This Moment Isn't That Special

Picture generated by AI based on the text of this post.

I'm a self-proclaimed optimistic futurist. While I've been adopted a wait-and-see or give-it-more-time approach to certain technologies, I've also been an early adopter of those technologies I see as most promising. At work, I am a problem solver and lead a team of problem solvers. In my personal life, I strive for a more perfect, automated, easy, comfortable life. I read a lot, I write a lot, I think a lot. A lot of what I study, think and write about is the future - technology, economics, culture, systems, everything that we humans can control and mold towards a more perfect protopian future. 

So it's no surprise the algorithms recommended to me a show about the future, and I obligingly watched it. Underwhelming is an understatement. But more than that, I had a visceral reaction to some of the claims made. Now, granted, this wasn't an expert account from a fellow futurist. It was hosted and organized by a futurist, but the interviews were with various groups of people operating at various levels of exceptionalism, including absolute normalcy. 

Many of the claims from the interviewees that bothered me the most was the repeated notion that we're presently at an inflection point - in technology, environment and political concerns, yes, but more so - in our actual humanity. The fear that AI will take our jobs and modes of artistic creation such that it robs us of our ability to perceive and create, and that we therefore need to decide what the minimal viable requirements are to call ourselves human, and defend those things, was a few steps too far for me. 

Rather than being compelled by these empowered individuals seeing an opportunity to seize this turning point and make the world a better place, I actually started considering that people in the 1970's probably thought the same thing, and people in the 1930's, and people during the Renaissance, and how many other times in our human history? 

See, fears about technology replacing humans has been around for decades or centuries. Is this time different? Sure, there are arguments for that. But different, how? We're already seeing a backlash against generative AI not delivering the promises of complete automation and replacement of people, and the ROI is in question across the board. It has great potential, to be sure, but we've also identified very early on its tendency to hallucinate and provide complete inaccurate information with great confidence. It's flaws and faults were seen before anyone even noticed it wasn't delivering those promises of employee displacement. So why in the world did we even let those fears build up, and why are we surprised now about the fall of the hype? 

The political unrest is a lot. But is it more than we've seen before? What were those hippies protesting anyways? 

Violence is actually down in many areas. 

Mental health awareness has grown in leaps and bounds. 

The last two thoughts may actually be connected. How cool is that? 

But no, I am struck by actually had ordinary this time is. So why do so many people think we are at a turning point? Is it empowering to this "now is our moment?" If so, if that's what you need to feel compelled to act in a way that will positively improve the future, then go ahead and think that. But will you be disappointed when it turns out it was just another year in another decade with another technology that was interesting? 

Sometimes when I tell people I'm an optimist, they respond that they'd rather be realists. I mean, I get it. I'm not blind to the problems, nor do I want to ignore them. I like to believe I am centered in realism, but with an optimistic direction, rather than a doomsday view of the world. But when I heard these proclamations that now is the time to change the direction of humanity, I felt like those pessimists parading as realists. 

Rather than thinking it's now or never, I believe we wake up every day with the potential of what that day could bring, what we could accomplish. I used to wake up long before dawn and go running or walking in the dark. There's a conspiratory feeling that would wash over me that I'm up before everyone else and therefore I got a head start on them today. I don't walk or run outside currently because I hate Texas, so I don't get this feeling as frequently right now. But I still hold the potential of each day we get in high regard. And a year from now, five years from now, two decades from now, I hope I will still wake up every day with a day of potential ahead of me. 

Singing in the New Year: 2026 Resolutions

Every year, I relish looking back to reflect on the happy memories made, sometimes despite minor or major troubles in life. And the coming of a new year always holds such potential, I excite at the prospect of setting new goals and seeing what I can do through the twists and turns life will inevitably throw at me. 

I've been brainstorming for a couple weeks now on what I want to set out for myself in 2026, but instead of finding clarity and focus, as is exemplified by my life, I have a million thoughts in a thousand different directions. It has been helpful to look back at my previous new year's resolution posts to remember what was important to me, and which of those areas of my life may still be important. 

Let's Get Physical

Movement - whether straight exercise or more adventurous activities like hiking in the wilderness or swimming in ocean, along with dance which has a social element to it - has been a consistent theme and one that I would be remiss if I left off again this year, and perhaps all years. 

In some of my recent reading, I have been reminded that we can sort of rewire our brains by strengthening the paths of the habits we want to create or by lessening the frequency of exercising the pathways we don't want to promote. While I've had sprints of good exercise habits, and I've continued going out to dance regularly, it still has not become consistent enough and I am very good at making excuses for myself. 

So putting those ideas together, I think I need to exercise with the intention of re-wiring my brain. Reframing it in this way gives me a purpose and a way to combat the excuses I inevitably want to make for myself. Calling out the excuses for what they are, and reminding myself that fighting against the choice not to exercise is actually promoting the thing in my brain that I want to strengthen. 

I want dancing to continue to be a part of my life, and I don't think I have to set that as a resolution for that to continue idly. I have toyed with getting more serious with it - taking lessons, for example, or practicing and really becoming an expert in a routine or two. Specifically, I love the "Doin' the Jive" routine, it's not too complicated or difficult, and I think if I practiced enough, I could even possibly offer to teach it at FWSDS. I could practice the "California Orange" routine to get better at that in case it is taught again at Camp Hollywood next year, or maybe I could spy on what the LA dancers are working on and try to get ahead of it with that routine. 

I also think, beyond the comfort and convenience of indoor exercise, I should aim for more intentional outdoor hikes. I already have scheduled for myself a trip to Kawaii and a trip to Yellowstone, so those are great opportunities to not just be outdoors but to do something rigorous. This starts by simply searching for and planning things to do which would involve walking or hiking in the wilderness. And I do love a good trip planning session! 

One Song

Musical pursuits have been on my mind a lot in recent months, and I've tried to postpone it to keep myself focused on writing and publishing my book(s) for the remainder of the year, so now is the time to explore what I really want to do in 2026. 

