"Sex Robot" on Discovery

The other night I was hanging out having a couple beers with some friends & watching TV. As I was flipping through the TV guide a show called "Sex Robots" caught the eye of one of my friends.

"Red Hot Robots"

Out of amused curiosity I turned it on, & it was like a horrible train wreck that I had to keep watching. I could NOT believe what I was seeing. Basically these people, who I began calling "Robo-pervs," (*see below for update) actually prefer the companionship of robots that look like women to the real thing.

As any biologically-inclined human could probably guess, it was pretty unsettling.

The documentary was about people who are dreaming of the day when fully interactive & lifelike robots are made for the sole purpose of simulated intercourse. It's amazing that the instinctual sex drive in humans is so controlling that it can override our biological imperative to make some people pursue a path like this.

Proving there is a niche for everyone in this crazy world, the program showed people trying build a sex robot, and also followed guys who wanted to own these Fembots. They gave feedback to the builders on how to improve the appearance and performance of the robots. To me, all the robots looked creepy and almost frightening, and their jerky movements & lifeless interactions only enhanced the creepiness factor.

Here is one of the robots & its creator, w/ an appropriately ridiculous headline:

"Roxxxy Sex Robot
Also a Great Conversationalist"

At one point in the documentary two humanoid robots were shown "humping" each other, & they were basically just banging their plastic heads together. I started laughing hysterically at the sheer absurdity of it.

There was another guy who was on the computer looking at pictures of female robots with their face & chest removed, exposing circuitry underneath. This was the guy's idea of porn & it makes absolutely no sense at all. The closest I can find to the photos that he was oogling over was this:


Another robot fetishist actually had a girlfriend (who was also kind of dorky, but not hideously ugly or anything). She agreed to go along with being hypnotized into becoming a robot to make her boyfriend happy. He was asking her to repeat "Prime Directives" & she responded about "being obedient & pleasing" her boyfriend, who was visibly encouraged by this. It was definitely creepy to me.

Some of these souls seem to have serious issues with control, which makes them desire a life-like being that obeys their whims.

I was watching this show almost the entire time with my jaw dropped open or wincing at the awkwardness of some of the situations. My brain simply could not process the madness I was seeing. However, to each his own... right?

*Update 9/27:
Someone commented on this post appropriately mocking me for being an insensitive jerk in my tone. They have a point in the sense that I wasn't practicing kind speech. I really don't wish ill on anyone & think people should be able to do whatever the hell they want, without fear of persecution. As long as you're not hurting anyone, go nuts!

Truth be told- I think 'alternative' lifestyle choices like robots, virtual experiences, & other things we aren't able to imagine yet will only become more commonplace as technology becomes more sophisticated. However, to me personally it's still a mind-boggling phenomenon, as are other things - like people being willing to swim with Great White sharks. Neither seems like sensible behavior to me, but I'm not going to tell people they can't do it.

So sorry if it seems harsh, but as a human being I'm trying to avoid the Robot Sexpocalypse™ that could wipe out our species forever if this behavior continues.

I am only human, after all.

Fighting the Robot Revolution

ED-209
The Future of Law Enforcement
?

Humans at their worst are characterized by violence, greed, and a complete lack of empathy. It should be expected, then, that autonomous creations by humans such as robots and corporations can exhibit similar negative characteristics - if not designed to behave otherwise.

Just like humans have rules to follow, banks and corporate institutions should have regulatory oversight. We are currently witnessing the undeniable results of rotten leadership with no accountability allowing unchecked institutions to ransack the American economy.

Just like the world hasn't fully experienced the repercussions of this grand economic fraud, we haven't been able to truly foresee the consequences of creating military robotic systems. Ever-advancing technology is being used under the guise of military support or law enforcement.

The ideal control system to prevent extreme scenarios like in the Terminator or the Matrix would be Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. Of course, I've written before about the rapid advancement of military robots & obviously these laws have been completely ignored by mankind.

Thankfully, some courageous visionaries are trying to head off the possible robocalypse. Millionaire Ben Way has created WAR (Weapons Against Robots) as an avenue to research counter-robot measures of all kinds.

"About Time: Company Aims To Fight Robots"

Although such efforts could one day prevent the elimination of humans by overwhelming forces of silicon-based destruction, I'm sure his work is seen as almost terrorist in nature by certain authorities. Who is the true terrorist, though? The one who seeks to prevent the destruction of human life by killing machines? or the ones who enable the destruction of human life by those same machines?

