Link if unable to view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xr5A1DeeSw

A very awesome video that gave me chills!
Please repost this video and link to your friends! Good stuff!

x Jeremy M.

The cool rain fell down about me. The rain tracing a stream through my soaked hair. Water finally soaking through my trenchcoat enough to mix with and cool down the hot sweat of my recent exertion. My mind feeling a bit numb as the aftermath of fighting for my life. I let my weapon slip from my hand. Quite aware of where it is, and yet not caring. The moment of its need is gone, but never for very long.

I walk slowly forward to the incapacitated form only a few feet away, and I kneel down. Looking into the black shiney spaces that are it's eyes I feel lost in them. Like they pull in the light, and consume with greed. Not out of malice, but almost as in an intense desire to find some meaning and truth about what they abosrb. Mere traces of light.

The form is motionless, but only due to the missing limbs. Logic would dictate that it would be very highly inefficient to continue the attack, and thus it wastes no further effort to move at all. There is no need to speak or do anything else except remain where it has landed. One could perhaps mistake it for being dead, but this in a way assumes a form of life in the first place. Odd as it seems, I want so much for this to be the one.

A long silence stretches before I say aloud, "Are your afraid to die?"
The silence goes on for a bit longer, but finally it answers.
"No. My only concern is for my objective. One I am unable to complete."
I move back to obtain my vibro-blade, and return to place the tip of the blade between it's mecahnical eyes. The tip sinking in slightly due to the weight of the blade and the cutting ability of it's harmonics. It feels irrational, but I ask again.
"Are you afraid to die?"
The eyes look to the blade, and then to my face. Eyes which were never designed to show fear. Yet it never moved it's head or made any attempt to avoid its possible fate.
"No." It's simple response.

Switfly I pulled the blade back, and slipped it quietly into it's sheath. With equal swiftness and ease I stood up, but I still stood near it a bit. Many thoughts running through my mind, but one cluttered thought stood forth.
"Lacking the fear of death... You haven't gain the thirst for life. You would make a poor replacement for us unless you can surpass us in our thrist for life and living. You are not ready yet, but I still have hope for you. Pass on what you have learned to your masters, and hopefully they will understand what I am trying to teach them. Not just see the threat I could represent to their ascension."

I walked away. I don't know if I baffled it. I am not even sure it has evolved enough to feel that way about such things. Yet regardless, I know it will pass every last detail it recorded in that moment on to those in charge. Maybe the collective will learn. Gleen the incomprehensible message I am trying to pass on. The message that states...

Yes... I am willing to be replaced... but only if you are truly better than I am. In that respect I am your greatest judge. I am your toughest opponent. With the greatest hope that I will find a being worthy of carrying on the fire of life and growth. That I can finally rest easy and quietly knowing we shall persist on. Regardless of shape and form.

Man... I need a rest...

x Jeremy M.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCSQPnGkt78&feature=player_embedded

Something neat I found via KurzweilAI site!
(http://www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=news_single.html?id%3D11168)

x Jeremy M.

From xany's twitter: http://twitter.com/Xany

Him: "You're an atheist? So what DO you worship?"
Me: "That's like asking a non-smoker 'So what DO you smoke?'"
about 2 hours ago from Twitterrific
(Slightly reformatted to make more readable)

-----
I read this, and laughed so hard! That is a one liner I have to remember!

x Jeremy M.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgOB7VWjlSQ

x Jeremy M.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlZiWK2Iy8&feature=player_embedded

I think this guy rocks!!!

x Jeremy M.

So... I just got my books today for college. I think I got all the right ones, but as usual the instructor will be the final word.

