Alternative Life - Biota Podcast

I would have passed 'Artificial Life' as a nightmarish concept from a bad SciFi novel. As in: "Now that my minions are emerging from the laboratories, there is nothing that can stop me anymore." Dr. Enzymic burst out in a cackling laughter and with a gasp of fear the gorgeous Georgina grabbed my arm. "Not if I can help it," I shouted. Enzymic even smiled. "Jon Halbard, my once worthy but now so pathetic adversary," he cried, "nothing can stop my artificial life, especially not you, with your pounding heart and your stinking sweat." If anything, it taps into negative prejudice.

But here is a quote from Chris G. Langton

Biology is the scientific study of life - in principle, anyway. In practice, biology is the scientific study of life on Earth based on carbon-chain chemistry. There is nothing in its charter that restricts biology to carbon-based life; it is simply that this is the only kind of life that has been available to study. Thus, theoretical biology has long faced the fundamental obstacle that it is impossible to derive general principles from single examples.

Without other examples, it is difficult to distinguish essential properties of life - properties that would be shared by any living system - from properties that may be incidental to life in principle, but which happen to be universal to life on Earth due solely to a combination of local historical accident and common genetic descent.

In order to derive general theories about life, we need an ensemble of instances to generalize over. Since it is quite unlikely that alien lifeforms will present themselves to us for study in the near future, our only option is to try to create alternative life-forms ourselves - Artificial Life - literally ``life made by Man rather than by Nature.''

So, as it appears, Artificial Life is genuine (theoretical) science and it appears there is a podcast as well: Biota. I found it, because they interviewed the familiar Dr. David van Nuys of Shrinkrapradio. As a psychologist, Dr. Dave is asked to dwell (among others) on the subject of self.

Shrinkrapradio on Freud and Jung

On the subject of psycho-analysis, I guess, I have been very much influenced by Karl Popper, who rejected, specifically Freudian theory as unscientific on account of it being irrefutable. Freud was notorious at bending facts to his theories. An example I recall from my studies was that one day supposedly, a client told Freud a dream that Freud couldn't make heads or tails from and consequently Freud interpreted the dream as the client's subconscious subversiveness into dreaming a dream that could not be interpreted.

A more serious fault rather in the theory than in the person of Freud, is the introduction of the idea of a subconsciousness. It is also illustrated by Douglas Davis, who is interviewed on Shrinkrapradio, that once the assumption behavior can be subconsciously motivated is acceptable, a person's conduct can be attributed to any motivation, whether aware or not. Consequently, when two great psycho-analysts - Freud and Jung - became friends, their relationship was subject to the pitfall of interpretation from the subconscious from the git go.

The discussion of the letters between Freud and Jung that Dr. Davis gives on Shrinkrapradio goes much further than touching on this pitfall, but I just can't help but expecting the great falling out between these men, even if I hadn't known about it in advance. Or maybe it is as it goes with passionate relationships: they must end in a dramatic parting.

The contemplation on the podcast, what greatness could have come from an ongoing cooperation between these great minds, is compelling, yet at the same time an almost unthinkable what-if. In any case. Douglas Davis is a great speaker and elegantly recounts the history, admirably stimulated to do so, by the ever praiseworthy Dr. David van Nuys of Shrinkrapradio.

Alexander the Great - crippled by TV

Alexander the Great is a wonderful historic figure to make movies about, whether it is with Richard Burton in 1956 or with Colin Farrell in 2004. Movies are not the best way to get an accurate idea of history, but it sure is a wonderful means to be introduced. Bob Packett of the podcast 'History according to Bob' delivered a series of lectures on the history of Alexander, from his ancestry to his death and including his father, mother, horse and generals. Bob frequently compares the history as to how it was depicted in the 1956 and 2004 movies, so as to give the cinema public some additional reward for their money.

From my part, since I had not seen either movie, this functioned also as a movie review. Bob is least enthusiastic about the more recent feature, so I wasn't exactly searching to go and see it. However, last Friday, my wife and I had a quiet evening and found out that Channel 10 (ערוץ 10) was offering this film. So we sat down and tried to enjoy.

What a disaster that was. I can't say anything about the movie as it was thoroughly crippled by the TV. Every two to five minutes we had ad banners going through the screen for the next generation Uri Geller to bore us and every ten to fifteen minutes we had a sudden disruption with a long block of commercials. All in all this was so intrusive, we couldn't get 'into' the movie and simply abandoned it halfway. (When Alex has conquered Babel) A total and effective way of spoiling the viewers enjoyment, but also urging the question: should the distributor of a movie allow for feature on TV, if he knew the product would be mangled like this? The unexpcetant winner of the situation is likely to be Blockbuster's as we are now intent on getting to see Alexander the Great properly. Once we are at it, we might as well get the 1956 version, I am sure Bob will approve of that.

Minced Chicken with pasta

500 gram minced chicken
2 courgettes
1 bell pepper
250 gram chick peas (cooked)
onion
2 table spoons olive oil
salt
4 tea spoons turmeric
3 tea spoons fenegreek
2 tea spoons ground coriander
4 cloves of garlic - sliced
2-4 table spoons whipping cream (15%)

Heat one table spoon of the oil and stir fry the chicken, while adding 2 teaspoons of turmeric, 2 tea spoons of fenegreek and some salt. Put the chicken aside when it is well done. Put in one tablespoon of oil with 2 teaspoons of turmeric, 1 tea spoon of fenegreek and salt over low heat and stir gently. Make sure the spices wil not burn. After two minutes cut and add the onion. Stir fry the onion for about five minutes. Cut the courgette and the pepper and add to the onion. Add salt if needed and stir. Add coriander, garlic and chick peas. When the courgette is nearly done, add the chicken you have put aside. When the vegetables are done turn off the fire and add the cream. Add salt if you think it is needed.

Itamar ook!

Nadat Jonathan poepend op de WC gefotografeerd was, wilde Itamar ook. Zodra hij zat, riep hij Rachel en ze moest een plaatje van hem maken. Goed dan, ere wie ere toekomt en dan komt ook hij on-line te staan.

Help Mark Putnam finish his novel - Writing Show

The writing show had Mark Putnam, a writer who claims to have too many ideas and as a result of always jumping from one new idea to another never finished a novel. He is 29 years old and can't stand the idea not to have finished at least one project by the age of 30 -- so what to do?

He has his own blog at Plotastic, where we, the readers, can influence his writing. First of all, until July first, by voting on the most important elements of the story. For example, do you want the main character to be the priest and not the physics professor? Go vote! And quickly, because the physics professor is in the lead.

On July first, Mark will start writing with the elements that the voters decided upon. I like this. I wouldn't do it his way, but with my own writing in the PBeM, I see how much more enjoyable writing is when you have a direct and in real time connection with your audience.

Do you want to know more. Look at the blog and listen also to the latest edition of the Writing Show.