Five Contributions to Society by Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was a polymath who made numerous contributions to society in various fields. Here are five things he is known for that had a significant impact on improving society*:

1. Invention of the Lightning Rod: Franklin's experiments with electricity led to the invention of the lightning rod, a device designed to protect buildings and structures from lightning strikes. This invention has saved countless lives and prevented property damage by safely redirecting electrical charges from lightning strikes to the ground.

2. Founding the First Public Library: Franklin founded the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731, which is considered one of the first lending libraries in America. This institution provided access to books and educational resources for the public, promoting literacy and knowledge-sharing.

3. Promotion of Education: Franklin was a strong advocate for education. He helped establish the University of Pennsylvania and the American Philosophical Society, which contributed to the advancement of education and scientific research in the United States.

4. Publishing "Poor Richard's Almanack": Franklin wrote and published "Poor Richard's Almanack" under the pseudonym Richard Saunders. This annual publication contained a wealth of practical advice, sayings, and proverbs aimed at promoting thrift, industry, and moral values. It was widely read and contributed to the dissemination of practical knowledge.

5. Role in the American Revolution: Franklin was a key figure in the American Revolution, playing a significant role in diplomacy and negotiations with France to secure vital support for the American cause. His efforts helped secure France as an ally of the United States during the Revolutionary War.

These are just a few of the many contributions Benjamin Franklin made to society. He was a true Renaissance man whose interests and innovations spanned science, literature, politics, and more, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to benefit society today.

* According to ChatGPT

Benefits of Potable Reuse

 Below are some benefits of potable reuse of municipal wastewater (sewage), according to ChatGPT.

Potable reuse of water, also known as water recycling or water reclamation, involves treating wastewater to a high level of quality so that it can be safely used for drinking water purposes. Several primary drivers contribute to the adoption of potable reuse as a sustainable water management strategy:

1. Water Scarcity: Growing populations, urbanization, and changing climate patterns have led to increased water scarcity in many regions. Potable reuse provides an alternative source of water that can supplement traditional water supplies, helping to alleviate water scarcity.

2. Drought Resilience: During periods of drought, traditional water sources such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs may experience reduced water levels. Potable reuse can provide a consistent and reliable source of water, reducing vulnerability to drought-related water shortages.

3. Diversification of Water Supply: Relying solely on one or two water sources can be risky. Potable reuse adds diversity to the water supply portfolio, reducing dependence on a single source and enhancing overall water supply security.

4. Environmental Benefits: By treating wastewater and reusing it for potable purposes, less pressure is placed on natural water sources. This can help maintain ecosystems, preserve aquatic habitats, and prevent over-extraction from rivers and aquifers.

5. Wastewater Management: Treating wastewater to a high standard before releasing it back into the environment can be expensive and energy-intensive. Instead of discharging treated wastewater into rivers or oceans, potable reuse turns it into a valuable resource, reducing the pollution load on natural water bodies.

6. Energy Efficiency: Treating water to potable standards requires energy, but this can be offset by the energy savings gained from not having to pump water over long distances or extract it from remote sources. Additionally, advances in treatment technologies have made the process more energy-efficient over time.

7. Climate Change Resilience: Climate change can impact water availability and quality. Potable reuse can provide a buffer against the effects of changing precipitation patterns and increased variability in water supplies.

8. Public Health and Safety: One of the main concerns with potable reuse is ensuring that the treated water meets stringent water quality standards to protect public health. As technology advances and treatment processes improve, potable reuse systems are becoming more capable of producing safe and high-quality drinking water.

9. Regulatory Support: Regulatory agencies play a crucial role in establishing guidelines and standards for potable reuse projects. With proper regulations and oversight, potable reuse can gain public trust and acceptance.

10. Community Engagement and Education: Public acceptance is key to the success of potable reuse projects. Communities need to be educated about the safety and benefits of the process to reduce any concerns or misconceptions they might have.

11. Technological Advances: Advances in water treatment technologies, including membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes, and monitoring techniques, have made it more feasible to treat wastewater to a level suitable for potable reuse.

Movie Recommendation: The World's End

 The World's End is an English pub.

That's right. This Comedy SciFi movie revolves around a Five Musketeer's group of middle aged men attempting to finish a pub crawl they failed to complete in college. The the last pub in the crawl is named, ironically, The World's End. Ironic because the SciFi aspect of the movie ... oh, don't watch the trailer/spoiler. Just trust me there's a reason it has 4.5 Stars on Prime.

