I just had a problem with this. Yesterday I bought some groceries, but left some of them behind when I walked off. My mind has not been working too good recently.
Today I went back to the same store to reclaim my bag of groceries. They claimed I had never been there, and I was trying to cheat them by asking for it! I didn't lose much, and this taught me a lesson - much as you want to, do not trust people very much.
In Software, there is a technique called Smart Contracts, that enforces contracts using the Etherium language and operating system. I am learning Microsoft's implementation of that using their Proof of
Authority product.
But there are much easier ways of doing this Contact the persons involved personally. or by email. And make sure, they agree to the arrangement ahead of time. Or your property may end up somewhere you do not want it to be.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Google News
I have been looking at this for some time, and enjoying it. And it is free!
It must use the same method to construct its News as it does in its Search. The product that has made it very rich!
Microsoft also has a Search product, that works nearly as well, but it cannot catch up with Google. You can see it for yourself using the Edge browser, in Windows 10. Give it a try!
Google has a huge number of computers that that crawl the Internet constantly. Indexing the links they find, as they go - and adding them to a huge database that Google can later use to lookup terms its users request.
When someone asks its Search to find something, it does a lookup in this secret database, residing in its Cloud - and finds the result in a matter of seconds!
The News it gives you is the most popular news it finds in all the News locations it searches.
It must use the same method to construct its News as it does in its Search. The product that has made it very rich!
Microsoft also has a Search product, that works nearly as well, but it cannot catch up with Google. You can see it for yourself using the Edge browser, in Windows 10. Give it a try!
Google has a huge number of computers that that crawl the Internet constantly. Indexing the links they find, as they go - and adding them to a huge database that Google can later use to lookup terms its users request.
When someone asks its Search to find something, it does a lookup in this secret database, residing in its Cloud - and finds the result in a matter of seconds!
The News it gives you is the most popular news it finds in all the News locations it searches.
Thinking about My Problem
The doctor I saw at the hospital was pleased that she had a diagnosis for my problem. But it seems less of a diagnosis to me, than a convenient label.
This is true of most mental diseases. For only a handful, are the causes known, and treatments available. And in that way, my problem is clearly mental. But like many mental diseases, it has a strong effect on the body - it destroys my ability to walk.
I have seen this happen to other people - their mental disease makes it nearly impossible for them to walk. They may deny they have a mental disease, but their difficulty walking shows that to do have one.
I am thinking back to when I was lying on the sidewalk, face down - unable to do much of anything. I could not talk, walk, or think.
The definition of a seizure, states that abnormal activity is going on in the brain during a seizure. This has never been directly observed, but inferred from things than can be observed, in the body, or mental functioning.
It was perfectly clear to everyone standing around me on the sidewalk, that something very serious was going on. All the doctor did was give it a name.
Afterward, I had plenty of bruises - especially in my right hand. I must have put it out to brake my fall. And my thinking ability is still impaired. I bought some groceries yesterday, but left some of them behind.
It is very difficult for most people to admit, there are diseases, for which there is no cure. Such as mine.
This is true of most mental diseases. For only a handful, are the causes known, and treatments available. And in that way, my problem is clearly mental. But like many mental diseases, it has a strong effect on the body - it destroys my ability to walk.
I have seen this happen to other people - their mental disease makes it nearly impossible for them to walk. They may deny they have a mental disease, but their difficulty walking shows that to do have one.
I am thinking back to when I was lying on the sidewalk, face down - unable to do much of anything. I could not talk, walk, or think.
The definition of a seizure, states that abnormal activity is going on in the brain during a seizure. This has never been directly observed, but inferred from things than can be observed, in the body, or mental functioning.
It was perfectly clear to everyone standing around me on the sidewalk, that something very serious was going on. All the doctor did was give it a name.
Afterward, I had plenty of bruises - especially in my right hand. I must have put it out to brake my fall. And my thinking ability is still impaired. I bought some groceries yesterday, but left some of them behind.
It is very difficult for most people to admit, there are diseases, for which there is no cure. Such as mine.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Music that makes you Feel Good, but Changes Nothing
I ordered the All-new Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with Alexa last Saturday, but it will not arrive in Miami, until next Friday. Evidently, the demand has far exceeded the supply!
The specs on this device are unbelievable - so much so, I had to order it, right away, instead of waiting until I had money in the bank. They know what kind of sucker I am, from my long record of purchases from them.
They also offered to add to my Echo (for practically nothing) Amazon Music Unlimited. That will play happy music forever - but will change nothing.
Why change things, when things are perfect already?
The specs on this device are unbelievable - so much so, I had to order it, right away, instead of waiting until I had money in the bank. They know what kind of sucker I am, from my long record of purchases from them.
They also offered to add to my Echo (for practically nothing) Amazon Music Unlimited. That will play happy music forever - but will change nothing.
Why change things, when things are perfect already?
Constructive or Destructive?
Of all the ways to think about human behavior, this is one of the most useful for me. And also one most people avoid, because it would tell them too much about themselves and their world.
Most human behavior has become destructive, we have to face that fact. We can't waste time wondering why we have become destructive, we just have to accept that we are.
We are not that way all of the time, just most of the time. But we avoid knowing this all the time.
There is one place that is not destructive for me - the intersection of the Internet, Amazon, and Kindle. Just today, I downloaded Sally Field's In Pieces - for free. You will be surprised to learn this famous actress, is also talented and well-educated.
The world is telling me "This is the way to go!" Toward the Computer ecology - a strange place, to say the least.
Most human behavior has become destructive, we have to face that fact. We can't waste time wondering why we have become destructive, we just have to accept that we are.
We are not that way all of the time, just most of the time. But we avoid knowing this all the time.
There is one place that is not destructive for me - the intersection of the Internet, Amazon, and Kindle. Just today, I downloaded Sally Field's In Pieces - for free. You will be surprised to learn this famous actress, is also talented and well-educated.
The world is telling me "This is the way to go!" Toward the Computer ecology - a strange place, to say the least.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Save the Photos from your Camera to Google Drive
Don't have Google Drive? Just Google for it.
It's on the Google Cloud, but you will never notice the difference, when you use it.
You can also share anything on your Drive, with anyone else - or do whatever else you want to with it.
Is there a problem with this? Your computer will still have to access the files on your camera. Which my Lenovo laptop cannot. And my Chromebook cannot either.
It's on the Google Cloud, but you will never notice the difference, when you use it.
You can also share anything on your Drive, with anyone else - or do whatever else you want to with it.
Is there a problem with this? Your computer will still have to access the files on your camera. Which my Lenovo laptop cannot. And my Chromebook cannot either.
Friday, December 28, 2018
They heve to Want to Solve it Also
TEDx - Can we make quantum technology work?
This talk assumes if people know how to solve a problem - they will set to work, and solve it.
But something else is also necessary - they have to want to solve it. All the big problems he describes (and they are big problems, such as World poverty) can be solved, at least partially, using existing technologies.
But they are not being solved, at all.
This talk assumes if people know how to solve a problem - they will set to work, and solve it.
But something else is also necessary - they have to want to solve it. All the big problems he describes (and they are big problems, such as World poverty) can be solved, at least partially, using existing technologies.
But they are not being solved, at all.
Update on my Problems
Ray said yesterday when he looked into my eyes, he could see no one was there. Which seems an accurate analysis of my seizures. I had planned on going to Cartago to do my weekly shopping - but evidently I did not go, but did not realize this, after I fell down!
I can slowly walk around in my apartment, and do my own cooking. And my walking seems to be slowly improving. But only slowly. All my bruises are healing also.
About Medicare. I have not been making deductions for that, and moving back to the States would too expensive for me.
The Costa Rica National Health System (CAJA) only provides basic health care, but it is adequate.
The Man of the House
This occurs commonly in Latin America, and Latinos (who got it from the Spanish and the Portuguese in the 15th Century). They expect it to happen, and it does - much to their detriment.
North America got its culture (and its Language) from England, and to a lesser degree, from France. And this made them different (and affluent) countries. Using the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment. Neither of which happened in Latin America.
Latinos would like to be affluent also - but they will not give up their backward ways/
North America got its culture (and its Language) from England, and to a lesser degree, from France. And this made them different (and affluent) countries. Using the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment. Neither of which happened in Latin America.
Latinos would like to be affluent also - but they will not give up their backward ways/
The United States' Perpetual War in Afghanistan
Foreign Affairs
The sub-title here is: Why Long Wars No Longer Generate a Backlash at Home.
And its a worthwhile read - for those of you who are still reading, maybe 20 percent of the population.
The sub-title here is: Why Long Wars No Longer Generate a Backlash at Home.
And its a worthwhile read - for those of you who are still reading, maybe 20 percent of the population.
Gerrymandering by Computer
Actually, this is about eliminating gerrymandering by using the computer, and some simple software.
It's easy to explain. There are voting records for every voting district. And the first step is to assume each district will vote the same as in the past. The software would then looks for adjacent districts that have voted the same in the past. To build a larger voting district. This may, or may not be possible,
The end result will be a state, with a number of fairly large voting districts. But these may be separated in space. What to do next?
One solution is to have voting districts consisting of different areas of the state. Or do away with voting districts completely, and let each district vote for whoever it pleases. Politicians could still address their constituents, via the Internet, wherever they are.
