609 Maybe they're right

Well, the big news nationally is the election. My guess is it isn't going to be that close. The enthusiasm for #45 just isn't the same. Around where we live, that looks like this: supporters who took their old 2020 signs and cut them in half, removing the date and the old running partner.

The big news locally is a battle for control of our city hall. It's a little difficult to parse out exactly what's going on, and I won't bore you with the details, but it's basically the good old boys versus the newfangled technocrats, although all on the right side of the political spectrum. (Basically the same as our national politics.)

It's a funny, sad show. I'm not saying technocrats are always right, and I love things that don't change, but embracing going backwards isn't going to work. Outside of our memories, time seems to move in one direction. Forward. There's no going back. Ever. The past is gone.

No amount of wishing, voting, finger pointing or name calling is going to make you young again. That's the hope, but it ain't going to happen.

Now, on to big news. AI. Holy crap. It would seem that the technology that is going to save/destroy us all is a bit of a power hog. And while some technologists, and the AIs themselves, are calling for more nuclear power plants, there's another idea bubbling up: simpler math. Like, addition rather than multiplication.

As we move into a new era of computing, with AI agents we'll talk to like people taking over where we once struggled with various apps, OSes, websites, etc, powering all that math is turning out to be a big deal. 

A bit gory, for a pacifist like me, but it kinda gets the point across. 

Ever wonder what will happen when human's time here is over? The people of North Carolina just got a shocking, sad, powerful reminder of just how temporary this time we are living in is. 

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you understand this thread. Here's a new-ish (for the US) idea for converting the former business networking device called offices into something useful for our current age: housing. Since there aren't enough windows or plumbing in a high rise to redevelop them into individual apartments, some "more in the box" thinkers have come up with this idea: dorms. 

And side-by-sides! I wonder if there would be a market for a bumper sticker for huge pickups that reads "My other car is... Something smaller and fun."

Guys, can we just stop? 

My gosh, I sound like one of these people who wants to go back. Again. It's not easy to embrace the uncertainty of the future. 

Now, not every technology is going to be a win. Or even a help. But we're honestly in this, this technological wonder time, too deep to go back. I mean, mother nature might wipe the slate clean (see above North Carolina screenshot), but in the meantime us 8 billion smart monkeys are pretty much in this situation hand-in-hand with tech. 

Here comes more future, kids.

Whatever that means. What does it mean? On the surface it sounds like "wow, this could be AGI." But in reality it probably means avoiding bomb recipes and deepfakes. 

So, with leaded gas out of the picture, what is making Americans crazy again? 

Ok, a could more screenshots about housing conversions, then I'm outta here. I've got a back log of bike and battery news coming next, so maintain that position on the edge of your seat, and see you next time. Thanks for reading!

Oh, and this one, to go full circle. It's funny how both sides of the American political spectrum point at the other side and say "Fascist!"

Maybe they're right.