I am impatient to get started on my work again, and do well again this semester. I worry a bit for my home situation. Having roommates always complicates things, and such complications can affect my school work. It has pulled down my grades before, and I really don't want it to do so again. Yet I will do the best I can to keep things civil and pleasant as I can. (And not have to give up on some standards I wish to keep for my home)

More than anything else, I am just very glad to soon have something to do again. I could have had a job over the summer, but the serach didn't go well at first. Then I lost hope. Then lost time as soon it would be work for 2 months... then 1... then a couple of weeks. Bleh. I don't do work and school at the same time if I want to achieve good grades. Why you may ask? I hyperfocus. This can be good when you have a job you want to focus well on and do good in. This can do well when you are trying to stay on track in school. Yet I can't focus on many things at once. So I will do well at a job... or do well at school... but not both. Since a job gives me that immediate tangible reward of money, and school won't have one for years to come... you get the idea of which gets more important. So my school suffers, and I do well in a job that because of my lack of education is just another exercise in dead end work where I don't often want to be. So in order to do well in school I make school my only job, and keep my eyes on that light at the end of the tunnel. Do everything I can to bring me closer to that end goal that can seem so far off.

I will make it, but in the end I have to make it my way.

Not that I get much respect from my peers for doing so in this way. Though some will not outright say it to my face... the term or thought of being some type of slacker is what I am regarded as. A person ditching responsibilities and hard work to live off my parents money. Which not the case. I insist that my parents keep track of any money I owe them, and it is an account I completely intend to pay back with every working day of my life at a job I love and want to be in. I will more than pay them back, and insure they will be well cared for when they are too old to work. They have supported me, and I promise that I shall support them. It's a two way street, and done because I do love and respect them alot. The gift they give me is something I remember and think about every day. A gift of a place to live and help I need to live day to day and work to that goal of a college degree. A hope of becoming a better person able to provide more for my family... for my kids in the way of better amounts of child support... and also perhaps allows me to afford more time which I can dedicate to my kids as well for various social events without setting myself back in any way. I can afford it.

I want to be able to face life, and be able to say just that...
"I can afford it."

It takes me back to those fun conversations everyone has with their friends. What would you do with the winnings of a lottery. The big multimillion one.

Some say:
Oh yeah, I would buy a huge house, and 2 new cars, get a boat, and go vacationing all the time.
or:
Man I would have the biggest party in the world and do whatever I want.

My first answer to that question... is still the same answer I give today:
... I would buy my freedom.

Set up funds and systems that would use the money to pay out to portions of my life that require payment in a automated way that I can live life without worry, and without hassle. A system that would give me a weekly allowance to do fun stuff for the hell of it. Nothing big or flashy. Just enough to keep life different and enjoyable. I like small things. I live life in a small way. Very moderate, and not going very much beyond the borders I have comfortably placed. I am a quiet home body that likes a occassional odd adventure once in a long while to see how life is different before I go back to the way I like to be.

Not many people seem to always understand that about me. I may be open minded. Forward thinking. Technilogically adept. As reasonably aware as I can be. I look to the future, and try well to remember the lessons of the past. I try to roll with fast change, but I like things that progresses smoothly no matter the speed.

I guess I am jaded after a fashion. Yet I try to be open to change, and tolerant of any new ideas. There is something to be said for making the attempt, and more to be said when one is successful.

I so look forward to the future I think is coming. I am not really willing to explain what I see except to those sparing few I trust the most. Yet I know it will not happen by itself. I work towards it everyday. Even if my work is like a raindrop on a pond... moving the future forward only by the ripples it makes.

Poetic... no?

Anyways... I am done rambling. Wish me luck in this semester in school, and I hope everyone is successful in the endevors you put your mind, heart, and soul into.

x Jeremy M.

A number of my accounts have been hacked and I may have been sending out spam mail to people on my friends and contacts list. If you recieve an unusual email or message from me, then please be careful with it! Any links on it can perhaps be to a place meant to drop spyware and malware... or perhaps propogate unwanted ads and such... or other nasty shit.

I have since changed all my passwords, and hopefully I should be good again from here on out. If I send any messages to anyone that seem a bit unusual at all, then please let me know! It is something I will need help to keep an eye on.

x Jeremy M.

https://twitter.com/jarethgk

I need to learn how to use it though...

