Tuesday, March 23
Complementing the Cloud
Edge computing refers to a model in which processing power is placed closer to where data is being created in the physical world: While cloud computing platforms like Amazon Web Services are hosted from the retailer's own massive data centers scattered across the world, edge computing focuses on smartening up the car, robot, or other systems right on the device or placing a processor in closer proximity.
It's a concept that's only become more popular as a surge in connected devices — like Tesla's semi-autonomous cars or camera-laden robots in Amazon's factories — collides with the rise of cloud computing, presenting an opportunity for both.
"Edge computing is actually a counterbalance to the cloud," Gartner analyst Bob Gill told Insider. "It's a perfect complement to the cloud that solves for the weakness of the cloud."
As the flexibility, efficiency, and pricing of cloud computing have led firms to abandon their in-house data centers, it's created a new set of technical challenges. While the cloud offers immense raw computing power, relying on it comes with trade-offs, too.
"People realized that not all the things that they want to do in the cloud worked well in the cloud," IDC analyst Dave McCarthy told Insider.
Specifically, edge computing can help solve issues of latency (where systems need to be able to process data incredibly fast), bandwidth (where machines are generating vast amounts of data that would be inefficient to send to a distant data center), autonomy (where systems need to be able to function without network connection), or compliance (like when information needs to remain within a specific country to adhere with local regulations).
Gartner expects that by 2022 more than 50% of enterprise-generated data will be created and processed outside the traditional data center or cloud. READ MORE
Monday, March 22
Personal Financial Planning: Life Insurance
A better solution since 80% of those who own life insurance policies never have to use them, is to take the money that you would have given to the life insurance company every month and invest that money in a mutual fund.
Our National Debt
- Individual Taxes
- Corporate Taxes
- Gasoline Taxes
- Sales Taxes
- Capital Gains Taxes
- Estate Taxes
- Import/export Tariffs
- Fines and Fees
- Selling Treasury Securities (bills, notes, bonds)
Spring Breakers in Miami
It is about time that the people realize how powerful they are... UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL... if the people join together, the people can do anything that they want to.
- They can drive their vehicles as fast as they want to
- They can break into stores anytime they want to
- They can steal anything that they want to
- They can take illegal drugs anytime they want to
New World Order
This is a dangerous move because without the debating of two parties, the USA will digress into a country that is controlled by one group of people that can do anything that they want to...
Our government will forever change giving the Democrats POWER for DECADES... the unintended consequences of this movement will hurt the USA and will violate and end the intentions of our FOUNDING FATHERS...
WAKE UP AMERICA...
Personal Financial Planning Considerations
- Buy a house in a new development that anticipates growth
- Make improvements to kitchen and bathrooms only
- Maintain outside landscape
- Watch out for basements
- Watch out for homes on sloping ground or at bottom (water issues)
- Keep house 3-5 years before selling
- Always buy a more expensive house to shelter capital gains
- When retiring sell house and buy much cheaper home - claim one time exception in capital gain
- Could create additional savings of $300,000 or more
Second... buy the car you want and pay it off as quick as you can and when paid off, continue saving your monthly payments until you have saved enough money to buy a new car. Don't buy NEW, but look into a year old car that has been leased (business lease preferred) and has low gas mileage... you save thousands and car is like BRAND NEW...
Remember: those who plan and actually implement their plan and make periodic corrections and/or adjustments are likely to be more successful than those who do not plan.
Most Wanderlusted Vacation
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -Have you taken a trip to Sevierville recently? According to Airbnb, Sevierville has been named as one of the most ‘wanderlusted’ destinations.
Airbnb says more than half of the people who had Sevierville at the top of their wanderlust list were most likely to seek out its signature unique landscapes when visiting.
Airbnb’s other top “wanderlusted” destinations include:
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Sevierville, Tennessee, United States
- Seoul, South Korea
- Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Paris, France
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Bali, Indonesia
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Cape Town, South Africa
- London, United Kingdom
COMMENT: I have been to 6 of the 10 destinations and while I am glad that Sevierville got this honor, I would not rank the city SECOND in this list... in fact, I would not have included this city in this list at all... in fact, I would probably have ranked Gatlinburg in this list before Sevierville... simply because there is just not much to do in Sevierville.
