self-determination

Below are some thoughts, on the state of things computing. And, I have two solutions that seem to be timely.

Recently, I re-looked at Javascript and was impressed. Why? It felt like being with the Lisp Machine decades ago, That was a powerful environment (the best was having two cards - Lisp and Unix); and, lots of development came thus. 

• Hence, I wrote this: Code or not.  Be sure to follow the pointer about the 3D graphic engine. My proposal is a truth engine (with a corresponding work bench - one of my labs.  
• The adaptives - I had the opportunity to experience the results of the newer methods. The first bullet concerns issues that are very much needing attention. The WSJ, recently, had an op-ed about machine learning (et al). One MIT guy was quoted that we do not know. Ah, good professor, we do. Ever listen to an autodidact?
• A concept needing some attention deals with our psyche. The information would very well apply to the topics of this post: childhood determination. 

Finally, I wrote this after reading Adam's answer.

 ----- From Quora ------

Adam D'Angelo's answer to How he validated Quora? prompted this thought. I am 1G/2G, by choice. Not that I have not attempted to fit in. However, everywhere I looked it was insanity (yes). Quora stands out for reasons that we can discuss. Codacademy, too, was a fresh breath of air. FB? Not. 3rd Life? Perhaps, Blogger? Great (as cohort of Quora). Wikipedia? Needless to say, the epitome of a lot of things. CMS (Joomla, Drupal, Concrete5, and a whole lot more)? Not (to be discussed).

Aside: One reaction to the rapid rush to change was that I could see the security (and other) downfalls. It’s that other where we need a discussion (Carl, et al). Hence, I settled, for stability, on Linux and non-parametric methods. But, I am now bring in javascript to my HTML/CSS sites (TGSoc lab). As I do this, I’ll blog/discuss the philosophical issues.

The viewpoint? 0, 200, 400, 800. O? Of course, ‘tis now. 800? John and his cronies (this covered a large part of Europe), 200? That bit which created the flyover country. 400? Ah, the key (entry here, colonial times). This all applies (in a sense of symmetry, to this discussion).

So, two points related to various types of bifurcations.

• My decades of software engineering dealt with highly specific problems, though we, of course, used hi-falutin’ mathematics an’d logics. The thing was that we were driven by users who had to do something. The main problem was managing expectations (divergence twixt a smart human’s look and what is possible via computing - very much applies to deep learning - Google, et al, okay?). Word to introduce? SEI (look it up).
• Then came along agile, etc. This was driven by the match up of the human mind with the computer. It led, so far, to the muddy cloud (we can pick this apart and see where are the problems). At the same time, a generation came about that could exploit the situation. Guess what, fellas? That 400 is important (take Harvard, first example of youngsters rebelling - of a certain nature - we really need to study these - say, animal house of 1680 at that esteemed institution). So, the world ate up the stuff from the generation (me? only in part, remember 1G/2G in computing - at the leading edge in mathematics and modeling - in my mind ;>). Now, lots of this new computing reinforced imagination. Some of it helped memory (that is common). The driver, though, was the young buck perturbation spaces. Oh yes, we can talk the economic theory, too. Then, they pushed this off on the world. The result? Well, it’s far from a sustainable state (DOD, you goofed, admit it). Too, the young bucks made oodles of money (Stallman can be used as a counterpoint).

Now, Quora emphasizes thought. That is why you see the convergence (of course, the control via rules helps). Some of the answers have been superb. It’s chief competitor is Wikipedia that has the best accumulated summary of a topic that one can find, many times. Note, Wiki has no ads.

Now, it is, in part, the influence by the commercial minds that screwed things up. I can tell you tales. We need to support engineering, too (I agree with the funny tie guy, science is applied engineering - I said that before him). The computer will be a partner. ‘Enuf (Knowledge-based engineering - Wikipedia - old version, see corresponding sections on the Talk page).

And, so, humans are going to drive things. Our abilities are being ignored in the mad dash after all things automated. Our planet grieves. That was an aside. It is great to have the user remain in control. How are we going to do this? Well, I can relate to that given my experience in the 12 years since leaving an advanced computing position (retirement). We all can (and should) participate. Quora has been a great help in the matter. There are, no doubt, other examples.

Now, about code? Yes, everyone ought to. But, it needs to go along with our mental states. And, that is not borg’ing or altering the brain, necessarily. No, psychether is how it happens, in part. It’s more than Zen and such. However, to each her/his interpretation (that is the key, maintaining truth for oneself - autodidacts will be able to help show the way)

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And so, let the work begin.

Remarks: Modified: 04/27/2017

04/27/2017 --