Stamps and Books and Really Smart Computers

01/10/2006

Lately we have been avoiding trips to town. Strange isn't it, for two devoted wanderers. We have hunkered down again and are enjoying feeling stationary.

Since the postage rate went up 2 cents, all my stamps are a bit short. So without a trip to the post office, I ordered a pile of those 2¢-ers online at the USPS website. I am quite curious how long it will take to have them delivered.

The postage for 40 2¢ stamps was $1.00.

How do you know if a being (such as a really smart computer) is sentient? Just what does it mean to have consciousness? That is part of the story in the two books I recently read, "You've Got Murder" and "Click for Murder" by Donna Andrews. (Part of the package we received a few days ago.)

The whole premise of a computer turned private detective was just too fun to pass up. I wasn't disappointed.

It is a rare book that I can't put down, mid-story. Both these books kept me up half the night until I reached the end. Two nights in a row, one night for each book.

The technical aspects of computers, the internet, intranet, etc. seemed a bit on the naive side to me. (If you are looking for a technical manual about how to program a sentient computer, don't look here.)

But they were fun. I smiled. I didn't guess the ending. And I will likely read them again, before I pass them on to someone else.

According to a poll at MSNBC website 86% of 203959 people feel that President Bush's actions justify impeachment.

The thought that has been on my mind?
Why is impeachment appropriate for a president who can't keep his pants zipped up, but the president who lies about the reasons for going to war, and breaks the law apparently slides by without consequence.

Hmmm?