| Topic: |
Science > Physics |
| User: |
"Toto the Dog" |
| Date: |
05 Sep 2006 03:29:35 AM |
| Object: |
On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
It is a subject of debate in Nationalist circles as to the real extent
of "Jewish genius." To what degree is the undoubtedly disproportionate
Jewish influence in a nation's intellectual life the product of innate
racial talents? Or is that influence merely the result of academic
parasitism and mutual Jewish promotion?
Consider, by way of example, the promotion by the British Broadcasting
Corporation's Radio 3, supposedly the epitome of British culture, of
Gershwin and Bernstein as a) American and b) classicists, when in fact
they are neither. It is not merely a question of them supplanting
Beethoven, Williams or Vivaldi, but of relegating to obscurity greater
talents of European blood. More significantly, for a cacophony of sound
is as naught to scientific confusion and disarray, we are subjected to
the deification of Einstein, whose questionable theories are treated as
if they had been given on tablets of stone; the disastrous influence of
the cocaine-inspired ramblings of Freud, a.k.a. King *****; the
mendacious anthropological convolutions of Boas; and this unholy
trinity is but the tip of a diabolical iceberg, displacing the greater
minds and honest instincts of scientists of European stock whose names
we have never heard.
So, shorn of mutual back-slapping, hand-ups, Oscars and the like, and
clambering onto the shoulders of giants with such unseemly alacrity
that the giants themselves sink into relative obscurity, what remains
of Hebrew "genius"? Here Isaac Asimov, Lithuanian Jew, writer of
entertaining fantasies about robots etcetera, discloses the origins of
the etcetera in an account which, should there be any doubt, is
reproduced verbatim. And in order not the prejudice the reader let it
only be said that there is evidence to suggest that nothing remains at
all except for a tenuous grasp of reality and a glib tongue.
THE WORD I INVENTED
by Isaac Asimov
Robotics has become a sufficiently well developed technology to warrant
articles and books on its history and I have watched this in amazement,
and in some disbelief, because I invented it.
No, not the technology; the word.
In October 1941, I wrote a robot story entitled "Runaround," first
published in the March 1942 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, in
which I recited for the first time, my Three Laws of Robotics. Here
they are:
A robot must not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a
human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where
those orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence, except where such protection
would conflict with the First or Second Law.
These laws have been quoted many times by me in stories and essays, but
what is much more surprising is that they have been quoted innumerable
times by others (in all seriousness) as something that will surely be
incorporated in robots when they become complex enough to require it.
As a result, in almost any history of the development or robotics,
there is some mention of me and of the Three Laws.
It is a queer feeling to know that I have made myself into a footnote
in the history of science and technology for having invented the
foundation of a science that didn't exist at the time - and that I
did it at the age of twenty-one.
The Three Laws, and the numerous stories I have written that have dealt
with robots, have given many people - from enthusiastic teenage
readers to sophisticated editors of learned magazines in the field -
the idea that I am an expert on robots and computers. As a result, I am
endlessly being asked questions about robotics.
What I will do, then, is write a question-and-answer essay on the
subject. It will take care of just about all the major questions I am
forever being asked and it should make it unnecessary for anyone to
have to ask me any questions on the subject again.1
Dr. Asimov, how did you come to be such an expert in the field of
robotics?
Alas, I am not an expert, and I never have been. I don't know how
robots work in any but the vaguest way - For that matter, I don't
know how a computer works in any but the vaguest way, either. I have
never worked with either robots or computers, and I don't know any
details about how robots or computers are currently being used in
industry.
I don't take pride in this. I merely present it as a fact. I would like
to know all about robots and computers but I can only squeeze so much
into my head, and though I work at it day and night with remorseless
assiduity, I still only manage to get a small fraction of the total sum
of human knowledge into my brain.
In that case, Dr. Asimov, how did you come to write so many robot
stories, considering that you know nothing about the subject?
It never occurred to me that I had to. While I was reading science
fiction in the 1930s, I came across a number of robot stories and
learned what I had to know on the subject from them.
I found out that I didn't like stories in which robots were menaces or
villains because those stores were technophobic and I was technophilic.
I did like stories in which the robots were presented sympathetically,
as in Lester del Rey's "Helen O'Loy" or Eando Binder's "I, Robot."
What's more, I didn't think a robot should be sympathetic just because
it happened to be nice. It should be engineered to meet certain safety
standards as any other machine should in any right-thinking
technological society. I therefore began to write stories about robots
that were not only sympathetic, but were sympathetic because they
couldn't help it. That was my contribution to this particular sub-genre
of the field.
