Author: J.C. Cross

Inconsiderate

Mentioning, linking to, caring about posts that don’t give a crap about others is a useless affair. In the name of sanity, I must exercise my right to disengage.

Local sites like Nextdoor cry out in vain for addressing my concern about regular citizens being mocked and told that their concerns are illegitimate or just unwarranted. The lawlessness is alarming.

We don’t know others’ state

Lewis wrote of the fallacy of appearances. “Madness frequently discovers itself merely by unnecessary deviation from the usual modes of the world” (Christian Reflections). Specifically, Lewis spoke of his friend Smart as showing his disturbance by falling on his knees and praying in the street.

Testified.

But he also said, “it is greater madness not to pray at all.”

I don’t know. Maybe I will know as I am known one day, in this world. But it seems a far way away. I believe I know the prayers. I know the pacing unsettlement. That inward turn.

I’m high functioning. But I know others who are not. Their lives are stopped, but maybe they attend support groups and then go back to the struggle when it ends. I was there.

Lewis thought that Smart should not be shut up because he was not doing anything detrimental to society. Smart insisted on people praying with him, and Lewis said he would rather pray with him “than anyone else.” He wore dirty clothing. Lewis, humorously, said he didn’t have any need for clean linen.

Abraham prayed to God. He sought forgiveness; the fervent prayer of a righteous man achieves much.

It’s been 15 years since I had any significant problems, but I believe I understand the prayers sent up with hope of an answer.

On Influencing

Yes, I can see your channel with logo and background. Your great production value. Your giveaways. And your sponsors have an attraction to your audience reach.

But business would as soon sell out for cat videos. Checking Ask the Public and Ubersuggest will show the current searches.

Fickle are the keywords.

Is “each new technological medium, and the professions it spawns…more soulless than the last…no longer ‘reaching for the stars’ but aiming instead for the more lowly consolations of stardom?” While Wired’s concept of soul may emanate from a non-religious spirituality (and desire to be relevant), this has to give one pause. Technology will progress, but what does reaching for the stars mean?

They do have it right on the face of it: stardom does not console the soul’s reaching for relevance. Can’t the wisdom of masses be more than popularity? When does your truth voice have sway? What does mass-produced influencing bring to it?

  1. Concealed competitive hierarchies.
  2. Unreliable, concentrated-at-the-top spoils.
  3. Becoming a vapid mascot for brands.
  4. Failure to demand meaningful contributions to one’s community.
  5. Blurring between personal and professional roles.
  6. Mandated likes, shares, and follows of a life of frenetic people-pleasing and social conformity (Wired).

The author should be commended: people-pleasing and social conformity destroy. So question: what happens when your audience contradicts or exhibits fleeing your channel? What happens when you lose followers?

I do not want to say the obvious.

The time will come where you must say what you believe. Is your moral(ity) spread throughout the network? Have you lost yourself in cheers and accolades? The answers are as old as Augustus raising the thumb.

We understand the pressures, the shrinking of your circle of friends, but your dissolving self asks, what is next?

As I wrote in the poetry of my worst times, the top is here and there is nothing seen.

23 and Me and You and Your Identity

This 23andMe data breach came out last Friday, but I wanted to mention it. It didn’t get the notice it should have because of Saturday’s events. It is certainly odd that Jewish and Chinese individuals were targeted. Why anyone would want this type of data, from a certain ethnic group?

But speculation aside, this is a big deal. The culprits are selling these records.

Nothing new

Was the “occupation” of 1967 the beginning of troubles? There was evil committed against the Jews in 1948 during the war for independence, and decades before and after Israel became a nation. (Add this to hundreds of years of pograms, lynchings, and persecutions.)

The terrorists want no recognition of Israel, no negotiations, no peace.

If the Gazan arabs laid down their weapons there would be peace, if the Israelis laid down their weapons there would be a massacre.

The good Gazan arabs need to stop supporting the evil ones.

Beware Fake USB Flash Drives and SSDs

Just a reminder for recognizing fake flash media (SSDs and USB flash drives), since I shopped for some recently.

