Podcast 221

The Negative View of Technology. It seems as though the pessimistic view of the world takes precedence these days, especially when it comes to technology and the future. Autonomous machines, robotics, driverless cars, the Internet, smaller (and larger) personal devices are portrayed as the villain. What happened to the formerly optimistic view of the future as portrayed in ‘Star Trek’, the original TV Series? The Hollywood Lens of tech today makes ‘Blade Runner’ look like a romantic comedy! On a beautiful fall afternoon, The Bob Davis Podcasts escapes the bunker for coffee at a ‘joint’ full of hipsters, working on their wireless devices, and portable computers. As technology frees some, apparently it imprisons others. Or so some commentators would have us believe. Do we view the present, and future, too darkly? With technology on most factory floors of the late 90’s vintage, advancements in technology associated with data storage, energy, materials, 3D printing and the like, there’s plenty of room for growth just doing upgrades! It’s time for an optimistic view of what we can do with science, and technology to produce a better country and a better world. What kind of political system, economic policy and foreign policy do we need to unlock and promote innovation and economic growth, while maintaining security. How are we pushing toward the future, while some parts of the world push toward the past? Why do commentators and reporters have a tendency to take something terrible happening in one small part of the world, and turn it into a crisis everywhere? How can we change our thinking about tech and the future? Finally, when will we develop an intuitive and ‘smart’ ATM? One that won’t charge us 4 dollars to get a hundred? Sponsored by Baklund R&D

Podcast 198

News Cleanse Days 3 & 4. What happens when a news junkie quits cold turkey? No news. No Cable. No Talk Radio. No Newspapers, No Internet News. No Political Conversations. And by the way, the News Cleanse also includes TV Weathercasters. Continuing to get questions about whether I will talk about politics (yes) and ‘sociology’ (yes). “Is this forever?” (no). Late night, in the backyard of the bunker, as the neighbors sit around their bonfire, the last few planes on final approach at MSP, and lots of thoughts about the last two days without filling them up with news scanning, printing and reading. Without the anxiety and angst. Without the screaming and shouting. Spending time touring manufacturing companies, hanging with friends, and finding everyday Americans being quite creative. Which is better? Suburbia, exurbia, or the City. Saving money by shopping volume. How to blanch vegetables. A salmon recipe of sorts, discussion about Talk Radio, Media, and the future of media, including Podcasting. Getting some great email and questions about the News Cleanse, and seeing some great comments on the comments section at The Bob Davis Podcasts, and finding out many people listen to the podcasts right on the page. Suburban manufacturing warehouse availability and a tease on some new developments coming for the Bob Davis Podcasts. Sponsored by Autonomouscad.com

Podcast 197

News Cleanse Day 2. The News Cycle Is Not Your Friend. What IS a ‘News Cleanse’. Why do a ‘News Cleanse’. No news reading or watching. No political discussions. No peeking. Continue podcasting through the cleanse. Great emails and comments already from listeners to The Bob Davis Podcasts. Does this mean no politics or social commentary during the cleanse? Does this mean Bob Davis is losing interest in what is happening politically and socially in the world and in the United States? The answer is emphatically no. Political and social commentary through the week is a go! But, does the news cycle serve anyone? The big outlets, CNN, and Fox and of course all the networks, and web sites like Drudge, Huffington, Buzz Feed, Infowars, The Blaze, the heritage mainstream media like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the political websites like Politico, World Net Daily, Newsmax, and many more are designed to elicit an emotional response, and drive people into camps. It’s not news anymore. It’s sports. And what are people talking about out there around their bonfires in places like Maple Grove, Des Moines, and the suburbs of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit? Not the daily news cycle and the screaming, yelling, pounding, pontificating, punditating and general gas bagging. One man’s journey through news addiction treatment. Sponsored by Baklund R&D.