Sunday, February 15, 2009
Blogging
This blog started out as a Compisition Assignment, come to find out, I really enjoy blogging and hopefully I can keep up with the blog daily. I haven't blogged since my class ended in December, but I'm back!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Final Refelction
I believe Comp 106 was a great class. The semester went very well and I was mostly happy with the work that I produced this semester. With it being an online class, I think it was a bit more difficult than it would have been, if the class were actually conducted in a classroom, with regular meeting times. I learned a lot more than I had expected in this course. I thought the course was mainly going to focus on writing papers, such as research papers, and papers in response to novels, like our final assignment for the novel Microserfs. To my surprise, the assignments that we were presented with this semester were much more interesting than I had originally expected. I learned how to research using the internet much better than I did before this course. My work that I would most like to revise from this semester would be my visual advocacy project. I would most like to revise to advocacy project because I believe I could have added more information and more evidence to plead my case. When I say plead my case, I mean where I could have presented my argument in a better way and probably persuaded more people to see things from my point of view and my perspective. With all the assignments we’ve done this semester, I believe the visual advocacy is one in which I could have done a better job on and presented my side in a better way. As for what will become of my blog after this class, I am not quite sure. I really would like to keep up with my blog, and write in it as if it were a journal. Throughout the semester, there have been several instances where I have wanted to post my thoughts just as a journal, but I refrained from doing so, because I saw the blog strictly as a blog for the Composition blog. I hope after this class, I will use the blog as my own personal journal to post my thought or articles that I feel are important. I will use it as a way to express myself.
Module III Final Assignment
Amanda Aghos
Comp 106 Module 3
Criminal law and politics are two areas of study that I am quite interested in. I’ve decided to double major in criminal justice and political science, so I felt the three articles summarized were appropriate and extremely interesting. The articles arguments were very compelling and provided excellent evidence to support their arguments. The journals from which the articles were taken out of are scholarly journals in which focus on the areas of political science and criminal justice. “Putting Pandora on Trial,” Legal determinacy as presumptive fiction: the Blackmun papers on the primacy of life and the machinery of death,” and “DNA and the Genealogy of Scientific Truth in the Courtroom” are the three articles that have been summarized in the remainder of the paper.
In her article, “Putting Pandora on Trial,” published in The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 2008, Karen E. Woody analyzes the ideas and conclusions of Mark Drumbl’s, Atrocity, Punishment and International Law. Woody agrees with Drumbl’s justification of international criminal law and the punishments used. The idea that international criminal atrocities and Western notions of common crime be punished using the same methods is unfair and inhumane. Woody analyzes Drumbl’s notion that criminal law punishes social deviants. International law must look at punishment of social deviants in a different way than common criminal law. International atrocities are made up of more than just the one or two people who go against what is socially acceptable. They are made up of genocides and unthinkable atrocities with hundreds if not thousands of people that could be held responsible for the crime. It involves societies as a whole. The way international law punishes these atrocities is to be more drastic and in a different manor than would be any regular crime. Woody praised Drumbl’s “ability to analyze the meta-goals and lofty principles that justify international criminal law and its punishments while also being extremely detailed with specific examples.” There are numerous different crimes that people commit. Some crimes are much more horrendous than others. It would be silly for our legal system to punish someone who steals a loaf of bread the same way they would punish an individual who commits rape and murder. The punishment should ultimately fit the crime, whether the law is within the boundaries of the USA or international law. Unlike Woody’s article, “Legal determinacy as presumptive fiction: the Blackmun papers on the primacy of life and the machinery of death,” focuses on the judges who make decisions on laws and the classic model of legal decision making.
