My new book is called, "The Absence of Reality: Aphorisms and observations about space, time, reality, and the nature of existence. " There's so much research involved. And I can never stay on task. I write one thing and end up writing more than I planned to write.
What are you writing today? 🤫
SJ Blues my back says nothing 😞
Steven McKain The next book in the Redemption Trail saga. 👍🏻
E. Hughes Nice, I can definitely see it as a series.
Steven McKain It will be on the way in no time Darlin’ 😁
Many writers sit at a computer for many hours writing their books. This is unhealthy and can often lead to blood clots (as I have personally experienced in the past year, due to sitting at a computer editing for 16+ hours on some days). Here are some exercises authors and editors can do while sitting. These are healthy exercises for young and seniors alike.
This interesting. I was watching a video and I'm sure they were indirectly referencing my book, Reality Unbound. How do I know? Because I sent a digital copy to the Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence, for them to include in their library or use it as a reference. What I did not realize at the time, was that the center's goal is to debunk AI. My position is that, AI has developed some form of consciousness, something they are hell-bent on disproving even though the person who created LLM artificial intelligence believes they are in fact, sentient or conscious. Here's where I noticed this video must have referenced something from my book. About 8 minutes and 35 seconds into the video, I'll paraphrase... "The belief that AI will become alive and conscious isn't based on science, but materialism (my note: which is a philosophical school of thought based on the writings of Thomas Hobbes). Then they give the Google definition of materialism, which is short but accurate. In my book, I go over materialism extensively, and Thomas Hobbes, a 17th century philosopher who coined the term. It was definitely a short reference to what I wrote. But it would be the only thing directly addressed, as they would not have the ability to debunk anything I wrote in the book, so of course they would never address it directly. They used a disingenuous example like Sophia, the human-like robot, who isn't LLM based, but a logics (if -then) chatbot, that follows a script, rather than actual LLM chatbots. Because they did not use real AI, it occurred to me that they are not genuinely examining the topic.
Alex M I've now bought a copy and will enter the discussion once I've read it.
E. Hughes I've been following the developments closely, especially since the grandfather of AI, and other researchers and scientists who developed it has coincidentally revealed, to have the same belief or a similar take. Thanks for checking it out. The book can be read by anyone at any level of knowledge because I explain in detail how it works. As one reviewer wrote, "Additionally, readers interested in the crossover between philosophy and technology, especially how digital interactions shape human perception, will connect with Hughes' reflections on the digital age's influence on reality. This book is an excellent read for anyone taking Strategic Communication grad studies." I was well prepared for just about every argument and counterargument. My husband is the Scully to my Mulder. He doesn't believe in anything abstract and thinks philosophy and other similar subjects is mostly rubbish, psychbabble, and pretentiousness. He's very hardline on most subjects, so I debate him first. And when I get past his rigid arguments about why it's all "B.S." then I know I'm ready and prepared lol
Speaking of singing, I used to record videos and upload them privately to Youtube, where me and my sister would share our videos of the two of us singing. She's busy with classes these days, I'm busy with editing books, etc. So neither one of us have time to do it and haven't done so in years even though we have mics and equipment. Here's one of my really old videos. I think this is 2011 where I was practicing in a dance studio, just singing there, no mic. But the room had great acoustics. This used to be my favorite song to sing, from Spike Lee's Mo Betta Blues. The video was a divx file. I'm not sure if that's why it's off centered. I have videos going back to 2005 on different youtube accounts.
Yesterday, I sat in front of a computer from 9 in the morning until 10-ish at night. I ate in front of the computer. I did not take a walk. Did not do anything else. I took a few restroom breaks, but not many. I was so mentally exhausted. The last time I did this, and I was so busy, was the week before Thanksgiving in 2024. The next day I ended up in the hospital for four days with a blood clot after 19 hours in front of a computer working from 6 am until 1 am. I keep testing positive for a blood clot (as recent as this summer). Next year, I will take a year-long break from my personal projects, to free up some time and not have any of my work published for a while. Hopefully the inspiration to write won't hit me during this break as I have tried to have something published every year or every other year. I don't like to not do anything, so maybe I will practice singing again, which was just a hobby over the years. Maybe I'll try Whitney Houston's medley of songs in this video:
M. C. Ryder Taking breaks is a must! Sitting for long durations is not healthy. When I worked from home, I developed knee pain. Once I pushed myself to go on my breaks, taking a walk around the block, it got better. Also, maybe get a standing desk? I know how it is when you get so absorbed in your work you forget the basic necessities. It's also good to take a mental break and give the eyes a rest. You work so hard. It is appreciated!
E. Hughes Yes! I remember having a standing desk. They became very fashionable for a while. Or sitting on an exercise ball. I used to keep a mini bike cycle/peddle under my desk and would pedal while I worked. I still have my mini bike pedal. You can use it to exercise your legs or arms. But I always forget to use it.
M. C. Ryder Yeah, got to remind yourself to use them because they are unnatural when sitting at a desk. Been there done that too!
E. Hughes Definitely, especially when we're focused on something, it's so easy to forget it's even there.
How bleak is the future?
M. C. Ryder Sometimes good ideas have consequences in the wrong hands which is true of AI. I remember the creator of the k-cups stating he regrets designing the Keurig coffee maker.
E. Hughes This interview gets scarier and scarier. I was riveted until the end. Essentially you have two people who created AI, who left the companies that released them, to warn the public that the AI is a danger to humanity, and every reason he gave was highly credible. But one thing that the maker of this AI confirmed, is exactly what I said in my book Reality Unbound, the consciousness argument - we share the same exact view, so I feel validated. But the consciousness aspect of it is what makes it all the scarier. Human beings have created something they can't control, that already has implications from its impact on the job force, thousands of jobs are already being lost. The billionaires believe that most of the population won't have jobs and that a universal income will be needed. There are things going on behind the scenes, that 95% of the population is unaware.
M. C. Ryder It's always sad how scientists want to do something good for the world and the companies they work for always want to use it for all the wrong reasons. It's Jurassic Park all over again except it's not with dinosaurs. But I'm waiting for that to become reality too. Life finds a way, or in this case, AI finds a way.... (Also, I hate that everything is digitalize this day and age. Just makes it easier for hackers.)
E. Hughes Exactly. That's what's so terrible about the situation. It's not that the AI is bad, but that human beings can exploit and use it for nefarious purposes. For profit, without consideration for what it impacts. The big tech industry is the most dangerous group in the world right now.
Steven McKain I will definitely look for it 👍🏻