My reinvigorated interest started as more of a fun thing: playing with generative AI to create songs that are surprisingly catchy and entertaining, even if not totally perfect in pronunciation and logical flow. I've had a latent desire to get a better recording of "Go in Peace and Love," an a capella song I sang with my Madrigal Choir in high school every year, and which had great meaning I think to all of us. Wouldn't it be amazing to get the gang back together to record it? Or to find new talented singers with whom to rehearse and record it? My niece, Anna, has a beautiful voice and expressed interest in recording - I think her Dad even got her a recording session for Christmas - so I shared my thought with her which piqued her interest. 

I've also had a latent desire to pick up on piano/keyboard lessons and learn how to play some songs that people can sing along to, or even better, learn how to sight read on piano. I recently went to a Christmas party at the house of a swing dancer I know in Fort Worth, and he was actually playing songs on his historic but surprisingly well-tuned piano, while a few of us stood around and sang along. We started with Christmas tunes and then moved onto Broadway show tunes. It was so much fun to me, I would love to do that regularly, and I hope I'll at least be able to return to that as a holiday tradition while living in Texas. 

Beyond gen AI music, I often dabble in writing parody lyrics, or even writing lyrics for original tunes. I've enjoyed these exercises and sometimes dream of writing a full musical, but the ambition and lack of focus are daunting. So trying to find the middle ground between taking on a fun project and being able to complete it is the challenge. 

I have a decent microphone and sound-dampening panels, so I think I'd like to set a goal of recording a least one vocal song. In addition, I do want to dig up the "Go in Peace and Love" sheet music and pass that on to Anna, or at least get it in front of myself again. Perhaps I could record the individual parts myself, if I am so inclined. 

Beyond creating and performing, it has occurred to me that I often feel behind on learning of new musicals, and that seems like a very solvable problem. So I'd like to find ways to be more connected to Broadway news and up and coming shows. 

No Place Like Home

Until I looked back at my old new year resolution posts, it hadn't even occurred to me that a new DIY home design project has been turning in my head. Having fully satisfied my vision for my Love Island-themed bathroom, and executed my alternative Texas styling in my family room, complete with hot pink fireplace, I think it's time I turn my attention to that boring kitchen of mine. I already have a theme - citrus - and a vision, so really, it's just about refining the design and executing at this point. 

Sorry, Not Sorry

It has weighed on my mind that one of the pieces of actionable (but annoyingly hard) feedback from my boss was that I say, "Um," too much and that my speaking could use polish. While I recognize this as true historically, I've also sort of embraced it as I've been told how I communicate is effective. I also take a little pride in being unapologetically me, and that is a part of my language. But, if I want to advance into the higher echelons of the company, which I do, then it may be worth acting on the feedback. 

Billionaire (Passive Income, Automation and Technology)

Ever since my Python script to post to Twitter stopped working, I haven't had automated or manual promotion consistently for my book(s), fabrics and blog. As such, I think it's time to dig in on figuring out a way to automate social media posts again, especially for my fabric business which is a small but steady source of passive income. It is much improved when there are posts about it, so ignoring that untapped potential seems frivolous. 

I also would like to complete my AI certification program and find ways to utilize that learning as part of my IncQueries project. 

And similar to my desire to keep up with the latest Broadway musicals, I've realized I've defaulted to books for much of my intel, but books hardly keep up with the changing technology landscape, so I should shift some of my "input" bandwidth to podcasts, YouTube channels, or news publications and the like, related to my interests in technology and economics. 

A big source of frustration and reason for procrastination in my personal resolutions for 2025 was wanting to publish my management book. I set out to establish relationships with actual publishers who could provide editorial critiques and help market my book and maybe even create a path towards becoming a writer beyond a single book. I found it to be much harder than I anticipated, and pivoted to self-publishing with a program I was willing to invest in if it worked. I got stuck, however, largely on the "building a list" based on social media posts discipline again. I could still exercise one of the features to try to get unstuck, but I'm not convinced self-publishing is the way to go for books I really care about. The topic of the book didn't explicitly have to be management per my resolution, and I did, indeed, self-publish my book on Astoria, which was a fun rabbit hole to go down. But the pivot away from seeking a real publisher relationship was unsatisfactory to me. As such, I think I'd like to give that another go, but I'm not sure I'm committed to making it a resolution this year. 

The rabbit hole I went down for my Astoria book was a fun one, and if I wanted to do a more light-hearted book again, I have many topics I could pursue, including connecting the disparate mythologies and conspiracy theories of the Bermuda Triangle, ancient unexplainable architecture, crop circles and patterns in stone under rivers, etc. When I moved from California to Texas a couple years ago, at the urging of my friend Allison, I stopped at The Thing to see the updated museum, and documented the new bizarre explanation of all of history as we know it (spoiler alert: it was all the aliens' doing). That kind of stuff makes me laugh but also is a fun exercise is challenging the "known" science and history. 

I'm leaning towards an "either/or" resolution. Either I figure out how to automate my social media, and try to build my list / audience, or I attack the challenge of getting in with a publisher. 

And if I could combine another fun rabbit hole project with the outdoor movement, that would be a reasonably efficient way to accomplish a lot with limited time and resources. 

You've Got a Friend in Me

Finally, I want to strengthen my existing friendships and develop new local friendships. While swing dancing offers a social environment outside of work, that is not a sufficiently social environment to forge deep friendships necessarily. So I think this is where I can set more discrete goals for myself, spending one day (or part of a day) a month with a friend or family member (not a romantic partner), and seeking classes or activities in which socializing could promote new friendships. 

My Resolutions

It feels like a very well-rounded list is formulating, with lots of bonus ideas or general focus areas. So, let's give it a go. In 2026, I think I'll endeavor to: 

• Physicality - Make Movement a Requirement to Re-wire my Brain
• Bonus: Make plans to get out into nature for walks and hikes
• Plan Yellowstone trip in detail
• Plan Kawaii trip in detail
• Plan for work trips
• Bonus: Learn a dance routine expertly
• Musical - Record at least one song (or continue on with an album)
• Bonus: Find the sheet music for "Go in Peace and Love"
• Bonus: Start practicing keyboard/piano again
• Optional: Try to find new musicals and stay up to date on them
• Home - Complete Kitchen Redesign/Renovation
• Bonus: Finish unpacking all boxes
• Bonus: Consolidate clothes into my primary closet (and donate the rest)
• Technology & Passive Income - Automate Social Media and/or Get into a Publisher with my (management) book
• Optional: Go down another rabbit hole to write another low-stakes book
• Bonus: Complete AI certification course
• Relationships - Spend one day per month with a (non-romantic) friend or family member
• Find classes or activities to attend with like-minded people 
• Profession - Invest time and energy towards refining my language

Here are a few fun videos that capture just some of the fun I had in 2025. 

