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#11
Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread
Last post by Savonarola - Today at 03:53:17 PMI was reading an article on a generative AI application for channel modeling with multiple nodes this morning and came across the practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance. It's an algorithm designed to build consensus when not all nodes respond or some respond with faulty information. It's derived from the Byzantine General's Problem first published in 1982 by Leslie Lamport, Robert Shostak, and Marshall Pease:
I thought Languish would appreciate that for the sheer Byzantineness of the algorithm.
QuoteImagine that several divisions of the Byzantine army are camped outside an enemy city, each division commanded by its own general. The generals can communicate with one another only by messenger. After observing the enemy, they must decide upon a common plan of action. However, some of the generals may be traitors, trying to prevent the loyal generals from reaching an agreement. The generals must decide on when to attack the city, but they need a strong majority of their army to attack at the same time. The generals must have an algorithm to guarantee that (a) all loyal generals decide upon the same plan of action, and (b) a small number of traitors cannot cause the loyal generals to adopt a bad plan. The loyal generals will all do what the algorithm says they should, but the traitors may do anything they wish. The algorithm must guarantee condition (a) regardless of what the traitors do. The loyal generals should not only reach agreement, but should agree upon a reasonable plan.
I thought Languish would appreciate that for the sheer Byzantineness of the algorithm.
#12
Off the Record / Re: Refractory Gauls, or the F...
Last post by Valmy - Today at 03:51:03 PMQuote from: Sheilbh on Today at 01:46:14 PMQuote from: Valmy on Today at 01:40:53 PMI presume you mean the Third Republic and not the Third Empire, unless Melenchon is a closet Bonapartist. Though that wouldn't even be close to the weirdest thing going on in politics these days.No I think he's said the Fifth Republic is so President-focused (perhaps especially under Macron) it functions like a Third Empire.
I think every Presidential system ends up being like that. Ours does. Which is why I am gradually coming to the conclusion the Westminster system might be better.
But the French left has always preferred the 3rd Republic, which is the 4th Republic was basically identical. Ironic considering it was created by the guys who crushed the Commune.
#13
Gaming HQ / Re: Europa Universalis V confi...
Last post by Zanza - Today at 03:50:24 PMI played EU IV for 1000+ hours (same for Stellaris) and never finished a game. Whatever, I will buy this and hope it is not a disappointment like Civ 7.
#14
Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...
Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 03:16:13 PMQuote from: Tamas on Today at 01:32:57 PMConcentrating power just concentrates power - you concentrate power in a few hands with no checks in balances to fight the rich and suddenly you have created your own enemy.
Checks and balances are annoying when your guy is being checked and balanced but the best system invented so far to maintain a democracy.
Where are the checks and balances to which you refer? Sounds great in theory - it's in practice that it starts crumbling. Take the US as the most recent tragic example.
#15
Off the Record / Re: Hungarian Politics
Last post by celedhring - Today at 03:16:00 PMLoved the Nobel prize winner going all "thank you and fuck you" after Orbán congratulated him.
His work sounds mightily interesting, too. Now that he's got the Nobel it will be easier to get ahold of some decent translation.
His work sounds mightily interesting, too. Now that he's got the Nobel it will be easier to get ahold of some decent translation.
#16
Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...
Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 03:00:41 PMSure but the classic left view does not centre on courts and judges and lawyers. The far end is a unicameral legislature, electing mandated delegates (not representatives) and annual election - it's not about building in circuit breakers but shortening the space between the people and power.
And what you say is true of all state power - which is I think where we are now where we have so disarmed the state that it is incapable of responding to democratic imperatives. And at the same time it's demobilised people who think they can rely on checks and balances as a deus ex machina.
I think what you're saying is true but I also think it's true of the institutions too. There is no reason to assume that courts, police, military, civil society etc will be where they are now - and plenty of historical experience of them aligning with all sorts of political orders. I think John Ganz had something of a point of this of the liberal vision which I think has dominated over the last few decades - exemplified by Soros and the Open Society Foundation (very influenced by Karl Popper) - emphasised the view of society as being about mediating bodies. It's the robust civil society that is the key feature of democratic politics - and that democracy is created through the existence of these spaces outside of politics. In its way it's quite conservative in the Burkean "little platoons" sense. And I think at an extreme this is the view of modern liberal democracy as basically being judges plus NGOs.
I think we've seen the limitations of that in recent years (not least in Soros' projects through the OSF). I think as Ganz has suggested that the better argument is the Gramscian view. Civil society does not organically check government power or support democratic power - it is a site of political fights over power and political conflict. And that it is, arguably, in and through the conflict that you produce democratic politics.
And what you say is true of all state power - which is I think where we are now where we have so disarmed the state that it is incapable of responding to democratic imperatives. And at the same time it's demobilised people who think they can rely on checks and balances as a deus ex machina.
I think what you're saying is true but I also think it's true of the institutions too. There is no reason to assume that courts, police, military, civil society etc will be where they are now - and plenty of historical experience of them aligning with all sorts of political orders. I think John Ganz had something of a point of this of the liberal vision which I think has dominated over the last few decades - exemplified by Soros and the Open Society Foundation (very influenced by Karl Popper) - emphasised the view of society as being about mediating bodies. It's the robust civil society that is the key feature of democratic politics - and that democracy is created through the existence of these spaces outside of politics. In its way it's quite conservative in the Burkean "little platoons" sense. And I think at an extreme this is the view of modern liberal democracy as basically being judges plus NGOs.
I think we've seen the limitations of that in recent years (not least in Soros' projects through the OSF). I think as Ganz has suggested that the better argument is the Gramscian view. Civil society does not organically check government power or support democratic power - it is a site of political fights over power and political conflict. And that it is, arguably, in and through the conflict that you produce democratic politics.
#17
Off the Record / Re: Baseball
Last post by crazy canuck - Today at 02:55:34 PMI was nervous that the Jays were going to be relying on the bullpen, up against the young gun Yankee starter. I was impressed by how much of a team win this was.
#18
Off the Record / Re: Grand unified books thread
Last post by The Brain - Today at 02:27:12 PMHis publisher has this to say:
#19
Off the Record / Re: Refractory Gauls, or the F...
Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 01:46:14 PMQuote from: Valmy on Today at 01:40:53 PMI presume you mean the Third Republic and not the Third Empire, unless Melenchon is a closet Bonapartist. Though that wouldn't even be close to the weirdest thing going on in politics these days.No I think he's said the Fifth Republic is so President-focused (perhaps especially under Macron) it functions like a Third Empire.
#20
Off the Record / Re: Refractory Gauls, or the F...
Last post by Valmy - Today at 01:40:53 PMI presume you mean the Third Republic and not the Third Empire, unless Melenchon is a closet Bonapartist. Though that wouldn't even be close to the weirdest thing going on in politics these days.