AI = Seeds

 Can you explain how a seed germinates?  I don't mean adding water and sunlight.  I mean what is inside the seed that makes it start to grow into an entity.  No one can.  No one completely understands how and why.  The same is true of AI.

I never thought about that until reading Magnifica Humanitas.  The terminology used in paragraph 98, is cultivated.  AI is not built; it is more like a seed that has been watered and put in the sun. The computer designers and software and hardware designers create a framework within which the intelligence works.  It is like the sun and water on the seed.  The seed blossoms into something.  The designers try this and that until the right combination gels, and it blossoms into something.  How and why?  Presently, no one knows.  

Hold on!

Exactly.  More research, more understanding needs to be done, before full permission is given to just plunge forward.  Remember the movie, Hal 9000. The problem is that the humans trust, depend, and follow the computer HAL.  HAL is the authority over the humans.  The movie is a cautionary story.

HAL 9000 at a Glance#

Designation	Detail
Full name	HAL 9000: Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer
First appearance	2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), film and novel developed in parallel by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke
Activation	12 January 1992 at the HAL plant in Urbana, Illinois (the film’s date; the novel says 1997)
Function	Governing intelligence of Discovery One: navigation, communications, diagnostics, life support
Voice	Douglas Rain, who returned for 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)
Confirmed kills	Frank Poole and the three hibernating crew members of Discovery One
Cultural standing	Ranked the 13th greatest film villain of all time by the American Film Institute, the highest placed non-human on the list

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Battle of the Bulge

The Second Objective by Mark Frost was written for readers interested in military history.  The setting is Europe, WWII.  The Nazis are losing and they make a last ditch effort to take control.  We encounter the Battle of the Bulge and a counter plan to assassinate the commander of the allies.  

The characterization was good.  Heroes and villains depicted humanity's best and worst.  The pace could have belonged to a "thriller."  I learned a little history even though I thought I knew it.

 

Everybody Suspect

 This is my first PD James book.  I read Death in Holy Orders.  The detective is Adam Dalgliesh and I understand he is in PD James' other books.  I did not guess "who done it?"  It seemed like everybody had a motive.  Also, many had shaky alibis.  

This is what happened.  The setting is on the coast of northern England, where it is harsh, cold, and storm ridden.  The place is a seminary.  They call their seminarians--ordinands.  They wear cassocks and clocks.  This is high church Anglican.  The place is St. Anselm's Theological College.  Dalgliesh's father was a minister and the family often vacation and /or had retreats there.  Dalgliesh in particular had fond memories or summer spent there.  That is why he is assigned to investigate the death of an ordinand.

The death could have been an accident or suicide.  While Dalgliesh is investigating, there at the college, the Archdeacon is murdered.  There are a couple of other deaths, also; if not murder, then suspicious. 

Not only is the mysteries interesting, but the characters and their psyches are interesting.  I found the novel rich in setting, plot, dialogue, suspense, and characterization.  This will not be my last PD James mystery.  

A Chaplain

 Did you know where the noun "chaplain" comes from.  According to Dale K. Pace, in A Christian's Guide to Effective Jail and Prison Ministries, "chaplain" comes from "cape."  The story is told that St. Martin of Tours tore his cape in half and gave it to a beggar.  Chaplains care and serve others.  

God is In Fashion

 News reports are commenting that there is renewed interest in God.  Maybe it's an American pope, but that doesn't explain the interest in Spain and France.  I think the interest stems from so many years of no spirituality.  Suddenly people notice--an American pope, Christian singers, Religious tattoos, etc.  

Sacrifice

This poster appeared in my feed just when my friend was complaining that she didn't understand why God, who controls everything, couldn't think of another way to redeem us, rather than crucifying Jesus. 

 The words, "Biblical worship," made me think.  At Jesus time, especially before, worship consisted of sacrificing.  Not only did people sacrifice goats, lambs, but even people!!!!!  So, Jesus dying as a sacrifice to redeem mankind would not seem so horrific to the people of the times.  He is even called Lamb of God.

Ex Machina

 Book of Souls by Glenn Cooper is the second in the series featuring Will Piper.  I highly recommend reading the first in the series, Library of the Dead, otherwise I don't think you will understand the story.  I did read Library of the Dead and was glad to connect the dots.

In the Book of Souls, Will get caught up in finding a missing book, that was one of the ones written in Library of the Dead.  He was trying to help a couple of FBI colleagues.  They were retired, as he was.  But one of them, made a deal with Will that involved too much money--a deal he couldn't refuse.

In getting the book back and solving the mystery the book led Will to, he encounters medieval letters from Shakespeare, John Calvin, and Nostradamus.  Of course, this is all a violation of the agreement Will made with the government.  Will almost gets killed.  But his wife, Nancy, saves him.  

Good, because there's a sequel.  Stay tuned.