The CAJA is Costa Rica's medical care system. That provides mediocre medical care, at a low cost. That is works at all, is amazing - and it is hardly surprising, that it works inefficiently.
Its basic operational entity are small clinics, in every town, called an EBAIS. The one in Orosi, the little town I live in - actually has two of them, in the same building. The basic idea, of providing medical care, in these small, local organizations is a sound one.
More demanding medical care is provided by regional hospitals. But the way at these hospitals work, is very complicated - unnecessarily so. It has been decided, that Physical Therapy will be performed at these hospitals only.
If you are not fluent in Spanish (which I am not) finding the right care at a hospital, requires the assistance of someone who is fluent in Spanish. And this has been provided by Ray, who owns the house I live in. I rent the apartment in the back of our house, and he uses my rental money, to make the payments for the whole house.
This arrangement has worked well, until recently. When I broke my upper arm, and the hospital fitted me with a complicated device, that immobilized by arm, so it could heal. It did heal, and the hospital decided, I needed to follow up with Physical Therapy. and set up an appointment for me to do this - at the hospital, which is a one-hour bus ride from the town where I live,
I can ride the bus, and take a taxi to the hospital. But when I get there, I cannot tell what to do next - since I speak no Spanish.
Ray found a man with a car, that would take me to the hospital, and do the navigating for me. But he was expensive, and this late in the month - I had no money. Ray even agreed, to loan me the money, so I could go to my Physical Therapy appointment. I made a mistake, and did not accept the loan.
I cannot say, why I was so stubborn about this - but the decision was made, and it cannot be reversed. I will have to do without Physical Therapy - since it cannot be provided by the EBAIS.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Thursday, August 30, 2018
The Can Factory in Ft. Madison, Iowa
The last time I was in the Midwest, my brother arranged for us to meet members of our father's family - mainly the children of his Sister Zera, who was with us, no longer.
The most active member of this group, was her youngest daughter, my cousin Betty, who is pushing 90, herself. We met at her house, for lunch. Her father, a successful businessman, had bought a farm on the outskirts of town. She now lives there, with her family. Having abandoned the part of town her parents lived in, all their lives.
The only business remaining in town, is the Can Factory. That according to Betty, is a terrible place to work. In fact, she lost one of her sons there, in some kind of industrial accident. Another son, still works there - because it is the only place in town that still has jobs, and he has a family of his own to feed.
And by some strange coincidence, I am eating a can of Hormel Chili, for breakfast. After looking at it carefully, I can see it makes a little sheet metal go a long ways. It is a highly engineered product, that is much in demand.
The most active member of this group, was her youngest daughter, my cousin Betty, who is pushing 90, herself. We met at her house, for lunch. Her father, a successful businessman, had bought a farm on the outskirts of town. She now lives there, with her family. Having abandoned the part of town her parents lived in, all their lives.
The only business remaining in town, is the Can Factory. That according to Betty, is a terrible place to work. In fact, she lost one of her sons there, in some kind of industrial accident. Another son, still works there - because it is the only place in town that still has jobs, and he has a family of his own to feed.
And by some strange coincidence, I am eating a can of Hormel Chili, for breakfast. After looking at it carefully, I can see it makes a little sheet metal go a long ways. It is a highly engineered product, that is much in demand.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Why we need to think differently about AI
O'Reilly
In this article he said he is impressed by Life in Code: A Personal History of Technology. So I got that also - and was shocked by how direct and honest she was.
Here are two Software Developers who are also human, and not afraid to admit it. What is the world coming to?
In this article he said he is impressed by Life in Code: A Personal History of Technology. So I got that also - and was shocked by how direct and honest she was.
Here are two Software Developers who are also human, and not afraid to admit it. What is the world coming to?
People have Decided to Get Out
And no one has noticed this - the most important event of our times.
People seem to think, that people are not important, and we can concentrate on other things. the important things. They are wrong - we are the most important thing. And if we fuck up, as we often do, everything gets fucked up.
People have noticed, that their world is too complicated for them to understand - so they have done, what seems to them to be the smart thing. They have stopped thinking. They have gotten out of the world entirely - and assumed the world can get along without them.
Which it seems to be doing, quite well, as the Computer is taking over. We are getting out, it is getting in.
People seem to think, that people are not important, and we can concentrate on other things. the important things. They are wrong - we are the most important thing. And if we fuck up, as we often do, everything gets fucked up.
People have noticed, that their world is too complicated for them to understand - so they have done, what seems to them to be the smart thing. They have stopped thinking. They have gotten out of the world entirely - and assumed the world can get along without them.
Which it seems to be doing, quite well, as the Computer is taking over. We are getting out, it is getting in.
A Chatbot is a Program that can Conduct an Intelligent Conversation
And Google's Dialogflow software lets people construct Chatbots easily. The net result is a Chat with a program, that no one can tell from one with an ordinary person. You can ask it questions, and it will respond intelligently and accurately. Making it perfect for Customer Service.
It can speak and understand many languages, just as well as a person can.
I now taking an online course from udemy.com, that cost me $10, that is teaching me this, in simple steps, that I can take over as many times as I want.
Is there a problem with this? Yes, I cannot understand the instructor's English, very well. She has a strange accent, that she probably learned in India, that has many English dialects. But I am getting used to it.
It can speak and understand many languages, just as well as a person can.
I now taking an online course from udemy.com, that cost me $10, that is teaching me this, in simple steps, that I can take over as many times as I want.
Is there a problem with this? Yes, I cannot understand the instructor's English, very well. She has a strange accent, that she probably learned in India, that has many English dialects. But I am getting used to it.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Moving CAJA online
CAJA is Costa Rica's public health service. It provides basic health care, at a low cost.
I recently used it to repair a break in my upper arm. But this required the generous assistance of my friend Ray, who is fluent in Spanish, and who spend many hours navigating the hierarchies of the nearest hospital, in Cartago.
It decided I needed Physical Therapy, to help me recover from this injury. But to get this, Ray and I would have to go through the same senseless routines we went through, the first time around.
But Ray has a job, and cannot lose this much time, again. What we needed to do, was to inform the hospital, that we could not use this service, at this time. And cancel my appointment, or move it to another time.
But this cannot be done with a phone call or email!
This is one of the ways, Costa Rica is still an undeveloped country.
I recently used it to repair a break in my upper arm. But this required the generous assistance of my friend Ray, who is fluent in Spanish, and who spend many hours navigating the hierarchies of the nearest hospital, in Cartago.
It decided I needed Physical Therapy, to help me recover from this injury. But to get this, Ray and I would have to go through the same senseless routines we went through, the first time around.
But Ray has a job, and cannot lose this much time, again. What we needed to do, was to inform the hospital, that we could not use this service, at this time. And cancel my appointment, or move it to another time.
But this cannot be done with a phone call or email!
This is one of the ways, Costa Rica is still an undeveloped country.
The Enormous Appeal of Self-Destruction
Part of its appeal, is how it operates without being detected. People think they are doing the exact opposite. They think they are being good, when they are being bad - and being bad, as you know, is more fun!
I'm sure this is a defect in our over-developed, but unstable, brains. But since we have no way of working with them, we have to work with our minds, instead. This would not be a problem, in normal circumstances - but our circumstances now, are far from normal.
In fact, we have gone through a reversal of values - where things are the reverse of what they seem. And this seems to suit most people just fine.
Democracy, as it is now practiced, Is the opposite of what it should be.
I'm sure this is a defect in our over-developed, but unstable, brains. But since we have no way of working with them, we have to work with our minds, instead. This would not be a problem, in normal circumstances - but our circumstances now, are far from normal.
In fact, we have gone through a reversal of values - where things are the reverse of what they seem. And this seems to suit most people just fine.
Democracy, as it is now practiced, Is the opposite of what it should be.
Monday, August 27, 2018
The Impossible Job: Inside Facebook’s Struggle to Moderate Two Billion People
Motherboard
Facebook had almost no input, in writing this article. The result, in my opinion - is almost useless. And you can quote me on that.
Facebook had almost no input, in writing this article. The result, in my opinion - is almost useless. And you can quote me on that.
They Must Destroy the Computer
Because it is destroying them.
Put yourself in their shoes. The Computer is taking their jobs away from them - and doing this faster all the time. And not only that - it is redefining who they are. What society expects of them, and what it rewards (or punishes) them for doing.
This is part of Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. The Computer is grabbing all the goodies. And it knows exactly where they are.
I will put this into a historical context. And compare it to the Industrial Revolution. That was obsessed with Manufacturing and Transportation.
I grew up in an Industrial city - Ft. Madison, Iowa. That had the Santa Fe Railroad on the West End of town - and the Sheaffer Pen Company on the East End of town.