Stephen K. Rice, the author of “Legal determinacy as presumptive fiction: the Blackmun papers on the primacy of life and the machinery of death,” written in International Social Science Review, analyze the papers of Justice Harry A. Blackmun. Blackmun served as a Supreme Court Justice and ruled in many important issues. Rice’s argument based on the Blackmun papers is whether Judges rule by law, or by personal preferences and their own morals. He questions the judicial making-process and whether it is fair and abides by the laws. Based on Blackmun’s papers, Rice concluded that “"normative quietism" in law, that is, jurists who rule based on personal predilection, or "hunch-based" decision-making” was very common and the concept applied to Justices as well. Rice’s main goal of this article is to determine whether or not there is a bias on the way Justices rule, and whether or not they use the law as the way they make decisions, or if they simply use their own gut and morals in the decision-making process. He concluded from Blackmun’s papers that a majority of Justices can be influenced and swayed by others in regards to their arguments and ideas on how cases should be ruled. Ruling based on personal preference and personal bias, in my opinion is one of the major problems with the U.S court system. When a case is presented with lack of concrete evidence, judges and jurors seem to rely on their own knowledge and their own personal beliefs, or the beliefs of their co-justices in deciding a ruling in a case. That is one of the worst things that could be exposed by a former Justice of the Supreme Court. Blackmun’s papers being released to the public in a sense tainted the U.S. court system. DNA and forensic science is the argument David S. Caudill addresses in his article.
David S. Caudill wrote “DNA and the Genealogy of Scientific Truth in the Courtroom” in the journal; The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. Caudill wrote a review of JD Aronson’s book, Genetic Witness: Science, Law & Controversy in the Making of DNA Profiling. The article questions heavily whether or not DNA evidence can be used as a reliable source or evidence in the courtroom. When DNA evidence was first introduced in the courtroom, it was very unreliable. DNA testing and evidence has advanced so much in the past decade or so, where jurors use it as definite evidence when ruling a case. Aronson does not believe that DNA evidence is as solid as scientists, as well as lawyers claim it to be. He believes there are many flaws with using DNA evidence in the courtroom. Caudill agrees with Aronson, he believes that anyone viewing DNA profiling from a different perspective, not in the perspective of a lawyer, judge, or scientist, people will realize that DNA profiling is not as perfect as people in those professions make it seem. I agree with Caudill and Aronson’s view on DNA profiling. There can be many complications with DNA profiling; I do not believe that juries and other authorities should rely heavily on DNA evidence in the courtroom.
Each article clearly stated their arguments and exactly what side of the topic they supported. Woody, Rice, and Caudill each had their own perspective on somewhat linked topics. Punishment for international law, DNA evidence, and the Blackmun papers all came together in the sense that each had to do with the United States court system and its flaws. The three articles were very persuasive and in my personal opinion very informative on the corruption of the United States, and the Worlds legal systems.
Comp 106 Module 3
Criminal law and politics are two areas of study that I am quite interested in. I’ve decided to double major in criminal justice and political science, so I felt the three articles summarized were appropriate and extremely interesting. The articles arguments were very compelling and provided excellent evidence to support their arguments. The journals from which the articles were taken out of are scholarly journals in which focus on the areas of political science and criminal justice. “Putting Pandora on Trial,” Legal determinacy as presumptive fiction: the Blackmun papers on the primacy of life and the machinery of death,” and “DNA and the Genealogy of Scientific Truth in the Courtroom” are the three articles that have been summarized in the remainder of the paper.
In her article, “Putting Pandora on Trial,” published in The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 2008, Karen E. Woody analyzes the ideas and conclusions of Mark Drumbl’s, Atrocity, Punishment and International Law. Woody agrees with Drumbl’s justification of international criminal law and the punishments used. The idea that international criminal atrocities and Western notions of common crime be punished using the same methods is unfair and inhumane. Woody analyzes Drumbl’s notion that criminal law punishes social deviants. International law must look at punishment of social deviants in a different way than common criminal law. International atrocities are made up of more than just the one or two people who go against what is socially acceptable. They are made up of genocides and unthinkable atrocities with hundreds if not thousands of people that could be held responsible for the crime. It involves societies as a whole. The way international law punishes these atrocities is to be more drastic and in a different manor than would be any regular crime. Woody praised Drumbl’s “ability to analyze the meta-goals and lofty principles that justify international criminal law and its punishments while also being extremely detailed with specific examples.” There are numerous different crimes that people commit. Some crimes are much more horrendous than others. It would be silly for our legal system to punish someone who steals a loaf of bread the same way they would punish an individual who commits rape and murder. The punishment should ultimately fit the crime, whether the law is within the boundaries of the USA or international law. Unlike Woody’s article, “Legal determinacy as presumptive fiction: the Blackmun papers on the primacy of life and the machinery of death,” focuses on the judges who make decisions on laws and the classic model of legal decision making.
