Modern Spellbooks
http://davidseah.com/blog/comments/modern-spellbooks/
David Seah writes about how hand-written notebooks about computer programming languages are in fact a lot like spellbooks filled with incantations.
(The difference being that if you follow the incantation step by step, you will get a 100% success rate, which might make these things even better than actual spellbooks ;-) )
I've never seen handwritten code that didn't make call to non existent functions that the writer was too lazy to write out. So I dunno about the success rate.
Quote from: Requiem on September 01, 2008, 09:45:50 PM
I've never seen handwritten code that didn't make call to non existent functions that the writer was too lazy to write out. So I dunno about the success rate.
read the article. his code is in BASIC and Assembly. no non-existent functions (hardly any named functions either, btw).
About handwritten code, I remember this one time 8-9 years ago I was stoned and I wrote down the 80x86 Assembly code for an 8x8 texmapper/distorter (graphics effect that warps a texture), I already knew the algorithm, I wrote down the asm code once, without mistakes. Next day I typed the code verbatim into the machine, it compiled without error and it worked without bugs,
straight from paper.
This never (ok, hardly ever) happens when I write my code directly into the computer. I'm not going to attribute the success to being stoned, except for that it was probably the reason why I was sitting on the floor at a friend's place with a fine-liner and a sketchbook instead of a computer.
This is interesting.
Wonder what a biospellbook would be like.
I wasn't joking btw. I want to make a book for my masters thesis and beyond surrounding all the information and tidbits I discover on Cheumatopsyche, as well as summaries of field observations and collections.
Darwin had his notebooks, I want to make one for myself.
So, any ideas on what type, format, etc?
i wish i could set a thread to be bumped in a week or so, when i have some time to properly brainstorm on this.
Well, I purchased a Moleskine large and squared notebook with a soft cover, because I wanted something that would stand up for years but would be also comfortable to use and portable.
I'm still not sure of the format though.
maybe you can get inspired by the article and try to think of what these things mean in the context of bio/entomology:
- "incantation" (way of doing something, recipe)
- "spell"
- "charm" (how to catch a bug?)
- "transmutation" (change one thing into another, maybe caterpiller-puppet-butterfly transition, something), "sorcery" (enhanced bugs, genetic experiments on banana flies?)
- "enchanting"
- "the philsophers stone" (notes on that one magical thing you're researching but will never quite solve completely)
... or of course you could just write field reports and such into it :)
another thing i really like about the "spellbook" in the article is that it's a copy of the original but still transcribed manually.
Quote from: triple zero on September 06, 2008, 03:25:33 PM
maybe you can get inspired by the article and try to think of what these things mean in the context of bio/entomology:
- "incantation" (way of doing something, recipe)
- "spell"
- "charm" (how to catch a bug?)
- "transmutation" (change one thing into another, maybe caterpiller-puppet-butterfly transition, something), "sorcery" (enhanced bugs, genetic experiments on banana flies?)
- "enchanting"
- "the philsophers stone" (notes on that one magical thing you're researching but will never quite solve completely)
... or of course you could just write field reports and such into it :)
another thing i really like about the "spellbook" in the article is that it's a copy of the original but still transcribed manually.
Well, if you see the transcribed copy, there are two headings. One is a theme heading, like "Crack", and the other is a title. There are no dates anywhere. Notes are very simple, well written, essentially summaries of observations and actions. Also, hypotheses about observations. I /do/ like the hand transcription. I think the whole "spell book" titles were just things he thought up for the article, but the transcribed journal is a very interesting format. I don't know how I would transform it to work for my needs. It seems that whatever I do, there is going to be quite a bit of drawings in this, transcribed from actual specimens and other sources, notes on phylogeny, diagnosis, family genus and species descriptions, summaries of field observations, and useful tidbits for working in the lab and such. It needs to be condensed knowlege that I can come back as a reference source.
So, just some thoughts.
yeah it needs to have drawings of course. you don't really need them in computer science, but in a biology spellbook, you probably can't do without them.
