I am sure some Americans, especially younger ones, are wondering how to interpret what is happening in our country with all the rioting, looting, and burning of our cities. We have been here before in the 1960s and sporadically on smaller scales since. So as a person who lived through the worst of those earlier times I offer my perspective, especially for my younger readers.
Month: May 2020
Book Review Number 38
Fair Shot: Rethinking Inequality and How We Earn – Chris Hughes
Chris Hughes is one of the founders of Facebook. Through his own experience he came to conclude that hard work mixed with a very large measure of pure luck can produce a few ultra-wealthy individuals nearly overnight. He believes that the same forces that made Facebook possible, however, make it harder for everyone else in America to make ends meet. I read this book when it was first published a couple of years ago; I decided to re-visit and reconsider his perspective in light of the our current economic reality.
Book Review Number 37
Why We’re Polarized – Ezra Klein
Author Klein is editor-at-large and cofounder of VOX, the “explanatory” news organization. For those not familiar with that term, it means current news stories presented within their broader context. Klein uses that contextual approach to explain why we as a nation are so politically polarized and what we might do to mitigate it.
Book Review Number 36
Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking humans – Melanie Mitchell
The author is a professor of computer science specializing in artificial intelligence (AI). She is also the author of several other books on the subject. Regardless of her credentials this book is unique in its approach to the subject. It is written for the layperson who is not a computer scientist. Even I could read it and understand the concepts she discusses.
Protect the President!
Lest anyone be confused or prone to violent response, please recognized this is intended to be Trump Satire!
Our country is now facing yet a new even more dangerous crisis. Both President Trump and Vice President Pence have been exposed to the coronavirus and no one seems to be taking it seriously.
A VP Running Mate for Joe Biden
Following is a letter I sent to Vice President Biden related to my preferences for a Vice Presidential running mate. Whether or not you agree, I am at least of record with my feelings
Insanity Defined!
Following is a letter to the editor I submitted to the Columbus Dispatch after the Ohio Governor closed all non-essential businesses:
Book Review Number 35
The Green New Deal – Jeremy Rifkin
The author defines the concept of the proposed Green New Deal in fairly specific terms. He makes the case that whether politicians like it or not market forces are already making it happen, though not fast enough. He calls this epoch “The Third industrial Revolution” and says it will fundamentally change humanity.
Black, White, or Gray?? 