Global Disaster from Artificial Intelligence

Culturally, humanity is fascinated by the prospect of machines developing to the point of our destruction. Whether exploring threats from The Terminator, the Matrix, or even older films such as War Games, this type of story enthralls us. 

It’s not simply technology that fascinates us; what’s compelling is the prospect of technology drastically changing our every-day lives.

Our stories, however, are rooted in reality. As artificial intelligence (AI) is refined over the coming years and decades, the threats may not merely be stories. 

There are many potential ways in which artificial intelligence might come to threaten other intelligent life. Here are 6 realistically possible ways that AI could lead to global catastrophe.

1. Packaging Weaponized AI into Viruses
The world has seen several high-profile cyber-attacks over recent years. Simpler tactics such as Denial of Service attacks have escalated into high profile hacks (such as Experian) and even into ransomware attacks. 

In parallel, the number of interconnected devices and platforms has exploded with the advent of the Internet of Things and increased accessibility to consumer mobile products.  READ MORE...

Arriving

 

Plastic - Lasers - Diamonds

Plastics shocked with a high-energy laser generate nanodiamonds with a range of technological applications. (Image credit: Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

Using ultrapowerful lasers, scientists have blasted cheap plastic and transformed it into tiny "nanodiamonds" — and, in doing so, confirmed the existence of an exotic new type of water. .


The findings could potentially reveal the existence of diamond rain on ice giants in our solar system and explain why these frigid worlds have such strange magnetic fields. The laser-blasting technique could also lead to more Earthly applications.

Nanodiamonds are diamonds that measure just a few nanometers, or billionths of a meter. They have both existing and potential applications, such as turning carbon dioxide into other gases and delivering drugs into the body, study co-author Dominik Kraus, a physicist at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in Germany, told Live Science.  READ MORE...

Water Moves Shell

 

Sixteen Weeks After Back Surgery

This Wednesday will document 16 weeks since my lower back disk fusion surgery...  5 disks fused...  L2-L3-L4-L5-S1...

My first few weeks was not so much tough as there was minimal back pain, but it was depressing because my improvement was so slow...  Oftentimes, I felt like I was not making any progress at all.  I began walking and built myself up to 1.5 miles each day, only taking Sundays off to rest the body.

I also began therapy on my left hip because I was experience discomfort and the therapy helped but I also discovered that while there was no discomfort in my right hip, it was worst than my left hip but since it was not on the doctor's orders, it could not be treated.

When we went to Myrtle Beach, I walked along the hard sand for a mile each day until I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection.  When I returned home, my family doctor gave me another dosage of pills because I was not cured.

What I discovered at Myrtle Beach was that my back felt better after a night's sleep on the hard bed that was in our condo.  So, when we returned home, I increased my sleep number bed from 65 to 90 and each morning my back felt better.  I don't know if this hard bed concept will work for everyone but it worked for me.

This Thursday, I meet with my back surgeon and will probably be my last visit with him as I am sure he will release me totally...  I will also asked for therapy on both hips as well as my back as I am not walking with ease and I cannot use either legs without help to walk up stairs.  Other than that, my improvement while greadual is acceptable and I finally feel like I really getting closer to where I was.

Following instructions from the surgeon and walking were the keys to my improvement...  slow progress has got to be mentally acceptable and it was not for me which becomes a mental problem and forces you to make yourself walk...  it would be better if you did not have to force yourself like I did.

So, maybe you can learn from my experiences...

Here Come The Robots

The World Economic Forum (WEF) concluded in a recent report that “a new generation of smart machines, fueled by rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, could potentially replace a large proportion of existing human jobs.” 

The organization cites that automation will supplant about 85 million jobs by 2025. 

Currently, approximately 30% of all tasks are done by machines—and people do the rest. 

However, by the year 2025, it's believed that the balance will dramatically change to a 50-50 combination of humans and machines.

In a little over 3 months, it will be 2023 which means the year 2025 is only 27 months away...  and, believe me, 27 months is going to fly by especially with a Democratic President until 2024...

1. Robots don't get paid a salary or a wage
2. Robots don't complain
3. Robots don't need unions
4. Robots don't require breaks
5. Robots don't use the bathroom
6. Robots don't get sick
7. Robots don't need to take a vacation
8. Robots can work 24/7
9. Robots don't get pregnant
10. Robots don't drink alcohol
11. Robots don't take drugs
12. Robots don't come to work late

Half our jobs will be performed by robots with artificial intelligence so what will those people do who lose their jobs?  

Will they be taught how to build robots?  

How long will that take?

Will these people have to relocate?

What if they cannot learn the skills?

What about all the illegal immigrants that are coming into the USA, what jobs will they do that robots cannot do?

Who will take care of the people who lose their jobs?

How long will unemployment insurance last?