It has cult movie potential for sure, though I can't say it has sing-alongs that I recall (you be the judge of that). What I can say is don't be dissuaded by this being a 2013 movie. It's fun if you let yourself buy into it without overanalyzing... you can analyze, just not too much. 

Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright write and direct. Simon Pegg plays lead role of Gary King who refused, or failed, to grow up and talks (cons?) the reluctant group into taking on the epic 12-pub crawl.

David Bradley, Filtch - Harry Potter, gets a pretty good role.  Peiece Brosnan gets to play the cool college professor.  Rosamund Pike tugs at some heart strings and delivers some blows (no pun intended though plenty of innuendo).  Nick Frost delivers some blows too (don't under estimate heavy set middle aged men).

Top 7 Small Bluetooth Speakers (in 2021)

 Here are the Top 7 small bluetooth speakers (most popular):

1. 1. JBL Clip 3: Compact and portable with a built-in carabiner for easy attachment to bags or belts.
2. 2. Bose SoundLink Micro: Small and rugged design with impressive sound quality and IPX7 waterproof rating.
3. 3. Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2: Compact and durable with 360-degree sound and IP67 waterproof rating.
4. 4. Anker Soundcore 2: Portable and affordable with good sound performance and long battery life.
5. 5. Sony SRS-XB12: Small and lightweight with Extra Bass technology and water-resistant design.
6. 6. Tribit StormBox Micro: Pocket-sized with powerful sound and IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating.
7. 7. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay P2: Sleek and stylish with premium sound quality and touch-sensitive controls.

This list is according to ChatGPT.

IPX7 is rated for 1 meter under water for 30 minutes (no rating for dust)

IP67 is rated for 1 meter under water for 30 minutes with a stated dustproof rating of 6.

Artificial Intelligence Timeline

Prompt: Provide an outline of a reasonable timeline for the evolution of artificial intelligence. describe the concept of a singularity in this context and the implications for the timeline. Give some attention to the notion of acceleration of progress. (ChatGPT Response)

Timeline for the Evolution of Artificial Intelligence:

1. Early AI Research (1940s - 1960s):

   - Development of foundational concepts in AI, such as logic, learning, and problem-solving.

   - Limited progress due to computational constraints and lack of data.

2. Expert Systems and Knowledge-Based AI (1970s - 1980s):

   - Advancements in expert systems that used rules and knowledge to solve specific problems.

   - Knowledge representation and reasoning techniques improved.

3. Machine Learning and Neural Networks (1990s - 2000s):

   - Emergence of machine learning algorithms and neural networks.

   - Increased use of data-driven approaches and pattern recognition.

4. Big Data and Deep Learning (2010s - Present):

   - Proliferation of big data and cloud computing enabling more extensive datasets.

   - Deep learning's rise, leading to breakthroughs in image recognition, natural language processing, and other AI applications.

5. Robotics and AI Integration (2020s - 2030s):

   - AI integrated into various fields, including robotics, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities.

   - AI-driven automation transforms industries.

6. General Artificial Intelligence (2040s - 2050s):

   - Progress towards achieving general AI capable of reasoning and understanding context.

   - Ethical considerations become critical as AI approaches human-level intelligence.

7. Post-Singularity AI (2060s - Beyond):

   - The concept of the singularity becomes relevant as AI potentially surpasses human intelligence.

   - Acceleration of AI development may occur, leading to rapid and unpredictable advancements.

The Concept of Singularity:

The singularity, in the context of AI, refers to a hypothetical future point when artificial intelligence becomes capable of recursively self-improving its own capabilities without human intervention. At this stage, AI systems might surpass human intelligence, leading to significant technological and societal transformations that are challenging to predict. Some theorists suggest that the singularity could lead to an exponential acceleration of AI development, resulting in what is often referred to as "superintelligence" - an intelligence far beyond human comprehension.

Implications for the Timeline:

The concept of a singularity introduces a significant uncertainty in the timeline for AI evolution. If the singularity occurs, AI development might accelerate rapidly, making predictions beyond that point challenging. The timeline outlined above is speculative and could be drastically impacted by the advent of the singularity. It's essential to consider that the timing and consequences of the singularity remain speculative and highly debated within the scientific community.

Acceleration of Progress:

The notion of acceleration of progress in AI refers to the idea that as AI systems become more advanced, they can contribute to faster developments in various fields. For example, AI can enhance scientific research, improve the efficiency of engineering processes, and revolutionize industries. This acceleration can create a positive feedback loop where AI-driven advancements lead to even more significant breakthroughs, further expediting the development of AI itself. This feedback loop could contribute to reaching key milestones, such as general AI, more rapidly than initially anticipated.

