tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12244724255633478512024-10-04T19:01:23.563-07:00The Redwood GuardianMichael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.comBlogger493125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-33925112488302207942023-05-16T15:21:00.000-07:002023-05-16T15:21:29.357-07:00Artificial Intelligence: You should be concerned.
The basic definition of "intelligence" is "the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills."A myriad of life forms can do this. Humans appear to have become better at it than others.
In the 20th Century we created language oriented machines - computers - to support and supplement our intelligence. And predictably in the beginning of the 21st Century those machines have become sophisticatedMichael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-88715976196420565852023-02-26T16:52:00.000-08:002023-02-26T16:52:02.559-08:00Capitalist involvement 20 years ago: Why Putin, and a majority of Russians, will keep fightingAt the outset, you need to understand that an article in The Guardian 18 years ago titled "US campaign behind the turmoil in Kiev" explained:
But while the gains of the orange-bedecked "chestnut revolution" are Ukraine's, the campaign is an American creation, a sophisticated and brilliantly conceived exercise in western branding and mass marketing that, in four countries Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-80062593330180727192022-12-06T17:19:00.070-08:002022-12-07T14:55:22.880-08:00Windfarms 5, Gray Whales -? The Ocean is being sold to private interests who will sell you electricity.
Fifteen years ago I began this blog. The concern was that government was going to lease California's ocean to corporations to develop alternative electrical energy sources.On Wednesday, August 1, 2007, the first post in this blog Limited Time Only - Act now to own your piece of the Pacific Ocean off the Mendocino Coast was offered. It addressed a plan to use "wave energy" generation systems to Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-30414046527713568052022-10-27T13:45:00.004-07:002022-10-27T13:48:09.061-07:00"Chaotic Future." "Severe Disruption." Let's use the phrase "a future world of death and destruction!"For humans who can read, the press today is letting us know the "news" that we have successfully put the Earth's climate on track for a devastating 2.5 degrees Celsius rise in temperatures by 2100, a future world of death and destruction.
It is very clear that the people of the United States and China will assure that the anticipated world of death and destruction will be achieved by the year Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-35534032669292721972022-10-15T16:37:00.004-07:002022-10-15T16:37:56.914-07:00About that racist meeting involving LA City Council members: Oaxaca is a historically significant stateCalifornia. Wikipedia has a whole separate article on the etymology of "California." But the subject here is about Los Angeles, California, particularly the City and the problem created this past week by the President of its City Council.Specifically in a recording that was secretly made nearly a year ago involving three council members and a union president meeting about redistricting, Council Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-7187778885576332192022-10-07T15:31:00.001-07:002022-12-29T15:27:42.181-08:00It appears the world is going to overreact and mishandle the Extended Economic Distortion
In a newsletter this afternoon, the folks at Bloomberg observed, in part:
Nonfarm payrolls increased 263,000 in September while the unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%, matching a five-decade low. Average hourly earnings also rose firmly.
The figures are the latest illustration of the worrisome strength of the US job market, at a time when theMichael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-69914018124265442582022-09-30T14:45:00.001-07:002022-10-27T11:38:50.837-07:00Hurricane Ian: Ignoring history is one of the most consistent behaviors of humanity including climate.
Ignoring history is one of the most consistent behaviors of humanity. And so it is with weather, a symptom of or, if you prefer, a creation of climate.
Written in the Big Wind: Hurricanes spell doom for coastal development appeared in the September 1991 edition of Harper's written by writer Bob Shacochis who in August 1986 with his wife moved to Hatteras, one of the long barrier islands of NorthMichael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-6561968985315771612022-08-28T15:54:00.000-07:002022-08-28T15:54:16.132-07:00The Vietnam War: What it meant when the blind pro-war propaganda of a previous generation threatened your commitment to right and wrong?For Americans of my age, this photo published in 1972, came 15 years too late. By then 58,000+ of us had been killed by a choice made by a majority of American voters. After a napalm bomb was dropped on the village of Trảng Bàng, suspected by United States Army forces of being a Viet Cong stronghold, Kim Phúc (aged 9; middle left) runs naked in the street after tearing off burning clothing. Also Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-45334842609001708082022-08-17T16:28:00.001-07:002022-08-17T16:29:04.819-07:00Will there ever come a time when Americans, or reporters, will know the facts about the nation? One can't help but admire the tenaciousness of Liz Cheney and I do hope she continues to work against Trump. But reading the news today gives me little hope that America will ever gain a sense of balance.The combined populations of Wyoming and Alaska is about 1.3 million people or 0.4% of the U.S. population. They have in total the same 0.4% of America's registered voters. That poplation Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-33272988451894036172022-08-11T13:28:00.001-07:002022-08-11T13:36:46.887-07:00Let's be clear - per the new sixth annual IPPC report the behavior of people as expressed in civilization is the cause of the climate crisis.