1. Robots can build solar panels
2. Robots can build cars
3. Robots can unload trucks and ships and aircraft
4. Robots can drive taxis and buses and trains
5. Robots can deliver packages
6. Robots can stock shelves
7. Robots can clean houses and businesses
8. Robots can mow lawns
9. Robots can give directions
10. Robots can take orders at restaurants
11. Robots can handle tech support by phone
12. Robots can make outgoing sales calls
13. Robots can take telephone orders
14. Robots can perform manufacturing jobs
15. Robots can perform assembly jobs
16. Robots can repair vehicles and heavy machinery
17. Robots can do construction jobs
18. Robots can cut trees down and load wood into trucks
19. Robots can repair railroad tracks
20. Robots can deliver the US mail

Shingles Don't Care!!!

We are experiencing high inflation

We are experiencing an increase in crime and violence

We are ignoring our Illegal Immigration crisis at our southern borders

We are ignoring our unemployment problem as employers cannot find workers

We are ignoring the increase of illegal drugs especially fentanyl

BUT SHINGLES DOESN'T CARE

The Liberals and Progressives want to do away with oil and gasoline and go green with electric vehicles even though the rest of the world is not following our lead...  and, regardless of how that movement will destroy our economy...

BUT SHINGLES DOESN'T CARE

The Democrats are so concerned about making sure that Donald Trump does not run again for President that they completely forgot to pay attention to the growth of China's military, economy, US debt owned, and the purchasing of land in the USA...

BUT SHINGLES DOESN'T CARE

The USA is more divided than during the CIVIL WAR...   politically we are divided 49.60 (Democrats) to 49.40 (Republicans)...  this division is exacerbated by the RACISM that exists here in the USA that is perpetuated by BLM, CRT, Being WOKE which is also being pushed by the mainstream media so that it is more of a problem than it really is especially since blacks represent 12% of our overall population....

BUT SHINGLES DOESN'T CARE

Our country is breaking apart, turning upside down, chasing fairy tales and dreams, and the rest of the world is losing respect for this country faster than Queen Elizabeth's funeral...

BUT SHINGLES DOESN'T CARE

Flying Low

 

Wireless EV Charging

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In our recent explainer on electric vehicle charging, you might have noticed that we didn't mention wireless EV charging. Now common on smartphones, wireless charging works the same way on cars, just at higher power levels and with much bigger batteries. 

But after some demos and news releases during the mid-teens, the technology seemed to fall off the radar.  Behind the scenes, though, engineers were hashing out an industry standard, aided by industry consolidation along the way. 

That's now final, and the first EVs with factory-fit wireless charging systems are starting to appear, albeit not here in the US just yet. But given its ease of use, even for drivers who can't imagine life beyond the gas pump, the potential for adoption seems good.

Ars got its first look at wireless car charging back in 2015. Back then, chip-maker Qualcomm was developing what it called Halo, which it was demonstrating at Formula E races by recharging the battery in a safety car, a BMW i8 plug-in hybrid. 

It wasn't the only outfit developing wireless charging, however. In Massachusetts, an MIT spinoff called WiTricity started playing around with wireless car charging in 2010 after an investment by Toyota.  READ MORE...

Classic Sunday Morning Newspaper Cartoons

 

Paper Coffee Filter & Cholesterol

New data suggest even paper-filtered coffee may raise “bad” LDL cholesterol.

In my video from more than a decade ago called Is Coffee Bad for You?, I explained that the “cholesterol-raising factor from…coffee does not pass [through] a paper filter.” 

As I discuss in my recent video Does Coffee Affect Cholesterol?, if you give people French press coffee, which is filtered but without paper, their cholesterol starts swelling up within just two weeks, as you can see below and at 0:22 in the video. 

But, if you switch them to paper-filtered coffee, their cholesterol comes right back down. It’s the same amount of coffee, just prepared differently.

The cholesterol-raising factor from coffee beans has since been identified as the fatty substances in the oil within coffee beans. 

One reason it took us so long to figure that out is that they didn’t raise cholesterol in rats, hamsters, or even in monkeys, but did in human beings, as you can see below and at 0:45 in my video.       READ MORE...

Girls

 

MIRI Anomoly

James Webb Space Telescope MIRI Spectroscopy Animation: The beam of light coming from the telescope is then shown in deep blue entering the instrument through the pick-off mirror located at the top of the instrument and acting like a periscope.Then, a series of mirrors redirect the light toward the bottom of the instruments where a set of 4 spectroscopic modules are located. Once there, the beam of light is divided by optical elements called dichroics in 4 beams corresponding to different parts of the mid-infrared region. Each beam enters its own integral field unit; these components split and reformat the light from the whole field of view, ready to be dispersed into spectra. This requires the light to be folded, bounced, and split many times, making this probably one of Webb’s most complex light paths.  To finish this amazing voyage, the light of each beam is dispersed by gratings, creating spectra that then projects on 2 MIRI detectors (2 beams per detector). An amazing feat of engineering! Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

Mid-Infrared Instrument Operations Update
The James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) has four observing modes. 

