Wednesday, December 11, 2019

more digital illusions 2


MORE DIGITAL ILLUSIONS 2
A lot of Optimistic Ollies think that we are in some kind of technological utopia. Typically, they keep asking Krumpus for a FLIR scope for Christmas, and I think this is a very dangerous game to be playing. You piss that dude off and he is going to Disappear you. Technologically, we have not advanced past the moon landing. All the crap we had then, we have now, and nothing more advanced. It is improved, but it isn't new, exciting or innovative. Hell, I think we even had sharks with laser beams on their heads back then.
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Don't get me wrong. Compared to dial up modems and floppy discs, we ARE in the golden computer age. Adjusted for inflation, the cheapest computer for personal desktop use is about 10% of what it cost in the last millennium. But none of the technology is NEW. Improved is not new. Fracking for oil might be improved, but it is nearly a century old technology. Can we PLEASE stop acting like AI and self driving cars are mere months away? They keep promising nuclear fusion, any day now, and it is in the dustbin along with flying cars and Meal In A Pill.
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Artificial Intelligence. From a bunch of idiots who cannot even use their biological computer to any good effect. Sure. Let me contact my Vegas bookie for those odds. The eggheads in the labs all think Fracking Forever and Gore Warming, Political Correctness and The Big Bang Theory ( I mean, sure, it is better than NO theory, but not by a wide margin ). We got almost all of our technology from Nazi's, under Operation Paperclip, and I'm pretty sure they screwed us on vital details.
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Wouldn't you, if you were a Slave Scientist? Cooperate just enough to stay out of jail, and you were able to enjoy the wonders of Spam and NBC TV, instead of Bratwurst and opera. Gee, what a deal. Although, I have doubts the Germans were too involved in computers, having little military application ( they didn't need a computer for artillery projectile calculations, having both better cannon and soldiers who knew what they were doing. That was what we used our first computer for, by the way ). High tech in the military is no substitute for skill and intelligence.
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Not that this stopped us from trying. As our industrial capacity for dumb munitions faltered, the military was already into high tech munitions during Vietnam. Probably the Air Force, a bunch of techno-weenies whose primary duty was to outspend the Navy on shiny munitions delivery vehicles. The Nazi's primary advancement was not in high tech so much as it was in the ability to apply any technology in new ways. They could jettison old ways of waging war, far better than their enemies. Who, let us note, never advanced beyond fighting the Civil War. We take the latest and greatest technology, then apply it to primitive industrial warfare fighting. And are shocked when it doesn't perform.
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Who could EVER have seen that coming? High tech does NOT save money, or resources. Like all robots, or automation, or labor saving devices, it only minimizes the reliance on personnel. It is a lazy way of doing anything, and the cost, besides monetary, is increased vulnerability. The old joke used to be, “works much better, until it breaks”, but now, the crap simply isn't working. Low quality Chinese crap programmed by low quality ( dot ) Indian programmers. But it sure saves on labor!
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We are too ignorant as a society, too lazy culturally, blinded by hubris and indoctrinated rather than educated, and we can't produce AI. We can't even make dependable infrastructure to support its components. What makes anyone think that this mess of our computing communications infrastructure can adequately support cryptocurrencies? The machines and workers for it are substandard. Even if all the parts work, there are other issues such as Chinese computer chip security, normal hacking concerns, and even reliable electrical service.
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If anyone who followed the news and learned about Northern California turning off its electricity two weeks at a time still thinks computer networks are a viable tool, I don't imagine anything is going to wake you up out of your happy unicorn delusional fantasy. Who the hell needs a solar flare or an EMP when our electrical networks can't keep the juice flowing in “normal, non-Spicy” times? And you want to have your money tied into that grid? It isn't bad enough we can barely trust paper currency ( since they all, always, revert to what they are actually worth )? You want machines running The Blue Screen Of Death to control and safeguard your savings?
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And that isn't even touching on the dependability of the organizations issuing such currency. One crypto company went bankrupt after a hacking attack. So much for a “secure” currency. Take a look at drug cartels, one of the best organizations around living in a harsh unforgiving Darwin environment. Are they using crypto's? If they are so great defeating the government, why aren't the cartels using them? I'm also of the mind the strong possibility of our government funding the whole crypto thing to begin with, but that is me being paranoid.
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Even if the NSA doesn't have access to the things, complete data tracking, the Chinese are most likely can hack the hell out of them. In fact, China has outlawed crypto's, and I don't think it is because “they can't control them”. They can't exactly control cash or bullion, either, insofar as taxes or creation. Perhaps they also think the US intelligence services are involved. Or, they just view them as Ponzi schemes, get rich quick hucksters feeding on fears of fiat currency and the erroneous over reliance on technology. I could be wrong. As I said, I simply don't know a lot about them, other than enough to distrust them.
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And what is all this inflated pricing? Is this a currency, or a penny stock? Is this a new way of holding wealth, or a new Pets Dot Com? It sure seems like a new Greater Fool Investment pyramid scheme to me. Again, I only know enough to be cautious. I'm not trying to hold on to my buggy whip as Ford covers the roads with that horseless carriage. I'm saying, with no new technology in fifty years, this just seems like a lot more VaporWare nonsense.
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I'd rather hold my wealth in depreciating dollars, a currency very soon destined to languish in Hell with The Continental, the Zimbabwe and Confederate Dollar and the Iraq Dinar, than to trust crypto's. Fiat currency is always a promise you cannot trust, but at least you can hold them in hand for as needed, instead of relying on already oft proven unreliable digital illusions.
( .Y. )
( today's related Amazon link click HERE )
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note: if you like Gregory Mannarino, vampire day trader, and I do as he seems quite the intelligent guy on analysis, yesterday's post market report talks about increased liquidity with an end game of a credit freeze.  No timing-this is long ( ish ) term, no immediate doom and gloom HERE 
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note: free for today books, zombie, HERE 
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20 comments:

  1. I think we are being given hints at infrastructure failures right now. When FEMA bumps it's recommended supplies up from 72 hours to two weeks (before the rolling blackouts were announced) and DHS says thats nice, prepare for six months, you know something is in the pipeline.

    FEMA basically says they can only provide help for about 20 million people. To put that in perspective, if NYC and Philadelphia go dark, everyone not there had better look somewhere else for help. Those that are there can expect the stellar service experienced in Katrina.

    Bringing up EMP and solar flares are a dramatic way to get funding to update the power grid, but doesn't solve the problem of producing the power. Those pains are in the works right now, not just in Cali.

    https://www.utilitydive.com/news/national-grid-says-no-new-nyc-gas-customers-until-state-approves-pipeline/555283/

    Then there is the issue of a Dark Sky event. If something happens to trip the power grid, we no longer have the reserve to restart it.

    EMPs make for great reading, but all it would really take to break the power infrastructure is a good old fashioned New Madrid earthquake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good point-it has been 200 years since New Madrid.

      Delete
  2. Never burn bridges, correct. And, never assume it WON'T collapse tomorrow. Frugal prepping lets you have your cake and eat it too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm in the mood for quotes.
    Today's BisonPrepper column has a copious plethora of 'em as does our beloved Wrenchr2.
    Screenshot after screenshot... to be savored long into in my advanced dotage.

    *****

    Raised on a farm and all, I happen to like the smell of mule sweat and leather saddles, solid and predictable.
    The various fragrances of digital currencies, not so much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Savored, assuming you aren't drooling like Hilary. Or, should we start making fun of Pelosi now? S

      Delete
  4. I was looking at night vision recently. The quality seems better than I remember, and the price has started to come down. I still can't afford it though. I prefer to hide if possible, instead of getting into ninja operator type gun battles. I am buying more canning jars, lids, and rings while the getting is good. Maybe I can pick up some night vision after the the die off. Demented Guy

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    Replies
    1. Good prioritizing. Food first. FLIR and NVD's belong with Hookers And Blow, Yuppie Scum ninja tactical gear.

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  5. There are some businesses now that accept crypto currency, so it apparently does have some validity. My brother bought some LSD off of the dark web, using an anonymous crypto acct. He got it too, and it was the real deal. There’s a rule of thumb on how much you should own, but it escapes me at the moment.

