New Year 2023

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR from London Apprentice

Life goes on but at a reduced rate with much natural and unnatural attrition. It seems that every day we lose someone that has been around for a long while. Last year there many but perhaps none so lofty as our queen of 70 yrs ER2. How can life here ever be the same again? I wish Charles III well as he comes to our throne at such a difficult time. There is much hardship for which our people are ill prepared. Technology marches on and needs to if we are to retain our lifestyle and save the planet which is warming faster than ever. The UK has lost 50% of its habitat. There are those who care but their actions merely make a bad situation even worse. There are strikes that emanate from dissatisfaction with the status-quo. On the technical front the difficulties range through nuclear, hydrogen, and batteries.  More automation and robotic machines threaten jobs with consequential unrest.  

I will confess some astonishment at the link between this Blog and that of CFC. It also links to my Special Bitter BLOG. Both need to have defunct email addresses changed. 

NOTES FROM 20MAY2023

It is 2 years since my accident on the stairs which curtailed my ability to play the guitar at all for 12 months. I am pleased to ay that the predictions that my "rotator-cuff" injury would take at least 2 years to heal have come true and aside from a slight discomfort I am back to playing bad notes as well as ever!

A couple of items on the morning news took my -er ear. The following transcribed from my rough notes.

AI WORRIES – Artificial Intelligence likely to create as many new jobs as it costs says professor. Concerns of population now risen to 68%. A thereat to humanity? BT to slash 55000 jobs by 2030. The march of the robots. Stephen Hawking said AI was mankind’s greatest achievement and greatest threat. Gutenberg Printing press C1400. Lawyers, Bankers, Accountants all under threat. Google Chief Dr Geoffrey Hinton (75) resigned over his fears of unethical use and regretting his involvement in the developments.  Existential threat to mankind. Chat robots that invent answers. Dystopian state inevitable. Forty percent of jobs in 1960 are not available today. Will it mean that no-one will have any income? What of the Tax-take and pensions? Inference, deduction, assumption issues. Mental health issues likely to rise if people not occupied. Humans always corrupt the use of new technology. Bad intentions prevail. Humanity always adapts to new challenges…. Mmm!

DOG DEATHS - A minority have a dog in order to intimidate. Breeds are not banned and no law has been been broken. Dangerous dogs act. A group of people who want an aggressive dog at their side. A status symbol. Why no licence? Type of owner has changed. Staffordshire Terriers are not all aggressive. “He’s never done this before” does not stack up when investigated. Time-line of aggressive development becomes obvious says a top source.