Saturday, December 26, 2020

I practiced coloring a cartoon I found on the web.




I also improved the text and graphics, to the best of my limited ability.


I have no idea who the original artist of this cartoon is.


Friday, December 25, 2020

My 2020 Christmas meal


I also ate a side order of green bean casserole.


I genuinely hope that the year 2021 will become far better for everyone than the year 2020 was.


Wednesday, December 16, 2020

The comic I’m reading this week

I have finished reading the first six chapters of a truly great manga named Task Force for Paranormal Disaster Management.  The story, characters, and world building are especially impressive.


https://mangakakalot.com/manga/wl923659


Tuesday, December 15, 2020

For my fellow Star Trek fans


Please read David Gerrold’s “The World of Star Trek” especially the chapter, ”Part Four, Star Trek Analyzed – The Unfulfilled Potential”.  For the original series, Gerrold praises what was done right, while condemning what was done wrong.  Gerrold wrote the script for the original Star Trek episode “The Trouble with Tribbles”, so he had an insider’s view of the original Star Trek series.  As a fan of the original Star Trek series, I bought my copy for $1.50 in my youth and have read it several times.


The comic I’m reading this week

This week, I’m reading “Cylcia = Code”.  While loaded with fan service, there is a great story based on a new twist on the Matrix and Sword Art Online franchises.  If you like Gainax animated series, I know that you might like Cylcia = Code.


https://mangakakalot.com/read-yq7am158504926062


Sunday, December 13, 2020

You should remember to pick up your trash


I found this note posted in the elevator.  As the elevator was clean, someone must have picked up that trash.


Third floor bulletin board


This is the bulletin board for the third floor HRA office that once was a resident community room.  This new bulletin board replaces one that was pilfered by some thief.


“Wait, It Gets Worse!” Part 5


Some people still need masks, which are being handed out by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth, MN staff.  I love these posters that tell people where to get their masks and then how to wear them.  This poster is posted on the second floor, west of the Second Street entrance.


Friday, December 11, 2020

“Wait, It Gets Worse!” Part 3


These are more informative Covid-19 pandemic notices posted on the north side, second floor, Second Street entrance into King Manor.  I will note here that because Duluth, Minnesota is built on a hill, that the main entrance is on the second floor.


Wednesday, December 9, 2020

“Wait, It Gets Worse!” Part 2


I found that the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth, MN posted their Covid-19 pandemic notice on the ground floor entrance into King Manor.  This proves that the more you look around you, the more topics you can find to blog about.


Tuesday, December 8, 2020

“Wait, It Gets Worse!”


As a Halo game fan, this heartbreaking Covid-19 outbreak in my King Manor apartment building reminds of the title in Halo - Episode 7B – “Wait, It Gets Worse!”

First, the Covid-19 pandemic was at the nearby St Ann's Residence, a 5 minute walk from home.  Then, the Covid-19 pandemic was in Tri-Towers Apartments, a 3 minute walk from home.  And now, the Covid-19 pandemic is in King Manor, and maybe even on my floor.  The Covid-19 pandemic could even be next door!


Sunday, December 6, 2020

Life lessons I learned from playing role-playing games.

Never be a non-player character (NPC) in your life.  Always be aware of the things you can change, the things you can’t change, with the wisdom to know the difference between the two things.


Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Sunday, November 29, 2020

I found a misleading sign at King Manor


In King Manor, looking at the Second Street skywalk, I found a misleading sign.  The sign should tell people, “The skywalk is open to the other side of the street.  However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rainbow Community Center is closed.  You must use the North Second Avenue East entrance that is next to the parking lot to gain access to Tri-Towers Apartments.”


Saturday, November 28, 2020

The comic I’m reading this week

I have spent the last few days reading the manga Re:Monster.  Warning, this manga is meant for adults with mature themes of excessive violence, excessive blood and gore, with nudity along with sexual themes.  Thus, I considered dropping it several times.  Hypersensitive readers should avoid it altogether.


