Jul 17, 2021
Jul 12, 2021
BREAK UP BIG TECH
Big Tech affects our lives in many ways daily. We buy from Amazon, use Google’s email and search engine, and Facebook connects us with dozens of friends socially. These are but a few ways we knowingly use their services.
Why should they be broken up? In their particular businesses they are the biggest and most powerful and have little competition. Historically, in the early nineteenth century, railroad, oil and steel industries were the giant companies of that day. There was much concern over those big companies because of their power and monopolizing of business. The Federal government responded by enacting antitrust laws such as the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 which was used to break up these large companies into smaller companies. For over 100 years, according to the Federal Trade Commission, the antitrust laws have had the same basic objective: to protect the process of competition for the benefit of consumers, making sure there are strong incentives for businesses to operate efficiently, keep prices down, and keep quality up. It would appear that Big Tech is guilty of breaking at least some of these laws.
Currently we have Big Tech monopolizing certain industries. Amazon has no serious competition in online retailing and its Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers infrastructure platforms in the cloud that powers hundreds of thousands of businesses in 190 countries around the world. Google has no serious rival as a search engine and its YouTube provides a platform for thousands of videos and is the second largest search engine in the world. Facebook as a social media platform has no significant competitor and since its purchase of Instagram has increased its monopolization of the social media market. These companies collect data on their users and in many cases sell this data or use collected data for targeted advertisements on the internet.
However, there is another danger of the power of Big Tech, and that is its alliance with the Federal government. Big tech companies have long been in business with the federal government. Currently the Central Intelligence Agency uses the cloud services of AWS, a subsidiary of Amazon. The $600 million contract allows all intelligence agencies to share data more efficiently as reported by the Atlantic. Currently there is a $10 million contract being bid on by Amazon from the Department of Defense. Big Tech and the US government could be considered business partners. Hardly conducive to antitrust lawsuits.
According to some, Big Tech exerts muscle in the political arena as well. Robert Epstein, a San Diego-based psychologist, believes bias built into Google’s processes could have cost Republicans three California congressional districts in the last election. “These are new forms of manipulation people can’t see,” he said in a LA Times article. “The technologies can have an enormous impact on voters who are undecided. … People have no awareness the influence is being exerted.” However, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary, Google, said at a House Judiciary Committee that Google had investigated Epstein’s findings and found his methodology flawed. Later, in a Hillsdale College speech, Epstein said that he was confident that Google had influenced the 2020 Presidential Election. According to his research, undecided Democrat voters were urged continuously to vote prior to election day. Such encouragement was not given by Google to undecided Republican voters. Epstein said that his data proves that Google influenced the election results.
Perhaps action against Big Tech would force Amazon to divest itself of Amazon Web Services, Google to sell YouTube, and Facebook to rid itself of Instagram. The Federal government forced AT & T to divest itself of its subsidiaries in 1974 according to ivestopedia.com. Such action against Big Tech would allow for more competition. However, according to Fortune, The US will probably not break up Big Tech because that would allow China to become the big tech leader in the world. This is based primarily on the loss of technical research due to a breakup.
In October, 2020, according to the Associated Press, the House Judiciary Committee presented to Congress a 450 page report into Big Tech’s market dominance. “Each platform serves as a gatekeeper over a key channel of information.” The report says that, “By controlling access to them these giants can pick winners and losers throughout the economy” This report could prompt some action leading to antitrust action against Big Tech.
Regardless, of whether you support breaking up the Big Tech companies or regulating it more, contact your legislators in Washington to advocate for your wishes.
Jul 5, 2021
Want To Drive a Nuclear Submarine?
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Have you ever wanted to stand in the control center of a nuclear submarine? After such movies as The Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide I know I do. However, I can understand why the Navy doesn’t allow this. But there is a way, sort of…
Let’s check out the Naval Undersea Museum.
The Naval Undersea Museum is located in Keyport, Washington.
The modern building, built in 1995, houses the museum. By the entrance is the sail, off the nuclear submarine USS Sturgeon SSN 637.
The first display area is dedicated to the world in which the submarine operates—the undersea world. Here, water temperature, tides, currents and the ocean floor are explained by way of graphics and objects on display. It is quite colorful and informative. Also aquatic animals are featured and the way man has used them to research the sea. This is the operating environment of the submarine, the sea.
Prior to the invention of the underwater boat or submarine, mines known as torpedoes were the undersea weapon of choice. By the way submariners refer to their craft as a boat. When Commodore David Farragut exclaimed, while sailing into Mobile Bay during the Civil War, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” The torpedo he was referring to is what we refer to as a mine today. Initially they were triggered when an object such as ship came in contact with the mine then known as a torpedo. this contact resulting to a flintlock like mechanism ignition the explosive powder.
