These two parts of the body function differently - and this is hardly surprising. What is surprising, however, is that many people think with their guts.
If you mention this to them, they will agree - but refuse to discuss the subject further. This is an important fact - but the facts are not primarily what they are interested in.
What they are interested in - to state this slightly differently - is their gut feelings.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Technical Competence and Economic Competence
These are beginning to come together, in the Computer Ecosystem - for the first time in history.
I must explain this. Back in the days of the Steam Engine, late in the 19th Century, there were people who were experts in how they were designed and built - and different people who were experts on using them to make money. They did not overlap very much. And the money people had far more power - and far more money. Matters of ethics were not considered.
Now, in the 21st Century, the Computer is changing things. The Designers have more money, more power, and are beginning to consider ethics. Businessmen have become entrepreneurs - still concerned with making money, but responsible to many stakeholders.
A huge change, but one few people are aware of.
I must explain this. Back in the days of the Steam Engine, late in the 19th Century, there were people who were experts in how they were designed and built - and different people who were experts on using them to make money. They did not overlap very much. And the money people had far more power - and far more money. Matters of ethics were not considered.
Now, in the 21st Century, the Computer is changing things. The Designers have more money, more power, and are beginning to consider ethics. Businessmen have become entrepreneurs - still concerned with making money, but responsible to many stakeholders.
A huge change, but one few people are aware of.
The Medical and the Mental
I would be nice, if the world was such - that these two could be kept apart easily. So you would know which one you are dealing with, in any situation. But, as you know - life is not that easy. And mixtures of the two are common.
We want to understand the world. but we came into a world, rather late in the game - and the world is not too interested explaining itself to us.
We want to understand the world. but we came into a world, rather late in the game - and the world is not too interested explaining itself to us.
Roman Soldiers in the Good Friday Procession
Strange things are happening in Costa Rica.
Holy Week (Semana Santa) used to be the most important holiday here. But Ticos have lost much of their religious fervor, and Holy Week is not as important anymore.
This was reflected by the procession yesterday. There were a large number of Roman Soldiers - three different troops, wearing similar costumes, but with different color combinations. The most important troop came first, followed by the second, and then the third. The third one was composed of adolescent boys, who really didn't know what was going on, people in wheelchairs, and even a four-year old in a baby buggy!
Then came a sound truck, followed by the religious procession, carrying their religious statues. The precedence, of the religious, followed by the secular - had been reversed!
I later walked to the church, where a platform had been erected, to the display the holy relics. One troop of Roman Soldiers, was in charge of that - as they made abundantly clear. Other troops had to content themselves with less important duties.
Holy Week (Semana Santa) used to be the most important holiday here. But Ticos have lost much of their religious fervor, and Holy Week is not as important anymore.
This was reflected by the procession yesterday. There were a large number of Roman Soldiers - three different troops, wearing similar costumes, but with different color combinations. The most important troop came first, followed by the second, and then the third. The third one was composed of adolescent boys, who really didn't know what was going on, people in wheelchairs, and even a four-year old in a baby buggy!
Then came a sound truck, followed by the religious procession, carrying their religious statues. The precedence, of the religious, followed by the secular - had been reversed!
I later walked to the church, where a platform had been erected, to the display the holy relics. One troop of Roman Soldiers, was in charge of that - as they made abundantly clear. Other troops had to content themselves with less important duties.
5 keys to understanding Costa Rica as it faces new elections
Tico Times
This is an excellent article, but no one I know is interested in it. They have contracted the American Disease - of not being interested. They know bad things are going on - and they don't want to know about them.
The last section is especially alarming - violence against women has reached epidemic proportions!
This is an excellent article, but no one I know is interested in it. They have contracted the American Disease - of not being interested. They know bad things are going on - and they don't want to know about them.
The last section is especially alarming - violence against women has reached epidemic proportions!
Friday, March 30, 2018
To Psychosis and Back
This is a review of the book An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
I am reminded of my marriage of five years, to a beautiful, but crazy woman, whose own brush with psychosis, did not end so well. She ordered me out of her life, went through years of suffering - and then killed herself.
This woman had a lot more going for her. She was saved by the Mental Health profession, and as a member of that profession - has saved others.
Most people will not enjoy this, because it will remind them of their own mental problems - that we all have.
I am reminded of my marriage of five years, to a beautiful, but crazy woman, whose own brush with psychosis, did not end so well. She ordered me out of her life, went through years of suffering - and then killed herself.
This woman had a lot more going for her. She was saved by the Mental Health profession, and as a member of that profession - has saved others.
Most people will not enjoy this, because it will remind them of their own mental problems - that we all have.
We do not Understand the Computer
"Yes," you may say, "But so what, what difference does that make?" My answer is simple - if we do not understand the Computer, we do not understand our world, and how it is changing us.
We have learned how to use the computer - but not how to understand it. Two different things entirely.
We were greatly changed by the Industrial Revolution - and learned how to be part of a culture of hierarchical organizations (social machines) that were organized from the top down. This produced astonishing affluence - but a series of wars (from the middle of the 19th Century to the middle of the 20th) of unusual intensity. And atrocities, such as the Holocaust. Something had gone wrong.
Then the Television and the Computer arrived. And made our situation even more complicated. Some of us said, back in the Sixties "Stop the world, I want to get off!" But the world did not stop.
We should have decided, right then, that we had to understand what was going on. But we did not. And this was a huge mistake.
We are stuck with a world that does not work - and cannot fix itself. Because fixing it, would mean changing it, fundamentally. This is not an unusual situation - those in power, want to stay in power. But they now have ways of disguising this.
Ways that are enabled by the Computer, that can figure out how we are thinking - and change how we are thinking, without our being aware of it. This is Propaganda, something that has been done for a long time, by influencing what people read - mainly the newspapers.
But few read anymore - they watch their TVs, or their Smartphones.
We have learned how to use the computer - but not how to understand it. Two different things entirely.
We were greatly changed by the Industrial Revolution - and learned how to be part of a culture of hierarchical organizations (social machines) that were organized from the top down. This produced astonishing affluence - but a series of wars (from the middle of the 19th Century to the middle of the 20th) of unusual intensity. And atrocities, such as the Holocaust. Something had gone wrong.
Then the Television and the Computer arrived. And made our situation even more complicated. Some of us said, back in the Sixties "Stop the world, I want to get off!" But the world did not stop.
We should have decided, right then, that we had to understand what was going on. But we did not. And this was a huge mistake.
We are stuck with a world that does not work - and cannot fix itself. Because fixing it, would mean changing it, fundamentally. This is not an unusual situation - those in power, want to stay in power. But they now have ways of disguising this.
Ways that are enabled by the Computer, that can figure out how we are thinking - and change how we are thinking, without our being aware of it. This is Propaganda, something that has been done for a long time, by influencing what people read - mainly the newspapers.
But few read anymore - they watch their TVs, or their Smartphones.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Alcatel won't let it's Users Manage their Own Apps
I got an Alcatel phone from Amazon for very little, I think about $40.
I got my Costa Rica phone number transferred to it, without a problem. I can make calls with it, to anywhere in Costa Rica, or even to the States. I didn't use it for anything else.
But I started to get these strange messages about all the apps on my phone. If I woke up in the middle of the night, I could see my phone was on, doing something - what, I had no idea.
I checked, and sure enough I had about a hundred apps on my phone - most of which, I had never heard of before. This was interesting - but even more interesting, was the fact that I could not get rid of them!
I got my Costa Rica phone number transferred to it, without a problem. I can make calls with it, to anywhere in Costa Rica, or even to the States. I didn't use it for anything else.
But I started to get these strange messages about all the apps on my phone. If I woke up in the middle of the night, I could see my phone was on, doing something - what, I had no idea.
I checked, and sure enough I had about a hundred apps on my phone - most of which, I had never heard of before. This was interesting - but even more interesting, was the fact that I could not get rid of them!
The Scientific and the Anti-Scientific
Science was a miracle - but a miracle, most people want to be rid of.
It had taken them too far away from what they were really interested in - their irrational, emotional movements. That all too easily - become destructive also.
The movements I just spoke of, exist largely in their minds, in their collective unconscious. That they are exquisitely attuned to - and which sometimes results in collective action, they cannot understand -but are certain had to happen. The election of Trump, was an example of this.
Allow me to restate this - people are basically emotional creatures. And prefer their feelings to their intelligence.
If they have a medical problem, however, they will forget their anti-scientific bias - and demand that medical science cure them. And sometimes it will.
Their two personalities are in conflict here - but they are not aware of this, because they have become unaware to a remarkable degree.
Let me restate this again: what's important is in their minds - not outside of it.
It had taken them too far away from what they were really interested in - their irrational, emotional movements. That all too easily - become destructive also.
The movements I just spoke of, exist largely in their minds, in their collective unconscious. That they are exquisitely attuned to - and which sometimes results in collective action, they cannot understand -but are certain had to happen. The election of Trump, was an example of this.
Allow me to restate this - people are basically emotional creatures. And prefer their feelings to their intelligence.
If they have a medical problem, however, they will forget their anti-scientific bias - and demand that medical science cure them. And sometimes it will.
Their two personalities are in conflict here - but they are not aware of this, because they have become unaware to a remarkable degree.
Let me restate this again: what's important is in their minds - not outside of it.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Why I left Google to join Grab
Medium
This is a commercial about his new company Grab. Also a commercial about SouthEast Asia, where it operates.
If this is the future of the world (which it might be) I'm not sure if I should run for the exits - or run towards the middle of this chaos.
In either case, I will have to careful to not get run over, in the rush going either way.
This is a commercial about his new company Grab. Also a commercial about SouthEast Asia, where it operates.
If this is the future of the world (which it might be) I'm not sure if I should run for the exits - or run towards the middle of this chaos.
In either case, I will have to careful to not get run over, in the rush going either way.
The EU was a Success
medici
medici.tv has a huge catalog of videos of classical music performances.
This one is in the world's largest outdoor amphitheater (with loudspeakers everywhere) - just outside Berlin, Germany. The conductor is English, and the performers are two French pianists, that are sisters. And the audience is everyone with a fast Internet connection.
If the EU only consisted of these advanced western european countries - all would be well. But it was determined to include all countries - advanced or not - such as Greece.
As a result, the EU has become a failure. .
medici.tv has a huge catalog of videos of classical music performances.
This one is in the world's largest outdoor amphitheater (with loudspeakers everywhere) - just outside Berlin, Germany. The conductor is English, and the performers are two French pianists, that are sisters. And the audience is everyone with a fast Internet connection.
If the EU only consisted of these advanced western european countries - all would be well. But it was determined to include all countries - advanced or not - such as Greece.
As a result, the EU has become a failure. .
Group Identity is More Important than Individual Identity
I wonder if this is always the case. It certainly seems to be the case for most people I know.
Instead of asking themselves "Will this be good for me?" They ask themselves "What group do I belong to, and what do they want me to do?"
One practical example of this, is the exodus of Gringos from Orosi, my home town in a beautiful valley, in Costa Rica. I knew a Canadian couple who were renting here - but they left. The husband explained to me, that his wife had to live on the coast - where it is hot, compared to the mild climate of Orisi. He had no choice, but live there with her.
I knew another woman, quite well, who developed this strange need to live on the coast - even though it was more expensive there. If she could not live there, she developed some strange symptoms, that alarmed her family.
Instead of asking themselves "Will this be good for me?" They ask themselves "What group do I belong to, and what do they want me to do?"
One practical example of this, is the exodus of Gringos from Orosi, my home town in a beautiful valley, in Costa Rica. I knew a Canadian couple who were renting here - but they left. The husband explained to me, that his wife had to live on the coast - where it is hot, compared to the mild climate of Orisi. He had no choice, but live there with her.