During setup for a science observation on August 24, a mechanism that supports one of these modes, known as medium-resolution spectroscopy (MRS), exhibited what appears to be increased friction. 

This mechanism is a grating wheel that allows astronomers to select between short, medium, and longer wavelengths when making observations using the MRS mode. 

Following preliminary health checks and investigations into the issue, an anomaly review board was convened on September 6 to assess the best path forward.  READ MORE...

Curious Cat

 

Heading in the Wrong Direction

All my life...  I have headed into the wrong direction...  and, while I have tried to blame this approach on my parents, it was my parents who actually enlightened me with their rhetoric...

"Don't go down this path..." they would warn and caution.  "As it is filled with obstacles, barriers, and unseen pitfalls."   And, I would look at them with curiosity because that is the direction I wanted to go...  I did not want to go down the same path that everyone else walked because it was comfortable and there was little resistence.  This other path that I wanted to take was created from the mistakes that everyone before me had made...  they cleared the way for me...  or, so they claimed.  It was a good ole boy system of you rub my back and I'll rub yours.

BUT...  I saw it as nothing more than kissing one's ass to get ahead...  and, I had no desire to do that or have my ass be kissed in the process...

So, I rebelled and took the other path.  And boy, did I get beat upon...  and, it did not let up throughout my 45 year career...  and when I finally retired at 67, I literally detested the workplace and especially management because of their arrogance and holier than thou attitudes...  and this included Christian Colleges and Universities where I worked...  sometimes these were worse than the non-christian places.

I concluded that these places were not run by Christians at all but by BARBARIANS that used the cloak of faith to hide their true feelings and behaviors.

Having made it through...   I am now retired and financially comfortable even with all this inflation simply because I spent my entire life saving.

Am I heading in the right direction now???

I have no frigging idea!!!

But, I am comfortable with my life and comfortable with who I am and comfortable with what I do each day...  I am never bored or disappointed...  except with the government...  and, I am wise enough to realize that there is not a damn thing I can do about it...  politicians come and go while some politicians remain and do nothing but protect their jobs and way of life.  In the process the become wealthy and live as they never lived before....  however, in the end, they all DIE just like I will die and everyone else will die as well...  it is just some will die sooner than they are supposed to, still we will all die eventually...  that is the reality of existence.

Existence is the reality of evolution and evolution is the reality of progress...  technology helps with that progress and right now is pushing us into a direction from which there is no return...  perhaps you see that negatively or perhaps you see that positively...   regardless...  it is happening.

Electric Vehicles with charging stations and increased wait time while they are being charged...

Robots with Artificial Intelligence will replace most of our professional and non-professional jobs in the next decade...

The wealthy will become wealthier, the poor will be able to lift up their heads a little higher and the middle class will gradually be non-existent as technology changes the complexion of all societies...

Government will be put into positions to take care of more and more residents because of all these robot workers and the lack of jobs...

In 20 years or so, I will be dead, and the rest of you will be FORCED to live with the UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES of progress, technology, going green, and doing nothing about the growing economic and military threat coming from CHINA.

ARE YOU GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION?

Slow Death of Summer

We are approaching the return of winter and are experiencing the slow death of the summer that we encouragingly refer to as FALL...  yet, all this does in delay the inevitable...  winter is coming and winter will be cold and wet...  however, until it arrives we must endure the gutting of summer.

Our temps will linger in the 70s for a few days perhaps weeks, then drop to the 60's for a few more days perhaps weeks, then edge down to the 50s where they will remain until winter defecates her chilly frigid weather upon us who live in the valley...  it is just a matter of time now...  and if, you are older than 50, time as you know it to be moves faster and faster each day as the weeks become days and the months become weeks and the years become months...  and, before long you are retired.

Peace be with you...  they say...  and with you be peace...  and, the end as we know it is near while at the same time far away.

Democrats over time mature into Republicans who over time digress into Liberals who cannot understand why they are referred to as progressives since life does not progress at all but declines over time as does our mental states.  We believe what we think we believe or should believe yet our whole existence revolves around some sort of comfortable survival...  but, society and those who sell us stuff, always want us to desire more.

Wanting more is a byproduct of success and success is a byproduct of progress...   that is to say until progress slows and turns to stagnation like a country pond with no place to go and nowhere to come from.

What then is our life to be about?  Especially when those who supposedly govern us like to LIE or withhold the truth so we are not fearful and left with anxieties...  or, so they claim.

We have become the body that is controlled by our tails and believe that it is just because we are a friendly sort...  but inside of that friendly attitude is a healthy dose of STUPIDITY and COWARDESS that can only arise out of the ashes of IGNORANCE...

Yes...   we are experience the slow death of summer which is no more than a metaphor for what is currently happening in America...  that is to say the United States of America as there are two other Americas of which we seldom refer since we only think about ourselves...

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT...