Category: Society

Communications May Be The Key

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On Two Levels, We Are In Deep Water

Communications on Two Levels

On a fundamental level, we think of communication as how we talk to you each other, how we share views and information. People to people information and ideas sharing. That has been around pretty well since our species was born. What is new is the internet and related communications means.

On another level, communication may be thought of as a one way flow – how does government communicate with the population at large and how does government seek to influence how others communicate on a large scale.

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The Very Best Season Is Almost Here

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For Me, Fall Tops Them All. Cannot Wait for Its Arrival Every Year

The Power of Seasons
It is hard to overstate the pleasure and power of seasons. For me at least, this is the benchmark by which time, nature, and life mark passages and progress. We lived for several years in Hawaii; a beautiful place for sure, but one lacking in seasons. There were rainy and dryer times of year, but nothing like a real passage of seasons. We found we really, really missed having them. The weather report on local news was about 30 seconds every day – “No change from yesterday.”

When one grows up with seasons,

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Hey, New Low Points

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Just When You Think It All Could Not Get Worse or More Embarrassing….

Seven months into this term of Trump, we find new low points in more areas than one could have imagined. If nothing else, we are learning what a potent cocktail one has when mixing arrogance, cruelty, and intellectual laziness, wrapped in a mindset where character simply does not count – heck, character is seen as a flaw by this bunch..

Just look at the last few days….

North Korea Has Nothing On US

The North Korea syndrome has arrived.

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Artificial Intelligence: 1 Step Forward, 1 Step Back?

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Image produced by Myshoun, using AI. Found on Pixabay. 

We are at an interesting but predictable point in time with AI. Are we on the launch ramp or on the edge of the cliff? Yes.

What We Heard and Saw in Recent Months

It seems like only yesterday that Artificial Intelligence (AI) popped up into popular consciousness. In fact, it has been around for a few years, with remarkable growth in popularity, utility, and dangers. As Bill Gates has said, everything you hear about the promise and potential of AI is true;

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One Thought, One Goal

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There is a Lot Going On. Let’s Focus on Effects and Causes to Frame the Rest

And So It Continues

The chaos, cruelty, and destructiveness of the Trump administration continues. It is being blocked or tripping over its own feet in some areas and is being aggressive in others. As I heard someone say recently, we are in only the first quarter of a four quarter (four year) engagement. Not the time to get tired yet.

Part of the Plan 2025 modality is to overwhelm the opposition and to flood the media and public consciousness every day,

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Adventures of Americans Abroad

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We Visited Several Countries Last Month. What Did We Find?

Our First International Trip During This Administration

And so our latest international adventure we mentioned a few weeks ago has concluded. Six countries (Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Scotland, and Iceland) over a couple of weeks, and I promised to share with you what it was like being an American abroad these days, and to let you know how a few travel technology items worked out.

Facing The Politics

As noted earlier, we were a bit apprehensive about travelling just now – likely not the best time to be an American travelling almost anywhere.

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What Is It Like To Be An American Overseas Now?

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I’ll Let You Know Shortly

By the time you read this, we will be several days into a trip into 6 different countries. To say it is an interesting time to be a traveling American is likely an understatement for the ages.

We have friends who have been traveling since the election last November. Most tell us they get sympathetic exchanges more than anything else, but not always. After all, as a nation, we made this choice twice. You can get a pass on the first one – the second time is a responsibility one has to accept as a nation.

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Talk To The Animals

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 And Listen When They Talk To You

A Lifelong Fascination

I admit that the idea of communicating with animals, at the level we communicate with each other, has been a lifelong fascination for me. Who would not give a lot to be able to do this with all sorts of creatures? IMany of you feel the same, and perhaps feel you come closer to this than do most people. As for me, well, my favorite hat says “I like dogs, and maybe 3 people”

Part of this, I suppose, is the human desire to connect and our love of animals.

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Reflections on Post-Disaster Community

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Disasters Really Do Bring Out the Best and the Worst in Us

Sometimes We Manage To Leave Politics Behind

Last year the area around which I live was hit hard by Tropical Storm Helene – the recovery is still underway, with over 100 people killed and billions of dollars in damage. In the last few days, a region of Texas suffered similar catastrophic losses (with well over 100 people still missing days after the floods). Similar damages are hitting in New Mexico and in Piedmont North Carolina.

A common thread is evident in all of these widely separated disasters.  

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Well, At Least The Path Forward Is Clear

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The Speed In Which Trump’s Awful Legislation Passed Speaks Volumes

What the Public Thinks About All This

Some really interesting data points on all this. Reliable polls show that people who have any information at all on the legislation hate it, by 2 -1 margin. But it also shows that less than 10% of the population feel they know much about it and over one-third say they know nothing about it.

That is a stunning bit of information and a damning finding on the Democrats at all levels. It is a complete mystery to me why Democrats did not flood local media with very specific numbers as to what this bill meant to each local community and nationally.

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