I just had the revelation...

Trav · Post by **Trav** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 4:16 pm

That I'm a very uncivilized human being.

I had a few ways of defining it, but I'll just leave it stand at what it is.

What I think I mean, and what you think I mean.. who knows the difference... but;

How civilized are you?

Trav · Post by **Trav** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 4:19 pm

I'm actually completely butt ass naked right now, by the way. Thatcan't be right.

awk-ward! but I figured I had to set the tone

Post by **DerGolgo** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 4:36 pm

I believe the definition of a civilized person is someone who follows inconvenient rules, even when they could get away with breaking them because either no one is watching or no one cares.
Someone who is considerate of others even when no one else is in the picture.

With rules, I don't mean laws, I mean the modes of behaviour that make living alongside one another in society possible.
Not inconveniencing others when it can be avoided, not pilfering the commons. Practicing self-restraint and reflection instead of just giving in to the urge for instant gratification or anger.

I don't think clothes are generally a necessity for civilized behaviour.

To add to the tone, when I got back from my afternoon ride, I took a shower and then did some housework, laundry and dishes, a very civilized thing, but I didn't grab a towel or any clothes in between. Make of that what you will.

Jaeger · Post by **Jaeger** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:29 pm

It's all just a question of how well you can conceal the weird...

--Jaeger

piccini9 · Post by **piccini9** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:44 pm

Underground Terrorist Motorcycle Cult.

That's all I got to say.*

*Oh, plaid boxers.

MagnusTheBuilder · Post by **MagnusTheBuilder** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:28 pm

My body and the world around it is made entirely out of various flavors of salt water taffy.

My life is delicious.

It is dangerous to be out when the bee-pocalypse happens every monday.

When it rains the taffy is washed away and our "souls" (which look and behave surprisingly similar to a gecko in a hamster ball) have sexy make-out parties at the center of the "Pillsbury panopticon" where the winner of the best make out session is crowned "Lord of the Yeast." and will then have his soul inserted manually (rectally) into the "Victory Robot" where they will be tasked with the responsibility of milking the enslaved taffy-cat-people of their precious banana nectar.

With this banana nectar they will produce the taffy that will be used to encase the entire world.

And that is how new life is made.

Wait? What was the question?

Oh, right... civilized. Yeah, fuck that.

I've screamed "FUCK OFF" at a child (who did not belong to me, or anyone I know) in public within the past week.

I'm pretty sure that qualifies as uncivilized.

Zer0 · Post by **Zer0** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:29 pm

Hard to say. Most people who drift away from me over time usually comment to others that I'm crude and annoying, and strangers say I'm standoffish, where actually, I think they're just really uptight.

So maybe some think I am, but I don't.

Unlike you knuckle-walkers, I am wearing pants right now, (though they are the same ones I've worn all week)

So you tell me.

Metalredneck · Post by **Metalredneck** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 3:48 am

I'm up. I'm dressed.

I would classify myself as a polite curmudgeon. Bearing the burdens of socialization & domestication, longing for a small pipe-bomb workshop in the Ozarks...

guitargeek · Post by **guitargeek** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 3:54 am

Trav wrote:I'm actually completely butt ass naked right now

That just proves you're drunker than me.

Sisyphus · Post by **Sisyphus** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 4:44 am

Whilst outside and I have to blow my nose, I just lean over, plug one nostril and blow snot out. I then lean over in the other direction, switch nostrils and repeat.

Underneath all these clothes, I'm naked.

Zim · Post by **Zim** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 5:30 am

You're all a bunch of brutes.

piccini9 · Post by **piccini9** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 5:44 am

Zim wrote:You're all a bunch of brutes.

That's "Boorish Pigheaded Brutes" to you Pal.

Rock · Post by **Rock** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 5:48 am

you all are a bunch of amatures

Jonny · Post by **Jonny** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 6:06 am

That is my life goal.

