Read the LoneWolfAndCub volumes 11 and 23 I had somehow not ordered back when I read the series. Truly, this comic is fantastic.
Via LionKimbro’s blog I ended up reading the first chapter of the Manna book ¹. Fascinating. There is this computer in a Burger franchise that tells people what to do, all the time. It replaces the manager. The job is stupid and boring, but the computer never gets bored, never shouts, doesn’t know what sexual harassment is, and it remembers everything. Here’s a quote from the author as he describes the system to his dad:
“It tells you exactly what to do. Like, It told me to get four new bags from the rack. When I did that it told me to go to trash can #1. Once I got there it told me to open the cabinet and pull out the trash can. Once I did that it told me to check the floor for any debris. Then it told me to tie up the bag and put it to the side, on the left. Then it told me to put a new bag in the can. Then it told me to attach the bag to the rim. Then it told me to put the can back in and close the cabinet. Then it told me to wipe down the cabinet and make sure it’s spotless. Then it told me to push the help button on the can to make sure it is working. Then it told me to move to trash can #2. Like that.”
Totally interesting. Except that it’s science fiction. 🙁
Well, this first chapter then led me to another essay on the same site by the same guy, Marshall Brain, called *What if we doubled the minimum wage?* ² The only thing I don’t understand is why people don’t vote for progressive social parties. How can it be that ordinary people vote for conservative neoliberal parties *at all*?
Anyway, just for the record, I also read his next essay, *Why do we hide wholesale prices?* ³
I saw a very very beautiful picture of *Samira Makhmalbaf* in the WOZ, and started looking for a picture of hers online. Maybe this one comes close. Notice the eyebrows.
http://www.eskandarimakeup.com/makh/img/gallery/sabiopi008.jpg
(Please contact me if you want to remove your comment.)
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(Re: Manna) So, I was at the grocery store, and as I was checking myself out, I heard...
“Please take your grocery, and slide it over the scanner.” A little animation on the screen demonstrated it.
“Please put your grocery, in the bag.”
“Please take your next grocery, and slide it over the scanner.”
“Please put your grocery, in the bag.”
“Please take your next grocery, and slide it over the scanner.”
“Please put your grocery, in the bag.”
“Please take your next groc-” (I tap the “Pay now” button.)
“Will that be debit, credit, or cash?” (Punch debit.)
“Please slide your card through the card reader, as demonstrated on the screen.”
“Please entry your PIN number, now.”
“Please take your printed receipt.”
“Thank you.”
I dunno. Manna really doesn’t seem all that far away. I wrote an entry on how you could sort-of "try it out" right now, that you might find interesting. – LionKimbro 2003-11-01 7:49 UTC
I wrote an entry on how you could sort-of "try it out" right now,
Heh. I read that entry of yours some time ago already. It did not seem very useful at the time. What I do when I need chores done is to put them in a list on paper. And knowing myself, I don’t expect myself to do everything today, or in the order it is written down. I also don’t care about the most efficient but about the most enjoyable way of doing it. I like walking through the city, for example, so I’ll plan a walk in the early afternoon, and a walk before dinner, and then “buy X on the way to the station” and “get a new DVD when buying the chick peas in X” etc. But this is simple associative stuff, needs no writing down – and when I forget, I’ll just do it tomorrow. And I’ll still be enjoying myself. So trying Manna on myself is not really that interesting.
Using Manna to organize groups of people, however, is much more interesting. Because there, you have all these dependencies: Fry burgers only when you have buns, and only if you have customers. Clean the bathrooms only after have been used for a while, etc. This kind of work requires – in addition to enjoyment – synchronization with others, and may be too complex at any moment in time for a single brain to understand completely (either you don’t know it all or can’t take it all).
Once we have this kind of Manna, the next thing will be a system that makes sure we’re having fun on the way. 😄 But perhaps the book talks about this as well? I only read the first chapter. Do you recommend the remaining chapters?
– Alex Schroeder
