Secret Bits and Zeros

Wikileaks, the rogue journalism organization is something this world really needs.

I've been occasionally following Wikileaks since 2007 when I first read about it on reddit.com. The site has sinced drawn my attention for it's leaked documents and videos.

After viewing the TED video from a few weeks ago I was amazed at the amount of work that goes behind this rogue organization. After further research, I learned the following:

• Servers are based in Sweden at a facility that knows little to nothing about its clientel.
• Military grade encryption is used to protect sources (which was recently re-engineered)
• The TOR network is used to increase protection and security of submitters.
• The site has had funding problems with the latest increase of publicity.

In all, this is one interesting organization. And I think the world needs WikiLeaks.

Documents released 7/25/2010

I became aware a few hours ago that the latest "big" document has been released. Over 70,000 accounts of violence are in the document which is available in excel format.

I work as a software engineer at a financial firm that does heavy analysis and calculations on massive amounts of data. With these skills I was able to analyze the data (which contained over 70,000 records).

This what I found out:

• 50,887+ were "enemy" related.
• 26,826 contained the word "IED" or Improvised Explosive Device
• 23,082 were explosive related.
• 13,882+ incidents were "friend" related.
• 1144 contain the word "children" (I did not go as far as find out what exactly happened.)
• 787 contain the word "suicide"
• 279 contained "citizen"
• 500+ contained "dead"

The header is missing from the document, most likely to protect security of the operation overseas. Some of the columns are obvious as to what they are/mean. The document contains comments, latitude and longitude of incidents and much more.

I think this document shows the world that there are MANY more incidents occurring than what you hear on CNN. With over 70,000 incidents, this document overshadows the hundred or so that make the headlines. I just hope nothing is released that endangers anyone.

I think WikiLeaks may make the world a better place. Only time will tell.

A different "Second Life"

Since 2005 I've played a well known video game, which usually gets a bad rap for being "nerdy" and "obsessive" that can ruin marriages, ruin careers and in extreme cases cause death. This game is World of Warcraft. I've played on and off, usually stopping when school becomes more intense of if I get bored of the game. Sociologists, scientists and economists use the game to test millions of players in a virtual mega world.

The game is much like second life, only slightly less customizable and more focused on "gaming." The world is immense much like second life which would take days to see it all, allows you to create a custom avatar and essentially allow you to live in another magical world. With over ten million players (which pay $15/month), there are many different types of people in-game.

The world has been studied by scientists and economists. With a lively economy, users can sell objects they get in-game at auction and the entire economy is realistic. Using real money is restricted so it's not like Second Life in this way.

Scientists have studied the game when a software glitch allows users to infect one another by accident. This virtual disease somehow spread to the cities where it infected thousands of players, killing many (you can resurrect after a minute, no worries!). The world, although virtual, is realistic in a social sense. You can talk with your own voice to other players which is very popular, many relationships, thousands possibly, exist through this game.

Skeletons can be seen throughout one of the large cities on the ground during epidemic

Much like Second Life (only more game orientated), there are these events called "raids." These events involve anywhere between 10 and 40 people. The fun thing about the game is that you really don't know people in real life, only in the game. These always require users to use microphones to coordinate as they are very difficult to complete.

Doctors, lawyers, blue collar and white collar people collaborate on an objective, many times using complex strategies to defeat a "monster." Sometimes it takes a group months to master a maneuver, only to move onto the next one. It amazes me that 40 people from many backgrounds can work together in this virtual world, which in the end may reward players based on their rolling of the dice on player gear.

A small guild poses for a group photo. Some guilds have hundreds of very dedicated members.

One of the main things I like about the game is that you can join a group of people which form a "guild" or a clan. These guilds are much like organizations. There are websites, certain clothes, rules and labels (such as newcomer or veteran member). The downside is that if you want to "raid" you must dedicate time. Most guilds raid every night from 8-11pm. When I started in 2005, I used to play from 8PM to 4AM. Most of my friends that played sports did this as well, luckily it lasted only a few months.

The game is extremely beautiful and each area (which is typically very large) has its own theme and characteristics.

This game is a glimpse into another world, one that is full of players. The game itself is immensely detailed with cities, villages, dungeons and jungles. It's beautiful. The art really connects with technology to create this very lively world.

My Take on Cloning

Of the many discussions we have in class, cloning seems to be the more controversial. It steps on toes of religious people and scares the general public due to the dangers involved. I think it's a great thing and here's why.