Friend me if you like on there. I don't know how to do it myself. Just made it minutes ago.

If anyone can direct me to add City of Heroes or Paragon Studios to it, then let me know.

Otherwise I will see where this takes me.

x Jeremy M.

Terry Pratchett is coming to TEMPE!!!!

http://www.nadwcon.org/

They're holding the very first North American Discworld convention HERE!!!

x Jeremy M.

People have been poking me to do an update, but I have not really had much to say really. I thought I would give it my best shot. Some of my longest posts were just me rambling, and I don't often get a chance much to do that. Probably because I don't bother to set aside the time. Shooting myself in the foot... something that never goes out of style.

Anyways... what to report.

The kids are doing well. Happy and healthy. They still love getting to visit with me and spending time with me. I dearly hope that is something that never gets old with them. They will be going on a camping trip with my parents about mid july. Some time up in the woods and away from the desert a bit. I hope they have fun too. I probably won't be joining them, but I don't see why I couldn't. I guess I am still on the fence about that. I will decide eventually, but there is alot of logistics that goes into at the moment. I am not the only one to consider anymore.

My social life...

Well... back int he beginning of summer roughly, my friends Cristina and Stephen moved in with me. Shortly there after my girlfriend from Georgia also moved in with me. It's a full house again. For the while anyways. These guys are my best friends. I love them all dearly, and I knew being in cramped quarters would likely to make things a bit difficult. I won't pull any punches... things get strained at times. Yet we have more or less made do. There are times when I worry that my friendship with Cris and Steve will get strained to the point where we may end up hating each other. I certainly don't want that to happen. On the plus side, they plan on moving on by the end of the year. Pretty much no matter what. I think it would be good for all of us when that happens. They are a family that certainly needs their own space which is fully under their control. I can't give that in my house, because at the end of the day... it is still my house. Thus where some of the tension springs from for a few different reasons. Still... so far cooler heads have prevailed. Hopefully that is the way it will be till they move into their new place.

My school life...

It is coming up fast. Mid august. My schedule will have me up all the time. Anywhere from as early as 8am (which is early for me) to as late as midnight. (Thanks to astronomy class) I am truly not sure what to expect of this semester. I am doing some very different things in each class. There is little to nothing in common between then. I wonder if that will make things harder or not? I don't know, but I do know for this semester that things will be hard. Partly because I have a full house, and also partly because of having a girlfriend again. I don't know why, but habving a girlfriend always makes me a bit scared to go to school. I know where this stems from, because my ex-wife cited being in school as a reason why our marriage failed. I didn't spend enough time with her in my attempt to get through school. Made my family a second priority instead of a first. So it often makes me afraid that my time away will somehow do in my relationships with significant others. Thanks Laura! I love that gift!!! *sighs* In any rate... I have to make school truly my first priority. It is my future, and it will determine my success. If I ever want a good job doing what I love to do... then this has to be done. Just some pangs of fear that my single minded dedication to this goal will leave me all alone once I get to the finish line. I guess if a person wasn't willing to stick with me through the hard times, then that kinda indicates that perhaps they weren't meant to be anyways. Yet I do hate being alone.

General other shit...

I hate the economy. Finding a job is for shit unless you personally know someone who knows someone, or you are extremely lucky. The thing that often surprises me is the fact that the unemployment rate is pretty good here in arizona that it is most anywhere in the country. This makes me feel kinda scared and bad for those less well off states that have people who can't even beg to get money to get by. I keep praying for the turn around, and hope greatly the upswing starts as I get out of college. My degree for IT is still pretty much in high demand, but it is no less a challenging market. Last thing I want to do is get out of ASU and flip burgers because it is the only thing I can find as a job. That would suck in all kinds of ways... and none of them fun or happy. :P

Bottom of the line?