Note:
Airbnb is an online marketplace that connects people who want to rent out their homes with people who are looking for accommodations in that locale. It currently covers more than 100,000 cities and 220 countries worldwide.
Sunday, March 21
Saturday, March 20
It's Summertime... almost...
Once this day arrives for us in East TN, it is time to take the deck furniture out of storage and arrange on the deck under the gazebo... even though we may continue to get rain showers and thunderstorms because we can cover up the furniture with tarps like we have done when adverse summer weather arrives.
However, we will not open our pool for another month because as soon as we open it, we will have to start putting chemicals into the water and since the water inside is not yet warm enough for swimming, there is really no reason to open it... opening the pool is rather simply as all we have to do is undo the ropes that are holding one side and remove the bricks on the other side... return the plugs eliminate water leakage, open the flow valve, start pumping in water, and once the pump tank is full, start the motor that begins water circulation and filtration.
The pool cover is then placed in a plastic container with lid to prevent the entrance of stink bugs which believe it or not have a way of getting into the tiniest of places to stay warm. Stink bugs arrive from somewhere (?) once warm weather arrives and no matter how many will kill each day, they seem to continue to be on our screened in porch every day...
Critical Race Theory
While recognizing the evolving and malleable nature of CRT, scholar Khiarah Bridges outlines a few key tenets of CRT, including:
1. Recognition that race is not biologically real but is socially constructed and socially significant. It recognizes that science (as demonstrated in the Human Genome Project) refutes the idea of biological racial differences. According to scholars Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, race is the product of social thought and is not connected to biological reality.
Content Creation
More politely called AI-generated videos, or synthetic media, usage is growing rapidly in sectors including news, entertainment and education, with the technology becoming increasingly sophisticated.
One of the early commercial adopters has been Synthesia, a London-based firm that creates AI-powered corporate training videos for the likes of global advertising firm WPP and business consultancy Accenture.
"This is the future of content creation," says Synthesia chief executive and co-founder Victor Riparbelli.
To make an AI-generated video using Synthesia's system you simply pick from a number of avatars, type in the word you wish for them to say, and that is pretty much it.
Mr Riparbelli says this means that global firms can very easily make videos in different languages, such as for in-house training courses.
"Let's say you have 3,000 warehouse workers in North America," he says. "Some of them speak English, but some may be more familiar with Spanish.
"If you had to record every single one of those videos, that's a massive piece of work. Now we can do that for [little] production costs, and whatever time it'll take someone to write the script. That pretty much exemplifies how the technology is used today."
Mike Price, the chief technology officer of ZeroFox, a US cyber-security company that tracks deepfakes, says their commercial use is "growing significantly year over year, but exact numbers are difficult to pin down".
However, Chad Steelberg, chief executive of Veritone, a US AI technology provider, says that the increasing concern about malicious deepfakes is holding back investment in the technology's legitimate, commercial use.
"The term deepfakes has definitely had a negative response in terms of capital investment in the sector," he says. "The media and consumers, rightfully so, can clearly see the risks associated. TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE, Click Here...
