With
the holidays just behind us and New Year's just ahead the news cycle has been
sort of slow. I've been using my time to read for pleasure and play video
games. I hope everyone has a safe and pleasant New Year's celebration.
The
Washington Post is hiring five dozen more journalists. In an era where the media is contracting it is pleasing to see critical
journalism is finding a market.
The
educational YouTube channel Kurzgesagt recently released a video on
overpopulation, check it out.
The
Toronto Star gives Mayor Bonnie Crombie high marks for her stewardship of
Mississauga.
Normally
at the end of the year I write a blog post reflecting on the year. For months
now the common consensus among many is that 2016 was a trash fire of a year.
The combination of dismal international news, terrorism and tragedies, a
stagnant economy, the deaths of many prominent and beloved public
figures/entertainers, and the concerning outcome of the American elections is
enough to make it a dark chapter in the twenty-first century for many. With no
disrespect to the recent deaths, including Carrie Fisher today, if you're
measuring this year by that alone, you need to give your head a shake and consider
the recent massacres and tragedies in places like Syria, Istanbul, Orlando,
Berlin, Nice, Nigeria, Iraq and on, and on. But I digress.
And
now for a sharp, and graceless turn. Various media were important for mental
relaxation and de-stressing during 2016. I would like to share these with you and
perhaps it will encourage you to explore them yourself. I hope you can get as
much pleasure from them as I did.
Video
Games
#3
- Cities: Skylines (Plus After Dark and Snowfall DLC)
Cities:
Skylines to many, myself included, is the city-building video game that you've
wanted since you tinkered with SimCity, or sketched maps in the margin or
doodled skylines from your fantasies. Released in 2015 I purchased the game
this year and it was greatly enhanced by the release of two pieces of DLC, one
of which came out in 2016. The game allows an incredible degree of
specialization and detail work. It is incredibly open to mods. Artists (there
is hardly a better word for them) have meticulously reconstructed real cities
or designed environments the feel very real. In some ways it's more of a
sophisticated model-maker for some.
I
play the game as a city manager and simulation game. The sensitivity and
responsiveness of the game is remarkable. There aren't just roads, there are
roads of different widths and intents. You can have roads with bus lanes or
bike lanes, country roads, or arterials. The freeway system is essentially
freeform and allows an incredible degree of individuality. It permits a degree
of experimentation to figure out what configuration of roads and transit work.
Transit options include taxis, buses, trams/streetcars, heavy rail, and
subways. Properties and land grow and develop based on many factors and are
redeveloped to more sophisticated and denser buildings.
Perhaps
on the best additions to the genre is the district system. You can cater laws,
incentives, and regulations to give each neighbourhood a unique feel, just as
in real cities. Unlike SimCity the game feels grounded and far less cartoony.
When one of my cities are successful and well-designed I feel like I've created
a realistic place that could find a home in our world. The progress system and
intrinsic rewards make it a great way to invest leisure time.
#2
- Stellaris
I
am a science fiction nerd. I love the genre. When Paradox Interactive announced
their plan to make their own space strategy game I was incredibly excited.
Crusader Kings II , Europa Universalis IV, and Victoria II are among my
favourite games so I was interested to see how Paradox would tackle this
subgenre in their unique style. They did not disappoint.
Stellaris
breathes in all the major science fiction influences. Events, anomalies and
story elements are torn from Asimov, Heinlein, Dick, Clarke, Star Trek, Star
Wars, and many more. It comes across as loving homage. Players are given a wide
set of tools to create a unique species. As with Cities: Skylines mod support
is broad so already Mass Effect, Star Trek and other mods are in place to
introduce beloved species.
The
randomness in each galaxy I have played on creates exciting new options. The
tech tree means that there is not a "correct" way to play. Like the
Civilization series there are any number of ways to win. However, I would say
that playing a game of geopolitics in space (astropolitics?) there is no clear
end. Victory doesn't seem like owning the galaxy from one end to the other, in
my opinion. The answer this problem the game designers introduced late game
crises. Intergalactic invasion or artificial intelligence uprising can be the
final challenge for your space empire, star republic, or democratic galactic
federation.
If
you love science fiction and strategy I think this game offers a great deal.
Earlier this week I was playing my space empire of retile-like imperialists. I
encountered a signal from a gas giant. A group of non-corporeal beings begged
for help to migrate to a new home. I transported them to a new gas giant... but
then later they asked to move into a gas giant in my territory. I do not know
if this will go anywhere, but I love playing it out. First contact, space
battles, xenophobia, uplifting, it has it all.
#1
- The Witness
Released
early in the year I may have dedicated the most mental processing power to this
game during 2016. On the surface The Witness is a simple puzzle game but as you
play you uncover more and more meaning. There are multiple layers of puzzles in
the game and meaning. The game contains thoughts on truth and reality.