The following was posted one year ago. The situation is worse today as generally indicated in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.
This week should have stimulated in this writer hope for the future of civilization. It has not.
The latest update in a new United Nations–led report from the International Panel on Climate Change prepared by Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-1812982945683610502022-07-26T15:24:00.001-07:002022-07-26T15:26:19.242-07:00Extended Economic Distortion: It's Year 3 of ???
In a May 2, 2020, post here the term "Extended Economic Distortion" was introduced:
In this writer's opinion, too many pundits talk about the economic situation in terms of a recession or even a depression. The problem is mankind has never before seen an economy like the economy of the first two decades of the 21st Century. So we have never seen a reaction to a radical Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-79697610203899193412022-07-18T14:13:00.001-07:002022-07-18T14:15:39.749-07:00"Hot Helen" and "Scorching Sam" - naming and categorizing heat waves should be coming soon
Like hurricanes, heatwaves will soon be named.
Humans have been a bit slow to acknowledge the real threats of Climate Change. But we see today headlines in British newspapers like ‘Heat apocalypse’ warning in western France as thousands flee wildfire.
In June we read In world's first, Spain's Seville to name and classify heatwaves. While here at home, if you read the article Heat waves Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-14390098683195382112022-07-06T14:44:00.001-07:002022-07-06T14:47:37.652-07:00For Californians it is time to initiate a process to leave the "Union" to become a separate republicIt is not a surprise that the San Francisco Chronicle this week published a piece California has two choices in these dark times: lead or secede. Because the U.S. Supreme Court's embracing theonomy is the immediate cause of this discussion (see California must protect itself from the rise of "A Handmaid's Tale" theonomist judiciary as more is at risk than abortion and gay marriage), this Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-89528201906423642462022-06-26T13:17:00.005-07:002022-06-26T13:23:19.262-07:00California must protect itself from the rise of "A Handmaid's Tale" theonomist judiciary as more is at risk than abortion and gay marriage
Theonomists use Biblical moral pronouncements as the standard by which the laws of governments may be measured.
Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition is a popular meme which, if you click the link, is supported by videos viewed by millions, graphic images, and even T-shirts. It has not been used in reference to the Supreme Court. Yet.
Contrary to everything I understand about religion Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-85470915533757006492022-04-21T14:45:00.001-07:002022-12-29T15:29:29.796-08:00The Extended Economic Distortion and a review of what it was like living in America during WWII
In a May 2, 2020, post here the term "Extended Economic Distortion" was first introduced:
In this writer's opinion, too many pundits talk about the economic situation in terms of a recession or even a depression. The problem is mankind has never before seen an economy like the economy of the first two decades of the 21st Century. So we have never seen a reaction to a Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-32033696063985673522022-04-14T13:27:00.000-07:002022-04-14T13:27:17.921-07:00This article caused me an "Oh crap" moment after 40 years worrying about advocating computer tech; Elon Musk's Twitter offer magnifies the anguish
I had just placed in perspective my worries after reading the above article a few days ago when Elon Musk's offer to buy Twitter made the headlines. Today at the livestreamed TED 2022: A New Era conference Musk explained that he hopes to “open source the algorithm” to try and improve trust in the platform.
“Twitter has become kind of the de facto town square, so it is just really important that Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-71842172919792584382022-03-19T13:19:00.003-07:002022-03-19T13:55:03.051-07:00You've heard of NATO, but probably not the UK Joint Expeditionary Force. Ignorance is American.