Jaeger · Post by **Jaeger** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 6:28 am

Zer0 wrote:Hard to say. Most people who drift away from me over time usually comment to others that I'm crude and annoying, and strangers say I'm standoffish, where actually, I think they're just really uptight.

Sounds like a self-solving problem to me.

--Jaeger

rolly · Post by **rolly** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 7:33 am

As I lean toward individualism, I'd say that I'm very civilized. Contrary to popular fantasy, the less civilized the milieu, the less freedom an individual has, by necessity. Hunter-gatherers, nomadic tribes, and other romanticized 'uncivilized' peoples have no tolerance for nonconformists, if you're not working for the good of tribe, or disagree about what that good is, you're threatening it.

piccini9 · Post by **piccini9** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:45 am

Zer0 · Post by **Zer0** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 1:50 pm

Jaeger wrote:
Zer0 wrote:Hard to say. Most people who drift away from me over time usually comment to others that I'm crude and annoying, and strangers say I'm standoffish, where actually, I think they're just really uptight.
Sounds like a self-solving problem to me.

I never insinuated there were any problems

Jaeger · Post by **Jaeger** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 4:11 pm

Zer0 wrote:
Jaeger wrote:
Zer0 wrote:Hard to say. Most people who drift away from me over time usually comment to others that I'm crude and annoying, and strangers say I'm standoffish, where actually, I think they're just really uptight.
Sounds like a self-solving problem to me.
I never insinuated there were any problems

Q.E.D.

--Jaeger

Trav · Post by **Trav** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 6:13 pm

So I'll elaborate a little, but first I gotta say I figured I was sharing this with the appropriate audience

I live in a single floor 2 bedroom open floor plan condo sorta thing, and was about to get a shower. In the scatterbrained moment, I decided I needed to go to the garage for a second, and found myself zoning out and relaxing. Much needed on a friday night after the work week. That tends to happen when I go out there, if I feel like I've got time to let it.... Standing there, looking at things, letting the stream of consciousness pull the thoughts along, rather than forcing everything... Then subtle lightning bolt of a break in the vibe. "You're standing in garage, naked. How long have you just been standing in the garage, butt ass naked? What would the neighbors think? What would your mother say?!"

Not that this is such a new paradigm shift or anything, but I found it all so amusing I had to share, since it happened in the moto-den of zen... or something.

Garden of Eden must have been nice... cept there were no cycles!

For a weird segway, after the shower, etc. I went to an art show in Frederick that was actually very impressive, considering my level of expectation. Trippy as all hell. I took some pics on my phone, buy eh. USB-NA (like DNA) sculpture made of usb plugs.. it wasn't all tech themed but I'm really digressing. So after that (my girlfriend's band was one of a host at this event) we ended up at a house party within walking distance.

I found myself making some new aquaintances, most notably this guy in a forest green blazer, who was occasionally teased by his friends for wearing a forest green blazer, to a seemingly desired result.

We got into a conversation, and I'll spare the fine details of how I worked in the fact that I have a pet chameleon, but it had everything to do with the fact that I was double fisting, thanks to the beer of his I had graciously graciously accepted. "Never let go of one branch until you get ahold of the next.." and I explained the chameleon's evolutionary traits. I picked the right conversation topic because this guy lit up, and next thing you know, he's telling me how amazing that guy (the chameleon) is, and how in the future, he's gonna have wheels. That's the only thing he's missing. Fully independent rotating turret eyeballs, split opposable hands, color changing skin, prehensile tail, projectile tongue, and wheels. "the kids of tomorrow... all this technology and knowledge, GMO... man, everything's gonna have wheels! It's gonna be sweet!

He was really excited about this, he explained to me how humans always strive to be better, and how we will eventually engineer our replacements to the point of our own obsolescence. I couldn't spell obsolescence just now without google.. I'm halfway there already...

I asked him why he wasn't afraid of this, which was the obvious and intriguing question to ask. I don't really remember the answer, but it had something to do with the fact that his grandparents have no concept or appreciation of technological development. I countered this with the recent anecdote of my grandfather telling me I needed to see this new 787 airliner Boeing is building; how he would move to Seattle and get a job if he was me, and how I should look it up on the internet.