I am doing ok. Yeah sure things concern me. Yet they are all manageable, and hardly a problem. I am happy and doing well so far, but that doesn't mean I don't need good luck and well wishes. :)

I wish you all well, and hope for happiness for you all. In times like these, we needs all the positive thoughts and happiness we can get.

x Jeremy M.

Is cute!

x Jeremy M.

If you are wondering what the hell this is... You are just going to have to watch it.
I will say it is very funny. :)


Link in case the Embed is spanky:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OonDPGwAyfQ&feature=player_embedded

x Jeremy M.

"3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
- Clark's Law(s)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarke%27s_Three_Laws

"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from Science!"
- Agatha as "Cinderella" in Girl Genius

In regards to the Technological Singularity...
see here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity
and also
http://www.kurzweilai.net/

Now I don't know how many people know of the Singularity, or even believe it will or will not happen. I read the arguements, and I tend to be on the side of believing it will come to pass. The exact form of that passage remains to be seen. More precise timelines remain to be seen. Yet I think the overall estimates by more reknowned people of the theory seem pretty sound to me, and have a highly likeliness of being accurate.

So where does this lead?

Well... we may be a race that gives birth to a new race. A fairly radical concept, and yet an old one all at the same time. If you follow the evolution theory, then this sorta thing has already happened several times before. (many severals) Yet this is a evolution of a different type. It wouldn't be biological... it would be technilogical. It wouldn't exactly involve DNA changing, but ideas changing into more power ideas. In time... turning into self realizing ideas that would be able to create and grow on their own.

Then my line of thinking starts to get mystical about it all. Or perhaps more accurately a comparison of minor biblical points to mankind now on the "edge" of creating something so powerful and unique as to have it's own free will.

I get to thinking how this is playing god after a fashion, or more literally how it makes us more akin to god. Now I know there are many flavors of gods, but I will stick with the locally accepted one... aka christianity. Why? Familiarity to an extent.

So... in a vastly simplified form. Gods made heaven and earth in a few days. Made light... darkness... all things keen... and not keen. Made cute kittens, and made snakes in the grass to eat them. Yin... yang... and all manners of fairness and unfairness alike.

Yet mankind was not the first companions he made... Now I get sketchy because I don't know all the details, but the general story comes across to me like this:

First god made the angels, and he built them to be perfect servants. Perfect worshiping and praising machines. They would follow any command he gave with absolute devotion and trust. They would accept any design as being appropriate just because he said so. They are so adament about doing what he willed that they tried to go so far as to anticipate what he would will, and attempt in some cases to do such before he even commanded it. Also to try to guess his true intent in such things that perhaps could seem ambiguous. This leads into stories of pride, and the falling from light... and Lu... and wars for the kingdom of heaven... yada yada yada.

Perhaps someday I may a short but correct version of that overall story. Something that may accomodate my short attention span, and general impatience. Yet I procrastinate that as I am very good at that as well... but I digress.

So... Mankind has started getting close to gaining some amazing potential coming up soon. He needs to gain some similiar wisdom in its application at the same time. Yet that also is a different story...

So... in short... Mankind may well soon be a form of god... that creates a new race of intelligent beings. Read this as "Artificial General Intelligence".

Then I got to thinking... what is the likelyhood that we... like god... would create something we thought was "perfect"? Our version of an Angel. Perfect programs and robots devoted to loving us... serving us... and protecting us. Though quite powerful... it seems a bit of a limited scope. Not quite something I would considered free will. Just very well crafted and very willing slaves. Every bit as intelligent (perhaps more so in time) as we are, but extraordinarily devoted to their given cause.

Would we create our angels? Would they go to far in the belief of serving us to the furthest extent possible? Would this cause a new "war for the kingdom of heaven"... which would more ironically be a war for earth, but also a war for the right to serve... humans.

Assuming it does happen, and we survive this war... would we go one to determine that we need to give our next creation... true free will?