The air was filthy (from all those Steam Engines) - but it had plenty of jobs. Now, fifty years later, it is part of the Midwestern Rust Bowl, and has no jobs at all. America did nothing to protect those jobs - it didn't even try. And now they are gone, forever.
The same thing, is now happening with the Computer. It is creating some new jobs - but it is eliminating many more. And America, isn't even trying to save them.
Put yourself in their shoes. The Computer is taking their jobs away from them - and doing this faster all the time. And not only that - it is redefining who they are. What society expects of them, and what it rewards (or punishes) them for doing.
This is part of Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. The Computer is grabbing all the goodies. And it knows exactly where they are.
I will put this into a historical context. And compare it to the Industrial Revolution. That was obsessed with Manufacturing and Transportation.
I grew up in an Industrial city - Ft. Madison, Iowa. That had the Santa Fe Railroad on the West End of town - and the Sheaffer Pen Company on the East End of town.
The air was filthy (from all those Steam Engines) - but it had plenty of jobs. Now, fifty years later, it is part of the Midwestern Rust Bowl, and has no jobs at all. America did nothing to protect those jobs - it didn't even try. And now they are gone, forever.
The same thing, is now happening with the Computer. It is creating some new jobs - but it is eliminating many more. And America, isn't even trying to save them.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
18 Blockchain Predictions for 2018
Medium
Do I understand this? - Just barely, but that is good enough. I know he is saying something important - or something that will become important, when all the little pieces grow up and fit together.
I only made it up to #8, before I ran out of steam.
Do I understand this? - Just barely, but that is good enough. I know he is saying something important - or something that will become important, when all the little pieces grow up and fit together.
I only made it up to #8, before I ran out of steam.
NEW Microsoft Surface Go
Amazon
If I had the money, I would buy this. for $639. But my Lenovo Windows 10 laptop, I recently purchased for $386, is good enough.
Microsoft, after testing Windows 10 on plenty of innocent users, now has a finished product, that keeps getting better. The latest update, which I now have, took hours to download and install. But I now have the best.
I would have it shipped to my address in Miami, and then flown to Costa Rica. This would add maybe 10% to the cost.
If I had the money, I would buy this. for $639. But my Lenovo Windows 10 laptop, I recently purchased for $386, is good enough.
Microsoft, after testing Windows 10 on plenty of innocent users, now has a finished product, that keeps getting better. The latest update, which I now have, took hours to download and install. But I now have the best.
I would have it shipped to my address in Miami, and then flown to Costa Rica. This would add maybe 10% to the cost.
So Many Crazy Ideas
And so little interest, in knowing which ones are. Sorting fact from fiction is hard work, and there is little interest in that.
I got an email this morning from People's Action. They are concerned about Trump and Corruption, and speak of our shared values of Freedom and Liberty.
I think they are barking up the wrong tree. Trump people are not interested in these Enlightenment values - but they are interested in Power. Getting it and keeping it. And when speaking to them, you cannot use rational, liberal arguments. You can only speak of Power. And the more brutal the Power, the better.
I have become interested in the assassination of the Archbishop of El Salvador, in his own Cathedral, while celebrating Mass, in 1980. This touched off a Civil War that killed thousands.
I know a family from El Salvador, who were refugees from that War, now living in Costa Rica. The husband speaks English, and from talking to him - I can see he was not aware of this assassination. It was too horrible for him, to even comprehend.
He only wants to talk about how, as a family, they have survived, and built a new life for themselves. I cannot blame him, for his reluctance, to speak of the facts of their case.
But, at the same time, it is obvious that someone needs to speak Truth to Power. Or the situation will get worse.
I got an email this morning from People's Action. They are concerned about Trump and Corruption, and speak of our shared values of Freedom and Liberty.
I think they are barking up the wrong tree. Trump people are not interested in these Enlightenment values - but they are interested in Power. Getting it and keeping it. And when speaking to them, you cannot use rational, liberal arguments. You can only speak of Power. And the more brutal the Power, the better.
I have become interested in the assassination of the Archbishop of El Salvador, in his own Cathedral, while celebrating Mass, in 1980. This touched off a Civil War that killed thousands.
I know a family from El Salvador, who were refugees from that War, now living in Costa Rica. The husband speaks English, and from talking to him - I can see he was not aware of this assassination. It was too horrible for him, to even comprehend.
He only wants to talk about how, as a family, they have survived, and built a new life for themselves. I cannot blame him, for his reluctance, to speak of the facts of their case.
But, at the same time, it is obvious that someone needs to speak Truth to Power. Or the situation will get worse.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Simplifying machine learning lifecycle management
O’Reilly Data Show
O'Reilly is many things, and lately it is running conferences, where you can also learn many things. And meet people in the know - who are making everything run better.
And they are making everything run better - really!
Relating to the Enterprise
I am reading Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture
And am having mixed feelings about it. I have been down this road before, in a Silicon Valley, that was obsessed with Business. And Enterprise sounds a lot like Business - that was interested mostly in making money, and not the people it used, to make that money.
And am having mixed feelings about it. I have been down this road before, in a Silicon Valley, that was obsessed with Business. And Enterprise sounds a lot like Business - that was interested mostly in making money, and not the people it used, to make that money.
They want Other People to Think for Them
But they will never admit this. In fact, they have the opposite opinion of themselves - as persons in complete control of everything. The world is not controlling them - they are controlling the world, instead.
And they don't mind showing this, in lots of ways. By taking your money, or your time - and using it to make themselves feel better.
In my opinion, this was caused by Television. That overwhelmed its viewers completely, and made them helpless consumers. They not only bought what they were supposed to buy - they became like the persons they saw on the Tube. Not the best of people.
This started the race to the bottom, that is still going on today. Every country wants to show, how it is the worst. And the ingenuity they show in doing this, is amazing.
And they don't mind showing this, in lots of ways. By taking your money, or your time - and using it to make themselves feel better.
In my opinion, this was caused by Television. That overwhelmed its viewers completely, and made them helpless consumers. They not only bought what they were supposed to buy - they became like the persons they saw on the Tube. Not the best of people.
This started the race to the bottom, that is still going on today. Every country wants to show, how it is the worst. And the ingenuity they show in doing this, is amazing.
Friday, August 24, 2018
Programming is Political
If you don't believe me, take a gander at ECMAScript. ES6 (as it is called now) is not just important - it is extremely important. And it forms the building blocks of node.js - and a flock of other software entities.
Take a look, it won't hurt you.
Take a look, it won't hurt you.
Bits: Democracy Under Siege
NY Times
This is an article everyone ought to read - but, as I explained in my last posting
They Have Lost Interest - they will not be interested in it.
This is an article everyone ought to read - but, as I explained in my last posting
They Have Lost Interest - they will not be interested in it.
In fact, my brother, who calls himself a conservative, prides himself on attacking anything the Times advocates. And I am sure, this article, will be no exception. He will not understand it, but he will attack it anyway.
They Have Lost Interest
The United States' Perpetual War in Afghanistan
This article attempts to explain why America has become locked into perpetual war, such as the war in Afghanistan. And its reasoning is excellent.
But I think the problem is deeper that that. For a multitude of reasons, people everywhere have lost interest in what is going on. And are not aware of this.
Perhaps this is because of information overload, everyone seems to think so. But I think this is only one factor, out of many.
But instead of going into a long list of possible causes - a very long list. We can simply state their overall result. People are no longer interested - in anything.
This is a shocking situation, to say the least. But anyone can easily discern, whether it is useful, or not.
If I ask anyone, if this idea of mine is useful to them - they will respond immediately, and say that it is not! And they will say the same thing, for any other idea. Whatever the idea, they are not interested in it!
They are not interested in ideas. Something people used to be passionately interested in.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Best People Quit If They Do Not Trust Their Boss. Integrity is by far the most important asset of a leader.
Linkedin
Choosing this posting was dead-simple. I simply passed along another online article that interested me.
Because loyal, hard-working people's loyalty can not be bought with money.
They act with integrity, and expect it from others.
Choosing this posting was dead-simple. I simply passed along another online article that interested me.
They act with integrity, and expect it from others.
Jerry Eiden
I met Jerry when I was living in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, and we were taking Spanish lessons together. Neither of us ever learned Spanish - but we were trying.
His family and my family, were both from Illinois - but the family resemblance ended there. His family moved to Los Angeles, because of all the houses being built there. Because of all the money being made there.
While he was there, a person with lots of money contacted him - and told him the really big money was being made in the Canal Zone. He would finance a construction company, they would build there - and share the profits!
Jerry jumped at the chance, and soon became a personal friend of Noriega, the dictator of Panama. A very profitable relationship, for both of them.
He made a lot of money, and soon warehouses in Florida, and a private plane he could use to commute between Florida and Panama. Which he did frequently.
