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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (142870)	8/8/2004 10:21:19 PM
From: bela_ghoulashi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

It's such a blessing that nothing of consequence ever takes place in New Zealand, so that we in America get the full, undivided benefit of your ever-flowing sagacity.

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (142870)	8/9/2004 12:36:42 PM
From: carranza2	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

Mq., the observed/observer effect is limited to quantum states, i.e., it is seen only in very small particles. We will not change OBL's physical characteristics by observing him. He will not disappear; he's located somewhere and we will find and kill the SOB. AI is not in trouble. It is very difficult to do, however. I think DenBeste got it right. I don't think we are the height of biological existence. It's immensely silly to think so. We are simply chimps whose consciousness became self-regulating when somehow our bicameral brain broke down and the left side of our brain communicated with the right. This allowed parallel processing to take place intra-cerebrally. Before that physiological change took place, we were basically no different than a smart dog. Humanity as we know it was born when left brain/right brain communication first took place. Take a look at the experiments performed by Nobel winner Roger Sperry dealing with the effects of having the corpus callosum--the physical link between the right and the left brain--severed: Important as his work on neurospecificity was, it was not this for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1981, but his discoveries on split brains. Essentially, Sperry and his students showed that if the two hemispheres of the brain are separated by severing the corpus callosum (the large band of fibers that connects them), the transfer of information between the hemispheres ceases, and the coexistence in the same individual of two functionally different brains can be demonstrated. The findings contradicted the generally held view--again based on misinterpretation of evidence--that sectioning of the corpus callosum produced no definite behavioral effects. The probable explanation is that the two hemispheres, although separated from one another, are usually in agreement, so that no obvious conflict results. By means of ingenious tests, however, Sperry and his group showed that definite behavioral phenomena can be demonstrated following the brain-splitting operation. nobel.se We have two brains. The corpus callosum mediates parallel processing. This was an immensely important discovery since it explains our ability to integrate disparate processes while being focused on one subject. You might also want to read Julain Jaynes' book. Here's a preview: bizcharts.com Computers can't yet come even close to doing what we do. I think it will be centuries before the computer equivalent of a working corpus callosum can be built. It is a very long way off--centuries, in my view, if ever. You really think a computer will be able to have the insights that Dr. J., Dr. Viterbi, and Klein Gilhousen had? No way! You can't construct creativity. C2@parallelprocessthat!.com

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (142870)	8/9/2004 2:26:30 PM
From: Noel de Leon	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

Here are some similarities between Bush II and Saddam and between the USA and Iraq. Bush and Saddam 1) Both are men 2) Both are presidents at the peak of their careers 3) Both are probably worried about the judgement of future generations 4) Both have children and long marriages 5) Both believe in military power as an important instrument to achieve their goals 6) Both have family members in politics and they use them. 7) Both came to power without being democratically elected. 8) Both believe(strongly) that they themselves are good and the other is evil. 9) Both believe that they have a mission: to uproot what they define as evil. 10) Both are political fundamentalists in that they believe that they are 100% in the right and the other is 100% wrong. 11) Both are probably honestly god fearing. Their god leads them and has given them a mission. 12) Both have a good portion machismo, Bush II constantly harps on the theme that he is the leader of the world's only super power, Saddam played with swords, pistols, and rifles. USA and Iraq 1) Both are monotheistic and their monotheism is based on one truth which leads to a low tolerance for the "other". 2) Both believe in maintaining a military-industrial complex. The USA has a global one, Iraq tried to build a regional one. 3) Both believe in the usefulness of WMDs. 4) Both are willing to fight wars on another country's land. 5) Both have a clear belief that their society is civilized. 6) Both have great power ambitions, the USA globally, Iraq, regionally 7) Both believe that they are chosen people, one over the Arabic peoples, the other over the West or even the world. 8) Both have a high level of modernization which was achieved through education and investment in modern science and technology. 9) Both are fascinated by everything that is western, science, technology, consumption, western life style and entertainment except where it is morally offensive. 10) Both feel that they have been wounded, the US because of 9/11, Iraq because of the sanctions. 11) Both see Israel as a central factor in the ME, the US as an ally, Iraq as a threat. 12) Both have reduced the individual's civil rights. 13) Multi cultural and multi ethnic societies. No need to go into the USA's multi cultural and ethnic society, few are aware of the ethnic, religious, national, clan related and other complexities in the Iraqi society. 14) Oil is important for both societies. 15) Few party systems in both countries. 16) Both are strong anti communist. There are probably other similarities. The point is that these similarities are not discussed in the media or by politicians.