Stephen K. Rice, the author of “Legal determinacy as presumptive fiction: the Blackmun papers on the primacy of life and the machinery of death,” written in International Social Science Review, analyze the papers of Justice Harry A. Blackmun. Blackmun served as a Supreme Court Justice and ruled in many important issues. Rice’s argument based on the Blackmun papers is whether Judges rule by law, or by personal preferences and their own morals. He questions the judicial making-process and whether it is fair and abides by the laws. Based on Blackmun’s papers, Rice concluded that “"normative quietism" in law, that is, jurists who rule based on personal predilection, or "hunch-based" decision-making” was very common and the concept applied to Justices as well. Rice’s main goal of this article is to determine whether or not there is a bias on the way Justices rule, and whether or not they use the law as the way they make decisions, or if they simply use their own gut and morals in the decision-making process. He concluded from Blackmun’s papers that a majority of Justices can be influenced and swayed by others in regards to their arguments and ideas on how cases should be ruled. Ruling based on personal preference and personal bias, in my opinion is one of the major problems with the U.S court system. When a case is presented with lack of concrete evidence, judges and jurors seem to rely on their own knowledge and their own personal beliefs, or the beliefs of their co-justices in deciding a ruling in a case. That is one of the worst things that could be exposed by a former Justice of the Supreme Court. Blackmun’s papers being released to the public in a sense tainted the U.S. court system. DNA and forensic science is the argument David S. Caudill addresses in his article.
David S. Caudill wrote “DNA and the Genealogy of Scientific Truth in the Courtroom” in the journal; The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. Caudill wrote a review of JD Aronson’s book, Genetic Witness: Science, Law & Controversy in the Making of DNA Profiling. The article questions heavily whether or not DNA evidence can be used as a reliable source or evidence in the courtroom. When DNA evidence was first introduced in the courtroom, it was very unreliable. DNA testing and evidence has advanced so much in the past decade or so, where jurors use it as definite evidence when ruling a case. Aronson does not believe that DNA evidence is as solid as scientists, as well as lawyers claim it to be. He believes there are many flaws with using DNA evidence in the courtroom. Caudill agrees with Aronson, he believes that anyone viewing DNA profiling from a different perspective, not in the perspective of a lawyer, judge, or scientist, people will realize that DNA profiling is not as perfect as people in those professions make it seem. I agree with Caudill and Aronson’s view on DNA profiling. There can be many complications with DNA profiling; I do not believe that juries and other authorities should rely heavily on DNA evidence in the courtroom.
Each article clearly stated their arguments and exactly what side of the topic they supported. Woody, Rice, and Caudill each had their own perspective on somewhat linked topics. Punishment for international law, DNA evidence, and the Blackmun papers all came together in the sense that each had to do with the United States court system and its flaws. The three articles were very persuasive and in my personal opinion very informative on the corruption of the United States, and the Worlds legal systems.
Microserfs Reading Response
*What do you think Coupland is saying when he includes random information, random keyboard hits, and snatches of gossip among the journal and e-mail?
In the novel, Microserfs, Coupland inserts many pages with random, nonsense words or keyboard hits. There were many instances where Dan inserted different fonts, sizes, bolded words and italicized words for what seemed to be no apparent reason. At first, the randomness of Dan’s thoughts were scattered and seemed very irrelevant. Dan says, “I’m creating a file of random words that pop into my head and am feeding these words into a desktop file labeled subconscious (Coupland 45). Dan is basically taking all of his random thoughts that he has throughout his days and logging them just to keep track what he thinks. The random information was added so that Coupland could make the reader feel engaged and feel as if the words are in their own subconscious. Throughout our day, there are many random words and thoughts that we really do not express. Coupland helped us as the reader understand Dan a bit better by getting us into his subconscious and let us know what he is thinking and what types of thoughts run through his head. Some of the words or phrases that Dan writes down really get the readers thinking. It helps us understand the character of Dan a bit more than we originally would without the randomness. In essence, instead of reading like a book, the novel read as if it were a journal. Reading it as if it were a journal made the novel a more interesting read, as well as a bit easier to understand.
*Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed... an 'entity' is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
When it comes to intelligence, I believe that there is no limit to any person’s intelligence. Karla says, “Long after we’re dead, computers will continue to be developed and sooner or later—it is not a matter of if, but when an ‘Entity’ is going to be created that has its own intelligence” (Coupland 34). What Karla is saying is that there is no limit to an individual’s intelligence, and because human intelligence is unlimited, they can create artificial intelligence that is just as unlimited. Humans create artificial intelligence to in a sense outlive human intelligence. Karla believes that the humans who create computers and artificial intelligence are working to make sure that computer intelligence indeed to advance far beyond human intelligence. Both, humans and computers progress throughout the years, neither of them get dumber in a sense. What that means is that there is no way the intelligence of computers will one day come to an end, humans will keep advancing computers until possibly, computers will outsmart humans. Karla believes in this, she says “we cannot de-invent computers”(Coupland 34). I believe with advances in computers and artificial intelligence, humans have become lazier, and expect computers and machines to do all the work for them, causing them not to have to think. Advancements in technology are always a good thing, but when we come to a point where computers and artificial intelligence are taking over the work of humans, we know that society has taken a disregard to human intelligence. No matter how advanced artificial intelligence may be, humans must always be more intelligent, in order to have control over the artificial intelligence.
*The binary code in the middle of Microserfs is a "hymn" or credo to "My Computer." What do you think is the purpose of this hymn?
The binary code in the middle of Microserfs was by far one of the most interesting portions of the novel. Decoding the binary code was something I tried accomplishing using a website. On the website you can enter the binary code and it decodes it and tells you the meaning. The meaning of the code “My Computer” is that Dan is nothing without his computer, and vice versa, the computer is nothing without Dan. Throughout the novel, Coupland has changed topics and inserted random information throughout the whole novel really without any warning. At one point, Coupland was talking about Dan and Karla, in regards to Karla’s past eating disorder. Once the page is turned, the numbers 0 and 1 go on for two pages. These two pages messages are a hymn. It’s a hymn because it gets the reader thinking about what is being said by using the numbers instead of actual words. Using the numbers instead of words, Coupland presents the readers with a completely different style of writing, one that causes the readers to put more thought and effort into trying to figure out what message Coupland is trying to convey, or simply, what Coupland is trying to say with the hymn. The binary coding is a language in which Dan understands clearly, to him its merely common sense, and he would never have to second guess the message of the coding or the meaning of it. I believe Coupland inserts this in the novel to show how coding plays such an important role in society and how to some people; it is their way of understanding and communication.
In the novel, Microserfs, Coupland inserts many pages with random, nonsense words or keyboard hits. There were many instances where Dan inserted different fonts, sizes, bolded words and italicized words for what seemed to be no apparent reason. At first, the randomness of Dan’s thoughts were scattered and seemed very irrelevant. Dan says, “I’m creating a file of random words that pop into my head and am feeding these words into a desktop file labeled subconscious (Coupland 45). Dan is basically taking all of his random thoughts that he has throughout his days and logging them just to keep track what he thinks. The random information was added so that Coupland could make the reader feel engaged and feel as if the words are in their own subconscious. Throughout our day, there are many random words and thoughts that we really do not express. Coupland helped us as the reader understand Dan a bit better by getting us into his subconscious and let us know what he is thinking and what types of thoughts run through his head. Some of the words or phrases that Dan writes down really get the readers thinking. It helps us understand the character of Dan a bit more than we originally would without the randomness. In essence, instead of reading like a book, the novel read as if it were a journal. Reading it as if it were a journal made the novel a more interesting read, as well as a bit easier to understand.
*Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed... an 'entity' is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
When it comes to intelligence, I believe that there is no limit to any person’s intelligence. Karla says, “Long after we’re dead, computers will continue to be developed and sooner or later—it is not a matter of if, but when an ‘Entity’ is going to be created that has its own intelligence” (Coupland 34). What Karla is saying is that there is no limit to an individual’s intelligence, and because human intelligence is unlimited, they can create artificial intelligence that is just as unlimited. Humans create artificial intelligence to in a sense outlive human intelligence. Karla believes that the humans who create computers and artificial intelligence are working to make sure that computer intelligence indeed to advance far beyond human intelligence. Both, humans and computers progress throughout the years, neither of them get dumber in a sense. What that means is that there is no way the intelligence of computers will one day come to an end, humans will keep advancing computers until possibly, computers will outsmart humans. Karla believes in this, she says “we cannot de-invent computers”(Coupland 34). I believe with advances in computers and artificial intelligence, humans have become lazier, and expect computers and machines to do all the work for them, causing them not to have to think. Advancements in technology are always a good thing, but when we come to a point where computers and artificial intelligence are taking over the work of humans, we know that society has taken a disregard to human intelligence. No matter how advanced artificial intelligence may be, humans must always be more intelligent, in order to have control over the artificial intelligence.
*The binary code in the middle of Microserfs is a "hymn" or credo to "My Computer." What do you think is the purpose of this hymn?
The binary code in the middle of Microserfs was by far one of the most interesting portions of the novel. Decoding the binary code was something I tried accomplishing using a website. On the website you can enter the binary code and it decodes it and tells you the meaning. The meaning of the code “My Computer” is that Dan is nothing without his computer, and vice versa, the computer is nothing without Dan. Throughout the novel, Coupland has changed topics and inserted random information throughout the whole novel really without any warning. At one point, Coupland was talking about Dan and Karla, in regards to Karla’s past eating disorder. Once the page is turned, the numbers 0 and 1 go on for two pages. These two pages messages are a hymn. It’s a hymn because it gets the reader thinking about what is being said by using the numbers instead of actual words. Using the numbers instead of words, Coupland presents the readers with a completely different style of writing, one that causes the readers to put more thought and effort into trying to figure out what message Coupland is trying to convey, or simply, what Coupland is trying to say with the hymn. The binary coding is a language in which Dan understands clearly, to him its merely common sense, and he would never have to second guess the message of the coding or the meaning of it. I believe Coupland inserts this in the novel to show how coding plays such an important role in society and how to some people; it is their way of understanding and communication.
Microserfs Reading Response
*What do you think Coupland is saying when he includes random information, random keyboard hits, and snatches of gossip among the journal and e-mail?
In the novel, Microserfs, Coupland inserts many pages with random, nonsense words or keyboard hits. There were many instances where Dan inserted different fonts, sizes, bolded words and italicized words for what seemed to be no apparent reason. At first, the randomness of Dan’s thoughts were scattered and seemed very irrelevant. Dan says, “I’m creating a file of random words that pop into my head and am feeding these words into a desktop file labeled subconscious (Coupland 45). Dan is basically taking all of his random thoughts that he has throughout his days and logging them just to keep track what he thinks. The random information was added so that Coupland could make the reader feel engaged and feel as if the words are in their own subconscious. Throughout our day, there are many random words and thoughts that we really do not express. Coupland helped us as the reader understand Dan a bit better by getting us into his subconscious and let us know what he is thinking and what types of thoughts run through his head. Some of the words or phrases that Dan writes down really get the readers thinking. It helps us understand the character of Dan a bit more than we originally would without the randomness. In essence, instead of reading like a book, the novel read as if it were a journal. Reading it as if it were a journal made the novel a more interesting read, as well as a bit easier to understand.
*Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed... an 'entity' is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
When it comes to intelligence, I believe that there is no limit to any person’s intelligence. Karla says, “Long after we’re dead, computers will continue to be developed and sooner or later—it is not a matter of if, but when an ‘Entity’ is going to be created that has its own intelligence” (Coupland 34). What Karla is saying is that there is no limit to an individual’s intelligence, and because human intelligence is unlimited, they can create artificial intelligence that is just as unlimited. Humans create artificial intelligence to in a sense outlive human intelligence. Karla believes that the humans who create computers and artificial intelligence are working to make sure that computer intelligence indeed to advance far beyond human intelligence. Both, humans and computers progress throughout the years, neither of them get dumber in a sense. What that means is that there is no way the intelligence of computers will one day come to an end, humans will keep advancing computers until possibly, computers will outsmart humans. Karla believes in this, she says “we cannot de-invent computers”(Coupland 34). I believe with advances in computers and artificial intelligence, humans have become lazier, and expect computers and machines to do all the work for them, causing them not to have to think. Advancements in technology are always a good thing, but when we come to a point where computers and artificial intelligence are taking over the work of humans, we know that society has taken a disregard to human intelligence. No matter how advanced artificial intelligence may be, humans must always be more intelligent, in order to have control over the artificial intelligence.
