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The PHJ Universe
This blog is about technology, the future, and science fiction. Some posts are about our world's current tech. Others will focus on what could be. I'll post some stories of the future to muse about how strange things could really get if humans ever make it to the stars.
Or, how much they might stay the same.
STATUS OF THE MS: Nearly done! I have taken the lessons from workshopping it, and from reading some other seminal works of Sci-Fi to squeeze out all but the tension, conflict, excitement and, I hope, satisfaction of characters who struggle and only just overcome their challenges and themselves.
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Monthly Archives: May 2014
Software patents, IP Seizure and the new Middle Ages (Software Patents part 1)
Imagine living in an age where the development of technology is so slow that you could wake up after a century-long sleep and find nothing significantly changed. This is conceivable in one of two eras: Earth during the Middle Ages, … Continue reading
Software Patents, or, How to Make a Hamburger (Software Patents part 2)
I used to be a burger chef a long time ago. We made big, glorious burgers, works of art. We also assembled beef sandwiches, grilled chicken breasts, patty melts, and short ribs. Lots of fries & salads too. I worked … Continue reading
The story: Hacked before conception
The story: Hacked before conception.
Posted in Backstory
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Cuba’s Special Period and the “un” Triumph of the Revolution
Cuba’s Special Period and the “un” Triumph of the Revolution. A heartbreaking article by thirdeyemom. Can we PLEASE in my lifetime normalize relations with Cuba? One wonders what the point is now…
Why space travel will have to be a mercantile monopoly, Part 1: It will need perfect software, and it will need to make money
Mercantilism used to be the norm. Countries waged economic war by launching expeditions using state-of the-art vessels (sailing and steam ships) to capture monopoly trade by whatever means possible – bribery, threats, even warfare (like the Opium Wars in China). … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Technology
Tagged interstellar trade, programming, sci-fi, space travel
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Why space travel will have to be a mercantile monopoly, Part 2: Quality = time * $$$
There is an old saying: software can have quality, features or be on time. Pick two. Those three factors – features, time, and money – define the software development process. Features are the definitive characteristic – that defines the battleground, … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Technology
Tagged interstellar trade, programming, sci-fi, space travel
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Why space travel will have to be a mercantile monopoly, Part 3: Competition=crap software
Why will it take a monopoly for us to conquer interstellar travel? Because software written in a competitive environment is always riddled with bugs. Note the qualifier here: a competitive environment. I could probably say all software with some confidence, … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Technology
Tagged interstellar trade, programming, sci-fi, space travel
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Why space travel will have to be a mercantile monopoly, Part 4: No one tests enough
Complex systems require complex tests. Remember 42? Douglas Adams’ conceit that the entire world was a computer built to answer a question and the answer was 42? Adams was, I believe, quite the technologist. He even wrote a computer game … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Technology
Tagged interstellar trade, programming, sci-fi, space travel
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Why space travel will have to be a mercantile monopoly, Part 5: bugs
Yes I’m starting at the end because the way the blog will appear to anyone who finally gets around to reading it, will be upside down. Blogs are a pain that way. Bugs, they’re not just for breakfast So, what … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Technology
Tagged interstellar trade, programming, sci-fi, space travel
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