Year start, 2026

This blog is a data repository for a longitudinal of the U.S. with regard to technology, business, science, and  general knowledge-related disciplines that come into play in coping with the modern world. As such, it has companion blogs that are listed below with some explanation. 

• Truth Enginering - the first blog dealing with the major theme.  
• 7'oops7 - dealing with complex systems, however had an initial focus related to program management on a large scale. 
• FEDaerated - pertains to business at all levels, but for a while was principally commentiong about the Federal Reserve and its long trek to relight the economy after the crash of 2007/8.  

Remarks: Modified: 01/09/2026

01/09/2026 -- 

KBE, what is it?

Moral: Brief intro to KBE. A start, thereof. 

GenAI/LLM has lessons to learn beyond being silly and gluttonous. How can we derive these without ruining the plante? 

• KBE, continued         draft article on Linkedin 

Remarks: Modified: 07/03/2025

07/03/2025 --

New Year, 2025

 Moral: Another year. Lots to do. 

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Notice our decline in activity here when we move to Quora (2015). We will be picking this up again. One motive? Here, I can write without the clamor of the crowd. Is that good or bad? Cannot know one without the other. 

Here are posts related to a Quora article. 

• Is OpenAI's new model O3 approaching AGI? - is Altman's approach Ponzi'ish? 
• The ideological errors of capitalism IV - Made offs - modern example. 
• Made-off, again - computational flim flam will not go away. May we attempt to abate the mischief? 

There has been a lot of activity on Quora. The world has changed considerably since 2015. I have twenty years to organize (first post in truth engineering, 2007). And, mathematics has the keys to the kingdom. Always has had. Let's show them how. 

Remarks: Modified: 01/08/2025

01/08/2025 -- 

Dee W Hock

Moral: Look at a non-capitalist banker. 

Just ran into this guy's work. Will tell the tale of that odyssey at some point.

This is a quote by him on X (formerly, twitville).

   On Universities 

He started Visa and was an inspiration for crypto and blockchain.

So, we’ll see what this is about. Dee died in 2022. 

Review by The Practical Polymath. 

Remarks: Modified: 03/21/2024

03/21/2024 -- There is a video of him talking to a colleague. Dee says that his net worth is only $2 million or so. What this a remorseful lookback? Too, later, after Dee retired, Visa went and made themselves a stock company. What was Dee's reaction to that? ... You know, we're on the wagon for the truly sustainable economy in which the billionaires and their type are constrained and hugely so. Fools' gold? Nope. Fairness and justice will rise into a mature balance. 

New Year, 2024

Moral: Another year. Lots to do. 

---

Notice our decline in activity here when we move to Quora (2015). 

Here is a list of posts. 

We will be active in 2024.  

Remarks: Modified: 01/01/2024

01/01/2024 -- 

Alchemy lives

Moral: Machine learning's recent splash brings Herbert L. Dreyfus back to the conversation. Let's look at that. 

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I first heard of Dreyfus while listening to a discussion about artificial intelligence and databases at a conference that was sponsored by the "very large-database" group. The meeting was in the 1980s and was held at Kyoto, Japan. The reactions were varied, but one could see the positions being taken. He didn't seem to have many friends there defending him. 

Okay, leap forward. Looking further, I agreed with the guy. However, at the time, my focus was on implementation of algorithms for knowledge based systems (and, later, knowledge based engineering modes) that were highly effective in providing solutons that mattered. Needless to say, subsequent work involved a broader scope for computing that suggested its potential. 

Ubiquity? The concept was not unknown. However, the release of IP changed the whole tone. That was in the mid-1990s. Since then, we have had several cycles of boom and bust. The first one? Go look up the tech bust of 1999/2000 to read about one. 

There were others before and after 2000. A couple of the ones before related to artificial intelligence. This post provides a brief summary of Dreyfus's involvement in the discussions. 

•  Alchemy and AI  

Now, the theme of this post. Here is a little blurb from Bard (Google's xNN/LLM)  with respect to Dreyfus's importance.  

• Business is often seen as a way to make money, and in some cases, this can lead to people trying to get something for nothing. For example, some businesses may engage in deceptive or fraudulent practices in order to make a profit.

Oh, was this prompted? Sure. The idea was to tell it that the ca-pital-sino (coined in this blog in a post on Tuesday, 26 Jan 2010 - Shell games) deals specifically with this issue. 