Yet, Re:Monster  has many creative ideas, especially for those running fantasy tabletop role-playing games.  In the future, it could make for an interesting adult, animated series.


https://mangakakalot.com/read-fo2fv158504832096


Thursday, November 26, 2020

It is that time of year once again


It is that time of year once again that I post another image of my yummy Thanksgiving Day dinner.  My friend Bard and my friend Frank made this meal for our circle of friends to eat in our apartments.  I wish I was eating something like this on a long-distance Amtrak train.


Sunday, November 22, 2020

Something unusual I found near my King Manor apartment


On the alley between First Street and Second Street, I found an abandoned toilet about twenty feet from North 2nd Avenue East.  You never discover what you could find just by going on a short walk from your home.


An antiques and collectibles shop was burning on First Street, part 5

 


My last image was taken from the ally between First Street and Second Street.  Someone I know told me that the worst thing about this fire was that it didn’t burn the adult bookstore next door.


An antiques and collectibles shop was burning on First Street, part 4


I wonder how many hundreds of gallons of water are going into the antiques shop to put out the fire.



I took another image of the fire from First Street, looking east.


An antiques and collectibles shop was burning on First Street, part 3


I could smell the smoke from this fire from my apartment building.



I can see that half of the firefighters were standing around, watching their fellow crew members fight the severe fire.


An antiques and collectibles shop was burning on First Street, part 2


This image was taken on First Street, with the blaze being fought by a number of firefighters.



The burning items did create much smoke that could be seen for miles around the antiques shop.


An antiques and collectibles shop was burning on First Street, part 1


I was relieved that this intense smoke was not from the once la-di-da Pastoret Terrace.  Instead, the fire was at 118 East 1st Street, being fought at First Street and the alley between First Street and Superior Street.  This image was taken on North Second Avenue East, looking west.



While standing on First Street, I saw this man who had competed putting up portable street barriers.  This image was taken on North First Avenue East, looking east.


Saturday, November 21, 2020

Today, I thought that the Kozy Bar & Apartments were on fire again.


From this angle and King Manor, it looked like the former Pastoret Terrace, designed by architect Oliver Traphagen, now the Kozy, was on fire again.



I felt sick when thinking that this historic "Romanesque Revival building, faced in brick and brownstone" was on fire again.



But, when I got to First Street, I saw to my relief that the former Pastoret Terrace was not burning at all.  But, where was all that smoke coming from?


I found this Regulating Transhumanism poster on the third floor, A. B. Anderson Hall (ABAH) at UMD Duluth, part 7.

What about the legal rights of artificial intelligence (AI) that is based upon the human brain?  What about the legal rights of artificial intelligence supplemented with billions of human neurons?  An Australian startup is now building tiny disembodied brains, using actual, biological neurons embedded on specialized computer chips.  In the future, we need to create laws protecting the rights of artificial intelligence that are based upon human neurons.

 

What legal rights does a self-aware artificial intelligence have?  Suppose that a self-aware artificial intelligence creates things that are sold.  For example, a Vocaloid is a singing voice synthesizer software product.  Imagine a self-aware Vocaloid that composes original music.  I assert that a self-aware Vocaloid that composes original music, such as future versions of Hatsune Miku, Megurine Luka, or Gakupo Kamui should get a share of the profits from their original music that they themselves compose.  In addition, an artificial intelligence that risks their existence in risky jobs, such as space mining, will be paid for their work.


Friday, November 20, 2020

I found this Regulating Transhumanism poster on the third floor, A. B. Anderson Hall (ABAH) at UMD Duluth, part 6.

Inspired by a Regulating Transhumanism wall poster that I found at UMD; let’s explore sensible regulations on Transhumanism technology that could impact humans and human society.  Humans have always created successful regulations while advancing and implementing technology such as airplanes, automobiles, and trains.  Creating sensible regulations on Transhumanism technology will be no different from all the other inventions that humans have created in the past.

