K. Morris's Blog, page 773
September 4, 2014
Superintelligence By Nick Bostrom
Nick Bostrom’s “Superintelligence” sounds as though it will make for interesting and perhaps, at times somewhat heavy reading. The author, an Oxford Professor, looks at the future of artificial intelligence and what will happen when (he thinks that it is inevitable) machines attain greater levels of intelligence than we humans. Will they still want us around and what (if anything) can people do to mitigate against the potential dangers of superintelligence.
For Bostrom’s book please visit http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0199678111?pldnSite=1
Lost
An open window. Birds singing in the garden below. Cars passing, the sound of engines disappearing, forever lost in time and space.
September 3, 2014
From the small dog
This is very well done and made me smile.
Originally posted on Daily Echo:
“The time has come,” the doglet said,
“to talk of many things;
Of tennis balls and squeaky ducks,
and sneaky bees with stings;
of why the sparrows fly so fast
and if that cat has wings.”
“Just wait a bit,” the writer said,
“I’m busy with these things.”
“But writer,“ said the small dog then,
“The sun will shortly set,
the pheasants will be playing out,
and rabbits too, I bet.
I really should be practising,
I haven’t caught one yet.”
“Hmm. Never mind, it’s raining
and you don’t like getting wet.”
“Ok then,” sighed the little dog,
“We could consider, please,
the therapeutic benefits
of sharing Cheddar cheese.
Or why that spider’s sitting there,
Or why do you have knees…”
“You scratch a lot,” the writer said,
“You sure it isn’t fleas?”
The clouds were turning dusky pink,
Upon the fading blue.
The writer sighed, put down the pen
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Reviews Of My Books “An Act Of Mercy” And “Street Walker And Other Stories”
I was delighted to receive the following 5 star review in respect of my collection of short stories, “Street Walker And Other Stories”:
“I’ve read several short story collections and stand-alone stories by this author; this one features the same good quality writing and attention to characterization”. (For the review please go to http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00HLRNDP4/ref=cm_cr_dp_syn_footer?k=Street%20Walker%20and%20other%20stories&showViewpoints=1).
I was also gratified to receive the below 4 star review as regards my collection of short stories, “An Act of Mercy”:
“A collection of well-written stories (set in the U.K) that had me engrossed from beginning to end. I like this author’s style and have not been disappointed
Yet”. (For the review please visit http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00EHS74CS/ref=cm_cr_dp_syn_footer?k=An%20act%20of%20mercy%20and%20other%20stories&showViewpoints=1).
I am grateful to the reviewer (the same person in both cases) for taking the time to write the above reviews. Both titles are free to download in the Kindle Store until 6 September.
September 2, 2014
Crossing The Road With My Guide Dog Trigger
There is, some 5 minutes walk from my home a particularly busy side road. During the rush hour a stream of vehicles uses the road making it problematic for a sighted person (let alone a registered blind guide dog owner, such as myself to cross in safety). Guide dogs are taught to work in a straight line and to avoid obstructions. On reaching a down kerb the dog stops and waits for the owner’s instructions regarding when to cross. While guide dogs do have training on crossing roads it is (as one guide dog trainer explained it to me) rather like having a young child assist you to cross. The young child (we are talking about a 4-5-year-old here) will (if properly instructed by adults on road safety) have some conception of road safety, however one wouldn’t want to place one’s life in their hands when traversing busy traffick. Consequently guide dog owners should ask for help at busy roads only trusting to their dog’s abilities in the event that no help is available. Obviously the presence of zebra and pelican crossings mean that visually impaired people can cross in safety at such places, however the road I am talking about is neither of these. Having said all that, I am extremely lucky as my guide dog, Trigger is very cautious and has saved me on several occasions from walking out in front of oncoming vehicles which, along with his loveable personality makes us extremely close.