All this ended, when American troops invaded Panama, and arrested Noriega. And ended the profitable life, many Americans had been living in the Zone.
Jerry liked living in Latin America, and bought a house on the Eastern side of San Jose - where I was also living, at the time. He also had houses in Florida, and commuted frequently between them.
He was also nine years old than me, and when he died, our friendship ended.
His family and my family, were both from Illinois - but the family resemblance ended there. His family moved to Los Angeles, because of all the houses being built there. Because of all the money being made there.
While he was there, a person with lots of money contacted him - and told him the really big money was being made in the Canal Zone. He would finance a construction company, they would build there - and share the profits!
Jerry jumped at the chance, and soon became a personal friend of Noriega, the dictator of Panama. A very profitable relationship, for both of them.
He made a lot of money, and soon warehouses in Florida, and a private plane he could use to commute between Florida and Panama. Which he did frequently.
All this ended, when American troops invaded Panama, and arrested Noriega. And ended the profitable life, many Americans had been living in the Zone.
Jerry liked living in Latin America, and bought a house on the Eastern side of San Jose - where I was also living, at the time. He also had houses in Florida, and commuted frequently between them.
He was also nine years old than me, and when he died, our friendship ended.
I Run a Group in San Diego
Back when I was a Tech Writer, I worked for awhile, in the late Eighties, with several companies in San Diego.
I shared an office with other writer, who kept saying he wanted to be part of a group, that would do some intense interaction. I got tired of his complaining, and told him to get the people for this group, and I would arrange for some place for them to meet.
So he went ahead, and advertised in some of the local new-age newspapers, announcing the formation of this new group. Twenty people signed up, right away.
I was living in a new apartment, in a new part of town - so my apartment would be a good place to meet. We could sit on the floor of my living room, in a big circle, and talk to each other.
We had only one rule - only one person would talk at a time, and everyone else would listen to whatever he (or she) had to say. It worked!
The other writer, who was so anxious to start a group, never showed up. And I discovered later, that his life did not do too well. And he went from bad to worse.
Our little group was doing fine (we had some really interesting people it it), until I lost my job and had to leave San Diego. The town had gone through a huge, uncontrolled growth period - and it was no longer a good place to live.
In fact, this was happening all over Southern California (Los Angeles, being a case in point) - and I decided I had to get out. And moved to Silicon Valley, up north.
I shared an office with other writer, who kept saying he wanted to be part of a group, that would do some intense interaction. I got tired of his complaining, and told him to get the people for this group, and I would arrange for some place for them to meet.
So he went ahead, and advertised in some of the local new-age newspapers, announcing the formation of this new group. Twenty people signed up, right away.
I was living in a new apartment, in a new part of town - so my apartment would be a good place to meet. We could sit on the floor of my living room, in a big circle, and talk to each other.
We had only one rule - only one person would talk at a time, and everyone else would listen to whatever he (or she) had to say. It worked!
The other writer, who was so anxious to start a group, never showed up. And I discovered later, that his life did not do too well. And he went from bad to worse.
Our little group was doing fine (we had some really interesting people it it), until I lost my job and had to leave San Diego. The town had gone through a huge, uncontrolled growth period - and it was no longer a good place to live.
In fact, this was happening all over Southern California (Los Angeles, being a case in point) - and I decided I had to get out. And moved to Silicon Valley, up north.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Self-Development and the Church
I had my own therapist, as soon as I left home and went to college.
He was my cousin, four years older than me, and we grew up together, along the banks of the Mississippi river. His family's house, and my family's house were only mile apart. His mother and my mother were sisters. And both were members of the same RLDS church.
He believed in Self-Development (any educated person did) and he believed in the Church - both!
Looking back at it, this seems strange - but it seemed perfectly natural, at the time.
I had a job as an Electronic Engineer, working all over the Midwest, and I would travel long distances, on weekends - to visit him. I had to have my therapy!
What did this therapy consist of? That's a hard question to answer, but he was an authority figure for me - and everyone seemed to find this acceptable. No further explanation was necessary.
He was keeping me safe in the fold (of the Church) and enhancing my Personal Growth - simultaneously! Who could argue with that?
He was my cousin, four years older than me, and we grew up together, along the banks of the Mississippi river. His family's house, and my family's house were only mile apart. His mother and my mother were sisters. And both were members of the same RLDS church.
He believed in Self-Development (any educated person did) and he believed in the Church - both!
Looking back at it, this seems strange - but it seemed perfectly natural, at the time.
I had a job as an Electronic Engineer, working all over the Midwest, and I would travel long distances, on weekends - to visit him. I had to have my therapy!
What did this therapy consist of? That's a hard question to answer, but he was an authority figure for me - and everyone seemed to find this acceptable. No further explanation was necessary.
He was keeping me safe in the fold (of the Church) and enhancing my Personal Growth - simultaneously! Who could argue with that?
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
How Not to Be an Engineer
I was an Electronic Engineer for 20 years, from 1960 to 1980. Even though I had no interest in Engineering, and only wanted a good job (one that made plenty of money).
I made plenty of money, but got nothing else (such as the personal satisfaction of doing a good job).
And most of my fellow-engineers felt the same way. They regarded their engineering degree as a meal-ticket - something they had to have, to get a good job. And their wives felt the same way - what they wanted was a house in the suburbs, and two cars.
.
What their husbands did professionally, was of no interest to them. Only his paycheck mattered.
As far as I know, this situation has not been documented before. The extreme degree of separation between professional life and personal life.
There was an emotional price to pay for all this - Depression was common, as was the use of antidepressants. Most of which, did not work.
Therapists of all types abounded, and they all had the same advice. Depression is part of the culture, and you will have to live with it.
I made plenty of money, but got nothing else (such as the personal satisfaction of doing a good job).
And most of my fellow-engineers felt the same way. They regarded their engineering degree as a meal-ticket - something they had to have, to get a good job. And their wives felt the same way - what they wanted was a house in the suburbs, and two cars.
.
What their husbands did professionally, was of no interest to them. Only his paycheck mattered.
As far as I know, this situation has not been documented before. The extreme degree of separation between professional life and personal life.
There was an emotional price to pay for all this - Depression was common, as was the use of antidepressants. Most of which, did not work.
Therapists of all types abounded, and they all had the same advice. Depression is part of the culture, and you will have to live with it.
Monday, August 20, 2018
Why use Windows 10?
Because it works better.
When I start up my Windows 10 laptop, it asks for my PIN, and once it gets that, I am immediately connected to the Internet. And getting the Chrome browser, is just as fast. In 2-3 seconds, I am up and running!
Window 7 takes much longer - and is prone to bugs.
When I start up my Windows 10 laptop, it asks for my PIN, and once it gets that, I am immediately connected to the Internet. And getting the Chrome browser, is just as fast. In 2-3 seconds, I am up and running!
Window 7 takes much longer - and is prone to bugs.
The Merging of the Technical and the Social
The last big event, was the Industrial Revolution - that changed us completely. So much so, we could no longer recognize ourselves - and saw ourselves as an enemy of a new world order. That indeed, did bring the Northern World, great prosperity and scientific advances - especially in Medicine.
The next big event was the arrival of the Computer. And these two events ran for awhile, in the last half of the last Century, on separate tracks - with the Computer getting more and more important, and taking over more of the Economy.
Then, the two tracks merged - creating immense confusion. This is where we are now - in the middle of a train wreck, where almost no one, knows what is going on.
I do have some idea, not because of my native intelligence (that is fairly low, actually) but because I have been dragged along, in the creation of new Software technologies. I am sitting here, in my pajamas, in front of my laptop, that has a fast Internet connection.
Yes, boys and girls, Software is now where it's at. Although almost no one recognizes this. And it has dragged in, with it - the importance of Information. Something we had ignored, until now.
Allow me to put this another way - and speak of Code, in contrast to Prose. This was a huge advance - the written word, that with the Printing Press, changed us completely. And drowned us in words.
Code, by contrast, uses few words - but accomplishes much. This can be easily seen with the Phone, that everyone has in their pocket. They can drag this out - and instantly - they are intelligent beings, able to access Information from anywhere in the world.
They do not understand what they are looking at - but they are entertained by it, which to them, is more important.
Their Phone is sending Code to the Cloud - and getting Code back from it. And the Cloud is stashing a lot of information about you, and what you are interested in. And then selling your information to the highest bidder.
You are not being sold, as you were, when you were slaves. Only your information, that is much more compact, and easier to sell.
The next big event was the arrival of the Computer. And these two events ran for awhile, in the last half of the last Century, on separate tracks - with the Computer getting more and more important, and taking over more of the Economy.
Then, the two tracks merged - creating immense confusion. This is where we are now - in the middle of a train wreck, where almost no one, knows what is going on.
