Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress to defend the privacy breach of Facebook. Some say the senators were soft on him while others say they treated him badly. I say “it’s about time!”

It’s easy to get lost in the details so I stepped back and I think I saw what was really going on. It’s the law catching up with technology. Mark and his Social Media geek buddies have been toying with people’s lives for so many years and now the adults have finally stepped in to regulate their fun and their greed.

Sadly, the Social Media game has had real consequences. People’s lives have been impacted — good and bad. Social Media is akin to the mythical Pandora. Once you open the box and free the evils of this world, they ain’t going back in. Just like nuclear weapons, the threat will keep on growing. What a comfort to know your nerdy graduation mug shots and indecent photos are immortalized to guarantee shame and horror to your grand kids..

I’m glad I consciously avoided Facebook. Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. as much as I could. I knew it would be addictive and a privacy nightmare. I control them. They do not control me.

The Facebook trial made me realize that the tech world is run by young selfish, wealthy and powerful kids who lack life experience and  knowledge of history. I don’t think they’re evil … just misdirected. That means they’re going to make a lot of unnecessary mistakes at our expense. And they have a new toy called AI.

Isaac Asimov, the famous Sci-Fi futurist warned us back in the 70s about AI (Artificial Intelligence) taking over so he proposed guidelines for robot programmers to adhere to in order to preserve the human species. (You can see his theories played out in the movie “I Robot.”).

Isaac Asimov’s 3 Robotic Laws:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Pretty insightful, huh? But brilliant as he was, Asimov failed to propose something more basic. You see, he was also an atheist. He avoided an ancient instruction manual called the Bible. If he read it and spread the wisdom in it, he might have written guidelines for moral decency and common sense. When they took out the Ten Commandments from our schools, it’s no surprise we’re in such a mess.

I believe in that ancient manual. And my hope rests in the promises therein — that good will triumph evil — the hackers, spammers and Identity thieves.

But this is just me.

“Common sense, common courtesy and common decency really do have a lot in common. They all disappeared around the same time.”
— Susan Gale

TGIF people!

Fun Facts

Shared by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Impossibilities

1) You can’t count your hair.

2) You can’t wash your eyes with soap.

3) You can’t breathe through your nose when your tongue is out.

Put your tongue back in your mouth, you silly person.

Ten (10) Things I know about you.

1) You are reading this.

2) You are human.

3) You can’t say the letter ”P” without separating your lips.

4) You just attempted to do it.

6) You are laughing at yourself.

7) You have a smile on your face and you skipped No. 5.

8) You just checked to see if there is a No. 5.

9) You laugh at this because you are a fun loving person & everyone does it too.

10) You are probably going to send this to see who else falls for it.

You have received this e-mail because I didn’t want to be alone in the idiot category.

TGIF Videos

Four Highly Strung Ladies
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Here are 4 glamorous musicians who make playing their instruments while making fun of themselves seem so effortless.

Watch Video

Difference Between Dumb Ass and Smart Ass
Sent by Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

We use the term “ass” literally so don’t get offended. Interesting to see there really are asses who are smarter than others.

Watch Video

AI Can Kill Us

Shared by Raoul

Disturbing facts about Artificial Intelligence. We already know that it has surpassed human thinking and capabilities — but what’s scary is the way it’s already being employed today. This guy’s kinda “gloom and doom.” The comments are pretty interesting.

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this photo

The post Friday Fun Test appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Is it just me, or has music just gotten worse? Am I just being an old fogey? Back when the world stepped into the 21st century, the logo I designed for the GRAMMY awards was posted all over the globe. I have not watched the GRAMMY awards since then so last Sunday I thought I’d see what our current crop of musicians were up to. Boy what a let down.

Is it any surprise that the GRAMMY viewership is at an all time low? There was no redeeming value I got out of that program. The fashion show was flamboyantly trashy, the dancing was an unimaginative jerking line dance, the music was formulaic, everyone was trying to “outcool” each other and the message was more political than musical.

If this is the pinnacle of the industry, that says volumes about our society — the people in power in the industry and the people who feed that cultural machinery. It’s the blind leading the blind — celebrities reassuring each other “not to worry if you have no substance — we don’t have any substance either! Join the party!” A celebration of the almighty Self — Godless is what it boils down to.

And what about the acceptance speeches? “Yo! I thanks mah manejer and mah bros like wow man! Is dis for reals?!?”

A billion dollar budget funneled to America’s education system and these weirdos are the product of that?!? We eez in trouble now!

It’s a celebration of the Kardashian culture of expensive trash and unbelievable stupidity — can’t talk straight, can’t dress straight and can’t think straight.

Am I being too judgmental? Sorry. I just feel that someone has to lay out a truth that most are too polite to mention.

Despite all that, there is hope. I’ve talked to quite a few millennials and you’ll be surprised that they are familiar with our “old songs”. Their parents played them when they were growing up. Many of the youth realize that their current music sucks. What a relief that they aren’t fooled by this charade. (Not that the oldies were perfect … but they’re a notch above the current genre — at least that’s what I think.) The oldies had actual lyrics, a proper bar of notes, with a crescendo, a fortissimo and a positive message. Right?

From one old fogey to another do you think our music was a little better? Let’s not be ashamed of it. Let’s encourage these young people to be musically creative. The GRAMMYs need not dictate who they are. Ask them what they think about the music they are exposed to. Remind them of the alternative sound of respect, decency and well crafted music.

“A family with an old person has a living treasure of gold”
— Chinese proverb

TGIF people!

Aphorisms

Contributed by Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

TGIF Videos

When a Cat Crashes His Bicycle in His Sleep?
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Positive proof that animals dream. Pretty cute.

WATCH

Sniper Prank in the Hood
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

“The suspect is in your sight. We’ve been compromised. Take the shot! Take the shot!”

WATCH

Parting Shot

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre who shared this photo

The post More Powerful than Artificial Intelligence appeared first on Traveling Archive.