I want to wish you a Happy New Year more personally this year, so I’ve created this short video, which I hope will give you a better idea of who I am, and what I hope to offer in this blog in 2017.
I’m a member of the Silent Generation, born just before the second world war. I started this blog two years ago in order to discuss what is important about my age group, and what we can do to keep our memory and contributions alive. Many of us had hardships, and did without privileges during our youth, but once we reached adulthood, we were privy to the fastest growing and most stable economy and job situation ever. We had what we wished our children could build upon.
But that wasn’t to be. Many forces infringed upon their job prospects, ate away at their opportunities for housing and education, and made life more difficult for them. For the first time in generations, children had a lower standard of living than their parents.
My blog focuses on these issues. I write to help all of us (me included), to understand the economy, today’s political reality, the world we live in, and the future to be. Because I have lived a long time, I am able to put this into perspective, and that is what I try to do in every article.
My current interest is the future of artificial intelligence, and how it will change our lives. AI, as they call it, is here, whether we want it or not. It will change us in ways we currently do not understand. The political events of 2016 have already made the future uncertain and frightening to many. We don’t appreciate having the spectre of AI thrust upon us.
But as 2017 arrives, think about this: We’ll never be able to predict the future, or control it. But I do believe we have to learn as much as we can about what is coming. And we need to hold it in the context of optimism.
One of our greatest thinkers, Noam Chomsky, has talked about optimism and the future in his writings. This is what he says:
“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”
Thank you for checking in. And may we all have a safe and happy 2017
Happy and healthy to you, your family and your readers. You really are a gem.
Hi Lois. Thanks so much to that vote of confidence! Right back at you!
Happy New Year Diane! What a great idea, to create a video greeting. It is wonderful to get to see you in a more “three dimensional” way in a two dimensional venue! Looking forward to your posts in 2017!
Thanks, Maggie! I decided to throw vanity out the window and just put my face out there, wrinkles and all. It was very liberating! I’ll look forward to your posts as well, as I always do!
The silent generation? Why so – called? I guess I’m also one of you as I was born at the end of the war. So interesting to read your comments and your story, though I haven’t been able to see your video on my tablet for some reason. Here in the UK I would say my kids, who are now in their mid to late thirties, are the lucky ones. They had a better education than I ever had, and access to things like free music lessons, which is no longer the case, and to free or nearly free tertiary education, unlike kids of today. They also managed to find jobs and keep them, and while their chances of being able to buy a property in London are pretty nonexistent that was also the case when I was their age. What bothers me and many of the people I know here is the emphasis on money and the economy rather than trying to build a cohesive and compassionate society, where the arts are considered a natural part of everyday life rather than something for the privileged and elite only. That said I have great faith in the younger generation one way and another. Enough! Apologies for going on. A happy new year to you and to everyone!
Great comment, Patsy! Sorry you couldn’t see the video…It didn’t load on Facebook, but my daughter will see if she can do anything about that later on. There is more about the Silent generation on my blog (under ‘About’, I think). It was an apt name at the time, because our generation was so compliant, and followed all the rules of success. What you say about finding and keeping jobs for our children didn’t really apply here. My kids were Gen X, and had trouble finding work after getting their education. It all worked out eventually, though. Most importantly for many of us here was that we used to get grants to support us at University.
Hi Diane,
Thanks for your New Year’s wishes. I enjoyed seeing half of your face on the video! Don’t know why my computer wouldn’t load it all, but anyway, it was good to hear your voice, after all these months of reading your written words. Thanks for making the video. You’re right – we can’t predict and we can’t control the future, so we might as well stop trying. I don’t have optimism right now, but I’m hoping that I can manufacture some in the next few weeks. I’ll be attending the Minnesota Women’s March on Jan. 21, and look forward to meeting some great older women there (and maybe some younger ones too). Appreciate your blogging friendship.
Rin
I hope you got the good half of my face! That is so funny…there have been issues with one other reader. She couldn’t load it on her pad at all. And I’ve posted it on FB, but it wouldn’t load. I’m hoping you can feel more optimistic in the future, and am so jazzed about the march you and so many amazing women will be going to! I’ll be following every step!
Diane , you look terrific! Much enjoyed ! Wishing you and Bob all the Best for 2017!
The best to you, as well! I’ve always intended to do videos, but it took a lot of courage, no kidding!
Just try clicking on the READ MORE link at the bottom and the video should show up. Let me know if not! Thanks! – Diane’s Daughter 🙂
Wishing you a safe, wonderful and happy 2017 too, Diane!! -Janice
Thank you, Janice. So happy that you visited! Let’s all have the best year ever!