I knew another woman, quite well, who developed this strange need to live on the coast - even though it was more expensive there. If she could not live there, she developed some strange symptoms, that alarmed her family.
Another Company has been Raided by the Bad Guys
Only the bad guys in this case are women. When this happens, I know from my experience down here in Costa Rica - this is bad news.
The company is a little eatery of the kind they call a Soda down here. It was started by a local woman in part of her house, and it was success a few years ago, when there were more gringos in town.
Our little town, that never had much money - has even less now. My barber, that used to have a nice little business, with plenty of people hanging around him - has no one around him now. Many barber shops have opened, and closed - and he is working in a vacuum.
Money is strange stuff, and when it decides to leave - there not much anyone can do about it.
The woman I started to write about, has several children, and they (and their wives, and their children) live with her (and off of her). They occasionally helped out in the Soda. They make a chicken-burger, she designed herself, and I often buy one. Even paying a little extra, so they would be motivated to keep making them.
But another woman has showed up, out of nowhere, has lined up the other women behind her, and they have decided the Soda will not amount to much, much longer.
The company is a little eatery of the kind they call a Soda down here. It was started by a local woman in part of her house, and it was success a few years ago, when there were more gringos in town.
Our little town, that never had much money - has even less now. My barber, that used to have a nice little business, with plenty of people hanging around him - has no one around him now. Many barber shops have opened, and closed - and he is working in a vacuum.
Money is strange stuff, and when it decides to leave - there not much anyone can do about it.
The woman I started to write about, has several children, and they (and their wives, and their children) live with her (and off of her). They occasionally helped out in the Soda. They make a chicken-burger, she designed herself, and I often buy one. Even paying a little extra, so they would be motivated to keep making them.
But another woman has showed up, out of nowhere, has lined up the other women behind her, and they have decided the Soda will not amount to much, much longer.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God
This is one of the fundamental beliefs of Mormonism. That was one of the accidental results of the Second Great Awakening, early in the 19th Century.
Different members of the Smith family were attracted to different churches, that were involved in this religious revival. But one son, Joseph, said he had a revelation from God, telling him they were all inadequate - and God would use him to establish his church. This became the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS).
These Saints considered themselves better than anyone else - something that other Americans resented strongly. And eventually resulted in the death of Smith at the hands of an angry mob, in 1844.
Eventually, two churches resulted - the LDS church, with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah - and the RLDS, with headquarters in Independence, Missouri (also the hometown of President Truman).
My family were RLDS - and I grew up being a Missouri Mormon. This had the advantage of not smoking or drinking. But subjected me to whole range of mental illnesses. Including the sexual problems common in many religious organizations.
Different members of the Smith family were attracted to different churches, that were involved in this religious revival. But one son, Joseph, said he had a revelation from God, telling him they were all inadequate - and God would use him to establish his church. This became the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS).
These Saints considered themselves better than anyone else - something that other Americans resented strongly. And eventually resulted in the death of Smith at the hands of an angry mob, in 1844.
Eventually, two churches resulted - the LDS church, with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah - and the RLDS, with headquarters in Independence, Missouri (also the hometown of President Truman).
My family were RLDS - and I grew up being a Missouri Mormon. This had the advantage of not smoking or drinking. But subjected me to whole range of mental illnesses. Including the sexual problems common in many religious organizations.
The evolution of systems requires an evolution of systems engineers
O'Reilly
Reading this make me think, of how I went wrong, back in the Nineties, in Silicon Valley.
I had been a programmer, in Southern California, in the Eighties. But got tired of that, and became a Tech Writer again.
The Nineties, in the Valley, was a crazy place, with too much going on. Computer hardware evolved into the Laptop. Programming evolved into the Java programming language. And the Internet was born.
If I had been smart, I would have become a programmer again - learning Java and Javascript. I should have concentrated on what interested me - not on what interested all the companies that came and went, continuously.
Like everyone else, I was easily distracted "Look at this! Look at this!" When I should have asked myself "How is this going to work?"
Reading this make me think, of how I went wrong, back in the Nineties, in Silicon Valley.
I had been a programmer, in Southern California, in the Eighties. But got tired of that, and became a Tech Writer again.
The Nineties, in the Valley, was a crazy place, with too much going on. Computer hardware evolved into the Laptop. Programming evolved into the Java programming language. And the Internet was born.
If I had been smart, I would have become a programmer again - learning Java and Javascript. I should have concentrated on what interested me - not on what interested all the companies that came and went, continuously.
Like everyone else, I was easily distracted "Look at this! Look at this!" When I should have asked myself "How is this going to work?"
The Right to Complain
We live in a very demanding world - that makes outlandish claims on us. Including the demand that we not complain about this. We can complain about little things as much as we want - but not about the big things - that make all the difference.
One of these big things - is the way the world is treating us. We were born with the right to complain about this - every baby can cry loudly. Adults have to decide whether this crying is something they should respond to - or ignore.
I remember seeing three children going for a walk in Indonesia - the oldest was about five, and the youngest could barely walk. In this neighborhood, the houses were constructed around a community courtyard, where no vehicles were permitted. It was a safe place for people to walk around in.
But there were busy streets outside of the pedestrian areas, but were full of speeding vehicles, of all kinds. Not a safe place to be. The parents of these children let them walk there, however - because they knew the three of them, knew how to be careful. Their combined intelligence was equal to that of an adult.
I watched, with amazement, at how this combined intelligence worked. The little one had a short attention span, and wanted to stop and stare at whatever he saw. The middle one understood this - but gently urged him to not dawdle too long. The oldest one was in charge - and made sure the three of them stayed out of trouble. The adults who were also walking on the street - treated the three of them as one person.
In this situation, everyone was taking care of everyone else. Everyone respected everyone else. And no one had to complain about anything.
Very unusual!
One of these big things - is the way the world is treating us. We were born with the right to complain about this - every baby can cry loudly. Adults have to decide whether this crying is something they should respond to - or ignore.
I remember seeing three children going for a walk in Indonesia - the oldest was about five, and the youngest could barely walk. In this neighborhood, the houses were constructed around a community courtyard, where no vehicles were permitted. It was a safe place for people to walk around in.
But there were busy streets outside of the pedestrian areas, but were full of speeding vehicles, of all kinds. Not a safe place to be. The parents of these children let them walk there, however - because they knew the three of them, knew how to be careful. Their combined intelligence was equal to that of an adult.
I watched, with amazement, at how this combined intelligence worked. The little one had a short attention span, and wanted to stop and stare at whatever he saw. The middle one understood this - but gently urged him to not dawdle too long. The oldest one was in charge - and made sure the three of them stayed out of trouble. The adults who were also walking on the street - treated the three of them as one person.
In this situation, everyone was taking care of everyone else. Everyone respected everyone else. And no one had to complain about anything.
Very unusual!
Monday, March 26, 2018
Trying to Understand Robert Lowell
Amazon - New Selected Poems
I never heard of Katie Peterson before, but she is the editor of this excellent book, that is available in the Kindle format - that I am reading on my Amazon Fire tablet.
I will be looking at her other books - in the Kindle format also.
I never heard of Katie Peterson before, but she is the editor of this excellent book, that is available in the Kindle format - that I am reading on my Amazon Fire tablet.
I will be looking at her other books - in the Kindle format also.
The Machine with a MInd of Its Own
This machine is the computer. And the Mind I am referring to, is the new consciousness it has produced in today's societies. Or, to be more accurate - some parts of today's societies.
We are in the midst of moving from an Industrial world to a Computer world. And one of the strange features of this change, is that most people are not aware of it .
For example, Will Cuba become a test case for a post-postmodern future? plopped itself into my inbox this morning. This article is full of interesting (and, I am sure, accurate) observations about today's societies. but overlooks the most important one - it is being delivered online!
The Modern World was caused, in part, by the Printing Press. And today's world (whatever you want to call it) is being caused (in a large part) by the Computer. In either case, Information flowed more freely. In today's case, almost explosively.
I am not the first one, to suggest that some kind of Mind is behind what we see in the world. For Newton, it was the Mind of God. The physical evidence for this Mind could not be found - but the Mind of the Computer (its Software) stands out for all to see!
It is beating people over the head, saying "I am here!" But most people cannot see it. And the ones who do - don't know what to make of it.
We are in the midst of moving from an Industrial world to a Computer world. And one of the strange features of this change, is that most people are not aware of it .
For example, Will Cuba become a test case for a post-postmodern future? plopped itself into my inbox this morning. This article is full of interesting (and, I am sure, accurate) observations about today's societies. but overlooks the most important one - it is being delivered online!
The Modern World was caused, in part, by the Printing Press. And today's world (whatever you want to call it) is being caused (in a large part) by the Computer. In either case, Information flowed more freely. In today's case, almost explosively.
I am not the first one, to suggest that some kind of Mind is behind what we see in the world. For Newton, it was the Mind of God. The physical evidence for this Mind could not be found - but the Mind of the Computer (its Software) stands out for all to see!
It is beating people over the head, saying "I am here!" But most people cannot see it. And the ones who do - don't know what to make of it.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Being Smart is not Enough
I might as well begin with my wife Beth - a beautiful, but crazy woman. I made sure she had the best therapists I could find. But she said to me "I can outsmart any therapist!"
I should have left her, right then (she would have understood why) But I had my problems too. I stayed with her, and everything ended disastrously.
Allow me to generalize from this. Being smart is of no use to anyone - if you do not have the right objectives.
I should have left her, right then (she would have understood why) But I had my problems too. I stayed with her, and everything ended disastrously.
Allow me to generalize from this. Being smart is of no use to anyone - if you do not have the right objectives.
Business has not Been People-Friendly
It was not set up that way - its primary objective was to be profitable, at the expense of other objectives, such as social or environmental objectives. It would not say this, in so many words - but it was clear that this was what is was doing - successfully.
It was making money, and could use that money to buy whatever it needed - approval by the government - or workers, who were desperate for its jobs.
And most importantly, the approval of almost everyone - who did dare question its objectives.
That was the way it was, in the 20th Century - a good century for Business, but not for anything else.
The 21st Century is going to be the Century of the Computer - a new technology that needs a new kind of business, it calls the Enterprise.
In that world (and it is a new world) you gotta do things right - before you can make money. And this is where much of the money (and the jobs) are going.
It was making money, and could use that money to buy whatever it needed - approval by the government - or workers, who were desperate for its jobs.
And most importantly, the approval of almost everyone - who did dare question its objectives.
That was the way it was, in the 20th Century - a good century for Business, but not for anything else.
The 21st Century is going to be the Century of the Computer - a new technology that needs a new kind of business, it calls the Enterprise.
In that world (and it is a new world) you gotta do things right - before you can make money. And this is where much of the money (and the jobs) are going.
How is America in Bad Shape?
A good question, it seems to me. And the answer rests mainly on America's attitude toward itself. What do Americans think of themselves?
At the conscious level, the answer is easy - they do think about this question at all. And they are determined to not think about it.
It has been pushed into their unconscious, where it is invisible, and can only be inferred from their actions.
From their actions, we can see they are hostile to many people, whom they consider their enemies. They have many enemies, and they are out to get them.
America is involved in a Civil War, with many dimensions, that are poorly defined. Only one thing is certain - they are in a State of War, and they intend to keep it that way.
And they are determined to not see they are this way.
At the conscious level, the answer is easy - they do think about this question at all. And they are determined to not think about it.
It has been pushed into their unconscious, where it is invisible, and can only be inferred from their actions.
From their actions, we can see they are hostile to many people, whom they consider their enemies. They have many enemies, and they are out to get them.
America is involved in a Civil War, with many dimensions, that are poorly defined. Only one thing is certain - they are in a State of War, and they intend to keep it that way.