This is probably the best solution, and is in operation now in a number of smaller countries. If it would work in a larger country remains to be seen. Perhaps some way of reducing the number of candidates would have to be found.
Each of these countries, would have to reconsider how it implements democracy in its country. And that would be a good thing.
I'm in Bad Shape
"What's wrong with you?" You will ask. And I have to say "I don't know, and no one else seems to either!"
The human body is complicated, and whatever is wrong with me, is complicated also.
But I can tell a story, of what happened yesterday. But I am have trouble doing even that. All I can remember was that I was lying on the sidewalk, with a group of concerned people around me. All they knew was that I could not speak Spanish. They call an ambulance, that never arrived.
Eventually Ray showed up, and took charge of me. I could barely walk, but I managed to get into his car, and he took me to the local medical clinic, only a few blocks away. We went through the usual routine there, but it was limited, because I could not get out of my wheelchair.
Eventually the ambulance showed up, and I got into that, sitting in one of the seats. Ray said he would meet me at the hospital in Cartago, about an hour's drive away. Off we went!
Eventually, I saw a doctor, who gave us a diagnosis. I was having seizures. But the net effect is, that I can hardly walk now. I have bruises all over me, especially in my right ribs and right hand.
As I am writing this, it makes sense - but believe me, there is nothing sensible about it!
The human body is complicated, and whatever is wrong with me, is complicated also.
But I can tell a story, of what happened yesterday. But I am have trouble doing even that. All I can remember was that I was lying on the sidewalk, with a group of concerned people around me. All they knew was that I could not speak Spanish. They call an ambulance, that never arrived.
Eventually Ray showed up, and took charge of me. I could barely walk, but I managed to get into his car, and he took me to the local medical clinic, only a few blocks away. We went through the usual routine there, but it was limited, because I could not get out of my wheelchair.
Eventually the ambulance showed up, and I got into that, sitting in one of the seats. Ray said he would meet me at the hospital in Cartago, about an hour's drive away. Off we went!
Eventually, I saw a doctor, who gave us a diagnosis. I was having seizures. But the net effect is, that I can hardly walk now. I have bruises all over me, especially in my right ribs and right hand.
As I am writing this, it makes sense - but believe me, there is nothing sensible about it!
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Nacho is Not Honest
I decided to give my bicycle to Yami, with the understanding that she would give it to her son Aron.
This did not happen. She gave it to her husband instead, Nacho. who proceeded to modify the way he wanted. not the way Aron wanted. And to sell any parts left over, of which there were quite a few.
This did not happen. She gave it to her husband instead, Nacho. who proceeded to modify the way he wanted. not the way Aron wanted. And to sell any parts left over, of which there were quite a few.
How to make Credit Cards Secure
This would be easy - every card purchase would have to be approved by the Card owner, before it would be paid by his bank.
The owner would be asked, via email, to approve every purchase. This would result only a day or so of delay, if the owner checks his email every day. If he doesn't, it would longer. But it would be completely secure.
The owner would be asked, via email, to approve every purchase. This would result only a day or so of delay, if the owner checks his email every day. If he doesn't, it would longer. But it would be completely secure.
People living with ALS share their data in extraordinary effort to end the devastating disease
Microsoft News
Microsoft is using its expertise in Artificial Intelligence, and its Cloud to solve this problem, that so far has no solutions.
As you know, Larry McKiernan, Rogene's husband, and a childhood friend of mine, died of ALS. Something that none of us expected.
It's a long article, packed with information.
Microsoft is using its expertise in Artificial Intelligence, and its Cloud to solve this problem, that so far has no solutions.
As you know, Larry McKiernan, Rogene's husband, and a childhood friend of mine, died of ALS. Something that none of us expected.
It's a long article, packed with information.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Machines are Not People, and Never Can Be
This is about Artificial Intelligence (AI) the hottest new thing. Plenty of very smart people are sure that it is happening, it will only get better, and the sky is the limit.
But a fundamental consideration, should make them take another look at their high expectations. The fundamental consideration I have in mind is simple - Computers are machines, not living organisms.
The relationship between people and their technologies has always has always been complicated - to say the least. And this relationship has become more so. I hate to venture into this minefield myself.
But it is clear to me, exceedingly clear to me - that that what we call sanity or insanity. and creativity are mixed up with each other. And machines can be either way.
Perhaps I am wrong - the wiring can go bad in either case, and the result is dysfunctional beings, animate or inanimate. The laptop I am using right now is defective, and the company that made it, Lenovo, just dumped an app on me, that wants to show me it is OK. And they are not responsible for its problems. Lies, lies, lies.
Computers, using the many forms of AI, can do amazing things - such as translate languages, as well as any person. Any three-year old, raised in multiple languages, can do the same thing. But no one thinks of employing them - because they cannot be computers. They have human needs, as well as human skills.
They are wired by neurons, not copper wires. They have to eat, breath, poop - and eventually, reproduce.
But a fundamental consideration, should make them take another look at their high expectations. The fundamental consideration I have in mind is simple - Computers are machines, not living organisms.
The relationship between people and their technologies has always has always been complicated - to say the least. And this relationship has become more so. I hate to venture into this minefield myself.
But it is clear to me, exceedingly clear to me - that that what we call sanity or insanity. and creativity are mixed up with each other. And machines can be either way.
Perhaps I am wrong - the wiring can go bad in either case, and the result is dysfunctional beings, animate or inanimate. The laptop I am using right now is defective, and the company that made it, Lenovo, just dumped an app on me, that wants to show me it is OK. And they are not responsible for its problems. Lies, lies, lies.
Computers, using the many forms of AI, can do amazing things - such as translate languages, as well as any person. Any three-year old, raised in multiple languages, can do the same thing. But no one thinks of employing them - because they cannot be computers. They have human needs, as well as human skills.
They are wired by neurons, not copper wires. They have to eat, breath, poop - and eventually, reproduce.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
We live in a Time Trap
For the last two hundred years - from the middle of the 19th Century, to the middle of the 21st - we have lived in a greatly accelerated period of time. That has left us completely disoriented, and violent.
Time is mysterious, our body time and clock time are different things entirely. And when the two get out of sync - strange things happen, that have never happened to us before. We are built for a slowing-changing world - and cannot accommodate rapid change.
The first huge change was caused by the introduction of the Machine, by the Industrial Revolution. Especially the Steam Engine. In practically no time, Railroads sprang up on the land, and Steamboats on the waters.
This was accompanied by the Telegraph, that could transmit messages instantly. There was Photography. And it was not long before photos could be transmitted over the Telegraph, and printed in the Newspapers! Undersea cables were laid under the oceans.
Then there was Electricity, that replaced mechanical machinery. And Electronics that made Radio, Radar, and Sonar possible. All this happened in less than a hundred years. and was accompanied by the American Civil War, WWI, the Depression, and WWII.
The most destructive wars of all time, by a sizable margin. But the population kept growing!
What was happening to us, in our collective unconscious? We desperately wanted to stop all this rush into the future. And to slow things down. We were not conscious of this, but our bodies were. And it was important to notice what was really going on - not what we thought was going on.
What happened was that mass dictatorships appeared, in the Thirties, commonly referred to as Fascist. The worst of which was Stalin, who was an ally of the US. in WWII - and whose nation, the USSR - won the war against Hitler, and suffered enormous casualties.
America, after the War, had a boom economy, for twenty years, with loans for financing mass housing - and low tuition at the colleges. But this did not last.
Midwestern manufacturing, that produced half of the world's products - turned into a vast Rust Belt. Americans wanted someone to rescue them - and elected Trump as President. They wanted someone to turn the time back, and he promised to do so. To make America great again!
Time is mysterious, our body time and clock time are different things entirely. And when the two get out of sync - strange things happen, that have never happened to us before. We are built for a slowing-changing world - and cannot accommodate rapid change.
The first huge change was caused by the introduction of the Machine, by the Industrial Revolution. Especially the Steam Engine. In practically no time, Railroads sprang up on the land, and Steamboats on the waters.
This was accompanied by the Telegraph, that could transmit messages instantly. There was Photography. And it was not long before photos could be transmitted over the Telegraph, and printed in the Newspapers! Undersea cables were laid under the oceans.
Then there was Electricity, that replaced mechanical machinery. And Electronics that made Radio, Radar, and Sonar possible. All this happened in less than a hundred years. and was accompanied by the American Civil War, WWI, the Depression, and WWII.
The most destructive wars of all time, by a sizable margin. But the population kept growing!
What was happening to us, in our collective unconscious? We desperately wanted to stop all this rush into the future. And to slow things down. We were not conscious of this, but our bodies were. And it was important to notice what was really going on - not what we thought was going on.
What happened was that mass dictatorships appeared, in the Thirties, commonly referred to as Fascist. The worst of which was Stalin, who was an ally of the US. in WWII - and whose nation, the USSR - won the war against Hitler, and suffered enormous casualties.
America, after the War, had a boom economy, for twenty years, with loans for financing mass housing - and low tuition at the colleges. But this did not last.
Midwestern manufacturing, that produced half of the world's products - turned into a vast Rust Belt. Americans wanted someone to rescue them - and elected Trump as President. They wanted someone to turn the time back, and he promised to do so. To make America great again!
Monday, December 24, 2018
Microsoft Learn is a Pain
I thought this learning experience would be great - but was a pain instead.
