June 21, Safe Tech International News and Note
AI & Grid, Dr. Jerry Tennant, James Linn, Smart Meters, Shielding Paint
House-keeping notes:
If desidered, please contact me if you see an error or broken link. Unlike other platforms, I can edit at the substack site so that the historical record will be correct, without needed a new link; I appreciate the extra sets of eyes.
AI; GPT-5… now arriving Gate 8, Gate 9, Gate 10 Gary Marcus from Marcus on AI The increasingly delayed countdown to GPT5 Gary Marcus is still betting that GPT-5 will continue to hallucinate and make a bunch of wacky errors, whenever it finally drops. (take off on the comedy film Airplane HERE
AI: Transformative Growth with AI Is Likely. Explosive Growth Is Science Fiction. https://www.aei.org/articles/transformative-growth-with-ai-is-likely-explosive-growth-is-science-fiction/
Good article from Washington Post:
AI; AI is exhausting the power grid. Tech firms are seeking a miracle solution. Tech companies had promised “clean energy would be this magical, infinite resource,” said Tamara Kneese, a project director at the nonprofit Data & Society, which tracks the effect of AI and accuses the tech industry of using “fuzzy math” in its climate claims. A spike in tech-related energy needs in Georgia moved regulators in April to green-light an expansion of fossil fuel use, including purchasing power from Mississippi that will delay closure of a half-century-old coal plant there. In the suburbs of Milwaukee, Microsoft’s announcement in March that it is building a $3.3 billion data center campus followed the local utility pushing back by one year the retirement of coal units, and unveiling plans for a vast expansion of gas power that regional energy executives say is necessary to stabilize the grid amid soaring data center demand and other growth. In Omaha, where Google and Meta recently set up sprawling data center operations, a coal plant that was supposed to go offline in 2022 will now be operational through at least 2026. The local utility has scrapped plans to install large batteries to store solar power. [] These concrete developments in energy markets contrast with tech companies’ futuristic promises. A recent Goldman Sachs analysis of energy that will power the AI boom into 2030 did not even consider small nuclear plants or futuristic fusion generators. It found data centers will account for 8 percent of total electricity use in the United States by 2030, a near tripling of their share today. [] Gates is the founder of his own nuclear company, called TerraPower. AI is exhausting the power grid. Tech firms are seeking a miracle solution. (msn.com)
AUTOMOBILES Nearly Half of US EV Drivers Consider Switching Back to Gas Vehicles: McKinsey Study Costs and lack of public charging infrastructure top reasons for switch. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/nearly-half-of-us-ev-drivers-consider-switching-back-to-gas-vehicles-mckinsey-study-5672246
AUTOMOBILES; Autonomous Vehicles Are Great at Driving Straight But humans still do better at turns and in the twilight A new paper published in Nature puts numbers to the problem. Its authors analyzed over 37,000 accidents involving autonomous and human-driven vehicles to gauge risk across several accident scenarios. The paper reports AVs were generally less prone to accidents than those driven by humans, but significantly underperformed humans in some situations. https://spectrum.ieee.org/autonomous-vehicles-great-at-straights
BROADBAND, INDUSTRY Black Pastors Praise Tinkering, Rally for Digital Equity On Juneteenth, Rep. Rashida Tlaib scored loss of ACP, but praised potential open access network in Detroit. Virtues of tinkering as a digital skill Weems compared people struggle to adapt to the digital age with the tinkerers of prior generations, including her father and others of her African-American ancestors. Tlaib cited a 2018 survey by Harvard demonstrating lower costs and greater price transparency by city-owned municipal broadband networks. She said that municipal network promote self-determination. "Community owned networks," she said, will provide "democratic control over basic infrastructure." https://broadbandbreakfast.com/black-pastors-praise-tinkering-rally-for-digital-equity/
CELLPHONES: HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH/OPINION: Choice or chore: Our technology addiction I went back and got my phone. As much as we are told about the dangers of technology addiction, it took this experience for me to truly take a step back and gain perspective on my digital usage. It made me realize that my actions were no longer autonomous, but controlled by a device that I thought I had control over. It’s almost like an abusive relationship. We know how bad it is to be so reliant on our phones, but we make excuses in our own heads to justify our overuse of it because we can’t imagine living without it. Choice or chore: Our technology addiction – The Flagler College Gargoyle courtesy Sean
CELLPHONES TO DUMBPHONES: Adults and teens turn to 'dumbphones' to cut screen time (msn.com) via BBC
