Quantum Physics. The Inside track on our greatest and weirdest Theory of Reality. New Scientist. Essential Guide N°5.

I found this issue harder to read than the previous four guides. Topics I enjoyed where Retrocausality (the future can influence the present...), Quantum Computers, the link between Evolution and Quantum physics, and theory about quantum particles creating time rather than being ruled by it... 😯

The Postman always rings twice by James M. Cain

❤ 🤍 💙 🧡 🖤  I loved the story, the characters and Cain's writing style. Quick read. 

The title of the novel is a metaphor. There is no Postman character. It probably means that judgment will come with a second ring (or crime). The characters are all grey, dark grey. Frank is a con-man not a hero. Cora is a feme fatale who manipulates Frank. A classic noir relationship. Maybe this is why I pictured all characters and scenarios in black and white while I was reading the book. It was great.

The Horror at Red Hook and He by H.P. Lovecraft.

Two stories set in New York and with overt racist references. 🧐

Apparently Lovecraft didn't like New York. He lived there for a short period of time. In both of these tales Lovecraft depicts the repulsive face of the big apple, including the people (immigrants) he disliked. The two stories are ok, not great and I doubt I will remember them in the future. Hmm perhaps the detective, Malone, in the first story will stick for a bit .

So far I have read 1/3 of this mammoth of a book. Still to read his most reputable work. Looking forward.

Rashomon and 17 other stories by Akutagawa Ryūnosuke

This compilation comes with an introduction by Haruki Murakami which I thoroughly enjoyed particularly mentions of Akutagawa's literary influences. I only read 5 stories as follows:

1. Rashomon: a man wanders among corpses.... Loved it.

2. In a Bamboo Groove: several people relate their own versions of a crime. Gripping.

-- I learned about these 2 stories when I read The Films of Akira Kurosawa. The famous director based his Rashomon movie on the above stories.

3. The Nose: a monk worries about his ginormous nose. Thanks to @rotaheche for recommending this story to me. I liked it a lot.

4. Dr Ogata Ryosai: Memorandum: a woman who belongs to a Kirishitan (Christian) sect begs a doctor to cure her daughter but the doctor asks the woman to renounce to her faith first. I really liked this one.

5. Daidoji Shinsuke: the early years: about a boy called Shinosuke and some things that happen to him. Not my cup of tea.

Update

I read Dragon: the Old Potters Tale: another story about a monk with a big nose. The monk writes a sign saying "on the third day of the third month the dragon of this pond will ascend to heaven" everyone believe the sign and get ready to witness the ascend.

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

I'm happy I read this #russianclassic It's an achievement, a milestone in my reading life.

I tried to read this book twice last year and I couldn't pass the first page. Two weeks ago I grabbed it when I was organising the shelf. I didn't organise the shelf but I read 30 pages in one sitting. :)

This is the story of a father and his three sons, all neglected by him since they were born. Love-hate relationships, perhaps more (covert) hate than love. Fyodor Karamazov is a selfish, egocentric, stingy jerk and his sons are only the result of his failures. I loved how Dostoevsky goes inside the characters' minds to expose their psychology not only the protagonists but many other secondary characters. From happiness to hysterics, in women and men, Dostoevsky conveyed realistic, emotional and psychological states (sometimes too dramatic to my taste) which fell like rollercoasters.

The novel is long and has long paragraphs. There was a 8 page long paragraph!!! I enjoyed those sections with dialogues and where things were happening. There are many of those. But there are also sections which are hard (if not tedious) to read. Of those I want to highlight 2, both protagonised by Ivan Fyodorovich Karamazov. The first is his participation in a conversation at monk Zosima's room. Ivan discusses politics, religion, state and church. The second one is a conversation between Ivan and his brother Alexei, again about religion, morals, ethics. I thoroughly enjoyed Ivan's monologues.

Superintelligence. Paths, Dangers, Strategies by Nick Bostrom

This book is about the different ways humanity can achieve Superintelligence. Yes, one way is by creating AI, and there are many ways or methods for doing that. Other ways involve making copies of human brains, making many minds work together, and enhancing human brains through different methods. The book also discusses possible future scenarios for when Superintelligence is about to be created. how would that happen? what would happen to humans? And many more.

I enjoyed the first third of the book, read the first half and left the rest for when I am hungry for more AI stuff again. This wasn't a book to read in one go.

Topics I enjoyed reading about: Whole brain emulation (Uploading), Biologial cognition (enhance function of biological brains either by improving nutrition, drugs, manipulation of genetics or cyborgization), Forms of Superintelligence (Speed Superintelligence, Collective Superintelligence, Quality Superintelligence), Cognitive superpowers, Oracles (question answering systems), Genies (command-executing systems) and Sovereigns (systems with open ended mandates to pursuit very long-range objectives.)