The opening presentation was like a TED talk, that give an excellent introduction to what Cloud Computing was - the best I have ever seen.
Then it got into Microsoft's cloud, Azure - and I quickly got lost. Any cloud is supposed to make it easy for you to use - but this one got me lost in the mud instead.
The opening presentation was like a TED talk, that give an excellent introduction to what Cloud Computing was - the best I have ever seen.
Then it got into Microsoft's cloud, Azure - and I quickly got lost. Any cloud is supposed to make it easy for you to use - but this one got me lost in the mud instead.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
The end of leaning in: How Sheryl Sandberg’s message of empowerment fully unraveled
The Washington Post
Articles like the make blogging easy - you just provide a link to the article.
But the final, fatal blow to the Lean In brand was a brutally blunt dismissal from Michelle Obama: “I tell women, that whole ‘you can have it all’ — nope, not at the same time; that’s a lie,” Obama told a sold-out crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn during a Dec. 1 stop on a tour promoting her memoir. “It’s not always enough to lean in, because that s--- doesn’t work all the time.”
Articles like the make blogging easy - you just provide a link to the article.
But the final, fatal blow to the Lean In brand was a brutally blunt dismissal from Michelle Obama: “I tell women, that whole ‘you can have it all’ — nope, not at the same time; that’s a lie,” Obama told a sold-out crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn during a Dec. 1 stop on a tour promoting her memoir. “It’s not always enough to lean in, because that s--- doesn’t work all the time.”
Television makes People Stupid
This has been known ever since it originated in the Fifties. And is why it became so popular.
The Television viewer is subject to information overload - he cannot possibly process all the information being presented to him (or her). And as a result, his ability to process any additional information is impaired.
But this is not seen as a problem by the viewers, as it induces a trance state that is pleasurable. It is not seen a a problem by the advertisers, because it makes it easier for them to sell their products.
It creates a whole culture of people who act in a strange new way. Who are convinced that what they are seeing on their screens is reality.
In America, this made Trump president! He was a TV actor, and frequently presents himself on Television - as a person bigger than life, who will solve all their problems. When in fact, he is incompetent and corrupt.
Americans, for the most part, cannot tell the difference. Their ability to think, has been so badly damaged!
There are many reasons for this, but the most obvious, is their exposure to Television, many hours a day. That has formed an addiction.
People all over the world, who barely have enough to eat - have to have their Televisions, and have to watch them!
What they often see, has been manipulated by their Government to present its point of view. But they have no way of knowing this.
The Television viewer is subject to information overload - he cannot possibly process all the information being presented to him (or her). And as a result, his ability to process any additional information is impaired.
But this is not seen as a problem by the viewers, as it induces a trance state that is pleasurable. It is not seen a a problem by the advertisers, because it makes it easier for them to sell their products.
It creates a whole culture of people who act in a strange new way. Who are convinced that what they are seeing on their screens is reality.
In America, this made Trump president! He was a TV actor, and frequently presents himself on Television - as a person bigger than life, who will solve all their problems. When in fact, he is incompetent and corrupt.
Americans, for the most part, cannot tell the difference. Their ability to think, has been so badly damaged!
There are many reasons for this, but the most obvious, is their exposure to Television, many hours a day. That has formed an addiction.
People all over the world, who barely have enough to eat - have to have their Televisions, and have to watch them!
What they often see, has been manipulated by their Government to present its point of view. But they have no way of knowing this.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
User Feedback can be Easy
Every Internet Application, when it interacts with the User, in any way - should open another window, displaying the question "Having a problem with this?"
When the user switches to this window, a form will appear for her to explain the problem she is having. It will then thank her for her input. and give her a number she can later use to refer to the problem, she just submitted.
Meanwhile, the company who owns the app, will put everything the user has been doing into a database. And send that information to an expert working for the company, for their consideration. He will then reply to the user and, explain how her complaint is being used to make the app better.
None of this is Rocket Science - just Common Sense.
When the user switches to this window, a form will appear for her to explain the problem she is having. It will then thank her for her input. and give her a number she can later use to refer to the problem, she just submitted.
Meanwhile, the company who owns the app, will put everything the user has been doing into a database. And send that information to an expert working for the company, for their consideration. He will then reply to the user and, explain how her complaint is being used to make the app better.
None of this is Rocket Science - just Common Sense.
The Phone cannot be Used to Investigate Fraudulent Claims
I just went through a long process, using my Windows 10 laptop, to investigate two claims made against my Credit Card, with Wells Fargo Bank - back in the States. Their Web site appeared to be defective, and I am not sure what became of my inquires.
My laptop is defective also, and that may be part of the problem.
All of this would have been impossible, using a Phone - that cannot do anything this complicated.
My laptop is defective also, and that may be part of the problem.
All of this would have been impossible, using a Phone - that cannot do anything this complicated.
Understanding or Destructiveness
Or a mixture of the two.
I think, the two parts of the American personality are at war, and they seem evenly matched.
This seems to be the situation now, as a Federal Shutdown has begun - and no one knows what to make of it. "A government shutdown should not be part of the budget negotiation any more than chemical warfare should be a part of war,” says veteran GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander.
But no one is interested in my explanation. Perhaps they do not want to know how bad they can be - in spite of the lessons of history, that have shown, over and over - that we can be, as evil as we can possibly be. And this contradiction was built into our Christian heritage. Where the Crucifixion is central to its theology.
Americans, however, refuse to accept this possibility. And refuse is too mild a word for their violent . dismissal.
I think, the two parts of the American personality are at war, and they seem evenly matched.
This seems to be the situation now, as a Federal Shutdown has begun - and no one knows what to make of it. "A government shutdown should not be part of the budget negotiation any more than chemical warfare should be a part of war,” says veteran GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander.
But no one is interested in my explanation. Perhaps they do not want to know how bad they can be - in spite of the lessons of history, that have shown, over and over - that we can be, as evil as we can possibly be. And this contradiction was built into our Christian heritage. Where the Crucifixion is central to its theology.
Americans, however, refuse to accept this possibility. And refuse is too mild a word for their violent . dismissal.
Friday, December 21, 2018
I am not Part of a Team
I just went through the install process for Bit, and it ended by asking for the members of my team that I could share the results of my work on Angular with. Those nice people can not believe I live alone, and work alone. I don't even have a dog to keep me company.
I will have to go back to Git, that doesn't ask such a stupid question.
This is one advantage of being a Software Developer - you can chose what people to get in bed with.
I will have to go back to Git, that doesn't ask such a stupid question.
This is one advantage of being a Software Developer - you can chose what people to get in bed with.
People have Realized they are No Good
And because of this, they are destroying themselves.
This realization began, as a result of the Industrial Revolution. A huge event, where to put it simply - the machines took over, and ran things themselves. This resulted in the American Civil War, WWI, the Depression, WWII, and the Cold War.
These were all caused by advanced Technologies, but depleted social skills. Our technical skills got better, but our social skills got worse. And in our deepest beings, we noticed this - and despaired of it.
What I am saying here, was said by many other people, especially Karl Marx. But in the long run, this changed nothing. We had been changed, and not for the better. And could see no way out.
I am speaking of most people here. One result of this change, was the creation of the masses, with limited thinking ability, and social awareness. These fit right into the assembly lines, that employed them.
This takes us up to the Fifties, when an even more powerful technology was introduced - the Television. It immediately took over our public consciousness, and made us all the same.
People everywhere were watching their TVs - and dictatorships everywhere, were managing them. Their reality was whatever they could see on the screen, right in front of them. Nothing else mattered.
Then, in the Eighties, another force appeared - the Computer. That most people thought of as an advanced Television - that responded to their input! When it was nothing of the kind.
Another technology was controlling us - and we had no idea what it was - and didn't want to know. We took refuge in our ultimate defense - we stopped knowing anything, or being anything. If we did not exist, we could not be hurt!
This realization began, as a result of the Industrial Revolution. A huge event, where to put it simply - the machines took over, and ran things themselves. This resulted in the American Civil War, WWI, the Depression, WWII, and the Cold War.
These were all caused by advanced Technologies, but depleted social skills. Our technical skills got better, but our social skills got worse. And in our deepest beings, we noticed this - and despaired of it.
What I am saying here, was said by many other people, especially Karl Marx. But in the long run, this changed nothing. We had been changed, and not for the better. And could see no way out.
I am speaking of most people here. One result of this change, was the creation of the masses, with limited thinking ability, and social awareness. These fit right into the assembly lines, that employed them.
This takes us up to the Fifties, when an even more powerful technology was introduced - the Television. It immediately took over our public consciousness, and made us all the same.
People everywhere were watching their TVs - and dictatorships everywhere, were managing them. Their reality was whatever they could see on the screen, right in front of them. Nothing else mattered.
Then, in the Eighties, another force appeared - the Computer. That most people thought of as an advanced Television - that responded to their input! When it was nothing of the kind.
Another technology was controlling us - and we had no idea what it was - and didn't want to know. We took refuge in our ultimate defense - we stopped knowing anything, or being anything. If we did not exist, we could not be hurt!
Thursday, December 20, 2018
My Cousin Nita
Was the oldest daughter of my father's sister, Zera. Her name was short for Juanita (little John in Spanish)
She was a dyke, and dressed the part - complete with black leather clothing. and hair cut like a man.
