davidbrin

davidbrin, 8 months ago to random

Doug Rushkoff's TEAM HUMAN podcast dives into an hour with me, discussing a vital Big Picture Question - what method might stand a chance of offering us that 'soft landing' of synergy with AI? Because we've already proved that it works with humans.

https://www.teamhuman.fm/episodes/256-david-brin

davidbrin, 8 months ago to random

davidbrin, 8 months ago to random

Anderson Cooper re Trump's howler CNN Town Hall: "There's a steep learning curve in figuring out how to deal with a candidate who is completely willing to lie and lies repeatedly and often." Sir, there's no 'curve' at all. Here are some things that'd work. http://www.davidbrin.com/polemicaljudo.htm

davidbrin, 8 months ago to random

As a lover of grand or subtle thought experiments, your duty is to Pay It Forward! To help new generations step back from flashy flicks & shoot-em games, to share our love of the literary genre that explores concepts far more deeply! See how!

https://davidbrin.wordpress.com/2023/08/30/an-open-challenge-to-sf-lit-fandom/

davidbrin, 8 months ago to random

New models suggest a smaller PlanetX, orbiting closer in. This world, frozen and dark, would be no greater than 3 times the mass of Earth, and orbiting at high inclination no farther than 500 au, near the Sun’s gravity-lens zone described in EXISTENCE.
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-think-an-earth-like-planet-may-be-hiding-in-our-solar-system

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

Relabeled KGB launders pro-Kremlin propaganda egging US fools to wage all-out war vs ALL fact using professions, from science, teaching, medicine, law and civil. service to the FBI/Intel/Military officer heroes who won the Cold War and War on terror.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/25/politics/us-intel-russia-propaganda/index.html

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

A lesson for us all from a wonderful example of what humanity can be like. And I miss my friend.

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

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

My weekend post is about a fellow whose lifelong endeavor has been undermining the West, suborning American elements and now - just to survive. Indeed, his coming panic-spasms will endanger us all, unless some care is taken to understand - and counter - this classic menace.

https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2023/08/putins-real-plan.html

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

Makes me sad. Oh they're both still on the planet. Larry is still cogent and writing. I speak with Vernor about weekly. And miss Greg Bear. Anyhow this is a great old interview with two of the liveliest minds and that is timeless. This is with posterity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-PF32jdqkw

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

Ask your MAGA: "if one party is ALWAYS more fiscally responsible re debt and deficits, always has better economic outcomes, improves defense readiness and relations with allies and supports science and tech advancement, should I support it?"

Some will suspect a trap. It is.

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

The latest... credible since it is from ISW... is that the plane with Prigozhin and his top commanders was shot down by two S-300 missiles, controlled by the Muscovite Ministry of Defense. The parallel may be the Night of the Long Knives. (Look it up.)
https://www.iswresearch.org/search/label/Ukraine

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

In this reading from EXISTENCE, I dive into one of the most compellingly destructive fascinations of so many human beings. One that reeks of futility in a species that can accomplish so much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxO37yTmqNw

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

WindWings sails are made like windmill blades, but operate as rigid sails on a few freighters, to cut fuel use . I was an investor in an earlier (now alas defunct) avatar of this company. I hope this version does good for the world. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-66543643

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

This BigThink does terrific illustrating the 'distance ladder' method to measure the 'Hubble Constant' expansion of the universe, now checked by the Webb Telescope. It differs from one got from the microwave background, a conundrum!

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/jwst-confirms-worsens-hubble-tension/

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

While I have electricity & internet (the Eye of Hilary hits in 4 hours) here's an bit for those who saw and loved (I did, with minor quibbles) OPPENHEIMER. CBS 1965 interview with Oppenheimer. Ten years after Trinity. 20 before Gorbachev.

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

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

As we batten down our hatches and clear drainages for Hurricane Hilary, I post my weekend blog for you all. It's about... Spaaaaace! And yeah, sure, also bloody elf-ufos. I hope the power-outages are brief, so I can view the outraged responses!

https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2023/08/more-space-updates-and-yeah-ongoing-ufo.html

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

See cool sci-spec podcasts by Isaac Arthur. e.g. his episode re mining comets for ice = fuel/water/air >>more than the lunar poles! At 9:30 he digs the dust-crust model of comets, from my 1981 doctoral dissertation &portrayed in Heart of the Comet!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqc_XM4I-jo

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

"No-Labels" is another Nader-Stein-treason scam foisted very major U.S. election, luring frippy preeners to betray the only coalition that has a chance to save the nation and world. Are YOU tempted by this "No-Labels" crock of massturbatory agitprop?
https://www.forourrepublic.us/petition

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

The foxite response to perfectly-proved ocean acidification killing the seas? They never try to deny it's real, or the cause. Attack the 'acid scare term!' The ocean is/should be alkaline (tho less every day, hence quite correct 'acidify.') OK then, how about DEBASING the ocean?

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

Apply accountability on MAGAs by focusing on particular details, one at a time, with cash $$ at stake. And hence, shall we bet over the coming hurricane season? "Record Gulf of Mexico water temperatures raise concerns as peak hurricane season nears"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/08/15/record-warm-gulf-louisiana-texas/

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

I've explored concepts of 'alien' in astronomy, SETI, NASA &scifi) more than anyone on Earth. I depict many kinds of 'contact,' including most likely in the asteroid belt. Show me something - anything - unambiguous and clearly not of human origin, I'll be all over it! Till then-

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

"Gossip is the nastiest thing routinely done by folks who consider themselves to be Good People."

ALWAYS be suspicious when a gossip says: "Don't tell anyone I said this, but..." Occasionally, there's a good reason.Though USUALLY it's to evade the accountability of inconvenient refutation.

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

Today the whole Uplift Storm Trilogy - combining BRIGHTNESS REEF, INFINITY'S SHORE and HEAVEN'S REACH - is on sale as an e-bundle for $3.99. That's a whole lot of fine, action and thought-packed SF for the price! On Kobo, B&N, Amazon...

Buy here! https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-uplift-storm-trilogy

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

Russia's Luna-25 lander. I'm all-in for TeamEarth. So good luck on this... though nothing else Russian re rockets, for now. And when it comes to the Moon, robots beat boots.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/10/world/russia-luna-25-launch-scn/index.html

davidbrin, 9 months ago to random

Tomorrow Friday the whole Uplift Storm Trilogy - BRIGHTNESS REEF, INFINITY'S SHORE & HEAVEN'S REACH - is on sale as an e-bundle for $3.99. That's a whole lot of fine, action and thought-packed SF for the price! On Kobo, B&B, Amazon... Try this link Friday! https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-uplift-storm-trilogy