davidbrin

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

“Nepotistically Trained Generative-AI Models Collapse” asserts that AI (artificial intelligence) image synthesis programs, when retrained on even small amounts of their own creation, produce highly distorted images https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.12202

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

As a former solar astronomer… (well, I worked for them 3 summers, at Caltech)… and as author of SUNDIVER, I highly recommend this gorgeous episode of ASTRUM, giving breathtaking views of our star across the spectrum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EbuAEagQj4

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

Weekend posting is about news from and about... SPACE! Plus the Fermi Paradox and... okay, sure... UFOs.

https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2023/11/space-resources-and-advances-plus.html

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

One of my biggest failures! In 2019 I took 6 monthsto compile new tactics for politicians etc on the sane/Union/blue side of the 250 year U.S. Civil War. >100 ways to change a frozen political landscape. Result? Crickets. Alas.

http://www.davidbrin.com/polemicaljudo.html

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

Such a lovely person. All generosity and zero spite. They both taught Sunday School for more than EIGHTY years, emphasizing the generous and kind beatitudes and not the sick, wrathful/gloating stuff pushed by hate-mongers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tituNJLI35I

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

Here's a nicely documented comparison of lawfully proved corruption in republican vs. democratic administrations from Kennedy to Obama (28 years for each party). Notice: the huge, glaring difference does not even include the tsunami under Trump!

https://rantt.com/gop-admins-had-38-times-more-criminal-convictions-than-democrats-1961-2016

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

Today: get the Brightness Reef e-book for $1.99 almost everywhere. But it seems that INFINISTY'S SHORE is also $1.99 today on Barnes&Noble. And HEAVEN'S REACH will be ALL next week from Monday to Friday.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brightness-reef-david-brin/1100620029?ean=9781504064682

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

This is one of our projects at NASA's Innovative & Advanced Concepts program - (NIAC).

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2023/11/nearterm-10x-aerogel-fission-fragment-rocket-will-lead-to-interstellar-capability.html

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

With the passing of Greg Bear and the sad debilitation of most other Killer Bs, I am reminded that age comes stalking us all. But it hurts - still - to get news about the passing of Michael Bishop, one of the finest writers I ever knew.

https://locusmag.com/2023/11/michael-bishop-1945-2023/

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

Watch. Mike Johnson's 'reasonable' proposal to prevent a govt shut down will be to grab funds from just one... disliked... govt agency. The IRS. Eviscerating the restored ability of the IRS to audit rich cheaters is THE top priority of today's mafiosi GOP. Higher even that helping Putin and gambling czars. Nothing is more urgent to them.

https://news.google.com/articles/CCAiC181Yi1TT25UU2Q0mAEB?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

I just finished re-editing EARTH after 30 years. (Dang that young feller could write...) And today's midweek posting offers a couple of snippet-extracts. I'll be doing more. Don't worry about 'spoilers'! In this novel, there's (almost) no such thing!

https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2023/11/more-extracts-from-earth.html

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

I assert “Machines of Loving Grace” by Richard Brautigan may be the most optimistic writing of any kind. Then a deep dive into AI concepts that (alas) are missed by the bona-fide geniuses who are bringing this new age upon us, at warp speed.
https://re-creative.ca/machines-of-loving-grace/

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

Mark Rayner's lovely review of EARTH is very flattering. As I re-edit for the 2024 revival, far more than the prediction successes, I am enjoying the characters and adventure. Can't wait to see how it ends! ;-)

https://markarayner.com/earth-by-david-brin/

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

Polls schmolls. 1/2 of liberals have a syndrome the Mad Right utterly relies-on. Many of YOU feel embarrassed ever to express political loyalty. Shrugs of "DNC Republicans-lite." Never a nod to miracle workers who passed those great 2021-2 bills.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/05/politics/trump-leads-biden-in-key-swing-states-new-polling-finds/index.html

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

Today only, the Uplift Storm Trilogy (e-book/kindle) is on sale - $3.99 - for all three novels! Brightness Reef, Infinity's Shore & Heaven's Reach. Two Hugo nominees and some of my best adventure/galactic writing! TRY to put it down! Also on Amazon.
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-uplift-storm-trilogy

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

They demand 1 thing- for aiding Ukraine, or Israel, to fund the US government or pay our bills - defund the IRS. The GOP masters are in panic lest skilled accountants uncover trillions in cheats that could balance the budget and lower taxes for citizens.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/11/02/house-israel-aid-mcconnell-schumer-biden/71393928007/

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

Anyone looking for a topic for NaNoWriMo should glance at my YA series! I HOPE TO PICK ONE TO PUBLISH! The. "Out of Time" (or "Yanked!") series: Onlyteens can teleport through time and space! Dollops of fun, adventure & optimism for young adults. http://www.davidbrin.com/outoftime.html

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

NASA heads ask: have any scifi authors used technologies in their work that were first explored by NASA's Innovative &Advanced Concepts (NIAC)? Any of YOU colleagues? Skim amazing, innovative projects I've helped to critique across the last 12 years, at: www.nasa.gov/niac

davidbrin, 6 months ago to random

It's sinking in to oligarch owners of the GOP that a re-invigorated IRS will uncover decades of hidden tax avoidance and things far, far worse. Hence THE objective of the last threatened shut-down and the next and next will be to slash that IRS budget.

https://news.google.com/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9idXNpbmVzcy8yMDIzLzEwLzMwL2hvdXNlLWdvcC1kZW1hbmRzLWlycy1idWRnZXQtY3V0cy1wYXktaXNyYWVsLWFpZC_SAQA?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen

davidbrin, 7 months ago to random

LIGO my ego! Humanity’s gravity wave detectors are so precise they parse tiny differences of arrival between g-waves emitted by a neutron star collision 130 million light years away and the subsequent (by just a 2.7 second delay!) arrival of gamma rays.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/light-gravitational-waves-arrive/

davidbrin, 7 months ago to random

Here's the most sapient and clear-eyed political interview I have seen in a couple of years. Incredibly insightful and well-spoken. Of course one must read the book to get details on the '5 things'... or else just study 1933 Germany.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA0zAGGOfCg

davidbrin, 7 months ago to random

There's a deep-cult -underlying left AND right- to AMPUTATE our methods down to just the few they prescribe. Here's a dissection of this shared, sanctimoniously-oversimplifying, mania. So did tax-funded science play a big role in "Making America Great?"

https://davidbrin.wordpress.com/2023/10/05/does-government-funded-science-play-a-role-in-stimulating-innovation/

davidbrin, 7 months ago to random

I am told that my second novel STARTIDE RISING - which kind of launched my career and won all the awards - dolphins in spaces - will have its e-version available tomorrow (Friday) on most sites for $1.99.

http://www.davidbrin.com/startiderising.html

davidbrin, 7 months ago to random

Sorta the topic of my book VIVID TOMORROWS: Science Fiction and Hollywood! (In fact I'll be at Caltech November 8 for the world premiere of my play!)

https://caltech.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eaa490ec46ef24d22d04308c6&id=5e7d8b010c&e=b5ee46d5ee

davidbrin, 7 months ago to random

Utterly alluring art-deco portrayals, via AI, of an alternate Star Trek if done in the 1920s silent era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0r7BsDFhVc