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InstallGram: We Install Everything

By RD Bentley on December 29, 2014 in

What if…one website could install everything. And the website owners would make sure the downloads were installed correctly. Welcome to Web 4.0. We’ve fixed all of the bugs and the internet of things has become a way of life.

It could ring better than a Star Trek episode. Hello Installgram. I’d like to update everything at once. I’m going to get a shower and have breakfast. Please install and update.

One more request Installgram. I want you to order me pizza. Yes, I’ll have two pizzas with extra cheese. Please have them delivered to my house. Can you handle that?

And after that, please install my gym workout video.

Thanks for being my friend Installgram. Please uninstall this message. Maybe that’s a different program…

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Spock’s Favorite Poetry

By RD Bentley on December 26, 2014 in

The Tyger By William Blake (1794)

Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Next nursery rhyme: “Saturn rings around my head, down a road that’s Martian red.”

The Raven By Edgar Allen Poe

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,”

Read More:
1. Spock’s Poetry
2. Star Trek: Season 1, Episode 2 Charlie X
3. Charlie X
4. Songs of Innocence and Experience
5. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven

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What Foods Help Prevent Macular Degeneration?

By RD Bentley on December 23, 2014 in

Food For Your Eyes Only

Picture of the fundus showing intermediate age-related macular degeneration.

What foods help prevent macular degeneration? Leafy green vegetables are a great source of nutrition for healthy eyes. Omega-3 fatty acids are important. Eat your spinach Popeye.

These are fish, nuts, and seeds. Salmon, tuna, halibut, mackerel, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, soybean oil, walnuts, broccoli, corn, peas, Brussels sprouts, green beans, kale, turnip greens, collard greens, spinach and romaine lettuce.

A couple items we need to know about are lutein and zeaxanthin.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

If you wear eyeglasses or by chance had a recent visit with your eye doctor, then you may have heard of macular degeneration. This is a “medical condition that usually affects older adults and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina.”

And getting to the question that has been nagging me lately: What is the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists? Hint: The ophthalmologist is a physician and the optometrist is not.

Back to the topic. Can vitamins help prevent macular degeneration (AMD) ? The experts say that in addition with the right diet, supplements can prevent disease and keep the eyes healthy.

Symptom: A grid of straight lines appears wavy and parts of the grid may appear blank

One symptom is the following. Distorted vision in the form of metamorphopsia, in which a grid of straight lines appears wavy and parts of the grid may appear blank. Patients often first notice this when looking at miniblinds in their home.

Recommendations

It is recommended that everyone takes a multivitamin. Also, omega-3 fish oil and “antioxidant plus zinc” supplements are considered key ingredients to eye health. Always check with your doctor first.

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Is Putin Chump Or World Leader?

By RD Bentley on December 21, 2014 in

If you have observed the drab dribbling out of the American Daily, you might have thought that Russian’s Vladimir Putin is a chump. Nevertheless, if you are an avid reader with congruity of mind, you could note otherwise. Putin has been crowned as World’s Most Powerful People several times over. It’s a misnomer to imply that Putin is a chump.

I think that author Marin Katusa (The Colder War: How the Global Energy Trade Slipped from America’s Grasp) has nailed it in his Fortune article:

The harsh reality is that U.S. shale fields have much more to fear from plummeting oil prices than the Russians, since their costs of production are much higher, says Marin Katusa, author of The Colder War: How the Global Energy Trade Slipped from America’s Grasp.

As the author expands upon, the geopolitical situation is not as black and white as the press make it out to be. The big advantage that the United States has is the petrodollar. If the world traded oil in Russia’s currency, we wouldn’t be discussing this abnormality as it is.

What we’re witnessing is another case of amnesia. The stuffed shirts tend to conveniently forget the epochal event that Putin described himself, the gas deal that Russia and China agreed upon. Several of these deals and the United States slowly loses its hegemony.

Oh, and Russia Reaches Deal With Iran, forming yet another crucial alliance.

Putin has signed several deals with Argentina, as we see Argentina aligning itself with Russia. This includes a nuclear energy deal and natural gas deal.

While we’re at it, let’s not forget the deal with India, India to get 10 nuclear reactors in Russian cooperation deal. The world forgets what an emerging giant that India has become.

Here’s another blunt way of wrapping it up with a bow tie: Vladimir Putin is outflanking the west at every turn. Does Putin make Obama look like a stooge or puppet? Or maybe a chump?

And don’t you just love the way the western press has made Khodorkovsky into some kind of a martyr? Please convince the world that Americans don’t incriminate their political opponents? Good luck with that one.

In any event, don’t expect Putin to allow the bear be chained. That’s not going to happen, because the bear has access to energy…

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Over-The-Top Content Is The New Model Of Entertainment

By RD Bentley on December 19, 2014 in

Streaming media is increasingly being used for almost everything, which includes business and education. Increasing consumer demand supports this theory and social media habits encourage it. Consumers desire to interact with other users. The digital writing is on the screen. Over-the-top content is the new model of entertainment. The set-top box allows viewers to access internet applications.

