h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Albaus,

Great posting

Hi MfM,

You asked me:
"Fathom,
You recently posted this..."I enjoyed 'Independence Day' but the chances of infecting a computer network on Earth with a virus built on a Mac are pretty slim, never mind a network belonging to an alien intelligence"

You don't actually believe that these two things are NOT possible, do you? What do you think you are doing NOW? The semantics in your posts, as in everyones posts, are being analysed and offer an insight into "human" expectations. It is the implementation of the expectations [the future] which is the role we give to Governments."

It may be possible to write a virus on a Mac which will infect computers on another platform (Unix, Windows etc) but I expect it to be a bit of a challenge. Especially to make it uploadable from the Mac directly. To do so with a computer network created by an alien civilisation which would use God knows what transfer protocols, data bus voltages, clock speeds and of course their own ASCII (Alien Standard Computer Information Interchange) code set, has got to be impossible without years of research. So indeed, I don't believe one of those things is remotely possible.


"The semantics in your posts, as in everyones posts, are being analysed and offer an insight into "human" expectations."

Analysed? By whom? Except by everyone else who reads this of course, but you didn't mean 'analysed' in such an innocent sense did you?

I'm not sure the implementation of my expectations is a role I would trust to anyone but me.

And yes, as P-c asks, what is "Truth"? And from me; how - and what - does it "Rule"?

F

Honest, MfM, I'm not being deliberately dense here, but when I say "...you leave me no alternative - what is Truth?", and you reply "the Truth is no alternative!", I cannot match the apparent answer to the question. Help, please?

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

Fathom,

"....has got to be impossible without years of research." This may be the case. What difference does a year or two make.

"So indeed, I don't believe one of those things is remotely possible."...which one of those things do you not believe is remotely possible?
And how about, rather than viruses, we were talking about retro-virals instead? That is a whole new, different ball game.

"Analysed? By whom?" .....Not by whom but by what?....By computer!
which should ensure your peace of mind regarding "I'm not sure the implementation of my expectations is a role I would trust to anyone but me." Very paradoxical.

"but you didn't mean 'analysed' in such an innocent sense did you?" As innocent as a good mother looks after her child.

And Truth should rule Life and so on to the Truth about Life, the Universe, Everything. H2g2's raison detre .....our journey back along the DNA trail. The subject IS, after all, "Stopping the spin"

There are many truths, but there is no Truth. I'm inclined to run fast and far from anyone who claims to have Truth.

We all spin... some just do it more consciously than others.

Pc,
I don't know that we will get it any better than we believe. The Truth is just a Belief? Every day I learn more....about myself and what I believe.

The context in which I said that infecting an alien computer with a virus was impossible without years of research was that of the movie "Independence Day". In that context the clock was ticking and years of research was not an option.

If a simple virus is impossible a retro-virus is hardly going to be any easier. ( A retro-virus attacks the anti-virus software.)

So, in an astonishing feat of artificial intelligence the 'semantics' (presumably the content and style) of all my posts is being analysed to determine my expectations. I'm not sure that should ensure anybody's peace of mind.

F

Spin is a fundamental property of the universe.

Noggin

Hi Blatherskite

Do you also run from people who've tripped over the odd truth here and there, but not always been able to maintain a grip on it?

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

Noggin is hereby awarded first prize for Topical Quip of the Year!

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

I would, if they were claiming that the little truth they had was The Ultimate Truth or whatever. There are many Truthes, surely.

Every truth is the ultimate truth, for a given value of truth.

One truth discovered is a joy to behold.
Two truths discovered marks a red letter day.
Three truths discovered is the basis for founding a religion.
Four or more truths discovered, either points to you discovering a conspiracy or Nirvana.

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

Hi, Math,

"Four or more truths discovered, either points to you discovering a conspiracy or Nirvana."...... and accepting both, when you have Belief, will lead you through Nirvana?
Paranoid, schizophrenic, conspiracy theorists will step back in Shock and Awe.

...while others may just scratch their heads and wonder what it all means.

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

MaW,
Good Morning,

Can we see, as an equitable accomodation, that Truthes are merely satellites of Truth.

"Opportunity but no capability does not seem to hold anyone back." [ This appears to be a considered consensus of opinion, explored via another thread here on h2g2]. It is hard to dismiss as being untrue.

So is it necessary/desirable, in order to stop the spin, and maybe go forward back in time, to limit/allow/encourage/support/promote/present/limit/allow/....opportunity to those with capability.

"....go forward back in time" requires that you believe in a paricular, paradoxical Truth...... That, in the beginning, everything was perfect/heavenly.

"...while others may just scratch their heads and wonder what it all means."
Those who scratch their heads and wonder what it all means, are few and far between. There is nothing new in that, Pc, which is why things are, as they are.
However, those who have wondered what it all means and have embraced the mythical confrontational approach are faced with its mystical, benevolent alter ego..... Conscience.

Who do you think are scratching their heads, now?
Why are they scratching their heads, now?
Are you scratching your head, Pc, or are your software architect aspirations being awakened and nurtured through your search for what we can know/believe as being a/the Truth ? If you care, are you winning?
The true test of Belief is surely whether you live it. And for that you need to GIVE whatever help you can.

And now for something completely different....Does anyone have Robert Redford's e-mail address. I would like to share what I know with him and then the whole world can know what we know.

"No part is too great or too small, no one is too old or too young to do something." and Mr Redford makes exceedingly good films.and everything goes with the Flow.

Yes. I haven't a clue what you're going on about, MfM. if that seems either harsh or impolite; neither is intended. I just can't understand where you're coming from enough to maintain a conversation.

Now I'm getting just a little bit concerned ... or are you a friend of Justin the Preacher...?

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

Sorry, I was away in sunny Spain for a week, but I'm back now to lurk with impudence and imprudence . MfM brings up the subject of God as the only Truth, and a Battle between Good and Evil, among other things.
Now, I know that nearly all of you were around when (sorry to bring this up) JtP was. We all know he got rattled and went away to the great electromagnet in the sky for angry and dead users. Perhaps parallells between JtP and MfM throw themselves out at you like a coupla God-obssessed Truth and Righteous preachers in a room full mainly of agnosti/a theists and liberal Christians. Maybe... he has Returned...
"Justin the Preacher Two: Preachers are from Mars, Humans are from Venus"

Oh, and I vaguely remember a conversation with MAL3 to the effect that he was coming back the same day or the day before or after I came back from holiday. Or something. In case you cared why he hasn't been posting after his initialisation.
(We oughta think of an amusing hazing ceremony for the FFFF that actually involves mocking their beliefs or something, because currently we don't... oh. I see.)

Fnord Prefix, welcome back,
On a purely personal note, this Martian likes Venusians.

I have a correction to make to post 3615 in which I was asking for the e-mail address of Robert Redford. The name Kevin Costner should be substituted as it is his interpretation of Life in "Open Range" which I am sure he can extrapolate into a "21st century Life" classic, embracing every aspect of present and future thinking modes.

And did you mean to write....Humanes are from Venus. Humane...noun, feminine of human

In what language does an -e at the end switch a word's gender?