It's crucial to note that while the timeline and the concept of singularity and acceleration provide insights into potential future developments, they are speculative and subject to numerous variables, including ethical considerations, regulatory frameworks, and societal readiness for advanced AI technologies. The responsible development and deployment of AI technologies must prioritize safety, ethics, and human well-being.

Top Five Principles for Controlling AI

Top five principles for controlling artificial intelligence from harming human society:

1. Transparency: AI systems should be designed to be transparent and understandable to humans. Developers should provide clear explanations of how the system works, what data it uses, and how it makes decisions. This will help to build trust and reduce the risk of unintended consequences.
2. Accountability: There should be clear lines of accountability for the development and deployment of AI systems. This includes ensuring that developers and users are held responsible for any negative impacts of the technology.
3. Fairness and non-discrimination: AI systems should be designed to be fair and non-discriminatory, and should not perpetuate or amplify existing biases. Developers should test their systems for biases and take steps to address any issues that are identified.
4. Safety and reliability: AI systems should be designed to be safe and reliable, and should be tested thoroughly to ensure that they do not pose a risk to human health or safety. Developers should also have plans in place for responding to any unforeseen problems or emergencies that may arise.
5. Human control: AI systems should be designed to operate under human control, and should not be allowed to make decisions or take actions that are outside of their programmed parameters. Humans should always have the final say in any decisions made by AI systems, and should be able to override them if necessary.

 

UN Commission of Inquiry on the Gaza Conflict

Gaza Commission of Inquiry Members

On July 23, 2014 the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HCR) requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to

.. to urgently dispatch an independent, international commission of inquiry ... to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military operations conducted since 13 June 2014... [1]

The mission of the Commission of Inquiry is to

... make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, all with a view to avoiding and ending impunity and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable, and on ways and means to protect civilians against any further assaults, ... [2]

Current Commissioners:

• Mary McGowan Davis (United States of America), Chair
• Doudou Diène (Senegal)

A third commissioner, original Chair William Schabas of Canada, resigned in February 2015.

Notes:

1. Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, The United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict

2. Report of the independent international commission of inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S - 21/1, March 26, 2015.

Should be Candidate for 2015 Photo Award

This is a little girl in Gaza taking a nap in a bucket of water trying to beat the heat. Electricity is unavailable due to the destruction of local power sources by Israel.

Why So Much Attention on Spending Side of Greek Budget?

There are two economic elements at play in understanding the situation in Greece.  One is the government budget or fiscal element.  The other is the balance of trade element.

You could say that currency, e.g., the euro, dollar, pound, is a third element. Economist Paul Krugman* refers to the euro currency as a "straight jacket" on Greece's economy for the following reasoning related to their balance of trade. A country with its own currency, say the Drachma for Greece, can increase its trade exports if the value of its currency decreases; in this situation, its goods look cheaper to other countries that have higher valued currencies. However, if Greece has the euro as its currency, which cannot adjust downward in an economic crisis, it's economy doesn't have a key tool to right itself when in trouble. Krugman says this is the key problem in Greece right now.

The other economic element is the Greek budget itself. Yet the media has been focused on more austere budgets in Greece, that is, cutting spending. This myopic focus is due to two things. First, budgets shortfalls are open to a simplistic explanation by the establishment media: If your budget is short, then cut spending. But this overlooks he simple fact that budgets have two sides, a revenue side and a spending side; a growing economy can add revenue to a budget. The excessive focus on cutting spending overlooks the fact that budget austerity itself can cause an economy to shrink and reduce the available revenue for the budget.

The second reason for so much focus on the budget-cutting aspect of the Greek situation is that the establishment lenders have pushed an agenda of budget austerity. Krugman believes that the three main lenders understand this could hurt the Greek economy, but that they have an ulterior motive related to their free market ideology; they would like the see a leftist government like Syriza, and its alternative economic views, fail.

With this introduction, read more by Krugman on Greece and these issues (June 29, 2015).

Here's a chilling question posed by Krugman:  What if #Greece exits the Euro currency, has a bad year or two, then starts to succeed? Think the establishment would let it succeed? http://nyti.ms/1epXoag

*  Paul Krugman is the 2008 winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics.

Bernie Sanders, Ten-Thousand Strong in Maddison

Speaking truth to power is a challenge to the establishment. That is what you get with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, 2016 presidential candidate.