Entertainment in the 20th century has taught us one thing. Nothing is permanent in the entertainment business, due to rapidly changing technology. Television is no exception to this rule. While many critics believe that traditional television will remain the same for a long time, they may be underestimating the popularity of the over-the-top delivery: content that arrives from a third party, such as Amazon Instant Video, Crackle, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, etc.

Over-the-top content may eventually oust the competition;  meaning that the traditional bundle package may soon lose its appeal. I know this sounds contrary to the way we are taught to think, but this sort of cuts the middle man out, and I think the public is ready for change. The digital revolution will certainly have an effect on the entertainment industry.

A la carte makes better sense as we leave behind an outdated 20th century entertainment model. I feel that the critics are grossly underestimating the impact of a new television revolution. In fact, the new generation doesn’t really care about traditional television. They are more comfortable with the computer and all it has to offer.

You take YouTube for example. The younger audience spends way more time cuddling up to the laptop and watching the new age entertainers. These entertainers are very talented and they understand the uniqueness that the new media provides. Make no mistake, because the advertisers are making the transition as well. They acknowledge the transition and are actively moving the dollars to this new media.

The FCC is expanding avenues for over-the-top providers. The competition between online entertainment and traditional TV may soon be greater, thereby allowing live content to become more available to internet consumers.

The complicated part is going to be how sports is distributed. There’s big money generated from sports and this is going to be a factor.

Otherwise, many people are tired of paying for channels that they do not watch. If other viable options do become available, consumers are going to jump on it. Why pay for channels that offer little to no value?

And yes this does break the old model of doing business, but the old model is clearly outdated and broken.

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The Reason All Economists Have Become Magicians

By RD Bentley on December 19, 2014 in

Go ahead and read all of the economic literature you want. I dare you. Pretend that you have a solution to the world’s economic problems. Explain that you have an advanced degree in economics and psychology for that matter. Here’s the reason that all economists (and their journalist minions) have become magicians: The world economy is nothing but a matrix.

No matter what is speculated in the corporate news network, all of the magic is staged. Magic’s biggest secrets have finally been revealed!

The United States’ bankers have pulled every trick imaginable to bring down the Russian ruble. Putin must have an idea what is going on with the sanctions. For one, oil prices are being dropped in order to break Putin of his command. Presto!

The United States banking system is nothing but a magic act. What can we say about a Congress that allows legislation (levitation) like the  Omnibus budget bill? Is this real or delusion?

Is Senator Warren the only one that truly understands magic? Hocus pocus! Let’s see that levitation act again! Let’s profess that we want to end the economic voodoo. Can we get past the alchemy?

Wait for it. Class, please allow Senator Warren to explain how the magic works. Click on the magic link please.

Seriously folks. There’s no housing market, no economy, and no employment. Incomes are not rising. The magic tricks are ubiquitous. The national debt is atrocious. Just where is the good news? Where is the exceptionalism?

The whole thing is just an illusion.

Here’s the problem with politics. Where have all of the debates gone? Please? All of political debates do not even fall in the softball category. It’s more like a magic room, one which is run by the financial wizards.

The prerequisite is that the magician should go to the school of Neoliberalism. Okay kids, let’s not call it history class. Let’s call it a free trade economy. Shall we take the blue pill? Ahem…the 1970′s TV show (classical liberalism)  seen as the ultimate magical House of Cards trick…

Will the media please remain fair and balanced? That’s all the public is demanding from you. Your insight is quite profound we surmise. Magic is okay but no clown tricks please.

Is this capitalism with the hat and rabbit act? Please take the blue pill and grab a ticket to the show…

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Research Shows That Walnuts May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

By RD Bentley on December 19, 2014 in

WalnutsRaw walnuts contain antioxidants.They also contain triglycerides of the n-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid which is effective in reducing heart risk. There’s one more thing. Important research shows that walnuts may prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Walnuts are top nut for heart-healthy antioxidants. Compared to other tree nuts and ground nuts (almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias, and pecans), walnuts (particularly in their raw form) contain the highest level and potency of antioxidants, including free antioxidants and antioxidants bound to fiber.

“Walnuts rank above peanuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios and other nuts,” said Joe Vinson, Ph.D., who did the analysis. “A handful of walnuts contains almost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent amount of any other commonly consumed nut. But unfortunately, people don’t eat a lot of them. This study suggests that consumers should eat more walnuts as part of a healthy diet.”

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Can Silicon Valley Break The Chinese Code?