I do have some idea, not because of my native intelligence (that is fairly low, actually) but because I have been dragged along, in the creation of new Software technologies. I am sitting here, in my pajamas, in front of my laptop, that has a fast Internet connection.
Yes, boys and girls, Software is now where it's at. Although almost no one recognizes this. And it has dragged in, with it - the importance of Information. Something we had ignored, until now.
Allow me to put this another way - and speak of Code, in contrast to Prose. This was a huge advance - the written word, that with the Printing Press, changed us completely. And drowned us in words.
Code, by contrast, uses few words - but accomplishes much. This can be easily seen with the Phone, that everyone has in their pocket. They can drag this out - and instantly - they are intelligent beings, able to access Information from anywhere in the world.
They do not understand what they are looking at - but they are entertained by it, which to them, is more important.
Their Phone is sending Code to the Cloud - and getting Code back from it. And the Cloud is stashing a lot of information about you, and what you are interested in. And then selling your information to the highest bidder.
You are not being sold, as you were, when you were slaves. Only your information, that is much more compact, and easier to sell.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
When a Family Business Survives
My observations so far, only apply to Sodas - little family eateries that have a limited menu, but serve their food quickly. The local equivalent to McDonalds - that also do well in the larger towns.
One of my favorites - Soda Buen Taco, that made an excellent Oroz Cantones, has gone out of business! Naturally, I asked myself why?
Soda El Guabo (a wood fired stove) is still in business, right up the street - and in fact, I just ordered their specialty Hamburguesa Pollo (chicken hamburger) from it.
It was in business, because it wanted to be in business. The Grandmother, who started the business, in her own house, is not working any more, and spends her time playing with her newest granddaughter.
The oldest daughter was there, not doing anything, but making sure the business stays in business. I know this sounds strange to Gringo ears, but that's the way it is down here.
The youngest daughter was working on the Grill, where everything is cooked - fast!
Other people come and go, doing various things - or nothing at all! Their overall cost is low, mainly what they pay themselves. If they decide to stay in business - they stay in business.
/Soda Buen Taco, by contrast, lost heart. And gradually faded away.
One of my favorites - Soda Buen Taco, that made an excellent Oroz Cantones, has gone out of business! Naturally, I asked myself why?
Soda El Guabo (a wood fired stove) is still in business, right up the street - and in fact, I just ordered their specialty Hamburguesa Pollo (chicken hamburger) from it.
It was in business, because it wanted to be in business. The Grandmother, who started the business, in her own house, is not working any more, and spends her time playing with her newest granddaughter.
The oldest daughter was there, not doing anything, but making sure the business stays in business. I know this sounds strange to Gringo ears, but that's the way it is down here.
The youngest daughter was working on the Grill, where everything is cooked - fast!
Other people come and go, doing various things - or nothing at all! Their overall cost is low, mainly what they pay themselves. If they decide to stay in business - they stay in business.
/Soda Buen Taco, by contrast, lost heart. And gradually faded away.
Things cannot be fixed, and should not be fixed
I think this is the prevailing mood of the day. And is in stark contrast to the mood earlier in the 20th Century - when people wanted to build a better world, and were convinced this was possible.
I experienced this change personally, as part of the Sixties - a complicated movement that has never been explained adequately. But it believed that people were important!
We now believe people are not important - but do not say this very loudly, hoping it will not be noticed.
There are good reasons we do not say this very loudly - because it is such a shocking thing to say. But it is said anyway - and acted on.
I noticed this, when I was working in Silicon Valley in. the Nineties, for a company called Adaptec. This company was formed by an immigrant from Eastern Europe, who arrived with only $20 in his pockets. By the Eighties, his company was worth millions. Because of the Personal Computer (PC).
This takes some explaining. IBM invented the PC, a huge thing, three feet tall, two feet deep, and a foot wide. It didn't do much, out of the box - and you had to buy adapters to make it do anything special, such as talk to the Internet.
I had one. If I wanted it to do more, I took it a shop that specialized in PC upgrades, and they installed a new adapter in it. I picked it up the next day. This was state-of-the-art - at the time.
But then the Laptop came along, and changed everything.
Adaptec should have gone out of business, right then. But what happened, under the table - was sneaky. It was bought out, by new management - who proceeded to milk it, for all it was worth.
I was working for Adaptec, at the time - and no one I knew, realized what was going on. It was so cleverly managed.
It is no wonder, people now believe that something else, is in control - and cannot be opposed. This is simply the way it is.
I experienced this change personally, as part of the Sixties - a complicated movement that has never been explained adequately. But it believed that people were important!
We now believe people are not important - but do not say this very loudly, hoping it will not be noticed.
There are good reasons we do not say this very loudly - because it is such a shocking thing to say. But it is said anyway - and acted on.
I noticed this, when I was working in Silicon Valley in. the Nineties, for a company called Adaptec. This company was formed by an immigrant from Eastern Europe, who arrived with only $20 in his pockets. By the Eighties, his company was worth millions. Because of the Personal Computer (PC).
This takes some explaining. IBM invented the PC, a huge thing, three feet tall, two feet deep, and a foot wide. It didn't do much, out of the box - and you had to buy adapters to make it do anything special, such as talk to the Internet.
I had one. If I wanted it to do more, I took it a shop that specialized in PC upgrades, and they installed a new adapter in it. I picked it up the next day. This was state-of-the-art - at the time.
But then the Laptop came along, and changed everything.
Adaptec should have gone out of business, right then. But what happened, under the table - was sneaky. It was bought out, by new management - who proceeded to milk it, for all it was worth.
I was working for Adaptec, at the time - and no one I knew, realized what was going on. It was so cleverly managed.
It is no wonder, people now believe that something else, is in control - and cannot be opposed. This is simply the way it is.
Saturday, August 18, 2018
The Times and Seasons
BYU Library
I have wondered what this important publication of the LDS church was like. It has been preserved for us here - where anyone can see what it was like.
It was printed at Commerce, Illinois, in 1939, the town that later was renamed, Nauvoo, Illinois.
Anyone who reads this, can easily see it was not intended to be a historical document - but another of Joseph Smith's rants. that he was fond of making, at great length.
Emma Smith and the RLDS church
I grew up in the RLDS church - and it liked to think that Emma Smith, the widow of Joseph Smith, supported their church - and indeed, was part of it. I have a different version of that history, that is more realistic.
And it runs like this.
Emma was living in Nauvoo, Illinois - in the wreckage of a town, that she inherited from her first husband. Along with his many debts. She had since married again - to a man not interested in religion at all.
She had three sons, by her first husband - who had inherited his mental instability. They had all married local women, and were having children by them. But had no income of their own.
Emma had three sons, and no way of getting rid of them. But then, the RLDS church appeared, and offered to take them off her hands. She did the sensible thing - gave them to this new church, and then forgot about them.
She abandoned the Mansion House, the most pretentious of her first husband's properties, and most of it later, had to be torn down.
Her second husband, was rebuilding the Nauvoo House, and it became a respectable, three-story building - that served as a family residence, and a hotel. Where Emma lived the rest of her life.
And it runs like this.
Emma was living in Nauvoo, Illinois - in the wreckage of a town, that she inherited from her first husband. Along with his many debts. She had since married again - to a man not interested in religion at all.
She had three sons, by her first husband - who had inherited his mental instability. They had all married local women, and were having children by them. But had no income of their own.
Emma had three sons, and no way of getting rid of them. But then, the RLDS church appeared, and offered to take them off her hands. She did the sensible thing - gave them to this new church, and then forgot about them.
She abandoned the Mansion House, the most pretentious of her first husband's properties, and most of it later, had to be torn down.
Her second husband, was rebuilding the Nauvoo House, and it became a respectable, three-story building - that served as a family residence, and a hotel. Where Emma lived the rest of her life.
Friday, August 17, 2018
What Package do You Belong to?
Is this a fair question? Perhaps not, but it's one I always asked anyway.
I grew up, surrounded by bad packages of many kinds - and it made good sense to ask what package, anyone belonged to (especially a woman). It never occurred to me, that good packages existed.
Perhaps this is true of women also. They were treated badly, throughout history. And they cannot imagine being treated fairly. They destroy a man (without giving him a chance) - before he can destroy them.
When I was married for five years, we started out, being fair to each other. But this didn't last, on Beth's part. Her parents had a terrible history, and she started emulating them. She had a complete breakdown, and ordered me out of her life. Two years later, she killed herself.
When the package you always find yourself in, is bad - this is the only way out.
I grew up, surrounded by bad packages of many kinds - and it made good sense to ask what package, anyone belonged to (especially a woman). It never occurred to me, that good packages existed.
Perhaps this is true of women also. They were treated badly, throughout history. And they cannot imagine being treated fairly. They destroy a man (without giving him a chance) - before he can destroy them.
