#DataCenters #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #neighborhoods #RuralAreas #transparency No one wants a big data center in his or her back yard. They use lots of power. They use lots of water. They emit disturbing noise, and who knows what else. But, at this moment, if the country wants to be the best in the world at artificial intelligence innovation, the data centers might be a necessary evil. Artificial intelligence has its own pitfalls, when it comes to people. Currently, there’s a real fear that AI will take away lots of jobs people now do. Still, it’s scientific progress, and that’s hard to stop when it’s in motion. Therefore, it’s incumbent on us, as a nation, to figure out how best to use AI, and to prevent evil uses of it. And, as data centers are proposed, everything should be done in the open at all phases. No tax breaks. Lots of public hearings during the process. AI is a big unknown. Even some of its creators are unsure exactly how best to use it once it’s perfected. And, large companies have invested big in AI, and most have yet to see it pay off. That spurs fears of an AI “bubble” bursting in the financial markets. When there is such an unknown, lots of imaginations run wild – good and bad. Those who fear for their jobs imagine the worst. Those who wish to innovate imagine the best. Those who imagine the good create it, then find unintended consequences that are not so good. So, as one imagines what AI might do, it might be best to either innovate or be flexible enough about one’s life to find ways to make the best of it when it throws a curve at you. Data centers, meanwhile, are big, hulking artifacts that occupy lots of space. Particularly if you live in a rural area, where most of them are being built or proposed, a data center could be a real eyesore to your neighborhood, and quiet way of life. It might be best to move them to already noisy industrial areas, and make them provide their own power and water, without affecting anyone else’s. The question not often posed is: If AI technology progresses to the extent that these big data centers ultimately require a smaller footprint, what happens to the big, hulking creations we might need now to bridge the gap? To illustrate that, remember that computer mainframes were reduced to desktop towers, then to laptop and tablet devices, then to pocket phones. This all happened in relatively few years. It’s not inconceivable that these big data centers could get smaller, and smaller again, over time. Then, those who live near the big warehouse data centers would be left with empty monstrosities. But, here’s the rub: Technology is created in stages. It’s impossible to know when, or even whether, those data centers will get smaller, and, thus, more palatable. The big centers offer new jobs, but what happens to those jobs when they get smaller? What do people do as they wait for technology to take its course? The hopeful thing is that technology usually evolves quickly. The concerning thing during the evolution is much damage to individual lives can be done, and can’t be undone. This is why it’s important, as individuals, to anticipate the worst and, when it happens, to make the best out of it. Some people will really prosper. Others will be left behind. It may be up to the individual to see on which side of the spectrum he or she will be. If you get stuck with a big data center near you, make sure those officials who brought it take whatever action necessary to mitigate the problems it will create. Peter
#labels #PoliticalCandidates #voting #ProductLabels #PoliticalLabels When someone labels you, it can be tough to soak off. But, as observers, we should all learn not to judge people by what someone else labels them. Conservatives like to call their fellow conservative opponents “liberals.” They are now fixated on calling their actual liberal opponents “communist.” When one goes to vote, is that person influenced by someone else’s label for a candidate? He or she should not be. Labels on food are designed to be factual. They let potential buyers know what is in the package they are picking up. Often, they let one know how many calories one would consume by eating or drinking the product. Hopefully, the product’s maker is not misleading consumers by lying on the label. But, when people are labeled, the intention is not to inform. The intention is to scare or mislead. It’s one thing for a person to call himself or herself something. That’s telling all who will listen who they are, and how they might react to certain situations. When others label a person, one should take it with a grain of salt. As voters, we should rely entirely on what a person has done, or has said. We should not rely on what others say about them. The exception here is when a person is accused by another of wrongdoing. The accused is very unlikely to admit guilt, at least right away. But, if the accusations are true, or the accusers show credible evidence to back up their allegations, one should take them seriously. Of course, people can redeem themselves and warrant forgiveness. But, observers should be wary of any redemption efforts. They could be a charade. When others label a person, it’s often to tell others what such person MIGHT do when he or she is in office. They are designed to let fearful imaginations run wild at the prospect of this person having power or authority. Make no mistake. Some politicians or candidates deserve what they are labeled. But, to deserve a label, there must be evidence to back it up. People often get labeled because what they are proposing, or offering, is good for the public. Good ideas can lead to bad labels. So, don’t judge a person by what others label him or her. Let them speak, or act, for themselves to tell you who they are. The act of fighting off a label can be a noble trait. The act of fighting for others who need help is honorable. So, in this election season, vote. Vote for good people who will work for you. Vote for people who will do their best to keep their promises. Not voting will get you nothing more than an imaginary label. Peter
#humanity #voting #elections #PoliticalCandidates #VoterIntimidation #vote We value humanity as integral to our existence. The Golden Rule says: “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” But, some in public life are working very hard to try to tell us that SOME of us are worthy of our humanity, while others are not. If you favor X, you should be treated well. If you oppose X, you should be treated badly. As a result, we have public policies that literally dehumanize the opponents of those in power. The policy takes shape by first dehumanizing those who don’t LOOK like, or whose surnames are dissimilar, to those in power. Then, it moves on to those who look and have surnames similar to those in power, but express views differing from those in power. It goes further, thereby declaring those in science and others who live by and tell the truth as something less than human. If you believe this is not who we are, or this is not who we should be, YOU can do something about it. You can work for political opponents of those in power, who strive to restore humanity. If you can’t do that, make