Good morning! Today is Friday, January 23th. Let’s kick off the day with some energy. DJ, play that track! One of the few good things to come out of Covid was Kurt Smith recording his song ‘Mad World’ with his daughter Diva.
If you were quick Monday, you might have caught a blog post I published for about an hour. It was a lengthy piece that took considerable time to write, focusing on biblical teachings regarding our treatment of refugees and immigrants. While I believed the insights shared were meaningful, upon reflection, the tone felt overly preachy—even to me. I prefer engaging in thoughtful discussions, exchanging ideas, and fostering dialogue rather than adopting a directive approach. As a result, I decided to take it down.
AI
I have been revisiting Walter Isaacson’s book on Steve Jobs. There is an entire section discussing how machine learning and algorithms are employed to enhance iPhone photos instantly after they are taken. The process includes adjustments such as white balance, leveling, and facial sharpening, all completed within a fraction of a second. Machine learning is the early moments of AI and we were using it then.
Affleck makes the assertion that AI, in its infancy, isn’t very good because it’s going to the average. Yes, that’s true. But it’s growing by leaps and bounds. Not just 10 and 20% better, but gaining by 1000% overnight. Models are getting faster, more power-efficient, and, what’s more, learning from user behavior.
USA Davos
It used to be a gathering of world idea to try and make the world a better place. Now it seems mostly just speeches. Political theater. What isn’t talked about a lot is the tech conferences that also happen.
Trump gave his speech. Roughly eighty minutes. To which he kept on confusing Iceland and Greenland, and went on to several other topics that I wonder whether the rest of the world actually cares about.
There was a lot of talk and the spread of fake news about Gavin not being allowed to speak. If you do a little homework, you find out he was asked not to speak at an alternate campus site for timing. But the main campus where he had a scheduled block went as scheduled.
Perhaps my favorite was the interview that he gave with Sky News.
Davos was once a hub for innovative ideas and collaborative problem-solving. Recently, however, it has transformed into what feels like a campaign stage. Here’s my concern: does anyone recall the Twitter Files? This involved the government urging platforms like Twitter and Facebook to remove content, such as Hunter Biden’s explicit photos, and to limit the spread of misinformation regarding COVID-19. Conservatives were outraged, citing undue pressure from the Oval Office.
Fast forward to today, and we’re witnessing the full weaponization of the Department of Justice, seemingly targeting individuals who are perceived as adversaries to the current president. This behavior is not only unethical but also reflects poorly on the integrity of leadership.
Consider the crypto regulations that were rolled back during the Trump administration, paving the way for a crypto market boom shortly after taking office, reportedly generating billions in profits. Has there ever been a president who has benefited financially from the presidency to this extent? Yet, Republicans remain silent on this issue, demonstrating a deeply entrenched tribalism. If it’s “my guy,” it’s acceptable; if it’s “your guy,” it’s suddenly reprehensible. This double standard is troubling. How about this? Anyone, regardless of party, profiting this much off the White House shouldn’t be happening.
LIV Golf
I know Graeme thought he was giving a hot take suggesting that LIV is the place to go. But, in actuality, what you’re saying is the PGA Tour is a stronger tour. It’s tougher to make it. If you’re looking to test the merits of your game, compete against the best, the place to do that is the PGA Tour.
Dan makes the same point better than I did upon seeing his tweet.
Lastly…..
I haven’t commented much on the Alex Bregman move. It was interesting to me that this tried hard to come together last season, and they just couldn’t make it work. Give a guy some time to exercise an opt-out, and look at where things end up. Opt outs in baseball. One of the worst stipulations to come to baseball. That and no-trade clauses.
No surprise that lots in the baseball world are unhappy that the Dodgers just spend without trepidation.
Final lastly….
It seems there’s lots of flu and colds/strep throat going around. Somehow I’ve managed to avoid the larger stuff and just have a minor cold a week ago. I hope my friend’s that have been sick all feel better.
My podcast is currently in development. The title has been finalized, and the necessary domains have been secured. A more comprehensive announcement will be shared soon. The podcast will cover a wide range of topics, including sports such as golf, politics, movies, television, and virtually any subject you can imagine. Stay tuned for more updates!