Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#571

Post by MJ2004 »

Reminds me of how appalled my mom was when the condo they rented for their Spain visit a few years had no dryer. The horror! Having to hang clothes outside to dry! Fairly standard in parts of Spain but unheard of in US.
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#572

Post by Suliso »

Dishwasher is another example. For most of my life I didn't have one and was fine. It's certainly not a necessity, but it does make life more pleasant.
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#573

Post by Owendonovan »

There was a time in NYC when the cab drivers knew every street and how to either drag your ride out because you didn't know your way around ( a slow slog through times sq adds up on the meter), or take the quick route because you signaled you new where you were going. Now, it's all GPS and cab drivers will argue "The phone is telling me to go this way", to which I've had to respond "Your customers wants you to go this way" (because I know the traffic patterns) and have gotten a bit of attitude for my request.
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#574

Post by ponchi101 »

Before I come out as a Neanderthal.
PROGRESS!!!! Yes, it has been made. As Suliso says: washing machines, dryers, etc. The number of machines that make our lives better and easier is too large to number. The quality of the items we use nowadays is so much better than, for example, just 25 years ago, because the machines give you better tolerance and accuracy in the manufacturing of pieces. For example: when was the last time you heard that somebody lost the brakes in his/her car? That an engine seized? International aviation used to lose 2-3 planes a year due to mechanical failures. That rarely happens now because engines are so reliable.
But of course, we have the progresophobes, the ones that believe that everything was better in the past. Sure.
My point is: some technologies can overtake what we do as an interaction with a machine. Self driving cars seems to be that way. You are no longer interacting with the machine, the machine is set to drive itself with no input from you. Like any new technology, it still has glitches, and in this case they can be really troublesome, even dangerous.
So, if you don't want to drive, how about DON'T drive? Get a cab. Take a bus (I know, almost impossible in the USA). But this self driving technology is still very difficult and it comes with a lot of complicating factors.
And, it is very, very silly to complain about ALL technology through an internet based forum. Why don't we try this: Let's substitute the forum for regular mail; we have to send ALL our posts to everybody via mail. See how fun that will be.
And, as a former frequent traveler to many countries: GPS and MAPS is an amazing thing. A technology that is as helpful as can be.
As long as you don't take a self driving car, that is ;)
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

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Post by ti-amie »









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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#576

Post by Deuce »

It’s incredibly simplistic to dismiss people as ‘progresophobes’, and to say that it’s ‘very, very silly to complain about ALL technology through an internet based forum’. It’s not silly, at all, of course - I, for one, never said that there are no positive elements to certain technologies. I’m simply saying that overall, when everything is considered, many so called ‘technological advances’ are more of a negative than a positive. Like the internet. There is no question in my mind that the internet is far more of a negative element than a positive one. Sure, it’s convenient (there’s that word again). But it has also made people significantly more intellectually lazy... it has directly led to a massive increase in the sexual exploitation of children... ‘social media’ has replaced real communication with superficial 'sound bites', and has also created an extremely unhealthy and very negative social environment... nonsense and misinformation is spread much faster and to many more people than ever before... One can go on and on about the direct negative consequences of the internet. But that doesn’t mean that there are no positives to it, or that I shouldn’t use it in a healthy way.

Those of you who have not yet learned that convenience - which the human animal is obsessed with - always has consequences possess a very narrow (and convenient(!)) vision.

Easier certainly does not always translate to 'better'.
I'd argue that easier actually means worse more often than not when one factors in the overall effect, and not just the immediate.

To see this, of course, one would need to employ some degree of objectivity and a wide scope of vision (like seeing the social implications of 'progress', the physical implications, etc., etc.), and not only see what one conveniently and comfortably wants to see.

Seeing only the positives of 'technology' is 'beer advertising mentality' - beer advertising is well known to portray beer as being nothing but positive - ignoring the negative elements like the drunk driving accidents and deaths, the breakup of families, etc., all of which are very real.
It's similar to the drug addict who insists that his life is 'better' through his use of drugs because he is 'happier'; that the drugs keep him from thinking about the negativity of his previously existing problems, or the further problems created by his drug use.
Or to the vehicle driver who is content at the convenience (there's that word again) of being able to travel here and there with relative ease, and who conveniently ignores the fact that while doing so, he is contributing to the pollution problem, global warming, climate change, etc.
It's 'comfortable' to pretend that our conveniences have no negative effects or consequences or implications... but it's not honest.
It's all about perspective and honesty... one can see all of reality, or see only the 'pretty' parts of reality, or be completely immersed in illusion. Each person can make his or her choice as to how profoundly they want to see. I've made my choice.

"Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end... Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind." - Henry Thoreau
R.I.P. Amal...

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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#577

Post by ponchi101 »

Ego figere omnia et scio supellectilem
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#578

Post by ti-amie »



“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#579

Post by ponchi101 »

If I had the money to buy an EV, by now it would not be a Tesla. What I have read they have manufacturing issues, such as bad finishes and small quality details (door hinges that are not tout, knobs that become loose, etc).
Medium money: I would go for a MB EQS. The BMW's EV are too ugly.
Unlimited money: Lucid. The AIR seems to be outstanding.

BUT: Tesla is not a bad car, and their EV tech is excellent. So, no need to post that, Gary.
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#580

Post by Owendonovan »

I'm not interested in lining any shady billionaires pockets with even so much as a penny, so no Tesla or Twitter, Amazon, Whole Foods, Koch Industries, Wynn Casinos, Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp for me. I don't want to be a hypocrite on any level, this is one way I try. I'm also happy to let folks know that certain businesses they patronize, like Equinox, donate and fundraise for TFG and part of their fee is helping to elect him, things like that.
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#581

Post by Deuce »

Owendonovan wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:24 am I'm not interested in lining any shady billionaires pockets with even so much as a penny, so no Tesla or Twitter, Amazon, Whole Foods, Koch Industries, Wynn Casinos, Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp for me. I don't want to be a hypocrite on any level, this is one way I try. I'm also happy to let folks know that certain businesses they patronize, like Equinox, donate and fundraise for TFG and part of their fee is helping to elect him, things like that.
The list of entities that do harm in some way or other is endless.
Wherever there is human involvement, there is much greed, and very, very little purity.

(For electric vehicles, my favourite is the Nissan Leaf. Not well known, and therefore very underrated.)
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#582

Post by Suliso »

Tesla has lost quite a bit of shine in my eyes in the last year or two. Wouldn't really buy it either. I'm still a big admirer of Spacex, though. Possibly the most innovating big company out there.
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#583

Post by ponchi101 »

Suliso wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 6:55 am Tesla has lost quite a bit of shine in my eyes in the last year or two. Wouldn't really buy it either. I'm still a big admirer of Spacex, though. Possibly the most innovating big company out there.
I was wondering who would be #2. Apple has not introduced anything new/innovative since the iWatch. None of the software companies are introducing anything really new. All car companies are doing the same: making a computer and putting 4 wheels around it. Boeing and Airbus? The innovation comes from their turbines, which have reached a ridiculous level of reliability, but those are from GE and RR.
Who is doing innovation?
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#584

Post by Suliso »

A highly visible case was mRNA vaccines, but those didn't come from the big pharma. Really hard to say. It's mostly steady, but incremental. Maybe Google and their AI work? Or hardware companies like TSMC.
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Re: Science/Techno Babble Random, Random

#585

Post by ti-amie »

“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
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