Does that mean you had the Three Laws of Robotics in mind when you
began writing your robot stories?
Only in a way. The concept was in my mind but I wasn't smart enough to
put it into the proper words.
The first robot story I wrote was "Robbie" in May 1939, when I was
nineteen. (It appeared in the September 1940 Super - Science Stories,
under the title of "Strange Playfellow.") In it, I had one of my
characters say, about the robot hero, "He just can't help being
faithful and loving and kind. He's a machine - made so." That was my
first hint of the First Law.
In "Reason," my second robot story (April 1941, Astounding), I had a
character say, "Those robots are guaranteed to be subordinate." That
was a hint of the Second Law.
In "Liar," my third robot story (May 1941, Astounding), I gave a
version of the First and Second Laws, when I said the "fundamental law"
of robots was: "On no conditions is a human being to be injured in any
way, even when such injury is directly ordered by another human."
It wasn't however, till "Runaround," my fourth robot story, that it all
came together in the Three Laws in their present wording, and that was
because John Campbell, the late great editor of Astounding, quoted them
to me. It always seemed to me that John invented those Laws, but
whenever I accused him of that, he always said that they were in my
stories and I just hadn't bothered to isolate them. Perhaps he was
right.
But you say you invented the term robotics. Is that right?
Yes. John Campbell, as best as I can remember, did not use the word in
connection with the Three Laws. I did, however, in "Runaround," and I
believe that was its first appearance in print.
I did not know at the time that it was an invented term. The science of
physics routinely uses the -ics suffix for various branches, as in
mechanics, dynamics, electrostatics, hydraulics, and so on. I took it
for granted that the study of robots was robotics.
It wasn't until a dozen years later, at least, that I became aware that
robotics was not listed in the second edition of Websters New
International Dictionary or (when I quickly checked) in any of the
other dictionaries I consulted. What's more, when Websters's third
edition was published, I looked up robotics at once and still didn't
find it.
I therefore began saying that I had invented the word, for it did
indeed seem to me that I had done so.
In 1973, there appeared The Barnhart Dictionary of New English Since
1963, published by Harper & Row. It includes the word robotics and
quoted a passage from an essay of mine in which I claim to have
invented it. That's still just me saying so, but at least the
lexicographers didn't cite earlier uses by someone else.
The word is now well established and it is even used in the titles of
magazines that are devoted to the technology of robots. To be candid, I
must admit that it pleases me to have invented a word that has entered
the scientific vocabulary.2
http://www.heretical.com/miscella/asimov.html
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| User: "Probert" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 09:18:12 AM |
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"Toto the Dog" <carsss1234567@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1157444975.834902.153240@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
Yep, I remember my first drink too.
--
Cheers,
Probert.
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| User: "Dorothy J Heydt" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 07:57:35 AM |
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In article <1157444975.834902.153240@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
Toto the Dog <carsss1234567@yahoo.com> wrote:
I stopped reading this a couple screenfuls in, but ...
of Hebrew "genius"? Here Isaac Asimov, Lithuanian Jew, writer of
"Lithuanian?????" He was born in Petrovichi, Russia, and left it
at the age of two. I don't think he was even taken *through*
Lithuania in the process.
For the rest, there's the famous quote from Jonathan Miller:
"Actually, I'm not a Jew; I'm just Jewish."
Dorothy J. Heydt
Albany, California
djheydt@kithrup.com
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| User: "netcat" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 09:25:41 AM |
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In article <J54Enz.or@kithrup.com>, says...
In article <1157444975.834902.153240@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
Toto the Dog <carsss1234567@yahoo.com> wrote:
I stopped reading this a couple screenfuls in, but ...
of Hebrew "genius"? Here Isaac Asimov, Lithuanian Jew, writer of
"Lithuanian?????" He was born in Petrovichi, Russia, and left it
at the age of two. I don't think he was even taken *through*
Lithuania in the process.
Well. Petrovichi is in the Smolensk oblast, and that region certainly
_was_ part of Lithuania once, being conquered by Vytautas in the 15th
century. Or even twice, if you count the time under Polish-Lithuanian
rule. A bit far-fetched, though...
