The World According to Glissando

Author: Glenn Hansen

  • FBBS

    Facebook. It was a wonderful new way to connect with friends: past, present and future. It was user friendly. You were allowed to “Friend” anyone you wanted to if the other party was agreeable. You received your friends’ posts as they happened in chronological order. Their posts were the primary focus. But, once they got enough people hooked, they changed it. Why? Avarice, of course.

    Today’s Facebook is very different. The priority is no longer connecting, and your friends’ posts, its’s whatever Facebook’s priority is. You can no longer easily “Friend” someone who is a new real life friend. Instead, you have to choose from the choices given to you by Facebook. Content? You can sometimes wait days to see a Friend’s post, if at all. Instead, you are inundated with ads, often by lousy companies; and Facebook chooses all types of posts from anyone they think you might be interested in. Why? The are trying to drive up advertiser dollars, not help you connect.

    Facebook was a great concept, but, like so many other things, it got corrupted by the desire to make more and more and more revenue. I have no problem with companies and people making money. It’s the avarice I have a problem with. For now, I am still on Facebook, but nowhere near as much. It’s because of all the friends I have made in the earlier days of Facebook. But, as I see less and less of their posts, eventually I will stop using the app. Friends were the reason I used Facebook in the first place. I certainly think I am not the only one who feels this way. Facebook…take note.  

  • Canada

    O Canada. “The true north strong and free!” is one of the lines in their national anthem. It is no secret that Donald Trump, and indeed, a number of influential (rich) Americans would like to see Canada as the fifty-first state. Canadians have strongly rejected these overtures, but, here are some unsettling considerations for Canadians.

    Canada is coveted for its abundant supply of fresh water. Some suggest the figure is around twenty percent of the world’s surface fresh water. Remember, fresh water is imperative to the continued existence of humanity and many other forms of life on earth. Next, there’s Canada’s broad spectrum wealth of vital natural resources including oil, gas, and minerals, some of which are considered rare. Land suitable for sustainable agriculture and renewable hydro electricity abounds

    With this in mind, you have to remember that many a war was started by one group wanting what another group possesses. Such is the human condition. Canada has much to offer a potential invading country. But, could an invasion really happen? I believe it could, especially given humanity’s track record. For Canada, their problem is really obvious…it has a huge land mass with a small population relative to size, served by an inadequate armed forces. This is not a knock on the good, world-class people in the military, but rather, it acknowledges the lack of a large armed forces that are often ill-equipped.

    Number one on the potential list of invaders is the United States. They need what Canada has and they are Canada’s next door neighbour. Initially, the “invasion” may come via political channels, but, if push comes to shove, I think there could be a literal invasion. In light of America’s massive military might, Canada should surrender before the opening salvo is fired and Canadian lives are unnecessarily lost. Other potential invading countries include China and Russia. Too far away? Remember, access can be via the North Pole.

    I do hope this does not come to pass. Canada is a sovereign, democratically principled nation, with the right to exist freely. However, world affairs continue to careen everywhere. History is filled with countries that support another country and then reverse that support. Iran and the United States is one example. Russia and the World War II Allies is another. This has happened again and again through all of history. I would suggest Canadians consider that invasion by another country is plausible and make their plans accordingly in the hopes of preserving their great country. And, if it were to happen, there might be strong condemnation from around the world, but, don’t count on receiving help from any nation.     

  • War

    Alcohol. We all know it’s plentiful downsides, but also why people consume it. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, also known by the acronym PTSD, was first diagnosed as an illness in 1980, an all too real and often debilitating, even disturbing illness. Here’s the thing, though, PTSD has always existed. We just didn’t recognize it until 1980.

    I cannot truly understand what it means to actually fight in a war, but, I have really tried to understand the best that I can. War is a profound hell. It can eviscerate a human mind, soul and body. I think about the copious miseries, indecencies, and atrocities a soldier experiences and it boggles my mind. Then, you have the sudden loss of a friend who stood next to you, alive, seconds ago, a cycle which repeats over and over. War is unimaginable unless you have had to fight in one.

