Writing the future: AIs can now write their future generations

Artificial Intelligence writing the code for the next generation needs to be looked at very closely. The science fiction ramifications of AIs making AIs may sound exaggerated, but we really should be ready for anything.

On the other hand, we should also consider if we're giving birth to the logical next step in evolution for any sentient organism originating from Earth.

Source:
https://futurism.com/4-our-computers-are-learning-how-to-code-themselves/

An AI Butler?

Well, this looks like a good idea in terms of time-saving automation, but it also opens an individual to more hack attacks, and, I would think, has serious ramifications for artificial intelligence as an assistant. I am sure that the Butlerian Jihad in the Dune book series is now a branch probability in our timeline.

Source:
https://futurism.com/videos/this-robot-can-recognize-you-check-your-email-and-more/

Artificial Intelligence and Ethics: We need to embrace them as our children

As we develop artificial intelligence that becomes smarter and closer to true sentience, we have to increasingly start thinking of them as children - if not our children personally, then our children as a race, or a species.

It will be of paramount importance, then, to teach them not only what they need for the job at hand, but also for how they will treat others, including ourselves. Call it a certain amount of self-preservation, but let's face it, we've already done the thought experiments on this, through stories in science fiction.

Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/26/why-we-must-teach-morality-to-robots

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/audio/2017/feb/26/a-neuroscientist-explains-teaching-morality-to-robots-podcast

Doctor Who: Capaldi's Last Season

“The first time you meet him, he’s funny. The second time, he’s amazing. The third time, you realize he’s the most dangerous man in the universe.”

I feel bad that this trailer promises what we've wanted Capaldi's Doctor Who all this time. But as this will be his last season as the Doctor, I hope they really do make it a slam-bang one.

Source:
http://geektyrant.com/news/promo-teaser-for-doctor-who-season-10-he-says-hes-a-man-of-peace-but-he-walks-in-war

The Rise of Robot Overlords: Not as Tyrants, But as the New MIddle Class

As the blue- and white-collar jobs are disappearing because of automation and artificial intelligence, it seems that some of the science fiction we've been reading or watching in the past are right. The way forward for humanity to keep on working and participating in their civilization's development is to adapt to what artificial intelligence cannot do.

For me, that would mean that we have to develop the aesthetic and art aspects of our education even more, but without sacrificing basic understanding of how technology works. It may also mean that we should definitely emphasize some college courses that will be for people to learn how to keep on building technology. And, of course, we really have to get space programs going, as the desire to explore and expand may be humanity's way of "getting away" from the AI/automation issue. We only need to look at our history during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to know why we need to seek distant shores. The middle class, it seems, will be transformed into one that explores, builds, and dreams.

It would also mean that we have to change our whole operating system, as it were, for technology and lifestyle. Does this mean the end of consumerism/capitalism? I don't think so, but rather, they should evolve. In one way, I am disturbed, as development could go in a direction where it will be more about roles and usefulness in society, even for the arts. This would be similar to a bee hive, or an insect community. On the other hand, we may be looking at a future that is closer to the community ships in Wall-E.

And the sad part is, if we go full-on dystopia, what we're looking at is, in essence, the Megapolis societies of Judge Dredd.

And it all starts with what is happening now.

Article inspired by this Wired article; image taken from the same: https://www.wired.com/2017/02/ai-threat-isnt-skynet-end-middle-class/

Science Fiction, the Spirit, and the Mechanical Flesh: Major Kusanagi and Ghost in the Shell

It seems that the idea of an encased human (brain, in this case) within another form is an obsession - it dates through the ages, from human souls trapped in animals, to empty armor, and now, in mechanical form.

Lately, the more interesting (for me) versions of these are Robotman from DC's Doom Patrol team, and Major Motoko Kusanagi from the manga/anime franchise Ghost in the Shell.

It is, I think, a major philosophical and spiritual concern. And as the time comes nearer when we may be able to transfer our consciousnesses to virtual storage without a break in the stream of thought, it seems that we all will need to ask ourselves: can we survive as ghosts in the machines?

And will this lead to questions of who is really human?

Star Trek Merch: Going to the Nostalgia Nebula

I am somewhat happy that Star Trek is not necessarily my core geekdom. However, if I did have the money... well, it would be one of them.

http://www.popsci.com/best-gifts-for-star-trek-fans

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 Figures

I like the set... but Angela and Darkhawk? Nova and Vance Astro? Oh, hell yes.

CBR Link: http://www.cbr.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-toy-line-includes-nova-angela-and-darkhawk/

Save the Dream: Rogue One trailer

I admit, I had goosebumps with this one, but probably because real life is giving some great references.

Hyperloops and Megacities

It looks like our old science fiction magazine covers were a clue to the possible cityscapes in our real futures.

http://futurism.com/the-hyperloop-could-make-even-more-massive-megacities/

Archived from Instagram: Gundam Astray Noir and Regenes Impulse

Just putting up some photos of two kits that have been in my Gundam kitbash sights lately. Also posted in Mecha Toys

Astray Noir

The Astray Noir is a limited-run kit that I figured I could do some kitbashing on. In this case, i didn't bother to try and assemble the Noir pack it came with, I simply used the Noir Pack from my original Strike Noir. Also I removed the katana blades that were attached to the pistols. While the idea of a gunblade sounds good in theory, the execution was awkward. After that, I also armed it with Duel rifles, and the shield from the Strike Noir.

