On Friday, January 20, 2016 Donald Trump got the conch. As I watched the new President descending the steps of the Capitol to the deus for his inauguration all I could think about ... moreOn Friday, January 20, 2016 Donald Trump got the conch. As I watched the new President descending the steps of the Capitol to the deus for his inauguration all I could think about was William Golding’s classic 1954 novel Lord of the Flies. But instead of a group of British boys who find themselves deserted on an island in the Pacific Ocean that sends them down a dark path, it is America and the West who have officially lost control of order and morality, and are now descending into total savagery and chaos.Golding’s novel takes place during an unspecified nuclear war when a group of 25 boys are marooned on a tropical island. Although things get off to a reasonable start with Ralph elected leader and his fastidious organization of teams for shelter-building, food-gathering, and constant maintenance of a smoke signal fire, it doesn’t take long for the group to devolve into disarray with Jack seizing control and turning the boys into savages. What began as an island of reason, peace, and hope, eve... less
Demon seed? The Bad Seed? Boys will be boys? Locker room talk? Just joking?. Take your pick. The Donald John is all of it and more. Sadly. No one is there to control him, res... moreDemon seed? The Bad Seed? Boys will be boys? Locker room talk? Just joking?. Take your pick. The Donald John is all of it and more. Sadly. No one is there to control him, restrict him, ground him. No one loves him enough to want to make him better. No one.
Be the engineer guiding a train? Drive a bus or a taxicab? Interact with students in a university environment and act as a TA? Clean teeth in the dentist's office? Take your blood ... moreBe the engineer guiding a train? Drive a bus or a taxicab? Interact with students in a university environment and act as a TA? Clean teeth in the dentist's office? Take your blood pressure, weight, measure your height in the doctor's office? What are their limitations? Will they be exceeded as robots progress on the road leading to independent artificial intelligence wherein they teach themselves/train themselves/learn to get better? Or is that day already here?
While her loss certainly wasn't 100% her fault being very likable could have offset the other forces that were working against her. There was something offputting about her persona... moreWhile her loss certainly wasn't 100% her fault being very likable could have offset the other forces that were working against her. There was something offputting about her personality. Setting everything else aside(which of course we can't) being very likable goes a long way to being accepted/defended/supported. Maybe it's the grease that makes the parts operate smoothly. I think her book outlining every cause of her defeat wasn't a gracious thing for her to do. I think she could have written a positive memoir about her life and political experiences without going to the dark side and whining and rehashing and regurgitating. It would have left better tracks. Of course she had a right to write whatever she wanted to write. It's just kinda disappointing that it wasn't more gracious, graceful, upbeat. Just my opinion. Yours? less
Robots are emotionless. They have no feelings. There are some people who seem almost like that though they can muster up HATE. They seem to have no problem with that. Curiously.
Here are some stats. Read them and weep. Or ignore them at your own perilPer the guardian.com Robots will eliminate 6% of all US jobs by 2021Per the dailymail.co.... moreHere are some stats. Read them and weep. Or ignore them at your own perilPer the guardian.com Robots will eliminate 6% of all US jobs by 2021Per the dailymail.co.uk 38% of US jobs will be done by robots by 2030Per Fortune.com 40% of jobs in the US could be done by robots by 2030Take your pick. Not so good is it?
Those are not my words. They are the words of an Answermug pal who replied to my question about whether tax cuts increase jobs. Obviously they don't. They DECREASE them because aut... moreThose are not my words. They are the words of an Answermug pal who replied to my question about whether tax cuts increase jobs. Obviously they don't. They DECREASE them because automation increases and the need for human workers decreases. BRILLIANT. Whatcha think?
Downeast refers to the coast of the state of Maine from Penobscot Bay to the Canadian Border. It allegedly referred to the direction in which ships sailed. So if you are in Boston ... moreDowneast refers to the coast of the state of Maine from Penobscot Bay to the Canadian Border. It allegedly referred to the direction in which ships sailed. So if you are in Boston which is south of Maine you can travel "downeast" which obviously is north. Looking on a world Map the Australia "Down Under" makes a lot more sense than the US Downeast/Down East. What other confusing things are there in the English language?
