Technology

I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE UNDER MY FEET

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

Moving! While some can come out of that “neighbourhood” of poverty; most can’t. They do not know any other life than the way they are now. Moving them out of abject poverty may be more harmful than where they are at now. Sort of “don’t rock the ecosystem of life”.
This is what I was told when I tried to make a change in the lives of a few people many years ago. I don’t think leaving them in abject poverty is the answer. 
We can see that the writer has done well in managing to come out of that “ecosystem”, doing well for himself, not forgetting when he came from, at the same time remembering those people who are still in their unchanged lives – remembering them not with disgust; but with love and respect. (1)

I think the article above is very interesting. The writer wrote this based on his personal experience in the U.S.

In Malaysia, there is a famous (I think) (There we go again with that “famous” word) phrase: You can take a person out of the kampung (2) but you can’t take the kampung out of a person. Somehow, it relates to the paragraph above.

Now, that the world has begun to spin on its axis again (has it done anything else other than to spin on its axis) at 23 hours 56 minutes 4.09053 seconds or about 1,000 miles per hour or 1609.344000 kilometers per hour (3) or 1 day as most of us ordinary, non-detailed, clouded minds know it by. Now you know that each day is short of 3 minutes 55.90947 seconds. Scary, right? We are older than we ought to be.

Spinning world

The turntable has strayed off the track from “Now, that the world has begun to spin on its axis again”… are we able to go back to pre-pandemic days? Can we press a reset button?

I think those days are gone. If we keep harping on the good old pre-pandemic days, we will be “stuck in a grove”.

One way of looking at this is that the 2-year crisis has helped the world shave off a layer of an overheating, over-priced global economy.

People are now dependent on “everything online”, all from the comfort of our homes. It’s great, isn’t it? You can shop online, do all your necessary banking, and other errands on line, it tells you how cold or hot you are feeling now (this is mental conditioning as it really does not have a clue as to how you are really feeling). Being “online” has made it easy in our lives with this convenience; it is unmeasurable. Or is it?

The biggest losers in all this “making it easy” and “conveniences are…us – the people. People are no longer interacting much with other people. They are inter-acting with machines.

She is a marvel, isn’t she?

Is this what we are as a race, a human race has become? Has chosen to become? Is choosing to become?

Chloe, in the video above, is said to be so intelligent that she can compute at remarkable speeds. Then, she said her intelligence was created by a far more intelligent species – man. In time to come, computers / machines like her will be able to self-repair, self- replicate… without the need of man. What happens to the human race?

Will we be able to come out of the over-reliance of Artificial Intelligence, computers and robots? Will we want to feel the earth move under our feet?

Wall-e. A glimpse of our future? This movie is worth watching.

Carole King – “I feel the Earth Move”

NOTES:

  1. Writing for the Poor – Charles M. Blow : Opinion Columnist, New York Times
  2. “Kampung” is a Malay word meaning “village”
  3. http://www.scientificamerican.com
  4. ImageHow Fast Does Earth Spin? Why Does Earth Spin? April 6th, 2019; http://www.sporcle.com/blog/2019/04/how-fast-does-earth-spin/

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

Back in the old (not too old because…) days, when I was little or of toddler’s (I am not that old…60 is the new 30) age; when a baby cries, he is given Woodworth Gripe water to help calm him, numb him or knock him under. Now, I know why.

It is reported that this Gripe (and you may probably wonder why it is named as such) water has an alcohol content that would floor many of the sober, seasoned adult drinkers. And you wonder why homes are stocked, high; with this stuff, to the point of hoarding it. Parents must have been taking more than a swig of this, just to calm their nerves, so it seems. At least that is the excuse…er…reason given. I can only imagine what the people at the stores selling Gripe water were thinking. “These toddlers are topers”.

Today’s packing.

The orginal packing. The bottle was wrapped in a blue paper with labels. No box.

