Kids, Computers And The Future
Kids, computers and the future
Having computers, learning computers and using computers is really good, but think of the consequences of future computing. For one, if computing power reaches planetary porportions, we are going to be in a mess with all the data that’s produced. Sure, they teach kids a lot, but think of that. We still must provide thinking power with the data to arrive at answers to the results.
Do we want designer babies? How about robots that do our thinking? Or aggressive cars on the road? Unmanageable laws? Automatic houses that fall apart. Food processors that decide not to do the work they were designed to. Stereos that change channels when we want one. Lights switching on in the middle of the night. Or units that power up when we want to save. Non-working self-tying “Back to the Future” shoes. The list is endless.
Computing is a resource, but in this time of global realization, for 10 billion people, all resources need to be managed, and managed better than we are doing right now. We could start right here. You might say, there’s nothing I could do or let someone else do it. What about using the connections to others we have now? Because now is when this will happen. Tell friends, talk is the one communication available to us we still have. Create a way to slow the juggernaut. Before it is too late.
David Schaedler
Image credits: Google images
More Posts from Ds13davi and Others
Butte county supervisor had Oroville Dam comment s for years. See the link. D Schaedler 2/16/17 8:30 am PST.
"President Trump claims phones tapped by then-President Obama. No proof cited." "No President can order a wiretap.", former presidential advisor. Read the article. David Schaedler 3/4/17
National July Month
July is National Hot Dog Month and I’ll bet it’s going to be hot! Be prepared to roast your dogs and buns over the BBQ from July 1.
David Schaedler 6/20/18 Summer starts tomorrow!
View On WordPress
You Can’t Go ‘Bloody Wrong’
December 11, 2013
Ever see that red stuff inside you? It’s more than likely, as a child you cut, scraped or viewed someone else’s blood, whether pouring out or just appearing at skin level. A definition of ”blood”:
“Blood is a connective tissue, with a fluid rather than a solid matrix. Blood functions mainly in transporting substances from one part of the body to another and in immunity. It is pushed and pulled through the body’s system of blood vessels by the heart muscle. The average body has 4 -6 liters, 8% of body weight, of blood constituents called plasma, red and white blood cells, and platelets. Plasma makes just over half the volume of blood, which is 90% water and is the transport medium. In every cubic mm of the remaining ‘blood’ are 5 -6 million red blood cells, 5 - 10 thousand white blood cells and 250 - 400 thousand platelets. Red cells transport oxygen, white cells help defend the body.”
We don’t have to worry, that when cut it will not all ‘leak out’. The platelets and fibrinogen help to clot any ‘leaks’ when exposed to the air. Regarding ”types” of blood, there are 32 of those, with the major ones being ‘A, B, AB, and O’ with combining ‘+ ’ and ‘-’ of those. Which depends on heredity, from each parent.
Whatever the case, it’s something not thought about, and in doing so, we don’t think of the help and assistance we could do to those that need it.
Ever saved a life? In the US, someone needs blood every 2 seconds.
When you donate part of your blood, every part of that is used, and surgeons could not operate without blood. Platelets last only five days and are needed by trauma victims and chemotherapy/radiation patients. Plasma can be used immediately or frozen up to a year for use. Red blood cells last up to 42 days.
Every part of your donated blood is used, and everyone needing a surgeon’s services needs blood, every 2 seconds.
You can donate blood one time or regularly where there are parked and running ”Bloodmobiles”, or at business locations, ”Blood Source”. When you go to a ”BloodSource” to donate, you are signed in and complete a questionnaire regarding history; usually of diseases you’ve never heard of and aspirin taken in the last 48 hours. Then, you are escorted to a comfy chair upon you will wait while donating. There are recent movies available you can listen to on private earphones or your radio. Or even do crosswords or read; but be aware of not moving the arm being used (don’t forget - saving lives!).
You might be put off by the machinery or tubing, but you only have to ask to get immediate attention. A warm blanket on your arm might distract continued glances or, if you feel cold, a blanket over the rest of you! The attendees are polite, attentive, and well-trained. Basically, remember the movie is there.
Then, before you know it, your time is done, another number of lives saved, or helped from the ‘bother before surgery’. You are offered (the required) snacks and soda and asked to recoup oh, maybe 15 minutes, but you can take your time.