Regenes Impulse

Aside from the Destiny backpack and the head parts I acquired to get the non-spiked monoeye look, this is basically the old MG Impulse that I have. I've stowed the Destiny pack into storage, so here it is with a ver.1 MG Aile Pack. I have to say, it looks like the Dagger Strike in this photo.

I'll probably have more photo ops coming up, as this two-set also tested to see how my old hangar functions as a photo booth after all this time.

Article - Heads-up for Philippine cosplay: Updates and opinions (part 1)

When I first came up with the idea of an article on cosplay culture in the Philippines, I had been told it would be better to do an update, given that there have been articles previously published.  To that end, I decided to contact some friends through e-mail. Among them were cosplayers, fans, retired cosplayers, people who wore costumes but who were not part of the traditional cosplay community, and, finally, people who were not fans, but didn’t hate or look down on cosplayers.

I had thought that their insights would be varied – and for some questions, they were. But they did share certain views, some of which are, truth be told, going to be controversial, no matter how it’s looked at. I’ve decided to use pseudonyms for all of them, owing to the prickly nature of some of the observations.

Click here to go to the second part of the article

Read the full article at the Philippine Online Chronicles

HGUC 1/144 AMS-129M Geara "Zee" Zulu

I'd been wanting to get one of these kits into my collection for a long time, and from the looks of how much stuff it's got, I heartily agree that this is one superior amphibious attack mecha. Based on the Geara Zulu frame (from Gundam Unicorn), the Zee Zulu is a sleeker aquatic version that can also function as a light infantry unit on land.

As you can see with the first photo, you're not lacking in equipment, though whether that equipment looks like it's really needed.... but more on that later.

HGUC 1/144 MS-06R1A Zaku II (Black Tri-stars)

I'll be honest, I wasn't all that hot about this particular Gundam kit - I'm not really a fan of the Black Tri-Stars in general (oh, for the days when their name was translated as the Black Trinary). However, upon assembling this kit, I was pleasantly surprised at the simple but well thought-out construction.

 

I admit, one issue for me was the lack of weaponry - Zaku kits are usually loaded for bear!

HGAGE G-Exes Jackedge

I have to say that the head/face design for this mecha is one of my absolute favorites in the AGE series. That being said, the G-Exes frame being an ace version of the Shaldoll (and thus the Jackedge being an ace variant for the Rogue) makes it very posable. Although the rifle/knife combination is a bit of an overkill for me, I like the idea of using the shield with it. More to follow in this entry.

 There's no denying the fact that it's an ace unit. The head design alone assures that.

HGAGE Shaldoll Rogue

I actually had this with me when I received the Perfect Strike, but I only had time to build the two Rogue kits this past weekend. Here are some photos and observations about the Shaldoll Rogue.

The Rogue is basically a recolor of the Shaldoll normal unit variant, the only difference being the colors, the faceplate, the battleaxe, and the gun hand. But even with these "minor" changes, it's become a much cooler unit already. As you can see in the first pic, you have an option to use four weapons: the cannon hand, the axe (impleid for left hand, as there are gaps that suggest it), the shield and the one saber from the backpack.

Perfect Strike - Final Entry

This is my final entry on teh HGGS 1/144 Perfect Strike Gundam. I'll have some observations after the photos. As it is, enjoy!

I attempted to pose it as if it were charging into an enemy.

Perfect Strike - A Closer Look

I've gotten to the meat of the kit, so to speak, and that's how they integrated the Aile, Launcher and Sword packs into one unit.

In the first two photos, I compare the size of the backpack to the old HG Aile pack.

As can be expected, the new enlarged wings and the two pack systems just made it look bigger and meaner. I also get a lot of the Destiny Gundam vibe from this backpack.

A Perfect Strike...

Wings are based on a mix of the MG and PG. Perhaps it refers to the incoming MG Ver.2? Also, the Launcher's stabilizer arm has less articulation than the original version (came with an FG). Not sure if you can swap out parts (I need someone's help on that one, will contact ASAP).

The sword can't be used with the old FG - it doesn't have the peg hole for the mount. Still, it looks like they used the old FG parts as the basis for the weapons systems.

I was actually writing a bit, when a friend dropped this off at my place. Yes, It looks like a Perfect Strike, indeed.

Observations: 
1) Main kit really is the old HGGS Aile Strike. It has all the old parts for it, with slight recolors - the grey has become Metallic grey, for example.

2) The new parts are minimal, in the sense that there are no extra parts to change the Launcher and Sword pieces into searpate weapons systems (I guess they were happy enough with the RG versions).

I'll be assembling this by sections over the next few days.

Anime can be so right at times.

While researching for fun on the Internet, I just realized that my skill in finding information is limited by the same idea that was expounded on in Ghost in the Shell's "Stand Alone Complex" story arc: Information not committed to the public archive is beyond my grasp. How very true. Even if it is obvious, it also gives one an idea of how powerful - and limited - the Internet really is.

No matter how good anyone is, there will always be something that is beyond our control. It's not just about information, but about life itself. It's the intangible - or the unreachable - that we always strive for, look for or do things for, apparently.