According to the designer Jonathan Blow The Witness is about truth. The world
is built to be consistent and coherent. An underlying logic holds the game
together.
Puzzles
and mysteries are at the core. Unraveling the game became somewhat an obsession
for me. At times I have considered meticulously documenting the entire game,
including things like the statues to see if there is any meaning I could
extract. Bringing up the statues I should take a moment to talk about the art.
I love the visual aesthetic of the game. I love the bright colours, the diverse
environments and the... magic for lack of a better word. There is a serenity in
The Witness.
There
is an immense sense of satisfaction in peeling back the layers of the island
and in solving individual puzzles. Portal 2 is perhaps my favourite game of all
time and The Witness is the first time I felt the same way in a long time. I
have a feeling it will stick with me for a long time.
Books
Non-Fiction
Paris
1919, reviewed on this blog, offers incredible insight in how World War I
shaped the world we live in today. For all the attention given to World War II,
the First World War has done a great deal to determine the world we live in
today. Diplomatic history is fascinating in how the petty relationships of a
handful of men determine the fate of states and nations. There is a great value
in better understanding this period.
The
Wind-Up Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi was a unique take on the future. In a world
decimated by climate change and resources are scarce the human and political
drama in Thailand is enthralling. The world is alive and horrifying, yet it
feels like a possible glimpse into our dark future. The story follows a western
business man trying to operate a factory in the corrupt Kingdom of Thailand but
through his actions, the actions of others, and random circumstances gets
caught in web of rivalries, treachery and violence.
Artificial
intelligence is a topic that captures my imagination. A series that is built
upon mystery, AI, incredible visual and social commentary is going to appeal a
great deal to me. I was not into LOST at the time, but I imagine the excitement
I felt discussing the show and theories with friends was what drove the
popularity and affection for that series. The incredible performances of actors
like Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, Anthony Hopkins and Sidse Babett Knudson made
sometimes flat writing gripping. Westworld raises questions that demand
reflection in regards to AI. The season was by no means perfect but it was
perhaps the most enthralling television I watched in 2016.
Honourable
Mentions: Black Mirror, Stranger Things, Pitch, The Circus.
As
2016 comes to a close the media turns its attention to reflective pieces. Here
is Paul Wells writing that Trudeau and the federal Liberals have delivered on few of their promises.
The
headline is hyperbole, but The Nation writes about the concerning fact that
Donald Trump is surrounding himself with retired generals in key cabinet posts
and advisors.
Braddish
Chagger (LPC - Waterloo, ON), the Liberal House Leader, said that the House of
Commons is not the place to discuss the evolving controversy of Liberal fundraising.
Paul
Wells suggests that the removal of Tom Mulcair from the leadership of the NDP
has echoes of Brexit and Trump.
Perhaps
there is more to this story, but it seem the Laurier Graduate Student
Association was overly sensitive and acted harshly over a joke, even if one
thinks it is ill-conceived.
A
few years ago Andrew Coyne gave a speech and he talked about why he thought
Parliament would be increasingly important and why our consensus on certain
issues meant that politics would transform. He argued that the neo-liberal
consensus would lead to new debates, debates about the nature of humanity and
address the questions that new technology has and will raised. Mr. Coyne seems
to have been disproved, at least for now, and my own theory is that the global
consensus on neo-liberalism is fracturing. Still, there are a number of issues
that the Canadian Parliament should start weighing before we are overwhelmed.
Artificial
intelligence is one of my favourite themes in science fiction. Over the last
couple of years popular culture has latched onto this concept and a number of
films and television series have come out exploring humanity's relationship
with artificial intelligence/sentience. The majority of these depictions are
negative, or threatening. The public clearly has some anxiety over the creation
of artificial intelligence. Writers like Nick Bostrom seem to be suggesting
that there are tangible dangers to AI and that precautions are required to
protect us.
As
far as I am aware there are no laws governing/regulating the development of artificial
intelligence. It would not be unreasonable, for example, to insist that
artificial intelligence be developed on air-gapped computers, or that all
programs or automatons have a built-in kill switch. The dangers of rogue AI are
so extreme that even modest precautions should be accepted at face value.
Beyond
paranoia (healthy as it may be) about the development of artificial
intelligence there are inevitable questions that will arise if we successfully
develop artificial life. If we create independent, autonomous beings as
represented in fiction like Westworld,
Ex Machina, Her, etc. what rights will be extended to them? Should any? Should
artificial beings be treated like biological citizens, or should they be
treated like, say, corporations? Corporations are legal persons but they are
not allowed to vote and do not exert other rights as living beings. If you
kill/disable an AI is that murder, property destruction? Will androids/AI be
owned? Is that slavery?
One
of the big questions about artificial intelligence is how will we tell if it is
real. Artificial intelligence designers may merely create things that are very
capable at imitating people, rather than genuine sentience. Then you get into
debates about sentience and the nature of humanity's consciousness.