    Prior to the recognition of PTSD, treatment was extremely limited. Accessing help today can still be a real challenge. The unimaginable, horrific memories of war…how do you escape them if you actually are able to survive a war? Well, for many years, alcohol was and still is a prescription. Lots of alcohol. As you quite understandably try to rid yourself of the ongoing, hellish nightmares, that bottle of alcohol isn’t a mere drink, it has medicine written all over it. Too often, the local legion is still the health clinic.

    I tell you all of this because we should always honour and assist our war veterans, who have paid a very high price in surviving war. If you have an opportunity to help a veteran, or a veteran’s family, in some way, you should do it. There is nothing glorious about war and we should recognize this, especially since humanity doesn’t seem to to want to stop fighting them. War is a profound hell.   

  • Astronauts

    As the holiday season is coming to a close I was self-reminded of the plight of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, whose Gilligan’s Island “eight day tour” in space became an involuntary half year “adventure” and counting. Think of it this way; here on earth imagine yourself being stranded in Antarctica for an indefinite period of time. Not for me, thanks.

    These two astronauts are, of course, remarkable. They’ve handled the situation with great calm and aplomb. This is why astronauts are special people who are chosen because of their character and talents. They lead the way in expanding our knowledge and understanding of the universe on a very human scale.

    So, Happy New Year Sunita and Butch, and all the other people currently residing at the International Space Station. You are truly amazing. No matter what country you come from, you are doing important work on many levels to make our world a better place. Let’s also remember the “International” in Space Station. Space is for all humankind, not just countries or factions. May we never fight over possession of this realm, as is the nature of the human species.

  • AI2

    We all think it’s cute in the commercials where someone asks Siri, the Apple AI Assistant, a question and Siri answers. Isn’t that wonderful or cool, we think? Here’s something you may not realize though. Everything you ask Siri is recorded by Apple. It goes further. Sometimes you inadvertently and unknowingly activate Siri and everything you say is recorded by Apple. Apple will then disclose this information to marketers, advertisers and who knows who else. It is my understanding that Google Assist performs similar AI activities. Apple has just settled a class action lawsuit for $95 million over privacy issues involving Siri. In settling the claim, Apple was able to deny any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.    

    It used to be that the biggest privacy concerns were directed toward government. However, with the advent of AI, our privacy can now be tracked by a much larger potential pool of listeners. I’m not a conspiracy theorist; truth is what matters to me. What I am saying though is that this is what’s happening in our digital age with the advent of AI. I simply think people should be aware of this. You should also be aware that it is possible to disable these functions on your phone. As Don Henley sang: “This is the end of the innocence.”  

  • Zealism

    Zealism. I don’t know if this is a real word, but it is my term to describe someone who is extremely passionate about anything. This can be a good thing. It can be applied to someone working to create the next miracle pharmaceutical. Or a world class Olympic athlete in training. Zealism can also be a terrible thing.

    In the United States, there was a New Year’s Day mass murder in New Orleans. The term terrorist attack is already being used to describe the attack. This article is not about the approval or disapproval of any particular group or faction. It’s about zealism itself.

    The problem with any extreme zealism is its destructiveness, intolerance, and the blocking of free thought and speech. With zealots, you cannot have thoughtful discussions. You cannot dissuade them from their position. They have shut their minds. It’s their way or the highway, or much worse. This type of zealism, therefore, does not result in peace, love, harmony and respect for everyone. Disagree and you could be dead.

    How is the world to find peace and hope when you have groups of extremists who have no desire for peace? This has been a blight on humanity from the very beginning. Fighting can never end if the involved parties blindly hate each other and don’t have the desire to talk and start fresh. Still, I always hope for elusive peace. You cannot ever give up on this hope.       

  • Goodbye

    Life never takes a holiday. On Christmas Day, a neighbor of mine in the block I live in passed away at a son’s place. He was a nice, pleasant man. One of my artistic vocations is as a singer/songwriter. A new song quickly imposed itself on my brain; not a sad song per se, but, a song that is bittersweet and hopeful. Following are the lyrics for this song. I have not included the title purposefully…this blog is about the power of words and not for any self-promotion of any kind. Integrity is key to this blog. This is what is important to me. That’s why there are no links etc. Please note though, that these words are copyrighted through SOCAN. I hope you find meaning and hope in the words I am about to present.

