Mar 22, 2018 | Computer technology
So we all know Jack Dorsey as the IT service leader. He is the founder and CEO of Twitter. He’s also the CEO of mobile pay firm Square. But did you know he’s also a Bitcoin guy? In fact, here is Jack Dorsey’s Bitcoin Prediction: Bitcoin will be our global currency.
So Jack Dorsey revealed this in the Times of London. He believes not only will Bitcoin overcome it’s struggles, but it will thrive like nobody’s business. Furthermore, he says Bitcoin will be the single currency of the world and the Internet. Dorsey adds this Bitcoin takeover will probably happen in ten years, maybe even sooner.
He does admit, that Bitcoin isn’t ready to take over right now. He’s exactly right. As of today, Bitcoin is worth over $8,500. But one time, not long ago, it was worth over $20,000. Dorsey also admit Bitcoin??does not have the capabilities right now to become an effective currency?. However, he predicts more people will have it. And this will make it more dominant. Dorsey just doesn’t talk the talk, but puts his money where his mouth is. Because recently, he donated to 2.5 million dollars to a startup company they call Lightning Labs. It’s purpose is to help Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency easier and more portable and affordable to obtain.
I just noticed a point. In early 2017, Bitcoin’s worth started in the hundred. It rose to $20,000. But now, it’s only $8500. On one hand, Bitcoin is more affordable to get, but on the other hand, it’s worth enough to take notice. Then, you have the ID theft and hacking crises. Everytime you look around, somebody’s credit/debit card is being wiped out. Not too many people carry cash anymore. And not too many people use a checkbook on a regular basis anymore. Mobile pay companies like Apple Pay and Google Pay are all the rage.? Some in our Boston computer service shop use it. Is Jack Dorsey’s Bitcoin prediction right? Is this the next step?
Mar 21, 2018 | General
So let’s go back to 2014. Yes, a lot of things happened on the IT support and computer repair front. But one event was Facebook acquiring What’s App for $22 billion. Brian Acton founded What’s App. But now, Brian Acton tweets ‘Delete Facebook’.
However, there is more to the story. Because there is the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Many media reports say this London research firm got over 50 million Facebooks accounts. They got them without permission or approval from any of the Facebook users. Also, to this day, many still blame the fake news on Facebook for Donald Trump’s election win back in November 2016.
So yesterday, Brian Acton tweeted this to the whole world: It’s time. #deleteFacebook#. Acton is now a data and privacy rights advocate. In fact, Acton left team Facebook in 2017 to start his own non-profit. He named it Signal. It is an alternative to What’s App and it ensures better privacy when sending messages. Acton believes Signal’s purpose is to build technology that doesn’t sell, give, or compromise personal data. Acton isn’t the only one who is turning on Facebook right now. In recent days, their stock prices plummeted. It’s making some ground today, but we’ll see. However, another former Facebook leader said they created a monster, and now that monster is messing up society. That was basically his drift.? Some other former employees publicly regret even working for Facebook.
But let’s get back to Brian Acton. Why is he saying and doing this? I don’t know. I tried to look for motive. Maybe he really does believe Facebook is playing with people’s freedoms and privacy and personal data. If that’s the case, then he would have a valid point. Is he concerned about Cambridge Analytica? Because frankly, so am I. Is he still ticked about 2016’s election? Or is he still upset about be being bought out?
Mar 20, 2018 | News
So, I thought the Cold War ended in 1989. But apparently, it’s heating up again. Have you read some of the headlines over the past month or so? As US vs Russia cyber warfare continues.
So now, US officials say they found malware in computer systems we need for survival. These are the IT support systems that run our water, energy, nuclear power, and manufacturing. Furthermore, they trace the malware back to Russia. This doesn’t include other cyber attacks.? Therefore, the FBI and DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security) urged industry leaders, and their computer repair teams, to check their cyber security. These cyber attacks started in the spring of 2016, say US officials.