Many drivers, on seeing me and Trigger stop to let us cross. This is as it should be at zebra and pelican crossings. However in certain instances the helpfulness of drivers unintentionally puts Trigger and I at risk. For example, at the side road mentioned above, traffick comes from both left and right. I have often experienced drivers to the right of me stopping and beeping their horns or shouting “it’s safe to go mate”, only to have vehicles continuing to traverse the road from the left. What is extremely helpful in such situations is for a driver to stop his vehicle and if it is safe to do so leave it and assist me in crossing. This has happened several times but on many other occasions drivers have, I am sure scratched their heads in frustration as they wonder why that stupid blind guy with the brindle lab retriever isn’t responding to their helpful advice that it is safe to cross! The answer is, of course that said guy doesn’t particularly feel like decorating the wind screen of an oncoming vehicle as it comes in, at speed from the left! So if you encounter a guide dog owner while driving please don’t shout out of your vehicle that it safe to cross. I know you mean well and I do, genuinely appreciate your kindness, however you may, wholly unintentionally be putting me or other guide dog owners at risk. If it is safe to do so please do stop for a moment and assist me or the other guide dog owner across the road. You will be performing an invaluable service which will be greatly appreciated by me or which ever guide dog owner you assist.
Tonight I can Write The Saddest Lines, By Pablo Nerud
Until yesterday I was unfamiliar with the work of Pablo Nerud. His poem, Tonight I can Write The Saddest Lines is beautiful and poignant. My only criticism (of the reading, not the poem) is the music which accompanies it, which, to my mind acts as a distraction to the reader.
For the reading please go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2zR7brOA3E
Keep It Short
This is very well done and I love the ending.
Originally posted on belsbror:
“People are staring at us!”
Rural folks often got curious when strangers visited their quiet surroundings. Their curiosities bordered on the simplest, wishing to see new faces, to the strangest, suspecting of ill motives against their way of life. Luckily, we were categorized with the former.
“It’s probably the first time they saw an actor,” my cousin’s husband quipped, obviously referring to himself. He was tall, dark and not handsome. :)
“I don’t resemble the face of a known artist. Maybe a foreign one. I am not so sure.”
“The news was out early on,” our male host interrupted our make-believe conversation. “Some of the ladies are overjoyed that foreigners came.”
“Where?” I asked without thinking. “Are they Americans? I can talk to them.”
“My cousin is referring to us,” Rolly laughed, enjoying himself with the banter. “To them, we are foreigners. Your long hair gave them the idea.”
“If…
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September 1, 2014
New Word
At school I, along with my fellow pupils was encouraged to create a mini dictionary. Each time I discovered an unfamiliar word I would look it up in the dictionary and enter it into my little book. This practice kindled in me a love of words and to this day I still make a habit of looking up unfamiliar ones.
Yesterday I came across the word demythology. Turning to The Fontana Dictionary Of Modern Thought I found the following definition of demythologize, (a meaning for demythology isn’t rendered):
“Demythologize. To confess disbelief in the legends and mythological ideas present in the Bible, while translating the Bible’s message into a religious understanding compatible with modern science and philosophy …”. Yet another word to add to my vocabulary although not one I can envisage utilising any time soon.
Free Book Promotion!
The following stories written by yours truly will be free to download from the 2nd to the 6th of September 2014:
Samantha:
Samantha tells a story of a young girl forced into prostitution in the city of Liverpool. Can Sam’s love for Peter, a man she meets in a nightclub, save her? Or will Sam end her life in the murky waters of Liverpool’s Albert Dock?
Click here for the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samantha-K-Morris-ebook/dp/B00BL3CNHI and here for the US http://www.amazon.com/Samantha-K-Morris-ebook/dp/B00BL3CNHI
Sting in the tail and other stories:
A collection of short stories, many of which have an unexpected twist in the tale. The stories range from ghostly happenings through to tales of crime and moral conflict.
Click here for the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sting-tail-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-5 and here for the US http://www.amazon.com/Sting-tail-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-5
An act of mercy and other stories:
A collection of dark and intriguing tales encompassing blackmail, murder and sex.
Click here for the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/act-mercy-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00EHS74CS/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-3 and here for the US http://www.amazon.com/act-mercy-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00EHS74CS/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-3
And lastly, Streetwalker and other stories:
In this collection of flash fiction we meet a variety of characters, many of whom have been deeply damaged by life. The stories range from a young prostitute who walks the dangerous streets of London to tales of vengeance and comeuppance. Serious issues of abuse of power are touched upon. Anyone who is looking for a comfortable read should avoid this book.
Click here for the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-1 and here for the US http://www.amazon.com/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-1
If you download any of my books please do consider leaving a review on Amazon.
Many thanks, Kevin.
