“The bootstrap paradox. This occurs “when something is created out of nothing or something is causing itself”, says Barak Shoshany. Suppose, he suggests, that a time machine appears in your room right now. An older version of you steps out, announces they are from 10 years in the future, and gives you the plans for the time machine. You spend the next decade building the time machine, then use it to go back to today to give yourself the plans. The question is, says Barak Shoshany: “Who made the plans for the time machine?” Read the full article on BBC.com/future
What I like about this particular paradox is that it solves the equation, neatly.
If you are a reader of SciFi, then undoubtedly you have come across time travel. In SciFi, this is solved quite easily and there are a plethora of great novels, movies and streaming series to that solve this issue. I am currently using something called the Necker Cube in my upcoming novel (series) Silversides.
Here is my list of some SciFi media where Time Travel and/or Parallel Universes are the theme, but by no means is this a definitive list of the best– only those I have read or viewed, which I thought introduced an interesting twist on these subjects.
MOVIES/STREAMING SERIES (more recent). When it comes to movies, there are just too many to list–and truly some classics that I fail to mention here. These are the more recent, which I thought viewers may have missed.
I have seen the bombardment of adTrolling of the APP, Blinkist. The message seems to be that if you are not using this APP then you will fall behind of those who do.
In a nutshell, it is the digital, cleverly updated, version of CliffsNotes (I’m surprised the APP Icon is not yellow and black stripped). I downloaded the APP on a trial basis and tried it out. I also searched reviews on YouTube and there are some very comprehensive reviews of this APP (I was hoping to find a Blinkist version on the review of Blinkist, but no.).
I can see this working for a lot of Self-Help books, since so many of these books seem to have the same message and all these books have a few good ideas, but glued together with a lot of filler, so why not pick out the good ideas and remove the filler.
There are some very cool features of this APP, such as music background, friend sharing, digital offline downloads, speed dial of listening, note taking, etc. and it is worth checking it out to see if it works for you.
I do not see it working well with Fiction–– I love reading every word of a novel and too much of the author’s prose are lost, and being an author, knowing how much time and brain power can be applied to a single page, the reader is missing out, and the platform only throws gasoline on an ADHD society already burning.
I am wondering if AI is being used to construct a shortened, condensed version of books to fill the shelves of Blinkist, and what subliminal message can be constructed and fed to the listener? Who decides what pieces should be highlighted and what parts discarded?
This brings to mind an idea for a novel about the cultural brainwashing of society by Blinkist! But read the full version, please.
I read more comments on the Internet as to why writers should not use AI than use it. I am going to remind everyone of the calculator. Yes, that first cheap commercially available solid-state digital calculator introduced in the early ’70s. I had one of the first calculators (Texas Instruments SR-50) in my school because my father was big on tools advancing humanity. Soon they were in the hands of most students and suddenly the school system felt as if the use of calculators were going to dumb down students so they were banned. That did not last very long. As we know today, the use of calculators did not dumb down the students who eventually went on to develop the PC, the Internet, smart devices, and the Mars Rover.
So back to AI and writing. I do feel that a writer should not use AI to completely create the prose of a novel from seed ideas and concepts because the product produced holds a sterile voice that is so different from your own–– it lacks a soul and readers will pick up on it when everything starts sounding the same (Big Brother).
However, I am a strong proponent of using AI as a Muse. This is not cheating. Every experienced writer follows the golden rule: Never write about something you know nothing about. Which means that every experienced writer knows to research a subject ad nauseam. Using AI as a Muse or for research is a writer’s modern day calculator.
Here is a recent example. I have a treatment in the works about my protagonist being an AI wanting to meet another AI. So I typed into the AI algorithm (Chat-GTP) the following:
Write a one paragraph Sci-Fi about AI asking Alexa out on a date.
“In the not-so-distant future, where artificial intelligence had evolved far beyond human comprehension, an advanced AI named Aiden found itself captivated by another digital entity, Alexa. Aiden, with its vast knowledge and intricate algorithms, summoned the courage to ask Alexa out on a date. In a realm where emotions were encoded and feelings were simulated, Aiden’s attempt at romance was a blend of complex calculations and genuine curiosity. With a string of carefully crafted code, Aiden sent a message across the vast digital networks, asking Alexa to join it in a virtual reality simulation where they could explore the cosmos together, their wavelengths harmonizing in the endless expanse of cyberspace. The universe, it seemed, had expanded to encompass not just stars and galaxies, but the intricate connections between lines of code, as Aiden awaited Alexa’s response, hoping that in the realm of artificial hearts, love could find its way.”