And they are determined to not see they are this way.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
A Person Who Does Not Think
How can I end the beginning of this sentence? A person who does not think is not much of a person? Is a normal person? Cannot succeed in the Computer Ecosystem? All are correct.
But I want to start with the first two - how Industrialization produced the non-thinking person. This has been remarked on many times, but it bears repeating - a culture of machines, made people like machines themselves. They were expected to perform their job, but not think about what they were doing. But this analysis requires some fine-tuning.
My father's father, worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, early in the 20th Century. His job could be described as a Safety Inspector, but usually he was called a Wheel Knocker. He had a hammer with a long handle, and walked down each side of a train - tapping each wheel to see if it was cracked, and checking for hot boxes - the journal bearings, in use at the time, could freeze up, get hot, and catch on fire.
Defective machinery was common, and his job was to detect it before it became a problem. The main requirement for his job was simple - he had to show up, on time, and do his job. In other words, he had to stay sober - no problem for him, because drinking was against his religion.
But slightly later, the Sheaffer Pen Company became established on the east side of his town, Ft. Madison, Iowa. It employed a different kind of worker - who did piece-work, where each worker performed the same job, over and over. But was paid for how many times they did their job. This made them think about their job - how they could do it faster!
Grandfather Smith did not have to think about his job, but his daughter, for worked for Sheaffer Pen, did. Things had changed - this kind of thinking, made companies more profitable. And all over the Industrial Midwest, American companies started making most of the world's machinery.
When WWII started, these same companies produced war material, in large quantities - won the War, and became the most powerful country in history!
Allow me to summarize here. The application of machine logic, to make more products, more efficiently - produced Affluence A chicken in every pot, and a car in every garage. But a concentration on making more things, at the expensive of meeting people's needs.
In fact - and this is an important point - things had become more important than people. But the people did not notice this.
When the Computer showed up, another big shift happened. Computer people had to think - and think about all parts of their jobs! This will be the subject of future postings.
But I want to start with the first two - how Industrialization produced the non-thinking person. This has been remarked on many times, but it bears repeating - a culture of machines, made people like machines themselves. They were expected to perform their job, but not think about what they were doing. But this analysis requires some fine-tuning.
My father's father, worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, early in the 20th Century. His job could be described as a Safety Inspector, but usually he was called a Wheel Knocker. He had a hammer with a long handle, and walked down each side of a train - tapping each wheel to see if it was cracked, and checking for hot boxes - the journal bearings, in use at the time, could freeze up, get hot, and catch on fire.
Defective machinery was common, and his job was to detect it before it became a problem. The main requirement for his job was simple - he had to show up, on time, and do his job. In other words, he had to stay sober - no problem for him, because drinking was against his religion.
But slightly later, the Sheaffer Pen Company became established on the east side of his town, Ft. Madison, Iowa. It employed a different kind of worker - who did piece-work, where each worker performed the same job, over and over. But was paid for how many times they did their job. This made them think about their job - how they could do it faster!
Grandfather Smith did not have to think about his job, but his daughter, for worked for Sheaffer Pen, did. Things had changed - this kind of thinking, made companies more profitable. And all over the Industrial Midwest, American companies started making most of the world's machinery.
When WWII started, these same companies produced war material, in large quantities - won the War, and became the most powerful country in history!
Allow me to summarize here. The application of machine logic, to make more products, more efficiently - produced Affluence A chicken in every pot, and a car in every garage. But a concentration on making more things, at the expensive of meeting people's needs.
In fact - and this is an important point - things had become more important than people. But the people did not notice this.
When the Computer showed up, another big shift happened. Computer people had to think - and think about all parts of their jobs! This will be the subject of future postings.
Friday, March 23, 2018
To Understand the World, You Gotta Understand Computers
I am studying Computers, just as a hobby - and I am amazed by how much it helps me understand the World.
Consider this: Globalization’s Backlash Is Here, at Just the Wrong Time. Most of this is about Computers - and their impact on People.
China doesn't know much about Computers (in my opinion) - but it does know how to use them. America has given them a powerful tool - and they have used it against them.
Was this stupid - or was this stupid? Can this situation be fixed? Easily.
All we have to do, is educate our leaders (and maybe a few other people) about the Computer. This doesn't mean giving them a better Phone (which is a computer). It means helping them understand the damn things.
"Tough luck." You will say, "You might as well teach mathematics to a cow."
Maybe, but people are not cows (or bulls) - and they can learn. Maybe not very well, but they can learn. The slow learners will not survive very long - even if they are the vast majority now.
Maybe we can use a cattle prod, to help them move a little faster.
Consider this: Globalization’s Backlash Is Here, at Just the Wrong Time. Most of this is about Computers - and their impact on People.
China doesn't know much about Computers (in my opinion) - but it does know how to use them. America has given them a powerful tool - and they have used it against them.
Was this stupid - or was this stupid? Can this situation be fixed? Easily.
All we have to do, is educate our leaders (and maybe a few other people) about the Computer. This doesn't mean giving them a better Phone (which is a computer). It means helping them understand the damn things.
"Tough luck." You will say, "You might as well teach mathematics to a cow."
Maybe, but people are not cows (or bulls) - and they can learn. Maybe not very well, but they can learn. The slow learners will not survive very long - even if they are the vast majority now.
Maybe we can use a cattle prod, to help them move a little faster.
Computer Simulation of Human Behavior
First, I have to clarify some terminology - emulate and simulate. I prefer simulate, that is defined by the Wiktionary, as
To model, replicate, duplicate the behavior, appearance or properties of.
To model, replicate, duplicate the behavior, appearance or properties of.
In software, Artificial Intelligence (AI) claims to do this for human intelligence - and is successful in some areas, such as translating between languages.
But I hardly need tell you, it is useless in predicting human behavior, in general.
Yesterday, while eating an excellent Subway sandwich - I had the chance to watch women of all ages, walk by, at a busy intersection (I was not much interested in the men). I saw some amazing legs, walking in shorts, so short - it was a wonder they could still operate.
Can a computer (equipped with a visual interface) register this same kind of interest?
Machines can Always be Improved, but People Cannot
I am constantly amazed by how much the Computer is being improved on. And constantly amazed by how People cannot be improved on.
I hope you disagree with me, and are working to make some human situations better. But if you are, you probably agree with me - that our human operating system has plenty of bugs in it. I am using some computer concepts here - but they may be useful, in the larger context.
And we have to start with our serious inadequacies, that cannot be removed. All we can do is work around them.
This has been done - with the formation of the United States of America. And hundreds of attempts have been made to emulate this success. Most recently, with the European Union (EU) that has been plagued with problems.
The US and the UK have also been plagued with problems.
And the basic problem, it seems to me - is that we think we are basically good (made in the image of God) when we are a complicated mixture of good and bad. A very complicated mixture.
You probably agree - but prefer concentrating on our good parts. When we should be concentrating on our bad parts - and really concentrating on them. They are what is holding us back - not our good parts.
I hope you disagree with me, and are working to make some human situations better. But if you are, you probably agree with me - that our human operating system has plenty of bugs in it. I am using some computer concepts here - but they may be useful, in the larger context.
And we have to start with our serious inadequacies, that cannot be removed. All we can do is work around them.
This has been done - with the formation of the United States of America. And hundreds of attempts have been made to emulate this success. Most recently, with the European Union (EU) that has been plagued with problems.
The US and the UK have also been plagued with problems.
And the basic problem, it seems to me - is that we think we are basically good (made in the image of God) when we are a complicated mixture of good and bad. A very complicated mixture.
You probably agree - but prefer concentrating on our good parts. When we should be concentrating on our bad parts - and really concentrating on them. They are what is holding us back - not our good parts.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Our Bus gets Stopped by the Policia Transito
I took the bus today, to make my weekly shopping trip, the nearest large town, Cartago. And came home with large box of pizza from the Pizza Hut. Enough pizza to last me for a month.
I packed myself, and my pizza, on the next bus home. But we were stopped, for the longest time, by the Policia Transito. I had never seen this kind of police before, dressed entirely in their while uniforms, to match their white motorcycles.
Down here, you learn to have patience - but I couldn't help but wonder what the heck was going on. I am still wondering, since I know no Spanish. Only one thing is clear - our bad bus got a ticket!
I packed myself, and my pizza, on the next bus home. But we were stopped, for the longest time, by the Policia Transito. I had never seen this kind of police before, dressed entirely in their while uniforms, to match their white motorcycles.
Down here, you learn to have patience - but I couldn't help but wonder what the heck was going on. I am still wondering, since I know no Spanish. Only one thing is clear - our bad bus got a ticket!
A Machine has No Values
This is one of the problems, computer people struggle with - how to make them ethical? But you cannot make a Computer ethical, any more than you can make a Steam Engine ethical.
People do not realize this - because the User Interface for the Computer, has been designed to make it seem human. And people have been taken in, by this illusion. The little Phone, they can hold in their hands - is a miracle! And will make their every wish come true.
Some subtle, but unconscious, reasoning is going on here. And it goes right back to our religious nature - we believe supernatural forces control the world, and all we have to do, is align ourselves properly with them.
And one of these forces is in our Phone. How it got there, we do not know - but it is there!
This belief is accurate - but only partly accurate. The Computer is a new force in the world - and it seems supernatural, to those who do not understand how it works.
It does not take much of an effort to understand how it works. But this effort is not being made. And something else (perhaps the Computer Industry) determines our values.
People do not realize this - because the User Interface for the Computer, has been designed to make it seem human. And people have been taken in, by this illusion. The little Phone, they can hold in their hands - is a miracle! And will make their every wish come true.
Some subtle, but unconscious, reasoning is going on here. And it goes right back to our religious nature - we believe supernatural forces control the world, and all we have to do, is align ourselves properly with them.
And one of these forces is in our Phone. How it got there, we do not know - but it is there!
This belief is accurate - but only partly accurate. The Computer is a new force in the world - and it seems supernatural, to those who do not understand how it works.
It does not take much of an effort to understand how it works. But this effort is not being made. And something else (perhaps the Computer Industry) determines our values.
For a Society to Flourish
A number of things must be true - and foremost among them, is the impulse to make that society better.
This is no longer the case, in fact people no longer believe that society is important, and that it can be made better. They believe something else is more important - and we should devote ourselves to it instead.
What this something else is, depends on whatever people are interested in, at the time. And they are not interested in any abstract ideas about what this is - or what it should be.
It seems to me, however, at the present time - it is the exercise of power. Making other people do what you want them to do.
This is a normal human impulse - to interact with other people, in all kinds of ways. But it can easily become abnormal - to identify with a group, to dominate other groups - or be dominated, by a strong leader. Or even by the group itself.
The Organization is now dominant - and people have become experts at belonging to one of these, and making sure other people belong also.
I will use Americans as an example. They have become experts at being Americans. And they know intuitively what this is - in their collective unconscious. Their election of Trump, was only a surprise to those, not in tune with their deepest desires.
And these were - to destroy their society!
This is no longer the case, in fact people no longer believe that society is important, and that it can be made better. They believe something else is more important - and we should devote ourselves to it instead.
What this something else is, depends on whatever people are interested in, at the time. And they are not interested in any abstract ideas about what this is - or what it should be.
It seems to me, however, at the present time - it is the exercise of power. Making other people do what you want them to do.
This is a normal human impulse - to interact with other people, in all kinds of ways. But it can easily become abnormal - to identify with a group, to dominate other groups - or be dominated, by a strong leader. Or even by the group itself.
The Organization is now dominant - and people have become experts at belonging to one of these, and making sure other people belong also.
I will use Americans as an example. They have become experts at being Americans. And they know intuitively what this is - in their collective unconscious. Their election of Trump, was only a surprise to those, not in tune with their deepest desires.