MORE MEDIA REPORTS RE: CHILDREN, SOCIAL MEDIA, CELLPHONES
CHILDREN SCHOOL CELLPHONES BAN NPR: Is a statewide ban on cell phones in schools realistic? 3 minute video re: LA smartphone ban, influence of pandemic, Common Sense media report, quiet lunch rooms https://www.npr.org/2024/06/21/nx-s1-5013628/is-a-statewide-ban-on-cell-phones-in-schools-realistic
CHILDREN DR. MERCOLA: U.S. Surgeon General Proposes Warning Labels for Social Media U.S. While Murthy's proposal awaits Congressional review, it represents a significant recognition of social media as a public health concern comparable to past regulatory challenges. As digital interactions become increasingly integrated into teens' daily lives, Murthy's recommendation aims to empower parents and compel platforms to prioritize user safety. The outcome of this call to action in galvanizing legislative response remains uncertain, but it marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse on digital health and youth welfare. Surgeon General Proposes Warning Labels for Social Media Amid Teen Mental Health Concerns (mercola.com)
CHILDREN: Surgeon General Calls for Social Media Warning Labels to Protect Teens Cigarettes and alcohol have cautionary notes, he says, while citing research showing high risk for anxiety and depression among heavy users of online networks. Near the end of his comments, Dr. Murthy drew parallels to safety measures for cars, planes, and food, asking why the country hasn’t treated social media with the same care and concern. Dr. Murthy’s analysis was released the same day that the results of a poll were published by the Tech Oversight Project, showing that the majority of voters, on a bipartisan basis, support approving a children’s online safety rule.
According to the polling data, more than 80 percent of voters from both parties say they believe the government should put responsible safeguards in place for minors online.
Additionally, the poll found that 78 percent of Americans support the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act, specifically, while just 13 percent oppose the legislation. Meanwhile, 56 percent of those polled would be more likely to vote for their congressional representative if they supported the measure.
Surgeon General Calls for Social Media Warning Labels to Protect Teens | The Epoch Times
CHILDREN JEAN TWENGE How has mental health changed across demographic groups since 2010? If social media is uniquely beneficial to adolescents in marginalized communities, we might expect to see their rates of anxiety and depression increase less than those of other groups. But we don’t.
CHILDREN: New York Governor Signs Bill Restricting Social Media Algorithms for Minors The first-in-the-nation laws are expected to face legal challenges from the tech industry https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/new-york-governor-signs-bill-restricting-social-media-algorithms-for-minors-5672411
DIGITAL SKILLS INDUSTRY ITALY: Evaluating digital skills policies: Assessing the potential impact of outreach programs in Italy Outreach is not a panacea for all woes. Our research has shown that the local activism of certain types of organizations over the years has been associated with improving citizens' digital skills. However, it is unrealistic to think that this type of initiative can be left with the task of closing the gap in basic digital skills between countries or within a country. [] the data show a significant correlation between increases in digital skills and access to the internet, employment, educational attainment, density of social relationships (in terms of population density, household composition, and social participation), and religious culture. [] From a policy perspective, our study indicates that outreach initiatives can create fertile ground and establish links between purely digital goals and the social sphere of individuals. Above all, they may buy time to structure more complex actions. However, they do not display the potential to affect the structural dynamics that impact people's lack of skills. To do this, school reforms are the uttermost priority: [] can reduce the job mismatch and help marginalized communities reap the benefits of technological progress https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596124001083
DOOMSCROLLING: I'm a Psychologist—Doomscrolling Has a Devastating Impact (msn.com) via Newsweek
EMF: Grounding, Objectionable Current [250.6, 2020 NEC]250.6 Grounding, Objectionable Current – https://www.MikeHolt.com/bonding. What is “objectionable current”? What are it’s causes, can it be prevented and if so, how? In this video we discuss why objectionable current is a dangerous condition and the NEC requirements that serve to mitigate its causes. This video is extracted from Mike Holt's 2020 Bonding and Grounding Textbook and DVD program, for more information visit https://www.MikeHolt.com/bonding or call 888.632.2633. For almost 50 years, Mike Holt Enterprises has been providing quality electrical Code training to help electrical professionals learn the Code, prepare for exams, and improve their electrical knowledge. Visit https://www.MikeHolt.com VIDEO HERE 18 MINUTES Courtesy Paul
