Entries by An Unnamed Baldnobber (327)

Tuesday
Dec072021

Alphabet to the rescue!

     During our early Covid Days, we measured the likely time to develop vaccines against historical experiences that had available far less sophisticated research tools.  I noticed today, commentary about the emerging Omicron Variant virus only a week after first identification.  In only a few days Google's Deep Mind group had used their Alpha Go 2, AI "thinking machine" to an analyze and speculate  about the way in which the new variant will transform in contact with the vaccine antibodies.  Given the remarkable recent history of this AI software's ability to predict complex structural biology events, there is a pretty good chance that the Alpha Go 2 prediction that the current vaccines will neutralize the Omicron Variant, are pretty good.

 Mark Twain for Alphabet 

Monday
Dec062021

The 'Argument" leads to only one result

     If a sustained claim that any political reality constitutes an "existential threat", then it irrefutably follows that all remedies should be on the table.  In that 100 million Americans are fully down on "Biden's Communist Takeover", well we're just waiting for the civil war to start...and regrettably there appears little hope to avoid this tragedy. While it's likely that the Schiff's, Garlands, and Harris's will quickly surrender waving an "appeasement flag", this will not be the response of BLM, Stacy Abrams and Silicon Valley. Guess who will be high profile in their corner?  China, China, and China

Wednesday
Nov242021

Leading Messiah Candidate....Jordan Peterson

  The "pod cast age" is in full bloom.  Joe, Sam, Dave, and countless thousands daily offer instant wisdom to a shakey culture.  Like all things performative, each plays to a shifting nitch audience.  Commonly, their respective target audiences are easily identified with a ten minute listen.  Some, however, are more nuanced and wide reaching than others.  Judging by the likes, perhaps none more so than Jordan Peterson, the Canadian psychology academic, who prolifically offers conservative values packaged in rigorous academic verbiage. Adding  to Peterson's enormous popularity, he is, counter intuitive for an academic, strong masculine, family oriented, widely read, and moderately combative.  If this isn't enough, he presents as recovering from life threatening physical issues and often looks weary and pale. 
    It isn't clear whether Peterson found the "alt-right/evangelical/Q'anon" following or whether they found Peterson.  Regardless, his legitimate intellectual pedigree coupled with his strident support for "spirit", has pushed his lectures and conversations into a whole new league.  For example, the following comments from the literally thousands of devotees who follow and amplify his like-ability.:
   
       Buckaroo Bonsaitree
  2 weeks ago

  Seeing the change in Jordan’s life in real time as he spills his guts and shares his innermost   feelings knowing they will alienate some, has been quite an experience. I’m glad Jesus is working   in him. Shalom

      Michele Broyles

  I'm so worried about him. This man, is a gift to us all.  And he is wasting away in front of us. 
 
     It seems obvious to me that the huge segment of Americans who navigate their conscious experience with three parts emotion and one part reason, have found a believable and defendable hero.  This is a very good trend.  Although...
      Perhaps if they listen a little more closely to what Peterson actually says and swooned a little less over how  "modern righteous" he presents, well maybe we might move the cultural needle in the direction of.....

                "Can't, we all just get along"
 

 

 
Sunday
Oct172021

per formative...Trauma Response

 They (my social media sculptured feed) recently reported that Tik Tok had almost single handedly brought the phrase "Trauma Response" to daily common usage in the developed world.  Johnathan Haid, the Psychology populariser reported a study suggesting that 54% of young white women report that they have been diagnosed with mental illness.  At 75+, I remember that most of my life was lived in a "pre-stress" world view.  Of course I knew the word "stress", but it did not occur to me that I could weaponize it until some where in my 40's. 

     In that the popularizing of stress as the "go to platform" has been wildly successful in the marketplace, on the job, in the bedroom, and in well, everywhere,  it is little surprise that, over time, the manipulative value has diminished.  Cynical perhaps, but it often seems that a primary benefit of SSRI Medications is the enhanced social power one derived from announcing their usage.  

     But, alas, as our social encounter advantage is being neutralized by a level playing field, wherein everyone has announced "stress", there is little choice except to either "put on a Nike hat and just do it"....or develop the per formative art skill of "Trauma Response" Far too many have chosen to escalate from from "please help" to "must help". They are now living their lives in a never ending chain of self described/self initiated Traumas.  I can't remember...is this "fragil" or anti-fragil".  Either way, it's getting pretty dark around here!

 

Sunday
Oct172021

Die Rich...Die Poor

   Recently a couple who were long term family friends died.  More precisely, they died only a few days apart from non related lingering illnesses, he from heart disease and she from pneumonia.  They lives stable and responsible lives in an affluent neighborhood in a Midwestern city.  For twenty years they coped with their declining health and consequent support needs, in the manner touted for aging wealthy Americans.  They did not leave their long term million dollar suburban house, they continued to buy new cars, even as they were unable to drive, they supported their "not so financially fortunate" children, promoted charities, and generally sustained their adult lifestyle till the end.  

     Of course, carrying out this "end of life solution" required that they ongoingly hired various professionals to oversee their "activities of daily living" ADL's.  The lawyers, financial advisors, doctors, residence contractors, etc. were not new relationships and, it would seem, proved to be generally beneficial and stable.  Personal Care Services proved to be a different matter.  The list of agencies and provided staff that cared for their needs was long and captioned with failures, both great and small.  The only thing consistent in their twenty year saga of buying "24/7 in home services", was the cost.  It started out high and increased steadily.  As their needs ended, the charges were astounding.  One Caregiver was often not sufficient to complete ADL services for two frail elderly persons, both impaired yet cogent such that their food, clothing, communication, hygiene, aesthetics, resulted in heavy agendas.  Our friends made it through this treacherous stage in the life cycle.  They paid someone to contract for, on average, 250 hours per week of "in home care' at hourly costs that escalated from around $25 per hour in 2000 to about $45 per hour 20 years later. At the end of their lives the cost for their "Personal Care" was approaching $50,000 per month.

     I am not sure why I have memorialized this story.  I don't know whether it is a good story or a bad story. However, at 78, I have little patience for ambivalence.  I do know that this friend could have lived as well, and perhaps better in a Four Star Assisted Living for less than $10,000 per month.  As such, I feel a compulsion to judge and offer my take that a culture and the economy that enables this is solution is far from optimal.  Yes, I know some of the elitist  "trickle down" justifications for privilege. but.....

PS:  I would like to believe that if I had resources for "end of life" care similar to this friend, I would opt for the $10,000 Assisted Living Facility door and leave the $10,000,000 "opulence premium" to the Gates Foundation.