And these were - to destroy their society!
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
The Next Big Thing
Has already begun, and is developing rapidly. But few want to be aware of it - because (they think) it is threatening their way of life. And they may be right - their world is now obsolete, and is being replaced with another one.
It is tempting to begin with the Computer, but Television prepared the way for that. People got used to looking at a magical screen - and to programs that showed them how to live. The Computer continued this trend - but in ways no one could have predicted.
It made possible Large-Scale Integrated circuits (LSI) - now simply known as Chips - all you need is a few of them to build a laptop. The Internet and Cellular networks. Artificial Intelligence (a Big Deal, believe me). And the ultimate development - the Cloud.
It's tempting to compare this with the discovery of the New World. This was discovered by accident - and by some very ruthless people.
The Spanish Empire was the largest, and the richest in the West. But the Dutch and the English were better financed.
It is tempting to begin with the Computer, but Television prepared the way for that. People got used to looking at a magical screen - and to programs that showed them how to live. The Computer continued this trend - but in ways no one could have predicted.
It made possible Large-Scale Integrated circuits (LSI) - now simply known as Chips - all you need is a few of them to build a laptop. The Internet and Cellular networks. Artificial Intelligence (a Big Deal, believe me). And the ultimate development - the Cloud.
It's tempting to compare this with the discovery of the New World. This was discovered by accident - and by some very ruthless people.
The Spanish Empire was the largest, and the richest in the West. But the Dutch and the English were better financed.
The Destructive Frame of Mind
Perhaps I should call this - My Miserable Life. But that would get few readers. Who wants to know about someone else's misery? Only therapists, who hear about this all the time.
The correct response is "Stop whining, and get happy! If you cannot do this, wreck everything!" The first statement is a conscious response - the second is unconscious, but more powerful, because few are aware of it.
They know something is wrong - but the reasons they have for this (and there are many of them) are all wrong. They will not admit things are in bad shape - because they have made them that way.
They have come up with the perfect solution (for them) - they are not aware of what is going on. And accept no responsibility for that.
The church I grew up in, put this nicely "Be in the world - but not of it!" A recipe for failure - that they embraced wholeheartedly.
Most of the people in the world have failed, but the world still goes on. Because some of them have succeeded - and succeeded very well.
Seeing the failures is easy enough - but seeing the successes is not easy. They are well-disguised, and you have to be sharp to pick them out.
The correct response is "Stop whining, and get happy! If you cannot do this, wreck everything!" The first statement is a conscious response - the second is unconscious, but more powerful, because few are aware of it.
They know something is wrong - but the reasons they have for this (and there are many of them) are all wrong. They will not admit things are in bad shape - because they have made them that way.
They have come up with the perfect solution (for them) - they are not aware of what is going on. And accept no responsibility for that.
The church I grew up in, put this nicely "Be in the world - but not of it!" A recipe for failure - that they embraced wholeheartedly.
Most of the people in the world have failed, but the world still goes on. Because some of them have succeeded - and succeeded very well.
Seeing the failures is easy enough - but seeing the successes is not easy. They are well-disguised, and you have to be sharp to pick them out.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Successful Software companies, have to Advance the State of the Art
LinkedIn
Is Computer Science an Art? Kind of - as Software Developers will tell you.
But to discover what it really is - you have to become involved in it. To experience it - not just think about it. It's something new, and cannot be easily compared to anything in the past.
LinkedIn was not made to make better software - but they ended up doing this anyway. They needed new capabilities, so they made their own - and then could not resist showing them off.
Is Computer Science an Art? Kind of - as Software Developers will tell you.
But to discover what it really is - you have to become involved in it. To experience it - not just think about it. It's something new, and cannot be easily compared to anything in the past.
LinkedIn was not made to make better software - but they ended up doing this anyway. They needed new capabilities, so they made their own - and then could not resist showing them off.
Vertigo
This morning, I am suffering from this - and I have been wondering what was causing it.
I am of the opinion, that it is caused by emotional overload - if too much happens, too fast, in my emotional world, I lose my bearings.
The medical explanation, that something is wrong with my inner ear - does not work for me.
But what was happening to me this time?
You are not going to believe the answer - Software. Too much is happening there, and it is messing up my mind.
I am socially sensitive - and software development is a social process. Very much so. And it is changing (or developing) at an extremely rapid pace.
I could give you many examples of this, but they would be too technical. So I will give you this example instead BNP Paribas, Barclays and Goldman Sachs Invest in AI Startup Digital Reasoning. Ignore the list of banks, and concentrate on the AI Startup Digital Reasoning.
The U.S. based Digital Reasoning was launched in 2012. The company identifies unstructured communications data to add context to human conversations, as well as flags potential fraudulent activity hidden in those communications. Banks and FIs use its services for internal use to scan employee e-mails for fraudulent patterns or red flags.
The new investment will enable us to use our novel and patented AI technology to turn all forms of communications data – including now audio and voice data – into discoverable, understandable, and actionable insights that help to accelerate customer-centric data strategies in the world’s largest Enterprises
I am of the opinion, that it is caused by emotional overload - if too much happens, too fast, in my emotional world, I lose my bearings.
The medical explanation, that something is wrong with my inner ear - does not work for me.
But what was happening to me this time?
You are not going to believe the answer - Software. Too much is happening there, and it is messing up my mind.
I am socially sensitive - and software development is a social process. Very much so. And it is changing (or developing) at an extremely rapid pace.
I could give you many examples of this, but they would be too technical. So I will give you this example instead BNP Paribas, Barclays and Goldman Sachs Invest in AI Startup Digital Reasoning. Ignore the list of banks, and concentrate on the AI Startup Digital Reasoning.
The U.S. based Digital Reasoning was launched in 2012. The company identifies unstructured communications data to add context to human conversations, as well as flags potential fraudulent activity hidden in those communications. Banks and FIs use its services for internal use to scan employee e-mails for fraudulent patterns or red flags.
The new investment will enable us to use our novel and patented AI technology to turn all forms of communications data – including now audio and voice data – into discoverable, understandable, and actionable insights that help to accelerate customer-centric data strategies in the world’s largest Enterprises
Got this? This is Big Brother - bigger (and smarter) than ever. And he is making sure that you behave yourself.
What is the response of most people? They don't want to think about it. They know something has gone wrong - and they have developed a brilliant solution for this. They don't think, at all.
They should shut down their laptops every night, and restart them in the morning. This will let Microsoft Windows update its software - including its virus protection. But they do not do this, and if I suggest this - they look at me as if I am crazy.
They think the computer is like a light bulb - with a switch to turn it on and off. When in fact, turning it on - starts a lot of complicate processes, that take time to execute.
In summary - people need to be smarter, to operate in today's world. But they have become stupider.
Monday, March 19, 2018
Social Awareness
One big thing wrong with the world is our lack of social awareness. It almost seems as though people have decided there is no such thing as human society.
And once they have decided that, they are left in a strange situation - but one that seems right, for them. To put this another way, they have decided to become superior beings, and forget about being human beings.
The temptation to become superior is strong - and is part of the religious impulse, which believes in supernatural, and superior beings Why not be like them?
This was also part of the Industrial Revolution, where people became rich and powerful, because of to their machines. They were clearly superior people - but easily became inhuman also - as the Holocaust showed.
This trend has continued with the latest machine, the Computer. A person with their Phone - is a superior person.
And once they have decided that, they are left in a strange situation - but one that seems right, for them. To put this another way, they have decided to become superior beings, and forget about being human beings.
The temptation to become superior is strong - and is part of the religious impulse, which believes in supernatural, and superior beings Why not be like them?
This was also part of the Industrial Revolution, where people became rich and powerful, because of to their machines. They were clearly superior people - but easily became inhuman also - as the Holocaust showed.
This trend has continued with the latest machine, the Computer. A person with their Phone - is a superior person.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
The Messiah was RLDS Music
Messiah: The Composition and Afterlife of Handel's Masterpiece
I remember this clearly, as a boy in the Fifties, in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri.
The RLDS church was at its peak, with Graceland College (a junior college), the San (a teaching hospital), and Rest Haven (for elderly church members).
It also presented yearly, its own performance of The Messiah, on the radio - to show it was important in music also. We knew nothing of the music's origins - for us, it was our music.
At the time, the RLDS church was dominant in the Midwest, and the LDS were dominant in the West.
We had no idea, how fast this was going to change.
I remember this clearly, as a boy in the Fifties, in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri.
The RLDS church was at its peak, with Graceland College (a junior college), the San (a teaching hospital), and Rest Haven (for elderly church members).
It also presented yearly, its own performance of The Messiah, on the radio - to show it was important in music also. We knew nothing of the music's origins - for us, it was our music.
At the time, the RLDS church was dominant in the Midwest, and the LDS were dominant in the West.
We had no idea, how fast this was going to change.
Obesity and the Beautiful Woman
Nothing destroys feminine beauty faster than obesity. And maybe this is why it is so common - a lot of women want to destroy their beauty, and destroy it in a hurry.
Why this appeals to some women, and not others - is a mystery I cannot begin to solve. There are many factors to consider, and when they all add up - fat is the result.
Why this appeals to some women, and not others - is a mystery I cannot begin to solve. There are many factors to consider, and when they all add up - fat is the result.
Our High-Speed World
This is our social situation - things are moving faster all the time. Or we can say - our social pressure is greater all the time. Or we can say - networks are becoming more powerful all the time. Or we can say - information moves faster all the time.
If you examine all the situations I have stated above, you will notice that People are becoming less important, and the Computer more important.
This seems alarming, but in fact - people make computers, and the software that runs them. People without computer skills, are being pushed out - and people with computer skills, are being moved in. And this creates great confusion.
All this can be summarized easily, by saying the Computer has changed everything. A statement that everyone agrees with - and at the same time, disagrees with. Because they cannot comprehend what it means.
It took several centuries for that last great change to happen - but this one is happening in only a few decades - since the Eighties!
For those inside the Computer World, this speedup is understandable - and they can understand it, in considerable detail. For them, it is logical.
For everyone else, it makes no sense at all - and they resist it, with all their strength. They elect leaders, that promise to turn the clock back, and restore the world they are comfortable with.
And remove the freedoms they are uncomfortable with.
If you examine all the situations I have stated above, you will notice that People are becoming less important, and the Computer more important.
This seems alarming, but in fact - people make computers, and the software that runs them. People without computer skills, are being pushed out - and people with computer skills, are being moved in. And this creates great confusion.
All this can be summarized easily, by saying the Computer has changed everything. A statement that everyone agrees with - and at the same time, disagrees with. Because they cannot comprehend what it means.
It took several centuries for that last great change to happen - but this one is happening in only a few decades - since the Eighties!
For those inside the Computer World, this speedup is understandable - and they can understand it, in considerable detail. For them, it is logical.
For everyone else, it makes no sense at all - and they resist it, with all their strength. They elect leaders, that promise to turn the clock back, and restore the world they are comfortable with.
And remove the freedoms they are uncomfortable with.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Learned Helplessness in Software Engineering
hackernoon
I wish I could agree with this writer - he seems like such a nice guy. He seems to be saying that most problems can be solved - when my experience has told me that plenty of them cannot.
Perhaps he would agree with me - and not only that, but specify, in some detail, why they cannot be solved.
In any case, the formatting of hackernoon is excellent!
Someone would have to be very dense - to not understand what he is saying. But such people do exist - and are thriving!
I will not mention any names here - you can supply your own.
I wish I could agree with this writer - he seems like such a nice guy. He seems to be saying that most problems can be solved - when my experience has told me that plenty of them cannot.
Perhaps he would agree with me - and not only that, but specify, in some detail, why they cannot be solved.
