“Moxon’s Master” is a story written by Ambrose Bierce which tells the story of Moxon, the master, who creates a chess-playing robot. Moxon is developing a sentient conscious machine, one that can think and possesses intelligence. Although the narrator states that robots have no brains or source of thinking, he is trying to create a which he believes will be capable of thinking, acting and possessing consciousness- a robot or automaton which will be able to perform actions independent of its creator – the idea of a humanoid robot. Moxon seems to live an isolated life and the representation of the robot is what he wishes. The robot represents human cognition and social interaction, that Moxon may be experiencing. In the story, Moxon plays a game of chess with the robot and wins. It is apparent the robot is mad, and kills Moxon. This part of the story is very interesting because Moxon states, “ definition of ‘life’ the activity of a machine is included – there is nothing in the de
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Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) · Born in Ohio · Came to California after Civil War · Had many different attributes to literature Moxon Master · Nature of life and intelligence · An isolated system · Moxon is developing a sentient conscious machine, one that can think and possesses intelligence. · Moxon is developing a machine which he believes will be capable of thinking, acting and possessing consciousness- a robot or automaton which will be able to perform actions independent of its creator. · The idea of a humanoid robot · Quote: “you know well enough that when I say “machine” I do not mean a man, but something that man has made and controls.” o The story reminds me of Frankenstein. A creation made by a mad scientist, whose interest was to explore artificial life and it ends up exploring the madness of science. o Quote: “…definition of ‘life’ the activity of a machine is included – ther
Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton (1832-1894) · Born to an elite Mexican family · She wrote the first novel by a Mexican woman o The novel was to inform and tell the fictional defense of one of California founding peoples and a sharp expose of the common practice of land “squatting.” The Squatter and the Don · It prints the picture of what the 19 th century after the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo · Gives a voice to native Californios/Mexicans · Ruiz de Burton provides a clear definition of squatters and settlers, and their relationship with the west. · De Burton tries to give voice to all the people that in other novels don't have voice. · The squatter of the title is Darrell, who agrees to pay the Don for the land he’s homesteading. · Theme: the struggle between those with Spanish decent and the Anglo-American squatters who threatened their land. o Family’s problem with the American government o Discrimina
Next week, I am hoping to read more interesting text like this week. I really did enjoy this week’s reading and the comments and analysis’s of my classmates readings. I also do hope to find more information for my project. I would really like to make sure I cover all angles of the topic I decided to write about. The readings in class are hard because not much information can be found about them, but I am hoping with the background information I do locate, it will better assist me and my writing. I also look forward to move to the next step in the my project – to place all my ideas and analysis into something more. To grow on the topic and to see how I can thoroughly explain my topic. However, next week will be a busy week for me, in all of my classes because the work is getting a bit more heavier. I do hope I am able to manage it all and push through and finish the week strong. It will be a challenge, but I never back down from a challenge. For this week, I really like the respo
In this week’s reading, I learned about the story of Joaquin Murrieta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Murrieta). I decided to look up his history. I searched his name on Wikipedia and found that he was also called Robin Hood and that he was a famous outlaw in California during the California Gold Rush. I then decided to look into the California Gold Rush, I clicked on the internal link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush). It began on January 24, 1848 and it is actually when gold was found by James W. Marshall in Coloma, California. It is said that Gold Rush had an effect on the Native Californians and resulted in the declining percentage of the natives due to diseases, genocides, and starvation. I wanted to dig in a bit deeper on the Native Californians so I clicked on the internal link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_California). I found that the Native Californians were also known as the Indigenous people of California. They were hunter-g
I decided to pick the article “How to Spark Creativity When You’re in a Rut,” by Priscilla Claman ( https://hbr.org/2017/04/how-to-spark-creativity-when-youre-in-a-rut ). The article discusses how one can find creativity when they don’t have it. When you are having trouble finding creativity, you can observe from someone else according to the article. This is something I already knew, and I have actually tried and it works. I find it is always best to learn from someone or pick off ideas from others when you are in a rut because you are able to pull something from others creativities sometimes. A good tip that the article provides is, “Capitalize on obstacles” This is a great idea because when you have an obstacle, you need to get over it but the only way to get over it is to analyze it and that is what that means. One thing I am curious to explore is the concept behind writers block, and why it happens so often spontaneously.