When I was married for five years, we started out, being fair to each other. But this didn't last, on Beth's part. Her parents had a terrible history, and she started emulating them. She had a complete breakdown, and ordered me out of her life. Two years later, she killed herself.
When the package you always find yourself in, is bad - this is the only way out.
Trump as History
New School for Social Research
I assumed the New School itself was history, and had learned nothing from Computers - but evidently I was wrong.
This article was written as hypertext, with plenty of embedded links.
It's an easy read.
I assumed the New School itself was history, and had learned nothing from Computers - but evidently I was wrong.
This article was written as hypertext, with plenty of embedded links.
It's an easy read.
The World Runs on Software
And this software is made by Microsoft, Google, Apple or Amazon. None of it is made in China.
The hardware this software runs on, is made in China - to American specifications. Except for the chips, the tiny integrated circuits that every laptop is composed of. The code for these (the software for each of them) is made in the USA - and a few other Northern European countries.
Why can't China, or any dictatorship, make these chips, and the software that powers them?
Because this is not the way that modern Software is built. A revolution in Software Development has been going on, for the last thirty years, or so. It is now built by many independent developers - each contributing his own component to the overall mix. And all these components, have to work together, and do work together!
When they are properly assembled, by the proper framework, or other high-level code.
Many independent developers, working together harmoniously - can only happen in a liberal democracy.
But democracies (of all kinds) have serious problems. Just because everyone agrees on something, does not make them right!
The Athenians sentenced Socrates to death - and even their gods (who interfered frequently, in human affairs) did not bother save him.
The hardware this software runs on, is made in China - to American specifications. Except for the chips, the tiny integrated circuits that every laptop is composed of. The code for these (the software for each of them) is made in the USA - and a few other Northern European countries.
Why can't China, or any dictatorship, make these chips, and the software that powers them?
Because this is not the way that modern Software is built. A revolution in Software Development has been going on, for the last thirty years, or so. It is now built by many independent developers - each contributing his own component to the overall mix. And all these components, have to work together, and do work together!
When they are properly assembled, by the proper framework, or other high-level code.
Many independent developers, working together harmoniously - can only happen in a liberal democracy.
But democracies (of all kinds) have serious problems. Just because everyone agrees on something, does not make them right!
The Athenians sentenced Socrates to death - and even their gods (who interfered frequently, in human affairs) did not bother save him.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House
Amazon
This is not an easy read. It's about her complicated relationship to Trump.
I didn't even know what the N-word was - but finally figured out it is was Nigger. She is an African-American, herself - one of the few on his staff.
But she was loyal to him - fiercely loyal! She wanted to become rich and famous - like him.
This is not an easy read. It's about her complicated relationship to Trump.
I didn't even know what the N-word was - but finally figured out it is was Nigger. She is an African-American, herself - one of the few on his staff.
But she was loyal to him - fiercely loyal! She wanted to become rich and famous - like him.
We need to rewrite the gig economy’s dehumanizing, unethical code
Linkedin
But the idea that software engineers would toy with a person's efforts to make a living is moral and ethical bankruptcy. It’s outright contempt for the people they’ve virtually trapped in their computing loop.
But the idea that software engineers would toy with a person's efforts to make a living is moral and ethical bankruptcy. It’s outright contempt for the people they’ve virtually trapped in their computing loop.
Windows Defender Security Center
This is an important part of Windows 10. A great product, if you use it properly.
But to do this, you have to fight Microsoft - who wants to keep you for itself, and away from Google and Amazon.
It's up to you, to keep all these guys on your side.
This is not hard, I have done it for myself - and I am not the brightest guy in the world.
But to do this, you have to fight Microsoft - who wants to keep you for itself, and away from Google and Amazon.
It's up to you, to keep all these guys on your side.
This is not hard, I have done it for myself - and I am not the brightest guy in the world.
The Decision to Not Be
The people who make this decision, think they are being very smart. They think they have made the best decision possible - without seeming to have made a decision at all. They are supporting things as they are - without having the slightest awareness of what they are.
I saw this for myself, the last time I visited the States. I lived with a cousin, and his wife - in Northern Virginia, part of the DC area. The first thing I noted about their lifestyle - was how much money they had, they were floating in it!
Without having the slightest awareness of where this money was coming from, or how it was being used. That, they thought, was none of their business. Somehow, things were working fine - and it was best to leave them alone.
I did not get along with my cousin and his wife. We were too different, and our differences could not be reconciled. They could not even be discussed. They had one unwritten rule - no serious discussions!
I saw this for myself, the last time I visited the States. I lived with a cousin, and his wife - in Northern Virginia, part of the DC area. The first thing I noted about their lifestyle - was how much money they had, they were floating in it!
Without having the slightest awareness of where this money was coming from, or how it was being used. That, they thought, was none of their business. Somehow, things were working fine - and it was best to leave them alone.
I did not get along with my cousin and his wife. We were too different, and our differences could not be reconciled. They could not even be discussed. They had one unwritten rule - no serious discussions!
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
5 findings, 11 forecasting methods, and 2,973,371 tweets
O'Reilly Data Newsletter
This showed up in my inbox - and once again, it gives me more information than I can handle.
Maybe you can parse it down to size.
This showed up in my inbox - and once again, it gives me more information than I can handle.
Maybe you can parse it down to size.
Making a Better World is a Stupid Idea
No one will come right out and say this - that would really be stupid. But this is what they really believe, in their heart of hearts.
I say "Cut out the bullshit, and call a spade a spade!"
I'm tempted, to make a world better for Computers - there are so many neat things going in there. But I have to insist, on making a world better for people.
Even though most people are not worth helping. I can really be stubborn about this, and insist on helping everyone - the good and the bad. If they don't appreciate my help (and most of them don't) that's their problem - not mine.
I say "Cut out the bullshit, and call a spade a spade!"
I'm tempted, to make a world better for Computers - there are so many neat things going in there. But I have to insist, on making a world better for people.
Even though most people are not worth helping. I can really be stubborn about this, and insist on helping everyone - the good and the bad. If they don't appreciate my help (and most of them don't) that's their problem - not mine.
Why mess with Twitter?
Everyone thinks it is important, therefore it must be important! Maybe, but vote me out.
Business that is Good for People
As I begin to scribble another diatribe against Big Business, I realize I am on shaky ground. What people am I talking about here?
I can remember all too clearly, the companies I worked for in Silicon Valley, in the Nineties. Not a good company in the bunch - and I have to say, the people in them were not much better. What was going on?
They were ethically compromised - that was obvious, but that was not saying very much. Why were they ethically compromised? And here I get into a bag of worms, describing a very complex situation - were everything affects everything else. Like everyone else, I want simple answers, but there are none.
But we can start from there. We are in a hell of a mess, that we can barely understand.
I took a look at Who can we trust? this morning. It states the problem clearly - and contains links to many similar organizations. There are plenty of good guys out there, but no one is paying much attention to them!
Ordinary people look at this situation, and come to the obvious conclusion - taking care of other people will not be good for them. They decide to concentrate on themselves instead.
I can remember all too clearly, the companies I worked for in Silicon Valley, in the Nineties. Not a good company in the bunch - and I have to say, the people in them were not much better. What was going on?
They were ethically compromised - that was obvious, but that was not saying very much. Why were they ethically compromised? And here I get into a bag of worms, describing a very complex situation - were everything affects everything else. Like everyone else, I want simple answers, but there are none.
But we can start from there. We are in a hell of a mess, that we can barely understand.
I took a look at Who can we trust? this morning. It states the problem clearly - and contains links to many similar organizations. There are plenty of good guys out there, but no one is paying much attention to them!
Ordinary people look at this situation, and come to the obvious conclusion - taking care of other people will not be good for them. They decide to concentrate on themselves instead.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Rethinking the way you build software with serverless
SD Times
Do I understand this? Not really- but I almost do, and in the Software ecosystem, that is good enough.
What interests me most is the source of this article - the San Diego Times! This newspaper is with it - and likely to survive.
However, the method it uses to get new subscribers, is totally out of date.
Do I understand this? Not really- but I almost do, and in the Software ecosystem, that is good enough.
What interests me most is the source of this article - the San Diego Times! This newspaper is with it - and likely to survive.
However, the method it uses to get new subscribers, is totally out of date.
When no one helped anyone else
When I look back on my early childhood, I can hardly believe it. Where things really that bad?
And I have to tell myself "Yes, they were really that bad, hard as that is to accept!"Everyone was lying to us, telling us how good they were being to us. And this was the part that was hard to take - all those lies!
Small children want to trust their elders - but our trust was cruelly betrayed.
Now I am studying history - and it is a fascinating study - I am noticing how few good times there were! And how no one wanted to notice this - which made the situation, even worse.