Interestingly enough, the motorized and controlled torpedo was invented before the practical submarine. The Englishman, Robert Whitehead, invented the modern torpedo in 1866. Compressed air fueled the reciprocating engine to provide motivation through the water. The later switch to steam also drove a reciprocating engine prior to replacement by a steam turbine. Electric motors with battery packs were also used. The adaption of the gyroscope in the late 1800s greatly improved maneuverability. These torpedoes, first used by the Austrian Navy in warfare, were launched from small ships. They would continue to be launched by surface vessels for years to come.
Although submarines are known to have existed in the 18th century they did not become practical until the late nineteenth century. In 1775 the first military submarine was the Turtle, invented by David Bushnell. According to the museum, the first submarine to sink an enemy vessel, the CSS H.L. Hunley in 1864 was not a true submarine because it did not have apparatus for the crew to breathe underwater. The first mechanically powered submarine used compressed air and a reciprocating engine. Later steam engines were used. When it became obvious that the submarine would need and internal combustion engine was well as an electric engine the diesel-electric hybrid combination was used. This allowed the submarine to operate on the surface with the diesel engine and charge the batteries for the electric motor simultaneously. With the advent of diesel electric power in the late nineteenth century submarine production increased rapidly.
A number of nations had built practical military submarines by the time of the First World War. Germany was very effective in its use of submarines in warfare. In WWII Germany’s U-Boats wreaked havoc on shipping in the North Atlantic. Between the wars submarine technology increased the speed and range of the underwater boats. Germany depended on its submarine fleet to rule the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The brass headed German G7e torpedo is responsible for sending thousands of tons of ships and ship’s cargo to Dave’s Jones locker. And that’s the US Navy’s Mark 18 torpedo used by the Americans during WWII. Submarine commanders distrusted it due to design flaws. It would frequently circle the target rather than hitting it. However, after the design flaws were addressed the American submarines ruled the Pacific against the Japanese.
Although technical advances continued in torpedo development, torpedoes were overshadowed by the guided missile as a submarine weapon. Shortly after the nuclear powered submarine was introduced in 1955 the intercontinental ballistic missile was added to the arsenal of the nuclear powered submarine. It followed the deck launched winged missiles such as the Rugulus.The submarine launched missile reached perfection in the SLBM, Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile. The MIRV, the Multiple Independently targeted Reentry Vehicle, is the ultimate ballistic missile. These large missiles with as many as 14 targetable warheads delivered to high altitude by a missile are dispersed and guided to targets below. These large missile carrying submarines have the ability to deliver unbelievable destruction, and are called s“boomers”.
Not all nuclear submarines are this big and powerful. Some such as the USS Greenling SSN 614, a fast attack submarine, were smaller with a crew of 12 officers and 95 men. The museum has a command center of a nuclear powered submarine on display Actually all electronic monitoring, communication and ancillary equipment are from the USS Greenling SSN 614, decommissioned in 1996. And that includes the periscope. The decisions for the submarine’s operation were made here. Notice the lack of chairs which would have been normally in front of the instruments and controls.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, I was unable to enter the space and stand in the control room of a nuclear powered attack submarine.
There are other displays of underwater research and rescue vehicles in the museum but pale in comparison to the undersea warfare section. When in Keyport on Puget sound check out the Naval Undersea Museum
Jun 6, 2021
From My Childhood
It was a hot day like most August days. But this day is stuck in my memory. A day midway through the twentieth century. It’s funny how some events stick in your mind and others don’t. On that day I was walking with my Dad on Main Street, Greenwood, South Carolina. My mother was shopping at JCPenney. A Charleston & Western Carolina freight train had just gone through town. I loved to watch the trains. They were loud, with a clanging bell, a whistle, and black smoke pouring from their smoke stack. Daddy said the train was carrying coal from West Virginia to Savannah, Georgia. Momma wanted the city to get rid of the train in the middle of town.
We hadn’t gone very far when Daddy pulled on my arm and said, “Son, there’s somebody I want you to meet.”
There was a man leaning against the wall beside the barber pole at Henry Scott’s barbershop where I got my hair cut. He had on faded bib overalls and an old chambray shirt. As we approached, he tipped his hat and said, “Howdy, Cap’n!” The smile on his face revealed a missing front tooth.
Daddy shook the man’s hand and said, “It’s been a long time, Mose.”
“Yessiree. It sho has. Who dat wid cha?” the man said.
“This is my son, Tony,” Daddy said as he turned to me and added, “ Son, shake hands with Mose. We played together when we were boys. His mama would spank my behind when I was bad too!”
I did not want to do it. I knew what Frankie said about people like him. But Daddy talked like that I knew I had to do what he said. He pulled me toward the man. Disobeying my daddy meant I would get a whipping. I did not like getting punished. It hurt.
I looked around to see if anyone was watching and shook his hand. It was big, strong and calloused. I shook it. As we walked away I stole a glance at my hand. It was not black. Frankie was wrong.