One
of my concerns for years is that the creation of androids will exacerbate
issues of sexism and inhumanity. When you have the ability to exploit and abuse
things that are indistinguishable from humans the threat to broader society
seems fairly obvious. Creating intelligent, responsive beings for the sole
purpose of our pleasure and violent impulses is unsettling.
Obviously
the Canadian Parliament does not need to pass laws on these matters
immediately, but it would be wise to start raising these questions and laying
some basic regulations to protect ourselves from the worst case scenario. This
might be the perfect work for the Senate to take up. As much as this may sound
like science fiction, I think the trend lines are fairly clear we're heading in
that direction, so why not prepare for it?
Apologies
for missing the Tuesday post. I spent the day taking care of my sick niece and
then went to work. I planned on writing something up on Wednesday, but it was a
repeat of Tuesday.
Vision
Zero is a movement to end pedestrian deaths in vehicular accidents. The Toronto
Star reports on Peel Region and the risk imposed by transport trucks.
Citylab
writes about how white neighbourhoods are whiter than their metropolitan regions
and resist integration.
Dennis
Pilon writes at iPolitics that the entire electoral reform debate is based upon
a fear of voters.
Filed
under the "Wake up in a cold sweat" category, Donald Trump will soon
gain control of Voice of America, and perhaps use it as a propaganda tool for
his administration. Excuse me as I breathe into a paper bag.
Kurzgesagt,
an impressive YouTube channel, has released a video advocating that humanity
change its calendar, and I find the argument compelling.
Portland
is often held up as an ideal in North American planning. Chuck Marohn of Strong
Towns visited in October and offers up some thoughts and cold-water criticism.
When
the Liberals won their majority government I was consoled by two things: Harper
would leave office, and hopefully end constitutional rot; and Trudeau had
promised, unequivocally, electoral reform. As I have written on this blog
before, electoral reform was the animating issue that got me involved in
politics. There is growing evidence that the Liberals are preparing to break
that promise.
The
Electoral Reform Committee released its report last week. The committee
recommended a referendum on proportional representation. Though the NDP and
Green representatives provided a supplement saying that they did not believe a
referendum was specifically needed. The result may be the worst of both worlds
for the Liberals. They didn't want a referendum and prominent voices within the
party do not want proportional representation. Aaron Wherry wrote an excellent
summary of the direct fallout here. Following the report's release Minsiter Monsef began to mock and distance the
government from the committee's report saying the was disappointed that they
had not recommended an electoral system. This was rich given that it was not in
their mandate.
Monsef
further embarrassed herself and her government by mocking the formula the Gallagher Index, which shows how closely a government represents the proportion
of votes received by each party. Monsef was prepared with printed copies of the formula. This wasn't a fluke, it
was a plan. Electoral reform often wrecks on the shores of complication. For
all the problems with First-Past-the-Post it is simple. Trying to explain an
alternative quickly to a disengaged public is very difficult.
Yesterday,
claiming that the government required further consultation, https://www.mydemocracy.ca/
was launched. I would encourage any reader to take the survey, because why not?
But as you take it I think you'll find that there are some serious issues on
the questions. They fail to tease out
what voters actually want in terms of their electoral system, i.e. do you want
the House of Commons to reflect the percentage of votes the parties receive?
Should a party that does not get a majority of votes receive a majority of the
seats in the House of Commons? Perhaps I am revealing my own bias with the
second, but the questions are at times "push" questions designed to
illicit certain responses.
Canadians
on Twitter took to mocking the Trudeau government with the hashtag
#rejectedERQs (rejected electoral reform questions). It is amusing but also
disheartening because it is more evidence that the fix is in. With the
conclusion of this survey the Liberals will be well poised to suggest that a)
more consultation is required, b) there is no consensus, c) that Canadians are
content with the system as is.
If
electoral reform is to happen it will almost certainly not occur before 2019
now. Stalling by the government seems to make that clear and if a referendum is
going to happen the laws surrounding referenda needs to be updated. To be
clear, I want to give kudos to the member of the Electoral Reform Committee,
including the Liberals. At the end they seem to have engaged in the process in
good faith. I believe it is the government who is meddling now. I haven't
abandoned hope yet, but the government holds all the cards on this one.
Electoral reform will only under rare circumstances become an issue of
importance. However, PEI's recent vote may be a sign of hope, though their
government's reaction may be the ultimate warning. The status quo is hard to overturn.
Canadaland
investigates whether or not the Canadian media is falling into the same trap
with Trump and excessively covering Kellie Leitch.
Steve
Paikin writes that John Tory has shown rare political courage in supporting highway tolls.
The
new Progressive Ontario MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook has delayed his swearing in to celebrate his victory. The new MPP is getting a lot of attention for his age and policy positions.
Jeet
Heer writes about Donald Trump's illogical statements and lies continue to
damage the American political sphere and fact-checkers are powerless to stop it.