*The binary code in the middle of Microserfs is a "hymn" or credo to "My Computer." What do you think is the purpose of this hymn?
The binary code in the middle of Microserfs was by far one of the most interesting portions of the novel. Decoding the binary code was something I tried accomplishing using a website. On the website you can enter the binary code and it decodes it and tells you the meaning. The meaning of the code “My Computer” is that Dan is nothing without his computer, and vice versa, the computer is nothing without Dan. Throughout the novel, Coupland has changed topics and inserted random information throughout the whole novel really without any warning. At one point, Coupland was talking about Dan and Karla, in regards to Karla’s past eating disorder. Once the page is turned, the numbers 0 and 1 go on for two pages. These two pages messages are a hymn. It’s a hymn because it gets the reader thinking about what is being said by using the numbers instead of actual words. Using the numbers instead of words, Coupland presents the readers with a completely different style of writing, one that causes the readers to put more thought and effort into trying to figure out what message Coupland is trying to convey, or simply, what Coupland is trying to say with the hymn. The binary coding is a language in which Dan understands clearly, to him its merely common sense, and he would never have to second guess the message of the coding or the meaning of it. I believe Coupland inserts this in the novel to show how coding plays such an important role in society and how to some people; it is their way of understanding and communication.
In the novel, Microserfs, Coupland inserts many pages with random, nonsense words or keyboard hits. There were many instances where Dan inserted different fonts, sizes, bolded words and italicized words for what seemed to be no apparent reason. At first, the randomness of Dan’s thoughts were scattered and seemed very irrelevant. Dan says, “I’m creating a file of random words that pop into my head and am feeding these words into a desktop file labeled subconscious (Coupland 45). Dan is basically taking all of his random thoughts that he has throughout his days and logging them just to keep track what he thinks. The random information was added so that Coupland could make the reader feel engaged and feel as if the words are in their own subconscious. Throughout our day, there are many random words and thoughts that we really do not express. Coupland helped us as the reader understand Dan a bit better by getting us into his subconscious and let us know what he is thinking and what types of thoughts run through his head. Some of the words or phrases that Dan writes down really get the readers thinking. It helps us understand the character of Dan a bit more than we originally would without the randomness. In essence, instead of reading like a book, the novel read as if it were a journal. Reading it as if it were a journal made the novel a more interesting read, as well as a bit easier to understand.
*Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed... an 'entity' is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
When it comes to intelligence, I believe that there is no limit to any person’s intelligence. Karla says, “Long after we’re dead, computers will continue to be developed and sooner or later—it is not a matter of if, but when an ‘Entity’ is going to be created that has its own intelligence” (Coupland 34). What Karla is saying is that there is no limit to an individual’s intelligence, and because human intelligence is unlimited, they can create artificial intelligence that is just as unlimited. Humans create artificial intelligence to in a sense outlive human intelligence. Karla believes that the humans who create computers and artificial intelligence are working to make sure that computer intelligence indeed to advance far beyond human intelligence. Both, humans and computers progress throughout the years, neither of them get dumber in a sense. What that means is that there is no way the intelligence of computers will one day come to an end, humans will keep advancing computers until possibly, computers will outsmart humans. Karla believes in this, she says “we cannot de-invent computers”(Coupland 34). I believe with advances in computers and artificial intelligence, humans have become lazier, and expect computers and machines to do all the work for them, causing them not to have to think. Advancements in technology are always a good thing, but when we come to a point where computers and artificial intelligence are taking over the work of humans, we know that society has taken a disregard to human intelligence. No matter how advanced artificial intelligence may be, humans must always be more intelligent, in order to have control over the artificial intelligence.
*The binary code in the middle of Microserfs is a "hymn" or credo to "My Computer." What do you think is the purpose of this hymn?