She met her lesbian partner, when she was her teacher in High School, in Ft. Madison, Iowa - where she lived all of her life. Her partner lived in the garage of the family house, and after her parents died, she lived in the house, alone. She worked for the Santa Fe Railroad.
She did not age well, and was feeble in her old age.
Screen Addiction: Today’s Biggest Threat to Schooling?
LinkedIn
The author works for Success Academy, a Charter School that serves disadvantaged communities.
The distractions of the digital era are upon us: Most American tweens and teenagers now have access to mobile devices and they spend an average of nine hours per day on entertainment media.
The author works for Success Academy, a Charter School that serves disadvantaged communities.
The distractions of the digital era are upon us: Most American tweens and teenagers now have access to mobile devices and they spend an average of nine hours per day on entertainment media.
It's an easy read.
Women who Have no Men in their Lives
The pattern is usually this - they have a husband, who gives them some children. But after they get these, they get rid of the husband.
The husband is not usually a success himself, and as the woman becomes successful herself, she does not need him.
The husband is not usually a success himself, and as the woman becomes successful herself, she does not need him.
Has Artificial Intelligence made People any Better?
The Answer is clearly "No!" And we should be paying more attention to this discrepancy.
This problem has been with us for a very long time, and is part of Human Nature. That began when we invented Language - and a rich collection of Emotions to go with it. The Emotions are usually in control, because they operate quickly, with little effort. Thinking is slower, and takes more of an effort.
Artificial Intelligence has given computers the equivalent of Emotions. They can do amazing things (such as translate languages) but we have no idea how they do this.
We should be making AI more humane, but there is little interest in this. We have used it to make money and become more powerful, instead. To make better weapons.
This problem has been with us for a very long time, and is part of Human Nature. That began when we invented Language - and a rich collection of Emotions to go with it. The Emotions are usually in control, because they operate quickly, with little effort. Thinking is slower, and takes more of an effort.
Artificial Intelligence has given computers the equivalent of Emotions. They can do amazing things (such as translate languages) but we have no idea how they do this.
We should be making AI more humane, but there is little interest in this. We have used it to make money and become more powerful, instead. To make better weapons.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
People do not Want to Change
Even if the way they, are is killing them.
I remember this clearly from the five years I was married to Beth. A beautiful, but crazy woman. I was crazy too, or I would not have been with her for that long. But I was able to change - not very much, but enough to stay alive.
She had a complete mental breakdown, and was committed to an insane asylum in the Santa Barbara County Hospital. I got to see what they were like, from the inside out - and believe me, it was not a pretty picture.
She did not stay there long, but she never changed - and three years later killed herself. Nothing anyone could do, could change her.
Her story was dramatic, but not unusual. It is normal, for people to not want to change.
And it is normal for them, to take this to extremes - and not just kill themselves, but lots of other people as well.
I remember this clearly from the five years I was married to Beth. A beautiful, but crazy woman. I was crazy too, or I would not have been with her for that long. But I was able to change - not very much, but enough to stay alive.
She had a complete mental breakdown, and was committed to an insane asylum in the Santa Barbara County Hospital. I got to see what they were like, from the inside out - and believe me, it was not a pretty picture.
She did not stay there long, but she never changed - and three years later killed herself. Nothing anyone could do, could change her.
Her story was dramatic, but not unusual. It is normal, for people to not want to change.
And it is normal for them, to take this to extremes - and not just kill themselves, but lots of other people as well.
Software is Social
It does seem to me, that the intense interest in Software marks a new era in human relationships.
I realize this does not affect most people, who have no interest in Software. They still live in a Hardware world, and see no reason to go anywhere else.
I got into it by accident. I graduated as an Electronic Engineer in the Sixties - where the technology was the Vacuum Tube, that existed in all shapes and sizes. But the move to Solid State in the Seventies, meant I was out of job. Where to go?
We weren't sure. but it seemed like High Tech was the way to go (even if we didn't know exactly what is was) because it had jobs. It was the latest fashion.
I was in High Tech, in Southern California, in the Eighties. And I saw some ruthless, predatory behavior. These was money there, and people wanted a piece of it - no matter what.
Gradually, it became clear that High Tech was all about Computers. And I moved to Silicon Valley, where Computers were being developed at an insane pace. And a whole new world was being developed along with them. A Software world.
The Personal Computer (PC) was invented by IBM. But it was still a big thing, three feet tall, three feet deep and a foot wide. To make it do anything, you had to buy Adapters, and plug them into it.
Companies sprang up that would do this for you. You took your computer to them, told them what you wanted added to it, and picked it up, later in the day.
I went to work for Adaptec, that made Adapters for SCSI Solid State Drives. But the Laptop computer was taking over, and soon dominated the PC market. Adaptec had to find another line of work - but could not
Something else had arrived, the Internet, that took the world by storm. The laptops could be plugged into it easily, and the Java programming language, made it easy to program for the Internet.
A huge boom in Internet stocks appeared late in the Nineties. This was followed by a huge bust. I turned 65, and it was time for me to get out. I moved to Costa Rica, and have stayed here.
I realize this does not affect most people, who have no interest in Software. They still live in a Hardware world, and see no reason to go anywhere else.
I got into it by accident. I graduated as an Electronic Engineer in the Sixties - where the technology was the Vacuum Tube, that existed in all shapes and sizes. But the move to Solid State in the Seventies, meant I was out of job. Where to go?
We weren't sure. but it seemed like High Tech was the way to go (even if we didn't know exactly what is was) because it had jobs. It was the latest fashion.
I was in High Tech, in Southern California, in the Eighties. And I saw some ruthless, predatory behavior. These was money there, and people wanted a piece of it - no matter what.
Gradually, it became clear that High Tech was all about Computers. And I moved to Silicon Valley, where Computers were being developed at an insane pace. And a whole new world was being developed along with them. A Software world.
The Personal Computer (PC) was invented by IBM. But it was still a big thing, three feet tall, three feet deep and a foot wide. To make it do anything, you had to buy Adapters, and plug them into it.
Companies sprang up that would do this for you. You took your computer to them, told them what you wanted added to it, and picked it up, later in the day.
I went to work for Adaptec, that made Adapters for SCSI Solid State Drives. But the Laptop computer was taking over, and soon dominated the PC market. Adaptec had to find another line of work - but could not
Something else had arrived, the Internet, that took the world by storm. The laptops could be plugged into it easily, and the Java programming language, made it easy to program for the Internet.
A huge boom in Internet stocks appeared late in the Nineties. This was followed by a huge bust. I turned 65, and it was time for me to get out. I moved to Costa Rica, and have stayed here.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Watching Another Culture Work
The Electricians were here again, finishing up what they should have done already.
And once again, I am forced to the same conclusion - they do not know how to plan.
I was doing the same work, when I was working for the FAA, in the Sixties. Much of what I did was simply wiring - but we did it strictly to code. Here, they have no code - and everything they do is made up in the moment, to suit their individual whims.
Everything works now, but my room is full of kludges. That I am supposed to overlook.
And once again, I am forced to the same conclusion - they do not know how to plan.
I was doing the same work, when I was working for the FAA, in the Sixties. Much of what I did was simply wiring - but we did it strictly to code. Here, they have no code - and everything they do is made up in the moment, to suit their individual whims.
Everything works now, but my room is full of kludges. That I am supposed to overlook.
You have to let anyone be on your Cloud
Even people who aren't too excited about being there.
This is an important shift in Attitude, for the people who manage a Cloud. And for people almost anywhere.
They used to feel. they would only accept people who were partial to them. It has gradually dawned on them, that this is not necessary, or even desirable. Everyone can make a contribution, if only a minor one - or even a negative one. If you refuse to accept some people, you are only hurting yourself.
If you accept them, however, you have to be realistic about what your motivations are, for accepting them. This does not necessarily mean you approve of them.
This is an important shift in Attitude, for the people who manage a Cloud. And for people almost anywhere.
They used to feel. they would only accept people who were partial to them. It has gradually dawned on them, that this is not necessary, or even desirable. Everyone can make a contribution, if only a minor one - or even a negative one. If you refuse to accept some people, you are only hurting yourself.
If you accept them, however, you have to be realistic about what your motivations are, for accepting them. This does not necessarily mean you approve of them.
Dealing with Craziness
I have written about this before, and I probably will be writing about it again - it's such a common problem, and it's such a common problem to pretend it is not a problem.
Every time I interact with other people, I have to ask myself "Is this making any sense?" And often enough, it doesn't. I also have to also ask this question when I am thinking about my own activities - which do get strange, at times.
Right now, I am trying to understand Software Development, and the latest on this, to plop into my inbox is How Your Role Changes when DevOps goes Cloud Native. And once again, I am asking myself "Does this make sense?" When I can barely understand what they are talking about. And I have to say "Yes!"
This is a very useful question, that can be used in almost any situation - once I have some time to reflect on it.
Every time I interact with other people, I have to ask myself "Is this making any sense?" And often enough, it doesn't. I also have to also ask this question when I am thinking about my own activities - which do get strange, at times.
Right now, I am trying to understand Software Development, and the latest on this, to plop into my inbox is How Your Role Changes when DevOps goes Cloud Native. And once again, I am asking myself "Does this make sense?" When I can barely understand what they are talking about. And I have to say "Yes!"
This is a very useful question, that can be used in almost any situation - once I have some time to reflect on it.