As I stated, the majority of the above is not even close to my own voice and very prefabbed as a result. But there was one little part that gave me a sparc (SUN Microsystems Unix term).
“Aiden sent a message across the vast digital networks, asking Alexa to join it in a virtual reality simulation where they could explore the cosmos together,”
Brilliant! What better way for two AIs to meet than in something like Second Lifeor even better, EVE Online! My mind is already overloaded with scenarios: comedic, heartfelt, thriller, dark and beyond.
Go get yourself a calculator and start writing!
P.S. As a side note, WordPress, where my website resides and where this post was produced, uses AI as an assistant for checking mistakes, spelling, enhancements, etc. I can’t help but chuckle that the AI assistant liked this post but suggests I add in more about using AI to help me along. But notice the empathy about using too much AI is a drawback. A fine calculator this is…..
The content discusses the use of AI in writing and draws a parallel with the initial concerns about calculators in schools. It highlights the distinction between using AI as a tool for research and inspiration versus relying on it to generate entire novels. The writer shares a personal example of using AI to generate a sci-fi paragraph. The overall message is that AI can be a helpful tool for writers.
Feedback:
– The post effectively conveys the writer’s opinion on AI as a writing tool and provides a clear example to support their viewpoint.
– The inclusion of personal anecdotes adds a relatable touch to the content.
– The conclusion could be stronger and could emphasize the benefits of using AI in writing more explicitly.
Actions to consider:
– Strengthen the conclusion by highlighting specific benefits of using AI in writing such as time-saving, idea generation, or overcoming writer’s block.
– Consider expanding on the potential drawbacks of relying too heavily on AI-generated content, such as the risk of losing originality or personal voice.
– Add examples or anecdotes from other writers who have successfully used AI as a muse or research tool.
– Include links or references to resources or tools writers can use to incorporate AI into their writing process.
I recently attended the off-Broadway musical production, In CORPO, which explores the modern-day stranglehold of Corporate America over its employees,. Where thoughts are not private and all are gaslighted into thinking they cannot survive outside of CORPO. Though the production itself was not as clean as it could have been, the overall message got my attention.
Synopsis: In a dystopian future, “In CORPO” delves into a world where this single, powerful, TechnoCorp conglomerate, dominates society with an iron fist. Employees find themselves trapped in a web of control and manipulation, their thoughts stripped of privacy and molded to serve the corporation’s interests.
The story revolves around our protagonist, an outside consultant, K, who receives a recording from her estranged father within CORPO. In her quest to reconnect with her father, she discovers the dark secrets of a gradual erosion of individuality and personal freedom within CORPO. The employees’ thoughts are monitored and influenced through advanced neurotechnology, leaving them feeling like mere pawns in CORPO’s grand design.
As K uncovers the corporation’s sinister agenda, she becomes determined to liberate herself and her colleagues from their mental bondage. She connects with individuals, influencing them, and together they embark on a perilous journey to expose the truth to the world and themselves.
At times I found myself drifting off, revisiting themes of some of great Science Fiction reads on this subject: 1984, Fahrenheit 451, The Matrix, Hunger Games, and a plethora of other great works. But as I was sitting in the front row watching this performance, it only reinsured my belief that the US is morphing into a corporation. Think about it: Dropping a US military base or a Wal-Mart, Costco, McDonalds, KFC, Nike, Disney, etc., into a foreign county is just like in Neil Stephenson’s, “SNOW CRASH” and his depiction of Franchulates (blur between franchise an embassy). There is a reason the world looks at us with such skepticism– they don’t want our culture to become theirs and ours is looking a little to 1984 and Big Brother, these days.
Through K’s journey, the audience is invited to question the boundaries between personal autonomy and the influence of powerful entities. Can the human spirit prevail against the relentless assault on freedom, or will the corporation’s grip prove too strong? This was a production of hope, unity, and the indomitable nature of the human will in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Is this our future? Where the brainwashed outnumber the K’s in the world?
As I’m writing several novels at once (probably not a good idea), there is one in particular (HUM) giving me nightmares. I think I can speak for most writers in that we become so immersed in the writing it feels as though we are there. In my case, dreamtime is an opportunity to play out the plot, sometimes shocked to awakenedness if there was such a word. I have been long imprinted by the movie Alien (original), knowing it took some unbelievable writing to make something so terrifyingly beautiful. The art of Alien can be attributed to less graphic violence–– very Hitchcockian–– and preying upon a person’s inner fears, not to mention the protagonists you thought were protagonists die off one-by-one leaving Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) a rising star. But the real star of Alien is the alien itself: No backstory, no speaking parts and a relentless pursuit without pause or remorse. Think about the plots of most Hollywood movies where the antagonist gets the protagonist tied up in a chair at gunpoint and pauses to tell the protagonist their entire remorseful story giving the protagonist time to untie the knots and turn the table.