We discussed that awhile, but I did not dampen his spirit, and it wasn't my intention. It rubbed off on me a little, and maybe that's why I'm typing so much, sharing this. I hope it's not too long-winded. It's interesting, though, that he mentioned how he wished he was younger now, to have more of his life span ahead of him. Quite frankly, if I think about it, I've always wanted to have been born much, much earlier... I don't wish I was 80 right now, though.. and part of me never wants to get old. I'm torn.

This dude mentioned 'the singularity' and it made perfect sense, though I'd never heard of it before. Oh, Jesus is coming back, alright. He's just gonna cost 6 million dollars (70's money, please adjust for inflation).

So yea... Chameleon on wheels, baby. Onward and upward. I shoulda showed him some pics of the chameleon that I have on my 'android smart phone' but I forgot I had it, although I may have even pulled it out to reference for reference at some point. Ah well, that's just amusing.

Cut-off woodland camo BDU shorts, Jolly roger with a top hat t-shirt, and even some socks for this one. Blue boxers with light-blue hearts. It's not that I'm uncivilized, it's just that there are too few people who can discuss and appreciate the idiosyncrasy of it all.

Ohhh. I forgot one of the most pivotal subliminal elements of the initial event; I'd just gotten a hair cut! I get one every 3-4 months these days, whether I feel like I want one or not. See you fuckers at DOOM

Zer0 · Post by **Zer0** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:57 am

Uh, all I have is green tea in my office, where what I really need is coffee. Then maybe would I be able to handle this post. I'm sure it's good though.

Mondays

Trav · Post by **Trav** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 1:38 pm

Yea, I don't know if I could re-read it. Whaaaat a hang-over. I can't fault the inspiration, though. Any time I look back at anything I've written down and actually shared with anybody I usually shudder. I'll opt for getting drunk and peeing in a parking lot any day.

piccini9 · Post by **piccini9** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:25 pm

We will evolve past stairs?

Zer0 · Post by **Zer0** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:52 am

Sisyphus wrote:Whilst outside and I have to blow my nose, I just lean over, plug one nostril and blow snot out. I then lean over in the other direction, switch nostrils and repeat.

Get in line, Bubs; both my boys have that down. Teaching themm was a little messy with the hangers and all, but thhey're good at it now. Ready for another season of shotshots

Rabbit_Fighter · Post by **Rabbit_Fighter** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:24 pm

Crazy man says he's not civilized, but attends art shows.

I miss being young and going to weird parties and having masturbatory intellectual(ish) conversations with people.

problemaddict · Post by **problemaddict** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:36 am

Trav wrote: This dude mentioned 'the singularity' and it made perfect sense, though I'd never heard of it before. Oh, Jesus is coming back, alright. He's just gonna cost 6 million dollars (70's money, please adjust for inflation).

The Singularity, only 35 years to go. "...it will be the most important thing to happen to human beings since the invention of language."

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 99,00.html

Although I heard a comment from a scientist who disagrees w/ Kurzweil, I forget his name, but to paraphrase: The Singularity and A.I. will never work because software sucks!"

rolly · Post by **rolly** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:55 am

The singularity is just the Rapture reimagined by nerds.

Trav · Post by **Trav** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:46 pm

I just thought it was more fun the way I said it!

Zer0 · Post by **Zer0** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:36 pm

rolly wrote:The singularity is just the Rapture reimagined by nerds.

And little do the nerds know that the path to singularity possibly runs through our evolutionary past. Future schmuture

Read below or click here for article plus monkey pic.

Monkey Brain Control: The Future of Robotic Prostheses?By Meredith Melnick Thursday, October 6, 2011

File this under "the future is now:" in a series of experiments at Duke University Medical Center, researchers fitted two monkeys with electrodes in their brains and trained them to move a virtual arm across a computer screen to grab virtual objects and "feel" their different textures — all using only their brains. It's the first demonstration of what the researchers call a brain-machine-brain interface (BMBI).
The potential is obviously enormous. The technology could help people with paralysis control prosthetic limbs just by thinking about it and even experience intuitive, tactile sensations.