I've heard him called a Belorussian Jew and that makes more sense -
although on the Russian side of the border now, Petrovichi was
historically part of Belarus territory, population half Jewish, half
Belorussians and right about the time he was born, much of the
Belorussian political and cultural activity took place in Smolensk. So
it looks likely that his parents may have been Belorussian Jews,
certainly.
rgds,
netcat
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| User: "Dr Zen" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 04:15:38 AM |
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On 5 Sep 2006 01:29:35 -0700, "Toto the Dog" <carsss1234567@yahoo.com>
wrote:
It is a subject of debate in Nationalist circles as to the real extent
of "Jewish genius." To what degree is the undoubtedly disproportionate
Jewish influence in a nation's intellectual life the product of innate
racial talents? Or is that influence merely the result of academic
parasitism and mutual Jewish promotion?
Put it this way, dude, Jews are a whole lot smarter than neo-Nazis, on
the average, and they're a lot better to have around, unless you
really have a thing for knuckledraggers.
--
Dr Zen
King of the wild pixels.
http://gollyg.blogspot.com
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 08:17:39 PM |
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Dr Zen wrote:
On 5 Sep 2006 01:29:35 -0700, "Toto the Dog" <carsss1234567@yahoo.com>
wrote:
It is a subject of debate in Nationalist circles as to the real extent
of "Jewish genius." To what degree is the undoubtedly disproportionate
Jewish influence in a nation's intellectual life the product of innate
racial talents? Or is that influence merely the result of academic
parasitism and mutual Jewish promotion?
Put it this way, dude, Jews are a whole lot smarter than neo-Nazis, on
the average, and they're a lot better to have around, unless you
really have a thing for knuckledraggers.
Nobody does, but at least they should the termology right.
Asimov was describing cyborgs, rather than robots.
Since robots are what computers are made of.
And Einstein theory of relativity has proven to be
nothing but a subset of internet technology,
since that's the only place it works.
--
Dr Zen
King of the wild pixels.
http://gollyg.blogspot.com
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| User: "William December Starr" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 01:21:28 AM |
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In article <1157505459.174277.299140@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com>,
"zzbunker@netscape.net" <zzbunker@netscape.net> said:
Dr Zen wrote:
Put it this way, dude, Jews are a whole lot smarter than
neo-Nazis, on the average, and they're a lot better to have
around, unless you really have a thing for knuckledraggers.
Nobody does, but at least they should the termology right.
Asimov was describing cyborgs, rather than robots.
Since robots are what computers are made of.
Don't you just hate it when people get their termology wrong?
--
William December Starr <wdstarr@panix.com>
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| User: "Dr Zen" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 01:24:01 AM |
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On 6 Sep 2006 02:21:28 -0400, (William December
Starr) wrote:
In article <1157505459.174277.299140@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com>,
"zzbunker@netscape.net" <zzbunker@netscape.net> said:
Dr Zen wrote:
Put it this way, dude, Jews are a whole lot smarter than
neo-Nazis, on the average, and they're a lot better to have
around, unless you really have a thing for knuckledraggers.
Nobody does, but at least they should the termology right.
Asimov was describing cyborgs, rather than robots.
Since robots are what computers are made of.
Don't you just hate it when people get their termology wrong?
Almost as much as when they get their attribs wrong.
--
Dr Zen
King of the wild pixels.
http://gollyg.blogspot.com
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| User: "William December Starr" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 01:30:10 AM |
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In article <ibqsf2ll8aqnpdapnuoeth90pgij55fkaa@4ax.com>,
Dr Zen <freddyvessant@gmail.com> said:
On 6 Sep 2006 02:21:28 -0400, (William December
Starr) wrote:
In article <1157505459.174277.299140@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com>,
"zzbunker@netscape.net" <zzbunker@netscape.net> said:
Dr Zen wrote:
Put it this way, dude, Jews are a whole lot smarter than
neo-Nazis, on the average, and they're a lot better to have
around, unless you really have a thing for knuckledraggers.
Nobody does, but at least they should the termology right.
Asimov was describing cyborgs, rather than robots.
Since robots are what computers are made of.
Don't you just hate it when people get their termology wrong?
Almost as much as when they get their attribs wrong.
I don't think I did. I said that zzbunker said that you wrote some
stuff that began with "Put it" and ended with "knuckledraggers," and
I followed that with zzbunker's own text that began with "Nobody"
and ended with "made of."
At least, that's how it still looks to me. I may be up too late at
night, of course.
--
William December Starr <>
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| User: "Dr Zen" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 09:09:11 PM |
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On 5 Sep 2006 18:17:39 -0700, "zzbunker@netscape.net"
<zzbunker@netscape.net> wrote:
Dr Zen wrote:
On 5 Sep 2006 01:29:35 -0700, "Toto the Dog" <carsss1234567@yahoo.com>
wrote:
It is a subject of debate in Nationalist circles as to the real extent
of "Jewish genius." To what degree is the undoubtedly disproportionate
Jewish influence in a nation's intellectual life the product of innate
racial talents? Or is that influence merely the result of academic
parasitism and mutual Jewish promotion?
