A Point to Ponder

By

-

February 29, 2024

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.

You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read it straight through, and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies.

Awards tarnish.

Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money … or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.

sourced: Weird and Amazing Stuff

Richard Stonefield – Leguan

By

Alan

-

February 29, 2024

Richard Stonefield is a Hungarian electronic musician, born in Budapest May 19, 1977. He specializes in the fields of Psychill – Chillgressive – Chill Out – Ambient – Chillstep – Chilltrap – Trance.

This piece called Leguan is from Richard’s “Sand in the Wind” album release:

Keep up with Richard Stonefield:

https://richardstonefield.bandcamp.com/album/cloudfields-24-bit

https://www.facebook.com/richardstonefieldmusic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA2eYL7Qd9NdOCleKanwqjA

Note:

His music seems to delve into atmospheric and possibly experimental soundscapes, given the track names and album titles like “Stardust Adventure” from an earlier release in 2021. This suggests an interest in creating immersive, perhaps narrative-driven music that might evoke feelings of exploration, wonder, or introspection.

The themes in his music (like “Sanctum” or “Wormhole”) could imply an interest or inspiration from science fiction or theoretical physics, suggesting a potential for his music to be used in media like films or video games that explore similar themes.

Given the release platforms like Bandcamp, Richard Stonefield likely appeals to an audience interested in niche genres of music where listeners seek out unique auditory experiences rather than mainstream hits. His work might be appreciated in communities that value DIY ethics, ambient music, or those with a penchant for space and science fiction.

Richard Stonefield’s work under Astropilot Music might indicate a focus on space-themed or electronic ambient music, aligning with the aesthetic of exploring or piloting through cosmic landscapes, which is a common theme in electronic music.

If you’re looking for Richard’s music, you’d find it on platforms like Bandcamp, where he often shares his work directly with fans, offering high-quality audio formats and sometimes exclusive content. His approach to music seems to align with creators who value depth, atmosphere, and possibly the exploration of existential or cosmic themes through sound.

Frederick Hubbard Gwynne

By

Alan

-

February 26, 2024

Frederick Hubbard Gwynne — Petty Officer Third Class Fred Gwynne of the US Navy: Veteran of The Battle of Saipan and the Battle of Tinian.

Frederick Hubbard Gwynne was born in New York City on July 10, 1926. Fred enlisted in the US Navy and in 1944 he served as a Radioman Third Class on a submarine chaser in the Pacific Theater. A veteran of both the Battle of Saipan and the Battle of Tinian, Gwynne was honorably discharged in 1948 with the rank of Petty Officer Third Class.

According to the Veterans Administration: “After the war, Fred attended Harvard University. An aspiring painter, Gwynne drew cartoons for the “The Harvard Lampoon,” and later became president of the publication. Upon graduation in 1951, he returned to New York and worked several jobs, such as creating commercial artwork and copywriting at the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency.

Gwynne’s first big break came in 1961 when he was cast in the role of police officer Francis Muldoon on the comedy series “Car 54, Where Are You?” The show aired until 1963; the following year, he was cast as Herman Munster in the popular syndication favorite “The Munsters.”

A regular on Broadway – Fred was cast as Big Daddy in the 1974 Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. His final on-screen role was that of Judge Chamberlain Haller in the 1992 film “My Cousin Vinny,” the end of an acting career that spanned 42 years.” – VA News October 13, 2022.

Petty Officer Third Class Fred Gwynne passed away on July 2, 1993 at the age of 66 years old. He lies in rest at Sandy Mount United Methodist Church Cemetery in Finksburg, Maryland. Lest We Forget.

Artificial Intelligence as a tool for oppression and deception

By

Aimee

-

February 26, 2024

Artificial Intelligence can be used as a tool for oppression and deception — Annual reporting by the non-profit organization Freedom House shows that internet freedom has been declining globally for 13 consecutive years. What’s new about the report’s latest installment, “The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence,” is in its title. AI has been used by governments all over the world to restrict freedom of speech and abuse opposition.

This oppression is both direct and indirect. Directly, AI models supercharge the detection and removal of prohibited speech online. Dissenting opinions cannot spread when they are shut off so quickly. AI-based facial recognition can also help identify protesters, making it unsafe for them to have any of their images shared on social media.

Indirectly, AI advances oppressive goals by spreading misinformation. Two factors play an important role here. First, chatbots and other AI-based tools enable automation that cost-effectively distributes large volumes of false information across platforms. Secondly, AI tools can generate fake images, videos, and audio content that distort reality. These fabrications promote general distrust in publicly available information even when identified as fake. Distrust, in turn, makes people incapable of coordinated action.

Read the full report on Freedom on the Net 2023

No Labels party certified for 2024 election

By

Alan

-

February 26, 2024

by Nicole Girten, Daily Montanan — February 19, 2024

The No Labels party has been certified for the 2024 election according to the Montana Secretary of State’s office.

The party seeks to create “a unity ticket to run in 2024 if the two parties [Republicans and Democrats] select unreasonably divisive presidential nominees,” according to the party’s website. The organization listed allies in congress including Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D- Ariz., and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.

Manchin was rumored to be a potential presidential candidate for the party, but he said Friday he wouldn’t be running, as reported by Politico.

The No Labels party in Montana is a minor party, alongside the Green Party, meaning candidates will only appear on the general election ballot. The party needed at least 5,000 signatures to appear on the ballot, or 5% of the total vote cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election – whichever qualification it met first.

The national No Labels organization sent the Montana branch $243,000 in July of last year, which the party spent on signature gathering efforts through Texas-based Advanced Micro Targeting.

David Bell, president of insurance company ALPS and board chairperson for the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana, was listed as the party’s treasurer in the state but was not immediately available on Monday for comment. No Labels did not respond to emailed questions in time for publication.

Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence.

Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter.