Items I happen to view each day. Science, Technology, Management, Culture, and Writing

    This is my day book for this week. It is a log of things I see on the Internet.

This week: 27 August - 2 September, 2018

Summary of this week:

• Neil Simon dies at 91
• Dell updates its line of portable computers
• President flatters Google with criticism
• Apple's big event scheduled for 12 September
• Facebook launches Watch

Monday 27 August 2018

News Flash (not): "companies have been collecting, selling, and reusing your personal data for decades" No duh.

Our Dept of Defense has created a Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC). Details may follow.

Facebook proudly touts its censorship in Myanmar. Careful, such can creep into the US with alarming results.

Want to fake dance moves? deepfakes now does that. Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see.

A moron walks into a video game tournament in Jacksonville and shoot people.

The government of India, with the aid of liberal-leaning American tech companies, is building a supreme surveillance state.

Google has passed Amazon in the sales of those little smart home speaker gadgets.

Neil Simon dies at 91.

Tuesday 28 August 2018

Like numbers? Hate waste? You'll like this post on the waste produced and energy consumed by crypto-currency mining.

Tumblr, which has been social media for adults, is stepping into the "hate speech" business.

AutoX is now delivery groceries in self-driving cars to rich person's houses in Silicon Valley. Of course you don't unload the groceries yourself; you're rich and have servants.

Video games have become music platforms. And let's not forget the educational content of them. Yes, there is more to a video game than a video game.

Those who know rumors feel that Apple will only provide a small update to the iPhone this year.

Toyota pours $500Million into Uber in a self-driving car effort. Everyone loves Uber. Uber loses $10Million a week. I don't get it.

Got some time today? Here is 25 years of history of the Power Rangers.

Wednesday 29 August 2018

Our current President claims that Google is rigging search results to suppress good news about his administration.

Google et al respond with innocence despite demonstrations that raise questions.

It appears that the world's oldest blockchain has been published in the classified of the New York Times since 1995.

Dell updates its line of portable computers with the newest Intel processors.

Dell introduces a $599 Chromebook. I think they are missing the point of the inexpensive Chromebook.

News from the other side: Facebook et al can "fix" the "mess" they created, i.e., they can do much better at censorship.

"If you’re not working to change minds, why are you here again?"—Seth Godin. In my experience, this doesn't happen much in practice.

YouTube "stars" generate $11Million with a "fight." There's a sucker born every minute—P.T. Barnum

Facebook et al are mostly liberal in politics. They do, however, have employees who lean the other way. Those folks aren't quite happy.

Amazon will have a free (with ads) TV streaming service for FireTV users.

Change your email address to land a better job. Or, if that impresses an employer, perhaps you don't want to work there.

ooops, data for 130Million guests at Chinese motels is sold (not stolen).

When the right people use social media for influence, it is a brilliant move; when the wrong people do the same, well, it it evil or something.

Thursday 30 August 2018

The Chinese government is about to complete a 34-mile bridge connecting Macau, Hong Kong, and the mainland. Their aim is to build a Silicon Bay that dwarfs Silicon Valley.

Google is now selling their Titan Security Key.

You want a subcontract with Microsoft? You must have 12 weeks of paid family leave.

September 12th. Mark the calendars for the next big event from Apple.

Asus updates its ZenBooks—practically no bezel on the display. This provides a remarkable reduction in overall size.

Lenovo updates its portable computer that is powered by a Qualcomm processor.

Lenovo also updates its YogaBook hybrid computing device. This update greatly improves several issues with the original, ground-breaking machine, but this year it costs $999—too much.

Facebook launches its video service called Watch.

Friday 31 August 2018

Leaked photo of the coming iPhone XS. "excess" is an apt name.

And leaked photo of the next Apple Watch. This is version 4.

The regulators in San Francisco will allow some electric scooters in an experiment for the next year. All "fees" have been paid.

"Eat cereal, not sushi. (This is the best reason to start a business when you’re in college)"—Seth Godin

Loon—those balloon-based 4G transceivers—is talking with the government of Uganda for rural service.

Some small advances in teeny tiny robots that swim in our bodies and perform surgery from the inside.

Google releases an open-source cryptography library called Tink.

Lenovo releases a new laptop that is thinner and has more power, that approaching a gaming computer: ThinkPad X1 Extreme.

Acer releases the world's lightest 15" laptop at 2.2 pounds.

Saturday 1 September 2018

Sharp shows some new 8K super-super-duper-def TVs.

Smartwatch buyers are opting for the less-expensive series 1 Apple model over the more-capable series 3.

Bad news for us consumers: the price of smartphones will climb higher and higher. Sure, we get more-er and more-er, but at what price?

News Flash (not): we are still unable to codify the nuance of our language.

Here comes the future: Boeing wins a contract to build prototypes of unmanned aircraft that will be based on ships and refuel manned aircraft in flight.

Going back to school or even work? Best note taking apps out there.

Sunday 2 September 2018

Not everything Google does succeeds. Google Express has failed to dent the market of delivering goods to consumers in five years.

The worldwide, digital content economy. There are 50million folks out here who will write, draw, design, etc. something for us for $5. The result? Millions of folks—including Americans—are working for $5 a day.

News Flash (not): procrastination is not about time; it is about how I feel about doing something I don't want to do. It took a new study to reach this conclusion.

Another News Flash (not): persons are unable to repay their student loans. Hmmm, borrow $200,000 to earn a degree in something for which no one will pay you a penny to do and you can't repay the loan. We needed a study to reach this conclusion.

The C programming language permits great efficiency. Critics argue "too much efficiency." Defensive coding is possible.

How one writer scribbles in a cheap notebook to keep details in order. We have yet to perfect the computer technology that allows the free form of notes give to us by pencil and paper.

Some thoughts on deciding to write a book. Simply write. If it is long enough—in someone's opinion—it is a book.

If you want to write, please, read good writing. This is one of the few bits of advice that I believe apply to everyone.

Love this headline: How to Sell Books to Someone Other Than Your Mom

Confessions of a weary writer. But writing is breathing, so the writing continues.

Write what you fear. I have read this from several notable authors. Fear often brings with it energy and a sharp mind.