Put it this way, dude, Jews are a whole lot smarter than neo-Nazis, on
the average, and they're a lot better to have around, unless you
really have a thing for knuckledraggers.
Nobody does, but at least they should the termology right.
Yes, quite.
--
Dr Zen
King of the wild pixels.
http://gollyg.blogspot.com
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| User: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Dr=DF=A8kk=E5ke?=" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 06:51:27 AM |
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Dr Zen wrote:
Put it this way, dude, Jews are a whole lot smarter than neo-Nazis,
but isn't the neo-nazi Jew the smartest of them all?
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| User: "Mike Schilling" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 09:11:56 AM |
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Dr Zen wrote:
Put it this way, dude, Jews are a whole lot smarter than neo-Nazis, on
the average,
Man, talk about faint praise.
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| User: "Dr Zen" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 05:41:23 PM |
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On Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:11:56 GMT, "Mike Schilling"
<mscottschilling@hotmail.com> wrote:
Dr Zen wrote:
Put it this way, dude, Jews are a whole lot smarter than neo-Nazis, on
the average,
Man, talk about faint praise.
Yes, now you mention it, my apologies. I could have said the same
about Jack the Performing Dog.
--
Dr Zen
King of the wild pixels.
http://gollyg.blogspot.com
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| User: "Ben newsam" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 08:06:42 PM |
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On 5 Sep 2006 01:29:35 -0700, "Toto the Dog" <carsss1234567@yahoo.com>
wrote:
So, shorn of mutual back-slapping, hand-ups, Oscars and the like, and
clambering onto the shoulders of giants with such unseemly alacrity
that the giants themselves sink into relative obscurity, what remains
of Hebrew "genius"? Here Isaac Asimov, Lithuanian Jew, writer of
entertaining fantasies about robots etcetera, discloses the origins of
the etcetera in an account which, should there be any doubt, is
reproduced verbatim. And in order not the prejudice the reader let it
only be said that there is evidence to suggest that nothing remains at
all except for a tenuous grasp of reality and a glib tongue.
What your post and the inclusion really prove, of course, is that
Doctor Asimov was a much better writer than you are.
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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| User: "andyandy68" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 06:05:12 PM |
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Toto the Dog wrote:
Consider, by way of example, the promotion by the British Broadcasting
Corporation's Radio 3, supposedly the epitome of British culture, of
Gershwin and Bernstein as a) American and b) classicists, when in fact
they are neither.
I'm not sure there's much point replying to this...but that's rarely
stopped me before.
George Gershwin was born in New York...which is in America...which
makes him an American. He wrote quite a bit of classical music that is
well respected, perhaps his most famous being An American In Paris.
Leonard Bernstein was born in Massechusetts (or New York? well,
somewhere in New England)...which is in America...which makes him an
American. He wrote quite a bit of classical music that is well
respected, perhaps his most famous being Symphonic Dances from West
Side Story (or is it Orchestral Dances?).
I mean, what reference book are you reading that says those guys
weren't American?!?! Or didn't write classical music? They were very
much "classicists". Yes, they experiments with styles, but both were
classicists. Bernstein especially.
Even bad reference books tend to get details like that right.
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| User: "Probert" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 10:05:30 PM |
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"andyandy68" <andyandy68@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1157497512.163454.178370@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
Toto the Dog wrote:
Consider, by way of example, the promotion by the British Broadcasting
Corporation's Radio 3, supposedly the epitome of British culture, of
Gershwin and Bernstein as a) American and b) classicists, when in fact
they are neither.
I'm not sure there's much point replying to this...but that's rarely
stopped me before.
George Gershwin was born in New York...which is in America...which
makes him an American. He wrote quite a bit of classical music that is
well respected, perhaps his most famous being An American In Paris.
Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and Bess, Piano Concerto in F... He's a classicist
who happened to be able to write good pop tunes too.
Leonard Bernstein was born in Massechusetts (or New York? well,
somewhere in New England)...which is in America...which makes him an
American. He wrote quite a bit of classical music that is well
respected, perhaps his most famous being Symphonic Dances from West
Side Story (or is it Orchestral Dances?).
He wrote almost entirely classical music - even most of his film work was
based in the genre.
I mean, what reference book are you reading that says those guys
weren't American?!?!
Probably the ones that only acknowledge the WASP as American. Never mind
that they were immigrants too. Still thank God their forebears left Britain
for the colonies leaving the rest of us in peace.