ENERGY ENVIRONMENT: Carbon Markets, Geoengineering and Other False Solutions Tamra Gilbertson, Indigenous Environmental Network, and Coraina de la Plaza, Hands Off Mother Earth Alliance, Geoengineering Monitor “Outside the UNFCCC negotiating rooms, we are already witnessing how carbon markets are acting as a magnet for other false climate solutions like geoengineering, which refers to large-scale technological interventions to manipulate the Earth’s oceans, land and atmosphere, to “fix” the climate. Read about the proliferation open-ocean geoengineering experiments and more in this eye opening article https://organicconsumers.org/carbon-markets-geoengineering-and-other-false-solutions-whats-at-stake-at-the-current-climate-talks/
5G CANADA: Strain on 5G networks leaving consumers less satisfied over time, researcher says 5G network strain is leaving consumers less satisfied over time: researcher | CTV News
5G: No end in sight for 5G spectrum squabbling A fight in Washington, DC, over the future of US spectrum management is paralyzing movement on the topic in 5G. As a result, players in the wireless industry may look elsewhere for spectrum.[] According to Levin, that stalemate between Democrats and Republicans appears poised to scuttle movement on 5G spectrum until potentially after the November presidential elections. [] The issue is critical for 5G network operators hoping for more spectrum that would add speed and capacity to their smartphone and fixed wireless offerings. It's also important to a broad ecosystem of 5G vendors hoping to supply the equipment necessary to put new spectrum into use. [] But there are still other sources of spectrum No end in sight for 5G spectrum squabbling (lightreading.com)
HEALTH: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as an Advanced Biomarker is Affected by EMFs Our body's heart rate variability is extremely sensitive, and can pick up subtle changes in the environment that are often imperceptible to our senses. There are quite a few studies on the effects of commonly encountered types of electromagnetic fields on heart rate variability in humans and animals. Almost all the studies we have seen show statistically significant changes in heart rate variability, but interestingly, the results seem mixed: some studies show a decrease in HRV, and some actually show an increase. Why isn't it just one or the other? This is very likely due to the complex adaptive mechanisms of the body, and the short term exposure durations of these studies (of the studies that state the duration of exposure, it was only between 15 and 150 minutes). Due to hormetic effects (hormesis is explained earlier in this article), acute exposure may have a different effect than chronic exposure to the same stimulus, and sometimes even the opposite effect, especially on a complex biomarker like heart rate variability. If the body has enough internal resources available, the stressor may cause increased heart rate variation as the body attempts to adapt in the initial stages of exposure. If the stressor is continued for a longer period of time, the body's resources may become exhausted, and the initial HRV increase will lead to an eventual decrease. We would like to see longer term studies on the effects of EMFs on heart rate variability (days, weeks or months), to see how the stats change over time. All that said, the big takeaway from even these short term duration exposure studies is that the body immediately responded to this invisible, imperceptible stimulus. If EMF levels from modern devices were too low to affect biology, as claimed by the telecom industry, there would be no effect at all, one way or the other! The current body of science on EMFs and HRV is very similar to the neurocognitive studies that we detailed in this article, where the body's complex adaptive responses sometimes demonstrated a stimulation response, and at other times an inhibitory response, but whenever the duration of exposure was continued, the biological systems tested would eventually lose resilience and show negative effects from EMF exposure. Heart Rate Variability HRV as an Advanced Biomarker is Affected by (greenmedinfo.com)
HEALING: Healing Is Voltage - Conversation With Dr. Jerry Tennant, MD, MD(H), PSc.D - Truth, Science and Spirit, Ep 24 (substack.com) Dr Tennant explains how the polarity flip of cellular voltage causes blood changes, chronic fatigue and all diseases of aging, the very premise that I have worked to explain to people. He discusses how to use the biomodulator to reset the autonomic nervous system and the scalar wave biotransducer to flip the polarity of the cellular batteries so they can hold a charge. He also discusses Bohr effect which is the relationship between oxygen transport and pH – and the inability to give of oxygen to the tissues even if the pulse oximeter shows normal oxygen levels. This is how doctors misunderstand physiology and miss the main cause for chronic fatigue and illness! You do not want to miss this conversation. HERE 1 hour 12 minutes (this includes mention of other health controversies and products are mentioned, but a fascinating discussion of voltage, PH, scalar, etc. )