The binary code in the middle of Microserfs was by far one of the most interesting portions of the novel. Decoding the binary code was something I tried accomplishing using a website. On the website you can enter the binary code and it decodes it and tells you the meaning. The meaning of the code “My Computer” is that Dan is nothing without his computer, and vice versa, the computer is nothing without Dan. Throughout the novel, Coupland has changed topics and inserted random information throughout the whole novel really without any warning. At one point, Coupland was talking about Dan and Karla, in regards to Karla’s past eating disorder. Once the page is turned, the numbers 0 and 1 go on for two pages. These two pages messages are a hymn. It’s a hymn because it gets the reader thinking about what is being said by using the numbers instead of actual words. Using the numbers instead of words, Coupland presents the readers with a completely different style of writing, one that causes the readers to put more thought and effort into trying to figure out what message Coupland is trying to convey, or simply, what Coupland is trying to say with the hymn. The binary coding is a language in which Dan understands clearly, to him its merely common sense, and he would never have to second guess the message of the coding or the meaning of it. I believe Coupland inserts this in the novel to show how coding plays such an important role in society and how to some people; it is their way of understanding and communication.
Microserfs Reading Response
*What do you think Coupland is saying when he includes random information, random keyboard hits, and snatches of gossip among the journal and e-mail?
In the novel, Microserfs, Coupland inserts many pages with random, nonsense words or keyboard hits. There were many instances where Dan inserted different fonts, sizes, bolded words and italicized words for what seemed to be no apparent reason. At first, the randomness of Dan’s thoughts were scattered and seemed very irrelevant. Dan says, “I’m creating a file of random words that pop into my head and am feeding these words into a desktop file labeled subconscious (Coupland 45). Dan is basically taking all of his random thoughts that he has throughout his days and logging them just to keep track what he thinks. The random information was added so that Coupland could make the reader feel engaged and feel as if the words are in their own subconscious. Throughout our day, there are many random words and thoughts that we really do not express. Coupland helped us as the reader understand Dan a bit better by getting us into his subconscious and let us know what he is thinking and what types of thoughts run through his head. Some of the words or phrases that Dan writes down really get the readers thinking. It helps us understand the character of Dan a bit more than we originally would without the randomness. In essence, instead of reading like a book, the novel read as if it were a journal. Reading it as if it were a journal made the novel a more interesting read, as well as a bit easier to understand.
*Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed... an 'entity' is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
When it comes to intelligence, I believe that there is no limit to any person’s intelligence. Karla says, “Long after we’re dead, computers will continue to be developed and sooner or later—it is not a matter of if, but when an ‘Entity’ is going to be created that has its own intelligence” (Coupland 34). What Karla is saying is that there is no limit to an individual’s intelligence, and because human intelligence is unlimited, they can create artificial intelligence that is just as unlimited. Humans create artificial intelligence to in a sense outlive human intelligence. Karla believes that the humans who create computers and artificial intelligence are working to make sure that computer intelligence indeed to advance far beyond human intelligence. Both, humans and computers progress throughout the years, neither of them get dumber in a sense. What that means is that there is no way the intelligence of computers will one day come to an end, humans will keep advancing computers until possibly, computers will outsmart humans. Karla believes in this, she says “we cannot de-invent computers”(Coupland 34). I believe with advances in computers and artificial intelligence, humans have become lazier, and expect computers and machines to do all the work for them, causing them not to have to think. Advancements in technology are always a good thing, but when we come to a point where computers and artificial intelligence are taking over the work of humans, we know that society has taken a disregard to human intelligence. No matter how advanced artificial intelligence may be, humans must always be more intelligent, in order to have control over the artificial intelligence.
*The binary code in the middle of Microserfs is a "hymn" or credo to "My Computer." What do you think is the purpose of this hymn?
The binary code in the middle of Microserfs was by far one of the most interesting portions of the novel. Decoding the binary code was something I tried accomplishing using a website. On the website you can enter the binary code and it decodes it and tells you the meaning. The meaning of the code “My Computer” is that Dan is nothing without his computer, and vice versa, the computer is nothing without Dan. Throughout the novel, Coupland has changed topics and inserted random information throughout the whole novel really without any warning. At one point, Coupland was talking about Dan and Karla, in regards to Karla’s past eating disorder. Once the page is turned, the numbers 0 and 1 go on for two pages. These two pages messages are a hymn. It’s a hymn because it gets the reader thinking about what is being said by using the numbers instead of actual words. Using the numbers instead of words, Coupland presents the readers with a completely different style of writing, one that causes the readers to put more thought and effort into trying to figure out what message Coupland is trying to convey, or simply, what Coupland is trying to say with the hymn. The binary coding is a language in which Dan understands clearly, to him its merely common sense, and he would never have to second guess the message of the coding or the meaning of it. I believe Coupland inserts this in the novel to show how coding plays such an important role in society and how to some people; it is their way of understanding and communication.
