Previously posted on my Facebook page.
New York Times: “What Does African Rejection Mean for the U.S.?” And adds: “The U.S. is losing its terror-fighting presence in Africa. That’s not a bad thing if Washington uses the development to help African governments deliver more to their citizens.” The issue in Africa isn’t terror but economic opportunity. Which the U.S. lost in the last few years. Top FDI country or investor in Africa is China; 16 percent. The U.S. and France hold eight percent each. ☮️☮️☮️
New York Times: “Just How Dangerous Is Europe’s Rising Far Right?” And adds: “Anti-immigration parties with fascist roots — and an uncertain commitment to democracy — are now mainstream.” What is really dangerous? Media stereotyping of the shift of people-power in Europe. By perennially aligning a populist call for immigration reforms amidst economic freefall, the issue is driven as solely a political tempest, not an economic fact. 👉👉👋
Smithsonian: “Can Anger Affect Your Heart Health? Scientists Find the Strong Emotion Impacts How Blood Vessels Function.” Can anger affect mental health? I mean, don’t we know this already? Plus blood pressure, of course. No need for hugely-funded new medical study or scientific research. But then this is an effective rationale to issue more drugs after shrink visits. Be angry as long as you have your pills at your hand’s reach. But are we really fixing it? 😠🫀😡
NY Times: “Israel and Saudi Arabia Are Trading Places.” Thomas L. Friedman adds: “Netanyahu is making his nation more like the worst of the old kingdom, and the crown prince is making his kingdom more like the best of the old Jewish state.” Even before the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Israel’s leadership was already in shambles. Bosschief America was busy with the Ukraine war. While Saudi Arabia played golf, hosted concerts, and joined BRICS. 🇮🇱☮️🇸🇦
NY Times: “Campus Protests Give Russia, China and Iran Fuel to Exploit U.S. Divide.” And adds: “America’s adversaries have mounted online campaigns to amplify the social and political conflicts over Gaza flaring at universities.” I don’t think U.S. rivals care that much about the social or political. It’s all trade deals. As America gets embroiled in a student storm, Trump theater, and Israel on Gaza, BRICS gains. Meantime, check China’s new economic high. 🇮🇱✊🇵🇸
New York Times: “Soldiers exposed to thousands of low-level blasts from firing weapons like mortars say that they wind up with debilitating symptoms of traumatic brain injury — but no diagnosis.” Besides the physical damage, the mental beat-down is harder to fix. But sadly, these don't shake the masters of war. With A.I., now they create weapons that soldiers need not hold at all. Robots or computer screens will do that from a great distance. One click, 1 thousand dead. ☮️☮️☮️
AP: “An AI-powered fighter jet took the Air Force’s leader for a historic ride. Here's what that means for war.” A.I. helps direct drones to their targets. No person needs to hold the trigger or make the final decision to detonate. The development of lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs) or A.I.-equipped drones is on the rise. DARPA* works on making swarms of 250 A.I. drones available to the U.S. military. The future of wars. Deadly detachment. Video game killings. (*DARPA: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.) 🦿🤖🦾
Smithsonian: “How Artificial Intelligence Is Making 2,000-Year-Old Scrolls Readable Again.” Am I interested in reading a centuries-old manuscript? Maybe. But would the universe benefit from such a fix? I don't think so. This A.I. madness negates humanity's primal reflex, struggles in imperfection, and pursuit of happiness. My existence is anchored on seeking answers and finding ways to survive. I don’t want these handed to me in an Amazon box. 🦿🤖🦾
Rolling Stone: “Randy Travis's New Song Recreates His Voice With AI Technology.” Travis, who lost his speech after suffering a stroke in 2013, used an AI voice clone on “Where That Came From.” So are we up to Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, and Janis Joplin A.I. records? Well, they already had John Lennon sing in a “new” Beatles song. As for me, they are already dead but I still play their songs–before the was A.I. Just my reality. 🎼🤖🎼
Smithsonian: “World's First Race of A.I.-Driven Cars Was Filled With Spins, Swerves and Stops.” Everything will be obsolete, I guess. Driving means a remote control via your cellphone. And NASCAR are “drivers” controlling and manipulating their cars to win from afar. Do we still call this driving? Nope. I guess, baristas and checkout cashiers and bank tellers etc etcetera will all be A.I. robots. Would I want to live or coexist in that future nightmare? Nope. 🦿🤖🦾