Monday, December 17, 2018
I am now Back In the Microsoft Cloud
I was kicked out of Azure, Microsoft's Cloud, once. But now I am back in it, with a free account in Azure DevOps - their latest stuff.
I don't know how this all happened, but it did. And I am now learning F# again, on the latest version of Visual Studio. A huge program, that took forever to download and install. But now I have it, why not use it?
I don't know how this all happened, but it did. And I am now learning F# again, on the latest version of Visual Studio. A huge program, that took forever to download and install. But now I have it, why not use it?
What will the World be Like in 2100, due to Climate Change?
People will still be here, but they will not be living in what are now coastal areas - where most of them now live. This is not Science Fiction, this is a fact.
They should be planning now for this eventual move. But they cannot even imagine it happening. At some point, it will dawn on them, that this move is being forced on them - and they will have to make huge adjustments in their entire economy.
For the purposes of this essay, I will think of time in 10 year increments, beginning in 2020.
Right now, people don't have to do anything, because this change will not happen in their lifetime, of less than 100 years. 100 years later, will be about 2120. Sometime in this 100 year period, the facts will begin to become obvious. Fifty years later will be about 2070, when people will begin to wake up.
Most of the people now living will be dead and gone - but some of the youngest will still be around, and wondering why their elders were so stupid. Some of them will move to areas that will be safe from the rising oceans.
The East Coast will be the hardest hit, with Florida, Washington DC, New York City, and Boston gone completely! I cannot imagine how people will cope with this - but they will cope, somehow!
They should be planning now for this eventual move. But they cannot even imagine it happening. At some point, it will dawn on them, that this move is being forced on them - and they will have to make huge adjustments in their entire economy.
For the purposes of this essay, I will think of time in 10 year increments, beginning in 2020.
Right now, people don't have to do anything, because this change will not happen in their lifetime, of less than 100 years. 100 years later, will be about 2120. Sometime in this 100 year period, the facts will begin to become obvious. Fifty years later will be about 2070, when people will begin to wake up.
Most of the people now living will be dead and gone - but some of the youngest will still be around, and wondering why their elders were so stupid. Some of them will move to areas that will be safe from the rising oceans.
The East Coast will be the hardest hit, with Florida, Washington DC, New York City, and Boston gone completely! I cannot imagine how people will cope with this - but they will cope, somehow!
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Science, Computer Science, and the Phone
People did not like Science (in 1980) they were not sure about Computer Science (in 2000) but they did like the Phone (in 2010).
In this series, the technical impact got weaker, but the confidence in it got stronger!
I welcome your comments.
In this series, the technical impact got weaker, but the confidence in it got stronger!
I welcome your comments.
Audible and the Fire tablet
These go well together - which is not strange. since they were built by the same company, Amazon.
I just downloaded the Audio book The Young Elizabveth I. which gives a well-balanced view of this famous monarch.
She took after her father King Henry VII, who committed every sin in the book, and even invented a few himself.
She was young, beautiful, and impetuous - loved to ride, and the hunt. She encouraged suitors, but made it clear that she was married to her country - that she alone made famous.
I just downloaded the Audio book The Young Elizabveth I. which gives a well-balanced view of this famous monarch.
She took after her father King Henry VII, who committed every sin in the book, and even invented a few himself.
She was young, beautiful, and impetuous - loved to ride, and the hunt. She encouraged suitors, but made it clear that she was married to her country - that she alone made famous.
They do not know how to Plan
Our house has been rewired, and the electricians who did this have departed - without checking to see if their work was complete. Which it was not, several outlets in my room do not work. But checking this was not part of their plan.
I watched these guys work, and I could see they did not have a plan. They just did whatever they felt like, whenever they felt like it. We should have insisted, that they provide a wiring plan, and then that they stuck to it.
I had noticed this before in Costa Rica, when the woman I was living with for five years, bought a house that had just been built. The wiring did not work, and had to be done over - at her expense.
It never occurred to her, or anyone else - that the work should be checked, to see if it was complete. Something that is routinely done in the U.S.
I watched these guys work, and I could see they did not have a plan. They just did whatever they felt like, whenever they felt like it. We should have insisted, that they provide a wiring plan, and then that they stuck to it.
I had noticed this before in Costa Rica, when the woman I was living with for five years, bought a house that had just been built. The wiring did not work, and had to be done over - at her expense.
It never occurred to her, or anyone else - that the work should be checked, to see if it was complete. Something that is routinely done in the U.S.
Excessive Reliance on Intuition
This is a difficult undertaking, but it must be attempted - again.
The question was simple - how do we make the basic decisions in our lives? How is our world to be organized?
The basic Enlightenment idea was simple - by the use of Reason. But this idea perished because of French Revolution - and the Industrial Revolution. Two irresistible forces, but the second one, Capitalism, was more powerful - and still faces us today.
And the question now is "How do we make Capitalism better for the People, who are in it?" Instantly, the question comes back "Which people?"
And for many people, the answer was simple "Us." And they voted for those who supported them. And in the U.S. this resulted in the election of Trump.
This can be seen as The Rise of the Masses, an idea of Ortega y Gasset - who took it nowhere.
We need to go back to that time, the Thirties, put ourselves in its shoes, and come up with a different solution to its problems. An effort, however, no one wants to make.
Too much time has gone by, and the world has changed too much, for this to be a viable concern. People want to know "How does this affect me, now?" And they want a simple answer, to this complicated question.
Which some of their leaders, are willing to give them "Just follow me!" The same solution Fascist leaders made in the Thirties.
The question was simple - how do we make the basic decisions in our lives? How is our world to be organized?
The basic Enlightenment idea was simple - by the use of Reason. But this idea perished because of French Revolution - and the Industrial Revolution. Two irresistible forces, but the second one, Capitalism, was more powerful - and still faces us today.
And the question now is "How do we make Capitalism better for the People, who are in it?" Instantly, the question comes back "Which people?"
And for many people, the answer was simple "Us." And they voted for those who supported them. And in the U.S. this resulted in the election of Trump.
This can be seen as The Rise of the Masses, an idea of Ortega y Gasset - who took it nowhere.
We need to go back to that time, the Thirties, put ourselves in its shoes, and come up with a different solution to its problems. An effort, however, no one wants to make.
Too much time has gone by, and the world has changed too much, for this to be a viable concern. People want to know "How does this affect me, now?" And they want a simple answer, to this complicated question.
Which some of their leaders, are willing to give them "Just follow me!" The same solution Fascist leaders made in the Thirties.
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Social Insanity
This has been a problem for a long time. We are not only prone to insanity, as individuals - but as groups also. where it usually gets worse.
We were made to operate in small groups - of 100 people, or less. And in this social setting, we functioned well. But this ended when we became Civilized, and lived in much larger groups. When this happened, we were faced with a huge problem - how to live with all those other people?
We should realize we still have this problem, and always will. But we keep forgetting this. We think we have somehow solved this problem, and can now work on easier problems.
But right away we run into a problem. People can say they have no problems (or not too many of them) in the small world they live in, and which they know very well. But if they look at the larger world, they can easily see problems, and a lot of them.
And these can drive them crazy. Or they may just shut down, and do not see anything. In either case, they lose their self-respect.
We were made to operate in small groups - of 100 people, or less. And in this social setting, we functioned well. But this ended when we became Civilized, and lived in much larger groups. When this happened, we were faced with a huge problem - how to live with all those other people?
We should realize we still have this problem, and always will. But we keep forgetting this. We think we have somehow solved this problem, and can now work on easier problems.
But right away we run into a problem. People can say they have no problems (or not too many of them) in the small world they live in, and which they know very well. But if they look at the larger world, they can easily see problems, and a lot of them.
And these can drive them crazy. Or they may just shut down, and do not see anything. In either case, they lose their self-respect.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Google doesn'tI have to Ask the Banks for Money, because it owns the Banks
Does this sound a little strange to you? It sure does to me!
But if you do the numbers, about how much Google is worth, and has in the bank, right now - you will see what I mean.
But if you do the numbers, about how much Google is worth, and has in the bank, right now - you will see what I mean.
Our House is being Rewired
Because Ray is buying our house, he had to get it inspected. And the inspector decided the house would have to be completely rewired, a huge job that had delighted the Electricians.
Was this necessary? No. The existing wiring was adequate - but this did not matter. That was the Law!
The Electricians had to remove the corrugated sheet metal that formed the roof. What a racket they made!
And we now have extension cords that supply the electricity for the entire house - including the Computer. I am using right now, to write this posting in my Blog.
Was this necessary? No. The existing wiring was adequate - but this did not matter. That was the Law!
The Electricians had to remove the corrugated sheet metal that formed the roof. What a racket they made!
And we now have extension cords that supply the electricity for the entire house - including the Computer. I am using right now, to write this posting in my Blog.
The End of America began in the Fifties
America made work in its factories less intelligent all the time - with the Assembly Line and Piece Work - but kept its emphasis on making money, at whatever the social cost.
As a result, it moved overseas where labor was cheaper. And the Working Class at home became less intelligent - but just as numerous, and remained in control of its Democracy. Without having any jobs!
This theory of mine, puts a lot of emphasis on Intelligence, and the lack of it. But I think this is appropriate, and useful.
This trend continued with Television, and then the Computer. Both of which, made most people stupid, and inclined toward Fascism.
The same thing has happened in the UK.
