Small highlights and a Matrix question

So a couple fo things are happening in my life right now. I'm moving.I's a long story ut i am ending my exile in the suburbs for a couple of months in the city. And it might actually save me some moolah..so well see.

Also entering a design contest with my friends in Sweden. And the concept will be based around our distance..I'll say more and post when teh contest is over... deadline Jan 31st.

on to the Matrix..here's my question that i asked two friends of mine today..i''ll post both convrsations though i copied between the two alot..it should be interesting. Yeah so i was having two simultaneous conversations and just sort of spliced them together..rarely altered. Enjoy!!! OH and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!

asante_kofi: ok
asante_kofi: here's a thought
rishispix: careful... slowly... slowly
asante_kofi: in the Matrix a simple modem connection was what was used to connect teh digital world to the analog one
asante_kofi: 56k
rishispix: k
asante_kofi: well ..that's heavy man
asante_kofi: thin about all you know about 56k modems
asante_kofi: and their rliability and stuffrishispix: why is that heavy?
asante_kofi: and then ask yourself this is what i wnat transporting my mind
rishispix: but you're putting "mundane" limitations on it...
rishispix: think of it as a medium between the two worlds...
rishispix: when the modem itself is only a construct...
rishispix: an artificial, virtual thing created in software
asante_kofi: ok ivy league abstractionist i thought ii was the philosophical one
rishispix: for the matrix, the modem is only a piece of software code
rishispix: for the real world, it's the brain jack
rishispix: word
asante_kofi: i think that's an over extension..in reality you have to look at it as purely a modem through a land line
rishispix: not really
asante_kofi: yeah
asante_kofi: really
rishispix: how so?
asante_kofi: brain jack or not..it's a modem..you have to cal
lrishispix: what is "call"?
asante_kofi: a modem made in software ..but still a modem
rishispix: it's just an addressing feature
asante_kofi: oh shut up
rishispix: but the 56 limit again is software
rishispix: think about this
asante_kofi: true
rishispix: 56k is the analog speed over copper wire pair
asante_kofi: but even within those there are limitations cause not everyone was Neo
rishispix: T1 is the "digital" speed over the SAME 24guage copper wire pair
rishispix: what about the "trans-world" speed over the same 24guage copper wire pair
asante_kofi: right but in the world they were living i you weren't T1 ing to a new york city telephone booth
rishispix: again... just software constructs
rishispix: booth or hi-tech lab... it's all code
rishispix: code can be written around
asante_kofi: but they didn't have access to code ..they had access to their own local manipulations but not true access to the code..they couldn't change things in the matrix..only how they accessed it
asante_kofi: well not til neo
rishispix: right.. .you can write code on top of code
rishispix: think of service oriented architecture
rishispix: API's
rishispix: code is written as blocks
rishispix: just redefine how you access, use or manipulate that block
rishispix: on top of thatrishispix: how granular is the block?
rishispix: block = phone, block=phonebooth?
rishispix: block=world
rishispix: or block=copperwire connection between the two
rishispix: and you're not really transporting anything anyway
rishispix: it's a view
rishispix: an interface
asante_kofi: it's still a construct of a 56 unreliable modem...being written on top of to do what..i thik taht was too easily done
rishispix: a window
rishispix: it's just a view into the world
rishispix: until neo and agent smith.. noone actually crossed that line
rishispix: everyone just kinda peeked in
rishispix: phycsially they stayed in the world
rishispix: they just dialed in... remote terminal style to the other world
asante_kofi: right but mentally they had to dial in