    I get where you’re coming from with regards to new innovations. The transistor was invented some 60 years ago, and that was a major upgrade from the old vacuum tube. Miniaturization of transistors, has allowed us to cram a lot more data processing into a much smaller package, and really, that’s much of what passes for “advanced technology” today. A process or function that once required a Cray supercomputer, that took up an entire room, can now be performed with a smart phone, so it appears that we’ve progressed considerably. But affirmative action ruins everything, including innovation.

    Speaking of Elvis, I haven’t seen him in a while. Though I’m pretty sure that I spotted Michael Jackson heading into a Walmart last week. The sign outside said “Boy’s underwear, ½ off” :D

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  6. Gregory Mannarino is probably one of the best market analysts out there. His "vampire" look is due to his unhealthy lifestyle. He is so committed to being the best that he gets up in the middle of the night, when he should be sleeping, to check market and political action on the other side of the world. He said this on a video a while back, and the proof is in the permanent dark areas under his eyes. He's also stated repeatedly his favorite asset is physical silver. He knows the markets are giant rigged scams, but also knows how to make mega-bucks off of them. He likes cryptos because he can predict their action and make money off of them. I think cryptos are a giant scam, so I don't participate. I hope G-man has food and other preps, and not just a debt-free fancy house and BMW.
    Romans 14:11

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    1. He seems smart enough to both have beans and bullets, and to not tell us about them. I understand being committed to being the best-oy, the sacrifices I've made for my hair.

      Delete
  7. Here's something out there.

    I'm not saying this.

    *deep breath*

    The nukes used on Imperial Japan were ones captured from the Nazi's. What's more is that one was dropped on Tokyo but failed to detonate which is why Tokyo was firebombed to the extent it was.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You lost this one...Great improvements in technology have brought about advances in medicine, communication, computers and comp systems, etc. Improvements have allowed for gene therapy, ground penetrating radar, stem cell therapy, better communication systems, quantum computers, human body scanning for disease, enormous correlative analysis using specific data sets, chip implants (used for signaling body systems), and so much more. Like it or not, technology has made great strides.
    Modern Throwback

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    1. Right. IMPROVEMENTS!!!! Not innovation. Nothing NEW.

      Delete
    2. Improvements is a generalized word I used for my leading sentence about technology. Technology, as a sector, has had great improvements. Within the technology sector there have been inventions, new techniques, new discoveries. The word 'improvements' encapsulates it all.

      Explain how gene therapy is nothing more than an improvement. Gene therapy is unique. And the same with stem cell therapy. Growing autologous cells via centrifuge is only an improvement?

      You're going to give Luddites a worse rep than they already have.
      Modern Throwback

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    3. The initial work to ID DNA was started about the 1880's, leading up to final "discovery" in the early 50's. Gene therapy is stupidity disguised as advancement. GMO's for humans. Which is a horror show unto itself. We are retarded monkey's playing with the forces of nature without true understanding. Tell me the sciences aren't full of Diversity Hires and political hacks. Junk Science is what we have today, indicative of civilization decline. To assure yourself otherwise you must jettison all cynicism, paranoia and skepticism. Once you remove "science" and "technology" from their pedestals, you'll understand how we are moving backwards into superstition ( "Greta Warming, because my grant told me so" )

      Delete
  9. Actually, DNA was discovered in 1860s. However, with DNA being part of genetics, some of our very old scientists (Aristotle and Hippocrates, for example) were involved with genetic/hereditary theories more than 2,000 years ago. Most people think of Mendel though, due to his biological experimentation.

    Human genes cannot be patented. However, gene therapies ARE patented. Why is this? Because they are a unique, discovered product -- a new INNOVATION -- that was developed by a particular entity (person, group of persons, institute/corporation). This is one example of true innovation that you cannot deny.

    I'm not going to address the rest of your comments because they're not part of my point and offer nothing of substance to what my point has been.
    Modern Throwback

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    1. Now you want me to get started on the patent system and abuses? LOL

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    2. Go for it...we both know they're there. (But there are some legit patents, and I have better hair than you.)
      Modern Throwback

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    3. I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that hair blasphemy. You're welcome.

      Delete

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