I started making entries. It looks pretty sweet actually. I keep finding obscure references to East Palearctic diagnostic characters for larval Cheumatopsyche, but very little here in the Nearctic. There has been some Chaetotaxy associations done, but nobody has actually written down any diagnoses.
Okay, THIS is interesting. I retrieved a paper by Statzner yesterday with keys to the Cheumatopsyche of the Ivory Coast (so Afrotropical). The keys use all sorts of characters that I haddn't considered yet, including stridulating grooves and all sorts of chaetotaxal characters. The paper gets copied and put in my files, but the information I glean from it as far as diagnosis and description is concerned goes in the little black notebook.
I carry around a moleskin sketchbook constantly. Not that I draw for shit, but it's where I put down ideas, quotes, doodles, or records of anyhting that strikes me. I've had several such over the years. If I ever have the time or inclination, I figure I can compile.
Quote from: Richter on September 09, 2008, 08:46:26 PM
I carry around a moleskin sketchbook constantly. Not that I draw for shit, but it's where I put down ideas, quotes, doodles, or records of anyhting that strikes me. I've had several such over the years. If I ever have the time or inclination, I figure I can compile.
I've got one specifically for this. If I just want to have something to write notes on, I would get a $1 flimsy covered one. These damn things are expensive! However, for this task I need something that will last.
Quote from: Kai on September 09, 2008, 09:10:34 PM
Quote from: Richter on September 09, 2008, 08:46:26 PM
I carry around a moleskin sketchbook constantly. Not that I draw for shit, but it's where I put down ideas, quotes, doodles, or records of anyhting that strikes me. I've had several such over the years. If I ever have the time or inclination, I figure I can compile.
I've got one specifically for this. If I just want to have something to write notes on, I would get a $1 flimsy covered one. These damn things are expensive! However, for this task I need something that will last.
How does the chaetotaxy that help you figure out what the bug does? What information could you possibly stand to gain from looking at an insect's bristles?
Hey [000],
The gloves are off. Stakes are the title of most infuriating Dutchie. Make me rage, if you dare!
That's what I thought. Well, don't worry guys. I'm making a spellbook of my own that the smart ones can use. I'll finish it, then make 4 handwritten copies, then I'll transcribe it and post it here. BTW, I just HIMEOBS'd the Dutch police. They're not that scary, so I guess I can safely push for "legalization" here.
You don't need to follow me all the way through. Just make sure you read enough, and you'll understand the spellbook just fine.
Quote from: Janvier on September 11, 2008, 05:30:04 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 09, 2008, 09:10:34 PM
Quote from: Richter on September 09, 2008, 08:46:26 PM
I carry around a moleskin sketchbook constantly. Not that I draw for shit, but it's where I put down ideas, quotes, doodles, or records of anyhting that strikes me. I've had several such over the years. If I ever have the time or inclination, I figure I can compile.
I've got one specifically for this. If I just want to have something to write notes on, I would get a $1 flimsy covered one. These damn things are expensive! However, for this task I need something that will last.
How does the chaetotaxy that help you figure out what the bug does? What information could you possibly stand to gain from looking at an insect's bristles?
Hey [000],
The gloves are off. Stakes are the title of most infuriating Dutchie. Make me rage, if you dare!
It may help me, after associating adults and larvae of the same species using mitochondrial DNA (a process that was only published for this lineage just last year), to describe and diagnose larvae to the species level within this genus, thus allowing species level behaviors, characters, and toxicology to be used at least regionally for things such as aquatic ecology and stream biomonitoring.
In otherwords, I'M DOING REAL SCIENCE THAT WILL LEAD TO MORE REAL SCIENCE WHILE YOU ARE SITTING ON YOUR ASS DOING NOTHING BUT GETTING HIGH AND SPEWING YOUR WORTHLESS SHIT ALL OVER THIS FORUM. If you actually got off your ass and sobered up maybe you could contribute something worthwhile, or at least interesting, to science, to this forum, or to your pathetic life even.
Douche.
No no, wait. I'm not gonna stop there. Let me go on see, and tell you why this sciency buggy shit is worth more than your stupid life.