By RD Bentley on December 16, 2014 in

Silicon Valley would like to break the Chinese code, because of the expanding internet market in China. However, there’s one major problem. Silicon Valley is currently being blocked in China. While Google and Facebook currently dominate the global market, the other tech giants in China appear to be gaining some ground. Baidu and Alibaba are two major competitors.

You may by chance have heard of Alibaba. “On September 5, 2014, the group—in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission—set a US$60- to $66- per-share price range for its scheduled initial public offering (IPO), the final price of which would be determined after an international roadshow. The listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was expected to raise more than $20 billion, making it the largest technology listing in U.S. history, exceeding that of Facebook.”

Headquartered in the city of Beijing, Baidu is a major search engine in China, rivaling that of Google in the United States. Baidu was established in 2000 by Robin Li and Eric Xu. In May of 2014, Baidu ranked 5th, according to the Alexa internet rankings.

“In 1994, Robin Li joined IDD Information Services, a New Jersey division of Dow Jones and Company, where he helped develop software for the online edition of the Wall Street Journal.”

In 1996, Li developed RankDex, an algorithm for search engines.

Baidu is really big in China and it keeps growing. Adding to its many accolades, “on July 18, 2014, the company launched a Brazilian version of the search engine, Baidu Busca.” Baidu has broken the code in Brazil.

According to Marketing China, Baidu is the number one in the market, with 64.5% of the users, the closest competitor, 360, who launched its own search engine in August, has already taken hold of 10.2% users.

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Replace Your Droid Memory Card With The Industry Standard

By RD Bentley on December 13, 2014 in

If you use a Android smartphone or tablet, you have to make a decision with what to save and what to delete. There is only so much available memory. Whether your hobby is taking those precious familiy photos or shooting the video, you can capture the moment with no interruption. Want to know what the hot selling item is? Try this: SanDisk Ultra SDSDQUA-064G 64GB UHS-I/Class 10 Micro SDXC Memory Card Up to 48MB/s With Adapter.

The SanDisk Ultra memory card is waterproof, durable, temperature proof, X-ray proof, magnet proof, and shockproof.

But you have a question to ask. Is it compatible with Apple products? Yes, but it’s a bit limited. Generally speaking, if there is a slot for it, then it will work. The card also works with GoPro. If it fits, it works!

One more thing. It comes with a 10-year warranty.

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September 11: Events That Changed The World

By RD Bentley on December 11, 2014 in

What is the numerological significance of the number 11? Is it merely a coincidence that these eerie events happened on September 11? Are there hidden meanings behind some of the circumstances?

September 11, 1226 – The Roman Catholic practice of public adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass spreads from monasteries to parishes.

September 11, 1297 – Battle of Stirling Bridge: Scots jointly-led by William Wallace and Andrew Moray defeat the English.

September 11, 1565 – Ottoman forces retreat from Malta ending the Great Siege of Malta.

September 11, 1609 – Henry Hudson sailed into the Upper New York Bay, or New York Harbor, and the following day began a journey up what is now known as the Hudson River.

September 11, 1649 – Siege of Drogheda ends: Oliver Cromwell’s English Parliamentarian troops take the town and execute its garrison.

September 11, 1776 – British–American peace conference on Staten Island fails to stop the American Revolutionary War.

September 11, 1826 – Captain William Morgan is arrested in Batavia, New York for debt. This sets into motion the events that lead to his mysterious disappearance.

September 11, 1857 – The Mountain Meadows Massacre: Mormon settlers and Paiutes massacre 120 pioneers at Mountain Meadows, Utah.

September 11, 1921 – Nahalal, the first moshav in Palestine, is settled as part of a Zionist plan to colonize Palestine and creating a Jewish state, later to be Israel.

September 11, 1941 – Ground was broken for construction of the Pentagon.

Charles Lindbergh’s Des Moines Speech accusing the British, Jews and the Roosevelt administration of pressing for war with Germany.

September 11, 1973 – A coup in Chile headed by General Augusto Pinochet topples the democratically elected president Salvador Allende.

September 11, 1990 – Bush Senior gives New World Order speech to a joint session of Congress.

September 11, 2001 – Exactly 60 years after Pentagon construction began, two hijacked aircraft crash into the World Trade Center in New York City, while a third smashes into The Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and a fourth into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

September 11, 2002 – The ‘Phoenix Project’ was charged with having the outermost offices of the damaged section occupied.

September 11, 2006 – For the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, a memorial of 184 beams of light shone up from the center courtyard of the Pentagon, one light for each victim of the attack. In addition, an American flag is hung each year on the side of the Pentagon damaged in the attacks, and the side of the building is illuminated at night with blue lights.

September 11, 2008 – This Pentagon Memorial consists of a park on 2 acres of land, containing 184 benches, one dedicated to each victim. The benches are aligned along the line of Flight 77 according to the victims’ ages, from 3 to 71. The park opened to the public on September 11, 2008.

September 11, 2011 – A memorial at the site was opened to the public.

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