Or didn't write classical music? They were very
much "classicists". Yes, they experiments with styles, but both were
classicists. Bernstein especially.
Even bad reference books tend to get details like that right.
Ah but it takes a special kind of ignorance to re-write history that badly -
and the Nazi wannabe's in America have got it down to a tee with their own
special history books. They're hilarious.
--
Cheers,
Probert.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 10:14:52 PM |
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Wikipedia has lists on just about anything, including Jewish scientists
and philosophers.
Here's just the list for the US.
Franz Boas, founder of American Anthropology
David Bohm, quantum physics pioneer and theoretical physicist,
philosopher of science
Emile Berliner, inventor of gramophone
Noam Chomsky, linguist
Jesse Douglas, mathematician, Fields Medal (1936)
Richard Epstein, classical liberal economist from the University of
Chicago
Richard Feynman, quantum physicist, co-founder of quantum
electrodynamics Nobel Prize (1965)
Milton Friedman, monetarist economist, Clark Medal (1951), Nobel Prize
(1976)
Murray Gell-Mann, discoverer of quarks, Nobel Prize
Arthur Jensen, educational psychologist and intelligence researcher
(mother Jewish)
John Kemeny, computer scientist, co-founder of BASIC
Edwin Land, inventor of polaroid
John McCarthy, artificial intelligence pioneer (Catholic father)
Theodore Maiman, inventor of first laser
Daniel Nathans, discoverer of restriction enzymes
Robert Nozick, philosopher of libertarianism and Pellegrino University
Professor at Harvard University
Robert Oppenheimer, nuclear physicist, nuclear bomb, Manhattan Project
Gregory Pincus, inventor of the Pill
Ayn Rand, originator of Objectivism (atheist)
Murray Rothbard, anarcho-capitialist economist
Carl Sagan, astronomer and science popularizer, Cosmos: A Personal
Voyage
Jonas Salk, polio vaccine
Leo Strauss, political philosopher
Norbert Wiener, founder of cybernetics
Edward Witten, M-theory, Fields Medal (1990)
Caroline
The Thunder Child
http://thethunderchild.com
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| User: "andyandy68" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 11:09:09 PM |
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wrote:
Wikipedia has lists on just about anything, including Jewish scientists
and philosophers.
Here's just the list for the US.
Franz Boas, founder of American Anthropology
David Bohm, quantum physics pioneer and theoretical physicist,
philosopher of science
Emile Berliner, inventor of gramophone
Noam Chomsky, linguist
Jesse Douglas, mathematician, Fields Medal (1936)
Richard Epstein, classical liberal economist from the University of
Chicago
Richard Feynman, quantum physicist, co-founder of quantum
electrodynamics Nobel Prize (1965)
Milton Friedman, monetarist economist, Clark Medal (1951), Nobel Prize
(1976)
Murray Gell-Mann, discoverer of quarks, Nobel Prize
Arthur Jensen, educational psychologist and intelligence researcher
(mother Jewish)
John Kemeny, computer scientist, co-founder of BASIC
Edwin Land, inventor of polaroid
John McCarthy, artificial intelligence pioneer (Catholic father)
Theodore Maiman, inventor of first laser
Daniel Nathans, discoverer of restriction enzymes
Robert Nozick, philosopher of libertarianism and Pellegrino University
Professor at Harvard University
Robert Oppenheimer, nuclear physicist, nuclear bomb, Manhattan Project
Gregory Pincus, inventor of the Pill
Ayn Rand, originator of Objectivism (atheist)
Murray Rothbard, anarcho-capitialist economist
Carl Sagan, astronomer and science popularizer, Cosmos: A Personal
Voyage
Jonas Salk, polio vaccine
Leo Strauss, political philosopher
Norbert Wiener, founder of cybernetics
Edward Witten, M-theory, Fields Medal (1990)
Caroline
The Thunder Child
http://thethunderchild.com
Hey, what about Doctor Joyce Brothers? She's a scientist. Right?
Right???
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 01:32:27 AM |
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On 5 Sep 2006 21:09:09 -0700, "andyandy68" <andyandy68@gmail.com>
wrote:
Hey, what about Doctor Joyce Brothers? She's a scientist. Right?
Right???
Dr Ruth, you sexually hung-up Protestant Merkins.
Do you know what a merkin is?
One does not shave one's pubes. It bitches.
Don't forget Nurse Sue Johansen <sp?> and her radio
and TV shows. Learn something from a Norse Heathen, then.