Perhaps, the robots won't even have to battle us to gain control... Once everyone has an iThink implanted in their head, the machines will simply override our nervous systems and make us zombie-like automatons, in an ironic reversal of roles.

Perhaps... it has already happened.


Needless to say, robots aren't ALL bad-

A.I. & The Future of Machines

I've been reading & seeing a lot of insights into the possible consequences of the continuing progression of digital technology.

There is a spectrum of opinion on the subject- ranging from optimists who think robots & artificial intelligence will be a great help to human beings, to pessimists who envision Terminator-like doomsday scenarios of robot domination. There are also people (like me) in the gray area, who think there could be both good & bad results of A.I., depending on how the technology is developed & used.

Although I've been seeing thoughts about this topic from different sources, this article (below) that I originally saw on Reddit is a long, but deeply thought-provoking article. I would highly recommend reading the entire article or bookmarking the page.

It explores the many possibilities presented by artificial intelligence and advanced machines, and correctly concludes that there will be changes and effects that we cannot even conceive at this time.
It's a similar situation to how nobody could fully predict the profound effects that the development of the Internet would have on communications and creativity.

Wait But Why:

The AI Revolution: 

Our Immortality or Extinction

Although I would say that article is a must-read, Newsweek also published a shorter piece about the same topic that's easier to digest.

Newsweek:

Should We Be Afraid of Robots?

I also just watched a TED talk the other night about the advances in machine learning, that is equally fascinating and frightening.

In the absence of some global catastrophe that destroys humanity & our technological achievements, I think there is no end to the progression of robots and machine intelligence.

Once zero-point energy & quantum computation are harnessed, it will be an entirely new world of possibilities, both positive and negative.

Like media and stories dealing with the subject of "man vs. machine", such as Mass Effect & The Matrix, I believe that the way forward is synthesis. 

 

"Digital Self-Portrait" by Paul Micarelli

We must consciously integrate digital technology and robotics into our physical being, for the purpose of augmenting our bodies & minds. We may evolve into a new hybrid creature of unimaginable abilities, but this is the way of the Universe.

As the great philosopher Heraclitus stated, "Nothing is permanent, except change."

Who knows?
Maybe with human help one day robots & machines will even learn to love...

NASA's RoboSimian

It's a new year, and I thought I'd post about the future- specifically futuristic monkey-like robots.

I've had this article filed away, that talks about a robot designed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab.

 Gizmodo:

Robosimian: NASA’s New Monkey Robot 

Designed for Search & Rescue

The RoboSimian can shift between a wheeled configuration and a mode using four appendages that resemble a cross between monkey limbs and a tentacled creature like an octopus.

Here is a video of it in action. It is a pretty ingenious and interesting design:

Although many of the DARPA robots were humanoid & bipidal. However, there's no reason robots need to look like humans, or any other known creature.

Baby Robot

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

.... The Robots are spawning!!!

This video is one of those things that's endlessly creepy & fascinating at the same time.

Naturally, humans are going to concentrate on making robotic beings that they can identify with in form & function. Although robotic creations could be any shape or size, it's inevitable that people will make images of themselves.

This means sophisticated humanoid robots will mimic human methods of learning & information gathering. The youngest of my nephews is just starting to smile and look directly at people. Current robots are like that early stage of human development- seemingly thoughtless entities that are dependent on other beings, but still assimilating & processing large amounts of data.

We are living in a strange time.

Choose Your Overlord

I saw this blog on Design You Trust that deals exclusively with two of my favorite subjects: Robots & Monkeys!

Specifically, the focus is on which of these types of beings will end up being in control of the human race. Will our future resemble "Planet of the Apes" or "Terminator"?

Choose Your Overlord

As described in the Intro:
"Now, I realize that this is age old argument: monkeys or robots; robots or monkeys. Who will eventually dominate us? I really don’t have the answer, but with this question in mind, I have created this site to keep a running tally of the successes and failures on both sides."

Unfortunately, unlike The Matrix there is no real choice... because the actual horrible reality we may face will be cybernetic Robot-Monkey Hybrids!

Man is already using his unholy powers of reality-manipulation to create the precursor of unstoppable robo-chimps...

NY Times:
"Monkeys Control a Robot Arm With Their Thoughts"

Believe me,
he's plotting his revenge against our entire species.

Matrix Baby

When I saw this picture of a baby hooked up to a machine, it reminded me of the Sentinel robots from The Matrix. 