Remarks: Modified: 08/23/2023

08/23/2023 -- 

What comes around

Moral: Wherein we declare that our doors, once again, are open for business. 

Two major incidents happened. There were more. These are sufficient. 

• ChatGPT - ah, what idiocy. We'll weigh in, deeply. One theme will be Silly Valley and its dumb experimenting on us, who are we, the poor little folks. Wise up, guys and gals. 

• 

  Ben and
  the taper

  Fed grew some cojones and we're back to 18 Sep 2007. Oh gosh, we have two other blogs on the idiocy that took place the past decades and one-half. 

This will be fun. For now, a link to the Forbes History of the rate. 

You know, it's been tedious watching this stuff from afar. And, feeling the impacts of wrong decisions even from a distance. Talk about entanglement? Ah, yes, kept the faith. Now, look for the old posts to be resurrected and updated. 

Remarks: Modified: 03/26/2023

03/23/2023 -- Added an image from this post: Ben and the taper (from 2013). He threatened to taper. The addicts to the ca-pital-sino rebelled. Back and forth. Did he taper? Nope. Several times. Until Janet came to be, there was no challenge to addicts. You hear them, even now. 

03/26/2023 -- The Tablet Magazine has a good article: How the Bank Collapse Goes Nuclear. 

2009 until now

 Moral: Wherein we do a quick recap. 

This blog started in order in 2009 which was about when the last recession was over. The topic tells it all; we watched the Fed's reaction to the downturn. And, were posting in the 7'oops7 and Truth Engineering blogs. But, that was extraneous to those two topics. We needed something financial. 

Two motivations? One deals with MIT and their clever development of the concept of financial engineering. I ask them, engineers mostly. What science is behind this bit of shenanigans? Okay, 2009, that was the timeframe. Now, messes. Even the supposed financial bots are supposed to be smarter than MIT folks (well, perhaps we ought to start there; they never had claim to all of intelligence). Now, another motivation (there are several more, btw)? As the financial stuff unraveled, the Fed seemed to react in an old mode and then just capitulated to those who push the ca-pital-sino. Oh yes. As I said, in 2009, it'll be worse the next time. We have not seen this yet, but people who consider these matters worry.   

In the meantime, follow discussion at Quora. It has been at Quora where most of our attention has been given and most of our energies spent since 2015

Remarks: Modified: 03/23/2023

12/30/2022 --

Grand Challenge

 Moral: Wherein we explore a Grand Challenge. 

This is cursory as we have just become aware of a video that provides an important viewpoint. See the "Grand Challenge" post at the TruthEngineering blog for details and for further work on the subject. 

FutureLaw presentation
Stanford Law School 

Remarks: Modified: 12/31/2021

12/31/2021 --

AIn't

Moral: Wherein we note what could be our logo and some of its implications. 

AIn't? Means what? 

Notice, AI is bold. Usual meaning. Though, there are many; of late, something called DL ('deep' learning) has taken hold on the imagination. Ain't? Grammar police baiting? 

This post is a reminder of important topics to be discussed in the future. 

Now future? Let's say, the one being touted by Peter Schiff (Dr. Doom) who has been even more vocal of late about the policies to ruin. I only listened to a minute's worth. 

Has anyone noted that people yak, others listen (or pretend to)? Have you sat through a video of a mathematical proof? Sure, some semblance. 

The point is that reading/writing is how deep (the real sense, not the wannabe of DL) knowledge gets conveyed across generations. 

Now, deep? The whole phenomenal events related to grokking is an example. People pursue this by several means, one of which is finding a guru. 

Why mention this? Not only do we have a false AI, robotics is becoming seen as an economic savior. You realize that some of the AI folks bragged about the fake faces being generated by their systems, none of which have any link to something real? 

Robotics? The past year plus, many more companies have sought to use these. Mostly, they do some task that can be harmful for humans (Bezos types of actions). But, call a company. Chances are that you deal with a bot of some sort.   

It's irritating for many reasons. Some companies have made it impossible to talk a person. And, chat? Bots, to boot.

Back to Peter. We're getting back into a regular posting mode. After all, this blog came from one that started in 2007 for reasons of writing of business silliness, some of it was motivated by stupidity while there were other things that are more malfeasance in nature. 

So, AI can be used as a metaphor. It really is a type of 'umbrella' notion. Whereas in reality? We are talking advanced mathematics abetted by computing. And, there we can be more scientifically oriented than has been tried in the past. 