You see, municipalities provide water for their citizens, preferably of good quality. After the water is used, it is treated via a sewage treatment system which often includes things such as physical removal of large debris, sedimentation tanks, and aeration. All of these things lower the heavy metals, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other chemicals that would otherwise be in toxic levels in the water, because humans shit and leave some vile stuff as wastewater. When the water is cleaned up, that is, much better than it was, it is discharged as effluent into a stream system. The stream and surrounding land slowly filter the effluent and toxin levels as the system moves further downslope. Now, other systems downstream take that water that was effluent, and produce tap water out of it using another treatment system. The water, once effluent, now cleaner, is filtrated, clorinated, and made safe enough for you to boil your ramen noodles in while fapping to 4chan.
Now, these systems don't always work perfectly. And the output levels aren't always safe for humans, much less other stream organisms. Enter the science of stream biomonitoring, where organisms are used as a level of the water quality in a stream system. You can use fish to do this, and many consulting firms or municipalities do, but more regularly, benthic (bottom dwelling) macroinvertebrates such as aquatic insects are used. There are very many species of insects that are aquatic during some stage of their lifecycle, and these species are adapted for different levels of water quality. Using multimetric analysis, we can approximate the water quality of a stream over time by sampling and identifying stream macroinvertebrates.
Now, the Genus Cheumatopsyche is one of the most common genera of caddisflies in streams, and I'm not just talking here, I mean everywhere, all over the world. It is one of the most ubiquitous groups of stream insects there is, especially in the united states, and especially in degraded water conditions. Unfortunatly, the larvae for this region of the world are very difficult to separate to species, and these species vary greatly in their tolerances of water quality conditions. So, we have the most common group, vary greatly in water quality conditions but haven't been diagnosed to species level in a way that a biomonitoring professional can use.
All of what I am saying comes down to this: while you are sitting on your retarded ass blowing your mind, I'm making research happen that makes sure your water is okay for you to drink so you don't die some morning of lead poisoning.
So go fuck yourself, get high, and thank bob there are people like me that have half a brain and give a shit or your ass would be fucked.
Quote from: Kai on September 12, 2008, 03:22:46 AM
No no, wait. I'm not gonna stop there. Let me go on see, and tell you why this sciency buggy shit is worth more than your stupid life.
You see, municipalities provide water for their citizens, preferably of good quality. After the water is used, it is treated via a sewage treatment system which often includes things such as physical removal of large debris, sedimentation tanks, and aeration. All of these things lower the heavy metals, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other chemicals that would otherwise be in toxic levels in the water, because humans shit and leave some vile stuff as wastewater. When the water is cleaned up, that is, much better than it was, it is discharged as effluent into a stream system. The stream and surrounding land slowly filter the effluent and toxin levels as the system moves further downslope. Now, other systems downstream take that water that was effluent, and produce tap water out of it using another treatment system. The water, once effluent, now cleaner, is filtrated, clorinated, and made safe enough for you to boil your ramen noodles in while fapping to 4chan.
Now, these systems don't always work perfectly. And the output levels aren't always safe for humans, much less other stream organisms. Enter the science of stream biomonitoring, where organisms are used as a level of the water quality in a stream system. You can use fish to do this, and many consulting firms or municipalities do, but more regularly, benthic (bottom dwelling) macroinvertebrates such as aquatic insects are used. There are very many species of insects that are aquatic during some stage of their lifecycle, and these species are adapted for different levels of water quality. Using multimetric analysis, we can approximate the water quality of a stream over time by sampling and identifying stream macroinvertebrates.
Now, the Genus Cheumatopsyche is one of the most common genera of caddisflies in streams, and I'm not just talking here, I mean everywhere, all over the world. It is one of the most ubiquitous groups of stream insects there is, especially in the united states, and especially in degraded water conditions. Unfortunatly, the larvae for this region of the world are very difficult to separate to species, and these species vary greatly in their tolerances of water quality conditions. So, we have the most common group, vary greatly in water quality conditions but haven't been diagnosed to species level in a way that a biomonitoring professional can use.