He's not a pretty-boy candidate. Bernie Sanders is a candidate of by and for the common people. The Hill reports:

Democrats close to Clinton aren’t sounding the alarm over Sanders just yet. They believe he has a low ceiling of support that doesn’t extend beyond the anti-establishment contingent.

That could be wishful thinking. Sanders just packed a stadium in Madison, Wisconsin with 10,000 people. That's impressive this early in the campaign season. This event gained the attention of CNN,  NBC News, Washington Post, to name a few establishment news media outlets that felt they couldn't ignore the event.

We'll keep an eye on this candidate who challenges the establishment.

 Bernie Sanders in Madision, WI 7/1/15

George Carlin Challenged the Establishment

A reflection on comedian George Carlin challenging the establishment, brought to you by Kingdom Economics blog.

Establishment Fears Organized Challenge to Corporate Power

Remember the hacked Stratfor emails? Stratfor's is a geopolitical intelligence firm, whose establishment clients

get direct access to our analysts and to our global networks, enabling them to better assess geopolitical risk, make strategic investm
ents and expand into challenging regions.

One of the most overlooked or forgotten revelations of those emails had nothing to do with particular events, people or places. Rather, Stratfor revealed the establishment's fear of a movement challenging corporate power. Their email related to the Yes Men's activities surrounding the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal India poison gas disaster.

Stratfor analyzed whether the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster would lead to an increase in anti-corporate activism.

"With less than a month to go [until the 25th anniversary], you'd think that the major players -- especially Amnesty -- would have branched out from Bhopal to make a broader set of issues. I don't see any evidence of it," wrote Bart Mongoven, Stratfor's Vice President, in November 2004. "If they can't manage to use the 25th anniversary to broaden the issue, they probably won't be able to."

The Yes Men cited the e-mails, which continued well into 2011, as evidence that anti-corporate activists and movements such as Occupy Wall Street are having an effect.

"Just as Wall Street has at times let slip their fear of the Occupy Wall Street movement, these leaks seem to show that corporate power is most afraid of whatever reveals "the larger whole" and "broader issues," i.e. whatever brings systemic criminal behavior to light," the group said in a release.

Read Full Article

Open Letter from Harvard Econ 10 Students

The following letter was sent to Greg Mankiw by the organizers of today’s Economics 10 walkout.

Wednesday November 2, 2011

Dear Professor Mankiw—

Today, we are walking out of your class, Economics 10, in order to express our discontent with the bias inherent in this introductory economics course. We are deeply concerned about the way that this bias affects students, the University, and our greater society.

As Harvard undergraduates, we enrolled in Economics 10 hoping to gain a broad and introductory foundation of economic theory that would assist us in our various intellectual pursuits and diverse disciplines, which range from Economics, to Government, to Environmental Sciences and Public Policy, and beyond. Instead, we found a course that espouses a specific—and limited—view of economics that we believe perpetuates problematic and inefficient systems of economic inequality in our society today.

A legitimate academic study of economics must include a critical discussion of both the benefits and flaws of different economic simplifying models. As your class does not include primary sources and rarely features articles from academic journals, we have very little access to alternative approaches to economics. There is no justification for presenting Adam Smith’s economic theories as more fundamental or basic than, for example, Keynesian theory.

Care in presenting an unbiased perspective on economics is particularly important for an introductory course of 700 students that nominally provides a sound foundation for further study in economics. Many Harvard students do not have the ability to opt out of Economics 10. This class is required for Economics and Environmental Science and Public Policy concentrators, while Social Studies concentrators must take an introductory economics course—and the only other eligible class, Professor Steven Margolin’s class Critical Perspectives on Economics, is only offered every other year (and not this year). Many other students simply desire an analytic understanding of economics as part of a quality liberal arts education. Furthermore, Economics 10 makes it difficult for subsequent economics courses to teach effectively as it offers only one heavily skewed perspective rather than a solid grounding on which other courses can expand. Students should not be expected to avoid this class—or the whole discipline of economics—as a method of expressing discontent.

Harvard graduates play major roles in the financial institutions and in shaping public policy around the world. If Harvard fails to equip its students with a broad and critical understanding of economics, their actions are likely to harm the global financial system. The last five years of economic turmoil have been proof enough of this.