    Goodbye good neighbour

    Sorry you had to go

    You were a nice man

    Always happens here though

    Goodbye good neighbour

    Known so many here

    Goodbye good neighbour

    Let’s not dwell in fear

    Goodbye good neighbour, goodbye

    Goodbye good neighbour, goodbye

    Goodbye good neighbour, goodbye

    Goodbye

    Life’s bittersweet

    Any time of year

    So unrelenting

    Do your best while you’re here

    Goodbye good neighbour

    Known so many here

    Goodbye good neighbour

    Let’s not dwell in fear

    Goodbye good neighbour, goodbye

    Goodbye good neighbour, goodbye

    Goodbye good neighbour, goodbye

    Goodbye

    Life is a mystery

    Lost in the sands of history

    Goodbye good neighbour

    Known so many here

    Goodbye good neighbour

    Let’s not dwell in fear

    Goodbye good neighbour, goodbye

    Goodbye good neighbour, goodbye

    Goodbye good neighbour, goodbye

  • AI

    Today, many Canadian seniors thought they were going to get a one-time payment of $2,500 from the Government of Canada to compensate for the increased cost of living. When I first learned of this, it sounded the proverbial “too good to be true.” I quickly contacted the Federal Government who advised there is no such program currently in existence.

    When I did a Google search reading “$2500 for canadian seniors is this true”; up popped on my screen at the top, first and foremost, an AI Overview of this program confirming its existence and various details followed. No wonder people thought this was true. There it is right there in front of me confirming the program. It’s not hard to understand why seniors were really excited about it. Unfortunately, for millions of seniors, it was not true. The AI information was totally false. And that’s the rub.

    This is just one example of the inaccuracy and potential misuse of AI. AI is the acronym for Artificial Intelligence, which is generated by computer/digital applications. This created a huge problem. Millions of people believed they were going to get $2500. This is just the start of the problem of trying to figure out what the truth really is. Ten years from now, good luck.

    It’s time for everyone to realize that evil people will use AI for evil purposes. Count on it. Just to be clear, I do not believe there was any attempt by Google to mislead anyone in this particular case. AI is still very much in its infancy of development, albeit at an alarmingly quick rate. But, we must recognize its potential for evil purposes, humankind being what it is. This accidental, inaccurate AI event clearly demonstrates the burgeoning power of AI.      

  • News

    Some people are saying to abandon the “Legacy Media,” which is the term used for the traditional news media. The supporters of this concept say Legacy Media is not truthful. They are biased and constantly lie. So, who is saying this? The answer: people who don’t like the truth or want to control what the truth is via social media platforms.

    Why are they saying this? Of course, money, power and control are some of their objectives. Remember, online truth is actually difficult to find. You have to be discerning and know your sources well enough to trust what they are reporting as news. And that’s the problem with rejecting the traditional news media.

    Look at it this way: if you eliminate traditional media, you have less sources of potential news, not more. Sure, if you want to put your faith exclusively in online platforms, that’s your right, but, eliminating traditional media gives you less options to discern the truth. You are actually losing an element of free speech and freedoms.

    Those who seek cultural control, control of the masses, money, or power are always empowered by restricting or controlling the sources of information, be it online, traditional or other media. These people want to control the news. However, unlimited, freely accessed news is imperative for your rights and freedoms, and for democracy. Think about any authoritarian country and they have one thing in common: they control all news media.

    So, I say, don’t abandon traditional media. It invites news media control. They are a source of information, which you may or may not like, but, they should have the right to present information the same as any online platform. When you eliminate a source of information, you are losing some of your rights.   

  • Truth

    Elon Musk says to forego all other news apps and sources except for X (Twitter) because X is the only source of true news. Don’t do what Elon says. You need every source of news and the discernment to know who to believe and who not to believe. If Elon had his way, Tesla would be the only car to buy in the world. Truth needs many lenses. His goal is to make money and maybe rule the world some day.