An Interesting Thought
It occurred to me that this is the first time in my life that I’ve had real trust in my President.
What an odd thing.
Obama is President
The audience wanted to celebrate but it was a stern – and brilliant – inaugural speech.
I watched it in my office break room. It wasn’t my first choice for a location, but at least I got to see it with other people. Aretha Franklin! Yo-Yo Ma!
And that rascal Roberts trying to get him to flub! He even skipped the part about protecting us from enemies, both foreign and domestic!
But – wiping a tear and sighing happily – I’m so glad.
From now on – I vow to extend a hand also…. if you will unclench your fist.
That’s not weakness, but a very singular kind of strength.
It was a “gird your loins” speech, which makes me think that he’s gotten some information that we don’t yet know, even given everything we already do know.
But I can’t be apprehensive today. I’m too glad in my soul.
Congrats to Barack Obama – and to America. A new day has come.
Buy John’s Book
I have been seriously remiss in my intellectual (and wifely) support! I haven’t even urged you to buy, read, and comment on hubby’s book – The Allure of Machinic Life: Cybernetics, Artificial Life, and the New AI (Bradford Books, MIT Press)
Preview The Allure of Machinic Life at Google Books.
I’m a little annoyed about the title, since I preferred “The Lure of Machinic Life” to “The Allure of Machinic Life.” However, the absolutely wonderful bit on me me me in the acknowledgments almost makes up for it. The book cover is extra-special, too, because it features a suggestive artwork by our friend Joseph Nechvatal.
I’m biased, but I’m also a pretty good critical reader – and this book is fantastic. I think it’s been mislabeled by the marketing people, so I’m afraid that it won’t be read – and that would really be a shame.
Review
“John Johnston is to be applauded for his engaging and eminently readable assessment of the new, interdisciplinary sciences aimed at designing and building complex, life-like, intelligent machines. Cybernetics, information theory, chaos theory, artificial life, autopoiesis, connectionism, embodied autonomous agents—it’s all here!”
—Mark Bedau, Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Reed College, and Editor-in-Chief, Artificial LifeIn The Allure of Machinic Life, John Johnston examines new forms of nascent life that emerge through technical interactions within human-constructed environments—”machinic life”—in the sciences of cybernetics, artificial life, and artificial intelligence. With the development of such research initiatives as the evolution of digital organisms, computer immune systems, artificial protocells, evolutionary robotics, and swarm systems, Johnston argues, machinic life has achieved a complexity and autonomy worthy of study in its own right.
Drawing on the publications of scientists as well as a range of work in contemporary philosophy and cultural theory, but always with the primary focus on the “objects at hand”—the machines, programs, and processes that constitute machinic life—Johnston shows how they come about, how they operate, and how they are already changing. This understanding is a necessary first step, he further argues, that must precede speculation about the meaning and cultural implications of these new forms of life.
Developing the concept of the “computational assemblage” (a machine and its associated discourse) as a framework to identify both resemblances and differences in form and function, Johnston offers a conceptual history of each of the three sciences. He considers the new theory of machines proposed by cybernetics from several perspectives, including Lacanian psychoanalysis and “machinic philosophy.” He examines the history of the new science of artificial life and its relation to theories of evolution, emergence, and complex adaptive systems (as illustrated by a series of experiments carried out on various software platforms). He describes the history of artificial intelligence as a series of unfolding conceptual conflicts—decodings and recodings—leading to a “new AI” that is strongly influenced by artificial life. Finally, in examining the role played by neuroscience in several contemporary research initiatives, he shows how further success in the building of intelligent machines will most likely result from progress in our understanding of how the human brain actually works.
Language is not only a virus (grin) but also an essential bit of the block of the discourse network that co-evolves with technological change and human action to give rise to the computational assemblage; or, machinic life is always already within you (and without you) but here are some of the details.
Now – go forth and buy many copies, and tell all thine friends (and thine enemies as well) to read and discuss.
Try these too!
- Information Multiplicity: American Fiction in the Age of Media Saturation
- Literature, Media, Information Systems: Essays by Friedrich A. Kittler (Critical Voices)
– (introduction, edited and translated)
- Carnival of Repetition: Gaddis’s the Recognitions and Postmodern Theory (Penn Studies in Contemporary American Fiction)
- Foucault Live: Interviews, 1961-84
– (translated)
- In the Shadow of the Silent Majorities (Semiotext(e) / Foreign Agents) – Jean Baudrillard
– (translated)
- On The Line (Foreign Agents) РGilles Deleuze and F̩lix Guattari
– (translated)
Tip for the sniff snuffle cough wheeze COUGH
It appears as though my “get sick for Christmas” tradition is active again this year. Can’t blame the tree, since it started before I got it. I’ve got to work tomorrow, but that’s my last day. I’m hoping to get ecards out – at least – before Christmas. I managed to send out a box to my mom and grandma – who are adjusting to sharing a house again after all these years – but that’s about it. So today the plan is to putter around very slowly, and catch up on some work that needs to be done around the house.