We are walking out today to join a Boston-wide march protesting the corporatization of higher education as part of the global Occupy movement. Since the biased nature of Economics 10 contributes to and symbolizes the increasing economic inequality in America, we are walking out of your class today both to protest your inadequate discussion of basic economic theory and to lend our support to a movement that is changing American discourse on economic injustice. Professor Mankiw, we ask that you take our concerns and our walk-out seriously.

Sincerely,

Concerned students of Economics 10

Sources:

Thanks to William Black's Blog for the lead on this.

Murdoch Pattern of Misconduct

Open Letter to the Federal Communications Commission:

Dear FCC members:

Forget the political implications for a moment and envision what you'd LIKE to do to the Murdoch media syndicate.

The Occupy movement is your signal that the time has come to act on visions like that prompted above.

Paul Krugman is right, again: Pattern of Misconduct

Now it's time for the FCC to act.

To Contact the Commissioners via E-mail

Chairman Julius Genachowski: Julius.Genachowski@fcc.gov

Commissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.gov

Commissioner Robert McDowell: Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov

Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov

End Corporate Personhood

Take it from a Tennis Ball, we need to end corporate personhood. This could be a tangible demand of the #Occupy movement, that is, amend the constitution to Get Corporate Money Out of our elections.

The following 4-min video is a remake of the VlogBrothers 2007 YouTube call-to-action ala the Nerdfighters "Project for Awesome".

SHAME

To let Troy Anthony Davis be executed. Shame.

Banking Establishment Ripoff Exposed in MSM

Thinking Americans know the sordid story:

Since the financial crisis, Bank profits are UP 136%... But Bank lending is down 9%.

Perhaps a more interesting story is that this is featured in a mainstream media article; Time Magazine, September 26, 2011, "After Three Years and Trillions of Dollars, Our Banks Still Don't Work."

I could take issue with the phrase "our banks;" yes, we should "own" them having bailed them out, but frankly, instead of we owning the banks, the banks turned the US Treasury and Federal Reserve into lending institutions for the benefit of the banks and the people reaping profits from those corporations.

But, don't let me tarnish the good news with side issues. Time Magazine deserves credit where it is due.

We Didn't See it Coming

For Some reason, my comments on Paul Krugman's blog don't seem to stick. Below is my comment on his post entitled: How We Failed

The "We didn't see it coming" thing drives me crazy. My experience in seeing it [the bubble burst] coming is reflected in three clear memories.

First, The Great Unraveling by... some economist from NJ, pretty much had me change my ARM to a fixed rate mortgage a couple years before the bust.

Second, people with good jobs in my solid middle class neighborhood were saying, "If I had to buy my [modest row] house today, I couldn't afford it." I remember exactly where I was, walking my dog.

Third, it was going to by systemic: "Systemic Risk: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Role of OFEHO," February, 2003, which lost Armamndo Falcon his job. http://www.ofheo.gov/Media/Archive/docs/reports/sysrisk.pdf

Israel's Spring

Israel is a country where a tiny minority of families and individuals control a hugely disproportionate amount of wealth.

Last Saturday [Aug 6], hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of a Middle Eastern city.

Demanding change, they were fed up with the ruling elite and said their government was no longer listening to its people.

Sound familiar? The protests have continued and have grown.


Source: BBC Israel's 'social protests' rattle Netanyahu government Aug, 12, 2011.

Will the US have its own version? If policy makers continue on their same path we will. An early test will be October 6, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Oct. 6
14th & Pennsylvania, Ave., NW
12 Noon

USUncut Tag Line:
Human Need, Not Corporate Greed. This is an occupation.

More on Oct. 6 DC Day 1 of the US Spring

Democracy-building in Maryland

Taking Back the Budget Debate

A TOWN HALL MEETING

Tues., Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Silver Spring Civic Center
One Veterans’ Place (Fenton & Ellsworth)
Silver Spring

Turn your anger and outrage over the budget deal into ACTION!

Speakers: Rep. Donna Edwards, State Senator Roger Manno, economist Heather Boushey, IPS Fellow Karen Dolan
Master of Ceremonies: The NAACP’s Elbridge James
Music: Singer/songwriter Christina Van Norman

You will have the opportunity to ask your questions and then to help us organize for real, progressive solutions.

Here’s our action agenda:

* Put America back to work
* Institute a fair tax system
* Protect Americans’ health and save the environment
* Preserve Social Security
* Bring all the troops and military contractors home

Don’t miss this important event--invite all your friends!

Our Money . . . Our Voices . . . Our Budget Priorities

Sponsored by Fund Our Communities, Bring the War Dollars Home
A Maryland Coalition
www.OurFunds.org