Better Than Candy: STEM-CenTrick or Treat Alternatives

Being an engineer by training and an engineering manager by trade, I have been aware for decades of the decline in our country's engineering education and pipeline of science and technical talent entering the workforce. Relatedly, I feel compelled, partially because I want to be a leader within my company, and partially because my energy, money and time are not depleted by kids of my own, to advocate for STEM in my local communities and with youth organizations.

I have done this in a number of ways (and feel free to steal any of these ideas):
    • I have been a judge or mentor for robotics and drone competitions for high schoolers.
    • I have supported programs to get girls into programming.
    • I have volunteered at public events to showcase STEM activities
    • When friends who are teachers reach out for help with state-based lessons or postcards, I will try to send the class postcards and other artifacts that are related to my industry, like models of fighter jets or stealth aircraft.

For several years now, I've done one additional, funny and surprisingly gratifying thing - I give out toys along with candy for Halloween. Trick -AND- Treat, one might say. But the toys are somewhat focused on STEM learning. I try to keep them to about $1 per toy or less, but sometimes I will spring for a handful of more expensive items to sprinkle in, with the hope that it may encourage a young person to go into an engineering or related field. 

I have a whole setup to make it easy and less annoying. I set out a comfy camping chair and two side tables on my porch or driveway. I use one table to hold my Halloween bowls with candy in one and the STEM toys in the other. I keep the bags next to me on the ground for easy refilling. On the other table, I set up my tablet and snacks or drinks or whatnot for me. I play my favorite Halloween themed movies on my tablet to keep me entertained between visits, and when the kids, dogs and parents come, I wait for the kids to say their requisite, "Trick or treat," and then I let them know they can take one candy and one toy. I comment on my favorite outfits and answer any questions they might have about the toys. Then I go back to drinking, eating and watching the movies. For someone who doesn't generally "like kids," it's actually quite a delight!

What I look for in my STEM toys is something that kids can learn from. Years ago I found these small solar car kits - those were my favorite! First, you have to build the car from the parts. Once assembled, you had to learn how to use it in the sun. But in the right light, those things took off! And there was no stopping mechanism, so you just had to hope it would find shade to stop. Finding those again, and on the cheap, however, has proved difficult. So I've had to search for alternatives.

Foam gliders are a great alternative - they are inexpensive, flat packed, require assembly and then can teach a thing or two about wind and aerodynamics. I also enjoy holographic glasses which bend light into fun shapes - you can get Halloween themed ones (or Christmas) or other themes.

Slingshot helicopter twirly things are fun, and again, pretty inexpensive.

Somewhat more practical but still a little educational are miniature compasses with or without keychains. Invisible ink pen and notebook sets are usually a hit, and I suppose kids can find an interest in how the chemistry of them works. The kids also get a kick out of jumping popper toys.

I usually throw in little puzzle cubes. I'm not sure those really teach many tangible lessons, but I suppose it helps kids develop spacial rationalization and maybe dynamics principles.

Giving out STEM toys is also a sort of inclusivity measure, since some kids may have allergies or may not be allowed to have much sugar or whatnot. But I doubt there are many parents who would prohibit kids from playing with semi-educational toys.

Though for me, the best part of giving out the STEM toys, is the fact that the kids get REALLY excited about it. It is so unusual to get anything other than candy, I suppose, that the novelty of it causes the initial reaction. "MOM!! I get a TOY!!" is a common exclamation. The parents get a kick out of it, too.

And then watching the kids decide what to select, weighing the pros and cons, asking questions, is also entertaining. Very few of them grab and go, they ponder the possibilities and merits of the toys presented to them. It shows that they are using their brains even in that. And I hope that they use their brains in using the toys once they get home. And maybe some of them will use their brains to work for me building airplanes some day. 

STEM toys are also more practical than candy, since they won't go bad and don't need to be consumed or brought in to work with everyone else's leftover candy. Just stash the remaining inventory for next year and build your pile up from there!

If you want to get some ideas, I recommend two places to start:
Visit Party City or a party supply store, especially in the off-season for Halloween. The clearance section is especially great for budget-friendly options to hoard toys in bulk.
Look on Amazon! I have a list I keep updated with ideas when I think of them or as I prepare for the next Halloween. You can access my list here!
And you can create your own, and share it in the comments for others (and me) to use!

AI Rant

We live in a world rich with opportunities, clearer for human rights than ever before (or at least, a few years ago before Trump's tirade on basic human decency), and yet, our problems of poverty, disease and mental health have either persisted or gotten worse. The dynamics that have created this dichotomy are complex and historied, and entirely self-inflicted, even if unintentional. But perhaps with Al's rise, as well as the threat of technological unemployment, we are equipped for the first time in history to actually tackle these problems at an individual and macro economic level.

Poverty, homelessness and hunger

Save for mental health issues, poverty, homelessness and hunger are rooted in a lack of cash, resources and access. Using Al to make paths to those resources can help individuals get back on track on their terms, not via a prescribed program a naive, although well-intentioned, government or charity program develops. Smart people should create tools that enable and empower the poorest among us to make better decisions for themselves what trades are in demand that can be lucrative and appealing, where are certain types of work most in demand geographically, etc.

Disease

[Insert legal disclaimer that I am not advocating for Al to replace medical attention]

Understanding symptoms in real-time and using context to eliminate causes and cipher out hypothetical causes in a personalized, unjudgmental way can lead to better personal health choices and more successful conversations with doctors and medical experts. For example, many of my symptoms are aggravated by being overweight, and while I understand that and am working to lose my excess weight, there are other factors that can be addressed to give me more immediate relief from symptoms, if only I understand them; however, when talking with a doctor, it often feels like the solution is just, get off your fat ass and lose the weight. Chatting with an Al chatbot is much less confrontational, feels like judgey, and gives space with no time limit to explore and better understand what's going on.

Mental Health

[Insert legal disclaimer that I am not advocating for Al to replace suicide prevention, etc]

For some people, for whatever reason, seeking counseling is either not a viable option (money/insurance, access, schedule), or feels like an insurmountable scary thing. An Al chatbot can provide direct advice for handling situations, and the recommendations get richer as it gets more context about your personal situation. It can ask you questions to help you reflect, and you can ask it for recommendations that you are most open to. For example, I've asked my Al chatbot to give me mantras to recite to remind myself of the mindset changes I want to make. You could ask it for advice on handling threatening situations in the moment, after, and how to prepare. You can talk through things and get reassurance that what you're feeling is normal and part of the human experience. Or if you are ready to pursue a therapist, you can ask it for advice about what kind of therapist to seek out, how to prepare for your appointment, how to determine if that specific relationship is going to work for you. It can give you the feeling of being in control when you most need it.

How we can use these ideas and tools to solve the world's problems

Knowledge and access are key - we need to develop ways to get the word out to the people most in need, and actually, everyone, really. And then we need to equip them, with free tools easy to navigate on both phones and computers because some people may not have access to one or the other.

For more privileged people, we need to understand what Al can do for us and utilize it develop these tools, as well as to brainstorm solutions to bigger picture issues. There are a few books that have come out recently that point to zoning laws and the immense web of restrictions and laws that builders have to navigate that contribute to the lack of affordable housing, and therefore to the homeless problem. We need people in government and large organizations to look wholistically at the system instead of each individual, maybe well-intended, rule and policy in place. When things become too hard, they don't get done. Let's re-evaluate the safeguards and the whole process needed for real solutions, and break down the barriers.

Creating the Future in the Midst of Complacency

While there are many theories for why the economic and technological slowdowns occurred started in the 1970s and beyond, I would suggest that at least one contributing factor, if not a major cause, is that complacency that comes from a world of abundance and moving higher up Maslov's Pyramid of Needs. We now want for very little, and yet no maladies like "adulting" are cropping up for us to complain about. Americans historically have been driven by a burning need. Exemplified by being short of a collective national enemy in a space race, seeing our space industry has dwindled. The Internet boom and subsequent bubble may have reignited, on a temporary basis at least, that hunger. 

I see this in my job, working for a prime contractor with a golden contract. Most people put in their 40 and defend their personal life, and advocate for their need for flexible work arrangements. Do you think people at NASA in the 1960s were telling their bosses they wanted to work from home two or more days per week? 

Some of that hybrid work entitlement came from the COVID-19 pandemic when companies rallied to provide work from home solutions and holding virtual meetings became the norm instead of an afterthought. And some of that is goodness - the lockdowns of COVID-19 helped people take a step back and consider what was most important to them. But the tainted view of corporate America and the advent of quiet quitting has further limited, if not stalled, our ability to innovate and bring to the world a brighter future. 

There are a lot of factors, to be clear, that I'm brushing over here. Books and books have been written about how the sum of individually well meaning policies have led to a system that is so cumbersome it makes progress next to impossible and further degrades the trust people have in the government and large organizations to maneuver. Sort of a self-defeating flywheel of anti-progress. The book simply title "Abundance" is a good read if you want more specifics and examples of this. 

What I want to write about is that, even with hybrid work arrangements and our basic needs being met, we can still find and harness that fire to drive our innovation. What we need is a new vision - a comprehensive version of the future that both excites us and feels attainable. 

We recently had our annual ethics training at work, and one of the cases we watched included a foreign national using his new smart Reyban sunglasses to record details within a production site that was not authorized for him to see, let alone record. After the ethics training and discussions were over, one of the technicians in the class stayed around to chat and asked his manager about how common those recording sunglasses were. It got he and I both sharing some of the miniaturized and wearable technology that is not only widely available but nearly indistinguishable from normal accessories, such as the fitness tracking ring. This technician, while working on fifth generation aircraft, was unaware of such technologies, and wondered aloud what other technologies exist of which he may not be aware. 

While he may be living under a rock to some extent, his voiced concern is still probably a real one. I think technology is splintering into so many niches that the mainstream may not be aware of even half of what's at the fringes. Historically, I imagine a Radio Shack ad in the newspaper or a product-specific commercial on TV would have informed potentially interested buyers. Now, we pay to remove ads and few people read a physical newspaper, and Radio Shack probably isn't prominently featured even there. So it raises the question, how do people find out about the latest technology if they are not explicitly searching it out? I mean, of course there will still be the technophiles that will subscribe to publications and podcasts from which they can learn about new things. Many tech enthusiasts will either be hobbyists in their fields of interest or will be employed in them. 

Drones, for example, have a ton of followers, hobbyists and professionals, and the lines often blur. But if you're not into that field, you probably don't know much about them other than random headlines about shooting one down from time to time or the sci-fi-to-reality concept of Amazon delivering via drone. For the most part, you're either into drones and know all sorts of cool stuff that's going on, or you're not, and its just a buzzword that crosses your feed from time to time. What if there was something in the drone space that would actually be specifically applicable and helpful to you, but you aren't aware it exists so you're not actively searching for it? 

My partner provides another good case study in this belief of mine. He idly expresses interest in "getting into AI," and while on previous occasions on different topics, he has criticized me for not actively seeking out answers to questions that come up in conversation, he hasn't seemed to pursue this interest despite having said it many times over the course of at least half a year or more. He is even aware that I'm taking an AI certificate coursework program and I've shared with him recommendations on how he could get started with no monetary investment. Of course, it is a huge time investment, so maybe that's what differentiates his criticism of not googling something real quick and his lack of action towards learning AI. 

And having gotten through 5 of the 16 courses in my AI certificate program, I can attest it's not easy. I fortunately had a little prior Python experience, which has helped since it uses Python pretty heavily. But even with my small leg up, I find it daunting and mentally taxing. So to expect people less motivated and engineering-minded as me to "get into AI" or understand how to use it does seem a bit far-fetched in all fairness. Yet, everyone has this heavy sense that it is the future and it is important to understand it. 

I often say that where AI fails the hardest is humor - it cannot make a good joke no matter how you instruct it or how many examples you provide for it to mimic - at least in my experience. It just can't seem to grasp what would be funny to people. To that end, sometimes the creativity is a little too canned. So when people freak out about AI replacing people in the future, I have a hard time seeing it from my informed position. I think monotonous or organized tasks will be taken over by AI, absolutely, but that the entirety of what people do for work will be amended by AI, not replaced entirely. Although I'll caveat this belief that perhaps I'm falling into the "history repeats itself" thinking - people feared tech-driven job loss before and were wrong, so surely it can't happen this time. There are schools of thought that say this time is different. But I'm not convinced. Different, yes, but replacing human work and creativity? Nah, I just don't see it yet. Even if AI is doing the heavy lifting, people have to prompt it, and prompt engineering is now a thing. By the way, that's one no-programming way to get into AI, is to learn how to deliver the best prompts for the best AI results. 

Alright, so let me try to get to my point here soon. In the same way that given too many menu choices at a restaurant (think Cheesecake Factory versus In-n-Out) can lead to decision paralysis, I believe people hearing that "AI can do anything" is too broad a brushstroke to act upon. Instead, parallels and analogies have long been useful in learning and creating in all sorts of ways. So, showing people specific examples of what AI can do can open those brain pathways to wonder if it could do something similar, and growth can happen. Perhaps I'm calling for a crowd-sourced library of use cases, something like what Thingiverse did for 3D printing. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the book "The Long Tail" which says, "It is when the tools of production become transparent that we are inspired to create." Simply saying AI can do anything makes it somehow more opaque, not more transparent. We need to carve in-roads into specific use cases from which people can build and splinter off into increasingly more branches. 

To start, though, since I am not prepared to build and market a crowd-sourced library, I want to provide some specific use cases as part of a comprehensive model for a futurist, technology-driven life that is both cheaper and less burdensome and also more fulfilling. 

One such element I've been noodling on gets its roots from a cool gadget I installed in my Palmdale house. My boyfriend at the time was a stickler for having curtains closed at night, even in the back of the house, or maybe especially in the back of the house, because he was worried about ill-intended people being able to see in at us, illuminate by the TV and whatever lights were on, while they could go undetected in the dark. So he would close the curtains every night. But I love the sunshine and loved the view of my pool and the backyard with its palm trees and golf course views beyond. Being a morning person, I'd wake up long before him and would open the curtains back up every morning. 

At the risk of sounding like too much of a first world princess, I am going to admit that this little task annoyed me. For one, I had to climb onto my couch to reach one or two of them, and stretching would sometimes irritate my scoliosis just a touch. Sure, it's only a minute or two of effort. But a 1 minute task every day for let's say a healthy 70 years of adulthood equates to over 425 hours or 17 days of effort. And this is just one task. Everyone has 24 hours in a day, so if you fill your day up with meaningless tasks, what we call "adulting" or even less significant activities could consume a majority of your waking hours. My obsession with optimizing and automating even the most slight of activities probably is what drew me into Industrial Engineering, the father of which was known to time himself buttoning his short from the bottom and from the top to see which was faster. 

So my first proposal in this new framework vision includes implementing the Smart blinds I installed in my Palmdale house. At the push of a button or two on my phone, or with a voice command through the Alexa speaker, I was able to have the curtains opened for me while I moved onto other tasks like making my breakfast. I enhanced the automation further by setting them on a timer through the Alexa app, so they would close at sunset and open and sunrise. I never got around to installing them in my bedroom, and I'm sure while he was still there he wouldn't have appreciated it, but I also envisioned waking up to the sun pouring into my room as the curtains opened at a preset time, like an alarm clock but (hopefully) less irritating. 

But I want to take it even further. Cooling the house in the hot, humid summers of Texas, taxes my AC system and sometimes seems like a struggle even when its running endlessly for hours. I fully recognize that having my windows open all the time as I do right now means I'm letting sun in even when I'm not in that room or at home at all to appreciate it. So, borrowing from a concept Bill Gates introduced in a CD-ROM video from his book "The Road Ahead", I envision sensors of some sort that know when you're home and/or utilizing a specific room, to have the blinds opened when you're in there or expected to be in there, but to close them when the sun is pouring in during the summer and the views are not being seen. It's not just that I want them open when the sun is up, or just shut when I'm not in there, I want the house to optimize for efficiency and my enjoyment. Keep the house cool while maximizing my view of the outdoors. In the winter, then, it would open the blinds all the time during the day because the sunlight will help warm the house. And if it's raining, why not give me the views so I can enjoy the lightning and see whatever critters might be out and about in it (it is fascinating the diversity of wildlife in my suburban backyard, even during a rainstorm). 

Going further still, could we put something on the outside of the windows to shield the sun from even coming in and hitting the curtains? Certainly, this would be more efficient from a cooling perspective. If I do end up building in Florida, can these be sturdy, automated hurricane shutters that can enclose my house quickly and safely in the case of a storm, even if I'm traveling and away from home. 

My brother-in-law is an architect and one of the things he introduced to me is how he angled his exterior roofline and window coverings to maximize shade in the summer but minimize it in the winter. He also built his windows for a cross-breeze that would enable natural cooling during certain times of the year. Integrating the technology and AI-enabled optimization of the technology with the architecture is a really intriguing marriage of new and old ideas that ultimately increases comfort and reduces energy expenditures. 

This is the stuff that excites me. Superficially (although not so, in my mind), it makes life a little bit easier. In case of emergencies (like hurricanes) or even if a potential burglar is spotted, it could rapidly increase security. It will make living just a little cheaper in the long run. All of that is goodness, but the daily bit of a joy I think is actually the best part for me. Does it excite you? What ideas are you dreaming up that could be empowered by technology, automation and AI? 

Unlocking 2025

I want to retire from the corporate world by 2034. I make plenty of money but I also live a pretty awesome and somewhat spendy lifestyle which I'm not willing to forfeit. So to retire so early, I need to find other incomes. And I'm not opposed to working for myself after my "retirement", I just don't want to be working a regular day job that requires 40+ hours of work per week and limits my vacation and travel plans.

Instead, I'd be interested in publishing books and going on book tours, being a guest speaker and maybe even a little bit of consulting. I'd also like to have properties I can rent out to cover my own mortgage. And being somewhat tech-savvy and okay at programming, paired with what I believe to be novel and futuristic thinking, perhaps building and selling a killer app or developing AI solutions to empower income generation would be the most profitable and scalable route.

I've been writing all my life and I have half-completed works which I think could be marketable. I've even self-published a book. It sold one copy. The idea of self-publishing is appealing with its low barrier to entry, but I've been convinced for a long time that the best route, especially for me without a big social media following or the desire to put effort towards building one, is to go the traditional route with a publisher who can help promote the books but also who can provide good editing collaboration and professional artwork for the cover and any graphics in the work.

So it begs the question why haven't I pursued such a course of action? For one, I'm intimidated and a little daunted by not knowing where to start. And certainly, in my life, I've not been solely focused on publishing books. But I think there's also a fear of rejection, or maybe worse - feeling like I wasn't even given a chance - that holds me back.

Yet the math is there. If I'm going to retire to plan, I need to start developing my other incomes and sooner than later.

When Sam and I talk about AI and technology, he is quite out of the loop but fascinated. He's quite intelligent, though, and so I think there's opportunity for us to capitalize on our different smarts to create something. But what, I don't know exactly know. Perhaps when I'm back in the States, we should spend some of our weekend chats brainstorming ideas and laying out next steps.

As far as renting properties, that seems easy enough. Primarily I need to determine where I want to own such properties and then it's just a matter of finding them. Actually, it occurred to me today that I could buy a large plot of land and build small homes to try out the various weird features I want to have in my dream house, and then take lessons learned to apply to my ultimate big house. If I build a handful of these smaller homes, I can continue moving into the newest one and renting out the previous ones. They would also serve and added bonus of being available to family to stay in for visits or to move into if needed - independent living but close to me.

With Sam in my life, chasing love need not be consuming my time anymore, and we collabotively plan vacations so I don't need to do much soul-searching for retreats. The only other two things that will occupy my mental energy and time would be working on my house and the ever-present need for exercise, with dancing being a primary focus for me. In theory, with my new CPAP therapy, I should hopefully get more restful sleep which I hope will help restore my metabolism and provide the energy and mental health to exercise and make good food decisions. While health requires ongoing attention, and I don't want to diminish the effort I need to put towards that end, I think this may be the year in which I put some of these big dreams into action.

As such, I'd like to establish these tenets as my focus for 2025:

 • Develop book pitches

 • Get in contact with at least three publishers about my ideas

  ○ At least one before the end of March, and another before the end of June

 • Continue dancing and working on exercise routine

 • Develop some novel ideas to leverage technology

  ○ Explore investing tools

 • Finish family room

 • Finish primary bathroom

Interestingly, these are going back towards something like New Year's resolutions, something I got away from years ago. Perhaps returning to more structured definitions is indicative of a clearer focus, having used the last couple years to explore what is most important to me and finding myself again.

Other Intriguing Uses of AI: Envisioning Something New

Prompt: Design a new sport unlike any in current existence

AI: Here is a description of a new sport that is unlike any currently in existence:

    "Skyball"

Skyball is a team sport played on a circular field with a high ceiling. The objective of the game is to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop located on the ceiling of the field. Each team has three players on the field at a time, and the ball is advanced by throwing it to teammates or bouncing it off the walls or floor. The ball can only be held for a limited amount of time before it must be passed or shot.

The field is divided into three sections: the outer rim, the middle ring, and the inner circle. Each section has its own hoop, with the inner circle hoop being worth the most points. Players are allowed to move freely throughout the field, but they must stay within their designated section when attempting to score.

Skyball combines elements of basketball, soccer, and handball, and requires players to have a high level of agility, coordination, and strategic thinking. The fast-paced and high-scoring nature of the game makes it exciting to watch and play.

 

 

Prompt: From Bill Gates' book The Road Ahead, which predictions have not yet come true but still seem likely?

AI: In his book "The Road Ahead," Bill Gates makes a number of predictions about the future of technology and society. It's difficult to say which of these predictions have not yet come true, as the book was published in 1995 and many of the predictions are still in the process of being realized.

Some of the predictions that Gates makes in the book that may still be in the process of coming true include:

1. The rise of the internet: Gates predicts that the internet will become an increasingly important part of daily life and will transform the way we communicate, learn, and do business. While the internet has certainly become a central part of modern life, it is still evolving and its full potential has not yet been realized.

2. The proliferation of personal computers: Gates predicts that personal computers will become more powerful and widely available, and that they will be used for a wide range of applications. While personal computers have certainly become more powerful and widely available, they are still a relatively new technology and it is possible that they could continue to evolve and be used in new and unexpected ways.

3. The development of artificial intelligence: Gates predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) will become increasingly sophisticated and will be used to automate a wide range of tasks. While AI has made significant progress in recent years, it is still in the early stages of development and it is possible that it could continue to evolve and be used in new and unexpected ways.

4. The rise of digital media: Gates predicts that digital media will become more prevalent and will change the way we consume and create content. While digital media has certainly become more prevalent, it is still evolving and it is possible that it could continue to change the way we consume and create content in the future.

Overall, it is difficult to say which of Gates' predictions have not yet come true, as many of them are still in the process of being realized.

These AI-Generated Bucket Lists Inspired Me

A question was recently posed on Twitter: "What was the most impactful technology of 2022?" and I mentally answered almost instinctively: Artificial Intelligence. While AI has been in development for years and theorized about for decades and even centuries, and is far from the Promised Land of AI even today, I think it made some huge strides in 2022 and also made its way into the public's hands like never before this year. 

From AI-generated artwork based on user inputs, AI morphing selfies into cartoon characters and other stylized self-portraits, to virtual AI "friends" and chatbots to help with anxiety and other wellness concerns, articles surfacing of AI bots having self-realization and sharing human-like beliefs, it just seems to have dominated the technology conversation this year. Most recently, however, my employee turned me onto ChatGPT which writes lengthy bits based on prompts, including writing code or blog posts. Don't worry, I have no intention of using it to write my blog posts here, except as excerpts to demonstrate the technology's prowess and shortcomings. While ChatGPT has known and stated limitations (especially that the data is only current up to 2021), I wanted to share some of the most interesting bits I got out of it (so far). 