Many years later I was selling art in Washington Park with fellow artist, Vincent Bobo. I shared this story with my friend, an African-American, and fellow native South Carolinian. He thought it was one of the funniest stories he had ever heard.
I wonder if it would be funny today?
May 19, 2021
The Devil's Road
Back on the interstate we traveled a bit further east before turning south on a state road. Our destination was Tombstone, Arizona. It was my idea to visit the southwestern city so well known in western folklore and history. It was mid afternoon when we parked in the public parking lot to explore Tombstone afoot. It was good to stretch our legs after being confined to the SUV for several hours. Tombstone is a city of about 1200 people and no doubt survives on tourism. Founded in 1879, its greatest claim to fame occurred two years later. The shootout at the OK Corral was that event. The Earp brothers met the Clinton brothers there and engaged in gunplay on a Wednesday afternoon October 26, 1881. This was the culmination of a long standing feud. The gunfight actually lasted only about 30 seconds. When it was over three men were dead and others wounded. The battle is re-enacted today. We did not see the show. In our travels we’ve seen a number of western shootouts, including one in southern Spain on the former movie sets of the spaghetti westerns. I did manage to get us disoriented (not lost) and find a number of places not on the tourist maps. Claudette had queried the internet earlier and found that Big Nose Kate’s Saloon served some vegan dishes. The saloon was big, busy and loud behind the swinging doors. A man with a white beard and black cowboy hat was singing some familiar western songs - old and new. Old photographs and western memorabilia covered the walls. There was even a cigar store Indian! The food was good and the price was right. Service could have been faster but the waiter girl was very busy. One of the most memorable displays in Big Nose Kate’s was in the hallway to the restrooms. On a twenty-five foot wall was modern military memorabilia. Flags, shoulder patches, and photographs were too numerous to count. They called it "The Hall of Fame". It made us feel good to see our fighting men and women honored this way.
The sun was getting low in the western sky when we saw Tombstone in the rear view mirror as we began our journey north, northeast. We would be on the blue highways as they were referred to by William Least Heat Moon in his book by the same name. As darkness fell we found ourselves in Morenci, Arizona. We were driving through or rather across the largest copper mine in Arizona if not the country. It was dark and we could only see the road ahead. But we were surrounded by hundreds if not thousands of lights. Had they been in straight lines I would have thought we were in the middle of a city. But the view was not unlike that seen from an airplane flying over a city at night. I believe we were on a bridge over part of the open pit mine. As we left civilization there was a roadside sign stating “next services 90 miles”. I asked Claudette what that meant and she said she thought it meant it was 90 miles to a restroom. We were on Highway 191 which reaches the Canadian border after its origin in Mexico.
And so we began our drive through the Green Mountains and White Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Ninety miles did not seem very far, probably a two or three hour drive, or so we thought. After the lights of Morenci had faded behind us, Highway 191 became one of switchbacks and sharp curves. Speed was limited to thirty-five miles-per-hour. The road was either descending or ascending. It reaches the altitude of 9000 feet but my ears never did pop. There was no moon light, the darkness was so thick that our headlights penetrated the darkness only slightly. I could hear stones falling to the valleys below as our wheels pushed them out of the way. It reminded me of a road we had been on near Lake Tahoe where the white lines on the sides in the road fell away in chunks of asphalt as we drove down the road. The thick forest grew to the edges of the road and occasionally a jackrabbit would scamper across the road. We were in Apache territory, the San Carlos Reservation, which is a well known area for elk hunting. We saw no hunters but saw their quarry. Elk, the largest member of the deer family, would appear almost as mirages out of the night. Approaching eight hundred pounds, they were animals to be avoided. Around midnight we were driving along the valley floor and spied a lodge. It was a log structure with several big motorcycles parked in front. I bounded up the front steps of the lodge as fast as an old man could and pounded on the entrance but without success. I tried another door with similar results. Frustrated we jumped back in the car and were on the road again and I might add that the need to relieve myself was becoming a dire necessity. Shortly after one o’clock in the morning we found civilization in the form of the town of Alpine, Arizona, population 146 at the intersection of Highways 180 and 191. On the other side of the intersection with the gas station was the Sportsman's Lodge. This little motel on the Coronado Trail appeared to be straight out of the 1950s. I knocked on the office door and to my relief it opened. There in front of me was a little old lady in flannel pajamas and a stocking cap. I blurted out that I needed a room and she said that number fifteen was available. Registration and payment was expedited quickly and soon we were in a cozy little room. It had cable TV and wifi too but was just a bit smaller than a Marriott room. Actually, a lot smaller.
We had a good night’s sleep at the Sportsman’s Lodge in Alpine and I would recommend it to anyone. One day I would like to see the Coronado Trail in daylight.
Highway 191 was first given the number 666. Since this number is considered the mark of the beast (the devil) and is a bad omen the number was changed.
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