In the ’80s and ’90s of the last century and the early 2000s; the rubber stoppers became a “must have” and “don’t leave home without it (sounds like a tagline of a credit card, but that’s plastic) if you know what’s good for you and the community”. Yup… the sucker I am talking about is the “soother”.

The pacifier.

Officially known as the pacifier, the sucking pacifier was also known as the teethe or the “plug” (for obvious reasons). This “device” was so important that it was not unthinkable to have several spares lying around all over the house or in the car, etc. The moment the wailing starts; the most important device known to mankind (at that time) is whipped out faster that you can say, “ya-a-ber da-a-ber doo!”

The simple things in life just got more complicated.

Have you seen how this sucker is shoved in the mouths of those angelic babies? It sometimes looks like it is being ram-rodded in the mouth. Or a person having difficult with stick shift (known to Americans) or shifting gears from 1 to 2, in a car. With almost brute-like force, manage to get the gear into 2.

Parents of today will go into hyperdrive freak out if cleanliness or hygiene was compromised, even for a little bit. The sucker-shoving parents of those days will not give it a second thought if the sucker / soother / pacifier was to fall out of their child’s mouth, onto the ground. They just pick up this ingenious device and put it back into the mouth of their baby, not even bothering to clean it or worse still; sterilize it again.

“Wha-a-a-ayyy!” the toddler wails, at the top of his or her voice. leaving nothing to imagination. One wonders how the lungs of these “angels” manage to hold so much of wind power that helps them bellow for the longest of time. To add drama and special effects, these angels throw themselves on the floor, roll this way and that way (one can’t help but reminisce some of the Bollywood [1] movies with loads of drama and excitement) and employ chameleon-like colour changes.

These angels seem to be keeping abreast of times. Shove an iPad in their face and all peace will settle in.

1st generation Apple iPad

The ipad seems to be the answer to everyone’s prayers, even for those that don’t pray. It was a hit when it launched. The iPad reached out to people of all ages. The hundreds, if not thousands of games which have colourful graphics and exciting music and sounds on a big screen (about 10 inches) have gotten the attention of toddlers, and grown-ups; too. Yes, there are the grouchy, tantrum-throwers in their senior age, too.

There are the good and not so-good points of these electrical chopping boards. Since the iPad was introduced over a decade ago; the toddlers, who are now teenagers; have grown up with theses devices. During the same period; a slew of manufacturers have come out with their own tablets / tabs or big portable flatscreens, which have the capability of surfing the internet and being a smartphone. Parents are trying their best to detach these flatscreens from the faces of their children but seem to be fighting a losing battle. An idea that started out as good is now…not so good.

Steve Jobs, the developer of these well-known iPads and iPhones spoke about how he doesn’t let his children use them at all in their homes. “So your kids must love the iPad?” asked Nick Bilton, a New York Times reporter. “They haven’t used it,” replied Steve Jobs. (2)

From the original 10 inch size, the mini versions were introduced, too. Now, the trend is to compete with the 65inch to 85inch size LED tvs. The newly introduced models from Samsung and Apple are scorching the race track to come out with screen sizes past 20 inches.

Emotional support for who? The child? The parents?

NOTES:

  1. Bollywood Hindi cinema, often known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is the Indian Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai (formerly Bombay). The term is a portmanteau of “Bombay” and “Hollywood“. The industry is related to Cinema of South India and other Indian film industries, making up Indian cinema – the world’s largest by number of feature films produced.
  2. 22 Mar, 2021. https://www.mathgenie.com/blog/steve-jobs-kids-didnt-have-an-ipad.-why-should-your-kids-have-one-1#:~:text=Steve%20Jobs%2C%20the%20developer%20of,it%2C%E2%80%9D%20replied%20Steve%20Jobs.

More than one use for the Apple iPad.

OOPS! WHO SPILT THE MILK?

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

So, all this boo hoo hoo about Lewis being robbed, stolen, cheated… and the list goes on… of an 8th title.