I think I still have some Swiss Kriss – my secret weapon – around here somewhere. This stuff is the only thing I know about that might help, since I’ve started wheezing now. Swiss Kriss is a laxative tea. I’ve never actually tasted it, but the combination of herbs is powerful.
Here’s what to do:
- Prepare a space on the counter, and grab a big towel.
- Get a nice wide pot and boil some water in it.
- Throw in a bunch of the Swiss Kriss tea.
- Turn the heat down to a simmer.
- Make it at least double the strength of tea that you’d drink, steeping for at least five minutes.
- Carefully transfer the pot onto the counter.
- Drape the towel over the back of your head like a parachute, to catch as much of the steam as you can.
- Be careful not to burn yourself. Gradually move into the steam.
- Take regular, deep breaths through your nose and mouth.
- Almost immediately, your sinuses will drain.
- Then your face will sweat, and you’ll start coughing.
- Continue to breathe in the herbal steam for at least 10 minutes.
This clears out all the gunk in your sinuses and in your lungs, and it’s even good for your skin. I usually follow up with a nice long shower to amplify the effect.
I’m really sensitive to decongestants and antihistamines and I try to avoid both. This more mechanical method has always been a lot more effective for me.
Countering Westboro Demonstrators with Love, Love, Love
The Westboro Baptist Church group was stationed in Atlanta at the corner of Chamblee Tucker Road and Henderson Road, a block or so from the church where the funeral was being held. Their signs said things like “God Hates You,” “America is Doomed,” “Pray for More Dead Soldiers” and various other anti-government and anti-gay sentiments. One sign portrayed stick figures wearing Santa hats and engaging in anal intercourse. This seems pretty typical, judging by some of the photos on Flickr. 
Drivers couldn’t really see the Westboro group until they were right up on them. This is very near a highway exit. It was really interesting to watch the cars going by. I got a few thumbs up and smiles. They got a number of shouts and some old-fashioned flipping off. However, most of the people in cars were either studiously pretending not to see what was happening or talking excitedly on their cellphones.
It was actually pretty low-key as these things go. DeKalb police guarded the entrance and exit to the church, and the demonstrators were about half a block away. If you came in for the funeral on Henderson Road, you wouldn’t even have seen them. I suspect that it was a different sort of scene at the other, probably more prominent, Atlanta event at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church – maybe that’s why the demonstrators here were mostly female. They didn’t seem to have a serious interest in personally provoking anyone at this particular event. They laughed and jeered a little, but it was very easy to disregard them, partly because I stood on the corner across the street on Henderson (on the same side of the road on Chamblee Tucker).
It was a little scary for me at first and I was shaking for the first ten minutes or so, but then it got better when I started focusing on love. I let my favorite songs of love play in my mind, and I imagined beaming with healing, caring energy. It was wonderful.
My sign was clearly a home-made sort of thing, just one of the big posters we use for my son’s school projects. The details at the bottom probably weren’t readable at a distance, but that’s all right.
I was the only one there with an alternative message. I maintained silence and simply held the sign up to cars driving by.
On my way home, I passed the officers guarding the entrance and exit of the church where the funeral was being held. Knowing why they were there, I slowed and gave them a thumbs up. To my surprise, they returned the gesture! That felt really… really good – an unexpected thing.
Thank you to everyone who helped me decide what was best.
It was very much worth doing.
Westboro Baptist Church Coming Here?!? Oh no.
This letter was forwarded to me as part of the neighborhood watch.
Dear Embry Hills Family,
Many of you are already aware that Embry Hills is scheduled to be a picket site for the Westboro Baptist Church on Saturday, December 13th. The picketers will be here as a result of the memorial service for Keith Jernigan. In light of the information and misinformation that is circulating, I am writing to you to offer the facts and provide a word or two to those of you who plan to worship with the Jernigan family on Saturday.