Friday, March 19
Personal Financial Planning
The financial planning process is a logical, six-step procedure:
(1) determining your current financial situation
(2) developing financial goals
(3) identifying alternative courses of action
(4) evaluating alternatives
(5) creating and implementing a financial action plan
(6) reevaluating and revising the plan
- retirement goal monthly income
- the amount of money I wanted to have saved by the time I retired
- number of employers anticipated
- amount of education I needed
- if I would relocate to another State
- States I would not live in
- annual salary and anticipated raises
- estimated taxes to be paid
- number of spouses
- number of children
- money for children's college tuition
- number of vehicles owned (new or used)
- number of houses owned
- developing annual, monthly budgets (vacations and holidays)
- maintaining cash flow requirements
- maintaining financial statements (Balance Sheet, Income Expense Statement, Net Worth)
- life insurance (home, life, vehicles)
- preventive maintenance on health
- plan to eat healthy and exercise
- savings and investments (rental property)
- $500,000 to $1,000,000 in the bank
- Social Security - $2,500
- Social Security (spouse) - $1,000 - $1,500
- No life insurance
- One Child - will pay for college
- Mutual Fund investments - no individual stocks
- Buy used cars when needed (1 year old, leased, low mileage)
- Willing to relocate to NC, TN, SC
- Salary range: $30,000 to $50,000 annually
- Will have college degree maybe more
- Willing to pursue technical education
- East healthy and exercise - maintain ideal weight or a little more
- Stop smoking cigarettes, - drink minimal alcohol
- Buy home (no renting) - change houses when necessary
- Retired monthly income: $3,000 - $5,000
- Always save money
- Use Credit Cards but pay off debt at end of month
- Plan to pay off all debt
AI In Military
The average life expectancy of a non-instrument trained pilot in instrument conditions is 178 seconds — or so says a 1954 study that pilots have referenced ever since. The point made by the aphorism is that once a pilot enters the clouds, instinct is of very little help in keeping the airplane upright. Learning to use the instruments when you can’t see outside is crucial to flying safely in the weather. But pilots learn not just to interpret the information displayed on the instruments but also to trust that information.
The rapid development of AI technology, and its employment within the military, raises questions about trust and technology like the ones pilots have wrestled with for decades. Though the questions are new, they do have some similarities with those raised when flying by instruments became possible nearly a century ago. And at that time, the educational resources that could help pilots with those questions were available to the U.S. Army Air Corps, but it did not avail itself of them.
Thursday, March 18
We Are Being Lead by LIARS
This is not conjecture... it is truth... and, this truth pertains to ALL POLITICIANS that is to say both Democrats and Republicans. What they do is making promises while they are "running" for office and then once they are elected, they do not follow through with their promises.
The Energy Around Us
The Earth also gives off energy. There is a molten outer core of iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) that radiates heat and creates a magnetic field that surrounds the planet. Current evidence suggests that the inner core is 6,000 degrees Celsius (10,800 degrees Fahrenheit). The asthenosphere and upper mantle also radiate heat from the interior of the planet. Even without the heat of the Sun, the Earth would be warmer than space or a planet with no molten core.
Unless you live on a volcano or a hydrothermal region, the Sun’s energy will affect your life more than any energy from inside the planet.
Where Do You Find Energy?You can find energy in electricity, magnetism, kinetic energy, potential energy, springs and different states of matter. Energy is not something you can hold or touch. Energy exists as a property of matter and can be found in many places ranging from the heat from Earth’s core to incoming radiation from the Sun.
Geographers look at general ideas of energy circulating through systems. The main energy for geographers affects the living organisms of Earth. They examine amounts and types of electromagnetic radiation that include infrared (heat), visible, and ultraviolet light.
Energy descriptions and measurements change a little when physicists start looking at the world. Energy is a property that can be transferred and changed, but never created or destroyed. Physicists often see things in very specific quantities, not always in systems as large as the Earth. They also look at mechanical energy in addition to thermodynamics and electromagnetism.
Let’s say that the Sun heats the Earth and the gases of the atmosphere. As the temperature rises, the molecules become more active and begin to rise. The activity of the molecules also increases the pressure. When the pressure of a system increases, the amount of stored energy also increases. Those molecules want to move to a location with a lower pressure. Wind is created by those pressure differences in the atmosphere. When the wind blows, the energy can be transferred to other systems: turn windmills, help birds fly, make tornadoes, all types of work.
There's an important idea you should always remember when we talk about energy. Sometimes we will use the word radiation. When you think of radiation you probably think about nuclear power plants, bombs, and X-rays. Those are all types of radiation but more important to physical geography is the idea that all light is considered radiation. Electromagnetic radiation includes everything from television and radio waves to something called gamma rays.