If you think the U.S. and NATO are leading the European response to the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, you might be surprised to learn that leaders of the UK Joint Expeditionary Force nations (shown on the map above) met on March 14 at Chequers, the country house of Britain’s prime minister.
The next day, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a statement to the press:
&Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-85273230896262274002022-03-01T13:58:00.002-08:002022-03-06T15:50:39.724-08:00As with the complexities of Climate Change and The Covid Economy, European History Complicates (The) Ukraine More Than Americans UnderstandIf you didn't notice, we have been again informed by experts who completed a new study that Climate Change has started and cannot be stopped.
Also the Covid-created Extended Economic Distortion continues unabated as the cost-of-living skyrockets.And then there is the Russian invasion of Ukraine...
Administrative Divisions of the Soviet Union during Putin's lifetime.
...or The Ukraine as it was Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-60800501569294070262021-11-13T15:25:00.005-08:002022-07-21T10:34:02.393-07:00Climate Change Black Death: No, lithium production is not inherently an environmentally friendly way to the future
In Plans To Dig the Biggest Lithium Mine in the US Face Mounting Opposition you can learn about growing resistance to plans by Lithium America, mostly owned by China’s Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest producer of the element, to mine lithium at at Nevada's Thacker Pass.
The opponents view lithium extraction as the latest gold rush, and fear that the desperation to Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-3484435090664980732021-10-07T14:03:00.002-07:002022-12-29T15:31:43.320-08:00The Covid-created Extended Economic Distortion has morphed into a shortage consumer economy In the March 6 post here Will the American economy be "at anchor" with nowhere to go? An Extended Economic Distortion? it was noted a record of 40 container ships were at anchor at the ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach on February 1. That's now up to 70+ as the number of full containers languishing in expanded storage areas have multiplied over the months.
Perhaps the most comprehensive Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-39522515048386955782021-08-10T12:26:00.002-07:002022-08-11T13:14:00.556-07:00Let's be clear - the behavior of people as expressed in civilization is the cause of the climate crisis
This week should have stimulated in this writer hope for the future of civilization. It has not.
The latest update in a new United Nations–led report from the International Panel on Climate Change prepared by hundreds of climate scientists around the world tells us the human-driven climate crisis is now well under way. Essentially civilization is in trouble.
Civilization as explained in Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-22361055676018309562021-08-05T14:49:00.001-07:002021-08-05T14:51:16.590-07:00For the record the "new" Covid variants are Delta Plus, Epsilon, Lamda; like Delta they are spreading
Seven months ago, on January 5, in Welcome to the second year of Covid-19 in which new, more dangerous variants are already here we noted that new Covid-19 variants were on their way to your community.Since then, the Delta variant has become the dominant infection. That's what "variants" do - compete to become the new, more infections dominant. As an example the Santa Clara County Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-11880036564843793312021-07-31T15:56:00.002-07:002021-08-04T12:11:59.667-07:00Bemoaning the loss of the Mythic California Dream: How can so many not know what Steinbeck knew?
The California Dream is the psychological motivation to gain fast wealth or fame in a new land. As a result of the California Gold Rush after 1849, California's name became indelibly connected with the Gold Rush, and fast success in a new world became known as the "California Dream". California was perceived as a place of new beginnings, where great wealth could reward Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-58310769132919425912021-07-24T16:34:00.002-07:002021-08-04T12:13:04.448-07:00We have always known that half of our population will not get vaccinated even as family members die
As someone who prior to the age of 15 nearly died of influenza three times, being vaccinated annually for the flu is just routine. Some years I still get the flu, not surprisingly because some don't see the need or just don't think about vaccines. Perhaps some have chosen to not be vaccinated.
It hasn't been made clear about the parallels between influenza and covid-19. Consider the facts. The Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1224472425563347851.post-38075852750666202462021-07-09T14:35:00.001-07:002021-07-09T14:47:01.208-07:00War is not a reflection of confidence but rather of vile, evil indecency, a last choice the result of failure
It has been the sorrow of members of "The Silent Generation" to have lived a life in which the above statement of President Biden's could not be implemented until 2021. We can only offer hope for peace for future American generations.We can also share the lessons learned from 1961 to 2021:Michael O'Faolain -http://www.blogger.com/profile/08206888737951629317noreply@blogger.com0