rishispix: brb.. gotta go sign a timesheet and do work... be back in 2
asante_kofi: and could only get out through a phone yep
rishispix: ba-ack
rishispix: are you done confusing yourself?
asante_kofi: nope i still don't quite agree
asante_kofi: a remote terminal from a 56k modem even more unreliablerishispix: so your concern is that the 56 modem concept isn't enough to handle "brain" transfer
rishispix: how do you equate the transfer of billions of dollars of equipment and research and time and weight etc ... over a very delicately and carefully controlled series of explosions?
asante_kofi: i;m just saying if it's supposed to be 1990's 56K modem..then i doubt it's strength
asante_kofi: obviously this is a debate between software ppland hardware ppl
rishispix: not sure about that... im not sure which one i am
asante_kofi: software dude..all software
rishispix: do you concede that things are done with software now that hardware used to do maybe 1 generation ago? (define generation as life cycle of technology)
asante_kofi: oh i'm having the same debate with teef and i've cp'd your statements to him
rishispix: and?
asante_kofi: yes i concede..but hardware is still vital
rishispix: i never said it's not
asante_kofi: he agrees with you
rishispix: but extrapolate hw/sw relationship out a few generations...
rishispix: sw will do what hw does "now"... and hw will do newer and better things
rishispix: hw is one step ahead, but sw makes it more efficient, manageable, and scalable
teef1:Interesting. But, it was only the cats on the Nebuchadnezzar dialing in
teef1: I like Rishi's interface analogy
asante_kofi: no in all 3 movies everyone else dialed in..all the rebels
teef1: In software, you can implement an interface any way you see fit, as long as you implement all the interface's methods (in Java at least)
teef1: Well, yes. From the ships, they dialed in
asante_kofi: but how do you account for the strength of the hardware
teef1: Which hardware? The modems?
teef1: How about the improbability that there would be a way to dial into the Matrix without them knowing about it?
asante_kofi: well no that we can conceive cause hackers have been around for awhile
asante_kofi: holes exist
asante_kofi: realizing this is a debate between software ppl and hardware person
teef1: Yes, but we're talking about code written by machines. Machines not limited by sleep or the need to eat. Couldn't they build millions of monitor programs to be watching non-stop?
teef1: Particularly when it's really the ONLY problem they have to address?
asante_kofi: right but even within their programs they had rogue programs no
asante_kofi: yeah..true
asante_kofi: so are we breaking down the whole matrix possibility
teef1: It's funny, because the first movie is on HBO right now
asante_kofi: is this crossing teh line of suspension of disbelief
teef1: I was laughing just now, because Traitor Boy had to drop a cell phone so the Agents would know where they were
teef1: Yes, I think it definitely is
rishispix: so who's not to say that SW can handle the communications requirements that is needed for brain transfer over POTSlines?
asante_kofi: right..but in a replication of aworld ... and the exactness of it..then what they included were the imperfections fo that world
asante_kofi: also
rishispix: take a look at a modern day comapny called www.peribit.com
asante_kofi: taht's why there were problems..and leaks
asante_kofi: humans inherntly flawed
rishispix: of course there are leaks
rishispix: but there are 2 arguments to that in the matrix world
so programs will be flawed
rishispix: 1. chaos theory reigns... nothing will be poerfect
rishispix: 2. imperfaections were required, coded and built into the matrix... as a matter of cyucle of life/programmed chaos, etc etc
rishispix: yup
rishispix: programs will be eternally flawedrishispix: but the initial debate started by second guessing the capacity of 24guage copper wire and analog communications protocol to transfer human minds
asante_kofi: don't go all chaos theory on me here man
rishispix: word

