News Media: The Fourth Estate, The Printing Press, The Display Screen ... > "Info. War" ? Centralized Control Of The Messages

[Rigby5]

Yes, BUT !
That's different.
These "free" Internet services are not free.
Reports indicate Google operated $Millions in the $red, before it refined its advertising revenue model, thereby reportedly becoming the wealthiest entity on Earth.

This is not new.
"Free" TV has been supported by commercial sponsors not just for years, or decades, but human generations.
And while America's love / hate relationship with advertising persists, we seem to have arrived at a queasy stalemate.
TV commercials provide real-time viewers (those that don't use a DVR) the invaluable pee-break.

And while the glass half-empty crowd can whine bitterly, customized, individually targeted advertising can be a valuable service.
Sexual dimorphism though it may well be, I'm a guy, & I'm no fan of shopping.
It would be a deeply appreciated blessing to me if instead of me having to do many hours of tedious market research,
to be notified by the best producers of the product or service I seek / need.

We're not there yet.
More often than not I'm deluged with ads for such products, after I've done the research, and made the purchase.


The Bork case cited in post #78 is different.
A few years ago a similar controversy, about librarians disclosing the reading preferences of some individuals.
The reports I read of it indicated the librarians heroically refused.

See the difference?


I think renewable energy is a dandy idea, whether PV, or wind or hydro-turbine.

Geo-thermal, interesting.
I've got some concerns about harnessing ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream, for that risks catastrophic climate consequences if ocean currents are substantially rerouted.

Geothermal is a little scary, because if we could cool the magma enough, it would no longer create the Magnesphere that provides the protection from solar radiation.
Might take millions of years, but Mars is an example of a cool core.

 

[sear]

"Geothermal is a little scary, because if we could cool the magma enough, it would no longer create the Magnesphere that provides the protection from solar radiation." R5 #81

Absolutely, turning Earth's molten magma solid could cause a problem, though the bio-protective magnetosphere may have more to do with Earth's molten Iron core, than the magma mantle.
The source of that melt does not appear to be as much if at all from our sun's electromagnetic radiation, but rather more from our sun's gravitation.

Earth's axis of rotation is not perpendicular to the ecliptic, so Earth's mantle & core are under constant churn.
I'm not sure we'll chill that process substantially, charging our cell-phones.

I believe you're right, on principle.
I suspect the reason it's immaterial is the quantification, the proportion:
the amount of energy potential from the planet,
vs the amount we might actually be able to capture.

An insignificantly small fraction I suspect, EVEN if locally we might chill the local site a little.
Not enough to degrade the magnetosphere.

 

[Rigby5]

Absolutely, turning Earth's molten magma solid could cause a problem, though the bio-protective magnetosphere may have more to do with Earth's molten Iron core, than the magma mantle.
The source of that melt does not appear to be as much if at all from our sun's electromagnetic radiation, but rather more from our sun's gravitation.

Earth's axis of rotation is not perpendicular to the ecliptic, so Earth's mantle & core are under constant churn.
I'm not sure we'll chill that process substantially, charging our cell-phones.

I believe you're right, on principle.
I suspect the reason it's immaterial is the quantification, the proportion:
the amount of energy potential from the planet,
vs the amount we might actually be able to capture.

An insignificantly small fraction I suspect, EVEN if locally we might chill the local site a little.
Not enough to degrade the magnetosphere.

Good points and I really do not know the details.
It could even be that the moon's rotation might add energy and keep the core from ever decaying?

It just seems like a good idea to think long range.
For example, depending on whale oil was not a very good idea.
Then we went to fossil fuel, which may be even worse.
Nuclear may be the best, since that it the power of the stars.
But it is funny how much I liked that movie, "China Syndrome" with Jane Fonda, and now I am a little embarrassed.