In any case, the formatting of hackernoon is excellent!
Someone would have to be very dense - to not understand what he is saying. But such people do exist - and are thriving!
I will not mention any names here - you can supply your own.
Packaging of Expansia
Expansia is the new med I am taking to control my drop attacks.
I took a photo of the whole thing to show how they have turned a little pill into large package. You can barely see the little red pill in the photo.
I took a photo of the whole thing to show how they have turned a little pill into large package. You can barely see the little red pill in the photo.
Fear of Doing It Right
This is a rational fear, in a culture that is doing it wrong.
I'm serious about this - our world has gone wrong in a number of ways. The most important way being its inability to see that this has happened to it.
I am now taking an online programming course from the Code School - about the Web Development Framework, called Phoenix, that - is so good, it scares me!
This has happened before. In the Nineties, in Silicon Valley, Sun Microsystems developed the Java programming language. I was working for a company then, that decided it would use Java - and Java would somehow make it successful.
I watched as the programmers sabotaged this effort. You read that right, the programmers they had, wrecked that effort to make better software. The company went out of business, Sun Microsystems went out of business - and everyone was satisfied with what they had done!
Right then, I should have realized a fundamental struggle was going on. The struggle between Good and Evil - that has been with us, forever. The destruction of Java, was evil - no two ways about it.
The language itself, has survived, is supported by a large community of developers, and is the most popular language now being used. They are the good guys - but they don't call themselves that. They just point to the obvious - their system works! And not only that, they are making plenty of money, with their Java expertise.
If I had realized this, then - I would have acted differently - and got with it, with the right software developers. I would still be in the States, making plenty of money - and reasonably satisfied with my life.
But I didn't, and no one else I knew, got the message either. The message being "Good and Evil are real - and you have to be aware of this!"
Everyone was saying, as loudly as they could "No, no, no - there is no Good or Evil, and you must ignore such foolish talk!"
I'm serious about this - our world has gone wrong in a number of ways. The most important way being its inability to see that this has happened to it.
I am now taking an online programming course from the Code School - about the Web Development Framework, called Phoenix, that - is so good, it scares me!
This has happened before. In the Nineties, in Silicon Valley, Sun Microsystems developed the Java programming language. I was working for a company then, that decided it would use Java - and Java would somehow make it successful.
I watched as the programmers sabotaged this effort. You read that right, the programmers they had, wrecked that effort to make better software. The company went out of business, Sun Microsystems went out of business - and everyone was satisfied with what they had done!
Right then, I should have realized a fundamental struggle was going on. The struggle between Good and Evil - that has been with us, forever. The destruction of Java, was evil - no two ways about it.
The language itself, has survived, is supported by a large community of developers, and is the most popular language now being used. They are the good guys - but they don't call themselves that. They just point to the obvious - their system works! And not only that, they are making plenty of money, with their Java expertise.
If I had realized this, then - I would have acted differently - and got with it, with the right software developers. I would still be in the States, making plenty of money - and reasonably satisfied with my life.
But I didn't, and no one else I knew, got the message either. The message being "Good and Evil are real - and you have to be aware of this!"
Everyone was saying, as loudly as they could "No, no, no - there is no Good or Evil, and you must ignore such foolish talk!"
Friday, March 16, 2018
The Computer has Made a New Society
Any new technology creates its own people - and rewards those people well. Abraham Lincoln was a Railroad Lawyer - and used that as a stepping stone to the American presidency.
After he was assassinated, his embalmed body was transported, via a series of railroads - back to Springfield, Illinois, where he still rests.
Amazon is now an American success story, because of the Computer. Because the Computer made its own audience, people who spend a lot of time on their computers - and who feel comfortable shopping online. Pointing their mouse at what they want to buy.
This is pretty amazing, when you stop to think about it. Most Americans shop at a shopping center - were they can see the many things being sold - and see all the other shoppers also. It is a group experience.
The Computer user only has his computer for company - but no one finds that strange.
After he was assassinated, his embalmed body was transported, via a series of railroads - back to Springfield, Illinois, where he still rests.
Amazon is now an American success story, because of the Computer. Because the Computer made its own audience, people who spend a lot of time on their computers - and who feel comfortable shopping online. Pointing their mouse at what they want to buy.
This is pretty amazing, when you stop to think about it. Most Americans shop at a shopping center - were they can see the many things being sold - and see all the other shoppers also. It is a group experience.
The Computer user only has his computer for company - but no one finds that strange.
Not Interested in How the World Works
A strong interest in the world around them, was one of the fundamental instincts of our species. And this is what made them successful - they quickly spread from East Africa to every other place in the world. Even the Arctic, where they flourished.
But Americans in our time are just the opposite - they are not interested in how the world works, only in how other people think it works. If other people change their minds (about anything) they change their minds also - without bothering to check the facts.
I exaggerate, of course. They check some facts carefully, such as how much anything costs. Anything that can be easily quantifiable - how much, or how many. But processes, such as how to make something better - they are not interested in.
At one time, this was exactly what we were interested in - when we discovered how cooking could improve our food. Or which fungi were edible, and which were poisonous.
Americans now, have no idea how to build a better world. They can only destroy the bad people who are keeping this from happening.
But Americans in our time are just the opposite - they are not interested in how the world works, only in how other people think it works. If other people change their minds (about anything) they change their minds also - without bothering to check the facts.
I exaggerate, of course. They check some facts carefully, such as how much anything costs. Anything that can be easily quantifiable - how much, or how many. But processes, such as how to make something better - they are not interested in.
At one time, this was exactly what we were interested in - when we discovered how cooking could improve our food. Or which fungi were edible, and which were poisonous.
Americans now, have no idea how to build a better world. They can only destroy the bad people who are keeping this from happening.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Social Enterprise Is Not Social Change
Stanford Social Innovation Review
Social enterprise and social entrepreneurship (SEE)—a business-inspired approach to solving social problems—has exploded across the United States and the world in the last decade. It has entrenched itself within a broad spectrum of fields, from economic development and urban planning to health and education policy. Since the Harvard Business School established the first “Social Enterprise Initiative” 25 years ago, SEE has rooted itself in more than 100 colleges and universities, anchored by endowed chairs and new courses in elite universities such as Stanford, Yale, Penn, Columbia, Duke, and the University of California, Berkeley. These institutions have helped turn SEE into an industry, funded by $1.6 billion in foundation grants since 2003.
Social enterprise and social entrepreneurship (SEE)—a business-inspired approach to solving social problems—has exploded across the United States and the world in the last decade. It has entrenched itself within a broad spectrum of fields, from economic development and urban planning to health and education policy. Since the Harvard Business School established the first “Social Enterprise Initiative” 25 years ago, SEE has rooted itself in more than 100 colleges and universities, anchored by endowed chairs and new courses in elite universities such as Stanford, Yale, Penn, Columbia, Duke, and the University of California, Berkeley. These institutions have helped turn SEE into an industry, funded by $1.6 billion in foundation grants since 2003.
This article is free - something new for Stanford, that used to charge for access to its publications.
People have Become Defective
And they have not realized this. In fact, they think they are more effective than ever. And people like me are not supposed to notice this - whether it is an accurate observation, or not.
My approach is quite a contrast, to the many lovely people, who are trying very hard, to make a better world. Without taking this human perversity into account.
We have to start from where we are - whether we like where we are, or not.
My approach is quite a contrast, to the many lovely people, who are trying very hard, to make a better world. Without taking this human perversity into account.
We have to start from where we are - whether we like where we are, or not.
Why We Sleep
Amazon
This book does not mess around. It gets right to the point:
While we begin our sleep with a prolonged NREM state, the later half of our rest has more REM sleep or dreaming opportunities. Our NREM sleep time is spent sorting our unneeded neural connections and REM comes in later to strengthen the remaining connections.
You probably know about REM and NREM sleep already. But if you don't, you can get this free book easily. And download it to the Kindle PC reader.
This shows why we die, if we cannot sleep. Our brain stops working!
This book does not mess around. It gets right to the point:
While we begin our sleep with a prolonged NREM state, the later half of our rest has more REM sleep or dreaming opportunities. Our NREM sleep time is spent sorting our unneeded neural connections and REM comes in later to strengthen the remaining connections.
You probably know about REM and NREM sleep already. But if you don't, you can get this free book easily. And download it to the Kindle PC reader.
This shows why we die, if we cannot sleep. Our brain stops working!
External and Internal Realities
I discovered the difference between these two in the Seventies, when the Sixties were still going strong. The emphasis back then, was on discovering yourself. Which meant you also discovered the world you were living in.
This uncovered a basic problem - many people (including those who were in control) did not want to know about this, and it was not long before the Sixties ended in the Eighties. The Great Society ended in the Vietnam War.
My discovery was simple, and bears repeating - our senses can detect things that are happening outside our bodies - and also things that are happening inside them. And these two realities are very different.
The Modern World (that began about 500 years ago) greatly increased our ability to deal with the Outer World. This was a time of great discoveries, including the New World itself. Science appeared, and this made possible the Industrial Revolution. With its Factories and Railroads.
But our Inner World was neglected, and a hundred years of violent conflict resulted - from the middle of the 19th Century, to the middle of the 20th.
This takes me back to the beginning of my story - when we realized, we had to change. But found we could not do this.
I must explain. Most people did not understand what was going on - and were content with the way things were. A few people saw things differently - and wanted some basic changes.
The majority now rules.
This uncovered a basic problem - many people (including those who were in control) did not want to know about this, and it was not long before the Sixties ended in the Eighties. The Great Society ended in the Vietnam War.
My discovery was simple, and bears repeating - our senses can detect things that are happening outside our bodies - and also things that are happening inside them. And these two realities are very different.
The Modern World (that began about 500 years ago) greatly increased our ability to deal with the Outer World. This was a time of great discoveries, including the New World itself. Science appeared, and this made possible the Industrial Revolution. With its Factories and Railroads.
But our Inner World was neglected, and a hundred years of violent conflict resulted - from the middle of the 19th Century, to the middle of the 20th.
This takes me back to the beginning of my story - when we realized, we had to change. But found we could not do this.
I must explain. Most people did not understand what was going on - and were content with the way things were. A few people saw things differently - and wanted some basic changes.
The majority now rules.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Expansia
These are new pills to protect me from drop attacks. They have the same active ingredient, as Plavix, are made in Costa Rica, and cost half as much - $32 a month.
It must be easy to manufacture meds like this. Other companies make the complicated chemicals they need to start with, and the remaining processing is simple.
It must be easy to manufacture meds like this. Other companies make the complicated chemicals they need to start with, and the remaining processing is simple.
Better Than Living Beings
We have believed our own advertising, about how wonderful our latest technologies are. And we think, this must mean, we are better also. Better than all the living beings we have descended from.
We do not believe this consciously, the slightest thought would show how ridiculous this is - but we believe it anyway, because it makes us feel so good! We are experts at self-deception.
It seems to me, that this is one of the biggest problems that we face. Which is fortunate, because it is so easy to understand and correct.
Or perhaps the problem is bigger than I think it is. People have become addicted to some powerful ways of being - that they do not want to give up. These are not easy to explain - but I will try anyway.
One of these social decisions, was to let other forces control us. One of these forces being The Market. This was one of the assumptions of the Industrial Revolution - that changed who we were, and changed us profoundly.
What we became, it seemed to us - was much better than what we had been. In fact, much better than anything that had existed before. We had almost become divine.
The gap between what we thought we were - and what we actually were, had become astronomical.
We do not believe this consciously, the slightest thought would show how ridiculous this is - but we believe it anyway, because it makes us feel so good! We are experts at self-deception.
It seems to me, that this is one of the biggest problems that we face. Which is fortunate, because it is so easy to understand and correct.