In my case, I worked in the Computer industry in Southern California, in the Eighties - from Ventura County, south to Los Angeles County. Orange County. and San Diego.
And then in Silicon Valley in the Nineties. I never worked in a successful project, and most of the companies I worked for, went out business.
The Human Race - which is what we call ourselves, as if we were in a race of some kind. Has fallen on hard times, for the simplest of reasons.
We do not want to know how bad things are - and are not responsible for anything.
And I have to tell myself "Yes, they were really that bad, hard as that is to accept!"Everyone was lying to us, telling us how good they were being to us. And this was the part that was hard to take - all those lies!
Small children want to trust their elders - but our trust was cruelly betrayed.
Now I am studying history - and it is a fascinating study - I am noticing how few good times there were! And how no one wanted to notice this - which made the situation, even worse.
In my case, I worked in the Computer industry in Southern California, in the Eighties - from Ventura County, south to Los Angeles County. Orange County. and San Diego.
And then in Silicon Valley in the Nineties. I never worked in a successful project, and most of the companies I worked for, went out business.
The Human Race - which is what we call ourselves, as if we were in a race of some kind. Has fallen on hard times, for the simplest of reasons.
We do not want to know how bad things are - and are not responsible for anything.
My Humerus has Healed
The Humerus is the upper bone in the arm. If you break it, you have to immobilize your entire arm for five weeks. Believe me, this not much fun - you have to wear two gadgets, one to keep you arm from moving, and one to hold your arm to your chest.
Ray and I went the hospital, to get my arm x-rayed again, to see if it was healed. What a hassle!
The clerks there work with huge stacks of paper, all carefully organized. Stacks of paper an inch thick. When they are finished with them, they put them on the top of their desk, and someone else appears, like magic, and takes them somewhere else - where they will be properly taken care of. Or perhaps, forgotten entirely. Who knows?
At this hospital, the Orthopedic doctors are in complete control. They have to approve the taking of an x-ray, and then approve the results. Both times. there is a long line, waiting to see the doctors. And of course, a long line waiting, at the x-ray department.
The bone has healed. but the muscles in the arm have deteriorated badly. And now I have to strengthen them.
But I can now take a shower every day, and keep my BO under control!
Ray and I went the hospital, to get my arm x-rayed again, to see if it was healed. What a hassle!
The clerks there work with huge stacks of paper, all carefully organized. Stacks of paper an inch thick. When they are finished with them, they put them on the top of their desk, and someone else appears, like magic, and takes them somewhere else - where they will be properly taken care of. Or perhaps, forgotten entirely. Who knows?
At this hospital, the Orthopedic doctors are in complete control. They have to approve the taking of an x-ray, and then approve the results. Both times. there is a long line, waiting to see the doctors. And of course, a long line waiting, at the x-ray department.
The bone has healed. but the muscles in the arm have deteriorated badly. And now I have to strengthen them.
But I can now take a shower every day, and keep my BO under control!
Sunday, August 12, 2018
The Future of Software Is No Code
Medium
Today, computers are less “high tech” than they are basic business tools, and the more power we can put in the hands of the people who use those tools every day, the better off we’ll be. The future of technology is always more human.
Today, computers are less “high tech” than they are basic business tools, and the more power we can put in the hands of the people who use those tools every day, the better off we’ll be. The future of technology is always more human.
Joseph Smith compared with Donald Trump
We now hear a lot about fake news in the media.- this is nothing new, but the media, have changed.
Early in the 19th Century, in Joseph Smith's time, the media were primarily the printed word - anything that could be printed (no matter how outrageous) was bound to be read. Educated people cold easily sort the Wheat from the Chaff.
Joseph Smith rushed to print his first book, the Book of Mormon. Eager missionaries took it, hot off the press, to the Industrial Midlands of England. Who immediately proclaimed Joseph to be a Prophet of God!
This was a new idea to Joseph himself, who originally thought of his book, as a money-making venture. But he quickly got used to the idea - and adopted it as his own.
In our time, the Media (with a capital M) has become Computerized. Any text (or any video) that appears on the Web is bound to be looked at, by someone. And with any luck, become viral - and infect everyone.
Trump did not invent his images, he just adopted those, that the Media created for him.
Most people do not want to read anymore. it's too much work. They prefer watching Television, or watching YouTube. They want to be Entertained. not Educated.
Early in the 19th Century, in Joseph Smith's time, the media were primarily the printed word - anything that could be printed (no matter how outrageous) was bound to be read. Educated people cold easily sort the Wheat from the Chaff.
Joseph Smith rushed to print his first book, the Book of Mormon. Eager missionaries took it, hot off the press, to the Industrial Midlands of England. Who immediately proclaimed Joseph to be a Prophet of God!
This was a new idea to Joseph himself, who originally thought of his book, as a money-making venture. But he quickly got used to the idea - and adopted it as his own.
In our time, the Media (with a capital M) has become Computerized. Any text (or any video) that appears on the Web is bound to be looked at, by someone. And with any luck, become viral - and infect everyone.
Trump did not invent his images, he just adopted those, that the Media created for him.
Most people do not want to read anymore. it's too much work. They prefer watching Television, or watching YouTube. They want to be Entertained. not Educated.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
What Gives with this Horse?
I do wish horses could talk!
This one was left next to a site with piles of sand and gravel. You can see the back of scoop, that scoops up the sand or gravel, on the left of this photo.
And right next to it, is this horse, that has two ropes, for turning its head right or left.But no bit in its mouth. This is not unusual, because they are not needed, for this type of horse.
The owner may be drinking in a bar, across the street. He will return, slightly inebriated, and take his horse home.
When Things are more important than People
This was the most important impact of the Industrial Revolution. The huge event that dominated the 19th Century, and still affects us today.
My hometown of Ft. Madison, Iowa, was an Industrial city. It had Manufacturing on East side of town, with the Sheaffer Pen Company. And the Santa Fe Railroad on the West side of town. Back in the Fifties, there were lots of jobs - good jobs. All this is now gone - and will not come back.
Yesterday, I was hit by this article in the NY Times Infowars and China’s Great Firewall. The writer is a young Chinese woman - and she knows what she is talking about.
The Chinese have had their own Industrial Revolution - and now are part of the Computer Revolution. And are feeling the conflicts between the two.
My hometown of Ft. Madison, Iowa, was an Industrial city. It had Manufacturing on East side of town, with the Sheaffer Pen Company. And the Santa Fe Railroad on the West side of town. Back in the Fifties, there were lots of jobs - good jobs. All this is now gone - and will not come back.
Yesterday, I was hit by this article in the NY Times Infowars and China’s Great Firewall. The writer is a young Chinese woman - and she knows what she is talking about.
The Chinese have had their own Industrial Revolution - and now are part of the Computer Revolution. And are feeling the conflicts between the two.
Friday, August 10, 2018
The Killer Angels
Every so often, I get a email, offering to sell me a Kindle book for practically nothing. This time it was The Killer Angels, for $2.
I downloaded the book to my Fire Notepad - and couldn't stop reading.
Being Software-Smart
I knew a few of these guys (only guys, in my limited experience) back when I worked in Silicon Valley in the Nineties. I also knew many more who claimed they were this way - but were not.
Sorting them out, was ridiculously easy - at least for me. Were they competent programmers, or not?
Sorting them out, was ridiculously easy - at least for me. Were they competent programmers, or not?
Mechanism and Organism
The Mechanism is much newer, it has only been around for a few hundred years - but it is much harder to explain. What is a machine, when you come right down to it? Whatever it is - it made us rich. And made us much like it, at the same time. This complicated interaction made religious explanations impossible.
And, at the same time, produced fantastic religious explanations - in the form of the Second Great Awakening - and even the American Civil War.
An organism is much simpler to define - something that has organs. We can all point to the organs in a dead body At one time, the dissection of a corpse, attracted large audiences - much to the horror of the Church.
But then, the microscope made it possible to see something even more amazing - we are all made of cells, and nothing but cells!
But then, Chemistry showed us there were large, complex molecules inside these cells that were doing their thing, many times a second!
In a strange way - Mechanisms and Organisms are doing the same thing!
And, at the same time, produced fantastic religious explanations - in the form of the Second Great Awakening - and even the American Civil War.
An organism is much simpler to define - something that has organs. We can all point to the organs in a dead body At one time, the dissection of a corpse, attracted large audiences - much to the horror of the Church.
But then, the microscope made it possible to see something even more amazing - we are all made of cells, and nothing but cells!
But then, Chemistry showed us there were large, complex molecules inside these cells that were doing their thing, many times a second!
In a strange way - Mechanisms and Organisms are doing the same thing!
