excellent The Anubis Gates. There’s great potential in the legend for casting him as an alien, a time-traveller, or something supernatural.
In preparation for writing some male-positive feminist romance, I went looking to see if there was any out there already. There is, and this is some of it – and extremely well executed, to boot.
Be aware that some of these are cultural, and restricted to certain times and places.
Personally, I enjoy inventing my own body language for the Gryphon Clerks series. The gnomes have a whole language of gestures for conversing in noisy environments (or plotting without being overheard by the dwarves), and they use a lot of the gestures in everyday life. For example, waving your hand past one ear means something like, “I know, but what can you do?”
One of the reasons I look with suspicion at anyone with a rigid ideology is that ideological rigidity tends to exclude some pragmatic solutions which may help to achieve the things you actually value.
Decide what you want to achieve, and then use any ethical means to achieve that, regardless of its source.
Originally shared by David Brin
Interesting article on how food banks, with their somewhat socialist mind-set, incorporated “market” forces to help them allocate food donations not only where they were needed but where they are wanted-most. Apparently, so long as equity and generosity are factors in the general outline, market forces and even competition help to get resources to the right place, efficiently.
Just posted this on FB. We shall see what results.
My dear fellow straight white male Christians who are empathising with women by imagining them as your daughters, wives, sisters or mothers:
Congratulations on making a start.
Can I make a suggestion, though? How about empathising with them simply as fellow human beings?
I assume you don’t have to picture another man as your son, brother, or father in order to empathise with him.
“But I don’t have to do that because other men are like me!”
Yes, exactly.
And once you’ve managed this with women – I have faith in you, you can do it – you could even try doing the same exercise with people of other races or religions or social classes. Fellow human beings.
“But how would I even start?”
Well, you could find a well-written fictional or nonfictional story – book, movie, TV show, whatever medium you prefer – from the point of view of a person you think of as different from you, and look for the common humanity: the desire to be loved, the longing for connection, the fear of rejection, the loyalty to family or people who are like family (which is where we started, after all), the courage and perseverance in the face of life’s struggles. Maybe post on your timeline and ask for recommendations.
You’ll see why this is in my Diversity and Representation collection in a minute.
It’s puzzled me why, of all the many reprehensible things Trump has said, this latest one has finally led a lot of his “insider” supporters to distance themselves and even call for him to step down. The only thing I could figure out is that all of the other things are either things they could imagine saying themselves (if more subtly), or things they wish they could say, but know better than to say where anyone can hear.
This opinion piece takes a slightly different, but compatible angle: that this latest revelation is disrespect of members of a less-empowered group that a) were still, on the whole, planning to vote for Trump, and b) that are still considered bad form to attack even among Republicans: (straight) white women.
It’s kind of the reverse of the famous “first they came for the Communists” litany. Trump has systematically disrespected group after group, but has finally been revealed to have blatantly disrespected a group that his putative colleagues actually care about, both as people and as voters. And to have disrespected them as a group, not just individually (as he did with Megyn Kelly early in his primary campaign).
I was astonished to read elsewhere that he’s even apologised and said he was wrong, though he couldn’t restrain himself from adding riders that reduced the impact of the apology. Normally, he doesn’t ever admit he was wrong (sometimes denying that he said things he clearly said). However, if the linguistics article that was being shared around recently is right, this is just another example of saying whatever will achieve his goals, rather than an authentic apology and an actual realisation of wrongdoing. And a month is a very short period of time in which to prove that theory mistaken by his actions.
The linked article speculates that many of his supporters still won’t care. Indeed, my wife’s aunt, an inarticulately rabid Trump supporter, is still cheering him on, and I’m sure plenty of other white women (and evangelicals) still will – but a good many might also find this the final straw.
Originally shared by The Mary Sue
Why did #TrumpTapes go viral, as opposed to … anything else horrifying that’s happened with Donald J. Trump’s campaign so far? Let us explain.