I made this animation awhile ago, but I just uploaded it to Memebase. Give it an upvote, if it makes you fear for the future of humanity!

Matrix Baby

The robots are trying to latch onto newborn humans!!!! 

Nooooo!!!

"Bumbot": Harbinger of Robo-fascism?

One one of the many things that have the potential to do both great service & also great harm to the human race is robotics.

We've already taken a huge ethical leap towards the negative with the creation of military robots. I've lamented the apparent future Robot Army that is on a subtle, yet unstoppable, path that should concern all protoplasmic beings.

The Colbert Report featured "Bumbot," created by a US Defense worker-turned-bar owner to keep derelicts off the street after dark. It is equipped with lights, loudspeaker, & water cannon to disperse local homeless and vagabonds.

It's almost humorous... as long I'm not the shady character this heartless enforcer is soaking on a chilly night. At least it can't be equipped w/ a taser & flame-thrower, like it's creator would prefer! I think it's just a little too soon for robots with lethal force to be patrolling our streets. Once we see how successful they are in Iraq, though, I'm sure neighborhoods everywhere will be looking forward to weapon-wielding machines guarding our every move...

Difference Makers: Bumbot

Obama vs. the Robots

Besides all his other priorities, it's good to see President Obama is aware of the potential danger of a robot revolution.

"As president, I believe
that robotics can inspire young people
to pursue science and engineering.
And I also want to keep an eye on those robots
in case they try anything."
--Barack Obama,
speaking to Washington D.C. schoolkids
on Monday as part of his science education initiative.

It's too late, Mr. President!!!....

Obama Robot at Disney

A.I.-Driven Dystopia

 

 

Don't Ignore this Warning about AI

I've been watching the unbelievable advances in A.I. imagery & video, and it is completely beyond the human mind to grasp the implications of this emerging technology. 

As a parent, I have endless worries about my children's safety & what they will see as they travel through this temporal experience called Life. 

So, the video above really hit me when considering my kids, especially my daughter. It's based on the video If London Were Syria. 

It shows a girl growing up in a dystopian future, facing existential challenges to herself & to human society, as a whole. Institutions and social structures collapse as artificial intelligence takes control of computer systems running the world. The ending (where the woman, now with her own child, is being tracked by hunter/killer robots) is such a terrifyingly real possibility- now that the field of robotics has been weaponized globally with no real checks or regulations.

The mind reels at the horrifying possibilities when watching the latest robots or drone swarms. Then, the mind absolutely recoils when faced with the realization that these powerful advancements will be controlled by the most immoral & unscrupulous among us.

President-for-Life Elon Musk in 2088 - Supreme Chief Executive of the USX

 For the sake of my kids & all people, I just keep hoping that humanity's ability to solve problems outpaces our tendency to create them.

"The Force Awakens" Trailer- Final Thoughts

Like so many people, I am anxiously anticipating seeing "Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens" this weekend.

My sister-in-law reserved a block of tickets for my immediate family for Sunday, so I'm trying to remain spoiler-free until then. Until now, I have been absorbing all the trailers & information I could find. Now I'm going to patiently wait, until I see the latest movie in a legendary series that has inspired me since I was a young child..

The people who have seen the movie already have given it overwhelmingly positive reviews, which is confirming my high hopes. Just from the trailers & footage I've seen, I knew it looked like a faithful continuation of the Star Wars legacy.

I previously posted my impressions of the official trailer, which was masterfully done & succeeded in driving the hype train full-steam ahead!

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Trailer

After I wrote that post, I thought of some other things that I wanted to say about it. While I'm waiting to see the movie, I figured I'd share some additional observations.

The one thing I love about the entire Star Wars saga is how it speaks to the human desire for expansion, of both the self & of all life. Specifically, the movies speak to the human (& alien) desire for traveling into outer space and among the stars.

This sentiment is captured in the trailer when Rey looks up to see the spaceship flying upwards through the atmosphere of her home planet Jakku. You can see the look in her eyes that reflects the longing to travel outside your own boundaries and experience all the Universe has to offer.

The other thought I had was about the relationship of man & machine, which is a constant theme throughout the movies. The scene that brought this to my mind was the brief glimpse of a hooded figure, reaching out to touch R2-D2 with a robotic hand. I'm assuming the person is Luke Skywalker, who no longer wears a glove to cover the replacement for the hand that was sliced off by his father, Darth Vader. It look like they are in a fire-lit cave or a secluded rocky area. One thing I have heard is that Luke has been missing for awhile, so maybe this is him reuniting with his friendly droid.