"Someday in the near future, quadriplegic patients will take advantage of this technology not only to move their arms and hands and to walk again, but also to sense the texture of objects placed in their hands, or experience the nuances of the terrain on which they stroll with the help of a wearable robotic exoskeleton," said the study's lead researcher, Dr. Miguel Nicolelis, a professor of neurobiology at Duke University Medical Center and co-director of the Duke Center for Neuroengineering.

Over the past few years, Nicolelis has been working on perfecting brain-machine interfaces, devices that allow individuals to, say, move a robotic arm by controlling it with their brain. The problem with these devices, however, is that the flow of information goes in only one direction, from the brain to the machine. Brain-machine interfaces don't deliver feedback from machine to brain — which is what's necessary for that all-important sense of touch.

Enter the BMBI. For the new study, reported Wednesday in Nature, Nicolelis' team implanted two sets of electrodes in monkeys' brains: one in the motor cortex, which controls movement, and another in the somatosensory cortex, which processes the sense of touch.

The electrodes simultaneously stimulated and received neural activity: in the motor cortex, they translated the activity of nearby motor neurons to figure out how the monkey wanted to move the virtual arm; in the somatosensory cortex, the electrodes stimulated neurons to deliver a sensation of texture about the virtual objects the animal was "touching."

This allowed communication from the brain to the computer and back to the brain again, mimicking the natural brain-body feedback loop. The researchers tested the BMBI by presenting the electrode-fitted monkeys with three objects that looked identical on the screen, but "felt" different when they were touched by the virtual limb. The goal was to get the monkeys to touch the object that they sensed was different by moving the virtual arm to it — again, using only their brains.

When they virtually touched the right object, they were rewarded with juice. After a few exploratory attempts, the animals began consistently selecting the target object. Their ability to distinguish texture was proven not to be random — the monkeys got it right even when the position of the identical objects was switched.

Reported ScienceNow:

"It's definitely a milestone in brain-computer interfaces," says neuroscientist Sliman Bensmaia of the University of Chicago, who is developing touch-feedback systems for human prosthetics. Too many of the robotic arms now being developed, even very advanced ones, he says, ignore the importance of touch. "Sensory feedback is critical to doing anything," he says. Even mundane tasks like picking up a cup require a great deal of concentration so the wearer does not drop or crush it.

Nicolelis' next goal is to create a prototype for a brain-controlled robotic exoskeleton in time to debut at the 2014 World Cup in the researcher's native Brazil. A huge soccer fan, Nicolelis' fantasy is to allow a Brazilian paralysis patient to walk onto the field to deliver the opening kick. Stay tuned to see if Nicolelis and his international consortium of research centers can turn science fiction into fact.

Meredith Melnick is a reporter at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @MeredithCM. You can also continue the discussion on TIME's Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.

Find this article at:
http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/06/m ... rostheses/

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/06/m ... z1a2AWhg00

Trav · Post by **Trav** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 3:16 pm

Now's time for me to make a comment about needing caffeine or something. Can't try that just now.

I'll just say this, though... it's already happening, and it's simply obvious that it's going to continue to further itself. Technology isn't so seamlessly fluid with it's integration in our lives and transparent to the point that we're all just one one big ball of bliss in a stagnant fixture of peace as a result of pure and complete understanding of one another and the universe we inhabit... but I'll be damned if people aren't already giving themselves willingly to the cause! Just look at Facebook/twitter/etc.

Fuck it. I'm feeding into it right now. I'm going back to the garage to forcibly separate the molecular structure of a piece of metal with the latent energy in my body. Ok, ok, you got me. I'll be using a fixture holding another specialized piece of metal that allows me to channel the energy. I might even wear pants.

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I just had the revelation...

I just had the revelation...