As a result, it moved overseas where labor was cheaper. And the Working Class at home became less intelligent - but just as numerous, and remained in control of its Democracy. Without having any jobs!
This theory of mine, puts a lot of emphasis on Intelligence, and the lack of it. But I think this is appropriate, and useful.
This trend continued with Television, and then the Computer. Both of which, made most people stupid, and inclined toward Fascism.
The same thing has happened in the UK.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
People that Hate People
This is why I did not like Silicon Valley - it did not like me.
And I had to get out of there, and I decided on Costa Rica. When I was taking a taxi from the airport, there, I could feel it was a friendly place, and I told myself "This is the place for me!" And I am still here.
This was my personal decision, however - and lots of Americans have stayed for awhile, and then gone back. And lots of Americans, and Canadians - who have stayed here, have serious mental problems.
What to make of this? Damned if I know.
There is a lot of the world - probably most of the world, that cannot be explained or understood. And we are just beginning to understand this.
And I had to get out of there, and I decided on Costa Rica. When I was taking a taxi from the airport, there, I could feel it was a friendly place, and I told myself "This is the place for me!" And I am still here.
This was my personal decision, however - and lots of Americans have stayed for awhile, and then gone back. And lots of Americans, and Canadians - who have stayed here, have serious mental problems.
What to make of this? Damned if I know.
There is a lot of the world - probably most of the world, that cannot be explained or understood. And we are just beginning to understand this.
An Ear Person, not an Eye Person
Info Q
I am drawing on McLuhan's insights here - where he noted, that after we invented Language, we used it constantly, and lived in a world of the Ear - our primary mode of communication.
The next big change, was this huge change we now call Civilization, where language was written down. And the Eye became more important, because it could look at language someone else had written somewhere else, and in another time. The Ancient World had begun.
This trend was greatly accelerated with the invention of the Printing Press - which ushered in the Modern World.
I first read the transcript of this talk, but this did not work for me, and I switched to the video instead. Which was much better! Their streaming video server is different however, and you have to get used to it.
I could sit back, and watch it (and its slides) easily. You do need a laptop, however, with its much larger screen. And a mouse helps too.
I am drawing on McLuhan's insights here - where he noted, that after we invented Language, we used it constantly, and lived in a world of the Ear - our primary mode of communication.
The next big change, was this huge change we now call Civilization, where language was written down. And the Eye became more important, because it could look at language someone else had written somewhere else, and in another time. The Ancient World had begun.
This trend was greatly accelerated with the invention of the Printing Press - which ushered in the Modern World.
I first read the transcript of this talk, but this did not work for me, and I switched to the video instead. Which was much better! Their streaming video server is different however, and you have to get used to it.
I could sit back, and watch it (and its slides) easily. You do need a laptop, however, with its much larger screen. And a mouse helps too.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
What I was Told, as I was Growing Up
What I was told, it, is now embarrassing for me to relate, was simple - you had to be like everyone else.
Which seemed reasonable, at the time. Why wouldn't adults know what was best, for everyone? It never occurred to me, they never had a clue.
Now, after half a century of bumbling along, I wish I had done things differently. I wish I had put myself first - not everyone else.
But, let's face it - this was impossible.
Like any teen-age boy, I wanted to be like my father. I could not see any further than his limited circle. I certainly could not imagine that his way of life would soon vanish.
Which it would. America after WWII would be gone thirty years later. And Americans would do their best to ignore this.
What would they become? I wish I could give you a straight-forward answer. But whatever they became, they would not remain simple humans - but humans augmented by amazing new technologies. Foremost of which was Television. And then the Computer.
It's hard to imagine this state of affairs. People as animals, basically - and people as advanced technologies. It's as if these technologies existed somewhere else - until they discovered people, and took control of them.
This is seen most clearly in the case of Television. The medium demands the devotion of its viewers. They must spend many hours viewing it every day - and letting it dictate the fashions of their lives.
Which seemed reasonable, at the time. Why wouldn't adults know what was best, for everyone? It never occurred to me, they never had a clue.
Now, after half a century of bumbling along, I wish I had done things differently. I wish I had put myself first - not everyone else.
But, let's face it - this was impossible.
Like any teen-age boy, I wanted to be like my father. I could not see any further than his limited circle. I certainly could not imagine that his way of life would soon vanish.
Which it would. America after WWII would be gone thirty years later. And Americans would do their best to ignore this.
What would they become? I wish I could give you a straight-forward answer. But whatever they became, they would not remain simple humans - but humans augmented by amazing new technologies. Foremost of which was Television. And then the Computer.
It's hard to imagine this state of affairs. People as animals, basically - and people as advanced technologies. It's as if these technologies existed somewhere else - until they discovered people, and took control of them.
This is seen most clearly in the case of Television. The medium demands the devotion of its viewers. They must spend many hours viewing it every day - and letting it dictate the fashions of their lives.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Love Is Not a Permanent State of Enthusiasm
New Yorker
Esther Perel is an amazing person. She is also a psychotherapist, and an effective one. And she is smart, as this article shows.
When I was working in Silicon Valley, in the Nineties - I had quite a variety of therapists myself. There are probably more therapists there than anyplace else - with the possible exception of New York City, where she works herself.
Esther Perel is an amazing person. She is also a psychotherapist, and an effective one. And she is smart, as this article shows.
When I was working in Silicon Valley, in the Nineties - I had quite a variety of therapists myself. There are probably more therapists there than anyplace else - with the possible exception of New York City, where she works herself.
All Night, I had no idea Where I Was
I knew I was lying on the flour, but could not orient myself in the room, I had no idea how to get back on my bed again, and get my covers over me. I was shaking with the cold.
When I woke up, I was so weak, and could hardly walk around. I had to lie on my bed for a while, while I got my strength back.
I had also shit in my pants, and this morning I could trace where I had been during the night, by looking where all the poop was. I will have to clean my sheets this morning, and clean myself in the shower.
When I woke up, I was so weak, and could hardly walk around. I had to lie on my bed for a while, while I got my strength back.
I had also shit in my pants, and this morning I could trace where I had been during the night, by looking where all the poop was. I will have to clean my sheets this morning, and clean myself in the shower.
We have to Train Ourselves to Like People
TED
This TED talk is about AI - and he says we have to train computers using AI, to like us, and treat us fairly. Otherwise they will only take care of themselves, and ignore our needs.
When I went to High School, most of our the teachers, did not like us. And the results of this "education" were not beneficial.
Our parents should have been upset about this - but they were not, because they treated us the same way. As deficient beings that had to be disciplined severely. Not as children that have to be loved and protected.
And I can get even more personal - do wives love their husbands (or their children)? Usually not.
This TED talk is about AI - and he says we have to train computers using AI, to like us, and treat us fairly. Otherwise they will only take care of themselves, and ignore our needs.
When I went to High School, most of our the teachers, did not like us. And the results of this "education" were not beneficial.
Our parents should have been upset about this - but they were not, because they treated us the same way. As deficient beings that had to be disciplined severely. Not as children that have to be loved and protected.
And I can get even more personal - do wives love their husbands (or their children)? Usually not.
We spend most of our adult lives in Business, or to use a more recent word - in the Enterprise. Neither of which are friendly to People - but are obsessed with making money. As if that was the most important thing in the world.
I am not against Business - I go shopping every day, and I like most of the things I buy. And I take three pills every morning, to keep my body in good shape.
In the Valley of Fear
NY Review
My interest in this article is unusual. Because it relates to my family's religion - Mormonism. And a peculiar kind of Mormonism at that - the RLDS church.
This church was organized by farmers in Illinois, but they were active in Iowa and Missouri also. They had little interest in California, even thought some of its most active missionaries, came from there - including some of my own family. Who were active in Australia.
This was in contrast to the dominant form of Mormonism - the LDS church, who had many Latino members. And were active in California.
My interest in this article is unusual. Because it relates to my family's religion - Mormonism. And a peculiar kind of Mormonism at that - the RLDS church.
This church was organized by farmers in Illinois, but they were active in Iowa and Missouri also. They had little interest in California, even thought some of its most active missionaries, came from there - including some of my own family. Who were active in Australia.
This was in contrast to the dominant form of Mormonism - the LDS church, who had many Latino members. And were active in California.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
The Milkman
Amazon
This was reviewed in the NY Times, and because of that review, that I bought the Kindle version.
The writing is brilliant - a first-person account of a young woman's problems in an unnamed location in the Middle East - written in American English!
This was reviewed in the NY Times, and because of that review, that I bought the Kindle version.
The writing is brilliant - a first-person account of a young woman's problems in an unnamed location in the Middle East - written in American English!
This is How Google will Collapse
Medium
I got this from the NY Times, that continues to lead the pack, although Google News is not far behind.
The Internet is full of links, and these links lead you anywhere, you could possibly want to go.
How to survive, and make money. in this free space - is a big problem, that no one has solved very satisfactorily, yet.
I got this from the NY Times, that continues to lead the pack, although Google News is not far behind.
The Internet is full of links, and these links lead you anywhere, you could possibly want to go.
How to survive, and make money. in this free space - is a big problem, that no one has solved very satisfactorily, yet.
People are Ashamed by What they have Become
This is what I see people feeling, but not what most people feel. What do they feel? Hard to tell, but it is not shame. At least not consciously, but unconsciously - I am sure that is what they feel.
