Skip to main content

Random Thoughts - 8

You hear much about Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and all those other services selling alternative programming.  Why is that?  It could be little more than enhanced alternatives with another channel for delivery. It could be more choices.  It could be the traditional television networks offer little more beyond their traditional tripe. It doesn’t work any more.

-------------------

I’ve been watching on Netflix an Australian series, Dr. Blake Mysteries.  Not bad.  How lucky they were, five years after total war, these citizens during the years 1946-1959.  It is true: Many were still grimaced by the war. Many were still grieved by their losses. Many were still flagged from their suffering.  However, almost all rejoiced in their affirmation of the excellence of our victorious countries, our system, what they stood for, and their preeminent position in the world.  Aside from the horror, there remained a certainty we were right, the enemy was vanquished, and we were the pathfinders to the future.

That has all changed.  Now it is doubt, uncertainty, diminished hope, diminished belief, disillusionment, and distrust that pervade the country.  For the USA, after two and a half centuries of good work, all that comes to mind to many is what went wrong.  It is similar to most of the institutions of our Western Heritage.  The mistakes are remembered, not the precedents of achievement. As someone, possibly Will Durant, said the past is remembered more kindly than the present.  Name just one aspect of our heritage from other civilizations that you wish returned?  The ancient Romans? Greeks? Chinese? All were slave or semi-slave states with little regard for human life.  The Soviets?  The Nazis? The Muslims? How many were murdered during their time windows of internal terrorism? Countless.  In fact, the very intolerance of modern Islamics, even to each other, should indicate caution.

You think newer, more globalist views will make it better?  Remember the road to power is the same road traveled when power is achieved. Look at the methods! Look at the denial of rights.  Look at the embodiment of regulations.  Look at the correctness of required thinking.  Victory achieved, the methods remain.

---------------------

One reason the Democrats don't promote their own programs is that in the current climate (of the Democratic Party) they tend so far to the left, e.g. free college tuition, guaranteed basic income, free cell phones and wi-fi, free medical care, etc,  they would surely be denounced by voters, and possibly some of the press.  Attacking Republicans is far safer, not to mention easier, with little cognitive demand, and certainly much more fun.

So, for the next couple of years, it will be Russia, Russia, Russia, ad nauseum.

On the other hand, the Republicans promote so many different antipodal programs and laws, they have difficulty agreeing on what to do.   From them, it will be proposals, proposals, proposals, ad nauseum

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Behavioral Science and Problem-Solving

I.                                       I.                 Introduction.                Concerning our general behavior, it’s high about time we all had some understanding of how we operate on ourselves, and it is just as important how we are operated on by others. This is the wheelhouse of behavioral sciences. It is a vast subject. It touches our lives constantly. It’s influence is pervasive and can be so subtle we never notice it. Behavioral sciences profoundly affect our ability and success at problem-solving, from the elementary level to highly complex wicked problems. This is discussed in Section IV. We begin with the basics of behavioral sciences, Section II, and then through the lens of multiple categories and examples, Section III. II.     ...

Where is AI (Artificial Intelligence) Going?

  How to view Artificial Intelligence (AI).  Imagine you go to the store to buy a TV, but all they have are 1950s models, black and white, circular screens, picture rolls, and picture imperfect, no remote. You’d say no thanks. Back in the day, they sold wildly. The TV was a must-have for everyone with $250 to spend* (about $3000 today). Compared to where AI is today, this is more or less where TVs were 70 years ago. In only a few decades AI will be advanced beyond comprehension, just like TVs today are from the 50s viewpoint. Just like we could not imagine where the video concept was going back then, we cannot really imagine where AI is going. Buckle up. But it will be spectacular.    *Back then minimum wage was $0.75/hr. Thus, a TV cost more than eight weeks' wages. ------------------------- 

Fake News

If you've been following the news the last couple of days, you will note the flurry of copy devoted to fake news.  Both sides are blaming whatever has befallen them the consequence of fake news.  Let's look at this phenomenon a bit.    When I was a student years ago, a friend climbed some mountain in Peru.   A article was written in the local newspaper about the event.   In only three column inches, the newspaper made about six errors.   An easy article to write you say?   Just interview and reproduce.   Yet so many errors?   The question is this: was this fake news or bad reporting?   The idea here is that fake news comes in various flavors. Bad reporting – errors made by the author or editor Opinion presented as news     Deliberate creation of falsehoods to favor a point of view       The reporting of selected truths to favor a particular point of view Now we have the big social media ...