Organ backups

We can clone individual organs and grow them in the lab. Imagine turning 70 and receiving a massive organ transplant that refreshes your organs that are akin to a healthy 20 year old. Or perhaps you have cancer or some sort of injury, replace the damaged tissues with 100% compatible organs that do not require medications to prevent your body from rejecting them.

Food

Already our food is genetically modified and essentially cloned so that we get the same great tasting tomatoes and carrots every time. It is already on going and continues to advance. This aids farmers as they can grow better crops by growing the same exact crops every year.

Ability to bring back the dead

Although a clone does not have the same mind as the original (tissue may be the same, ideas probably not), it may be possible to bring back wholly mammoths or dinosaurs. Can you imagine Einstein back in the laboratory where he left off?

I think its an interesting topic that will periodically make headlines for the next few decades. I personally think cloning will greatly advance during my lifetime, perhaps I'll have that new heart at 80.

One Over-The-Top Carrot

Carrot Top (or Scott Thompson) is a well known comedian, well at least he was back in the 90's. He is first person I think of when it comes to plastic surgery, with Micheal Jackson a runner up.

In 1994 the image above was taken. He looks like the average joe. His look made him funny: a skinny white man with wild red hair and a funny stage presence.

Fast forward to this photo taken recently. Notice the difference? Plastic has transformed this funny man into a scary woman/man hybrid with huge muscles.

I'm all for plastic surgery, if you need it. My definition of need here is you must need the surgery to repair your body to a usable state. In other words, if your face was blown off somehow and you needed plastic surgery to look human again, you should.

However, if you want bigger breasts or want to pull your face back to look more like a manikin I think its wrong. You will end up having the face of a doll and a normal body. At some point the two will be so opposite in directions that it nullifies the surgery all together, you'd look worse.

Plastic surgery should be left to repairing patients in hospital, restoring skin to a burn victim or fixing a facial deformity such as cleft pallets to help a life be more normal.

If you want to keep looking young, eat right, do yoga and drink water.

I leave you with an image from the future. This is carrot top in the year 2025 (well, actually its from a great movie, but it's close.)

Handmade Egypt

Photo by Tom@HK

A few weeks before class began I took a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to see the new Egyptian exhibit, it was amazing to say the least.

The sarcophagus of the mummy was extremely detailed with thousands of hieroglyphs. Several people must have spent weeks, if not months on these centimeter wide carvings. The hood covering the mummy's head was handmade, as with everything that we have uncovered from this time period. Upon close inspection of the wood used in the multiple layers of sarcophagus, you can see the tool marks that someone made thousands of years before.

One interesting quote I found was from the MFA's website:

Most intriguing is the skilled removal of several bones around the cheeks. This “surgery” did not help with brain removal, so it may instead relate to the funeral ritual known as the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony. This allowed the deceased to eat, drink, and breathe in the afterlife.

Everything in this exhibit was insanely detailed. Before viewing the mummy room, there were several boats, objects, jars and countless objects that were left with the deceased for use in the afterlife. These were handmade, not put together on an assembly line and they were not used or showcased until now. They were left to rest in peace in a dark tomb were no one was to view them. The afterlife was just the beginning for the Egyptians.

Class is in Session

My Art & Technology class at Wentworth began last Tuesday, so far it's interesting! From what I can tell from the lectures, the overall objective is to study art and technology in the past few decades, mainly during the postmodern era (which may or may not have already ended).

I'm still trying to understand how they are related but I have a basic understanding with Da Vinci's drawings and the 1902 film "A Trip to the Moon." Both have an artistic feel to them which helped us at the time understand "out of this world" subjects.

As you can tell from the image above I am fascinated by robots, particularly humanoids; however, anything with an electronic brain intrigues me. I came to Wentworth to study Computer Engineering to better understand these machines and to hopefully work on one. This class is touching upon this subject which sounds fun to me.

I'm looking forward to the field trips, particularly the Axiom in Boston. From looking at their website, it immediately reminded me of a PBS telivision show that I've come to love over the years, "Scientific American Frontiers." MIT is frequently showcased with their fantastic Media Lab, I hope some of their work is showcased this summer!

The video below is one of my favorite episodes of the show which features the Kismet robot discussed in class, as well as many others. I highly suggest you watch! (Wait for the ad to finish, it's worth it).