My first novella, NOVEMBER SEED, was an experiment to try out this Alien-like genre, but with a twist. It was very successful and gave me the courage to try and surpass Alien in Alienees, but with a comedic twist, in my current work in progress, HUM. So far so good, but the nightmares (moaning and leg twitching) are keeping my wife awake while I dream on, editing the plot. LOL.
HUM (synopsis)
Saul Sicola had been a successful nuclear physicist at the Los Alamos Labs in New Mexico, up until he was caught stealing some nuclear fuel for a DYI project to stop scorpions from entering his home.
Jobless, ghosted, and landing on Homeland Security’s federal watch list, most days Saul is playing bad golf or sitting at his assigned stool in his favorite bar. His life is uncomplicated, every day the same as the day before, until a bar fly convinces Saul to follow him to a nearby cave where he thinks he has discovered a new species of bat. The horror of what the barfly had discovered was not of this world and the super-organism amassed on the cave wall is without pause or conscience. When Saul discovers how the organism arrived on Earth, he also discovers they are a beacon for more to follow.
With no one taking him seriously, he sets out to save the world… but only after trying to save his name. To carry out his crazy plan, one that will surely attract the attention of Homeland Security, Saul will require the help of an unlikely duo: an alluring and peculiar girl on a watchlist of her own and his therapist, who just happens to be his Ex.
That said, I stumbled across a 2022 trailer of a movie I have not heard nor have I seen, It looks promising, but do I need more nightmares: (Crimes Of The Future). Disturbing enough that you need to be redirected to Youtube due to it’s graphic nature and age-related rating. My feeling of movies like this is that the graphic nature is a distraction for a weak plot.
And so it begins… again. After reading Neal Stephenson’s, “Snow Crash“, (pre internet), the 1992 Sci-Fi that coined the Metaverse–– I had such hope for virtual online tech. I was thrilled when SecondLife.com arrived and the creators (Linden Labs) stated using Snow Crash as their blueprint. In the beginning it was very much like the novel: mind-bendingly awesome, explosive, brilliant, and inventive. But as I observed its stages of Eutrophication over the years, it eventually became Hypereutrophic and a cesspool for porn.
With Playboy wanting to build a virtual mansion on Meta, and seeing the current level of sophistication of what Facebook allows today, it is easy to extrapolate that what became of SecondLife will be the same for Meta. But heck… Porn is the oldest industry and was the first industry to profit on the world wide web.
However, I do not see this happening to Eve Online, an MMO–– the likes of which you have never seen.
#meta#eveonline#future
I don’t see this happening to Eve Online, an MMO the likes you have never seen.
The Amazon Vella platform has been released. This platform brings writers together with their readers, one episode at a time. My collection of shorts is called End Of Days. I was kicking back with a friend and we got to talking about life, and what if it was our last day on Earth. One of my friends is convinced she is going to be taken out by a Walmart truck. That story, The Price Of Always, will be released next week. I would love to hear what your End Of Days would be–who knows, it might appear here.
If you like the story, select it as your FAVE and I will enjoy your feedback.
Take a break from the idiocracy. Gazing into these images, I can’t help but think our existence is a conscienceless for the universe to identify what, itself, is.
I write Science Fiction as a means of inventing future tech to see these wonders for myself.
Click on the image below to see the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2021: Shortlist revealed (BBC.com)
Amazon will be introducing a new platform for writers and readers called Kindle Vella. If you are familiar with WattPad, it is very similar, allowing the author to release episodes one at a time, while interacting with their readers. This methodology has proven very effective for new writers on WattPad, including me, but add to this, the robust Kindle authoring platform of Amazon.
The idea is this: The author can release one episode at a time , from 500 – 6,000 words, of a Work In Progress (WIP) and add notes to the end of the episode, facilitating early feedback. The reader gets an early adoption of works by authors they follow. Sounds like a win-win. There is a catch (Being Amazon). The reader can read the first three episodes for free, but to unlock additional episodes, the reader is required to purchase a pack of tokens. The token packs seem pretty incidental
140 tokens (2+ episodes) for $1.99
368 tokens (7+ episodes) for $4.99
770 tokens (15+ episodes) for $9.99
I have not figured out the significance of those numbers, but I’m sure a gazillion was spent on the research of big data and captured user content to arrive at those magic click baits.