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Monica Lewinsky
Slow Burn” Season 2, Reviewed: The Painful Lessons of the Clinton Impeachment
Coming from Ft. Madison, Iowa - my memories of this were typical of the American Midwest - that once manufactured most of the world's products, but is now a Rust Belt - that manufactures nothing.
My cousin Nita (short for Juanita) had definite ideas about her, and they were not favorable. There were two kinds of women in the world, according to her - and Monica was not the favorable kind. She had seduced the President, and there were few things worse.
IT is urbanizing, McDonald’s gets it, but Woonsocket doesn’t (yet)
I, Cringely
Making this posting was easy - I made a link to Cringely, who is almost as old as I am. Note his much younger wife.
I didn't move to the City - I moved even further, to Costa Rica. But the idea is the same - get out, while you still have some life in you!
Making this posting was easy - I made a link to Cringely, who is almost as old as I am. Note his much younger wife.
I didn't move to the City - I moved even further, to Costa Rica. But the idea is the same - get out, while you still have some life in you!
Companies that Fail, Fail for the Most Fundamental of Reasons
I am recalling here, the situation in Silicon Valley, in the Nineties. Companies rose and fell, like Mushrooms growing on Manure. And no one found this strange.
I was in a Men's Group, with our own therapist. We all noticed this happening, over and over. And could only conclude - that this was normal behavior, for our place and time.
It did seem crazy, but since no one was noticing it - it had to be normal. We would have to adapt to it - since it was not going to adapt to us!
I was in a Men's Group, with our own therapist. We all noticed this happening, over and over. And could only conclude - that this was normal behavior, for our place and time.
It did seem crazy, but since no one was noticing it - it had to be normal. We would have to adapt to it - since it was not going to adapt to us!
The Role of the Midwest in American History
First of all, I must say, I was born and raised in the Midwest - and was completely oblivious to its existence. I was as Midwestern as I could be.
I can be more specific, I was born in Ft. Madison, Iowa, close to the intersection of Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois - on the Mississippi River. We had one outstanding trait - we knew nothing of what was going on, beyond our borders. Or, for that matter - what was going on inside our borders. We were, to put it bluntly - ignorant, and proud to be that way.
To put this in yet another way - we had no social awareness.
We were however, practical, and knew how to do almost anything. I became an Electronic Engineer (U of Illinois, 1959), and made lots of money in the Cold War building expensive Radars to protect us from Soviet Nuclear Bombers - that never existed.
I started my career in Kansas City, and had my first sexual encounter in Terre Haute, Indiana. A town as crazy, as any in existence. This brand of sexual craziness, was peculiar to the Midwest, and was part of its character.
Our family was Midwestern, in another way - we were RLDS. And our church made us feel important - when, in fact we were not important at all.
I can be more specific, I was born in Ft. Madison, Iowa, close to the intersection of Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois - on the Mississippi River. We had one outstanding trait - we knew nothing of what was going on, beyond our borders. Or, for that matter - what was going on inside our borders. We were, to put it bluntly - ignorant, and proud to be that way.
To put this in yet another way - we had no social awareness.
We were however, practical, and knew how to do almost anything. I became an Electronic Engineer (U of Illinois, 1959), and made lots of money in the Cold War building expensive Radars to protect us from Soviet Nuclear Bombers - that never existed.
I started my career in Kansas City, and had my first sexual encounter in Terre Haute, Indiana. A town as crazy, as any in existence. This brand of sexual craziness, was peculiar to the Midwest, and was part of its character.
Our family was Midwestern, in another way - we were RLDS. And our church made us feel important - when, in fact we were not important at all.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
The Big Difference with Software
This difference is simple - in the Hardware Economy, people try to hide what they are doing. In Software, they try to explain what they are doing. Two different kinds of people are involved.
Let's start with Hardware. You are planning on building a Railroad, for example. You keep all information about this Railroad you are planning as secret as possible. Everyone wants this Railroad to benefit their property - and a lot of money is involved here. You want to make as much money as possible - so you keep this information a secret.
You keep everyone, as ignorant as possible. Only a select few will be in the know, and able to profit from this information. Everyone else will benefit, in theory, due to the dribble-down effect - a few crumbs will fall from the Master's table. If you are lucky!
Let's take another example - the Erie Canal. This was no secret, but thousands made money from it - building towns close to its area of influence. That was huge, but only existed in people's minds.
About this time, the early 19th Century, Banks appeared everywhere. They printed as much money as possible - and quickly went out of business. It became obvious that they had to be regulated. Honesty had to be enforced, or everyone suffered.
Much later, this same principle applied to Software. Once Software controlled everything - everyone had no choice, but to be completely honest - in fact, over a Century later - nothing else existed!
Understanding Ethereum Smart Contracts will explain what I mean. Be prepared for a complete change in contexts.
Let's start with Hardware. You are planning on building a Railroad, for example. You keep all information about this Railroad you are planning as secret as possible. Everyone wants this Railroad to benefit their property - and a lot of money is involved here. You want to make as much money as possible - so you keep this information a secret.
You keep everyone, as ignorant as possible. Only a select few will be in the know, and able to profit from this information. Everyone else will benefit, in theory, due to the dribble-down effect - a few crumbs will fall from the Master's table. If you are lucky!
Let's take another example - the Erie Canal. This was no secret, but thousands made money from it - building towns close to its area of influence. That was huge, but only existed in people's minds.
About this time, the early 19th Century, Banks appeared everywhere. They printed as much money as possible - and quickly went out of business. It became obvious that they had to be regulated. Honesty had to be enforced, or everyone suffered.
Much later, this same principle applied to Software. Once Software controlled everything - everyone had no choice, but to be completely honest - in fact, over a Century later - nothing else existed!
Understanding Ethereum Smart Contracts will explain what I mean. Be prepared for a complete change in contexts.
The Rise of the Bots
I am referring here to Software agent as described in Wikipedia. Whose definition of this is excellent - and is well-worth the time spent reading it.
There presence in politics, is now overwhelming - where attack bots are used commonly. I hardly need remark that these are Software, that only appeared in the Fifties. And which now dominates our lives - without our being, the least bit aware of it.
I repeat - Software now runs our lives, while we are busy, looking the other way. And we wonder, why the world is acting so strangely.
It is being run by Bots, who now have a life of their own. And take Money to operate.
There presence in politics, is now overwhelming - where attack bots are used commonly. I hardly need remark that these are Software, that only appeared in the Fifties. And which now dominates our lives - without our being, the least bit aware of it.
I repeat - Software now runs our lives, while we are busy, looking the other way. And we wonder, why the world is acting so strangely.
It is being run by Bots, who now have a life of their own. And take Money to operate.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Democracy in the Age of the Computer
John Dewey and American Democracy
Elections are now won by Advertisements. Candidates (most Candidates) are now sold, just like any other Commodity.
I did not say every Candidate was this way. It's not hard to find those that stand out. But if you look at them closely, you can see they belong to a different crowd.
No one is all that different.
Money is In Control
I remember how relieved I was on my first trip to Costa Rica - I was somewhere where people were still important! They didn't have much money, but there were plenty of people - everywhere!
I was to find this was not the case in Nicaragua, to the North - or Panama, to the South. Costa Rica had an unique history, that made it different. But this precious heritage is was being attacked by those who prefer money to people.
I can understand, why they need money, and need it desperately. Money gives them all the good things of the world. And they cannot see the disadvantages that come with it.
If asked, do they want Costa Rica to be like the US, they will answer "Yes, and the sooner the better!" They will say this, if they have never been to the States, themselves.
If they have been there, and gotten a good feel for what life is like there - their response will be less enthusiastic And quite often, they will return - saying they have to take care of their aging Mother, or a similar excuse.
I was to find this was not the case in Nicaragua, to the North - or Panama, to the South. Costa Rica had an unique history, that made it different. But this precious heritage is was being attacked by those who prefer money to people.
I can understand, why they need money, and need it desperately. Money gives them all the good things of the world. And they cannot see the disadvantages that come with it.
If asked, do they want Costa Rica to be like the US, they will answer "Yes, and the sooner the better!" They will say this, if they have never been to the States, themselves.
If they have been there, and gotten a good feel for what life is like there - their response will be less enthusiastic And quite often, they will return - saying they have to take care of their aging Mother, or a similar excuse.
Monday, August 6, 2018
The Phone is Taking Over
The Phone is the perfect Device - in fact, it has defined what a Device is, and how we interact with the Computer.
People have no idea what the Computer is, but they have learned what a Phone is, very rapidly. And they cannot imagine being without one.
I have recently decided not to have one, and you cannot imagine how difficult this decision was to implement. Everyone assumed, if I did not have a Phone, I was not a person. Really!
I will illustrate this problem with an example, taken from real life.