This brings up the interesting dynamic of humans & robots being friends, and truly trusting each other. I've always said that the droids, C-3PO & R2-D2, are really the central characters, who remain throughout the generations of human lives in the story. In fact, R2-D2 could be the biggest hero of the series, who saved his biological companions in many, many seemingly impossible situations. 

Because it's memory has not been wiped, R2 is an artificial intelligence that could be said to have developed a personality, and perhaps even a conscious mind. This raises several questions- How does The Force affect or influence electronic beings? Can the power of The Force be utilized or experienced by a droid? Perhaps these are questions that will be answered in the coming stories.

Finally, the image of Luke's cybernetic hand led me to think about the use of technological prosthesis or augmentations to the physical body. In the original trilogy, Luke was aware that having this robotic part represented the possibility that he could eventually become "more machine than man" like his father, if he lost his sense of humanity. 

However, a life form can obviously have mechanical additions without becoming evil or soulless.  The question becomes, how much can a living being be replace by technology & still be a conscious individual? Darth Vader was still a human, but disfigured & encased within a suit that double as life-support. General Grevious was mostly machine, except for his central nervous system & viscera.  Perhaps as long as you have a biological nervous system & brain, you can be considered to be a living person. Then, how does droid intelligence and personality factor into the idea of something being "alive"?

This is why I love Star Wars, it makes us confront deep questions about ourselves, life, the world, and our place within it. I look forward to seeing "The Force Awakens" with an excitement that no other cultural phenomenon can match. It is a story that has inspired me & countless others for our whole lives, and ignites the imagination of every person who truly engages it. It is truly the mythology of our age.

The Robot Apocalypse has Begun

The increasing complexity of technology in fields such as robotics has really become astounding. Despite the wondrous creations that people make for productive purposes, there is always going to be the flip side of the coin, where knowledge is used for destructive purposes.

One thing that is particularly worrying is the use of military machines that kill by remote. Although it's no more impersonal than wiping out a city by dropping a bomb from a plane, there's something crazy scary about the idea of autonomous killing machines.

ABC.com
"Do Military Robots Need Rules?"

The world has refused to enact Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. In fact, research in military robotics is a top priority. As a result of humanity's negligence, we have crossed the ethical boundary into mechanized mayhem. I saw this historic story on disinfo.com:

Gizmondo.com

"Pilot-less Drone Makes First Kill Ever"

Here is an actual photo from the mission:

Holograms are Virtually Here!

..pun intended...
There were a couple ideas in science fiction that always seemed to be waaay to technologically difficult to overcome anytime soon - teleportation, faster-than-light travel, laser guns, fighting robots, etc. In the mind-boggling time that we live in, these hurdles seem to be much more feasible with each passing day, approaching the information singularity, perhaps?. One future tech that I always thought to be especially tough would be holographic displays. Despite living in a holographic universe, the idea of creating images in thin air seemed far-fetched. Of course, human ingenuity can be surprisingly ingenious.

"Rendering for an Interactive
360º Light Field Display"

Link to story on Engadget


How appropriate that they chose an image of a TIE fighter,
since the next step for this technology is:

"Star Wars: Episode VII" Cast Announced

Writer/Director/Producer J.J Abrams (top center right) at the cast read-through of Star Wars Episode VII at Pinewood Studios with (clockwise from right) Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Producer Bryan Burk, Lucasfilm President and Producer Kathleen Kennedy, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Andy Serkis, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver and Writer Lawrence Kasdan.

 
There was only one, single important item in the news today- the cast of the new Star Wars movie was announced!

StarWars.com

Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Announced

I've posted about Star Wars plenty of times in this blog- it is one of the works of pop culture that I truly geek out about.

Episode IV: A New Hope came out right around the time I was born, and the Star Wars movies have entertained, informed, and inspired me throughout my life.  

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Star Wars

Although I had plenty of problems with the prequel trilogy, & some of George Lucas's editorial decisions, the Star Wars saga remains a modern-day epic masterpiece. The movies and the fictional universe that go along with them are undeniable classics, combining the best elements of mythology and visionary sci-fi.