All of what I am saying comes down to this: while you are sitting on your retarded ass blowing your mind, I'm making research happen that makes sure your water is okay for you to drink so you don't die some morning of lead poisoning.
So go fuck yourself, get high, and thank bob there are people like me that have half a brain and give a shit or your ass would be fucked.
First off, I propose that you would be equally fucked if there weren't people like me.
Secondly, a species doesn't become a species until it can be identified as such. Doesn't that basically mean that new species are made by discovering them?
No, if there were less people like you, more active socially conscious people in the world, I'd have a hell of a lot more to do because people would want to see more work done. Which is fine because I love it.
Species are new to the world when they are described and named, they are new to science (reference the science news thread where I've talked about this very subject). I've also talked in other spaces about what a species is, how it is defined. I don't feel the need to repeat here for the convenience of some stupid troll.
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 03:21:42 AM
No, if there were less people like you, more active socially conscious people in the world, I'd have a hell of a lot more to do because people would want to see more work done. Which is fine because I love it.
Species are new to the world when they are described and named, they are new to science (reference the science news thread where I've talked about this very subject). I've also talked in other spaces about what a species is, how it is defined. I don't feel the need to repeat here for the convenience of some stupid troll.
Do you have any idea how socially conscious I am? No? Figured as much. So please don't knock on my methods because you're not familiar with them, and I won't knock on yours.
And on the second part, well, I suppose if you believe I am nothing more than a troll, you are right not to do so within your limited view of the world.
Quote from: Janvier on September 13, 2008, 03:44:53 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 03:21:42 AM
No, if there were less people like you, more active socially conscious people in the world, I'd have a hell of a lot more to do because people would want to see more work done. Which is fine because I love it.
Species are new to the world when they are described and named, they are new to science (reference the science news thread where I've talked about this very subject). I've also talked in other spaces about what a species is, how it is defined. I don't feel the need to repeat here for the convenience of some stupid troll.
Do you have any idea how socially conscious I am? No? Figured as much. So please don't knock on my methods because you're not familiar with them, and I won't knock on yours.
And on the second part, well, I suppose if you believe I am nothing more than a troll, you are right not to do so within your limited view of the world.
You haven't given me any reason to believe that you aren't a troll, and even if you /aren't/, you've done nothing but disrespect everybody here and spew innane, banal overdone bullshit that stopped being interesting or amusing decades ago. I'm more than familiar with your methods as well as how full of shit everyone who uses them is.
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 04:55:48 AM
Quote from: Janvier on September 13, 2008, 03:44:53 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 03:21:42 AM
No, if there were less people like you, more active socially conscious people in the world, I'd have a hell of a lot more to do because people would want to see more work done. Which is fine because I love it.
Species are new to the world when they are described and named, they are new to science (reference the science news thread where I've talked about this very subject). I've also talked in other spaces about what a species is, how it is defined. I don't feel the need to repeat here for the convenience of some stupid troll.
Do you have any idea how socially conscious I am? No? Figured as much. So please don't knock on my methods because you're not familiar with them, and I won't knock on yours.
And on the second part, well, I suppose if you believe I am nothing more than a troll, you are right not to do so within your limited view of the world.
You haven't given me any reason to believe that you aren't a troll, and even if you /aren't/, you've done nothing but disrespect everybody here and spew inane, banal overdone bullshit that stopped being interesting or amusing decades ago. I'm more than familiar with your methods as well as how full of shit everyone who uses them is.
You aren't familiar with my methods, otherwise I wouldn't have regarded you as lowly. You know jack shit about philosophy.
Quote from: Janvier on September 13, 2008, 05:38:58 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 04:55:48 AM
Quote from: Janvier on September 13, 2008, 03:44:53 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 03:21:42 AM
No, if there were less people like you, more active socially conscious people in the world, I'd have a hell of a lot more to do because people would want to see more work done. Which is fine because I love it.
Species are new to the world when they are described and named, they are new to science (reference the science news thread where I've talked about this very subject). I've also talked in other spaces about what a species is, how it is defined. I don't feel the need to repeat here for the convenience of some stupid troll.