Guess what?
Sex is fun.
That is, when you are not spanking your spouse. oops.
let that one out of the bag.
Thass okay. I have deep billiard pockets.
<Dr Hook> !!!
Shaddup. And if you touch me with that Metallica again,
I'm spinning your head and handing it to you on a Silver Platter.
Again?
Yes, again.
<Dr Sachdeva> Oooh. He loves his revengee. Go to your room.
Where is my room, now?
<Dr S> I'm not telling. Just try a bed, any bed.
Thass inneresting.
<Dr Z> He's doing the damn nutter bit agin.
Eat me.
---
gnu
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| User: "tadchem" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
07 Sep 2006 05:22:00 PM |
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wrote:
..
Do you know what a merkin is?
Ever see this classic?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064123/
Tom Davidson
Richmond, VA
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| User: "Michael Stemper" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
08 Sep 2006 07:49:48 AM |
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In article <1157497512.163454.178370@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com>, andyandy68 writes:
Toto the Dog wrote:
Consider, by way of example, the promotion by the British Broadcasting
Corporation's Radio 3, supposedly the epitome of British culture, of
Gershwin and Bernstein as a) American and b) classicists, when in fact
they are neither.
George Gershwin was born in New York...which is in America...which
makes him an American.
So far, so good.
He wrote quite a bit of classical music that is
well respected, perhaps his most famous being An American In Paris.
Nonsense. He wrote no classical music. The classical period ended in the
first half of the nineteenth century, long before either Gershwin or
Bernstein (or Ives, or Grofe, or Hindemeth, or Stravinsky, ...) were
born.
Leonard Bernstein was born in Massechusetts (or New York? well,
somewhere in New England)...which is in America...which makes him an
American.
Again, so far, so good.
He wrote quite a bit of classical music that is well
respected, perhaps his most famous being Symphonic Dances from West
Side Story (or is it Orchestral Dances?).
Respected, yes. Classical, no.
Or didn't write classical music? They were very
much "classicists". Yes, they experiments with styles, but both were
classicists. Bernstein especially.
Even bad reference books tend to get details like that right.
Apparently, you have no reference books. This might help:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_timeline_for_classical_composers>
--
Michael F. Stemper
#include <Standard_Disclaimer>
There is three erors in this sentence.
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| User: "Lawrence Watt-Evans" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 09:28:54 PM |
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On 5 Sep 2006 16:05:12 -0700, "andyandy68" <andyandy68@gmail.com>
wrote:
Leonard Bernstein was born in Massechusetts (or New York? well,
somewhere in New England)...
New York isn't in New England.
Only six states are in New England -- Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
--
My webpage is at http://www.watt-evans.com
The first issue of Helix is at http://www.helixsf.com
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| User: "Dorothy J Heydt" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 09:29:55 PM |
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In article <ehcsf29g82p638l89heb4induvashgceoi@news.rcn.com>,
Lawrence Watt-Evans <lwe@sff.net> wrote:
On 5 Sep 2006 16:05:12 -0700, "andyandy68" <andyandy68@gmail.com>
wrote:
Leonard Bernstein was born in Massechusetts (or New York? well,
somewhere in New England)...
New York isn't in New England.
Only six states are in New England -- Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Funny; considering York is in England.
Anyway, this is verging on the traditional definition of a Yankee....
Dorothy J. Heydt
Albany, California
djheydt@kithrup.com
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| User: "Probert" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 09:52:10 PM |
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"Dorothy J Heydt" <djheydt@kithrup.com> wrote in message
news:J55G9v.JFx@kithrup.com...
In article <ehcsf29g82p638l89heb4induvashgceoi@news.rcn.com>,
Lawrence Watt-Evans <lwe@sff.net> wrote:
On 5 Sep 2006 16:05:12 -0700, "andyandy68" <andyandy68@gmail.com>
wrote:
Leonard Bernstein was born in Massechusetts (or New York? well,
somewhere in New England)...
New York isn't in New England.
Only six states are in New England -- Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Funny; considering York is in England.
No it's not. It's in the People's Republic of Yorkshire ;-).
--
Cheers,
Probert.
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| User: "Dorothy J Heydt" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 10:39:08 PM |
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In article <R9WdnffuKf9GqmPZRVnyrg@bt.com>,
Probert <nick.wf1commdept2@btinternet.com> wrote:
"Dorothy J Heydt" <djheydt@kithrup.com> wrote in message
news:J55G9v.JFx@kithrup.com...