Then there are the motives and results. US officials say one motive is surveillance. They want info on our energy and computer systems. One US official said these actions are troubling. They also say Russian cyber hackers, backed by the Russian government, were behind the attacks. An alert went out. It accused Russian government cyber spies of malware, phishing and gaining remote access to networks. So what are they doing about it? The US is now passing yet more sanctions against Russia. These sanctions target Russian government organizations and even certain hackers and their bosses. But some even say that’s not enough. Because one said these sanctions, “…fall far short of what is needed”.
However, here is what is more disturbing. This comes at a time when Russian troops and ships are already on the move. Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin literally brags about having nuclear weapons that no nation can stop.? That interview Putin had with US journalist/talk show host Megan Kelly is absolutely chilling. Here is some of it. Now, rumors and articles abound that Russia is throwing propaganda out there to accuse the USA of war crimes in Syria, and make themselves look like Syria’s savior. Some call Russia the most dangerous nation on Earth and Putin the most dangerous man on Earth. The US vs Russia drama is getting too real for me. What do you make of this international cyber warfare?
Mar 19, 2018 | General
So, ever hear of Andrew Yang? He is a IT service venture capitalist. In fact, he founded Venture of America. Furthermore, he wrote books like ‘The War of Normal People”. In this book, he talks about America’s jobs going away. They’re not going to other countries, but to non-human entities. Andrew Yang wants to save us from robots.
That’s why he’s running for President of the United States in 2020. He just put his name in for the Democrat Party’s nomination that year. But he has radical ideas, maybe too radical for many. I talked about the problem of wealth inequality, especially in tech hubs like Silicon Valley. So to combat this, Yang proposes Universal Basic Income. This includes a ‘freedom dividend’. As I understand it, this would income from the tax’s revenue of tech’s big four. I’m talking mega tech companies like Amazon, which Yang calls out. Some of that revenue would go from these companies to ordinary citizens. Andrew Yang even wants a new digital social currency. Then, he would use this currency to help with social issues, like caring for the elderly and disadvantaged.
I also want to talk about his concern with AI and robotics. He address this kind of technology and how it’s taking human jobs. He also says AI is a huge threat, erasing millions of jobs at a time. Even at our Boston computer service shop, I hear the concern. He believes his new digital currency can help ease the AI threat. Let me say this now. This is not an endorsement for Andrew Yang. I’m just telling you he’s running in 2020, and this is his platform. Whether you choose him or not, that’s your choice. But there are some things I like about him, and some things about him that disturb me. I respect he addresses the problem of AI technology. But his Universal Basic Income and digital currency sounds a little Big Brother Orwellian to me. Would you vote for Andrew Yang?
Mar 16, 2018 | Computer technology, News
So by now, most of us know about Elon Musk sending cars into space. Some believe he’s crossing into the next plane in IT support. But there could be a more grim reason for why Musk is doing what he’s doing. This is a question to Elon Musk: Will Mars save us?
So at a SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, tech billionaire Elon Musk paints a pessimistic picture of our future. In fact, he fears we’re heading for the new ‘dark ages’. A couple of things that concern him are World War 3 and climate changes. Musk also suggests a Mars colony will keep human beings safe from war and natural disaster. When the war ends, then people on Mars can come back to Earth and rebuild.
But WW3 and the environment aren’t Musk’s only concerns. His biggest worry is AI technology and robots. He urges the US government to pass some regulation that will control AI. Last summer, Musk called AI, “…a fundemental risk to the extinction of civilization”. That’s a fancy way of saying the end robots could end the world as we know it. It’s not that fantastic. I read an article where AI technology already develops language that us as humans can’t even read. However, these AI robots can read and speak this language to each other.
In fact, Musk just straight up told the Austin crowd AI is far more dangerous than nuclear war. He wasn’t just talking about robots threatening and taking our jobs.?This even means computer repair jobs. He wasn’t just talking about people choosing marriages and sexual relationships with robots over real humans. Both those things are happening. But Musk’s visions of what AI may do is far more deadly. That’s why his company builds these cars and robots to save us from these apocalyptic dangers. He also told them his spaceship to Mars will be ready next year. Add to that the million people he wants to take to Mars. I doubt you’ll be in that million if you’re in the 99%. Would you even want to go to Mars. My question to Elon Musk: Are you going crazy?
