Author: J.C. Cross

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.

Occupy Intentions

Was reading this: https://www.wired.com/story/doug-rushkoff-survival-of-the-richest/

The writer’s comment that “In October 2011, when the rapidly spreading Occupy Wall Street protests were under scrutiny from establishment media, Rushkoff published some of the first words of support for the movement in the mainstream press. ‘Anyone who says he has no idea what these folks are protesting is not being truthful,’ he wrote in a column for CNN. ‘Whether we agree with them or not, we all know what they are upset about, and we all know that there are investment bankers working on Wall Street getting richer while things for most of the rest of us are getting tougher.’
” rings true. These people have good intentions, but good intentions do not guarantee good outcomes.

I’ve long been a capitalist and I am not optimistic about this movement that uses violence and intimidation to make its points. Some say, it’s pablum to criticize the movement in this way. Some reflection on the past is key.

Semiconductors and Bibles

Saw a different assessment about China timeline for attack by late September. Others have pushed it as far as 2025. The Taiwan strait is the most dangerous waterway in the world. I have faith in our men and women in uniform, our leadership not so much.

On a separate note, I’ve also seen the various edits of the Bible by the party. Today, the verses recounting Christ’s reaction to those who would have stoned the woman for adultery–he who is without sin cast the first stone–had added to them Jesus saying he too is a sinner and stoning her himself. Certainly strange and blasphemous.

The CCP is our and the world’s biggest worry.

Screenwriting

Just finished Syd Field’s Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. It was a good review of the most well-known screenwriter’s teaching.

Boiling it down:

Act I – The setup
–Plot point 1
Act II – Confrontation
–Plot point 2
Act III – Resolution

Each act has a beginning, middle and end.

Field uses real scripts, real movies and years of training to cover the discipline from concept to finished script.

It was actually my second read and I did absorb more.

I have had a couple of scripts in the works for ages now. I suffer from writer’s block often and Field speaks to that. He also covers collaboration, adaptation and copyrighting.

Just brilliant.

Technology, manufacturing, and Taiwan

So we helped China develop a version of capitalism that works for them, they’ve stolen our best technology, and they’re aiming for Taiwan by 2025. This financial advisor is saying that manufacturing is moving back to the U.S. I hope he’s right. That China’s economy is hobbling right now and they have a per capita median income well below ours doesn’t matter. They’re a threat to us economically and militarily.

I have a friend who is convinced that the Asian economies are more advanced. With the theft of our secrets, which is angering enough, China is poised to pass us up. Japan has had a flagging economy for years now, Korea is strong, but will China overstretch itself?

This all makes me patriotic.