it a point to vote for those candidates at every level, and at every opportunity. Working for candidates requires a great deal of sacrifice. Voting may also require some sacrifice. But, if you want to restore our humanity, the sacrifice will be more than worth it. Those in power want fewer people to vote, because their dehumanizing policies are not popular. They will try to mess with elections. They may even try to interfere at polling places. That puts voters at some risk. But, don’t let their tactics deter you. Don’t let long lines deter you. In fact, if the lines are long, be thankful as well as patient. Local law enforcement and election authorities must do all they can to prevent ANY interference – foreign or domestic, federally authorized or otherwise – with our elections. Remember: State and local authorities control elections, not the federal government. Most of the local officials are dedicated to free and fair elections. They encourage ANYONE eligible to vote to vote by whatever methods are allowed. They ensure that if one votes, and follows the rules, his or her vote will be counted. The goal is to have as many eligible voters as possible at the polls casting votes. So, this year’s elections may not seem like a threat to our existence. But, they could be a threat to our humanity. Under no circumstances will sitting out the election solve this problem, particularly if you are looking for change. So, work for candidates if you can. But, having all eligible voters vote is a must. Peter
#parents #children #GoodBehavior #BadBehavior #respect In the Angi ad, kids are whacking adults with harmless weapons. In the VRBO ad, dad asks his teens whether there is room for him in the hot tub. They say no. He leaves. Isn’t dad paying for the VRBO with the hot tub? These two ads say a lot about how kids rule their households. It used to be the other way around. Even though the weapons in the Angi ad are harmless – they look like pool noodles – the adults getting whacked had to have been annoyed. In decades past, if a child annoyed an adult, he or she would have been punished. And, to show such annoying behavior in a TV ad would have been taboo. Are parents, or other adult family members, so oblivious to the children’s behavior that they don’t notice? In decades past, parents prioritized good behavior in children. It required work, for sure, but a parent could never allow their children to misbehave. In the VRBO ad, the hot tub appeared to be small, just big enough for two people. Dad would have made it cramped for everyone. But, if dad is paying for vacation, he should be allowed to take his turn in the hot tub. Perhaps he did, eventually. One should only spend so much time in a hot tub in one sitting. But for the teen girls to rebuff him would have been considered misbehavior decades ago. Children need to be taught good behavior and manners at as young an age as possible. Decorum is important to learn not just for their interaction with adults, but for their interactions when they become adults. If there have never been rules at home, they will be surprised when schools or future employers impose behavioral rules on them. Running wild and whacking adults with pool noodles is not good behavior. Not allowing dad a turn in the hot tub shows disrespect for the person responsible for your nice vacation. In fairness, some households are overly restrictive on kids. Kids need opportunities to blow off steam, particularly if they are bored. Bored children can create the kind of mischief that might be beyond the pale, because imaginations can run wild amid boredom. And, kids need time to be kids, just as teens need time to be teens. The good parents know when behaviors need to be curbed and respect for others – particularly elders – needs to be taught. That requires work on the part of both parents and children. Kids need established behavioral rules. Parents need to know when those rules can be broken. Good behavior among children is not just for the benefit of non-parental observers. It’s for parents’ sanity and children’s education. A good rule for both parents and kids: Treat others as you would like to be treated. If you practice that, good behavior, and good parenting, will be a natural outcome. Peter
#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #government #RegulatingAI #progress #jobs #LostJobs Talk about push and pull? Technology, particularly artificial intelligence, is advancing quickly. Government, which is trying to figure out how to manage the AI onslaught, moves slowly. CNN commentator Fareed Zakaria discussed this on his “GPS” show July 26, 2026. His commentary begs many questions, including: Do people want AI to advance quickly? Do people want government to act more quickly to mitigate its bad effects or to regulate it? Would government be able to move that quickly? Many candidates for public office want to make government more efficient. They don’t want it to stand in the way of the progress AI is making. People, who don’t seem to like anyone in government, are still in the dark about what AI will do to their lives, their jobs, their creativity etc. They are not sure whether they want government to slow or help advance the progress of AI and related technology. So, what’s a person running for office to do or say to those still unsure whether they want AI to move more quickly, or slow it down? It’s a dilemma for those candidates, but they would be wise to figure out what they can and cannot do as part of government. It’s clear the technology will advance at its own pace. It’s not clear what that will mean, and what can be done to mitigate its ill effects on people. Almost everyone presumes that some jobs will go away, while others will be created. How individuals navigate that landscape in the job market is not something government can really control. Government can help find ways for people to cope with the effects of AI. Government can pass laws that will govern how best AI can be productive, while minimizing any ill effects. One might compare AI to a fast-moving car, and government to potholes. But, it might be better to compare AI to a tractor-trailer and government to a speed governor inside the vehicle. Some of today’s public officials want to harken back to yesteryear, when things were “good” for many people. But, during those “good” times, many people suffered. Therefore, some politicians today seem to be choosing sides, fighting for some people but ignoring, even hurting, others. Some even go so far as to fight for those who already have good, prosperous lives, and ignoring or hurting the rest of the population. In a few years, when more AI advances are prevalent, who will be the prosperous ones? Who will be left behind? None of us knows now. But, what is known is that AI is moving quickly. Government can do little, if anything, to stop it. People, in general, can do little to stop it. So, both government and people have to deal with results. How they do will make all the difference in who prospers and who doesn’t. Some may advise people to strap in and ride the tide. But, better advice might be to surf the tide. You could wipe out, but you also could find a beach on the other end. Peter