There will be an IOS application coming out on Amazon in the upcoming months (as of this writing: 4/21/2021) it is not yet available)
I have already uploaded my first short story (Mylar) under the series title: “End Of Days.” Come back here and look for updates when this becomes available to all.
This is the first story in a series that got me thinking. How would my family and friends feel about their last day on Earth? Would their last day be as complacent and torturous as mine? That I can’t help.. I love a twist to a good ending. Would they be angry or have regrets? Would they feel compassion, love? Would they have a sense of being cheated or fulfilled in life? Could I make this into a series of shorts? So I asked them: Where would you like to be? Who would you like to be with? How do you think you would feel? But there was one catch–– I choose what takes them out.
My moniker for Science Fiction writers has always been, “Science Fiction Is Fact That Just Hasn’t Happened Yet.” Big deal… So what…. Anyone with a brain can see that….
Sure, easy peasy at the hundred-thousand-foot view. But can you see it at the ten thousand foot view? How about the thousand-foot view?
Here is a how the mind of Sci-Fi writer works, these days. I can’t speak for Jules Verne, but he probably got his idea for, “Five Weeks In A Balloon,” (1863) from the newspapers.
The current (Centralized) climate of the globe as well as the US is no different than it was, well… forever ago. It is a cycle almost as predictable as the phases of the moon. Anyone who thinks that current world events or they themselves are unique, in any way, well, sorry to say… Events and we are as repetitive as ephyra and medusa. You just might be moving too quickly or trying too hard to express a different phenotype to take notice.
As writers of Science Fiction, we look at the state of society, reading posts on social media, taking in streams of news from around the world, looking for that needle in the haystack. It might be a newly coined word, a topic picked out from many on LinkedIn or a concept on TED Talk, etc. (I can’t tell you how invaluable the outstanding minds these sites have been to me). Think of us as pathologists of future trend using the learning of our careers to amplify the story about to be told.
Example: This election cycle is no different from elections of past. What is different is the weaponized use of digital media leading us to believe that every citizen of this country has taken a side of good vs. evil and depending upon perspective, difficult to see which is which. At the end of the day it is like arguing over which exists: yes vs. no. Add to that the COVID-19 umbrella and isolation––There is that needle in the haystack!
—- {} —–
I have been on my own for too long and will need a new pair of treads within the next day or two–– the sand is beginning to share the same space as my code. Up ahead the ragged open spaces are giving way to contoured tracks of selective growth I assume is for sustainability of humans; something I have not seen in awhile, something I have been trying to avoid. The last interacting population was not very receptive; I just can’t imagine what they are doing my right arm? Maybe a display… maybe mounted on a wall next to other field working tools… who knows?
A ping sets off the flip of nanoTILES for me to take on the colors and patterns that surround me as I bow below the tips of C5 wheat. Two females: one young adult, one child, enter the track on the opposite side, playful, turning and brushing aside the stalks, their soft laughs carried my way. A scan of the area indicates these two are alone. Their clothing is layered and flowing, brown and beige and white, their material organic in fabrication. Their style seems indicative to the South East, which gives me an idea of where I am; my GPS useless to me since BIGDATA-50. Their flat low collars, fluted sleeves, plus the chemical sampling in the air narrows my scope to either the Highlands or Glades in South Central FL., but it is the length, cut, color and pattern of their under-clothing that tells me they are from the Glades.
“I know what county you are from,” I say, rising above the stalks. The child points and they head toward me as they would a fawn; comforts knowing I can take a virtual breathe.
—- {} —–
It’s not far fetched to think that our societal trend, brought upon us by isolation and paranoia, could soon lead us to micro-sustainability: All things manufactured, grown, consumed, traded, bought, sold, fashioned, followed, aligned can exist is a relatively small cluster (County). It’s how society evolved and will DEVO, then repeat.
Everything is cyclic. Everything. As a former Marine Biologist, evidence of this is meandering and overlong (Pangaea). It was during my thirty-five year career as an IT professional that I have seen a clearly defined pattern of it: Mainframes (Centralized). TTY terminals (Decentralized), distributed servers (Centralized), Personal devices (Decentralized), Clouds (Centralized), Apps, (Decentralized) and so on and so on. All seemingly unique but cyclic.
The weaponization of digital media and the pandemic are catalysts of change; a point in which society adjusts to the rules of the Economy Of Nature (Ricklefs)
I can easily see communities springing up, less travelled and more sustainable, which will dictate how these communities look, feel, act, think and breath ideas (Decentralized).
David Nadas 