In article <ehcsf29g82p638l89heb4induvashgceoi@news.rcn.com>,
Lawrence Watt-Evans <lwe@sff.net> wrote:
On 5 Sep 2006 16:05:12 -0700, "andyandy68" <andyandy68@gmail.com>
wrote:
Leonard Bernstein was born in Massechusetts (or New York? well,
somewhere in New England)...
New York isn't in New England.
Only six states are in New England -- Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Funny; considering York is in England.
No it's not. It's in the People's Republic of Yorkshire ;-).
Really? And to think I spent a week there and never noticed!
(There weren't any parades, except the one for the birthday of
some Royal, for which they had a parade and salutes and some guns
fired off. Which Royal would that have been? It was in early
June.)
Dorothy J. Heydt
Albany, California
djheydt@kithrup.com
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| User: "Probert" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 11:36:36 PM |
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"Dorothy J Heydt" <djheydt@kithrup.com> wrote in message
news:J55JH8.1Dr@kithrup.com...
In article <R9WdnffuKf9GqmPZRVnyrg@bt.com>,
Probert <nick.wf1commdept2@btinternet.com> wrote:
"Dorothy J Heydt" <djheydt@kithrup.com> wrote in message
news:J55G9v.JFx@kithrup.com...
In article <ehcsf29g82p638l89heb4induvashgceoi@news.rcn.com>,
Lawrence Watt-Evans <lwe@sff.net> wrote:
On 5 Sep 2006 16:05:12 -0700, "andyandy68" <andyandy68@gmail.com>
wrote:
Leonard Bernstein was born in Massechusetts (or New York? well,
somewhere in New England)...
New York isn't in New England.
Only six states are in New England -- Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Funny; considering York is in England.
No it's not. It's in the People's Republic of Yorkshire ;-).
Really? And to think I spent a week there and never noticed!
(There weren't any parades, except the one for the birthday of
some Royal, for which they had a parade and salutes and some guns
fired off. Which Royal would that have been? It was in early
June.)
Probably the Queen. She's priviledged enough to get two birthdays every
year - her real one and the 'official' one which is at the beginning of June
so everyone can celebrate in the summer sun (well, sort of).
--
Cheers,
Probert.
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| User: "Dr Zen" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
05 Sep 2006 11:39:30 PM |
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On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 03:39:08 GMT, (Dorothy J Heydt)
wrote:
In article <R9WdnffuKf9GqmPZRVnyrg@bt.com>,
Probert <nick.wf1commdept2@btinternet.com> wrote:
"Dorothy J Heydt" < > wrote in message
news:J55G9v.JFx@kithrup.com...
In article <ehcsf29g82p638l89heb4induvashgceoi@news.rcn.com>,
Lawrence Watt-Evans <lwe@sff.net> wrote:
On 5 Sep 2006 16:05:12 -0700, "andyandy68" <andyandy68@gmail.com>
wrote:
Leonard Bernstein was born in Massechusetts (or New York? well,
somewhere in New England)...
New York isn't in New England.
Only six states are in New England -- Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Funny; considering York is in England.
No it's not. It's in the People's Republic of Yorkshire ;-).
Really? And to think I spent a week there and never noticed!
(There weren't any parades, except the one for the birthday of
some Royal, for which they had a parade and salutes and some guns
fired off. Which Royal would that have been? It was in early
June.)
The Queen.
--
Dr Zen
King of the wild pixels.
http://gollyg.blogspot.com
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 01:42:43 AM |
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On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:39:30 +1000, Dr Zen <freddyvessant@gmail.com>
wrote:
On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 03:39:08 GMT, (Dorothy J Heydt)
wrote:
Which Royal would that have been? It was in early June.
The Queen.
--
Dr Zen
Too late.
Bad answer.
Get off Merkin "airwaves", you Brit git.
Be very careful how you answer this insult.
Politeness Counts. heh.
--
Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen
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| User: "Dr Zen" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 01:55:44 AM |
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On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 06:42:43 GMT, wrote:
On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:39:30 +1000, Dr Zen <freddyvessant@gmail.com>
wrote:
On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 03:39:08 GMT, (Dorothy J Heydt)
wrote:
Which Royal would that have been? It was in early June.
The Queen.
--
Dr Zen
Too late.
Bad answer.
Get off Merkin "airwaves", you Brit git.
Be very careful how you answer this insult.
Politeness Counts. heh.
If you like just having one arsehole, ***** now. If not, you've
come to the right proctologist.
--
Dr Zen
King of the wild pixels.
http://gollyg.blogspot.com
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 02:32:55 AM |
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Whut's up Doc?
