August 14

 Good morning on a sunny day which should be in the 80s again before we begin another small stretch of 90s. We have to go out on an errand this morning. It shouldn't take so long. The plants will have to wait another day before I water them.

I saw an interesting piece this morning about U.K. and water shortages. Several parts of the U.K. are in drought and others are suffering the worst dry period for more than 50 years. While imposing "hosepipe" restrictions some are also encouraging people to delete pictures and other materials they have stored in the "cloud"--that is in data centers. I mentioned the controversy in this country over the data centers which seem to be popping up like mushrooms. All of them slurp up energy and water often driving up electric costs for their neighbors and depleting water supplies. But, as usual, the situation is a bit more complicated as this article notes. Governments, including the U.S. and U.K., are putting a lot of their economic hopes on using AI to "turbocharge" their economies--which means more data centers. People need water but so do industries--and not just the tech industry. We seem to be reaching a point where not all needs can be met and a contest is pitting people against business. And that contest is being exacerbated by a warming climate.

Rachael Bitecoffer posted this article this morning that should make a shudder run through anyone reading it especially given what we see starting up in D.C. And consider the edict issued by our would be king that directed the Smithsonian Institution to do a thorough "review" of all its displays to make sure they reflect Trumps "view" of American history and culture. I remember trailers for a series titled "The Story of US." Trumps view is "The Story of HIM" as in the white heterosexual Christian MALE. Everyone else are merely bit players.

Tim Snyder gives us another good assessment of Trump this time relating to his usual playbook: make grandiose promises (with no means of or intention to follow through) and bullying. However well the tactics have worked aside the U.S.  (and the jury is still out on this) it doesn't work at all with foreign leaders and peoples.