Sir Lewis Hamilton, 7 time Formula 1 World Champion 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017 -2020; Steve Etherington, Goodwood

We still have yet to see / read concrete evidence that Mercedes stomped the floor and insisted that the marshals insist Lewis gave back the lead he gained by going off the track in the first half dozen turns of Lap 1. Neither did they insist of Lewis getting a 5 second penalty for doing so.

If you watched just before the last lap shoot out – Mercedes did not object to it before the lap started, nor during the lap. Why was that? Was it because Lewis was in the lead of that lap? And they expected him to win?

Whatever controversial decisions may have been made by the race director, both teams accepted whatever the outcome that was to come from that said final lap before it started. Would the same boo hoo hoo guys be boo hoo hooing, hoping if Lewis won the last lap under the given circumstances?

Whatever remnants of the so-called sportsmanship that Lewis appears to have displayed after the race, is fast being washed down the drain by his and his team’s actions.

Max Verstappen achieves new milestone in 2021 season
Max Verstappen – Formula 1 World Champion 2021. Image AP (1)

It is a message that carries forward to anyone buying a Mercedes Benz vehicle – expect to accept all flaws with it and not make a noise about it… warranty or otherwise… because Mercedes Benz will then say, “it is unfair…” Even though there is a warranty, they won just by selling you a vehicle with all its flaws. And you should accept it.

And the team and their fans demand a change! Now, there is a new FIA committee, and Lewis did not attend the gala, and (another “and”) there is a penalty for not doing so; are they going to accept it based on the fact that the new committee will strictly follow the rules? Or is there going to be a “I don’t care” and not bother.

What is not good for the goose is good for the gander?

Chill guys! Lewis did not have to go for the 8th. But he did. He should enjoy whatever results he got out of it. This season proved that Max out won him in almost every area. Give that guy credit.

Mercedes team PR campaign that is going on now, “Lewis may not come back again” to play on the feelings of his fans, is nothing more than just a publicity stunt. He already did that last year, delaying signing the 2021 contract, until a few short days, just to stoke anxiety feelings of his fans. So, second time round now, is crying wolf! (pun intended)

If ever, Sir Lewis had even an ounce of chivalry on him, he would declare “let’s race 2022 for the 8th!”. Otherwise, just quit and “Next!”.

No way, am I belittling Lewis or ignoring his accomplishments. I think his fans and his team should do the same. He has to start behaving like a 7-times World Champion.

Sebastian Vettel – 4 times – Formula 1 World Champion 2010 – 2013; Twitter
Kimi Raikonnen – Formula 1 World Champion 2007; Car.Scoop

In fact, he should work with Max, the new World Champion; towards some off-track community work to give credibility to the titles they, including Seb, Fernando and Kimi have earned. They all have earned their rightful place as World Champions. Congratulations to all!

Fernando Alonso – Formula 1 World Champion 2005 & 2006, Autosport

NOTES

  1. Kartnik Nair, ‘Max Vs The World’: Verstappen Has Led More Laps This F1 Season Than All Drivers Combined; republicworld.com

My next car will be a Merc when I am in the market for a new car. It would be refreshing.

THE ONE LAP SHOOT OUT: MAX VS LEWIS

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

What a race it was! Who would have guessed that Formula 1 2021 would go down the wire, with the winner being decided in the last lap of the last race.

Mercedes protest dismissed and Verstappen remains 2021 F1 World Champion - Total Motorsport
Max Verstappen – Formula 1 World Champion, 2021; Total Motorsport

Let’s get some things in perspective. Mercedes was a “straight line demon”. Red Bull, let alone the rest of the competitors (yes, there were more than two drivers in Formula 1 this season; for some of you who were wondering) could not match this.

Lewis Hamilton’s experience kept the championship title chase – his eighth; alive. He filled in the gaps at the corners and other places. One could immediately tell that Lewis’ talent shone in these areas.