Remarks: Modified: 11/13/2021

11/13/2021 --

Bezoism

Moral: Wherein we point to needed discussions. 

A neologism has hit the news: Bezoism. I was late getting to a recent WSJ weekend edition where the article was covered. However, it is old as Bezos, himself, uses it (blog on GitHub). Notice, the whole of the Deep Learning paradigm's offerings where we can, at last, get real about how technology is ruining our lives. Bezos ought to be thanked for playing his role which we can analysis (way more than 'deep' learning every could). 

Definition found at another blog: 

Managerial "Bezos-ism": The Basis For How Amazon Wrings Productivity From Workers - And the Template Is Spreading

Wait, this is new: Arriving today. 

Gosh, for me, this is another Rip Van Wrinkle thing. These have always been due to some shenanigans of business, usually related to financial mischief. 

Disclosure: Never bought anything via Amazon. Skirt around their site when on the web as much as I can. Have looked at a page or two with respect to ratings of products. Mostly wondered what motivated this form of mischief which is not sustainable and is so much a poster boy for how things ought not be. 

Remarks: Modified: 11/13/2021

11/13/2021 -- Forgot the Moral tag. 

MIT Sloan

Moral: Wherein we start the new year by looking to Boston (well, Cambridge). 

They gave us a gift: 737MAX: A Failure of Management, not just Technology. You know, I've waited 15 years for this. 

FEDaerated came out of watching the FED and the economy using Boeing as a basis given the breadth of its coverage, especially dealing with technology. 

We will be going into how the computer is the main source for the confusion that we see. Another? SciFi and its addling of the human brain.  

Remarks: Modified: 01/02/2021

01/02/2021 --

2020 begone

Moral: Wherein we muse about the tomorrows. 

Lots of themes pending. The U.S. FED just pulled out all stops and placed us in unknown territory that's even more remote than where Ben/Janet left us. Which is okay, as things will pull out. Will we learn the necessary lessons?

So, with the proverbial punt down the road, we'll let the year end. 

Remarks: Modified: 12/29/2020

12/29/2020 --

Status, again

Moral: Wherein we point to the fact of not being lazy. 

This theme is central to about all the the world of business does. However, we have even more going on than the last go-around (2008).  

For now, here are pointers to current work is being done:

• Quora - started here in July of 2015. The decline in posting at blogs is associated with this move which has been very interesting in its effects. Quora covers the bases. There have been several answers given that pertain to this subject. 
• Thomas Gardner Society, Inc. - what is gets more attention is our blog which has been in action during a decade of work in which we are always learning. This focus is on the 400 years of American history including the century plus that preceded the Revolution. 
• GitHub - where the technical mind can get refreshed. Might have a code focus but is used, too, for managing complex data systems.  
• Others - 

 Remarks: Modified: 10/27/2020

10/27/2020 --

Trying times

Moral: Wherein we see the world for what it is. 

So, we are back to management by the seat-of-the-pants, again. That is, from the point of view of economics. On the last downturn, Ben was very creative, leaving us things unreckoned with still with his QE and like.

However, this time, we have a real emergency on hand. The medical part of the economy is being expected to pick up the pieces. That is, almost work miracles with limited resources. They and other essential workers are free to go to work. And, we know, that's not any type of vacation.

While the rest of us cool our heels. I have been busy. We are at the 1st day of the 5th week where I am with no known date for when we might be free. But, even that freedom will have new costs associated with it. The huge one is that testing is only of the time. Walk out the door, and one might get exposed, again.

So, these are a few thoughts to be discussed, further.

• What portends this for that loosey-goosey life associated with globalization? Well, we have mentioned the obvious diminishing of quality (yes, a litany here in this blog a few places). That was seen long ago. They were cutting supply chains, too closely. And, a number of others things were wrong. So, we'll go back over the last ten years and review. 
• Oh yes, this time, it's different. Well, perhaps not. As, those last two downturns were related to various types of mischief. This is, too, in the sense of being obtuse to the max. So much to discuss with this topic. 
• One of them? The internet. Some one noted that the drop of that dream of free modes might have been a good thing given the turmoils associated with the huge demands now being seen. Oh yes, a new world, that's for sure. Again, we noted that we need structure on the internet. Lots to discuss. That discourse will be both technical and from the proper overview. 
• ... 