Westboro Baptist Church is located in Topeka, Kansas, and they are a Primitive Baptist congregation. You can do your own research on the church and its teachings if you wish. I prefer not to grant their ideas any credence here, but it is important for you to know that their presence on Saturday has nothing to do with Embry Hills Church. Westboro Baptist Church monitors the locations of the services for soldiers who die in Afghanistan and Iraq, and their picketers show up wherever those services are held. Their message is vile, cruel and legally protected. According to Captain R.K. Ellison of the DeKalb County Police, the picketers will be located on the sidewalk at the corner of Henderson Mill and Chamblee-Tucker Roads. They plan to picket between 1:00 and 1:45 P.M. on Saturday.
DeKalb County law enforcement officials have been extremely helpful in preparing logistically for the service on Saturday. There will be an appropriate contingent of law enforcement officials to oversee the demonstration and to provide traffic direction, if necessary.
Please be advised that one of the goals of the picketers is to evoke strong responses. My best advice is to ignore them and not to grant them any part of your personal power. This is the brave approach that the Jernigan family is taking; if Toni, Bill and Wade can do that, then surely we can, too. The Jernigans invite you to rise above the protest and to join them in celebrating Keith’s life. There will be no counter-protesters present, by specific request of the Jernigan family. Please honor the Jernigans’ wishes by ignoring the protesters rather than attempting in any way to respond to them. Thankfully, the location of their picket is far more preferable than the sidewalk in front of our building and will make it easier for us to pass by them and even to pray for them in love as we do so. Of course, you can avoid them altogether if you approach the church traveling north on Henderson Mill.
Now, a few words of logistical instruction regarding Saturday.
In order to allow for maximum on-site parking for guests, I am encouraging Embry Hills members to carpool. We expect a sizable congregation for Saturday’s service, a wonderful testament of love for Keith and support for Keith’s family. Please do what you can to use as few spaces as possible.
Please know that “Night in Bethlehem†has been moved indoors, because of the forecast of very cold temperatures. As a result, there will be no access to the building from the Education Wing, and the driveway from the front to the rear of the building will be blocked. You may access the front parking lot from both driveways, but your only access to the rear parking lot will be on the Sanctuary side.
If any of us on the staff can answer any questions for you, please let us know.
I know that we’re all praying for the Jernigan family, and they appreciate it so much.
Embry Hills is very nearby. I don’t know how I will be able to physically restrain myself from going there. The family wishes for them to be ignored, and normally I would respect a family’s wishes. But if they are picketing up the street…
I would really appreciate your opinions. If you were here, what would you do? This may be legally protected, but their actions and messages are wrong and profoundly destructive.
Yes, I do make a judgment here. Jesus might forgive them, but I have a hard time.
They have a thing for funerals, and love to show up for the deaths of gays, soldiers and boy scouts in particular.
I never have agreed with Bush’s war policies, but to blame a soldier for them is wrong. To put the stamp of God on that opinion is more than wrong; it’s a sin against the Spirit of Love, against God. This is how Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church (and really, it’s wrong to call it Baptist) describes its purpose in protesting the funeral of Keith Jernigan:
12/13/2008 -1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Atlanta -Embry Hills United Methodist Church – Army Corpse, YAY! 3304 Henderson Mill Rd Yikes! God has killed another Army brute! There is nowhere safe for those of you who put on a uniform for this perverse and God-despising nation of hypocrites and whoremongers. You take your life in your own hands, and God is killing your fellow countrymen! Woe be to those in the armed forces of Doomed America! It would have been better that you had not been born/signed up for that foolish cause. There is no protecting a nation that God does not protect (Psalm 128:1)- your watchmen- your marines- your national guard-your air force- your army- your navy- none of them can win this fight against God! RUN FROM THAT FAG-INFESTED and GOD-HATING association of brute beasts! The flag is a piece of cloth; it can not save your souls from the fires of HELL! You had better listen to us, or you will join William K. Jernigan in the Lake of Fire! He ignorantly sinned away his day of Grace and brought WRATH down on his head! America is Doomed! Amen.
I feel the need to do something. Even just make a sign and stand there across the street. Anything. I could peacefully protest with a compelling message, like “Don’t Hate” or “God doesn’t hate” or “Jesus would think you’re a jerk” or just “Love, Peace, Respect.” I can think of any number of things. The fruits of the spirit, maybe, or even something humorous.
Or I could stay home.
I have to make a decision about this. There are several people who read this blog who are very insightful on spiritual and/or political matters. This is a bit of both, and I would like to hear your feedback, thoughts, opinions, perspectives and ideas.
Please comment.
P.S. Wow, that was quick: 