In the novel, Microserfs, Coupland inserts many pages with random, nonsense words or keyboard hits. There were many instances where Dan inserted different fonts, sizes, bolded words and italicized words for what seemed to be no apparent reason. At first, the randomness of Dan’s thoughts were scattered and seemed very irrelevant. Dan says, “I’m creating a file of random words that pop into my head and am feeding these words into a desktop file labeled subconscious (Coupland 45). Dan is basically taking all of his random thoughts that he has throughout his days and logging them just to keep track what he thinks. The random information was added so that Coupland could make the reader feel engaged and feel as if the words are in their own subconscious. Throughout our day, there are many random words and thoughts that we really do not express. Coupland helped us as the reader understand Dan a bit better by getting us into his subconscious and let us know what he is thinking and what types of thoughts run through his head. Some of the words or phrases that Dan writes down really get the readers thinking. It helps us understand the character of Dan a bit more than we originally would without the randomness. In essence, instead of reading like a book, the novel read as if it were a journal. Reading it as if it were a journal made the novel a more interesting read, as well as a bit easier to understand.
*Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed... an 'entity' is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
When it comes to intelligence, I believe that there is no limit to any person’s intelligence. Karla says, “Long after we’re dead, computers will continue to be developed and sooner or later—it is not a matter of if, but when an ‘Entity’ is going to be created that has its own intelligence” (Coupland 34). What Karla is saying is that there is no limit to an individual’s intelligence, and because human intelligence is unlimited, they can create artificial intelligence that is just as unlimited. Humans create artificial intelligence to in a sense outlive human intelligence. Karla believes that the humans who create computers and artificial intelligence are working to make sure that computer intelligence indeed to advance far beyond human intelligence. Both, humans and computers progress throughout the years, neither of them get dumber in a sense. What that means is that there is no way the intelligence of computers will one day come to an end, humans will keep advancing computers until possibly, computers will outsmart humans. Karla believes in this, she says “we cannot de-invent computers”(Coupland 34). I believe with advances in computers and artificial intelligence, humans have become lazier, and expect computers and machines to do all the work for them, causing them not to have to think. Advancements in technology are always a good thing, but when we come to a point where computers and artificial intelligence are taking over the work of humans, we know that society has taken a disregard to human intelligence. No matter how advanced artificial intelligence may be, humans must always be more intelligent, in order to have control over the artificial intelligence.
*The binary code in the middle of Microserfs is a "hymn" or credo to "My Computer." What do you think is the purpose of this hymn?
The binary code in the middle of Microserfs was by far one of the most interesting portions of the novel. Decoding the binary code was something I tried accomplishing using a website. On the website you can enter the binary code and it decodes it and tells you the meaning. The meaning of the code “My Computer” is that Dan is nothing without his computer, and vice versa, the computer is nothing without Dan. Throughout the novel, Coupland has changed topics and inserted random information throughout the whole novel really without any warning. At one point, Coupland was talking about Dan and Karla, in regards to Karla’s past eating disorder. Once the page is turned, the numbers 0 and 1 go on for two pages. These two pages messages are a hymn. It’s a hymn because it gets the reader thinking about what is being said by using the numbers instead of actual words. Using the numbers instead of words, Coupland presents the readers with a completely different style of writing, one that causes the readers to put more thought and effort into trying to figure out what message Coupland is trying to convey, or simply, what Coupland is trying to say with the hymn. The binary coding is a language in which Dan understands clearly, to him its merely common sense, and he would never have to second guess the message of the coding or the meaning of it. I believe Coupland inserts this in the novel to show how coding plays such an important role in society and how to some people; it is their way of understanding and communication.
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