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  3. Sept 26, 1983...the day the world almost ended

Sept 26, 1983...the day the world almost ended

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
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  • A Anthony Mushrow

    [^] Colossus is gonna get BSOD, if people made it, it can't be perfect. Since people aren't perfect. And if Colossus cannot initiate a new thought, it won't be able to solve the problem of how to fix itself.

    My current favourite word is: Waffle Cheese is still good though.

    E Offline
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    El Corazon
    wrote on last edited by
    #20

    The Undefeated wrote:

    And if Colossus cannot initiate a new thought

    “It’s built even better than we thought…”

    _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)

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    • M martin_hughes

      Hah! I defy Colossus - I'll simply dare it to drink a glass of water :)

      Me: Can you see the "up" arrow? User:Errr...ummm....no. Me: Can you see an arrow that points upwards? User: Oh yes, I see it now! -Excerpt from a support call taken by me, 08/31/2007

      Richard Andrew x64R Offline
      Richard Andrew x64R Offline
      Richard Andrew x64
      wrote on last edited by
      #21

      martin_hughes wrote:

      I'll simply dare it to drink a glass of water

      "I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave."

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      • M martin_hughes

        Hmmmm.... sounds suspiciously like the plot to WarGames[^] also released in 1983.

        Me: Can you see the "up" arrow? User:Errr...ummm....no. Me: Can you see an arrow that points upwards? User: Oh yes, I see it now! -Excerpt from a support call taken by me, 08/31/2007

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        CarlMCook
        wrote on last edited by
        #22

        I thought it was spilled coffee on the keyboard that led to the false detection... oh wait, that's the sequel when the Chinese will almost launch...

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        • D Dan Neely

          Even ignoring the risk of a warhead being a dud, a limited decapitation strike would require hitting targets to far apart for mirvs to reach from a single missle. In the US at an absolute minimum both DC and Cheyenne mountain (norad) would need taken out, probably several other sites would need hit as well. The soviet union was even more geographically dispersed. Ultimately all the AFBs, naval ports, and missle silos would need taken out to keep local commanders from retaliating either on the orders of the remainder of hte chain of command or their own initiative, but a few launches (especially if one EMPed the C3I links) might be able to sneak in as a false alarm where a full out strike wouldn't be able to. The attacker could then hope to get the main strike in while the victim was still disorganized. Ultimately it would still have been a loosing game for the USSR to try and probably for the US as well due to the difficulty of getting all the SSBNs and the ability of even one to inflict massive damage. That does not however mean responding to it wouldn't be in the Burn Before Reading sections of the contingency plans that we'll never be able to see.

          -- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.

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          Paul Watson
          wrote on last edited by
          #23

          dan neely wrote:

          a loosing game for the USSR

          Correction. A loosing game for everyone. Not called MAD for nothing.

          regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa

          Andy Brummer wrote:

          Watson's law: As an online discussion of cars grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving the Bugatti Veyron approaches one.

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          • S Steve Mayfield

            Error in Soviet early warning system falsely detects US missle launch [^] In the end, Colonel Petrov trusted his instincts and declared the warnings to be a false alarm. Of course, he was correct. Later investigation would show that a software defect had caused the satellites to interpret light reflections from clouds as missile exhaust. Even in the Soviet Union, the IT people get all the blame when things don't work. Steve

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            Fatbuddha 1
            wrote on last edited by
            #24

            Here you see how much error handling is importend :) Cheers

            You have the thought that modern physics just relay on assumptions, that somehow depends on a smile of a cat, which isn’t there.( Albert Einstein)

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            • E El Corazon

              martin_hughes wrote:

              Two words - Buffer Overrun

              Nope, won't work. Colossus is perfect in every way.... The computer center contains over one-hundred thousand remote sensors and communication devices which monitor all electronic transmissions, such as microwave, laser, radio and television communications, data communications from satellites in orbit all over the world. ... Colossus works completely without human aid. We make no secret of where Colossus is located nor do we intend to conceal how it functions. ... Colossus does have its own defense. It is its own defense. In case of an attack on any of its information supply or power lines Colossus will switch on energy circuits, which will then take their appropriate action. It is self-sufficient, self-protecting, self-generating. It is impenetrable. In short there's no way in. No human being can touch it. ... colossus can communicate with us ... and through this machine we can, in turn, communicate with colossus. Now there's one last point. One inevitable question. That we have been asked very frequently before. And that is, is Colossus capable of creative thought. Can it initiate new thought. I can tell you that the answer to that is no. However, Colossus is a paragon of knowledge and its knowledge can be expanded upon indefintely. I hope, along with all the scientsts who held make this particular project, that the immense power of this computer will not only be for the defense of this country but hopefully also a also as an aid to the solution to the many problems that we face on this earth. and the many more problems that we will face the more deeply we penetrate into the universe. Thank you.

              _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)

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              Brady Kelly
              wrote on last edited by
              #25

              Ah, so it's Colossus that's running the simulation! :suss:

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              • E El Corazon

                Steve Mayfield wrote:

                of real events to come

                hardly. My computer is far more advanced than WOPR ever was, and holds more information to prevent this scenerio from happening. Due to it's scale and capabability, I have named it "Colossus" and it will prevent WarGames from ever occuring. ;P

                _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)

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                Gary Wheeler
                wrote on last edited by
                #26

                Ah, Mr. Forbin. And how is The Project going?


                Software Zen: delete this;

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                • E El Corazon

                  martin_hughes wrote:

                  I'll simply dare it to drink a glass of water

                  Colossus: I do not seek to amuse humans...