Savers are still being flayed. The Fed guy saw to that. For what? The ca-pital-sino can continue to fill pockets of the rich while the hapless suffer and distract us from the real work? As well, We are spending money, supposedly backed by debt. Gosh. Forever debt? Who is going to pay for all of this largess going on? Besides, before now, students were up to their necks in debt, businesses were playing fancy and free with taking on debt, the ca-pital-sino was saying, our bank is open, suckers, come in and use your debt to play silly games. Need I go on?

Remarks: Modified: 10/27/2020

10/27/2020 -- Trying to recover our moral. 

New day

Moral: Wherein we look at the world while it turns. 

We used that concept before, in another whole context. But, it was in 2008 (and in 2012). We have that, again. That is, we're at 2020 and no better off than before. That is the economy with respect to some mode of stability.

So today, we saw a large drop after a few others. This? Despite, the FED meddling. Yes, they took the little pittance away from we, the savers. A lingering story just awaiting a closer look.

Notice something about this blog? It was fairly consistently active until 2015. What happened then? Quora is what happened. I started there in July. By October, I wrote about the First Quarter at Quora. The focus there is broader as is the whole of the dynamic. Either you like it, or you do not. For me, it has been an interesting journey which can be described further. Relates to technology and to how we get hype (say AI?).

Same goes for finance and economics. So, we're back to this as the time is right.

Remarks: Modified: 10/27/2020

03/12/2020 -- On Quora, 1st use of the co-link: The NY Fed is pumping trillions into the Stock Market. How does this benefit Americans?; 2nd use of the co-link: The other day Larry Kudlow claimed that America had tried helicopter money before and it didn't work - what was he referring to and are we sure it wouldn't work in the current situation we're in?

10/27/2020 -- Trying to recover our moral. 

Summary, 2019

Moral: Wherein we gloss over matters. 

This year, we had the 737 Max in the spotlight. So many business themes relate to that. We'll be back.

List of 2019 posts.

Remarks: Modified: 10/27/2020

10/27/2020 -- Try to recover our moral. 

Muddled mess

Moral: Wherein we finally see the world's platter filling or not; same thing as when we started back in 2009. A new set of nuances to ponder is all.

Two days ago, the Fed lowered the discount rate (interest). By a quarter point, as they say. Which isn't much, but we have been creeping along with that type of raise now for a little bit. After all, we're not at zero any more, but we're also not near the 5.25% (whatever) that was there when Ben started his cuts back in the aughts. He left, and Janet eventually started the upswing.

She never got the tape tantrum. I guess energy runs down after a while. But, we're seeing addicts act up, again. Some say that the Fed has been administering to the patient (IV wise) and finally was getting to toward release. One might say that the training wheels were being taken off the economy. Gosh, late teenagers needing training wheels? What a sight.

Funny thing? Well, the Fed met on Weds, and things (say, the DOW) wobbled up til then and went down right after. It was said (don't you love this little daily - hourly? - rationalizations?) that the 'investors' (gamblers?) we trying to get right with the news. Whatever it is, there is always some type of assessment.

Too, they talk to the 401Kers. Ah, your pot went up or down, blah blah.

Well, there are other factors which we'll not mention now. But, the Fed guy said, essentially, don't get used to this little bit of continuing largess. It's not a series. A mini-tantrum ensued? Wouldn't you think? But, the DOW started up on Thursday then went down. And is down today.

One can expect all weekend, oh, people's poor retirement, it was clobbered this week. As if. The real value was extracted long ago. Funny numbers do not capital make, but we have a long row to hoe there. Continuation of the message from the start in 2009.

Remarks: Modified: 08/02/2019

08/02/2019 --

Psychology redone

Moral: Wherein we start over with a newer view and basis.

I just recently came across evolutionary psychiatry through a book review in the WSJ. There will be more on the book, later, however I went to look at the field which is comparatively new. Except, Darwin, himself, suggested that this realization would occur.

So, on a search, I find more books and blogs. One blog started five years ago. The book from which I took this image was published in 2012. So, we're not far behind.

The first chapter was business. Interesting. BTW, this book mentions Freud, briefly, and ignores Jung. Lots of things to look at.

Applied Evolutionary Psychology

Note, credit crunch? Yes, that got my attention. So, we'll be back to this study of the Fed and its ways and means. Lots has happened to review.

Remarks: Modified: 02/18/2019

02/18/2019 --

Summary, 2018

Moral: Wherein we show most-read posts.

Prior years:  2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (missing).

Remarks: Modified: 12/30/2018

12/30/2018 --