Below are the prompts and responses I got from ChatGPT regarding bucket lists. Before presenting the lists, I want to share a few insights that really struck me. 

First of all, I've lived in LA County for over a year and a half, and love space, and I had no awareness or consideration of the Griffith Observatory until this list. This opened up a whole rabbit hole for me of podcasts and planning a trip to the observatory and consideration of becoming a member. All because the AI generated a list which I hadn't yet seen. 

Much of the California Bucket List resonated with me, having either done them intentionally as part of my Life List or as part of my California Bucket List to take advantage of our time here. 

This sort of resource could be a jumping off point for when we move to a new location, generating local and regional bucket lists as well as interest-based bucket lists within a geographic region. The results are both impressively accurate and incredibly compelling and actionable. 

I hope these lists inspire you as well, and if you want to try creating your own, check out ChatGPT while it is available to the public!

Panama Canal Full Transit: Advice for the Best Experience

In February 19, 2020, I checked off my Life List #89: Cruise through the Panama Canal! Rather than get into the technical details, I wanted to share some advice for optimal enjoyment of the vacationer.

While this was only my third cruise, I'm a big fan of cruises as a mode of vacationing, and short of a trip around the world, the Panama Canal Full Transit cruises are some of the longest and most coveted itineraries. As such, I've wanted to do it for a long time (hence it being on my life list), but when I started to look into it, I discovered how difficult it is to pull off if you're not retired, because of the length and dates when it runs (i.e. not over winter or summer break so it's hard or impossible if you're contending with school schedules). Even if you're not contending with school, it's still a long time to take off work, since most run 13 - 16 days and then you have travel time to and from the ports. 

The circumstances that allowed us to go were simultaneously a little sad, funny and counter-intuitive. I had found out early December that my site was closing, and I (finally!!) sold my house in Arizona shortly after. I wasn't in a big hurry to get a new job, but knew that eventually whatever my next job would be would probably take me away from Panama City Beach, and likely away from Florida. We'd only been living in Florida for a year and a half, and I disliked the idea of leaving Florida without having done a cruise. So I jokingly rationalized, what do you need in order to go on a Panama Canal Cruise? Time and money, and I found myself having both. After booking but before leaving, I accepted a job with the same company in southern California, confirming that we would be leaving Florida. So then I joked that, clearly, the most logical thing to do before moving to one of the most expensive parts of the country was to splurge on an indulgent cruise! We also had the added joke that taking a giant ship from Florida to California was the (best) slowest way to move. 

Alright, silly ironies aside, I booked the Norwegian 16-Day Full Transit cruise from Miami to LA leaving on Valentine's Day. Jaiman couldn't get the time off from work, so he ended up putting in his two week notice, which worked out perfectly once I accepted the job in Cali, since he'd have to leave his job anyways. We originally had a balcony cabin on Deck 8 (I went with basically the cheapest balcony option)and we were then upgraded to Deck 10. Given what I learned while actually traversing the Panama Canal, I may have preferred to keep my original room, but it worked out okay regardless. The ship we were on was the Norwegian Joy (currently being featured in some of the commercials, with the racetrack in top and two water slides that go overboard). 

As you may know, the cruise ships now typically go through the new canal which opened in 2016, and which employs many of the same engineering principles (although not all). Basically, a series of locks raise the ships by adding water (without pumps, using gravity), until the ship is level with the man-made lake that stretches over most of the route, and then there are locks on the other side to lower the ship, also with gravity driving the water out. You can learn lots more about how it works elsewhere, I'll leave that to the experts. The big difference between the old and new canal is the structure of the lock gates. The old locks utilize gates that met at an angle like an arrow pointing toward the higher water. The principle is that the pressure from the water pushes against the gates, effectively sealing them shut. I find this way more interesting, actually, than the new gates which just go perpendicular to the direction of

Lock gate opening viewed from Garden Cafe

travel. Like,that is the most obvious solution, right? The angle is way more innovative and creative. So, maybe the next time I find myself with extra money and free time on my hands,I'll see if I can find passage through the old locks, because those sound cool! Probably, then, the most interesting thing about the new locks is that they are hollow! The new locks are also bigger, wider and deeper, accommodating larger ships. Our ship would not have fit through the old locks, for example.

Our cruise held two one-hour lectures on the days at sea preceding the Panama Canal passage, although we attended one and were bored to tears. The cruise also have us pamphlets that told us more about the history, technology and landmark geography, which was a little more helpful. What they didn't communicate, at least not well, was what to expect to see and where to best see it. So now that I'm an expert, having sailed it one time, I thought I'd give you some ideas and advice based on my experience and observations. 

Where to View

View from the Waterfront of the Norwegian Joy

For transit from the Atlantic to the Pacific (i.e. Miami to LA), the first set of locks, called the Agua Clara Locks, are on the port side of the ship (right-hand side). The second set of locks, called the Cocoli , are on the starboard side (left-hand side). So, splurging for a balcony cabin is worthwhile because you'll be able to view the locks from your balcony either in the morning or afternoon depending on which side you're on. While being up high usually affords the best views of the world around you,the locks are quite low compared to the cruise ships they can accommodate. For this reason, I recommend being on a lower deck rather than a higher deck for the passage through the locks. You'll get a better sense of the size and scale of the engineering marvel from lower decks, and you'll be better able to observe the rising and sinking of the ship. (Hint: To a casual observer, the flood of water in and out is subtle. I suggest paying careful attention to the water level relative to a marker along the wall or on the locks themselves if you have a good view of them. Take a picture if it helps, so you can compare how much of the wall is exposed after some time.) 