What else can they feel, when they are being honest with themselves?
"But they are not being honest with themselves," you may be saying. "Realizing what they are, would be too a painful experience, for them to be aware of. So they are not aware of what they are feeling!"
I think you are right.
Allow me to draw a parallel to my awareness of my financial situation - a sore subject, I can assure you. I have to live on my American Social Security retirement income - of $1,400 a month. I am not doing a good job of this, and I am ashamed to admit it.
But I have come up with a plan. I will log into my bank account every day, and plot my account balance, on graph paper - day by day. But this will not be enough, I need to tell if my spending is within the proper limits, as the month progresses.
I can predict some of my expenses easily, because they are the same every month. My rent payment, for example - and my medical insurance.
What I cannot predict, are the many online payments that keep showing up. I support some American politicians, and their parties - with small recurring payments ($5 or $10 a month) and I intend to keep doing this. And I will continue to support other charities also, such as the United Nations Refugee Fund.
But once other organizations discover I am doing this - they want my support also. And they are clever, about how they do this. Once I show an interest in one cause, other related causes want my support also.
Since these are credit card charges, I can ask my bank to refund them (these are called charge backs, and they are not hard to do, but they are a nuisance).
If you want to control your bank account, you have to be aggressive about doing this.
What else can they feel, when they are being honest with themselves?
"But they are not being honest with themselves," you may be saying. "Realizing what they are, would be too a painful experience, for them to be aware of. So they are not aware of what they are feeling!"
I think you are right.
Allow me to draw a parallel to my awareness of my financial situation - a sore subject, I can assure you. I have to live on my American Social Security retirement income - of $1,400 a month. I am not doing a good job of this, and I am ashamed to admit it.
But I have come up with a plan. I will log into my bank account every day, and plot my account balance, on graph paper - day by day. But this will not be enough, I need to tell if my spending is within the proper limits, as the month progresses.
I can predict some of my expenses easily, because they are the same every month. My rent payment, for example - and my medical insurance.
What I cannot predict, are the many online payments that keep showing up. I support some American politicians, and their parties - with small recurring payments ($5 or $10 a month) and I intend to keep doing this. And I will continue to support other charities also, such as the United Nations Refugee Fund.
But once other organizations discover I am doing this - they want my support also. And they are clever, about how they do this. Once I show an interest in one cause, other related causes want my support also.
Since these are credit card charges, I can ask my bank to refund them (these are called charge backs, and they are not hard to do, but they are a nuisance).
If you want to control your bank account, you have to be aggressive about doing this.
Saturday, December 8, 2018
People can only See Things, they are already Familiar With
And by seeing, I am using the word in its broadest sense.
Take Mormonism, my family's religion. They were called Mormons, because their founder, Joseph Smith, wrote the Book of Mormon. When missionaries took this to England, the people there could see it was of divine origin - and that mean he was a Prophet of God! And they crossed the Atlantic Ocean, in vast numbers, to be with him.
No one bothered to count them - but there were a lot of them.
Their fellow-Americans did not bother to count them either - but they knew there was a lot of them. And they were different. And they did not like them.
As result, he was murdered by his fellow-Americans.
Take Mormonism, my family's religion. They were called Mormons, because their founder, Joseph Smith, wrote the Book of Mormon. When missionaries took this to England, the people there could see it was of divine origin - and that mean he was a Prophet of God! And they crossed the Atlantic Ocean, in vast numbers, to be with him.
No one bothered to count them - but there were a lot of them.
Their fellow-Americans did not bother to count them either - but they knew there was a lot of them. And they were different. And they did not like them.
As result, he was murdered by his fellow-Americans.
Religion in the Public Schools in Costa Rica
This is a photo I took in the Grade School in Orosi, where I live. It is the Divino Nino, in Spanish
or the Christ Child, in English.
Costa Rica is officially a Catholic country, and religious events are considered political
events also.
The nearest large town of Cartago, is also the shrine of Costa Rica's patron saint La Negrita
one of the worlds many black saints. Once a year, people from everywhere, walk to Cartago,
some them pushing baby buggies.
Democracy Shouldn’t Be About Brand Recognition
Medium
This comes immediately after my last posting Michelle Obama’s New Reign of Soft Power that says she is important because she is so familiar - a brand name, in effect.
This is looking at the same idea, from opposite sides of the equation.
This comes immediately after my last posting Michelle Obama’s New Reign of Soft Power that says she is important because she is so familiar - a brand name, in effect.
This is looking at the same idea, from opposite sides of the equation.
Michelle Obama’s New Reign of Soft Power
It is worth noting, that she grew up in the black slums of Chicago - and become a success as a lawyer, before she met her husband.
Incompetent we are, and shall Remain
I am reading Open Democracy this morning, and here is a quote from that:
Brexit has caused many surprises, but it should not have come as a surprise. The UK Government has shown a scale of incompetence unprecedented in recent times. Leavers have had a cavalier disregard with coming up with a feasible plan for leaving, while the Labour Party has been too often posted missing in action without a Brexit policy worthy of the name. And to cap it all, Theresa May and her Tory Government have managed to lose three Brexit parliamentary votes in a single day – including for the first time having a UK Government held in contempt of Parliament.
Brexit has caused many surprises, but it should not have come as a surprise. The UK Government has shown a scale of incompetence unprecedented in recent times. Leavers have had a cavalier disregard with coming up with a feasible plan for leaving, while the Labour Party has been too often posted missing in action without a Brexit policy worthy of the name. And to cap it all, Theresa May and her Tory Government have managed to lose three Brexit parliamentary votes in a single day – including for the first time having a UK Government held in contempt of Parliament.
Does this sound familiar to American ears? It does to mine.
We got our culture from England, including its most important export - Industrialization. We acquired English faults and expanded on them. America is Britian written large.
We also borrowed a lot from the French - many Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, spent much of their adult lives there.
We also had many German immigrants, and absorbed much of their culture also.
This should have made us the most competent nation in the world. And indeed, we started out that way. But, like Britian, we lost our way. And have shown little interest in recovering from our mistakes.
Friday, December 7, 2018
My New Chromebook
My Lenovo Windows 10 laptop was giving me lots of problems. I needed another laptop, but it had to be inexpensive. Amazon had a Samsung Chromebook 3 for $150. That was cheap! I decided to give it a try.
For must people, who use a computer (or a Phone) mainly to do their email. This Chromebook will be entirely adequate, and has a larger display. You can use My Drive, Google's drive in the Cloud, to transfer files easily between your computers.
Gmail comes with the Chrome browser. I can also use the Blogger app, the same as before. But you cannot use Microsoft apps, some of which are very useful.
The Character Map, for example. Which has the characters used by every language in world. I use it manly to insert Spanish characters my English documents, such as the titles of photos. There is another app, to make online currency conversions - such as between the Costa Rica Colone and the American Dollar.
For must people, who use a computer (or a Phone) mainly to do their email. This Chromebook will be entirely adequate, and has a larger display. You can use My Drive, Google's drive in the Cloud, to transfer files easily between your computers.
Gmail comes with the Chrome browser. I can also use the Blogger app, the same as before. But you cannot use Microsoft apps, some of which are very useful.
The Character Map, for example. Which has the characters used by every language in world. I use it manly to insert Spanish characters my English documents, such as the titles of photos. There is another app, to make online currency conversions - such as between the Costa Rica Colone and the American Dollar.
The first thing I noticed was that the trackpad was hard to use. So I plugged in a wireless mouse. That used up one if my two available USB ports but it did work much better. The other USB port is used for a Headset, so I can hear and talk on the Internet - or on apps, such as Skype.
And I learned somethings else, that was something of a shock - the Chromebook was not designed for Software Developers, that have to work with many files, all the time. Since I do this, as a hobby - this was a big drawback.
Being Important is Better than Being Good
This problem must have existed for a long time, but seems to be getting worse.
I am now reading Leading from the Emerging Future, and once took an online course on this.
But he overlooks one important point - most people don't care! They live in their own small world, and don't want to be bothered, by anything larger than that.
This makes sense. We were part of small communities for millions of years. We are part of a Global World now, but our minds (and our bodies) have no way of relating to this.
I am now reading Leading from the Emerging Future, and once took an online course on this.
But he overlooks one important point - most people don't care! They live in their own small world, and don't want to be bothered, by anything larger than that.
This makes sense. We were part of small communities for millions of years. We are part of a Global World now, but our minds (and our bodies) have no way of relating to this.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
The code I’m still ashamed of
freeCodeCamp
More and more, coders are becoming concerned with Ethics. And this guy is one of them.
He can also write.
More and more, coders are becoming concerned with Ethics. And this guy is one of them.
He can also write.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Bizarre ‘dark fluid’ with negative mass could dominate the Universe
The Conversation
I found this article by reading Google News.
The author, Jamie Farnes, seems like an ordinary person, with bizarre idea. A very common combination.
The reaction of most people, is simply to rule him out. Anything they have to think about for more than six seconds - doesn't get thought about. Any ideas have to be simple, very simple.
He tries to make it simple, but people can spot simple ideas that are really complex - from mile away. And they will have nothing to do with it.
I found this article by reading Google News.
The author, Jamie Farnes, seems like an ordinary person, with bizarre idea. A very common combination.
The reaction of most people, is simply to rule him out. Anything they have to think about for more than six seconds - doesn't get thought about. Any ideas have to be simple, very simple.
