The revelation China has built and is already operating the world’s fastest supercomputer, with a huge lead, isn’t likely to be noticed by many in the mainstream. And even if it is, it’s not that big of a story, since super computers tend to leap one another every year or so. Though admittedly, this one will reign supreme for a while.

No, what’s really interesting, or rather alarming is the details beneath the story. It’s the fact that Tianhe-2 is built using mostly Chinese parts and even runs a Chinese custom Linux version. This is a demonstration of China’s growing technological prowess. They’re not longer simply manufacturing for foreign companies, now they’re developing proprietary tech that competes with and may someday or may already surpass the rest.

When new technologies that drive innovation are no longer the purview of the western societies, how will the world react? China is already a leading economy and is demonstrating it’s global reach. But the west has always clung to our capability to innovate and develop the best technologies. What happens when that’s no longer the case?

To me, that’s the real heart of this story. Not that China’s government funded the biggest and fastest super computer – but that China has been investing in its future and may have just demonstrated they’re ready to take the global lead in technological development.

Tianhe-2 supercomputer claims the lead in Top 500 list, thanks its 3.1 million processor cores.

Yes, there’s always room for improvement. And with the forthcoming release of OS X 10.9 in the close future, I’m sure clever features will be revealed. But even for us folks stuck back on 10.7 (because we can’t load Mountain Lion) sometimes it’s bewildering just how stable and resilient OS X is in general.

Maybe I should knock or wood or something lest I jinks myself – but I suddenly realized while working today – that I can’t remember the last time I crashed. In fact, I’m hard pressed to recall the last kernel panic or any major problem.  Most of the Apple computers in our office just keep running 24/7 for months or years between reboots. And the reboots usually only occur when it’s necessary for an operating update.

Kudos to Apple

Yes, I sometimes get on Apple’s case. And there’s always room for improvement. But from time to time it’s good to remember what we take for granted on a daily basis. Apple computers simply work. And trust me I can remember back to OS X’s predecessors…. Mac OS 6, 7, 8, 9 and we weren’t as lucky back then. Crashes and general wonkiness were definitely more common long ago.

So thanks Apple. Though I’ll probably complain and lambaste you in the morning… especially if it has to do with your web services.

Society should be judged on how it deals with and treats its neediest and its most repugnant. The unfortunate, infirm, or helpless should be cared for with compassion and graciousness. The wanton, malicious, and mean should be met with firmness, corrective action, and when necessary punishment without vengeance or lingering ill repute.

Today our great nation is failing to live up to its potential and reneging on its promise to all.

The zealous and self-proclaimed virtuous have sullied their hearts with misapplied righteousness. And in so doing have corrupted the concept of do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. Condemnation, anger, and providence inspired morality wielded as a weapon will never sway the hearts and minds of your opposition. Nor should it.

Humanists, atheists, scientists, have also abdicated their responsibilities. To illuminate and educate. To explore and explain the unknown or misunderstood. The quest for knowledge and desire to better the human condition has been slowly polluted by patents, profits, and paucity of vision. Yes, science progresses, but it follows the course of its benefactors. Sadly today, that far to often is a for profit corporation where discovery is deemed beneficial or successful only on a quarterly basis. Its accumulated knowledge purloined from the people. Would short stalk wheat be shared unfettered with the world today?

It’s not a collapse into depravity but a slow societal decline. The buttresses of ignorance and intolerance cloud the minds on each side. It’s not necessary for someone to lose for the other side to win. Compromise is not a failure. It’s not an evil concept. It’s how we all get through our days – it’s why we hold the elevator door open.

Most individuals are good. We simply want to live our lives, love and feed our families, and to feel safe. But the concept “united we stand” has been disfigured into “do it our way or else.” The ideal of the common good usurped by a one sided morality. Where discussion, reason, and negotiation are foreign concepts if not treasonous acts. Sadly, the outcome is everyone loses. Making combatants more resolute to fight harder, to not give ground, to right a wrong that need never existed.

Collectively we’ve forgotten how to be kind. How to forgive. How to love thy neighbor even if they’re not exactly like us. How to live and let live. It’s a universal truth, we all simply want to live our lives. And we generally do – until someone starts telling us we’re doing it wrong.

It’s Friday night and the wife has the remote control. Which means we’re watching stuff I’m not interested in.

IPhone to the rescue!

Fortunately my trusted iPhone appendage can entertain me. I’ve played games. Read online stuff. But I lost interest. So finally, I’ve resorted to entertaining myself by texting funny self portraits to my wife. Hey, she was silly enough to marry me… and it’s for better or worse.

I’ve gained a little weight recently. Ok a lot of weight. So I’ve gotten a few new stretch marks beyond the bunches I had from my younger days weight lifting. So I was looking for a solution to make them fade away. My wife told me about Elastin3 from Robelyn Labs. She used it after being pregnant.

So I finally tried it and it worked. My stretch marks are much fainter – in fact they’re almost gone.

I think this is a good situation, since copyright has been corrupted to a point that it stifles innovation and creativity. Since copyright now spans a century or more it’s almost impossible for works to shift into the public domain.

This will also provide a searchable database of books unlocking a vast “library” of knowledge and literature. It will help you find new, undiscovered authors and works that would have been inaccessible previously.

Now if they can only do this for publicly funded research – we might undergo another period of enlightenment.

Court rules book scanning is fair use, suggesting Google Books victory | Ars Technica.