Nice to see and hear you Diane, Happy New Year!
So glad you liked it, Thanks!
Happy New Year to you, too! I love the video. 🙂
I’m so glad you liked it, Jean! Means a lot to me!
The video was a very clever idea! I’m really looking forward to your discussions about AI. I don’t know much about it but I do know that we all need to embrace the technology. And, thanks for the Noam Chomsky quote… it’s a good one.
I’m looking forward to discussing AI too. Don’t know how positive my analysis will be though! I have some questions, but don’t wish to have opinions until I research it. Thanks for your generous praise!
A very nice video. Thank you for your good wishes which I heartily reciprocate.
AI and Automation are likely to add further fuel to many fires already simmering in your part of the world. Quite how events will unfold, particularly in the USA this and in the coming years will determine the future of the world.
Please have a good read – https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/03/trump-supporters-us-elections
Happy New Year, Rummuser! I’m so happy that you agree about the seriousness of the advent of automation and AI. I fear that most people are half asleep over this! Thanks for the link…I will read with great interest!
..and yet “artificial” intelligence has been among us for as long as I can remember. A term coined for politicians who always had the answer to our problems. And yet, when I was growing us we paid .10 cents for a loaf of bread and .30 cents a gallon for gas. If politics is working for the people, why then so much distrust and contention? Yet, those politicians retired with big pensions and generally a good life. Seniors I have talked with all have a common beef – we can barely make ends meet; We can’t afford medication and we can’t afford buying healthy food because of budgetary limitations. So now we see (yet again) the price of everything going up and executives walking away with multi million dollars bonuses or severance pays. Where was the “intelligence” during the past 60 years? Ai may not be the answer and to some extent it is frightening but at least it will be predictable – after all it’s only a machine.
I know life isn’t fair. It is a sacrilege that corporations and their executives have so much, and many ordinary people (especially seniors) can barely make do—the inequity is heartbreaking. AI will not solve these problems, I think. However, I am only beginning to do my research, so am reluctant to express an opinion right now. Take care of yourself, Peter, and have a good beginning to 2017!
You mean those last two sentences as tongue in cheek right? Because I think that’s one of the frightening things about AI. I don’t think we can predict what it’s going to do.
Diane, what a fun idea making a video so that I can now imagine your voice as I read your very erudite and interesting posts. I will read with interest your posts on AI. It is a topic that needs to be explored in detail. Wishing you a new year filled with interesting thoughts, time to explore them and time to share them with us.
Bernadette, you put your finger on the most important point—finding time to do all that I hope to do! I have a demanding life…lots of family and lots of activities which take time. I value my blog and the work it takes is a labor of love! So I’ll be thinking of ways to cut down my commitments! Thank you for your encouraging words!
Hi Diane,
I found you through a comment you left on Times Goes By, which I’ve been following for years. I’m 74 and in my blog (Eye on the Edge) I write about what it’s like for me to be growing older, as well as other things in my life. Thank you for the video. It really helped me to see who YOU are, and I may do something similar in a future post. We’ll see. Anyway, I just subscribed via email to receive your posts. I really like your “take” on the world! 🙂
Hi Djan! I have read you for several months, but haven’t been able to leave comments…but I’ll try again! I come across some of your comments in other blogs, and remember you because of your unusual name! Wonderful that we’ve connected. I will send you an email if I’m not successful at leaving a comment on your blog. Thanks!
Happy New Year! Like much in life and technology, whether cars replacing horses as primary transportation in my Mother’s Day, tv becoming prevalent in my young adult life, there are positives and negatives. So it is with AI — we will benefit from how it’s used to enhance our lives and there will be aspects that will be otherwise. Our challenge is in how we use it, just as it is with our computers.
We can view AI with fear and ignorance, allowing ourselves to be susceptible to media hype, or become knowledgeable about it, and use it wisely—that goes for all of society. Thanks, Joared!
Thanks for the lovely New Year message. I’ve been interested in futurism for years. Recently, I’ve been fascinated by a historian, Yuval Harai, who uses historical teachings in his writings on futurism. You are likely aware of his work as he writes extensively about Artificial Intelligence. I look forward to your posts in 2017.
Jeanette, I’ve heard about him, bu haven’t read his work. That will be my reading for tonight! Thanks so much!
A very Happy New Year to you, Diane. I’m looking forward to your posts in 2017.
Thanks, Neil! I appreciate your interest and support!
Finally have you back on my reader- and thank you for the fine wisdoms you share
Thank you. And welcome back!
Comments are closed.