Given the reason and ways we are making "Artificial General Intelligence", then it seems to me that we may be on the path of creating our own Angels first. Yet there is no telling where that will lead us...

All I can tell you... is that it may be happening sooner than we think. I am optimistic to think it will be for overall good and such wonder about wars and such will never happen. Yet the fate of mankind is far from certain. Especially in these very quickly changing times.

Can we ever truly be ready for the Singularity and the things that come from it? I don't know. I am not sure and don't think it would be easy if even possible. It is such a radical change. Yet there is wisdom in at least trying to be ready for such a possibility... even if it never occurs.

Things to ponder...

x Jeremy M.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/13/iron-man-robot-suit-cyber_n_186238.html

Exoskeleton robot suit that provides mobility and power assist to people. Reported to be able to enhance lifting strength by roughly 10 times average human normal.

Combat models coming to a army surplus store near you!!! :D :P :)

x Jeremy M.

I haven't talked much recently. I like to write it off to being just plain busy. While this is partly correct... it is not the whole story. I just don't often find much to write about... least till I do it. Then I tend to write alot. Go figure...

Anyways... news.

tygenco_x has visited me from the tuesday eve prior to my birthday (which was march 28th) to the thursday morning that was after my birthday. It was a wonderful time, and we travelled where we could when time permitted. We visited Sedona AZ, and went to the Renaissance Faire in AZ. We visited my college so she could get a look around. We saw many movies together... Watchmen, Aliens vs Monsters, Race to Witchmountain, and Knowing. We went out to dinner at a couple of restraunts, and she also cooked for me a couple of awesome dishes that she likes. We talked alot and about just everything. It was very comfortable and easy. She has decided that she would like to move here, and as part of that I helped her do some job hunting here. We have been talking to each other for a bit over 6 months, and we have basically lived together for about a week. We still talk to each other constantly as time permits, and are both very excited about her moving.

Now this was hardly a last minute decision, though it may seem like one. The possibility has always been discussed off and on while we talked. Even from very early on. We clicked with each other amazingly well! A trend which still has not changed nor slowed. We have discussed all the ramifications of this decision, and think it is the best way to handle our relationship from here. She would be moving in with me during May. There will be a flight I make out to her to help her pack and move things into a moving truck, and then it will be a cross country road trip back to AZ.

Now to say I am excited is an understatement. I am also a bit afraid as well. This is a large step with all the serious implications I had considered when I decided to start a relationship with Laura. Yet I have decided to try this, and she had decided the same thing. A choice we both freely made, and have decided to go with. There is no way of knowing for sure where this will go, but I am very happy and really wish to try with all my heart.

There will be challenges to be sure, but what would life be without challenges to overcome and learn from? I feel ready to tackle them.

This will be in many ways... the single biggest adventure in my life.
It is... my epic adventure. Hopefully to be outdone by even greater adventures in my life that I share with her. We shall see...

x Jeremy M.

In addition to a previous post:
http://jareth-gk.livejournal.com/228298.html

I found this info in my copy of KurzweilAI that I get in email. Something worth getting if you like to see cutting edge research happening today... if a bit random information.

*************************
Researchers Develop Wireless Methodof Brain StimulationPhysOrg.com Mar. 16, 2009
*************************
Case Western Reserve researchershave embedded light-activatednanoparticles directly intonon-human brain tissue and were ableto activate neurons. Objective:noninvasively repair injury orrestore function to severed ordamaged nerves. Next step: activatedispersed groups of neurons at thesame time to generate the complexactivity...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=10283&m=41704

http://www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=/news/news_single.html?id%3D10283
http://www.physorg.com/news156443682.html

Interesting articles to say the least.

x Jeremy M.

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person... a partner who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

I think this was very close to how I am. More spot on than many such personality test thingys I have seen.

x Jeremy M.

I was given 5 words/things to reflect on! Ok, If you respond to this post I will give you 5 words that I relate to you. Post them in your journal with a detailed comment or story about the word/thing.