Happy New Year !!!

So at the writing it's 5:47am, Jan 02 2005. An hour ago the last of the holiday guests(read only) left for the airport. As soon as athey left and I hit the bed my mind snapped back to attention. It seems as if i basically took the holiday period off when it came to my stuff. My mind was consumed by the festivities and various traditions and revelry. It's funny cause I knew I had lost a bit of an edge but to have it come almost immediately racing back as soon as the door was shut was eye opening. Though I have to admit it has been a memorable month. I gained back some skills in the kitchen and learned a few new things to add to my culinary arsenal. We also pro a very heavy party schedule at work. It's great when you find yourself in a place of like minded individuals. Even better when you share a space but don't directly work with each other. This way no issues of competitions and work strife will get in the way. Family wise too I was able to give and do more than I thought I would be able to. And for that I know it's only through the Grace of God.

WHo incidently took a slight backseat this period. Which is interesting when you think about how most" Holy-Days" at this time are in someways dedicated to God during this time. But though he wasn't as prominent I realize that he is ubiquitous in his nature. So though he was operating very background he was still operating. I definately got caught up in the whole festive period running around. Which was surprising seeing that I waited very last minute to get in to the whole gift buying thing. But again all the merry making at work got me slowly into the spirit.
Work was also generous in giving us(read all employees) both the thursday and friday off for both Christmas week and New Years week. So back to back 4 day weekend gives you a great chance to rest. But speaking of New Years i have to take issue with this day. I realize that it's just an excuse to party and that's nice and all..but without anything real reason to celebrate i find it very empty. How many time do you have to watch the apple drop in times square? Yeesh! This year was very chill. Went to two small house parties that had some very good food and some boardgame playing. It was nice but very subdued. There has to be more to it. Shouldn't there? Does anyone agree with me on this??

So as Snoop said " Back to the Lecture at hand...". Snapping back to attention gave me a chance to run some thoughts through my head and think about some people and things.

First thing First is that there has been a great tragedy in Southeast Asia and i've sort of avoided it. Mentally, emotionally it has been a little too much to take. However i definately send my prayers to the families of those who lost their lives and to the people who are trying to put things right. The response has been fantastic and hopefully we can continue to support them through this. I would rail against the current regime in the United States who responded 3 days later and with a pultry sum that had to be increased not once but twice but the press has done enough and right now is not the time for negativity. That being said todya someone gave me an interesting quote about the situation. "If a professional athlete can sign a 7 year 100 million dollar contract here in the United States then how can a president promise 15 million for such devastation" . I thought that was a pretty poignant statement. So please people pledge what you can and pray for them. Because the images and the numbers( over 100000 ppl dead) shake me to the bone. It's very overwhelming.

Secondly i have recently been thinking about a friend of mine who is having a bit of a hard time. He's sort of in a tough situation. Came to the states on a student visa and sort of had a hard time his last year. Lots of problems and ended up having to leave school with 3 classes left. All because a counselor todl him that he should leave school and work to save money so he can come back and finish. Well I don't want to say how long it has been but he hasn't been able to finish. So now he can't get loans cause he's no longer eligible and his status is tenuous at best. Well now he's in a tough situation so I'm posting this as a reminder to myself and to also ask those of you who believe in such things to pray for him. At the edge of reason we either have the abyss of insanity or the grace of divinity. Let's call upon the latter. Anyway I believe there is true power in this so please keep him in your thoughts.

Thirdly a couple of things that have been runnning in the back of my mind while I have been sipping on muld wine and enjoying various pastries and confectionaries is how to proceed over the coming year. First I'd like to pay off one of my school loans so i can maybe ask for more money. It's not that much in terms of school loans and doubling my payments would have me finished in a good time. Too bad that means getting a second job But there is much motivatiion for it. So i've started looking for it. I don't know what i can do since i haven't worked a small job for like 7 years but whatever it takes right. Also i'll be begging for money yes Paypal will be put upon the oh so small readership of this blog. That being said the worthwhileness of the blog will have to go up. SO i'll be posting pr0n. Ha kidding but i have to work on it. And see what i can do to open up the readership a little. That being said what do you ppl think.??? PLEASE LET ME KNOW ANY IDEAS AND THOUGHTS YOU HAVE ON THIS.. I'm serious!! The timeline for school is 9 months. In 9 months I have to be on a plane flying to london to begin another stage of my life. I'm asking for your help and hope that i can make it worth your while. (p.s. since december was so slack i'll be getting to those drawings starting monday).

And since I'll be getting this second job..whenever I'll be streamlining my life alittle. I'm gonna forgo the gym and take a yoga class once a week. Something that gets me stretching and gives me some core physical strength without the focus on muscle inflation. I'm not that big anyway and you have to play to your strengths. Mine happens to be flexibility. I've also found a studio that lets ppl do walk in figure drawing classes. perfect way to regain some of my drawing technique. Hopefully they have someone there helping u improve.

So it looks to be a busy time coming up. hopefully I can keep it up and accomplish it all. As my friends I truly respect your opinion so please let me know what you think about the little financial issues i brought up. Thanks for reading.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

K

ps applied to scholarship..will post essay here soon!!!