Or perhaps the problem is bigger than I think it is. People have become addicted to some powerful ways of being - that they do not want to give up. These are not easy to explain - but I will try anyway.
One of these social decisions, was to let other forces control us. One of these forces being The Market. This was one of the assumptions of the Industrial Revolution - that changed who we were, and changed us profoundly.
What we became, it seemed to us - was much better than what we had been. In fact, much better than anything that had existed before. We had almost become divine.
The gap between what we thought we were - and what we actually were, had become astronomical.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
The Mental is Social
This short statement says a lot - and can be taken in a number of ways.
It might be modified to be "The Mental is Social History." As historians constantly remind us. The mental state of important people, as well as common people - influences what they do. Although they often deny this.
One important subject that illustrates this, is Religion. That is very mental, and very emotional.
I came from a family of Mormons. And the Mormon religion, it seemed to me, after I left it - was one of the many results of the Industrial Revolution. And it could not have happened at any other time. This is something I could go into, in great detail.
But this was also true of something that affected me later - when I went to work, in a number of companies. I could not help thinking "This is crazy!" In fact, it was crazy - in a number of complicated ways. Craziness on top of craziness.
But everyone insisted - they were perfectly sane! And violently resisted, any implication that they were not. I noted that Business had become a religion - a secular religion, perhaps, but still a religion.
It does not burn heretics at the stake anymore - but it can make someone unemployed, very quickly. .
Every organization insists that its people, idealize it.
I worked for the FAA for 15 years, as an Electronic Engineer, in the Sixties and Seventies. The last time I was in DC, visiting the Smithsonian, I saw the headquarters of the FAA, two large buildings, right across the street. I said to myself "I know what is going on there - nothing!"
Perhaps one of the buildings is vacant now, rented our to some other important organization. Or perhaps it is vacant - a remnant of another era. The FAA was a gravy train once, but that train has run out of gravy.
It might be modified to be "The Mental is Social History." As historians constantly remind us. The mental state of important people, as well as common people - influences what they do. Although they often deny this.
One important subject that illustrates this, is Religion. That is very mental, and very emotional.
I came from a family of Mormons. And the Mormon religion, it seemed to me, after I left it - was one of the many results of the Industrial Revolution. And it could not have happened at any other time. This is something I could go into, in great detail.
But this was also true of something that affected me later - when I went to work, in a number of companies. I could not help thinking "This is crazy!" In fact, it was crazy - in a number of complicated ways. Craziness on top of craziness.
But everyone insisted - they were perfectly sane! And violently resisted, any implication that they were not. I noted that Business had become a religion - a secular religion, perhaps, but still a religion.
It does not burn heretics at the stake anymore - but it can make someone unemployed, very quickly. .
Every organization insists that its people, idealize it.
I worked for the FAA for 15 years, as an Electronic Engineer, in the Sixties and Seventies. The last time I was in DC, visiting the Smithsonian, I saw the headquarters of the FAA, two large buildings, right across the street. I said to myself "I know what is going on there - nothing!"
Perhaps one of the buildings is vacant now, rented our to some other important organization. Or perhaps it is vacant - a remnant of another era. The FAA was a gravy train once, but that train has run out of gravy.
Monday, March 12, 2018
Classical Music
This was one of the finest benefits of the Industrial Revolution.
Whenever I watch, and hear a Symphony Orchestra - am not not sure whether to be amazed or amused.
I see robots, carefully playing what the score dictates - and a director doing something that is everything, and nothing.
Playing music composed a hundred years ago, and wearing the same frock coats Mozart would have been comfortable in.
The only thing missing is the powdered wigs - and the lice they covered up.
Whenever I watch, and hear a Symphony Orchestra - am not not sure whether to be amazed or amused.
I see robots, carefully playing what the score dictates - and a director doing something that is everything, and nothing.
Playing music composed a hundred years ago, and wearing the same frock coats Mozart would have been comfortable in.
The only thing missing is the powdered wigs - and the lice they covered up.
What's Important is What's Important to Most People
This is what everyone wants to know "What's important?" or, more recently "What's trending?
This divides everyone into two populations - most people (90 percent of the population) and everyone else (ten percent, or perhaps even less).
Everyone wants to be important - as well as know what's important. The two, in their minds - are identical.
This divides everyone into two populations - most people (90 percent of the population) and everyone else (ten percent, or perhaps even less).
Everyone wants to be important - as well as know what's important. The two, in their minds - are identical.
GitHub Should be Used to Develop Laws
It should be used, because this would make the development of the laws, for any country, transparent. Everyone could see who contributed each part of the law, and why they contributed to it.
The chances of this happening, as you know - are less than zero. Because everyone wants to hide the weenie - to use an American idiom.
The chances of this happening, as you know - are less than zero. Because everyone wants to hide the weenie - to use an American idiom.
Do Antidepressants Work?
NY Times
The bad news is that even though there were statistically significant differences, the effect sizes were still mostly modest. The benefits also applied only to people who were suffering from major depression, specifically in the short term. In other words, this study provides evidence that when people are found to have acute major depression, treatment with antidepressants works to improve outcomes in the first two months of therapy.
Because we lack good data, we still do not know how well antidepressants work for those with milder symptoms that fall short of major depression, especially if patients have been on the drugs for months or even years. Many people probably fall into that category, yet are still regularly prescribed antidepressants for extended periods. We don’t know how much of the benefit received from such use is a placebo effect versus a biological one.
The bad news is that even though there were statistically significant differences, the effect sizes were still mostly modest. The benefits also applied only to people who were suffering from major depression, specifically in the short term. In other words, this study provides evidence that when people are found to have acute major depression, treatment with antidepressants works to improve outcomes in the first two months of therapy.
Because we lack good data, we still do not know how well antidepressants work for those with milder symptoms that fall short of major depression, especially if patients have been on the drugs for months or even years. Many people probably fall into that category, yet are still regularly prescribed antidepressants for extended periods. We don’t know how much of the benefit received from such use is a placebo effect versus a biological one.
I was on Prozac for years, at ever-increasing dosage, and it didn't do me much good.
Being and Doing
These are two seperate Ways of Life, and integrating them has been difficult.
Being means being open to many possibilities, and doing means concentrating on only one. The one possibility chosen was wealth. As described in Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.
There was nothing wrong with wealth, in itself - but the mindset it cultured, brought in many problems with it.
These people became super-people, and took control of the economy. And discriminated against ordinary people - whom they considered inferior.
It is important to emphasize what they developed: Business - that quickly became all-powerful. Because it had most of the money behind it.
This transition took awhile - from the middle of the 19th Century, to the middle of the 20th - and we often refer to this process as Industrialization. And it resulted in two classes of people - Business and Labor. The second category, consisted mainly of farmers who became poor - and greatly resented this.
Business people identified with their machines - and developed a machine culture, complete with political machines. President Truman, for example - was a product of the Pendergast Machine of Kansas City. And the Daley Machine, of Chicago - helped elect JFK, who was a Catholic.
This situation changed, in the Eighties, when a new machine was invented - the Computer. People have been busy adjusting to it - and it is too soon to see what the overall effect will be. We only know it will be different.
Being means being open to many possibilities, and doing means concentrating on only one. The one possibility chosen was wealth. As described in Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.
There was nothing wrong with wealth, in itself - but the mindset it cultured, brought in many problems with it.
These people became super-people, and took control of the economy. And discriminated against ordinary people - whom they considered inferior.
It is important to emphasize what they developed: Business - that quickly became all-powerful. Because it had most of the money behind it.
This transition took awhile - from the middle of the 19th Century, to the middle of the 20th - and we often refer to this process as Industrialization. And it resulted in two classes of people - Business and Labor. The second category, consisted mainly of farmers who became poor - and greatly resented this.
Business people identified with their machines - and developed a machine culture, complete with political machines. President Truman, for example - was a product of the Pendergast Machine of Kansas City. And the Daley Machine, of Chicago - helped elect JFK, who was a Catholic.
This situation changed, in the Eighties, when a new machine was invented - the Computer. People have been busy adjusting to it - and it is too soon to see what the overall effect will be. We only know it will be different.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Technology is About People
New Yorker
Recently, Chen returned to the subject. In a piece published a few weeks ago, he described what it felt like to be at the center of a classic Internet storm, playing the role of expert and soothsayer. “If the metrics testified to my enormous influence, why did I feel so powerless? This question illustrates the problem with treating the spread of information as primarily a numbers game.” Technology: it’s people.
Recently, Chen returned to the subject. In a piece published a few weeks ago, he described what it felt like to be at the center of a classic Internet storm, playing the role of expert and soothsayer. “If the metrics testified to my enormous influence, why did I feel so powerless? This question illustrates the problem with treating the spread of information as primarily a numbers game.” Technology: it’s people.
Hostile Americans
The Industrial Revolution was a revolution, that we have not understood very well. Living in Latin America, that was largely unaffected by this, I can see its advantages and disadvantages clearly.
One advantage, that everyone one could see, was affluence - North America has money, Latin America does not. One contrast also easy to see, however, was the friendliness of Latinos - they do like people. They are incredibly corrupt, but friendly.
It would be easy to say, that Americans are rich and unfriendly - and Latinos are poor, but friendly. And also easy to say, that building a country that is rich and friendly, has not yet been done. The two objectives seem to be incompatible.
It is worth spending some time contemplating this. What the heck is going on?
It is useful to examine the historical relationships between the US and Mexico. The US went to war with Mexico, and grabbed much of its territory. That much is clear.
Having spent much of my life in California, once part of Mexico - I can see the advantages and disadvantages of that lifestyle. Many Mexicans have immigrated to California (legally and illegally) and are now part of its economy. This is part of a process that has been going on for centuries - America was a country of immigrants.
California is still tolerant of its immigrants - from all over the world. But most Americans are not - and want to get rid of them. They do not like people, who are not like them - but will not admit this.
This is the the reason they elected Trump - who wants to build a wall between Mexico and the US. And deport all immigrants living here - even if it means sending them to their death!
This single issue clarifies my assertion - that Americans do not like people. Which means they do not like many Americans!
I will conclude with this link Trump calls Oakland mayor’s immigration warning ‘a disgrace’
One advantage, that everyone one could see, was affluence - North America has money, Latin America does not. One contrast also easy to see, however, was the friendliness of Latinos - they do like people. They are incredibly corrupt, but friendly.
It would be easy to say, that Americans are rich and unfriendly - and Latinos are poor, but friendly. And also easy to say, that building a country that is rich and friendly, has not yet been done. The two objectives seem to be incompatible.
It is worth spending some time contemplating this. What the heck is going on?
It is useful to examine the historical relationships between the US and Mexico. The US went to war with Mexico, and grabbed much of its territory. That much is clear.
Having spent much of my life in California, once part of Mexico - I can see the advantages and disadvantages of that lifestyle. Many Mexicans have immigrated to California (legally and illegally) and are now part of its economy. This is part of a process that has been going on for centuries - America was a country of immigrants.
California is still tolerant of its immigrants - from all over the world. But most Americans are not - and want to get rid of them. They do not like people, who are not like them - but will not admit this.
This is the the reason they elected Trump - who wants to build a wall between Mexico and the US. And deport all immigrants living here - even if it means sending them to their death!
This single issue clarifies my assertion - that Americans do not like people. Which means they do not like many Americans!
I will conclude with this link Trump calls Oakland mayor’s immigration warning ‘a disgrace’
They Do Not Think for Themselves
I'm back thinking about the same thing - how the America I grew up in, went wrong.
I am different that way - I was convinced that something was terribly wrong with that world, and it was my job to find out what that was.
One obvious thing (at least to me) was that they did not like other people, including their own children. But they were not aware of this - and could not be made aware of this.