OK I admit it. I look for bargains online that are not smart purchases, e.g. USB flash drives or solid state drives (SSDs) that are cheap. But those bargains may be hiding garbage technology or malicious software. In general, you should buy for the quality and dependability of a known manufacturer (see suggested manufacturers below). Also consider whether you want a lower or higher range drive from these companies as price will vary. Continue reading “Beware Fake USB Flash Drives and SSDs”

News headlines

These stories are distressing. Watching the news can disturb your well-being, well at least mine. In every story is the possibility of further stress. Here are three sets of practices to cope with bad news, but I can tell you from personal experience that mental health is a day-to-day conflict; I don’t remember what exactly transpired on former days. As Christ said, the worries of today are sufficient. I can do a mental check–yes, “I remember that”–but the gravity of that day does not equal the gravity of today. There is not a great sense of self when you are struggling. Just the opposite.

Youth Cybercrime and Flash Mob Robberies

Thinking of how script kiddies are using hacking tools–including ransomware–and many of them are kiddies. Every 39 seconds there is a new cyber attack. That’s 2244 daily, 30000 websites globally, and 64% of businesses were hit with at least one type of cyberattack. Youth take part in a significant portion of these attacks.

If we juxtapose this cybercrime with flash mob robberies, we see parental, social, and educational moral inculcation is failing. 2022 statistics show that 43% of high-end businesses have been targeted by organized robberies. Between Fall 2021 and Aug 23 this year, over 170 businesses in LA were hit. Nationwide smash-and-grab robberies rose 26% between 2020 and 2021. And it’s not only high-end stores.

There’s a spiritual vacuity bred in a nihilism where faith could be. Can we draw anything from young people who idolize the rich and famous? There’s a youth identity crisis.

A friend had a party for his daughter where her and her friends’ parents told of their professions. The young ladies gathered ignored the adult professions of flight attendants and business people. They said they wanted to be famous. This is not only the Gen Zers. A neighbor in her 30s said this same thing.

You can’t impart to youth spiritual teachings if they are absorbed in–and subject to–popular culture and its accouterments. They can’t realize their potential either.

Musk said it about China 🇨🇳

“The official policy of China is that Taiwan should be integrated. One does not need to read between the lines, one can read the lines.”
-Elon Musk

I’m trying not to be pessimistic, but I read that the U.S. lost 18 successive war games with a force representing China. Things are not looking good. The invasion of Taiwan may result in our humiliation.

For short term riches, we’ve given up our economic advantages as well. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to curb Chinese territorial expansion. Other countries around the world have also sold land and water to China for short term gains.

Norton AI Scam Scanner

I use Norton/Lifelock and they’ve put out this cool little AI-powered site (https://us.norton.com/products/genie-scam-detector) and app (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/norton-genie-ai-scam-detector/id6448706515), which will tell you if the text or image your upload is suspicious. You can upload a screencap of a message, social post, or other site. When you interact with Genie, you can learn if you have encountered a scam or malicious message. Some training still needed; it’s in early access right now, but will no doubt improve.

Safeguarding Customer Trust and Compliance: Why Organizations Are Embracing Zero Trust

Understandably, companies and organizations are embracing zero trust with the daily business pressures that have evolved over the last few years. The pandemic presented small businesses and organizations with new security considerations: remote workers with access to a much wider range of apps, new ways of working onsite, bring your own devices, cloud-based assets, and new supply chain and vendor processes. Furthermore, you may have added these changes to your network ad hoc. Now, you have an unwieldy patchwork of devices and computers at your business. Continue reading “Safeguarding Customer Trust and Compliance: Why Organizations Are Embracing Zero Trust”

The Solution to AI Writing?

Asked ChatGPT if there is a way to differentiate between AI- and human-produced text:

Consistency and Repetition: AI-generated content may exhibit a high level of consistency and lack of variation. Humans tend to introduce more diversity in writing style, word choice, and tone over time.

Me: I do find that AI sounds too “perfect.” Continue reading “The Solution to AI Writing?”

Part-time Gaming, Full-time Concerns

Note: I’m a very casual gamer.

Since being in early access, Starfield has been in the sights of some gamers for reported woke elements to the game. While the Babylon Bee skewered the leftie content, TheGamer pilloried these gamers as “weirdos,” just confirming a non-argument. While yes, it’s “only a game,” there’s also nothing wrong with players who are sick of being preached to and having their gaming time infested with virtue-signaling politics. And yes, people may choose not to play the game or to play nonetheless, both their right to do so. But the question of “why?” the need to embed politics into every bit of our media remains.