Do you have any idea how socially conscious I am? No? Figured as much. So please don't knock on my methods because you're not familiar with them, and I won't knock on yours.
And on the second part, well, I suppose if you believe I am nothing more than a troll, you are right not to do so within your limited view of the world.
You haven't given me any reason to believe that you aren't a troll, and even if you /aren't/, you've done nothing but disrespect everybody here and spew inane, banal overdone bullshit that stopped being interesting or amusing decades ago. I'm more than familiar with your methods as well as how full of shit everyone who uses them is.
You aren't familiar with my methods, otherwise I wouldn't have regarded you as lowly. You know jack shit about philosophy.
From what I can see of all these people here who /are/ familiar with philosophy and who I trust to be at least consistent and honest about that sort of thing, mostly because they have big egos, like myself, and want everyone to know just how smart they are, you don't know jack shit either. At least I know some science, enough to be interesting.
You, on the other hand, are consistently spewing stupid bullshit. And *shrug* on this forum I don't waste my time caring about the opinions of those who have nothing intelligent to say. I'm just poking you with a stick now, to see how you react.
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 05:33:02 PM
Quote from: Janvier on September 13, 2008, 05:38:58 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 04:55:48 AM
Quote from: Janvier on September 13, 2008, 03:44:53 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 03:21:42 AM
No, if there were less people like you, more active socially conscious people in the world, I'd have a hell of a lot more to do because people would want to see more work done. Which is fine because I love it.
Species are new to the world when they are described and named, they are new to science (reference the science news thread where I've talked about this very subject). I've also talked in other spaces about what a species is, how it is defined. I don't feel the need to repeat here for the convenience of some stupid troll.
Do you have any idea how socially conscious I am? No? Figured as much. So please don't knock on my methods because you're not familiar with them, and I won't knock on yours.
And on the second part, well, I suppose if you believe I am nothing more than a troll, you are right not to do so within your limited view of the world.
You haven't given me any reason to believe that you aren't a troll, and even if you /aren't/, you've done nothing but disrespect everybody here and spew inane, banal overdone bullshit that stopped being interesting or amusing decades ago. I'm more than familiar with your methods as well as how full of shit everyone who uses them is.
You aren't familiar with my methods, otherwise I wouldn't have regarded you as lowly. You know jack shit about philosophy.
From what I can see of all these people here who /are/ familiar with philosophy and who I trust to be at least consistent and honest about that sort of thing, mostly because they have big egos, like myself, and want everyone to know just how smart they are, you don't know jack shit either. At least I know some science, enough to be interesting.
You, on the other hand, are consistently spewing stupid bullshit. And *shrug* on this forum I don't waste my time caring about the opinions of those who have nothing intelligent to say. I'm just poking you with a stick now, to see how you react.
How does one determine proficiency in philosophy? By debate. By interaction. Not by referring to authority.
I certainly enjoyed that last nuance you added... My reaction to being poked has remained fairly constant over time: a combination of amusement and interest. I'm always waiting for a challenger, perhaps someone of the Sri Siyadasti school of logic, who could disprove my beliefs, but I am yet to encounter my peer.
Quote from: Janvier on September 14, 2008, 11:23:21 PM
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 05:33:02 PM
Quote from: Janvier on September 13, 2008, 05:38:58 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 04:55:48 AM
Quote from: Janvier on September 13, 2008, 03:44:53 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 13, 2008, 03:21:42 AM
No, if there were less people like you, more active socially conscious people in the world, I'd have a hell of a lot more to do because people would want to see more work done. Which is fine because I love it.
Species are new to the world when they are described and named, they are new to science (reference the science news thread where I've talked about this very subject). I've also talked in other spaces about what a species is, how it is defined. I don't feel the need to repeat here for the convenience of some stupid troll.
Do you have any idea how socially conscious I am? No? Figured as much. So please don't knock on my methods because you're not familiar with them, and I won't knock on yours.
And on the second part, well, I suppose if you believe I am nothing more than a troll, you are right not to do so within your limited view of the world.