Up Yours, you git. You couldn't maintain a civil tongue
in a discussion...
oh ya. Well, nevermind.
***** doctor eh. That fits the writing style,
you anal retentive perv.
nope, that wasn't where I was going.
How nice to hear your true voice again.
It has been a very long time since we had a public serious discussion.
I am ready if you are.
We are totally fucked up in the Middle East, and we desperately need
people of good will on all sides to help put an end to mass murder.
Completely useless mass murder and unbelievable mayhem.
The Americans haven't resolved Hurricane Katrina yet.
Look what was wrought on Lebanon and Israel by "Holy Warriors"
wanting an "in" to Heaven.
I'll give you a hint. If you suicide, you don't go to Heaven.
Especially if you "assisted suicide" by murdering others while killing
yourself.
Do not suicide. You kill all your loved ones in the process. Forever.
Get help. HELP is out there for the asking.
As for Hizballah and Hamas and all the other "Holy Warriors" --
there is a better way. There are more important battles to fight:
hunger, disease, early childhood death. That's a start.
How 'bout equality for your women folk? They are half your
human assets.
I could rant on, but I'm eating into Zen's time again.
Your answer, old enemy, new friend.
Or is that old friend. Full Stop.
__
Meyer
On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 16:55:44 +1000, Dr Zen <freddyvessant@gmail.com>
wrote:
On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 06:42:43 GMT, wrote:
On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:39:30 +1000, Dr Zen <freddyvessant@gmail.com>
wrote:
On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 03:39:08 GMT, (Dorothy J Heydt)
wrote:
Which Royal would that have been? It was in early June.
The Queen.
--
Dr Zen
Too late.
Bad answer.
Get off Merkin "airwaves", you Brit git.
Be very careful how you answer this insult.
Politeness Counts. heh.
If you like just having one arsehole, ***** now. If not, you've
come to the right proctologist.
--
Dr Zen
King of the wild pixels.
http://gollyg.blogspot.com
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| User: "Dr Zen" |
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| Title: Re: On Asimov's 'Robotics' FAQ |
06 Sep 2006 02:47:51 AM |
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On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 07:32:55 GMT, wrote:
Whut's up Doc?
Not a thing.
Up Yours, you git. You couldn't maintain a civil tongue
in a discussion...
Of course I could. But why would I want to?
oh ya. Well, nevermind.
***** doctor eh. That fits the writing style,
you anal retentive perv.
Hmmm. I don't think so. You don't have to be anally retentive to write
neatly.
nope, that wasn't where I was going.
How nice to hear your true voice again.
It has been a very long time since we had a public serious discussion.
I am ready if you are.
The problem with serious discussions is that I tend to be the only
serious discusser, with his patience's being tried by some fucking
idiot more often than not.
We are totally fucked up in the Middle East, and we desperately need
people of good will on all sides to help put an end to mass murder.
Yes, I daresay that's right. Pity there aren't many.
Completely useless mass murder and unbelievable mayhem.
The Americans haven't resolved Hurricane Katrina yet.
Look what was wrought on Lebanon and Israel by "Holy Warriors"
wanting an "in" to Heaven.
Israel could end it tomorrow. It doesn't want to though.
I'll give you a hint. If you suicide, you don't go to Heaven.
Especially if you "assisted suicide" by murdering others while killing
yourself.
Do not suicide. You kill all your loved ones in the process. Forever.
Get help. HELP is out there for the asking.
I wasn't considering it, but thanks.
As for Hizballah and Hamas and all the other "Holy Warriors" --
there is a better way.
It's interesting that you think only they need to be addressed here.
There are more important battles to fight:
hunger, disease, early childhood death.
Both organisations do more for the welfare of the people they live
among than Israel does.
That's a start.
How 'bout equality for your women folk? They are half your
human assets.
Dude, it took us centuries to get from "women belong to men" to "women
can work if they want".
I'm not sure, in any case, that we are well positioned to lecture
anyone on morality. Are we certain that our way is best? Is our
society perfect?
I could rant on, but I'm eating into Zen's time again.
Your answer, old enemy, new friend.
Or is that old friend. Full Stop.
It doesn't seem you've changed any. You're still a member of the Blame
the Arabs school.
But you have to wonder, how happy would we be if a Muslim state set
itself up where Belgium used to be?
Would we all just say ***** it, you have no reason to be upset, after
all, there is loads of Europe and they've only taken Belgium?
I know it's more complicated than that but without any thinking about
where the other side is coming from, there's no resolution.
--
Dr Zen
King of the wild pixels.
http://gollyg.blogspot.com
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