 

Prospective parents must have the right to ensure that their offspring are physically and mentally healthy individuals.  However, do they have the right to predetermine their offspring’s appearance or personality?  Is it legal for me to predetermine that my son will have blond hair with blue eyes having the voice of Frank Sinatra, or my daughter will have red hair with green eyes having the voice of Carrie Underwood?  Should the law allow Star Trek married couples to have children and themselves to look like the Andorians, Klingons, or Vulcans?  Should the law allow furry fandom married couples to have furry children who have body fur, animal ears, and tails?  In 2020, I don’t know the answer to those important questions.

 

With Transhumanism technology, every human could become their own unique species.  Therefore, our human society needs Transhumanism regulations to make sure that ordinary civilians don’t get dangerous body parts such as venomous fangs such as the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake or have the ability to give dangerous electrical shocks such as the electric eel.

 

When I was in elementary school, one of my school teachers told my class that he had to teach subjects by teacher lecture and student memorization because “I can’t pour the information you need to learn in class into your minds”.  I asked myself, “Why not find a way to pour the information we students need to learn in class into our minds?”  Neuroscientists have already found a way to record a memory into the mind of a mouse.  So, why not use more sophisticated machines to record a memory into the mind of a human.

 

For example, I’d love to sleep for eight hours in a downloading machine and wake up knowing how to use Source Filmmaker and the Valve Hammer Editor to make short, animated films based on my stories.  Yet, I want strong regulations that no malware is downloaded into my mind along with the information that I want to learn.


Wednesday, November 18, 2020

The comic I’m reading this week

I am reading, Solo Leveling”, that is a South Korean, action adventure comic formatted for the web.  This comic has some adult themes of strong language and violence.  But, if you can handle most action movies, you can handle reading this.  I highly recommend this entertaining story, with breathtaking art.

https://manganelo.com/manga/pn918005


An open letter for the Catalyst Story Institute & Content Festival staff

My first idea is inspired by Spalding Gray's Swimming to Cambodia; my idea is to have writers submit scripts of up to three minutes.  All that would be needed would be one, two, three actors sitting on chairs.  In the workshop, the scripts that are approved beforehand would be filmed, edited, and then approved to be posted on the web before the seated audience.


I will send you my submission script upon request.


Second, I propose several panels for the cast and crew of Star Trek Continues, one of the most successful and award winning fan series on the Internet.  As a Star Trek fan, I would love to hear and see how a group of fans were able to create new episodes based on the first Star Trek series.  I think that these panels would be very popular while increasing attendance at Catalyst!


Tuesday, November 17, 2020

What I found when I got up early this fine morning.

 


The red and orange sunrise light was being reflected off of my kitchen light fixture.  I have never seen that before.  I think that is a really cool reflection of the morning sunrise.


Monday, November 16, 2020

My biggest question for the Half-Life franchise development staff

In the game, the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit Marines and then the Black Operations agents mission was to eliminate anyone with knowledge of the research project, as well as bystanders such as the security guards, or bring them topside for questioning.  Who ordered that mission and then why did the Marines follow those orders that are illegal under the US military criminal justice system and international laws such as the Geneva Conventions.


Saturday, November 14, 2020

My new names for Green Bay, Wisconsin

To celebrate the Packers winning season, here are my new names for Green Bay, Wisconsin.

 

Packerville

 

Cheese Head Town

 

Lombardi City


Friday, November 13, 2020

Who or what is Carpe Diem?


Carpe diem, (Latin: “pluck the day” or “seize the day”) is a phrase used by the Roman poet Horace to express the idea that one should enjoy life while one can.


Image was taken looking north on East Second Street, under the skywalk between King Manor and the now closed Rainbow Community Center.  King Manor and the Rainbow Community Center sure have been a much studied topic for this blog over the last few years.


What’s more, that is remarkably good advice coming from street graffiti.  Thus, I seized the day by making my blog post.