HEALTH HOUSING W/ KEITH CUTTER: Don't Paint Your Bedroom with Shielding Paint Until You've Carefully Considered the Ramifications
INSPIRATION THE POWER COUPLE: What Viking lore can teach us about our future Kaedrich Olsen - How we can transcend transhumanism and live with Spirit How our ancestors didn’t fear, but embraced a spiritual life, How did we become less connected to the natural world? What did Norse lore say about hell? Why do we fear the unknown? The best thing we can do when a loved one passes. HERE
LOCAL FUTURES: Closer to Home features leading localization voices from across the world, including Bayo Akomolafe, Rupert Read, Rutendo Ngara, Iain McGilchrist, Vandana Shiva and many more. 34 Minutes HERE
OUTAGES 911 Outage Shows System’s Perils The abrupt failure of Massachusetts’ 911 system on June 18 was a stark example of the disastrous consequences that can occur when an emergency network that is supposed to be reliable is, without warning, suddenly unreliable. The outage, lasting two hours, prompted a scramble among emergency agencies as they directed the public to reach out directly to the local authorities at less-familiar phone numbers or, as a last resort, go in person to their local firehouse. The Massachusetts State 911 Department said that while operators did not receive calls during the outage, they were able to see the numbers of people who had tried to reach 911 and were able to call them back. The failure was caused by a firewall that was supposed to help prevent cyberattacks but instead blocked calls from getting through. The state is reviewing why the firewall activated, but said the interruption was not caused by any cyberattack. https://www.benton.org/headlines/911-outage-shows-system%E2%80%99s-perils
OUTAGES INDUSTRY: ISPs Should Report Only Hard Outages, Industry Says ISPs say limiting outage reports to hard downs ‘would ensure that the definition of a reportable outage is straightforward, consistent, and meaningful.’ ISPs have accepted the need to report network service interruptions, but they want to limit reporting mainly to hard network failures, measured by total time elapsed and customers affected in combined user minutes. ISPs Should Report Only Hard Outages, Industry Says (broadbandbreakfast.com)
OUTAGES/CYBER ATTACK: Car dealers across US are crippled by a second cyberattack https://techxplore.com/news/2024-06-car-dealers-crippled-cyberattack.html
RESEARCH: James Lin, IEEE: Follow-Up Research on NTP's Clear Evidence on RF Causing Malignant Tumors in Rats (IEEE Microwave Magazine: Health Matters) Unfortunately, whether the U.S. civilian government halts doing the important research on mechanistic causes for cancer from low-level chronic exposure to RF radiation or not, nearly 100% of all Americans are being cast as subjects in a massive health experiment without a formal protocol. Furthermore, billions of people worldwide, including the young and older adults, are being exposed to unnecessary levels of human-made wireless RF radiation. The obvious question is, what happened? Should we all forget about NTP's findings of clear scientific evidence that lifelong exposure to low-level RF radiation causes cancer from a federal government health agency that prides itself in telling the nation that its product is "science you can depend on for decisions that matter"? https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10523054 Courtesy Nina
SECURITY: Nine Takeaways From Our Investigation Into Microsoft’s Cybersecurity Failures What you need to know about how a whistleblower repeatedly tried to get the software giant to fix a security flaw that left millions of Microsoft users exposed. https://www.propublica.org/article/microsoft-solarwinds-what-you-need-to-know-cybersecurity
SMART METERS: State intervenes as DTE tries to change how some customers get refunds for outages DTE wants customers without smart meters to be responsible for reporting outages https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2024/06/19/state-intervenes-as-dte-tries-to-change-how-some-customers-get-refunds-for-outages/
SMART METERS: Electromagnetic Interference on Static Electricity Meters Electromagnetic Interference on Static Electricity Meters (euramet.org) Comment from Bruno W: “Turns out many brands of smart meters overbill on nonlinear loads. In Europe that's now been issued as a report from the agency that includes all the national metrology institutes as members. In the US, there's been no testing beyond the very minimal ANSI tests, which, based on the European findings, seem very inadequate and dated (the initial reports in Europe were 2016 I think). Here's the site where you can read the final report. It's a lot more interesting than the summary. HERE See also: ESTIMATION OF STATIC ENERGY METER INTERFERENCE IN WAVEFORMS OBTAINED IN ON-SITE SCENARIOS 2021 IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility ansd WAVEFORM MODEL TO CHARACTERIZE TIME-DOMAIN PULSES RESULTING IN EMI ON STATIC ENERGY METERS 2021 IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility and UNFAIRLY FAULTY ENERGY METER READING DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THE BLONDEL THEOREM at link 2020 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility - EMC EUROPE at link