A friend of mine decided to get a phone for him, and his wife. They just wanted to talk to each other, no matter where they were. All they needed was a Cell Phone, but they got a an Android instead - a Smartphone, without realizing it.
"No problem," you may say "They only got more than they asked for." But the husband discovered that his Phone, could provide all the conservative literature that he craved, and he concentrated on that. And became a strong supporter of the American invasion of Iraq. And then a supporter of Trump!
He got a Phone, but his Phone changed who he was.
People have no idea what the Computer is, but they have learned what a Phone is, very rapidly. And they cannot imagine being without one.
I have recently decided not to have one, and you cannot imagine how difficult this decision was to implement. Everyone assumed, if I did not have a Phone, I was not a person. Really!
I will illustrate this problem with an example, taken from real life.
A friend of mine decided to get a phone for him, and his wife. They just wanted to talk to each other, no matter where they were. All they needed was a Cell Phone, but they got a an Android instead - a Smartphone, without realizing it.
"No problem," you may say "They only got more than they asked for." But the husband discovered that his Phone, could provide all the conservative literature that he craved, and he concentrated on that. And became a strong supporter of the American invasion of Iraq. And then a supporter of Trump!
He got a Phone, but his Phone changed who he was.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Anyone who says "We are perfect!" is a liar
And it's amazing how many of these. there are.
And you find them in the strangest places, such as the Computer Cloud. Where everything now resides - as Data, of various kinds.
You and I are there, and a huge amount is known about us. Mostly as private information, that is carefully protected.
I am now learning the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) myself. And I hear this refrain, over and over "We are perfect!"
It will not surprise you to learn, this is not exactly true. And it will not surprise you to learn, the reasons for this - are highly technical. The Devil, as always, is in the details.
And you find them in the strangest places, such as the Computer Cloud. Where everything now resides - as Data, of various kinds.
You and I are there, and a huge amount is known about us. Mostly as private information, that is carefully protected.
I am now learning the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) myself. And I hear this refrain, over and over "We are perfect!"
It will not surprise you to learn, this is not exactly true. And it will not surprise you to learn, the reasons for this - are highly technical. The Devil, as always, is in the details.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Journalism
Democracy in Danger - Solutions for a Changing World
In my last posting, I wondered about the Forces affecting the Human World. But I was ignoring a big one, sitting right in my inbox - Journalism.
These guys and gals (mostly guys) have ended up, being the Intelligentsia of our online world. No one else, seems interested in taking there place.
In my last posting, I wondered about the Forces affecting the Human World. But I was ignoring a big one, sitting right in my inbox - Journalism.
These guys and gals (mostly guys) have ended up, being the Intelligentsia of our online world. No one else, seems interested in taking there place.
The Forces that Rule the Human World
The common belief now - is that there aren't any. Mainly because they haven't thought about it much.
Or, to be more realistic, people have decided there is only rule in operation - do not think about what is going on. A rule they find easy to obey, and enforce on others.
Or, they may feel that something must be in control - and all we have to do, is not interfere with it - as it clarifies what it is.
We can chose between these options, or create new ones of our own. We have never had so much freedom!
Or, to be more realistic, people have decided there is only rule in operation - do not think about what is going on. A rule they find easy to obey, and enforce on others.
Or, they may feel that something must be in control - and all we have to do, is not interfere with it - as it clarifies what it is.
We can chose between these options, or create new ones of our own. We have never had so much freedom!
Friday, August 3, 2018
The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare
NY Times
This is the perfect example, of this observation - important information is hard to understand. Not easy to understand, as it is commonly assumed.
I got bogged down in the reading of this article half-way through it. And I am sure most readers are the same way. Our minds are built, to discard any information, it cannot understand easily.
How can we tell if something is important? We have to rely on one of the oldest of strategies - if smart people think something is important - it probably is.
This is the perfect example, of this observation - important information is hard to understand. Not easy to understand, as it is commonly assumed.
I got bogged down in the reading of this article half-way through it. And I am sure most readers are the same way. Our minds are built, to discard any information, it cannot understand easily.
How can we tell if something is important? We have to rely on one of the oldest of strategies - if smart people think something is important - it probably is.
They did not Like Me
The latest persons to not like me, were most people in Silicon Valley. And I am sure most them would have agreed with me - they really did not like me. There was nothing personal in their dislike of me - they really did not like anyone.
And when I am being honest with myself, I have to admit there is a strong streak of antisocial behavior in me too.
This is behind our love of war. Our earliest epic, the Iliad, is about war - and the wandering bards, who sang of it (for it was Poetry also) - always found ready listeners.
like
And when I am being honest with myself, I have to admit there is a strong streak of antisocial behavior in me too.
This is behind our love of war. Our earliest epic, the Iliad, is about war - and the wandering bards, who sang of it (for it was Poetry also) - always found ready listeners.
like
The Elements That Shape an Authentic Life
Medium
This also known as Personal Growth, something that you, I am sure, are personally acquainted with. But readers from undeveloped countries are not acquainted with. They have not acquired the basic concepts, required to understand this.
I was into this, back in the Sixties. In fact, for many, this is what the Sixties consisted of - Self Discovery.
Those who did not discover it then, lived lives of Quiet Desperation.
This also known as Personal Growth, something that you, I am sure, are personally acquainted with. But readers from undeveloped countries are not acquainted with. They have not acquired the basic concepts, required to understand this.
I was into this, back in the Sixties. In fact, for many, this is what the Sixties consisted of - Self Discovery.
Those who did not discover it then, lived lives of Quiet Desperation.
Thursday, August 2, 2018
My Body is not working worth a damn. and neither is my Mind
But how they are not working - I do not understand in the least.
Just now, I had to ask Ray to get me to my feet. But once I got to my feet, everything seemed to be working fine. I decided to not leave the house, but just take it easy.
If my mind does not want to work - it does not want to work. And there is nothing I can do, to make it want to work.
My mind has a mind of its own.
Just now, I had to ask Ray to get me to my feet. But once I got to my feet, everything seemed to be working fine. I decided to not leave the house, but just take it easy.
If my mind does not want to work - it does not want to work. And there is nothing I can do, to make it want to work.
My mind has a mind of its own.
Another Medical Emergency
He is an American RN, fluent in Spanish, and we share the same house. This time I fell down, on the sidewalk, only a block from our house, and messed up my face. So Ray took me to the nearest medical clinic, and got my face sewn up. There was plenty of blood, but I was just barely conscious of what was going on.
Now I am back home again, in an apartment, in the back of our house, with excellent Internet service, and blogging away - telling the world all about my latest adventure, that I can just barely remember.
Costa Rica does have a good public medical service (CAJA) - not an excellent service, because that would cost too much , but a miracle, as it is. Every hospital is surrounded by clinics, that offer services, the hospital cannot provide - such as Funeral services. Everything is taken care of - for a reasonable price, by American standards.
I should also state, that all this is provided, with an abundance of paper work, that will try the patience of anyone used to more efficient processing. Efficiency is not one of the Latin American virtues - and they cannot see, why it should be.
For them everything is personal - and they cannot imagine any values that are not. Such as abstract concepts of Space and Time. Down here, distances are measured. from some local landmark
(using a lot of words) - not the street address and the number of the house - that are common Up North.
They like verbose explanations of everything - nothing simple for them.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
We were bad people, and we were destroyed
This is my version of how things are, and how they got this way.
It is simple, and presupposes that the universe selects systems that work, and rejects those that do not. And our system was not working.
And the primary reason for this, is because the people in it, did not exist. And not being is being as immoral as it is possible to be. And we have been destroyed, as a result. Or it might be more accurate, to say - we have destroyed ourselves.
Our system, back in the middle of the 19th Century, seemed to be working. Because it made us (or at least some of us) rich. We were able to overlook the fact, that it also made us immoral, and unethical.
Back in the Sixties, I was an Electronic Engineer, and close to the top of the heap. Young women wanted to marry us - and get their new home in the suburbs.
I got married myself, but Beth and I were not interested in a house in the suburbs. Although plenty were available, at the time. Instead, we created our own version of the dysfunctional family.
It is simple, and presupposes that the universe selects systems that work, and rejects those that do not. And our system was not working.
And the primary reason for this, is because the people in it, did not exist. And not being is being as immoral as it is possible to be. And we have been destroyed, as a result. Or it might be more accurate, to say - we have destroyed ourselves.
Our system, back in the middle of the 19th Century, seemed to be working. Because it made us (or at least some of us) rich. We were able to overlook the fact, that it also made us immoral, and unethical.
Back in the Sixties, I was an Electronic Engineer, and close to the top of the heap. Young women wanted to marry us - and get their new home in the suburbs.
I got married myself, but Beth and I were not interested in a house in the suburbs. Although plenty were available, at the time. Instead, we created our own version of the dysfunctional family.
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