                  _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)

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                  DoubleWord
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #27

                  A million years after mankind had destroyed itself Colossus decided it wanted a companion. A million years later it came up with the solution and said; Let There Be Light....

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                  • D DoubleWord

                    A million years after mankind had destroyed itself Colossus decided it wanted a companion. A million years later it came up with the solution and said; Let There Be Light....

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                    Bob Fish
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #28

                    ... To paraphrase Isaac Asimov..

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                    • G Gary Wheeler

                      Ah, Mr. Forbin. And how is The Project going?


                      Software Zen: delete this;

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                      ricmil42
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #29

                      That's Professor Forbin!

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                      • R ricmil42

                        That's Professor Forbin!

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                        Gary Wheeler
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #30

                        Oops :-O. My bad.


                        Software Zen: delete this;

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • S Steve Mayfield

                          Error in Soviet early warning system falsely detects US missle launch [^] In the end, Colonel Petrov trusted his instincts and declared the warnings to be a false alarm. Of course, he was correct. Later investigation would show that a software defect had caused the satellites to interpret light reflections from clouds as missile exhaust. Even in the Soviet Union, the IT people get all the blame when things don't work. Steve

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                          Gary Wheeler
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #31

                          Also the day my wife turned 22. Coincidence? I think not! :laugh:


                          Software Zen: delete this;

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                          • D DoubleWord

                            A million years after mankind had destroyed itself Colossus decided it wanted a companion. A million years later it came up with the solution and said; Let There Be Light....

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                            Jim Lang
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #32

                            DoubleWord wrote:

                            A million years after mankind had destroyed itself Colossus decided it wanted a companion. A million years later it came up with the solution and said; Let There Be Light....

                            Sound suspiciously like Heinlein's "Last Question". Good story. Happy ending.

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                            • D DoubleWord

                              A million years after mankind had destroyed itself Colossus decided it wanted a companion. A million years later it came up with the solution and said; Let There Be Light....

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                              Joel Palmer 0
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #33

                              :confused:But it was just said that Colossus was in-capable of thought. One moment while God reboots... the flood was just a "blue screen of death".

                              Joel Data Integration Engineer www.Novaspect.com

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                              • J Jim Lang

                                DoubleWord wrote:

                                A million years after mankind had destroyed itself Colossus decided it wanted a companion. A million years later it came up with the solution and said; Let There Be Light....

                                Sound suspiciously like Heinlein's "Last Question". Good story. Happy ending.

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                                Dan Neely
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #34

                                The Last Question was an Asimov story.

                                -- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.

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                                • D Dan Neely

                                  The Last Question was an Asimov story.

                                  -- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.

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                                  Jim Lang
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #35

                                  dan neely wrote:

                                  The Last Question was an Asimov story.

                                  Noted. Another great author. My apologies to the men and the fans of both.

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                                  • J Jim Lang

                                    dan neely wrote:

                                    The Last Question was an Asimov story.

                                    Noted. Another great author. My apologies to the men and the fans of both.

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                                    Dan Neely
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #36

                                    As penance you're required to (re)read 5 novels of both authors. Now go forth and sin no more.

                                    -- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.

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                                    • D DoubleWord

                                      A million years after mankind had destroyed itself Colossus decided it wanted a companion. A million years later it came up with the solution and said; Let There Be Light....

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                                      DSchopp
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #37

                                      DoubleWord wrote:

                                      A million years after mankind had destroyed itself Colossus decided it wanted a companion. A million years later it came up with the solution and said; Let There Be Light....

                                      And here all this time I thought it was "42" ? :cool: Dave while (!sleep) { sheep++ }

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                                      • E El Corazon

                                        martin_hughes wrote:

                                        I'll simply dare it to drink a glass of water

                                        Colossus: I do not seek to amuse humans...

                                        _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)

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                                        tsdragon
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #38

                                        Have Colussus answer these questions: 1. What's the difference between a duck? 2. What is the meaning of life? 3. Why does Murphy's Law work? 4. Do you (Colussus) have a soul? 5. Why haven't squirrels evolved enough not to get run over by cars? 6. Is there a numbering system where Pi is finite? What is "unity" in that numbering system?

                                        Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

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                                        • D Dan Neely

                                          Even ignoring the risk of a warhead being a dud, a limited decapitation strike would require hitting targets to far apart for mirvs to reach from a single missle. In the US at an absolute minimum both DC and Cheyenne mountain (norad) would need taken out, probably several other sites would need hit as well. The soviet union was even more geographically dispersed. Ultimately all the AFBs, naval ports, and missle silos would need taken out to keep local commanders from retaliating either on the orders of the remainder of hte chain of command or their own initiative, but a few launches (especially if one EMPed the C3I links) might be able to sneak in as a false alarm where a full out strike wouldn't be able to. The attacker could then hope to get the main strike in while the victim was still disorganized. Ultimately it would still have been a loosing game for the USSR to try and probably for the US as well due to the difficulty of getting all the SSBNs and the ability of even one to inflict massive damage. That does not however mean responding to it wouldn't be in the Burn Before Reading sections of the contingency plans that we'll never be able to see.

                                          -- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.

                                          T Offline
                                          T Offline
                                          tsdragon
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #39

                                          An of course the subsequent cloud of radioactive debris blowing around the world would have no effect on launchers of those missles, right? There's a name for this kind of logic: MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). It's a no-win situation for everyone, and for the planet.

                                          Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

                                          D 1 Reply Last reply
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