Easy on the Eyes

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“No object is mysterious. The mystery is your eye.”
Elizabeth Bowen

If you own a cell phone or a tablet such as an iPad, you now have the capability to download a simple application that will allow you to check your eye sight.

A London University has developed The Portable Eye Examination Kit, or Peek. What’s so amazing about Peek is that it is just as accurate as the traditional sight charts.

How cool is this. The next phase in this technology breakthrough is if you own a 3D printer, you will be able to design and print out your own eye wear.

This sounds like fun to me. I would love to be able to examine my eyes, design a pair of stylish eye glasses and never leave my home. This new technology is definitely easy on the eyes.

Shine On

Happy Anniversary Golden Gate Bridge

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“The Golden Gate Bridge is an icon.
The West Coast Statue of Liberty,
welcoming all to our shores.”
Author Unknown

Opening day celebration for the Golden Gate Bridge, 1937.

Yesterday the Golden Gate bridge celebrated its 78th anniversary.

The bridge might never been built without the determination of the bridge’s chief engineer, Joseph Strauss. He spent over ten years petitioning supporters until finally state legislature was passed.

Non supporters argued that the bridge should not be built due to hazardous tides, constant fog and high winds. The Department of War tried to stop construction stating it would interfere with ship traffic. Even the Southern Pacific Railroad, who operated ferries from Marin to San Francisco, filed a lawsuit to stop construction.

Thanks to Strauss’ tireless efforts, construction began in 1933 and was finished early and under budget. Fortunately for Strauss he lived to see the completion of his beloved bridge, and wrote some poetry dedicated to the bridge and surrounding area. Sadly, Strauss died just short of one year after the completion of the bridge. A memorial statue of Strauss was constructed and can be seen on the San Francisco side of the bridge.

Happy Anniversary Golden Gate Bridge.

Shine On

The Beginning of the End

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“Every major player is working on this
technology of artificial intelligence.
As of now, it’s benign… but I would say
that the day is not far off when
artificial intelligence as applied to
cyber warfare becomes
a threat to everybody.”
Ted Bell

The Beginning of the End

Today it was announced that scientist at UC Berkeley have successfully programmed a robot to learn simple tasks through trial and error just like humans learn. This robot BRETT, (Berkeley Robot for the Elimination of Tedious Tasks) can use visual and sensory information about itself, its environment and the objects before it.

To the average person this may not seem like a big deal, but this is a major breakthrough in the area of artificial intelligence (AI). In the summer of 1956 the field of AI was just getting started. The founders of AI became the leaders in the research for decades. Many of these men predicted that a machine as intelligent as a human being would some day exist by the 1970s. Eventually it became obvious that they had grossly underestimated the difficulty of the project.

Here we are almost sixty years later and the technology these men worked on has arrived. The technology itself is fascinating but what is more interesting to me is how humans will use this information. Will AI be used for the betterment of man, or will it be the beginning of the end?

Shine On

That’s Some Hole in One

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“If you’re caught on a golf course during a storm
and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron.
Not even God can hit a 1-iron.”
Lee Trevino

A massive sinkhole on a golf course in Branson Missouri.

“The ‘Top of the Rock’ golf course is the sight of what may be the biggest playing hazard around.

In the early morning hours the ground collapsed, leaving a gaping hole nearly 100-feet deep and 100-yards wide. And it may be growing.

Heavy rain in the area, combined with a possible cave below the course are the leading suspects.”

This news story reminded me of a funny story I heard a while back. It’s about a young man, Edward who was an exceptional golfer.

At the age of 26, Edward decided to become a priest, and joined a rather peculiar order. He took the usual vows of poverty, chastity, but his order also required that he quit golf and never play again. This was particularly difficult for Edward, but he agreed and was finally ordained a priest.

One Sunday morning, the Reverend Father Edward woke up and realizing it was an exceptionally beautiful and sunny early spring day, decided he just had to play golf.

So… he told the Associate Pastor that he was feeling sick and convinced him to say Mass for him that day. As soon as the Associate Pastor left the room, Father Edward headed out-of-town to a golf course about forty miles away. This way he knew he wouldn’t accidentally meet anyone he knew from his parish.

Setting up on the first tee, he was alone. After all, it was Sunday morning and everyone else was in church!

At about this time, Saint Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from the heavens and exclaimed, “You’re not going to let him get away with this, are you?”

The Lord sighed, and said, “No, I guess not.

“Just then Father Edward hit the ball and it shot straight towards the pin, dropping just short of it, rolled up and fell into the hole. It was a 420 yard hole in one!

St. Peter was astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked, “Why did you let him do that?”

The Lord smiled and replied,”Who is he going to tell?”

Shine On

My Memorial Day Poem

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life
to something bigger than oneself.”
Joseph Campbell

For centuries soldiers die
In the name of freedom
From all around the World
Mothers, daughters, sons and fathers
Mourn from wars death toll

The greatest thing the human race
Must accomplish is right now
To end all wars and live in peace
In hopes that all the lives war took
Were not lives that died in vain

We celebrate on Memorial Day
To honor all the fallen
They made the ultimate sacrifice
For all of us still living
We dedicate this day to say
Don’t forget all the lives that have fallen

By: J R

Shine On