screen time

I heard some type of  technologies professor talking on the radio. ( I always listen to a non-commercial ABC station.) Prof explained that even though we think "they" want us to see their ads while we're on our phones, what they really eamt is our screen time. 

   They (ie: phone designers, marketers and sellers) are no longer happy with just our money, they want our minds!

  Why do you think they build on all those hook? Funny animal videos, random snippets of our favorite topics etc.? Its as though, they see us drifting off interest and will toss in something on topic to drag is back in. 

   But that's only part of it. What's the first thing you see now when you search G00gle? Yes, that's right an AI offering. So very quickly people soak that up as gospel truth even though its often wrong. I searched for information about "The May '74 Storm" that many older Novocastrians will remember. AI suggested that "600 people died .... and 600 ships were wrecked". But, that was clearly not right. One ship, the SYGNA was blown ashore on Stockton Bight and the usual array of moored craft would have broken away and washed ashore, but many were not wrecked. I believe there was a fatality during the storm as a campers vehicle was washed into water near Swansea. It was a classic storm, we all knew the impact, just not AI. 

But what about younger Novocastrians, or people not fr Newcastle? They wouldn't lmow what happened the reaiity, only what AI told them. 

If we multiply the number of people and the numbers of GOogle searches that are made daily, there's a massive risk of global misinformation. 

So, They can shape memories,  our thinking, even create conflict, between friends, families, whole communities.

They want more though. They create dependence on G00gle, our phones generally, for everything we do each day. Recipes? Got it.aths answers? Got it. Everything from basic observations to complex issues, They not only want us yo rely on our phones, They are actively deskilling us, to create greater dependence on technology. 

How many people the world over assumed the Elon Mu5k was suited to running down public service on the USA? The guy had zero credentials beyond being extremely wealthy and white. 

Already, the older folk who call Big Tech into question and promote less push advertising, less personal data mining, less flashy phone gimmicks to loop,people in, are being marginalised as "old fuddy duddies". Soon we'll be dead, there will be no rational voices pleading foremtal peace and the sons and daughters of El0n will be even more hellbent on mind control, that society will be looking more beige than it does now. 

15:30hrs.

Fortunately Ioved on to lighter thoughts and actions throughout the rest of the day. Though I have limited my screen time. 

* I fitted up the VHF radio, just tidying the cables up left. 

* Sanded back the job filling on the old radio hole. Next is adding a fine filler before priming and painting.

* Adjusted the height of the mee Captain's Chair ... before realizing it is better situated in theidships storage bin. I can sit there, facing aft with a hood view of the coclpit with no risk of banging my head.

* Began making the Stove Box with gimbals. I have to glue each piece separately, so of will take time. ,(l have the first two pieces setting by the fire now.)  Fitting the bearings? Well it was a case of the old Just Do Its. I agonised over how Iight fit the bearings and drill the Trangia to fit, only to fond that it was so straightforward l could do it on my sleep. 

The weather is savage; gusty cold winds straight off snow in the mountains. 

    Yeah a hat full of wind, but for Going North Season, staying close by the land, the conditions are ideal for a fast run. I remember pulling into Coffs Harbour years ago and hearing a young fellow on a large catamaran tell his dad it was blowing 35 knots overnight as they looked down upon my diminutive vessel. I just smiled. l could have mentioned I had the windvane working, while I dipped coffee and skipped along in the lee of the land over flat seas, but I said nothing. If their boat was ten feet shorter I might have explained, but in this case I just let them suck it up. One for the Little Cruisers. The reality was that this was pnr of my best legs going up the coast; a regular heel with the surge of swell surfing us along. Drinking Joe while the miles fly by. If I find myself in these conditions again, l won't stop. instead I'll milk it for its  last breathe. Now I'll be able to relax in my Captain's Chair realising full well that these conditions are both good and rare.