You haven't given me any reason to believe that you aren't a troll, and even if you /aren't/, you've done nothing but disrespect everybody here and spew inane, banal overdone bullshit that stopped being interesting or amusing decades ago. I'm more than familiar with your methods as well as how full of shit everyone who uses them is.
You aren't familiar with my methods, otherwise I wouldn't have regarded you as lowly. You know jack shit about philosophy.
From what I can see of all these people here who /are/ familiar with philosophy and who I trust to be at least consistent and honest about that sort of thing, mostly because they have big egos, like myself, and want everyone to know just how smart they are, you don't know jack shit either. At least I know some science, enough to be interesting.
You, on the other hand, are consistently spewing stupid bullshit. And *shrug* on this forum I don't waste my time caring about the opinions of those who have nothing intelligent to say. I'm just poking you with a stick now, to see how you react.
How does one determine proficiency in philosophy? By debate. By interaction. Not by referring to authority.
I certainly enjoyed that last nuance you added... My reaction to being poked has remained fairly constant over time: a combination of amusement and interest. I'm always waiting for a challenger, perhaps someone of the Sri Siyadasti school of logic, who could disprove my beliefs, but I am yet to encounter my peer.
No, fuck that. I'm okay with trolling a troll. Besides, by your 'debate' and interaction, you have shown yourself to have little proficiency. Furthermore, you seem to pose yourself as an authority without actually backing it up with any interesting shit, therefore I will continue to not take you seriously.
Also, funny, a n00b can quote the pd. Yeah, like THAT hasn't been done. :lulz:
Oh, btw, its Syadasti, no 'i' between the 's' and 'y'.
Quote from: Janvier on September 14, 2008, 11:23:21 PM
I am yet to encounter my peer.
Try her:
(http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6900/simpsonscrazycatladyxr1.jpg)
Well, this topic WAS interesting :x
Kai I'd love to see how you pull your book(s) off, I've been thinking of making one.
I'm working on it. Been staring through an old crappy scope making pictures of larval setaetion patterns.
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e168/ZLB/IMG_0512.jpg)
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e168/ZLB/IMG_0513.jpg)
Pictures of my "biospellbook".
NEEDS MOAR STUFFED ALLIGATOR MAGIC
Every magician has a stuffed alligator hanging from the ceiling! Some hypothesize that it is, in fact, one stuffed alligator being hung from multiple ceilings.
Quote from: GA on September 19, 2008, 05:11:41 PM
Every magician has a stuffed alligator hanging from the ceiling! Some hypothesize that it is, in fact, one stuffed alligator being hung from multiple ceilings.
I'm not a magician. I don't do party tricks. I'm a bio-mage. We don't hold with those silly stereotypes.
Quote from: Kai on September 20, 2008, 01:35:47 AM
Quote from: GA on September 19, 2008, 05:11:41 PM
Every magician has a stuffed alligator hanging from the ceiling! Some hypothesize that it is, in fact, one stuffed alligator being hung from multiple ceilings.
I'm not a magician. I don't do party tricks. I'm a bio-mage. We don't hold with those silly stereotypes.
Not even hats and wands? :cry:
Quote from: Cainad on September 20, 2008, 01:41:36 AM
Quote from: Kai on September 20, 2008, 01:35:47 AM
Quote from: GA on September 19, 2008, 05:11:41 PM
Every magician has a stuffed alligator hanging from the ceiling! Some hypothesize that it is, in fact, one stuffed alligator being hung from multiple ceilings.
I'm not a magician. I don't do party tricks. I'm a bio-mage. We don't hold with those silly stereotypes.
Not even hats and wands? :cry:
Wands are for SPAGS.
wow, i totally missed that short derail .. "title of most infuriating Dutchie" lol, what an idiot.
well, after the past few Dutch to come along this board, i don't doubt you all think we're a bunch of spaced out potsmoking hippies without any proper manners whatsoever.
sorry about that.
Quote from: triple zero on October 07, 2008, 04:46:33 PM
i don't doubt you all think we're a bunch of spaced out potsmoking hippies without any proper manners whatsoever.
:lulz:
That is not at all true 000... you have manners. :wink:
An International Relations spellbook would be total crap.
