Good morning,
A potpourri today…
BACK PAIN
Stenosis is no fun. I’m glad it’s in the rear view mirror. My back surgery was a success. That said, there were periodic backslides. I enlisted the skills of a chiropractor to get past that. I previously was not a believer in chiropractors but now I am. It recalls this Dad Joke:
“I didn’t believe in my chiropractor, but now I stand corrected…”
IT’S OKAY TO BE A GENTLEMAN
I know we live in a world where men and women are supposed to be equal. I’m in favor of that—equal rights, equal opportunity, equal pay. That said, I still believe that men are men and women are women. There is a difference. Why, for instance, do some people born one way “feel” that they are in the wrong body? I don’t think it’s all about genitalia.
In any event, I am perfectly happy with the constructs of society that encourage us to behave in certain ways, be it in ways we dress, the ways in which we court, and the ways in which we behave within certain expected “norms.” I think it is fine to treat a woman like a lady and it is fine to act like a gentleman. I’m still going to hold open doors.
MORE DAD JOKES
Maybe dogs bring back balls not because they love to play “fetch,” but because they think we like throwing them and just don’t want to disappoint…
100 years ago everyone had horses and only the rich had cars. Now everyone owns cars and only the rich own horses.
A storm blew off 25% of my roof last night. “Oof”
I asked a friend what it’s like to live in China. He said, “I can’t complain.”
On new year’s eve I look forward to a good show at Times Square. But year after year they drop the ball.
THE HUMAN FACTOR MAY NOT YET BE DEAD
I have been musing about artificial intelligence for a while now. Its implications for privacy, journalism, education, medicine, politics, the arts, the truth, and myriad other issues are significant and still not fully comprehended. Here are some level-headed observations about this complex technology as it applies to communications, the knowledge sector, and marketing. They are excerpted from an article co-authored by my friend, Ron Cappello, entitled, “Sell Soul, Not stuff; The Human Factor in the Age of AI”:
“Depending on who you talk to, this is excellent news or the end of the world as we know it. My guess is that, like most new innovations and advances, the reality will fall somewhere in between, with AI having a distinct impact on different industries and the people they employ.
One thing for sure is that AI will change how work gets done. Expectations will be high because there will be an assumption that work can get done quicker and that decisions will be based on a broader and deeper set of inputs and information…This is especially true in the knowledge sectors of the economy. Whether it's healthcare providers or professional service firms, things will change and change quickly. Take, for example, brand consulting. What will happen to the way we build brands and influence purchasing decisions?
I believe the Human Factor will become elevated in the age of AI. Here’s why:
-Humans can navigate complex situations: AI can’t.
-Humans can plan: AI can’t.
-Humans can leverage common sense acquired through experience: AI can’t.
-Humans can harness the power of emotion. AI can’t…
Will AI make marketing and selling more complex? Perhaps, but in the end, it will make the process better because the value equation will be balanced between buyer and seller. The sellers will be more in-tune with buyers' wants, resulting in more satisfied clients…”
Have a great day,
Glenn
Glenn,
I always enjoy your immensely thoughtful, gracious, informed, kind, intelligent musings. I too am glad to hear that your back surgery was thankfully a success. It is true that these sorts of problems do require ongoing maintenance/upkeep post surgery/treatment. It's a combination of doing all those things to maintain the achieved improvement. I empathize, as I suffer from cervical spinal stenosis, and spend a good part of my time in treatment via physical therapy as well as an alternative, non-invasive therapy involving high dose laser (FDA cleared) that is suppose to reduce inflammation. I'm not so sure that has proven effective. Yet. Unfortunately, my problem is due to arthritis, inevitable with aging. I guess better a stiff neck than a red neck?
It definitely sucks to be in chronic pain.
Your jokes are endearingly corny and square. Refreshing in a time where irony and sarcasm rule.
All the best.
I am glad you are feeling better. Back pain affects practically everything in your life.
Thanks for the chuckles- some will be appearing on upcoming episodes of Scottails!