Nursling the Sky Reading Notes · Defines the climate of California · It a very nature based o Describing different seasons: rain, snow storms, dry desert winds that occur in California · Quotes from text: o All that storms do to the face of the earth you may read in the geographies, but not what they do to our contemporaries. I remember one night of thunderous rain made unendurably mournful by the houseless cry of a cougar whose lair, and perhaps his family, had been buried under a slide of broken boulders on the slope of Kearsarge. We had heard the heavy detonation of the slide about the hour of the alpenglow, a pale rosy interval in a darkling air, and judged he must have come from hunting to the ruined cliff and paced the night out before it, crying a very human woe. I remember, too, in that same season of storms, a lake made milky white for days, and crowded out of its bed by clay washed into it by a fury of rain, with the trout floating in it bel
Samuel McDuffie February 24, 2019 ENGL 205 Project Plan Project Research : Topic: Pick a subject: love, work, freedom, etc. Then choose two selections and discuss how that subject is discussed in those selections. Use literary devices to help frame your discussion. Readings chosen: The Luck of Roaring Camp Whitfield: Self-Reliance Subject focus: Love Symbolism: The infant baby symbolizes more than one thing. It may symbolize life, and it may also be a Christian symbol. After being born, the baby revives the spirit of the camp, giving it a new life. The men start to wash themselves and act with decency. The Christian symbol comes into play when they take the baby to church for its christening. The baby is like a recreation of Jesus who gave faith to people and life to the land. It also symbolizes love, purity, calm. · “It takes a village to raise a child” · "The Luck of Roaring Camp" depicts the ways in which men must em
Samuel McDuffie Literary Analysis The Hunt for Revenge John Rollin Ridge (Yellow Bird) was born in 1827 into a distinguished Cherokee family in Georgia. His father, John Ridge and grandfather Major Ridge were prosperous farmer and slaveholders. Both grandfather and father were influential leaders in the dispute over how to respond to pressure from the United States to give up Cherokee Lands and move west. He was the first Indian to publish a novel. In his work The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta, the Celebrated California Bandit is a contemporary account of California as it was settling. In the reading assigned, the reader is introduced to lawless men in California, known as bandits, and Joaquin Murieta. Joaquin Murieta is a Mexican-American bandit, who leaves behind a legacy of morals and bravery. The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta, tells the story of the Joaquin in the Gold-rush era, wanting to find fortune and happiness; however, it turns chaotic when hi
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs · 1823-1915 · Born in Philadelphia · Abolitionist o Shared platform with Fredrick Douglas and an active agent in the underground Railroad · 1850 migrated to San Francisco · Founded the first black newspaper in California Mirror of the Times · An American Consul to Madagascar · Shadow and Light ( An autobiography published in 1902) o “Ignus fatus" meaning a deceptive goal or hope § Having faith in a time that Gibbs is present is what ruins people § Pessimistic o “Effervescent happiness of some of the worshipers at this shrine was conspicuous” § What shrines is he talking about? o Hon. John C. Fremont § An American explorer, politican, soldier – first candidate of the republican party § “pathfinder for California” o Gibbs became a partner in the firm Lester and Gibbs § Entrepreneur o “…the evolution of events and march of liberal ideas the
John Rollin Ridge (Yellow Bird) (p. 163-170) · First American Indian to publish a novel · Born in Georgia - Cherokee father and a white mother From The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta, the Celebrated California Bandit · Contemporary account of California as it was settling · Lawless · The war with Mexico has been fought, and California belonged to the United states · Follows Joaquin and his band as they set post-Mexico California ablaze o Joaquin Murieta: Mexican § His complexion was neither very dark or very light, but clear and brilliant, and his countenance is pronounced to have been, at that time, exceedingly handsome and attractive. His large black eyes, kindling with the enthusiasm of his earnest nature, his firm and well-formed mouth, his well-shaped head from which the long, glossy, black hair hung down over his shoulders, his slivery voice full of generous utterance, and the frank and cordial bearing whic