He tries to make it simple, but people can spot simple ideas that are really complex - from mile away. And they will have nothing to do with it.
The Saturn five had eight Million Moving Parts
Amazon
I got the Kindle version of this book, for free. And am now viewing it on my Fire tablet.
Once again, I am impressed by the technical developments in the Sixties, in America and in the Soviet Union,
And by the fact, that soon after this, Kennedy was assassinated. And the Soviet Union disappeared.
Too much was happening in the second half of the 20th Century, and the Human Race did not meet this challenge gracefully.
I got the Kindle version of this book, for free. And am now viewing it on my Fire tablet.
Once again, I am impressed by the technical developments in the Sixties, in America and in the Soviet Union,
And by the fact, that soon after this, Kennedy was assassinated. And the Soviet Union disappeared.
Too much was happening in the second half of the 20th Century, and the Human Race did not meet this challenge gracefully.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Bad things happen, because Bad People made them happen
And they must be punished for this.
For example, factories once employed lots of people. And as these factories closed, as they did all over the Western world - when these factories moved to China, because they could make things cheaper. People did not see this happen, but all kinds of other things happening.
Americans came up with their own theories to explain this - and as a result, threw record numbers of people in jail.
They were obviously Bad People.
For example, factories once employed lots of people. And as these factories closed, as they did all over the Western world - when these factories moved to China, because they could make things cheaper. People did not see this happen, but all kinds of other things happening.
Americans came up with their own theories to explain this - and as a result, threw record numbers of people in jail.
They were obviously Bad People.
Latest Skype for Android update
Microsoft
You guys who have Android phones (and who doesn't?) can have Skype also. And make calls anywhere for a lower cost.
You guys who have Android phones (and who doesn't?) can have Skype also. And make calls anywhere for a lower cost.
Monday, December 3, 2018
My Vietnamese Students in California
When I was working in Silicon Valley in the Nineties, I decided I would teach English as a Second Language. I took Adult Education courses, that taught me how to do this.
I worked for Catholic Charities, a fine organization, that was try to help some recent Vietnamese immigrants adapt to life in America. l agreed to teach English to a Vietnamese family.
I found their address, and they were waiting eagerly for for me. But the person from Catholic Charities never showed up. Fortunately the family had an instruction book I could teach from, and we started on that. The family consisted a mother, two boys, and a girl - all adolescents.
I never saw the father - who was off somewhere with his Vietnamese friends, living off the income the Federal Government had provided them. They had been the Vietnamese during the war, who had assisted the Americans, who were fighting the Vietnamese. They were criminals, and were thrown in jail, as soon as the Americans had departed.
For some reason, the Americans decided to take them out of jail, and accept them, and their families as legal immigrants. This was the family I was teaching. Not ideal students.
I was soon teaching this family, in their apartment, and also teaching a class at another location, In a classroom, with many students.
I was assisted by a Vietnamese man, who was a professor at San Jose State, located in the middle of the town of San Jose. He had immigrated long before, and was fluent in English, and well as Vietnamese. At one point, we were trying to teach our students, how to answer multiple-choice questions. We could not. Those kids would just sit there, with blank looks on their faces.
They had never been to school in Vietnam, where you learn how to take tests. They were only interested in one thing - making money, as fast and easily as possible.
They were not interested in learning anything.
I worked for Catholic Charities, a fine organization, that was try to help some recent Vietnamese immigrants adapt to life in America. l agreed to teach English to a Vietnamese family.
I found their address, and they were waiting eagerly for for me. But the person from Catholic Charities never showed up. Fortunately the family had an instruction book I could teach from, and we started on that. The family consisted a mother, two boys, and a girl - all adolescents.
I never saw the father - who was off somewhere with his Vietnamese friends, living off the income the Federal Government had provided them. They had been the Vietnamese during the war, who had assisted the Americans, who were fighting the Vietnamese. They were criminals, and were thrown in jail, as soon as the Americans had departed.
For some reason, the Americans decided to take them out of jail, and accept them, and their families as legal immigrants. This was the family I was teaching. Not ideal students.
I was soon teaching this family, in their apartment, and also teaching a class at another location, In a classroom, with many students.
I was assisted by a Vietnamese man, who was a professor at San Jose State, located in the middle of the town of San Jose. He had immigrated long before, and was fluent in English, and well as Vietnamese. At one point, we were trying to teach our students, how to answer multiple-choice questions. We could not. Those kids would just sit there, with blank looks on their faces.
They had never been to school in Vietnam, where you learn how to take tests. They were only interested in one thing - making money, as fast and easily as possible.
They were not interested in learning anything.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
The Prophet of Envy
NY Review
René Girard
was unknown to me, but after reading this review, I consider him a very important person - in the fullest sense of that phrase. And I am keeping this article in my online stash of important writing.
His books that have been translated into English are available as Kindle books - if I ever decide to understand him in depth. But I will be satisfied with this excellent introduction.
René Girard
was unknown to me, but after reading this review, I consider him a very important person - in the fullest sense of that phrase. And I am keeping this article in my online stash of important writing. His books that have been translated into English are available as Kindle books - if I ever decide to understand him in depth. But I will be satisfied with this excellent introduction.
Leslie Jones Swears Off Sex In Her Latest ‘SNL’ Rant
Arend Hintze
The Conversation
This is another fine collection of articles about Artificial Intelligence. A subject that has preoccupied many people - including myself.
AI has attracted many people to it. And has taken the place of the Computer Craze of the Nineties.
This is another fine collection of articles about Artificial Intelligence. A subject that has preoccupied many people - including myself.
AI has attracted many people to it. And has taken the place of the Computer Craze of the Nineties.
Having a Native Wife
Having a wife, that is part of the native population, is not difficult to arrange - and is relatively inexpensive, by American standards.
,
She keeps some measure of control, as wives do anywhere. If she is satisfied with her situation, she provides love - if she is not, she does provide this. She is not treated as well as an American wife, but she will be satisfied with what she has acquired by her marriage (formal or informal) to an American.
This is made much easier, if the American is fluent in the native language. But that is not absolutely necessary,
,
She keeps some measure of control, as wives do anywhere. If she is satisfied with her situation, she provides love - if she is not, she does provide this. She is not treated as well as an American wife, but she will be satisfied with what she has acquired by her marriage (formal or informal) to an American.
This is made much easier, if the American is fluent in the native language. But that is not absolutely necessary,
Mankind has become Destructive
They have noticed (correctly) that the world is not good for them, and for that reason - are destroying it.
Let me examine the first part of that assertion - that the world was not good for them. This was the inevitable result of the Industrial Revolution.
We become more interested machines than we were in people. Because machines were making us rich! Or at least they were making those at the top rich. They made those at the bottom, poorer than they had ever been before.
In America, this was taken to an extreme with the institution of slavery in the American South - the most influential part of America, at the time.
This resulted in the Civil War - the worst war, with the most casualties, the world had ever seen. The North won this war, because it had industrialized, and didn't need slaves in its factories or farms.
About this time, from the middle of the 19th Century to the middle of the 20th, a fundamental change in society took place - machines became more important than people! And the people involved, were not aware of this change - and remained unaware of it, to this day.
This set up the situation today - most people are socially unaware, and determined to remain that way.
Superficially, they feel everything is fine. But deep down, they know it is terrible. And they are destroying it.
Let me examine the first part of that assertion - that the world was not good for them. This was the inevitable result of the Industrial Revolution.
We become more interested machines than we were in people. Because machines were making us rich! Or at least they were making those at the top rich. They made those at the bottom, poorer than they had ever been before.
In America, this was taken to an extreme with the institution of slavery in the American South - the most influential part of America, at the time.
This resulted in the Civil War - the worst war, with the most casualties, the world had ever seen. The North won this war, because it had industrialized, and didn't need slaves in its factories or farms.
About this time, from the middle of the 19th Century to the middle of the 20th, a fundamental change in society took place - machines became more important than people! And the people involved, were not aware of this change - and remained unaware of it, to this day.
This set up the situation today - most people are socially unaware, and determined to remain that way.
Superficially, they feel everything is fine. But deep down, they know it is terrible. And they are destroying it.
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Typhoid Fever
My father nearly died of this when he was a boy.
This illness is caused by polluted water, and nothing else.When he was a boy in Ft. Madison, Iowa - every house had its own water pump, and its own outhouse - and they were right next to each other.
It wasn't long before they installed City Water - and these pipes contained healthy drinking water.
This illness is caused by polluted water, and nothing else.When he was a boy in Ft. Madison, Iowa - every house had its own water pump, and its own outhouse - and they were right next to each other.
It wasn't long before they installed City Water - and these pipes contained healthy drinking water.
A DARPA Perspective on Artificial Intelligence
YouTube
DARPA is an agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.
DARPA is an agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.
Thinking Fast and Slow
This book is telling me something I already knew - people do not like slow thinking, and will do almost anything to avoid it, and revert to fast thinking instead.
Most of the book is about this - the many ways we do not think, but remain firmly convinced that we are - and not only that, but thinking perfectly.
This has been known for a very long time, but he makes it explicit - by describing all the ways this happens, in some detail.
The condensed version I have, that I got for free, also has something else - text to speech, that works almost perfectly. You can read or listen, either way.
I find looking at the text, while it is being spoken, helps me to learn better.
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