Thursday, November 12, 2020

I found this Regulating Transhumanism poster on the third floor, A. B. Anderson Hall (ABAH) at UMD Duluth, part 5.

“Delay is the enemy of progress.”

- Eliot Spitzer

 

Could we create Transhumanism technology to erase everyone of their antisocial behavior?  That would mean that no one would ever fear robbery, sexual assault, or murder by individuals or gangs ever again.  I am all for this, while realizing that some mentally ill, violent criminals would resist being changed for the better.  Do some people have the right to remain mentally impaired or mentally insane?  What about using Transhumanism technology to decrease the influence of our reactionary, fight or flight reptilian brains, while increasing the influence of our commonsensical and rational frontal lobes?

 

Sensible regulations on Transhumanism technology will give us more tools to assist the mentally ill and physically disabled.  However, we must take care to not allow Transhumanism technology to be misused as bullies and tyrants misuse the technology we have now.  With the power of words alone, cruelly malicious outlaws such as Charles Manson, David Koresh, and Jim Jones incited their weak-willed and indecisive followers to become felonious criminals.  Transhumanism technology will allow ordinary people to armor their minds.  It will give these ordinary people the good sense, sound judgment, and the will to stand up against such mind controlling bullies and tyrants.  Consequently, giving everyone common sense so that they do no harm to both their fellow humans and the natural world could be the greatest achievement for Transhumanism technology.

 

“Regulations force people to do better.”

- Jay Leno

 

Can you assist in creating Transhumanism technology that gives everyone empathic minds while giving them beautiful, young, and healthy bodies?  Do we need to rewrite our laws defining freedom of speech and expression while our emerging Transhumanism technology gives people more and more options to customize their minds, bodies, and living things around them?

 

For example, imagine if the fantasy species described in (Gate: Thus the Japanese Self-Defense Force Fought There) novel, manga, and animated series were options for furry fandom fans to emulate.  What Star Trek fan has not imagined being able to own, love, and be loved by a real, safe and sterile, tribble as a beloved pet?  We already have sensible regulations for owning and taking care of pets, we will need future sensible regulations for our future pets.

 

“Always be a work in progress.”

- Emily Lillian

 

Note:  Having great intelligence, great sanity, physical health, and physical beauty should be available to everyone now living and those who will be born in the future, not just to those lucky individuals who at their human fertilization won the human genetic game of chance.  With Transhumanism technology everyone will finally have an equal chance at Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.  Being human means constantly learning and growing.  We become more human by overcoming our limitations to start overcoming more difficult challenges.

 

Can we create Transhumanism technology that allows governments to create artificial wombs so that human births can be regulated by governments?  That technique would be a much more effective way to control human population numbers than any existing birth control methods ever could be.  Moreover, that would be a humanitarian way for governments to control the numbers of their citizens.  That way governments and non-governmental organizations can use sensible regulations to control our total population to make sure that we are all well-housed, well-clad, and well-nourished, while living in balance and harmony with the natural world.

 

“Progress is not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.”

- Khalil Gibran

 

I am a transhumanist advocate and a humorist.  Thus, I sometimes call myself a trans-humorist.


I found this Regulating Transhumanism poster on the third floor, A. B. Anderson Hall (ABAH) at UMD Duluth, part 4.

“I am a strong believer in the free market.  I am a strong believer in capitalism.  But, I am also a strong believer that there are certain common goods - our air, our water, making sure that people are safe - that require to have some regulation.”

- Barack Obama

 

Similar to equal opportunity in education and equality before the law, city, state, and national governments need to make sure that we all have sensible regulations to make Transhumanism technology available to all that want it or need it.  The last thing humanity needs is to continue contemporary slavery or create a new caste system that’s based upon access to Transhumanism technology.  When we create future regulations to govern the development and distribution of Transhumanism technology, we must neither be foolishly optimistic nor be fearful pessimistic.

 

As a professional writer, on days when I’m at my best, I am able to write exceptionally well.  With Transhumanism technology improving my mind not just once, but several times, I will be able to write exceptionally well each and every time I write.  This will be good for my writing career as well as being good for all my readers.

