Showing posts with label Science Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Science Fiction. Show all posts

Friday, February 14, 2014

Bitcoin 101 - Fun with Brain Wallets (Making and Playing With Them) - Bitcoin Security

The bitcoin logo
The bitcoin logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)



There's no idea in Bitcoin more science fiction ready than the idea of brain wallets. To actually hold your wealth inside your head (and no where else) is something that can be done only with bitcoins. In this video we set up and play with a number of brain wallets (of course they aren't really brain wallets if we tell everyone the passwords and private keys...but you get the idea). Whether you are a fiction writer or an escaping refugee, this video is for you.

Welcom to WBN's Bitcoin 101 Blackboard Series -- a full beginner to expert course in bitcoin. We hope you enjoy. And remember the official WBN launch is coming up : January 1st, 2014.

Our Notes:  We are working on a much better and safer way to store your private information so that it's extremely hard for anyone to get no matter what.  It has to do with old technology.  Sometimes that is just the best way.  
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Saturday, September 7, 2013

Charles Darwin - The Descent of Man, Free Ebook



Charles Darwin - The Descent of Man from Chuck Thompson

During the successive reprints of the first edition of this work, published in 1871, I was able to introduce several important corrections; and now that more time has elapsed, I have endeavoured to profit by the fiery ordeal through which the book has passed, and have taken advantage of all the criticisms which seem to me sound. I am also greatly indebted to a large number of correspondents for the communication of a surprising number of new facts and remarks. These have been so numerous, that I have been able to use only the more important ones; and of these, as well as of the more important corrections, I will append a list. Some new illustrations have been introduced, and four of the old drawings have been replaced by better ones, done from life by Mr. T.W. Wood.

 I must especially call attention to some observations which I owe to the kindness of Prof. Huxley (given as a supplement at the end of Part I.), on the nature of the differences between the brains of man and the higher apes. I have been particularly glad to give these observations, because during the last few years several memoirs on the subject have appeared on the Continent, and their importance has been, in some cases, greatly exaggerated by popular writers.
I may take this opportunity of remarking that my critics frequently assume that I attribute all changes of corporeal structure and mental power exclusively to the natural selection of such variations as are often called spontaneous; whereas, even in the first edition of the 'Origin of Species,' I distinctly stated that great weight must be attributed to the inherited effects of use and disuse, with respect both to the body and mind. I also attributed some amount of modification to the direct and prolonged action of changed conditions of life.

 Some allowance, too, must be made for occasional reversions of structure; nor must we forget what I have called "correlated" growth, meaning, thereby, that various parts of the organisation are in some unknown manner so connected, that when one part varies, so do others; and if variations in the one are accumulated by selection, other parts will be modified. Again, it has been said by several critics, that when I found that many details of structure in man could not be explained through natural selection, I invented sexual selection; I gave, however, a tolerably clear sketch of this principle in the first edition of the 'Origin of Species,' and I there stated that it was applicable to man.

 This subject of sexual selection has been treated at full length in the present work, simply because an opportunity was here first afforded me. I have been struck with the likeness of many of the half-favourable criticisms on sexual selection, with those which appeared at first on natural selection; such as, that it would explain some few details, but certainly was not applicable to the extent to which I have employed it. My conviction of the power of sexual selection remains unshaken; but it is probable, or almost certain, that several of my conclusions will hereafter be found erroneous; this can hardly fail to be the case in the first treatment of a subject. When naturalists have become familiar with the idea of sexual selection, it will, as I believe, be much more largely accepted; and it has already been fully and favourably received by several capable judges.


DOWN, BECKENHAM, KENT,
September, 1874.

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Charles Darwin. 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in....
Charles Darwin. 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. From a photograph by Elliott & Fry. According to Gene Kritsky, maintainer of an archive of Darwin photographs, this was from a photography session at Darwin's home, Down House, and on another photograph from that session Darwin wrote "1879" on the back. It was later widely sold and distributed on heavy card stock by Elliott & Fry, with a caption dating it "Circa 1880". It was later reproduced in a wide range of Darwiniana. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Friday, September 6, 2013

The Start of Eugenics, Charles Darwin, On The Origin of Species

Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin (Photo credit: lofaesofa)
"But with regard to the material world, we can at least go so far as this—we can perceive that events are brought about not by insulated interpositions of Divine power, exerted in each particular case, but by the establishment of general laws."
"To conclude, therefore, let no man out of a weak conceit of sobriety, or an ill-applied moderation, think or maintain, that a man can search too far or be too well studied in the book of God's word, or in the book of God's works; divinity or philosophy; but rather let men endeavour an endless progress or proficience in both."

When on board H.M.S. 'Beagle,' as naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of the inhabitants of South America, and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent. These facts seemed to me to throw some light on the origin of species—that mystery of mysteries, as it has been called by one of our greatest philosophers. On my return home, it occurred to me, in 1837, that something might perhaps be made out on this question by patiently accumulating and reflecting on all sorts of facts which could possibly have any bearing on it. After five years' work I allowed myself to speculate on the subject, and drew up some short notes; these I enlarged in 1844 into a sketch of the conclusions, which then seemed to me probable: from that period to the present day I have steadily pursued the same object. I hope that I may be excused for entering on these personal details, as I give them to show that I have not been hasty in coming to a decision.

My work is now nearly finished; but as it will take me two or three more years to complete it, and as my health is far from strong, I have been urged to publish this Abstract. I have more especially been induced to do this, as Mr. Wallace, who is now studying the natural history of the Malay archipelago, has arrived at almost exactly the same general conclusions that I have on the origin of species. Last year he sent to me a memoir on this subject, with a request that I would forward it to Sir Charles Lyell, who sent it to the Linnean Society, and it is published in the third volume of the Journal of that Society. Sir C. Lyell and Dr. Hooker, who both knew of my work—the latter having read my sketch of 1844—honoured me by thinking it advisable to publish, with Mr. Wallace's excellent memoir, some brief extracts from my manuscripts.

Read the rest in the ebook below.



Charles Darwin On The Origin of Species from Chuck Thompson

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The origin of Eugenics begins with Charles Darwin and Charles Darwin's work begins here.  What is troubling about all of this are several issues.

One:  Charles Darwin was perverted.  He married his own cousin.

Two:  Although I would have a tendency to agree with the theory as it relates to animals, I can not support the same for humans.  It does not account for the human spirit nor the soul of man, or woman for that matter.  Strong in strength, is not a promise of strong in character or mind.  Muscle bound idiots abound yet rarely is it seen the intellectual that makes oneself muscle bound.  Though the combination does exist, it is rare.

  To make a case for breeding a superhuman race, it has always been in the air, but history has shown it to be a farce and a vision that can not be mastered.  Yet we have many who subscribe to such delusions and will continue to try to attain the superhuman race anyway.

Now what we have found very interesting, Charles Darwin is not shown anywhere to have been a member of any of the popular secret societies, but he comes from a very long line of secret society members including his grandfather and father.  His works are without question, promoted by the secret societies.  Is Eugenics a science?  More like the mad insanity of science fiction.  Only works in books.  Not real life.  More to come. 
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