A lot of sophistication has been developed about the utilization of machines for complex purposes, and it doesn't make sense not to use it if you can think of a good question to ask. Playing chess is about the dumbest question you can ask. But, if you want, maybe can make money that way, or something. In fact, what's going on with the chess is about as interesting as the fact that a front-end loader can lift more than an Olympics champion, weight lifter, or something. Probably so, but, you know, these are just not serious questions.

The question of whether a computer is playing chess, or doing long division, or translating Chinese, is like the question of whether robots can murder or airpl…

Why won't Chomsky come to Iraq? --Ibrahim al-Jaafari, February 2006 [184]

Say, take Rachel Corrie, local young woman, she was extremely courageous. She's a martyr for peace and justice. We happened to kill her too, even if we don't l…

If we can't, as artists, improve on real life, we should put down our pencils and go bake bread.

Poetry is indispensable - if I only knew what for.

There has to be a woman, but not much of a one. A good horse is much more important.