[ExI] externalization of knowledge again

[spike]

Our ant discussion led to how we are getting extraordinarily good at
externalizing and recalling our collective knowledge.  Consider Pandora
Internet Radio, something that made the rounds a long time ago here, but I
was too busy at the time to mess with it.  I took it out yesterday and was
astounded at how good it was at somehow scooping up the collective wisdom of
some ethereal cloud of internet-based human experience in the music realm.

http://www.pandora.com/#/

I started a new station, and gave it only James Taylor and Karen Carpenter.
It did the rest, and came up with a number of others, which I thumbed up or
down, and it figured out I like John Denver, Fleetwood Mac, Simon and
Garfunkel, ABBA, Christine McVie, Anne Murray, Neil Diamond, a terrific
collection of sweetly pleasant white-bread musicians.  It did a very good
job of picking out the contents of my own CD collection, which I compiled so
tragically many years ago.  

If you knew nothing of the music scene, you would need only tell it your
favorite musician or group, and give it a few thumbs up or down, and it
could create a personalized internet radio station that you will like.  And
it is free!  No advertisement, no pledge drives, no yakkity DJs, such a
deal!

Life is gooood.  Living now is even better.

spike