I must return to my original assertion - that America had gone bad. It had been founded on Enlightenment principles - in the late 18th Century. But had changed completely in the 19th Century.
This is not to say it originated in a pure state - the Founding Fathers were far from perfect. But they had the right ideas - Liberal Democracy. Gradually, these were replaced with Industrial values. And these values were not people-friendly.
I am not saying anything new here - this point has been made, over and over, by people more qualified than I am. I can only repeat what they have said, the entire complex, we refer to as - Industrialization, Capitalism, or the Market Economy - produced a society that was not good for the people in it.
But they were not aware of this - and were forbidden to be aware of this.
I am different that way - I was convinced that something was terribly wrong with that world, and it was my job to find out what that was.
One obvious thing (at least to me) was that they did not like other people, including their own children. But they were not aware of this - and could not be made aware of this.
I must return to my original assertion - that America had gone bad. It had been founded on Enlightenment principles - in the late 18th Century. But had changed completely in the 19th Century.
This is not to say it originated in a pure state - the Founding Fathers were far from perfect. But they had the right ideas - Liberal Democracy. Gradually, these were replaced with Industrial values. And these values were not people-friendly.
I am not saying anything new here - this point has been made, over and over, by people more qualified than I am. I can only repeat what they have said, the entire complex, we refer to as - Industrialization, Capitalism, or the Market Economy - produced a society that was not good for the people in it.
But they were not aware of this - and were forbidden to be aware of this.
Friday, March 9, 2018
Costa Rica Schools Have Better Security
Latin America has always been a dangerous place to live in. The Spanish and Portuguese were violent people - to the native peoples they conquered, and even to each other.
Homes were surrounded by high walls, with broken glass on the top. The windows are covered with metal grating. And strong gates, were the only way to get in. Security guards were common, and inexpensive.
The schools are built the same way - you have to enter by a gate, and the gatekeeper will only let people in that he can identify personally.
In America, a killer with an assault weapon, can just walk in - and start firing at anyone.
Homes were surrounded by high walls, with broken glass on the top. The windows are covered with metal grating. And strong gates, were the only way to get in. Security guards were common, and inexpensive.
The schools are built the same way - you have to enter by a gate, and the gatekeeper will only let people in that he can identify personally.
In America, a killer with an assault weapon, can just walk in - and start firing at anyone.
Understanding the Philippines
I am reading In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines, and am finding it interesting.
America's decision to acquire this possession, was one of its biggest blunders. And has resulted in another failed country, that they are responsible for.
America tried to make the Philippines like itself - but failed completely.
Largely because the Filipinos themselves, made this impossible. But also because the Americans accommodated themselves to its corruption - instead of fixing it.
Geographically, the Philippines are part of Asia, very far from the US - but close to China.
America's decision to acquire this possession, was one of its biggest blunders. And has resulted in another failed country, that they are responsible for.
America tried to make the Philippines like itself - but failed completely.
Largely because the Filipinos themselves, made this impossible. But also because the Americans accommodated themselves to its corruption - instead of fixing it.
Geographically, the Philippines are part of Asia, very far from the US - but close to China.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
My Brain Scan
I got this yesterday. I was told to lay down, and not move, while powerful rotating magnetic fields scanned my brain. What this amounted to, I do not know - the theory behind this, it too exotic for me to understand. The results are placed on an Optical Disk (like a DVD).
The Disk is given to a specialist, who produces a written report (in Spanish) that ordinary people cannot understand. This report is send to my Neurologist, that had requested the scan - after he had diagnosed me as subject to drop attacks - loss of control over my legs.
If the scan produces results, that he thinks I should know about - he will call me.
So far, no phone call.
The Disk is given to a specialist, who produces a written report (in Spanish) that ordinary people cannot understand. This report is send to my Neurologist, that had requested the scan - after he had diagnosed me as subject to drop attacks - loss of control over my legs.
If the scan produces results, that he thinks I should know about - he will call me.
So far, no phone call.
The Digital Attention Crisis
Search for Tristan Harris
This guy is billed as the conscience of silicon valley - and has some fine things to say, about how the companies who run the Valley, are making money - by exploiting the people who use their products.
He thinks the Valley should reform itself, and notes the many ways in which this can be done - all of which would reduce its profits, but improve the emotional health of its users.
I cannot help but compare this advice to that which might be offered to the Drug Industry - make drugs that are less addictive!
To understand what is going on here, we have to back up to the middle of the 19th Century - when Industrialization (Manufacturing and Transportation) was running the world - and the people in it.
It considered people to be one of the resources it had to manage. And it produced more products, and cheaper products - than ever before. It also produced WWI, that killed more people than ever before. And also produced the masses - who were behaving entirely differently.
There was no lack of ideas, back then - of how things could be improved, and some of them were implemented. I am living now on my Social Security income that was introduced as part of the New Deal, that tried to overcome the Great Depression.
Perhaps the Industrial Economy could have reformed itself, after WWII - but powerful new technologies took over instead - Television and the Computer. That changed everything - without people noticing this.
This lack of awareness was the most important result of this vast change. The screen of the TV, or the Computer - was so fascinating, people were not interested in what was going on around it, in the real world. For them, it ceased to exist!
This guy is billed as the conscience of silicon valley - and has some fine things to say, about how the companies who run the Valley, are making money - by exploiting the people who use their products.
He thinks the Valley should reform itself, and notes the many ways in which this can be done - all of which would reduce its profits, but improve the emotional health of its users.
I cannot help but compare this advice to that which might be offered to the Drug Industry - make drugs that are less addictive!
To understand what is going on here, we have to back up to the middle of the 19th Century - when Industrialization (Manufacturing and Transportation) was running the world - and the people in it.
It considered people to be one of the resources it had to manage. And it produced more products, and cheaper products - than ever before. It also produced WWI, that killed more people than ever before. And also produced the masses - who were behaving entirely differently.
There was no lack of ideas, back then - of how things could be improved, and some of them were implemented. I am living now on my Social Security income that was introduced as part of the New Deal, that tried to overcome the Great Depression.
Perhaps the Industrial Economy could have reformed itself, after WWII - but powerful new technologies took over instead - Television and the Computer. That changed everything - without people noticing this.
This lack of awareness was the most important result of this vast change. The screen of the TV, or the Computer - was so fascinating, people were not interested in what was going on around it, in the real world. For them, it ceased to exist!
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
When You Suspect, the World is Not Good for You
This is the most important question anyone can ask "Is the world good for me?'
Little jellyfish do not ask themselves this - but little animals with a brain sure do. Because their life depends on it.
Humans ask this all the time - because they have to know how to behave.
They were not born knowing this - human babies only know how to drink and defecate. But they learn quickly. And one of the first things they learn is, how to get along in their world. And what place their world has for them.
This is not some place prepared for them, before their arrival. But someplace that has to be built, by them - and everything else. And everything else may not be eager to help them along.
When we judge other people (something we have to do) we can only observe their behavior right now. The many influences on their behavior, many of the going back to their early childhood, are not visible to us - even though they are present, in the present.
They have asked themselves "Is this world good for me?" And all too frequently, they have to answer "Probably not!"
Little jellyfish do not ask themselves this - but little animals with a brain sure do. Because their life depends on it.
Humans ask this all the time - because they have to know how to behave.
They were not born knowing this - human babies only know how to drink and defecate. But they learn quickly. And one of the first things they learn is, how to get along in their world. And what place their world has for them.
This is not some place prepared for them, before their arrival. But someplace that has to be built, by them - and everything else. And everything else may not be eager to help them along.
When we judge other people (something we have to do) we can only observe their behavior right now. The many influences on their behavior, many of the going back to their early childhood, are not visible to us - even though they are present, in the present.
They have asked themselves "Is this world good for me?" And all too frequently, they have to answer "Probably not!"
Hope Hicks resigns
Harper's Weekly Review
Hope Hicks, a 29-year-old former model who is among the highest-paid White House staffers, announced her resignation from her role as communications director a day after she stated, in a more-than-eight-hour testimony to a House committee investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, that she sometimes told "white lies" while working for Donald Trump, the current president of the United States, who reportedly made 2,436 false or misleading claims since he took office. "She is strategic, poised, and wise beyond her years," said chief of staff John Kelly of Hicks, who was once featured on the cover of a young-adult novel about wealthy children who time travel.
Hope Hicks, a 29-year-old former model who is among the highest-paid White House staffers, announced her resignation from her role as communications director a day after she stated, in a more-than-eight-hour testimony to a House committee investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, that she sometimes told "white lies" while working for Donald Trump, the current president of the United States, who reportedly made 2,436 false or misleading claims since he took office. "She is strategic, poised, and wise beyond her years," said chief of staff John Kelly of Hicks, who was once featured on the cover of a young-adult novel about wealthy children who time travel.
Ethical Awareness
This is something everyone agrees on - but few actually believe in. They know, with an absolute certainty - that their world is against it. They are supposed to say one thing - but do the opposite.
Everyone knows this is what their world is like - but they also know they are supposed to keep their mouths shut. So they do.
I was exposed to this strange behavior, back in the Nineties - in Silicon Valley. This morning (twenty years later) I discovered Tristan Harris.
Look him up.
Everyone knows this is what their world is like - but they also know they are supposed to keep their mouths shut. So they do.
I was exposed to this strange behavior, back in the Nineties - in Silicon Valley. This morning (twenty years later) I discovered Tristan Harris.
Look him up.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Not Interested in the Facts
This is one of the amazing developments of our time, people who are not interested in the facts of the situation - any situation. And they find this completely normal.
I was so amazed, when I started thinking about this - I didn't even know how to think about it. How do you think about nothing? Then I realized that not being was a way of being. And this not being included not being interested - as well as many other negative things.
Negative things are just as much things, as positive things.
That being said - why would people bother with such complicated, negative logic? I don't know, but that doesn't matter - they are this way, and they are going to stay this way. And the rest of us have to take this into account.
President Trump is an excellent example of this type. Many people try to understand him, but are constantly frustrated - because he says (and does) so many contradictory things. Once they realize he is nothing - and this, for him, is something. He makes sense.
And many other people make sense also. He was elected by the majority of Americans - who are also not interested in the facts.
I was so amazed, when I started thinking about this - I didn't even know how to think about it. How do you think about nothing? Then I realized that not being was a way of being. And this not being included not being interested - as well as many other negative things.
Negative things are just as much things, as positive things.
That being said - why would people bother with such complicated, negative logic? I don't know, but that doesn't matter - they are this way, and they are going to stay this way. And the rest of us have to take this into account.
President Trump is an excellent example of this type. Many people try to understand him, but are constantly frustrated - because he says (and does) so many contradictory things. Once they realize he is nothing - and this, for him, is something. He makes sense.
And many other people make sense also. He was elected by the majority of Americans - who are also not interested in the facts.
The Computer can Read Human Emotions
Gizmodo
At least that is what they claim. When evaluating these AI (Artificial Intelligence) claims, one has to be skeptical.
But even if it is an exaggeration, it is shocking! It gives some people more power - when they have too much already.
At least that is what they claim. When evaluating these AI (Artificial Intelligence) claims, one has to be skeptical.
But even if it is an exaggeration, it is shocking! It gives some people more power - when they have too much already.
Monday, March 5, 2018
Most People are Not Interested in What is Good
There has been a subtle, but important shift in what most people are interested in - what they think is possible, and desirable - and what they want to do themselves.
I am speaking of most people (and most companies) here - who do not think about what is going on, but are very good at keeping their feelings in tune with other people's feelings.
They are emotional conformists, who believe in groupthink - a pattern of thought characterized by self-deception, forced manufacture of consent, and conformity to group values and ethics (from Merriam-Webster).
