Good morning on what look like a nice sunny day--at least for now. The temps are predicted to reach the high 80s. Unfortunately, we do have to go out in it for a medical appointment. But I don't think I have to water plants after the soaking they got a day ago. The weather people think we have a good shot for more thundershowers tomorrow.
I found this article on Medium which reminds me of something I read about forty years ago in a book on the history of technology. The author wrote the purpose of technology (broadly defined) is to render processes invisible. His example involved modern electric lighting. The consumer merely flips a switch and gets light. What is hidden is the whole complex of processes which makes that happen: the wires (and the whole industrial line of production from digging the ore to the smelting to the forming of the wire to the packaging to the distribution centers to the installation), the light bulbs (similar chain from materials to production to sale to final placement), the transportation (map out the supply chains involved for your self). All except the final flipping of the switch and light are hidden from the consumer. Out of sight, out of mind. What the Medium article focuses on is the chain which takes the waste "away" from us and our vision.
Is my memory faulty or are these stories becoming more frequent and more costly? Just to check I found this site that lists major incidents targeting governments, defense and finance industries, and/or causing losses of more than $1million. It may be time to go to a lower tech backup which can't be hacked. And we have to remember that our computerized systems aren't vulnerable just to malicious people. Weather and accidents can also totally interrupt our digital lives.
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