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Deception                                         #412 By Hank Silverberg We are in an era of deception. With AI, computer fraud and politicians who can't seem to talk about the reality right in front of them, it is hard for anyone to know the truth about anything anymore.   Is the information in that campaign ad true? Probably not. It's propaganda. Some truth, some exaggeration, some fallacies. Is that person you have been talking to online real?Unless it's an old friend, there's a good chance they are lying, fake, an AI bot, an imposter or a crook.   As we get ready to count the votes on Tuesday (more likely into Wednesday or longer), it's going to be hard to avoid fake scenarios--those presented by losing candidates shouting voter fraud, those created by poor reporting by the media which unfortunately is getting worse, or  disinformation from partisan cabl...
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  Vote!                                                                                                                                        #411 By Hank Silverberg  Here we are just a week before one of the most consequential election days in 150 years.  Hundreds of thousands of people across the country have already voted early, and several states are already reporting record turnouts for early voting days. The figures below are from Virginia as of 10/24 where almost 100,000 more people voted early already compared to the total figure from the early voting in the 2022 midterms.        Early Ballots Cast 1,072,398 2...
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Blue Wave, Blue Tsunami or The Blues?    #410 By Hank Silverberg  Commentary We are only a few weeks away from the crucial mid-term elections in Congress. Many states have already begun early voting.  The polls vary a bit, but right now it appears the Democrats have a good chance of picking up seats in the House and Senate and possibly gaining a majority in both chambers. But many who support that effort are concerned what direction it will take if it happens. One of the key mistakes the GOP has made, mainly because of the President's obsessions and ego, is to be vindictive, and to go after opponents with trumped-up criminal charges or false narratives. It has soured many Republicans to their own party and stalled any effort of the compromises that usually produce good government.    Democrats should not make the same mistake if they gain control of Congress. Yes, they can use the new majority to stop Trump's agenda for the next two years, and possibly rev...
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Debating The Role Of Government                             #409 By Hank Silverberg  Commentary The midterm elections are now less than a month away, and early voting is underway in some states. A lot of the debate this year has focused on what role the government should have in our lives. There's a great deal of name calling with the words Communist, Socialist, and Fascist being thrown around loosely and inaccurately,  as I wrote a few weeks ago.  Here is what the preamble to the U.S. Constitution says about the role of government: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare , and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.  " So the main role of our governmen...
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Artificial Intelligence A Threat?         #408 By Hank Silverberg In 1942, a science fiction writer named Isaac Asimov wrote a short story called Runaround that was later included in the 1950 collection called  I, Robot.  The story focused on a world where robots had become very popular servants for human beings, doing many of the menial jobs and even some of the more complex ones. These robots were individuals that had artificial intelligence, and eventually took over the world.   Asimov knew human beings should maintain control of such machines and created for his stories a guidebook called  " Three Laws of Robotics 2058 ".  He was just about right in his predictions. And that brings up the question: are you using Artificial Intelligence in your workplace or elsewhere? It's hard to avoid it. Even Google searches will now bring up an AI overview. This one came up when I googled AI:  "Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ...
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Say It Ain't So                                      #407 By Hank Silverberg  Take me out to the ball game, please! The MLB playoffs begin this week, and I am thrilled that my Red Sox are in the mix again. Last year they were eliminated in the first round, and that began the long, sad winter for me without the sport I am addicted to: baseball.  But this year's playoffs and World Series have something else hanging over them that could change the lives of millions of people. The collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball  Players Association expires on December 1.  They will need to come up with a new deal before spring training begins again in February, or the 2027 baseball season will be in jeopardy.  The two sides are far apart on one big issue, a salary cap.   The MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, said on Sunday...
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