"The Coming Civil War over General-purpose Computing" - Cory Doctorow

Alt. Video Src.: http://youtu.be/gbYXBJOFgeI

" Who governs digital trust?

Doctorow framed the question this way: "Computers are everywhere. They
are now something we put our whole bodies into---airplanes, cars---and
something we put into our bodies---pacemakers, cochlear implants. They
HAVE to be trustworthy."

Sometimes humans are not so trustworthy, and programs may override
you: "I can't let you do that, Dave." (Reference to the
self-protective insane computer Hal in Kubrick's film "2001." That
time the human was more trustworthy than the computer.) Who decides
who can override whom?

The core issues for Doctorow come down to Human Rights versus Property
Rights, Lockdown versus Certainty, and Owners versus mere Users. "

....

Hugh Herr at TEDMED 2010



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MIT's Hugh Herr demonstrates the latest generation of robotics

Beautiful Minds: The Psychology of the Savant

" In the field of brain research there is no subject more intriguing than the savant – an individual with mental, behavioral, or even physical disability who possesses acute powers of observation, mathematical aptitude, or artistic talent. This three-part series provides an enthralling look into the psychology and neuroscience of the savant’s mysterious world. 3-part series, 53 minutes each. " -- http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/beautiful-minds-the-psychology-of-the-savant/


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‘Always the Opposite of Obama’ is a Tricky Platform - Tina Dupuy

" If Barack Obama had been the Democratic president who said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” Republicans would call it capitulation. “Obama surrenders to America’s enemies!” Commentators on Fox News would opine it’s actually an Islamic saying he picked up in a madrassa in Indonesia. “The prophet Mohammed talked about fear, it speaks to his Muslim leanings.” Fox and Friends would lead the next morning with the question, “Did Obama include a part of the Koran in his speech last night?”

“Karl Marx’s whole campaign was to eliminate—completely obliterate fear! Now we have a president following in his footsteps!” Rush Limbaugh would bellow. All his doppelgangers and dittoheads would repeat it on every corner of the Internet and talk radio: “Fearless is Marxist!” .... " -- continued: http://goo.gl/VpJAE

Doctor Who New Fall Season 2012 Trailer Series 7

Alt. Video Src.: http://youtu.be/R7YGoVyRSik