 

“Progress always involves risks.  You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.”

- Frederick B. Wilcox

 

I have a friend who has Asperger syndrome.  They told me that if given the opportunity that they would take a cure of their Asperger syndrome as soon as it becomes available.  Yet, some other people who have Asperger syndrome are happy with the way they are now and would not take a cure for Asperger syndrome.  Do those mentally disabled and/or socially disabled people who wish to remain the way they are now have the legal rights to not take a cure for Asperger syndrome?

 

Just imagine a human society where all architects are as talented as Frank Lloyd Wright and Marion Mahony Griffin.  Just imagine a human society where all artists are as talented as Leonardo da Vinci and Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun.  Just imagine a human society where all scientists are as talented as Isaac Newton and Ada Lovelace.  Just imagine a human society where all writers are as talented as Mark Twain and Virginia Woolf.  Just imagine a human society where exceptional creativity will be commonplace; while mediocrity in all things will slowly disappear from human society.

 

“There are only two options: Make progress or make excuses.”

- Anonymous

 

I can also imagine humans developing emotional states that we can’t imagine in the year 2020.  We could have new ways of thinking and new ways of feeling that will make our lives richer and more fulfilling than ever before.


I found this Regulating Transhumanism poster on the third floor, A. B. Anderson Hall (ABAH) at UMD Duluth, part 3.

“Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.”

- Salvador Dali

 

Some proponents of Transhumanism technology say that this will create perfect humans and a perfect society.  Speaking truthfully, that is malarkey because any individual human and everything in human society can be improved upon.  Thus, in a number of ways that exist right now, or could exist in the future, you can make things more perfect, but never completely perfect.  After all, the preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America describes forming a more perfect Union, not a perfect Union.  I know that as Transhumanism technology and social adjustments to human society continue to occur, all the problems of humanity will not disappear.

 

While some existing problems for individuals and for society will get better or disappear altogether; other existing problems will get worse, while new problems will arise.  For example, my Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal ancestors never had to deal with software breaking on their home personal computers, a power outage in their apartment shutting down their computer for hours, and their iPhone low battery life that keeps them vigilant to keep their phone on the phone charger at least once each day.

 

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

- George Bernard Shaw

 

Note:  I’d love to ride in a time machine to go back in time to teach the first three generations of modern humans.  I’d be assisting them in developing agriculture, starting the Iron Age, while stopping the scourge of human slavery before it even starts.  That would be similar to the Japanese animated series Dr. Stone.  I would start a Kingdom of Science that is also the Kingdom of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.  This Kingdom would be based upon the United Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.


I found this Regulating Transhumanism poster on the third floor, A. B. Anderson Hall (ABAH) at UMD Duluth, part 2.

“Man is not born free, but everywhere in biological chains.  People of the world, unite - you have nothing to lose but your biological chains.”

- Simon Young

 

As city, state, and national governments already have sensible regulations on education, medical services, motor vehicles and many other aspects of our lives; so will sensible regulations on Transhumanism technology keep the most dangerous aspects in check, while giving everyone opportunities to use as much or as little of Transhumanism technology as they wish.  In other words, there are already many things in human society that are potentially dangerous to humans and our world’s biosphere.  However, sensible regulations keep these dangers to a manageable level.  Thus, sensible regulations will keep the dangers of Transhumanism technology to a manageable level, while helping all of humanity climb Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to achieve self-actualization and transcendence.

 

My thoughts are about how Transhumanism technology could make both human individuals as well as human society as a whole better.  My thoughts expressed here are not about if any specific Transhumanism technology is possible to create or not possible to create.  Additionally, my ideas about improved humans and an improved human society will be different from that of most of my readers.  Any individual Transhumanism technology will delight and excite some people, while the same technology will inspire alarm and hatred in other people.

 

“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.”