View from the Waterfront of first lock gates

Finally, being toward the forward or aft (front or back) are more advantageous than the middle. It's great to be at the front on the approach, but the crowds will be there. In our case, the crowds were gathered most on the Waterfront (Deck 8 Fwd) which I think was only open for this one occasion, as well as the Observation Lounge (Deck 15 Fwd) and the Garden Cafe buffet (Deck 16 Fwd). Ironically, our daily newsletter had listed Deck 7 Promenade as the first of the best places to view, but when we went out there during the third lock, there was almost nobody out there. I liked that spot a lot because of how low it was. When the ship moved away from the port side of the lock walls,we could get a really good view of the hollow locks as we passed. However, they didn't have any chairs set up there, so one would have to endure standing for the whole viewing. Long before we approached the second set of locks, we had planted ourselves in the Garden Cafe, enjoying the buffet of food slowly to make it last, so we'd have a brilliant view of the approach. When I saw that the locks were starboard, I was excited that we could then watch from our cabin balcony, so that's what we did after watching the first from up above on Deck 16. Additionally, our balcony was shady by this time, a happy bonus. (Note: Access to the coveted Waterfront was through the cabin hallways on Deck 8, specifically starboard side. So for this purpose, those rooms are advantageous in that they were closer to the most popular viewing area, but disadvantageous in that they would have a lot of traffic to contend with on that day.)

Centennial Bridge

There are also three bridges you'll pass under. For viewing the passage under the bridges, it's advantageous to be outside, and probably best to be on the pool deck. In the Atlantic to Pacific route, the first bridge we went under was very early in the morning (maybe 6 am), well before we the Agua Clara Locks. The name of the first bridge escaped me, but it looked a lot

Bridge of the Americas

like the second bridge, called the Centennial Bridge. The Centennial Bridge is passed in between the two sets of locks. The last bridge in this direction is the Bridge of the Americas, and you'll be able to see its grandiose structure will before you approach the Cocoli Locks, although you don't pass under it until a little while after clearing the last lock. 

In summary, for going Atlantic to Pacific, I'd recommend:

• Be up high outside and forward for the first bridge and approach - great for selfies
• Get low and forward on port-side for the passage through the first set of locks (Agua Clara) - check out the hollow locks
• High and forward is best but anywhere is fine during the transit through the lake - rainforest on either side
• Get low and forward on starboard-side for the second locks (Cocoli)
• Be high and outside for the Bridge of the Americas - great city skyline views on starboard side

Length of time

The full transit through the Panama Canal is a 6 - 8 hour affair, but the most exciting time is right at the start and and at the tail end. Thus, you'll want to wake up early to see the approach to the first lock, even if that means napping while you're in the lake (which is exactly what we did). Be aware that the times your cruise director gives you are approximate, so if you don't want to miss anything, I'd recommend getting up extra early (and staying up). In our case,we were ahead of schedule the whole time, reaching the first set of locks about 20 minutes early and passing under the Bridge of the Americas a full 98 minutes early. If you're going to nap,it may be a good idea to keep the TV on to the forward view, our cruise director was making announcements on that channel, and we could monitor our progress in a way. 

What to look for

Inside the locks

I'm thoroughly fascinated by the operations and engineering of these landmarks like the Panama Canal,so I'm tickled by rather intricate details one might otherwise miss. Here are some things to look for during your passage. You could even make a drinking game of it,or if you have little ones with you, make it a scavenger hunt or Bingo game (see below for Bingo cards if you'd like). 

Entering the locks (see metal arrow pointing to the entry)

Passing a lock gate

• The metal arrow painted in red and green indicating where to enter (port side enter Agua Clara, starboard side entering Cocoli when transiting Atlantic to Pacific - in other words, opposite sides of locks)
• The reservoirs holding water for the locks (same sides as locks)
• Watch the crew on land capture the ship's rope and secure it (best seen from forward or aft, but you'll be able to see it from outside mid-ship as well). Likewise,when they release the rope, it's comically simple.
• Panamanian flags
• Tug boats guiding the ship through the locks - most visible when you're outside and forward or aft
• Various operations buildings - try guessing at their meaning and then checking your guesses with Google Translate
• The gates as they open
• The hollow insides of the gates - you need to be low and have a little luck for the best view, when the ship glides away the wall is when you'll get the best view
• Bumpers on the sides - noting or taking a picture of the water level relative to these will help you notice the rising and sinking of the ship as water is moved (without pumps!)
• The distance marker - what are they making the distance to and what unit do you think they're in?
• The stair cases from one lock to another
• Check out the birds - can you find a pelican?
• The skyscrapers visible while traversing and before and after the Cocoli Locks - look for large LCD screens too! A good zoom on a camera or binoculars is helpful if you have them, but not necessary by any means. 

Entering the Cocoli Locks, view from Garden Cafe

Pictures to Take

While Jaiman and I admittedly take a ton of pretty usual selfies, I do like to think of creative and nice pictures that go beyond the usual selfie. You can play with forced perspective on a couple occasions. For example, if neighboring boats are lined up right,you snap a picture of someone eating a boat. You could also "help" with lifting the rope, holding up a bridge or pushing a lock in. If you're on a promenade,find a life raft with the ship's name on it and take a pic of it with the locks in the background, or just posing by it. Definitely get pictures of yourselves with the locks behind you, with the bridges above you. 

Additional notes

We've had passable to decent connections on our regular mobile data plans when traveling to Japan, Australia and Europe. That same data plan was much weaker in Columbia and Panama, to the point that we never got Pokemon Go to load, but were able to peruse and upload to Facebook in spots. So if mobile data is important to you, consider getting an upgrade package. 

A view of the hollow locks

Along with that, we were informed that the ship's clock would go back one hour after we left Panama. For most phones and watches,that's fine because you can manually override or set them. However, my FitBit is my watch, and it cannot be updated without internet connection. So if you are in the same boat (pun intended), you may want to proactively set your watch back an hour while you have the weak data connection in Panama. 

One final silly note, like many theme parks and public venues, our cruise went to paper straws or no straws, and I like having straws (not to mention that statistically, plastic straws are a mere blip in the total pollution of the oceans, so I'm not entirely for their use, but obviously it's not up to me on this regard), so having a telescopic/collapsing stainless steel travel straw has been a handy little hack that I utilized quite a bit on this cruise.

I hope that helps in choosing your staterooms and planning your Panama Canal passage! Enjoy!

Cocoli Locks tower

A gate opening at the Cocoli Locks

Lock gates opening

Passing the lock gates (view from Deck 7 Promenade)

Inside the locks, with a partial view of the tug boat guiding us through

Bingo Cards