Think about the acronym LASER. The R stands for radiation; however, a laser is basically an energized flashlight.
Think about heat. Most heat or "emitted thermal radiation" of an object is actually infrared light.
Jinn: Trickster gods
The Ten Most Familiar
- Aladdin's Lamp
- Bahamut Creature
- Nasnas Monster
- Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves
- Shadhavar Creature
- Sinbad the Sailor
- Roc Creature
- Lost City of Atlantis
- The legend of Zarqa’ Al-Yamama
- Qutrub Monster
Like humans, they are created with fitra, born neither as believers nor as unbelievers, their attitudes instead depending on whether they accept God's guidance. Since jinn are neither innately evil nor innately good, early Islam acknowledged spirits from other religions, and was able to adapt spirits from other religions during its expansion. Jinn are not a strictly Islamic concept; they may represent several pagan beliefs integrated into Islam.
In an Islamic context, the term jinn is used for both a collective designation for any supernatural creature and also to refer to a specific type of supernatural creature. Therefore, jinn are often mentioned together with devils/demons (shayāṭīn). Both devils and jinn feature in folklore and are held responsible for misfortune, possession and diseases. However, the jinn are sometimes supportive and benevolent. They are mentioned frequently in magical works throughout the Islamic world, to be summoned and bound to a sorcerer, but also in zoological treatises as animals with a subtle body. SOURCE: Wikipedia
Wednesday, March 17
One Party Government
houses of Congress, they are going to create a situation in Congress where the Republicans WILL NEVER have control again. They are going to do this by making the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico States with the understanding that 80% of the people in both these locations are Democrats. The would insure control of the Senate forever and would increase the majority in the House so high that it would almost be impossible for the Republican to ever gain a majority.
Also, the Democrats have plans to increase the size of the Supreme Court, so that while Biden is President those seats can be filled and for the next 3-4 decades, the Supreme Court will be liberal in nature.
The Republicans think that this is not going to be good for the United States...
And, while I am not seen as a powerful intellect, I disagree with the Republicans. ONE PARTY would literally be able to do any damn thing that they wanted to do without resistance. Just think of how efficient that would be...
- Nazi Germany
- Russia
- China
- North Korea
- Saudi Arabia
- high unemployment
- slow growing economy
- a weak military
- a country full of drugs
- limited healthcare resources
- higher taxes
- an increasing national debt
- loss of global control
Personally, I like the idea of having only one party. I don't belong to either party now, so there would be no need to change my affiliation.
I also like the idea of taxing the wealthy and corporations and redistributing the money to the rest of us...
I like the idea of driving cars that are powered by electricity.
I like the idea of having no airplane travel since we are doing away with jet fuel make from petroleum crude oil.
I like the idea of solar power, wind power, water power, and if all else fails nuclear power.
I like the idea that our country will be so full of immigrants that healthcare resources will be scarce and in high demand... and, life saving operations will depend on whether or not you are old or young...
THINK ABOUT IT... A ONE PARTY SYSTEM IN THE USA IS PERFECT...
ETHNIC GRADUATIONS
As reported by Dustin Barnes in USA TODAY...Next month, Columbia University will offer six additional graduation ceremonies based on race, ethnicity and other self-identifying factors of undergraduate students.
Native, Asian, Latino and Black graduations are listed as options where students can register, as well as a Lavender graduation for the LGBTQ community, and a ceremony for first-generation and low-income students.
A university spokesperson told USA TODAY these events are in addition to the university-wide commencement ceremony and are open to any student who wants to participate. In many cases, the voluntary multicultural ceremonies initially were created by alumni and students.
"These events provide a more intimate setting for students and guests to gather, incorporate meaningful cultural traditions and celebrate the specific contributions and achievements of their communities," read a statement on the school's website.
Multicultural graduation ceremonies are common at other colleges across the nation. Georgetown University, which holds ceremonies for Asian, African and Latino communities, says the events are "a way to bring students of color together."
Texas Woman's University and Portland State University also have multicultural graduation events planned later this year.