^Tagdune

Pipe line oil and gas valves at gas plant pressure safety valve selective

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post

Author
Eric Holloway
Date
November 6, 2023

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, dune, ghost work, industrial revolution, labor, Technology}

“Ghost Work” and the Enduring Necessity of Human Labor

_{Contrary to popular assumptions, the greater the automation, the greater the need for human labor.} _{Eric Holloway

November 6, 2023

5

Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture}

In the famous sci-fi classic Dune, there are no computers. The only computing beings are humans with drug-accelerated reasoning abilities. Strange for the sci-fi genre, where computers are often front and center. The reason there are no computers is because they have been banned. A great uprising, called the Butlerian Jihad, decided the risk of artificial intelligence was too great. And so, the entire Dune universe decided to ban computers, due to being an existential threat to all humanity. Dune is a prophetic book in many ways, and the Butlerian Jihad is descriptive of our current time, when academics, technocrats and presidents worry about whether the new generative AI could spell the end of humanity. But Dune, like the pundits Read More ›

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post

Author
Gary Varner
Date
October 14, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
Books, dune, Movies and TV, planets, Science fiction, space, spice}

Dune Review, Part 3

_{Exiled into the desert and taken to the Fremen.} _{Gary Varner

October 14, 2023

6

Arts & Culture}

In the previous review, we discussed how Duke Leto was betrayed, and how the movie made some smart choices concerning what scenes to cut and leave in from the book. Now, we’re going to talk about the fate of Paul and Jessica. Then we will end with some final thoughts on the first movie, and return to the world of Dune when the sequel comes out in March 2024. Paul and Jessica wake up on an aircraft being driven by some of the Emperor’s personal guard, the Sardaukar. To escape, they use something called “the voice,” an old Bene Gesserit trick, that compels someone to obey whatever command is given. I’m not a big fan of this power. Whenever you Read More ›

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post

Author
Gary Varner
Date
October 7, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
Arts and Culture, Books, dune, Frank Herbert, Movies and TV, Science fiction}

Dune Review, Part 2

_{A long-expected betrayal} _{Gary Varner

October 7, 2023

7

Arts & Culture}

Last time, we discussed the circumstances leading up to the Atreides leaving their home planet and arriving on the Arrakis. From the moment they land, it is evident that the Bene Gesserits have been at work. They start muttering phrases to themselves about their long-awaited savior. This disturbs Paul Atreides because he considers the actions of the Bene Gesserits manipulation . . . because that’s exactly what they are. As the Atreides attempt to continue the mining of the spice, it also becomes apparent that the Harkonnens’ have left them dilapidated equipment. During an excursion into the desert to watch the spice mining operation, a horrifying creature known as a sandworm appears. These monsters basically rule large portions of Arrakis, Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Gary Varner
Date
September 30, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
Arts and Culture, bene Gesserit, dune, Movies and TV, religion, Religious Order, Science fiction}

Dune Review, Part One

_{Despite the cynical ways of the Bene Gesserit sect, a deeper providence guides the story in Dune.} _{Gary Varner

September 30, 2023

6

Arts & Culture}

The sequel to Dune was originally scheduled to come out on November 3rd. However, it has since been rescheduled to come out on March 15th of 2024. Still, since I was preparing to do this article anyway, I thought now would be as good a time as any to do a review of the first movie in this most recent remake, and perhaps, later compare it to the original 1984 film in anticipation of the sequel. These movies are based on the novel, written by Frank Herbert in 1965. It is widely regarded as a sci-fi classic. The book opens with Paul Atreides taking the Gom Jabbar test, but we’ll have to circle back to that because the remake’s opening Read More ›