For anyone who thinks language is easy to understand and the English language in particular... may I simply present Abbot and Costello's Who's On First.
No wonder computers can't understand human language. What chance do they have when we can't do it ourselves?
Showing posts with label Comedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comedy. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Science: Maybe We Don't Know Bleep...
When it comes to misapplying science I have two particular beefs. One is that people take theories that they barely understand, let's say evolution, and apply it without much thought. The other is that people confuse technology with science.
Let me say this clearly. I'm sure I'll get back to it sooner or later. Science isn't technology. Science can be moved forward with technology. But science doesn't need technology. Great ideas and great thought experiments don't necessarily need technology to be worked on. The opposite is also true.
Technology isn't science. You don't need to know science to use technology. The principles of combustion are not required in order to light a fire. You don't need to know about computer chips and programming to use your cell phone.
So normally if I came across someone misusing the idea of evolution and confusing science and technology I'd be complaining.
Normally.
Except that Joe Rogan of all people manages to make a very valid point about our society, technology, science, learning, and our future. And all while making me laugh. Go watch him discuss the devolution of stupid people.
Let me say this clearly. I'm sure I'll get back to it sooner or later. Science isn't technology. Science can be moved forward with technology. But science doesn't need technology. Great ideas and great thought experiments don't necessarily need technology to be worked on. The opposite is also true.
Technology isn't science. You don't need to know science to use technology. The principles of combustion are not required in order to light a fire. You don't need to know about computer chips and programming to use your cell phone.
So normally if I came across someone misusing the idea of evolution and confusing science and technology I'd be complaining.
Normally.
Except that Joe Rogan of all people manages to make a very valid point about our society, technology, science, learning, and our future. And all while making me laugh. Go watch him discuss the devolution of stupid people.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Math: Standup Numerology?
What do you get when you take an inventive offbeat mind and let it loose on numbers? What happens if that minds is inside a standup comedian? You get Charles Fleischer's theory of Moleeds.
Recently people were recently made aware of Moleeds thanks to one of the most offbeat Ted talks ever.
Some of us have encountered Moleeds before. After all Charles Fleischer has been going on about his theory for a long time. Here he is in 1990 explaining Moleeds in more detail. In case you want to follow along or study his ideas there is an online transcript of his older routine.
Recently people were recently made aware of Moleeds thanks to one of the most offbeat Ted talks ever.
Some of us have encountered Moleeds before. After all Charles Fleischer has been going on about his theory for a long time. Here he is in 1990 explaining Moleeds in more detail. In case you want to follow along or study his ideas there is an online transcript of his older routine.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
How Serious is Comedy?
I've touched on the idea that comedy can be very serious when I looked at Steve Martin's ideas about stand up comedy. Comedy is much more serious than that though.
After all we're not even sure why we have a sense of humour, how it works, or exactly why things are funny. The paper Humour Research: State of the Art (2002) (pdf) is a scholarly overview of humour research. But even that can only tell you what humour is.
What about how humour should be applied? When is it appropriate? When should it be avoided? How much is too much?
Never fear... there are pointers online to help. It turns out that Microsoft (yes... Microsoft...) can help. Now Microsoft it not a company known for it's innate sense of fun or humour though I'll give them some credit for Microsoft Bob. So you wouldn't suspect Microsoft as having any useful information about humour would you?
Microsoft has a section of their website dedicated to education. There are teaching plans, lesson plans and lots of resources. Of course there are endless links to Microsoft products and information on how to buy them and use them in educational settings. I'm not holding that against them, Microsoft is a for profit enterprise after all.
What I can hold against them is an article under the category of Educational Competencies. Yes... Microsoft has an incredibly bland, boring, and humourless article on Humor. Did you know there are various proficiency levels in humour?
When I read the article on humor as a competency I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Apparently I'm unaware of my own proficiency level in several competencies. Maybe I should check if I can become a certified Microsoft Humor Professional....
After all we're not even sure why we have a sense of humour, how it works, or exactly why things are funny. The paper Humour Research: State of the Art (2002) (pdf) is a scholarly overview of humour research. But even that can only tell you what humour is.
What about how humour should be applied? When is it appropriate? When should it be avoided? How much is too much?
Never fear... there are pointers online to help. It turns out that Microsoft (yes... Microsoft...) can help. Now Microsoft it not a company known for it's innate sense of fun or humour though I'll give them some credit for Microsoft Bob. So you wouldn't suspect Microsoft as having any useful information about humour would you?
Microsoft has a section of their website dedicated to education. There are teaching plans, lesson plans and lots of resources. Of course there are endless links to Microsoft products and information on how to buy them and use them in educational settings. I'm not holding that against them, Microsoft is a for profit enterprise after all.
What I can hold against them is an article under the category of Educational Competencies. Yes... Microsoft has an incredibly bland, boring, and humourless article on Humor. Did you know there are various proficiency levels in humour?
When I read the article on humor as a competency I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Apparently I'm unaware of my own proficiency level in several competencies. Maybe I should check if I can become a certified Microsoft Humor Professional....
Monday, April 26, 2010
Memoir: Serious Comedy
Want to be good at something? You better be prepared to spend a lot of time at it.
Want to be a genius at something? Don't just do it - think about it. Know what you're doing and why. Work out what you do that's different. Figure out when to stick with it and when to change. Be aware.
Steve Martin explained his comedy and his journey to success in Being Funny.
His act may have been silly but he was, and still is, one of the smartest men in comedy. He took funny very seriously. Being funny shows that he knew exactly what he was trying to do while being zany.
Want to be a genius at something? Don't just do it - think about it. Know what you're doing and why. Work out what you do that's different. Figure out when to stick with it and when to change. Be aware.
Steve Martin explained his comedy and his journey to success in Being Funny.
His act may have been silly but he was, and still is, one of the smartest men in comedy. He took funny very seriously. Being funny shows that he knew exactly what he was trying to do while being zany.
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