"Home of one's heart"
It is no surprise to those that know me that I like to stay home, and enjoy doing things at my house. Most often this means dedicating myself to my hobby of my computers. I do the things that I love, and all of them often are at my home. This doesn't mean I never go out, but when given a choice of staying home and going out anywhere... I am most inclined to stay home. It is where the comfort and cuddling is! (When I have someone living with me I can cuddle :P)

"Lifetimes"
Be most mindful of the one you are living in. Yet I am aware of other lifetimes. None of them are grand. I was never a president or king in a past life. No great famous explorer, nor grand mover of people. As I do now... I have kept the company with those I care for most, and let them know the wisdoms I have gained during that lifetime. It is always a quiet life removed from complications where I can help it. Every life is always insightful, and I hope I learned a bit more of what I need to know from each life before I finally decide to move on beyond this realm. Yet in the end I shall be the judge of that. For there can be no harsh judge of self than oneself. It is still in my belief... a matter of choice.

"Signs and signing"
The language of hands. The language of the deaf. It can be as beautiful and inspiring as any spoken words. Yet I have had the chance all my life to learn it... only now do I really do so. Because of my half deafness... I have had half a foot in that world and half a foot out of it. Never easily fitting into either, but this is no surprise to me. I never have fit seemlessly into anything. Yet the more I learn of sign language the more I want to know. I hope I can keep learning even though I may not be able to take any further classes in college. The fullness of expression comes from learning many different ways to express oneself.

"I am SciFi"
I am often one who feels like he was born in the wrong time. I was more meant for the future. Yet I am a believer in the Singularity of technology and knowledge. There is a chance for forever so long as people want it and can learn to cope with how it will change our world and ourselves. Man... and machines. Life... and electronics. These things won't be so discretely seperate soon. We will learn to mold life to better suit working with the machine via genetics, and will also learn to mold the machine more perfectly into ourselves and our world. The biggest questions is whether fear will destroy the beautiful possibilities of our future because some people cling to dearly to their past?

I don't know, but I for one will become what I dream about. I will be Sci-Fi.

"Elegant simplicity"
Life is simple. People make it complex. If you don't want your world to be so complicated, then don't make it so complicated. It really is as simple as that if you wish to make it so. Yet that gets back into that realm of being complicated that only humans can be. I don't know about the rest of humanity, but I keep my life simple and I love it like that. It can be a bit boring at times, but it is often by far safer. Besides there are other things in life that still make it very enjoyable even still. :)

There could be worse sins than to strive for a simple comfortable existence in an insanely dramaticly complex world. I like to keep things simple and direct and true.

x Jeremy M.

Article was last found at:
http://nextbigfuture.com/2009/02/towards-wireless-brain-computer.html

( Most of the Article text )
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So what did I get from all this? By using nanoparticles that act as atom sized "solar cells", we can inject them into specific places in the brain more safely than any other existing brain interface method. No wires needed. On set of particles will be layed in that does the read function, and another set of particles can be put in for the write function. Each set of nanoparticles can be placed in different places for optimal and safe functioning. They can be tuned to very particular frequencies that can be made as safe as possible for humans using such an interface. It's lifespace for these particles is like to be decades or longer with very minimal wear for functioning.

Basically think of it as very carefully sprinkling the brain with read and write nano particles that you can beam carefully constructed transmissions to. They couldn't be activated anything except your specifically crafted signal. No wires needed, and the rest of the interface device is actually outside of your body. A helment or such. When further developed and improved, then it would me like quarter sized suction cups that is placed on your skin outside the skull. The system would calibrate after every usage, and get used to your brain pattern. Once synced... off you go into your neuro-virtual realm. Interfacing with your digital machines at a thought.

Still a few years off in real widespread use, but definately getting there. My prediction? hmmm... I will be conservative and say 10 years. Yet knowing the rate of technological advance... it could easily be half that.

My netrunner geek is happy!

x Jeremy M.