Quote from: Ratatosk on October 07, 2008, 08:53:30 PMQuote from: triple zero on October 07, 2008, 04:46:33 PMi don't doubt you all think we're a bunch of spaced out potsmoking hippies without any proper manners whatsoever.
:lulz:
That is not at all true 000... you have manners. :wink:
to be fair btw, there's at least two other Dutch on this board that also have manners. So that kind of evens the score to three versus three, which is the same ratio as you american spags have, being lots versus lots.
Only the Scottish consistently (and traditionally!) manage to steer clear of this wishy-washy spaggis*.
* ground spag entrails with oatmeal served in a traffic cone.
Quote from: triple zero on September 01, 2008, 07:17:17 PM
Modern Spellbooks
http://davidseah.com/blog/comments/modern-spellbooks/
David Seah writes about how hand-written notebooks about computer programming languages are in fact a lot like spellbooks filled with incantations.
(The difference being that if you follow the incantation step by step, you will get a 100% success rate, which might make these things even better than actual spellbooks ;-) )
...hmm
from a 'human intellect' perspective
maybe that means computers are just really gullible
Quote from: LHX on October 11, 2008, 07:34:50 PM
...hmm
from a 'human intellect' perspective
maybe that means computers are just really gullible
well, you know just as well as I do that programming computers is basically like writing a cooking book for autistic retards.
Quote from: triple zero on October 12, 2008, 09:28:35 PM
Quote from: LHX on October 11, 2008, 07:34:50 PM
...hmm
from a 'human intellect' perspective
maybe that means computers are just really gullible
well, you know just as well as I do that programming computers is basically like writing a cooking book for autistic retards.
I've noticed that, in my Java education. Computers are like some sort of stupidity elemental.
Garbage In, Garbage Out.
Quote from: Cain on October 08, 2008, 01:50:05 PM
An International Relations spellbook would be total crap.
I am going to put this to the test, starting this weekend.
Henry Kissinger has a mountain of skulls, that has to count for something.
This reminds me of a short story by Cory Doctorow (you know him as the crazy copyleft guy) in which the enlightened Chinese government left out "phonebooks" for Americans, the USA being even more 1984-ish in the story. The "phonebooks" contained "recipes", basically typed-out pieces of code that allowed circumvention of various fascist devices. It does seem a lot like a spellbook.
Things like "23 things to do while you're bored" and the thing about making everybody's day a little weirder from Intermittens seem like spellbooks too, but memetic. Like a list of psychic attack spells. And then you leave them out...
Quote from: The Fundamentalist on January 10, 2010, 04:29:55 AM
This reminds me of a short story by Cory Doctorow (you know him as the crazy copyleft guy) in which the enlightened Chinese government left out "phonebooks" for Americans, the USA being even more 1984-ish in the story. The "phonebooks" contained "recipes", basically typed-out pieces of code that allowed circumvention of various fascist devices. It does seem a lot like a spellbook.
Things like "23 things to do while you're bored" and the thing about making everybody's day a little weirder from Intermittens seem like spellbooks too, but memetic. Like a list of psychic attack spells. And then you leave them out...
The crazy copyleft guy, and that one guy who writes ALL THOSE AWESOME FUCKING NOVELS.
C'mon.
But I like the bit about modern spellbooks.
Quote from: The Fundamentalist on January 10, 2010, 04:29:55 AM
This reminds me of a short story by Cory Doctorow (you know him as the crazy copyleft guy) in which the enlightened Chinese government left out "phonebooks" for Americans, the USA being even more 1984-ish in the story. The "phonebooks" contained "recipes", basically typed-out pieces of code that allowed circumvention of various fascist devices. It does seem a lot like a spellbook.
Things like "23 things to do while you're bored" and the thing about making everybody's day a little weirder from Intermittens seem like spellbooks too, but memetic. Like a list of psychic attack spells. And then you leave them out...
I don't know if there's a difference.
ETA: I love tfy,s publications for that very reason. They provoke a nice change in consciousness especially out of blue for some folks like the 23 things to do, pamphlets.