Those that donate blood can return in 8 weeks; plasma, 4 weeks and platelets every 2 weeks. Realize, however, those are minimums, you could be too busy or your health requires lengthier times. Donations are accepted by young (17+) and old (no limit), men and women. You are given your BP, amount of total donated and told, ”Yes, you do save lives”. Because you do. It’s no joke.
DS
Should be titled, “As I understand the planned parenthood debate” or similar. People make their own definitions. You do have a lots of facts written in a large blog. I am all for you, maybe I’m just a newcomer.
Defunding Planned Parenthood explained
When more fuel is poured on the fire that is our national discourse on abortion, context starts missing. The question, often, is not as cut and dry as whether abortion should be legal or not, whether it’s moral or not or whether women should have a choice or not. It’s about how we can reconcile reducing abortions and making healthcare for all accessible.
As the country’s lawmakers determine whether to end funding for Planned Parenthood, which receives about 40 percent or $500 million from the federal government annually, it’s good to put things into perspective.
First off, I’m always amazed with how little sensitivity activists on both sides of the argument approach this issue. The left disregards the question of morality while the right disregards the question of choice.
The left will tell you that women shouldn’t be told what to do with their bodies. Maybe so, but 41 percent of women are pro-life. Those women seem to value morality over choice. The right will tell you that abortion in any circumstance is immoral, yet the truth is circumstances arise and in the real world the crippling, unsafe alternatives and the financial and social burden of raising a child for too many outweigh the short-term yet unspeakably painstaking choice to seek such a medical procedure, however invasive.
A couple truths here. 79 percent of the people who receive services from Planned Parenthood are low-income Americans who live 150 percent or lower below the poverty line. These people are on Medicaid or receive care indirectly through another government-funded program called Title X.
Another truth is that 95 percent of what Planned Parenthood does is not abortions. This has been debunked time and again. Numbers have been cherry-picked by conservatives and the claims have never aligned with reality.
Another truth, however, is that according to Planned Parenthood’s 2013-2014 annual report, the organization conducted 323,653 abortions. Respectable estimates say that this accounts for no more than 12 percent of all Planned Parenthood’s services. However, that is not a small number. For many who have the deepest convictions around protecting life in their view, this number is appalling. Even if you aren’t a social conservative, it’s a grim number.
The two things we don’t know are the circumstances in which these abortions were sought and how much revenue Planned Parenthood generates from these procedures.
So what does Planned Parenthood exactly do? 76 percent of their work relates to testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and infections as well as contraceptive care. This is followed by pregnancy tests, prenatal care and cancer screenings.
The 1977 Hyde Amendment dictated that federal Medicaid funds could only be used to fund abortions in extreme cases like rape, incest or to protect the mother. Some states have expanded their own funding of Planned Parenthood and expanded the circumstances by which state funds could be used for abortions.
Defunding Planned Parenthood in the immediate would cut government spending. The problem is the consequences of less funding means a real probability of more unplanned pregnancies which leads to an increase in government spending because these people will at that point likely be eligible for Medicaid. Moreover, unrelated to active pregnancies, people who would have otherwise gone to Planned Parenthood for services like to treat an STI or receive a cancer screening would need to find another clinic. If those clinics are crowded, this can limit access to important services to both women and men.
These are all possibilities, yet how probable these consequences will arise isn’t clear. Those who are for protecting Planned Parenthood’s federal funding are not being modest about sounding that alarm.
On the political right, you have a very principled position. Something like, “I don’t want my tax dollars going to fund an organization that conducts abortions.” On the left, a more pragmatic position, “Women should have access to these services, so the government should help fund these services. If the government doesn’t fund them, then these bad things will happen.”
What has always gotten the political left support for funding anything is this “cause and effect” argument. “If we don’t fund this or regulate this, then this will happen.” It’s effective, frequently necessary yet creates a habit that lacks discipline and a mindset that often disregards more innovative approaches to solutions.
Those on the political right who support defunding may have determined that despite the preventative services that Planned Parenthood delivers, the organization’s continued support for abortion procedures is a non-starter. Is it truly that easy to hold that view even as someone who receives equal or better care someplace else? Or can we along with our lawmakers devise other ways all Americans can receive preventative care? These are both questions worth asking.
Like most topics and issues we confront as a nation, this is more complex than any presidential candidate, activist or cable news talking head has portrayed. At the very least, I hope this has made some sense and provoked some thought for readers here. I hope to revisit this issue again soon, perhaps with a proposal.
OOoooh.
Thanksgiving is a singularly American holiday.
David Schaedler 11/25/15
source photo: Google images