While Lewis had 7 world titles under his belt; he was under tremendous pressure to up the ante and take the title again to notch it up to “8” and become the supremo of Formula 1 World champions. He had to prove to his team and fans. He could have retired at 7 World Champion titles. But he decided to gamble with a “double or nothing” and go for the 8th, which seemed to have proved elusive to him from almost the very beginning of the season. But he is an athlete and racing on the track is in his blood. There seemed to have been more racing off the track with Mercedes throwing their whole financial might behind Lewis.

Red Bull was a team of strategists. They displayed their brilliant “chess” moves, always a couple of moves ahead of Mercedes, and every other team that cared to challenge it. Max Verstappen had to rely on car setup and this team strategy.

Max, was a rookie at actually chasing after the World Championship; not just winning a couple of races here and there. This is not to belittle individual races nor the rest of the drivers on the grid. All these drivers on the grid represent the “crème of the crop” of world drivers. They are at the pinnacle of formula 1. But there is only 1 champion each year.

Max had almost no pressure whatsoever – just to enjoy racing, go for the world championship when it became evident he was in the real running for it.

The season showed that Red Bull had the edge overall. Their pit calls were most times, brilliant maneuvers.

Both drivers went into Abu Dhabi with equal points. Max was one race win ahead of Lewis. This meant that Lewis had to win outright on points to take the championship.

Lewis overtook Max who was on pole at the start of the race. He was ahead in many parts of the race. Max soaking in all the fun, was still in the hunt.

Williams driver, Nicholas Latifi, crashed into the wall; six laps from the finish, bringing out the safety car.

Racing director, Masi; announced that it would be a final lap shootout; without the lapped back-markers in the way. Here is when the so-called controversies started.

No where, did it seem to suggest that Mercedes at this point; made any objection to that decision made by Masi. Why? Was it because Lewis was ahead already before the slingshot lap started? During the final lap shootout, did they announce, shout, scream any form of protest while Lewis was in the lead, or even right to the chequered flag?

The last lap was a slingshot for both Max and Lewis. All gloves were off. It was a driver vs driver race. Both were excellent in the last lap. The better driver won. That is a fact!

Why make not one, but two protests after the race was over?

Again, protests should have been made when the lap shootout was announced. Now, it seems some crying over spilt milk and being a spoilt sport is being worn on the sleeves of the Mercedes team.

I would have rather the announcement made by them, “We will come back stronger with Lewis next season!”

Now, all praise, joy, shouts of happiness – the limelight is on Max Verstrappen – Formula 1 2021 World Champion. Congratulations! Max! 🏆🏆👏👏

Max Verstappen's Formula One world title in numbers
Red Bull
Picture by the talented David Tremayne: Honda’s F1 rebirth, December 12, 2021; Augustman

NOTE:

We have removed the video showing the last lap shootout because it was blocked due to copyright issues. We gave mention that the video was from TRL Limitless. So, we think they may have breached the copyright issue. We respect the ownership of that footage. If you would like to view that last lap footage; go to YouTube “Verstappen Wins Title With Final Lap Overtake! | 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix”, Formula 1.

WHO’S IN COMMAND?

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

Started this on 14th June. Carried on 15th June.

14th June 2021 Your smartphone may have way, too many apps installed on it, all playing an immensely important role.

26th November 2021 How immensely important depends on the individual.

Though your smartphone can arrange all the apps in a variety of ways, whether in alphabetical order, or according to the latest entry update or in various folders; it can become overly “app-crowded”.

I have over 400 apps on my phone. How do I remember which app is for what? Good question. I have forgotten the use of more than half the apps on my phone. I have to open them to find out. There are lots of so-called cool free apps to download.

How would you like to have a smartphone call up the right app to the front screen when you pick up the phone? This will save you heaps of money to pay for college fees to get a degree in how to use your smartphone. You could get an MBA just learning how to select the correct apps. The idea is to spend as little time as possible searching for the right app, otherwise it would create the same effect as buffering or waiting for the app to load – which means, waiting. Time is the most essential and valuable asset that any person may have.

