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Ted Turner: One of the Last of the Big Characters
When I learned that Ted Turner had died, I felt unexpectedly sad. I met Ted several times during the 1990s, mostly around the Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley. The first time may have been at a party or event where he was with his then wife, Jane Fonda. Like many people, I already knew of Ted Turner long…
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The Next Era of AI Is Personal
Like many of you, I’m deeply immersed in learning and using AI. It’s not an exaggeration to say it has been life-changing for me. Right now, AI is largely synonymous with Large Language Models — ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude (my current favorite), and even Grok. But I suspect that in the not-so-distant future, we’ll look back on these models the…
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Fiber internet in Lecce
I decided to upgrade my internet to fiber. There is one company that does all the fiber for the city of Lecce (Open Fiber). Then there are various companies like TIM, FastWeb that “rent” the fiber. The Open Fiber people came out to bring the fiber into our home. The fiber connects to a device inside called an ONT (Optical…
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One Election Is a Mistake. Two Are a Choice.
At what point do citizens become responsible for the actions of their government? As a dual American and Israeli citizen, I have found myself living with this question on two fronts. When Trump was first elected in 2016, he lost the popular vote. Many Americans did not support him. Voter turnout was low, and it was possible to argue that…
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Stupidity and Hubris: How Trump, aided by Netanyahu, helped break the world
I just listened to the latest episode of Fareed Zakaria GPS, and I have to say—it left me genuinely frightened. https://edition.cnn.com/world/video/gps-0322-tehran-nuclear-bomb Israeli analyst Danny Citrinowicz made a striking point: this could be the war that pushes Iran past the threshold toward acquiring a nuclear weapon. His analysis is thoughtful, measured, and deeply concerning. I strongly recommend listening to the interview.…
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Israel’s actions and its impact on the Jewish Diaspora
Most Israeli Jews think of themselves first as Israelis and second as Jews. Regarding the Jewish diaspora, they generally believe that one of Israel’s core purposes, the Zionist mission, is to provide a safe haven for Jews. While I disagree with the actions of the current Israeli government, I subscribe to this belief myself. I am a Zionist and believe…
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Apple at 50 — A Tribute to the Genius and Tenacity of Steve Jobs
Apple turned out to be the most influential computer company since IBM and it continues. So while we celebrate its 50th year, we need to take amount to recognize the genius of the man who was responsible for that, Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs entered my life in 1982 and remained a recurring presence—sometimes directly, sometimes at a distance until his…
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Let’s think of the people
I am thinking of my friends and family in Israel and hoping they stay safe. I am think of the people of Iran and wishing that they can soon enjoy the freedom and peace they so deserve.I have mixed emotions about the attack on Iran by Israel and the USA. But no mixed emotions about the deaths of the Iranian…
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Turning Silver into Gold-The Inversion of the Population Pyramid
I was recently interviewed by a newspaper in Genoa about an idea I’ve been developing—“Turning Silver into Gold.” Almost every developed nation in the world, with the notable exception of Israel, now has a birth rate below replacement level. Italy’s fertility rate is about 1.18 children per woman, far below the 2.1 needed to sustain population size over time. In…
Thoughts and experiences of an eighty one year old Wild Duck.
587 posts since 2006