SMART METERS Australia Get ready for the spin on smart meters Stop Smart Meters Australia Accumulation meters have a long lifespan, whereas smart meters need to be replaced over time. Smart meters also depend on sophisticated technology, requiring communication networks, data storage, software applications and technical expertise. Research released by The Australia Institute in 2019 showed that “time of use pricing” facilitated by smart meters drives up household energy costs. Electricity companies and regulators push for higher electricity prices at peak times, as well as higher “shoulder” periods. In theory, this encourages people to move their energy consumption to times of the day when it is cheaper for utilities to provide it. The Australia Institute concluded that many households have now exhausted their capacity to cut electricity consumption or change their time of electricity use. In reality, electricity companies are using electricity demand peaks to push for higher consumer prices to increase their profits. Get ready for the spin on smart meters | Stop Smart Meters Australia Information of the Australia Institute 2019 research can be found here
SMART METERS: State Ignored ‘Hundreds’ of Public Comments Alleging Smart Meters Harm Health, Group Says New Mexico regulators should consider public comments before deciding whether to allow smart meters in the state, according to a legal brief filed by New Mexicans for Utility Safety. https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/new-mexico-smart-meters-utility-safety/
SPACE/WARFARE: Wales (UK) opposition to U.S. space warfare radar The radar called DARC would help the US and UK monitor, track and attack satellites in space used by China and Russia. Currently the UK Air Force is practicing flying high into space where during time of war they could launch anti-satellite (ASAT) missiles from the planes to knock out 'enemy' satellites. Local residents in Pembrokeshire are currently organizing to stop the planned facility with 27 radars. The US DARC program would also have similar radars in Texas and Australia giving the Space Force the capability to monitor all the skies above our Mother Earth. You can reach Pembrokeshire Against the Radar on Fazebook at https://www.facebook.com/parcagainstdarc The PARC Against DARC website is here 30 minute podcast HERE
WARFARE; CHEAP AND LETHAL: THE PENTAGON’S PLAN FOR THE NEXT DRONE WAR UAVs continually kill civilians, but the U.S. military wants to expand its arsenal with an army of new, mass-produced kamikaze AI drones. https://theintercept.com/2024/06/17/pentagon-ai-kamikaze-cheap-drones-replicator/
QUICK ACTION ITEM:
More WIRED Broadband, Less Dangerous WIRELESS Action item to send to your politicians today from Natl Health Federation and Natl Call for Safe Technology Click Here: More WIRED Broadband, Less Dangerous WIRELESS (civiclick.com)
EVENTS
6/24 World EHS Day Symposium HERE
6/26 EVENTS Havana Syndrome -- an IEEE Perspective Webinar Havana Syndrome refers to a series of unexplained health incidents experienced by U.S. and Canadian diplomats, intelligence officers, and their families, initially reported in Havana, Cuba, in late 2016. The cause of these incidents remains unclear, with speculation ranging from directed-energy attacks to environmental factors or psychological triggers. In April 2024, 60 Minutes aired a segment on Havana Syndrome, and the Wall Street Journal followed this with two articles, these in turn led to a flurry of comments and speculations from journalists, podcasters, and other media. This month's webinar will feature members of the IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety and the IEEE Committee on Man and Radiation, discussing the engineering basis for getting to the bottom of this ongoing mystery. Hosted by IEEE Future Networks INGR Deployment Chair David Witkowski https:// guests will be Dr. Jerrold Bushberg and Kenneth Foster. Date & Time: Jun 26, 2024 08:00 AM EDT Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oGWcHCqnRsSW-XEf_R6zxA#/registration No cost
9/25 On Wednesday, September 25 at 11am PT/2pm ET we will host Dr. Joel Moskowitz for a discussion about Health Hazards of Wireless Technologies: What do we know now? Wireless technologies have become ubiquitous in our lives, yet there is evidence of adverse health effects from the radiofrequency radiation used and generated by these devices. Dr. Moskowitz will provide a brief overview of recent studies on health hazards of wireless technologies, including the state of the evidence on links to children's brain cancers, thyroid cancers, and other health hazards. RSVP here CHE newsletter HERE
Correction: In the June 20 news announcement about the NC podcast. Joe Sandri was inaccurately identified as Joel Sandri.
From France - why we do what we do
First paragraph: desired :-)