What if you could predict all future events? A 19th century French mathematician, Laplace, thought you could. If you can predict the position of billiard balls bouncing on a table applying rules of physics, so you can also predict the position of atoms in the universe. Of course you have to know the exact position of every atom in the universe. I don't even know where my ski socks are, much less every other atom in the universe.
So a good theory, but it doesn't work.
Of all the news that crossed my desk this week, this one was especially interesting and a bit scary at the same time. No it's not the new contact lens from Google that will automatically read your blood sugar levels from your tears and alert you...it's Amazon's new patented system called "anticipatory shipping."
Yes...they will ship your stuff before you order it.
On the morning after our December 3rd Holiday Party (where we named the recipient of our hallowed "Red Bandana" Award, named two new Networkers of the Year and our Foundation handed out four $5000 grants to worthy and appreciative recipients) it came to me that, more than anything else, the characteristic which distinguishes Gotham from other groups, networking or otherwise, is that we have SOUL!SOUL is defined as the Spiritual part of a human being regarded as immortal. In my mind we're not so much immortal as spiritual.
I don't know whether he told them to do it or whether he knew. The answer to the popular question of the last few days -- "Do you think he knew?” -- largely depends on what you thought of him in the first place. What's ironic is that, by most accounts, he's been doing a pretty good job. And don't hold the fact that he has political ambitions against him.
A story today indicated that the NSA has surveillance over 100,000 computers world wide including some that aren't even connected to the internet.
This comes on the heels of the Edward Snowden situation where Snowden (whistleblower or traitor?) revealed NSA secrets wreaking havoc on our geopolitical and diplomatic relationships. Other whislteblowers have generated various levels of fame/infamy with revelations.
I have recently “discovered” On Demand television. Through On Demand, my husband, stepson, and I have become huge fans of Homeland, having binge watched the entire first season during the recent blizzard weekend. We are about to begin season two. I have also discovered the television show, Episodes, and have found myself laughing out loud while watching the show.
Having nothing of any importance planned last night I offered babysitting services to my daughter and son in law in Brooklyn. They were happy to have an adult night to themselves. I was even happier to have a night with the little one year old.
I had a lot of time with her this week. Last weekend was her one year birthday party. Tuesday night they came to my step fathers 83rd birthday dinner. And Thursday I went over for my weekly visit.
My mother used to say that she loved her grandchildren even more than her own children. I get it.