Now, I'm seeing children in this new generation, like my nephews, still enthralled by the fictional world Star Wars creates. I have to admit, my inner child is very excited at the prospect of the new movies, continuing the story from Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

Thankfully, they have taken an excellent first step & included the cast of main characters from the original trilogy: Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fischer as Leah Organa, and Harrison Ford as Han Solo. It will be interesting to see how these older characters have evolved in the new stories.

Of course, there will also be the droids, R2-D2 & C-3PO. Lucas has always said these robots will be the only characters to be present in all the movies. Star Wars is a human drama, seen from the perspective of these droids who can outlive multiple human generations.

I will definitely be posting more about the new movies as time goes by, but this is an awesome way to start it all off. It's going to be an exciting couple years waiting for Episode VII to come out & probably shatter box office records.

It will be a chance for us all to return, to a galaxy far, far away...

Watson- A.I. Jeopardy Champ?

Jeopardy! is one of my all-time favorite shows.

My Uncle Dave was on the show in the 80s & I would like to play one day, when I feel I've crammed sufficient knowledge into my skull. Right now, the main categories that make me cringe in ignorance are things like opera, Shakespeare, Broadway (basically, theater in general), and geography can be tough. Some categories pop up that are totally bizarre, too. Even in categories that aren't my strong suite, though, I can usually manage to get a question or two correct.

Unfortunately, human brain-based general knowledge abilities are on the verge of becoming obsolete. The Machines are now taking over trivia game shows, as they are doing with the rest of human civilization:

IBM.com: Watson

I was watching an episode of Nova last nite about the development of Watson. In trial rounds, the computer was crushing the humans. The episode, explaining how the computer & it's software worked, pretty much blew my mind.

PBS NOVA:
Smartest Machine on Earth

Tonight, I was watching Watson win the 2nd Jeopardy! game vs. a couple of human champs... by tens of thousands of points!

NYT:
Watson Dominates ‘Jeopardy’
but Stumbles Over Geography

I thought "This is ridiculous, this system is obviously far superior to humans." I didn't realize that in the 1st game last nite, human Brad Rutter tied the computer! So... it is possible to beat that infernal creation (maybe)!

Digital 'intelligence' of this caliber is simply amazing, and will create unimaginable new applications. However, there is something to be said for the element of personality to define a being. Despite this bewildering technology, intelligence & knowledge are only a part of the countless phenomena that make up consciousness. That is what makes George Lucas's droid duo in Star Wars so appealing- they each have a personality.

Being able to formulate Jeopardy! answers is a quantum leap, but it's still nothing more than a machine that synthesizes data. When computers or robots are able to engage in small talk or make me laugh out loud, like an episode of South Park or Stephen Colbert, then I'll be impressed. Such advancements are possible, but I think it's a much harder bridge to cross than Watson's function- strictly compiling & analyzing factual knowledge. So, there!

>:P

Here is a graphic I made tonite after watching humans stand in defeat next to a video screen that serves as the facade for a massive computer system. I felt the need to depict the coming Robocalypse™- led by the superior intellect of Watson itself.

click to enlarge

A stupid robot couldn't make something like cool like this.

Transhuman Sexuality

It's so disheartening to see that, despite all of humanity's technological & informational advancement, there is still so much primitive hate & fear for other people. There is currently a serious backlash against LGBTQ+ lifestyles in the U.S. and other places. Although I'm a straight white dude, I think other people should be free to pursue whatever experiences make them feel good. However, I also think that there needs to be limits - such as intentionally causing harm to others, or subjecting your will to non-consenting parties. Having a son now, my wife & I often discuss how we're going to deal with the complex issues of sexuality / identity. I don't think it's appropriate to force these ideas on young kids, but you also can't shelter them forever. Although what should be displayed in public is very subjective, especially when children are involved, common courtesy & discretion are ideas that I think are generally beneficial.

Sexuality and gender is such a contentious subject because it is such a basic & important aspect of being human. Sex = survival of our species. However, we have gone beyond biology in many ways - allowing us to experiment & experience possibilities outside the evolutionary imperative. So, I don't think the importance of biological purpose is enough of a reason to restrict anyone's sexual preference & other forms of personal experience. 

I feel bad for people who are still offended by alternative orientations, such as homosexual or transexual. Guess what??? Things are going to get waaaay more interesting... with the explosion of A.I., as well as advancements in both physical & mental cybernetic augmentation, and bio-hacking the body to create "un-natural" biological systems. What we understand to be "human" is going to continue to evolve & change. Fear and resistance will not stop the change, any more than it stopped the transition into the Information Age.