And most of the input they get is from the social media, primarily Television - but also Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
I just read a long, serious article on WIRED magazine, about Facebook. That you really ought to read. It says Facebook is growing up, and becoming more ethical. Even at the expense of becoming less profitable. And it is doing this by tweaking its algorithms.
It still believes the Computer can understand people - better than people can! People have spent millions of years, fighting with other people - and one of the weapons they use is deceit. As a result, they have learned ways of detecting deceit - mainly by reading body language.
Computers are still limited to what people write, and cannot detect body language (although this may change in the future, when people get wired in). So much has been written about Artificial Intelligence, people assume the Computer has broader kinds of intelligence also.
I disagree, and I want to explain why I disagree.
I will not go into a long-winded philosophical discussion, but start with something more recent -Google's search engine. That was truly revolutionary, insightful - and profitable. Which most people did not bother to understand.
It was based on the Internet, which most people did not understand either. They only knew there was a lot of information there - and they wanted some way of getting at that information - and making money off of it.
Google's solution was simple - scan (look at) all the information on the Net. And rank all of it, based on how often other sites referred to it.
But to do this, it first needed to look at everything out there - a staggering amount of information. So it developed some clever hardware and software that could crawl the Web, and reduce it (index it) to something much simpler. That people (and companies) could use easily.
Google made its Search available (that cost it a lot of money) for free - and used it to place related advertisements (on the side) that made it lots of money. This was a standard Capitalistic tactic - invest money, to make even more money.
But most people had stopped thinking about The Good (something hard to understand) - and concentrated instead on something easy to understand - using the Computer to make money!
I am speaking of most people (and most companies) here - who do not think about what is going on, but are very good at keeping their feelings in tune with other people's feelings.
They are emotional conformists, who believe in groupthink - a pattern of thought characterized by self-deception, forced manufacture of consent, and conformity to group values and ethics (from Merriam-Webster).
And most of the input they get is from the social media, primarily Television - but also Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
I just read a long, serious article on WIRED magazine, about Facebook. That you really ought to read. It says Facebook is growing up, and becoming more ethical. Even at the expense of becoming less profitable. And it is doing this by tweaking its algorithms.
It still believes the Computer can understand people - better than people can! People have spent millions of years, fighting with other people - and one of the weapons they use is deceit. As a result, they have learned ways of detecting deceit - mainly by reading body language.
Computers are still limited to what people write, and cannot detect body language (although this may change in the future, when people get wired in). So much has been written about Artificial Intelligence, people assume the Computer has broader kinds of intelligence also.
I disagree, and I want to explain why I disagree.
I will not go into a long-winded philosophical discussion, but start with something more recent -Google's search engine. That was truly revolutionary, insightful - and profitable. Which most people did not bother to understand.
It was based on the Internet, which most people did not understand either. They only knew there was a lot of information there - and they wanted some way of getting at that information - and making money off of it.
Google's solution was simple - scan (look at) all the information on the Net. And rank all of it, based on how often other sites referred to it.
But to do this, it first needed to look at everything out there - a staggering amount of information. So it developed some clever hardware and software that could crawl the Web, and reduce it (index it) to something much simpler. That people (and companies) could use easily.
Google made its Search available (that cost it a lot of money) for free - and used it to place related advertisements (on the side) that made it lots of money. This was a standard Capitalistic tactic - invest money, to make even more money.
But most people had stopped thinking about The Good (something hard to understand) - and concentrated instead on something easy to understand - using the Computer to make money!
Sunday, March 4, 2018
The Body Repairs Itself, as Long as It is Alive
When it can no longer repair itself - it dies!
I am 80, and I am frequently reminded of this. My bicycle rides (such as the one I took this morning) take longer and longer.
Skills that do not take muscular stamina (such as those of a concert pianist) can last until 90, or so.
But we all know people who did last nearly as long as this - and died, for various reasons, while still a young person. People mourned their passing - but not for very long.
And this will be the same for us - we will quickly pass out of living memory. And will only be a photo in a picture album - that no one can remember.
I am 80, and I am frequently reminded of this. My bicycle rides (such as the one I took this morning) take longer and longer.
Skills that do not take muscular stamina (such as those of a concert pianist) can last until 90, or so.
But we all know people who did last nearly as long as this - and died, for various reasons, while still a young person. People mourned their passing - but not for very long.
And this will be the same for us - we will quickly pass out of living memory. And will only be a photo in a picture album - that no one can remember.
Success
Americans are obsessed with Success, but are also determined to not think about it - at least consciously.
They think about it, in the strangest way - in their unconscious minds, individually and collectively. And the result is chaotic and destructive. A situation that for them, seems perfectly natural - because this means they are successful!
For us to think about what is going on with them, we have to consider what they are doing, and then try to explain their strange behavior.
This is going to be difficult, because they do not want anyone understanding them! This is the last thing on earth that they want - because they believe they are somehow, horribly defective!
They have been told this, all their lives. Not directly, in so many words - but indirectly, in the way other people treat them. They get the distinct impression, that they are somehow inferior - and they are not supposed to ask why - so they don't.
They believe what they are supposed to believe - including the instructions to not question this.
I can see this creeping into Costa Rican behavior. They can see Americans have more money - and this must mean that they are, somehow better.
In fact, this is what the Evangelicals are telling them "If you want to be successful, like us - you must be like us!" And Ticos are doing just this (changing themselves, for the worse) without thinking about it.
They think about it, in the strangest way - in their unconscious minds, individually and collectively. And the result is chaotic and destructive. A situation that for them, seems perfectly natural - because this means they are successful!
For us to think about what is going on with them, we have to consider what they are doing, and then try to explain their strange behavior.
This is going to be difficult, because they do not want anyone understanding them! This is the last thing on earth that they want - because they believe they are somehow, horribly defective!
They have been told this, all their lives. Not directly, in so many words - but indirectly, in the way other people treat them. They get the distinct impression, that they are somehow inferior - and they are not supposed to ask why - so they don't.
They believe what they are supposed to believe - including the instructions to not question this.
I can see this creeping into Costa Rican behavior. They can see Americans have more money - and this must mean that they are, somehow better.
In fact, this is what the Evangelicals are telling them "If you want to be successful, like us - you must be like us!" And Ticos are doing just this (changing themselves, for the worse) without thinking about it.
Friday, March 2, 2018
To Be, or Not To Be
Shakespeare said this eloquently - and it translates well into Modern English. No one considers this unimportant - but almost everyone overlooks it, as an embarrassing question.
We have a wealth of insights into the Modern Condition - but they are useless, when most people have ceased To Be, and lost interest in them.
We have a wealth of insights into the Modern Condition - but they are useless, when most people have ceased To Be, and lost interest in them.
Jared Kushner
Wikipedia
I have been hearing a lot about this guy, but didn't know who he was. So I did the sensible thing and looked him up.
I almost wish I hadn't. This Wikipedia entry is so long, and detailed.
Jared is part of the chaos that surrounds the President, and he contributes to it.
This is from the New Yorker Jared Kushner’s Conflicts of Interest Reach a Crisis Point.
I have been hearing a lot about this guy, but didn't know who he was. So I did the sensible thing and looked him up.
I almost wish I hadn't. This Wikipedia entry is so long, and detailed.
Jared is part of the chaos that surrounds the President, and he contributes to it.
This is from the New Yorker Jared Kushner’s Conflicts of Interest Reach a Crisis Point.
The America Breast and the French Bosom
Crazy People Are Bad Programmers
I have just got a heavy dose of the thinking of one of these guys, who is teaching a programming course, and the experience has shaken me. It was like going back to Silicon Valley in the Nineties, when such craziness was prevalent - and no one noticed it.
The only way I could cope with it, was to leave the country, and live in Costa Rica. But the same craziness has followed me down here.
What do I mean by crazy? The only way to do this, is by pointing at crazy people, and saying "Like them!"
But when you are surrounded by them, this is difficult, and even dangerous. People do not like being seen for what they are. They want to be seen for what they think they are - when their thinking has been badly compromised.
How was it compromised? Lots of people have answered this - each in their own way. But they all agree on the defining event - the Industrial Revolution, that changed who we were - permanently.
This was caused by the discovery of The Machine, in the form of the Steam Engine. And later, the Internal Combustion Engine - that powered the Automobile. And, holding all this together - The Market, that made everything possible. All this created a new culture, with new people in it.
All this was madness, and mass madness, at that. And everyone in it said, as loudly as they could "We are not crazy! And anyone who says so, must be dealt with severely."
This was enough to make most people, pee in their pants. They were so scared.
The only way I could cope with it, was to leave the country, and live in Costa Rica. But the same craziness has followed me down here.
What do I mean by crazy? The only way to do this, is by pointing at crazy people, and saying "Like them!"
But when you are surrounded by them, this is difficult, and even dangerous. People do not like being seen for what they are. They want to be seen for what they think they are - when their thinking has been badly compromised.
How was it compromised? Lots of people have answered this - each in their own way. But they all agree on the defining event - the Industrial Revolution, that changed who we were - permanently.
This was caused by the discovery of The Machine, in the form of the Steam Engine. And later, the Internal Combustion Engine - that powered the Automobile. And, holding all this together - The Market, that made everything possible. All this created a new culture, with new people in it.
All this was madness, and mass madness, at that. And everyone in it said, as loudly as they could "We are not crazy! And anyone who says so, must be dealt with severely."
This was enough to make most people, pee in their pants. They were so scared.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
The Screen, that has Become our Reality
The Movies
This began as the Screen the Movies were projected on.It was coated with tiny glass beads that made it highly reflective. The image (and the sound) were on strips of film - containing many individual images, that were displayed, one after the other, rapidly enough so the viewers saw moving images. That is why they were called, The Movies.
It was an illusion, that created a world - that people liked better, than the real one. And they never thought to question it - or its effect on them. And they quickly assumed, it was the real world. And that their world conform to it.
In the Thirties, this became a technology much used, by the Nazis. The Germans were always the first to use any new technology. And this technology created self-deception on a massive scale. They became the first mass society - because the movies could be mass-produced easily.
Television
This technology also used a screen. on the front of a large vacuum tube. Where dots of light (pixels) were displayed rapidly, one after the other. That were also perceived as moving images.
People didn't have to go to the movies to see these images - they could watch them at home, on their own television screens - for free! It didn't take long for people, the world over, to become TV addicts.
The impact on the world's populations was unbelievable. Everyone in the world wanted what they saw on their TVs. And they wanted it now!
The Computer
This also had a screen, the same one used by Television. And it also created an illusion, but an interactive one - the Computer could respond to input from the user!
If they wanted to see naked, dancing woman - a click of a mouse provided them.
It didn't take long before they could do even better things - buy whatever they wanted, online.
The TV screen was replaced by a Solid State screen - billboard size, or phone size. Soon, everyone had one, tucked into their pants pockets. They could talk to it, and it could talk to them.
The world had changed, entirely!
Having the Right Ideals, is All that Matters
This is what my religious family believed in, back in the Fifties. They had high ideals (in their opinion) and they expected everyone else to give them a superior status because of them.
Other people did not have to look very hard, to see what their ideals really amounted to - but were too polite to say anything.
In fact, my family did not bother with what everyone else believed, or did not believe. They knew they were superior - and they had a great future ahead of them. And never noticed, when their future never happened.
When I went to the U of Illinois, I realized how foolish this was. But I was the only one in my extended family, of about 100 people, who realized this.
Other people did not have to look very hard, to see what their ideals really amounted to - but were too polite to say anything.
In fact, my family did not bother with what everyone else believed, or did not believe. They knew they were superior - and they had a great future ahead of them. And never noticed, when their future never happened.
When I went to the U of Illinois, I realized how foolish this was. But I was the only one in my extended family, of about 100 people, who realized this.
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