This could only mean one thing. Your smartphone must have muscle power – lots of it in the form of ram. My Samsung S21 Ultra has a power packed 16 gigabytes (gb) of ram on board. That is more powerful than most mid-to-upper range laptop computers. That is insane! With this 16gb of ram, comes 512gb storage.

Samsung S21 Ultra, with S-Pen and Silicone case with S-pen holding slot

Hang on, hang on! I know what you are going to say, “who in their right mind would need that much storage? And I hear you.

Let’s break it down to see why more ram and more storage is a good thing.

The apps today do more than just a simple few things. They have become more sophisticated, that they track your favourite pages, things you like, when and where you last stopped and even predict what is possibly going to be your next move. Hence, they have grown in size, needing more storage space. They need more power to run possibly multiple transactions at the same time.

On top of that many of the apps run simultaneously on your phone which definitely need more ram to run your phone.

Coupled with powerful, multiple cameras; a phone with say even 8gb of ram, won’t cut it. It slows down. Worse, it “hangs” (like stop in the middle of something you are doing).

Back in 2002, I wrote a paper for my MBA called “Command Centre”. The Compaq Ipaq was the hot device then. It had 32mb (megabyte) ram and 64mb ROM (Memory). Compare this with the power hungry and huge storage space devices (Samsung S21 Ultra). Come to think of it; it was the initiator of the “i” in the model name; not that fruit brand company. And by some years ahead, too. Many people owned one, just to look cool. There were more than “quite a few” who did not know how to use it.

Compaq iPAQ 3650 Reviews, Pricing, Specs
Compaq iPAQ 3650

A point to note: at that time, this was a guy’s item. Very rare to see a lady with one. Battery life was a few hours. This meant carrying the charging dock, the cable and wall plug. For more storage space, you would have to carry a sleeve that you slide the iPaq in, memory cards with storage sizes from 32mb up to 1gb. I had two iPaqs, a sleeve with two card slots. Carried a 1 gb and 340mb memory card. All in all, it weighed in closed to half a ton. Speaking from experience. Now, you know why the ladies stayed away from these things.

Coming back to the “Command Centre”, I envisioned then, that everything will be controlled from a device like this. Your bank accounts, personal stuff, phone, etc. Looks like I was thinking many years ahead of time. Just like how I wrote a working paper in 1999 for PALM.

At that time, PALM was the PDA (personal digital assistant). Small, slim, light, ran on two AAA batteries which could last for a month. I wrote on how like minded people with PALM devices come together to share ideas, beam across via “Infrared” name cards, share apps, etc.. Bluetooth or wifi was not available then, at least not on these devices.

So, since there were many people that came together often with this similar interest, I thought it a good idea that this could be done over cookies and coffee.

That particular senior executive that received my working paper left PALM shortly after that. The next thing I know is that a particular kopi company launched that exact idea for US$150 million. Hmmm… makes you wonder (1)

Today, institutions and retailers expect you to own a smartphone. Almost everything, every retailer, call for a cab, order food, airline, hospital, anything you need to know about anything and everything requires you to have their app on the smartphone.

A good thing or a bane, that depends on how you want to treat this smartphone. Who is master? Let me know when you find te answer out. Leave your comments below.

QQ!! Compaq iPAQ 3135 Monochrome Pocket PC Bundle (with Compact Flash | yolandotobygoersxavierc
This was one of the earlier versions, using a monochrome screen. The jacket sleeve, with a PCMCIA (memory card) slot. Looking back, how did we ever get through with monochrome screens? yolandotobygoersxavierc.wordpress.com

15th June 2021 I read a complaint in one of the main local media newspapers of an article: Many people are not sensitive to machines with A I. Excuse me? Say what?…. Next article.

NOTES: 1. Nope I didn’t get recognition either in payment or any form.