Besides the morphological changes humans will undergo due to technological advancements, it is also inevitable that people will be straight-up fucking robots or virtual entities. So, people who are currently disgusted by people's "unnatural" sexual preferences for other human beings will absolutely lose their minds when they see the techno-debauchery to come! 

There are many things about emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, that freak me out. However, I also know that things will always be changing... so you have to be open, ride the wave, & realize that the future is coming, despite your fears and feelings.

Monkey Classic Rock

...and now back to our regularly scheduled madness.

I saw this nutty video on Choose Your Overlord, a cool blog I bookmarked awhile back that concerns 2 of my favorite subjects: monkeys & robots.

The video is from an old show called Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp that would probably be shut down by animal rights activists if it were on the air today.

What could be funnier than a band of hippie chimps called "Evolution Revolution"?



Since I'm on the subject of rockin' chimps, I'll mention this monkey game I saw called Rock N' Roll Space Monkey. The game itself kind of sucks, but the idea is funny.

Echo Park Time Travel Mart

It's always impressive when people put alot of effort & thought into being creative for the sake of humor.

Someone put together a fictional (?) store called the Echo Park Time Travel Mart.

As a collection of design, it is really amusing in a heady way. I would have a blast coming up for products in a wacky scenario like this.

Daily Monster:
INTRODUCING
THE ECHO PARK TIME TRAVEL MART

Some of my favorite "products" are meant to help time-traveling customers defeat advanced and malevolent robots. To defeat the inevitable swarm of future military machines, mankind needs to stock up on these essential commodities:

Photo Gallery
ECHO PARK TIME TRAVEL MART

Future of Food: Space Farming

This is part of a series of posts I'll be doing about a topic that's vital to the ongoing survival of mankind:

The Future of Food

Ultimately, the future of food lies off-planet, because for long-term sustenance of humanity we need to eventually move into outer space.

NASA is already experimenting with growing produce in the International Space Station.

Astronauts to Grow Lettuce in Space 

with NASA Veggie Farm

Nasa Astronauts Take First Bites 

of Lettuce Grown in Space

Not only will space travelers need to be able to grow food staples with the resources available in their isolated location, they will have to ensure regulated conditions to keep the process going indefinitely.

I thought this article gave a good overview of the challenges that space farmers and gardeners will face as they try to maintain plants in spaceships or on other worlds. It also gives some background on the development of plant life here on planet Earth.

Gizmodo:

The Most Important Thing We Will Need 

to Survive In Space

Future farmers in space will have to deal with issues like atmospheric changes caused by the plants production of oxygen & humidity. The effects of any microorganisms present will also have to be understood. Recycling water supplies will also be very important for both plants & humans.

As the article states, it's possible that humans will not directly interact with the crops at all, and robots will actually do the growing & harvesting.

Here is a computer rendering of automated agriculture aboard a space craft, from one of the awesome projects at Spacehabs.com:

WebGrabber for Downloading Websites

Recently I was joking with my Mom about being the "voice of conscience" in the back of my head. Both my parents definitely instilled a sense of preparedness for whatever life has to offer, good or bad.

Although I don't expect things that I create to last forever, it's good to have backups & copies of things in case unfortunate events occur. Most of my visual art, both professional and otherwise, I have digitally copied and saved in different drives or media. Redundancy can prevent serious loss of work.

One thing that has bothered me in writing this blog is that all the written content is on Google's servers- but I had no copy of it offline.

Since I've been writing The Monkey Buddha for over 5 years now, I thought it would be wise to back up all posts on this blog. Of course, I hope that something crazy- like the Web going down or a disruption to Google's services- doesn't happen. Still, I feel better knowing that the work & time I've spent is less likely to be lost or destroyed.

After a short search, I found a website for a program called Webgrabber that lets you extract any website from The Internets so you can back up the info on a hard drive or disc. This is the Mac version:

Webgrabber for Mac OSX

or, I found this program too for other Windows/Mac/Linux:

HTTrack Website Copier

It only took about 20 minutes and 25 megabytes of space, not including images that I already have copies of. Now I have five years worth of my writing backed up OFFLINE for posterity & my own peace of mind.

One day, if I have extra time and money I'd like to print portions of The Monkey Buddha by date or topic. Actually, it turns out that service already exists, so anyone could get a compendium of my views on robots, the Mayans, politics, art, The Universe, monkeys, or any of the other myriad topics that have caught my attention.

Blog2Print.com