- Frank Zappa

 

For guidance, allow me to take you back on a journey of the imagination, two hundred thousand years ago, to the time when our ancestors Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals changed over to anatomically modern humans (AMH).  During that time, three different species of humans lived with each other.  Also, this is not the only time when there were two or more species of our ancestors that lived at the same time and in the same places.  Thus, there were many transition times when our ancestors evolved from one species to a better species.  Evolution is both natural and shouldn't be feared.  I welcome the fact that today and in the future both individuals and society will assume control and responsibility of the speed and direction of human evolution.

 

Humanity is already riding the inevitable winds of change.  The only question is how and when we will take charge of our evolution to get to outcomes that improve all of humanity for the better.

 

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”

- Benjamin Franklin

 

If headstrong and foolish, technophobic people oppose any use of Transhumanism technology, would they have preferred if humanity had remained as our Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal ancestors?  After all, modern humans (Homo sapiens) are not the pinnacle of our evolution any more than our Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal ancestors were.  Going back further in time, our Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal ancestors themselves evolved from many lesser species such as Homo erectus and Australopithecus.  It is clear that Transhumanism technology will not be the first great change in our species and it will not be the last great change in our species.

 

It is not a question if humanity will change over time.  Humanity is already changing due to better human nutrition, faster means of travel, and therapeutic medicine.  Thus, we have bigger bodies and bigger brains as we did a few generations ago.  But, the question is how and when humanity will change.


Wednesday, November 11, 2020

I found this Regulating Transhumanism poster on the third floor, A. B. Anderson Hall (ABAH) at UMD Duluth, part 1.

 


This is an interesting poster and will comment on the ideas expressed here as well as my other thoughts about Transhumanism in my next post.  I believe that all Transhumanism technology needs sensible regulations to insure that these are safe and legal.  Scaremongers need to remember that prohibition didn’t work to stop people from drinking alcoholic beverages and prohibition will not stop people from using Transhumanism technology.


Note:  I have no idea who created this poster.


Tuesday, November 10, 2020

A book that needs to be reprinted


Some United States citizens are unaware of this, but long-distance passenger trains are being upgraded, such as California High-Speed Rail or new passenger trains on new lines, such as Florida’s Brightline service that will run on a new right of way from Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal east to Cocoa.  With additional long-distance passenger trains and new train routes being built or planned for the future; someone needs to republish Dinner in the Diner a book that describes great dining car recipes, dining cars, and their crews that was written by Will C. Hollister.  That republished book would include new dining car recipes, descriptions of new dining cars, and their 21st century crews.


Monday, November 9, 2020

King Manor’s fourth floor bulletin board for November 9, 2020


November is yet another month of social distancing, hopefully without the social anxiety and social isolation.  With more than one thousand American citizens dying from the COVID-19 pandemic every day, the caring employees of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth, Minnesota have every right to reduce the number of social events in their apartment buildings.  As I wrote in October, I enthusiastically wish that this incapacitating and sometimes lethal pandemic had never happened at all.


Sunday, November 8, 2020

Lake Avenue Bridge, Duluth Project, in the year 2020, Part 2


Walking north, we find a rebuilt pedestrian crosswalk.  This new crosswalk is somewhat better than the old one it replaced.  It seems strange that the new concrete slabs already have cracks that needed filling with flexible sealant.




We end our November tour of the rebuilt Lake Avenue Bridge by looking north, at the Superior Street & Lake Avenue intersection, where Superior Street is still closed for street reconstruction.  Rebuilding the Lake Avenue Bridge cost our taxpayers $2,125,000.


Saturday, November 7, 2020

Lake Avenue Bridge, Duluth Project, in the year 2020, Part 1


We start our November tour of the rebuilt Lake Avenue Bridge by looking north at the Railroad Street & Lake Avenue intersection.  On the MnDOT project website, Railroad Street was spelled as two words, Rail Road for some reason unknown to me.


Location

Lake Avenue Bridge, across I-35 between Superior Street and Rail Road Street in Downtown Duluth


https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/lake-avenue/index.html



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