Posts Tagged ‘technology’
Last Words
New technology can bring us multiple ways to make sports bets by the minute online, or provide endless hours of doomscrolling on smartphones, but Netflix is offering something much more worthy in their “Famous Last Words” TV series. Based on a Danish series, the shows involve an hour-long interview with notable figures that only gets published after their death.
Renowned primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall died of natural causes last week, and an interview Netflix recorded with her in March of 2025 is now available for viewing. Cyndie and I watched it last night and found it to be very moving and profoundly impressive.
The technology they used in recording the interview included remotely operated cameras so that there were no other people in the room except for Jane and the Producer/Host, Brad Falchuk.
At the end of the interview, Brad leaves the set and allows Jane to close with her final words to the world, looking directly into a camera. It’s very powerful. She was very well-spoken.
It is easy to ignore the reality that she recorded this seven months ago and focus on the fact that she knew her message would not be seen by anyone until after her death. As we watched her speak, knowing she had died less than a week prior, there was a strong sense that we were hearing her communicate from the afterlife.
I don’t know that I could articulate such a profound message for the world to hear after my death with such solemnity and dignity. I’m no Jane Goodall, for one, and I don’t have the fame to attract Netflix, so I won’t have to worry about such a thing.
However, if there isn’t already, there should soon be an app for us common folk to record personal statements to be seen by generations to come after our demise. I wonder how many will start with the line, “If you are watching this, I am dead.” They could probably find a way to tie it in with the online gambling sites. “…Hopefully, you won some money on the bet of how long I would live.”
Joking aside, there is something very special about listening to a person’s last words. I tip my hat to Netflix for pursuing the project of recording this interview with such obvious respect. I am now curious about who else they have recorded and stored in their vault, awaiting a to-be-determined publishing date.
R.I.P. Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, 1934-2025.
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Stupid Bots
Based on the first-hand evidence of my direct experience, I can confidently proclaim that the bots programmed to spam cell phones with calls and texts are missing a key morsel of intelligence. Especially the ones trying to mine votes for the candidate Musk and Trump so desperately seek in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
“Help elect… and get rewarded for it. Earn $20 for each Wisconsin voter you recruit – they get $20 too.”
The messages have been relentless. We may have received one or two for Judge Crawford –I delete all of them, regardless of the candidate– but the flood that has been begging (and bribing) for votes for Schimel to serve the power grab by Elon and his pal, Donald, has come non-stop by the quarter hour.
The brilliant technology doesn’t take into account that the campaigners are targeting a person (me) who objects to their message and methods. Smart tech would recognize where the message gets deleted before being read, especially after three, four, or even five tries, and stop trying that number. Move on to a fresh target.
If there is any mercy left in the world, I hope it will bring an end to the relentless annoyance of campaign calls today now that election day has arrived for us. I would dearly love to return to my expedition in a political-news-free wilderness.
April Fool’s Day. Well played, Universe.
Cyndie and I will do our part to save the country by our votes. I’m sure we will be key to swaying the election away from the fascist billionaires who seek to rule the world with their buddy, Putin, by eliminating any obstructions still hanging by a thread in the U.S.
According to the Associated Press, Wisconsin’s “high-stakes race has become a proxy battle over the nation’s politics.” It reports that more than $90 million has been spent on the race. If I would just sign Musk’s petition and recruit others to join me, I could earn my own chunk of that heavy spending.
Damn, I miss the days when politicians needed to hide their bribery schemes.
Even though I have been avoiding news media, I am well aware that on Saturday, April 5, people who object to the attack on the citizens of this country by the current administration will be protesting across the land. Like the rallies recently held by AOC and Bernie, like-minded conscientious political objectors can gather and assure each other we are not alone.
I wish it would have more power to actually stop what is going on since nobody else seems to be able to do anything. When do we get to the part of the script where the hero shows up and once and for all dispatches the villain? I mean, at least until the next sequel gets released.
Ethan Hunt? Is this an impossible mission? Jason Bourne? Reacher? Bond? Rambo? Harry Potter? Beuller? Anyone? Someone?
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Relative Something 