The trend which has been encouraged and used so frequently during television network news," breaking news" is becoming rather useless and actually it's becoming annoying. It really doesn't have anything to do with whether the news is actually breaking but more about keeping people glued to the TV set so that they can watch more commercials and please the marketing people. A good example is the caravan that is traveling from South America to the United States border. Each night when they stop to rest and sleep it becomes breaking news. Well surprise surprise that isn't breaking news!
Unfortunately when we become exposed to the same term that begins to lose its meaning we tend to ignore it. Even though it may really be breaking news we fail to respond appropriately. Some newscasts have now begun to morph the term into "developing news" in order to accomplish the same end but without the redundancy. There was a time during news broadcasts that they would actually interrupt the current program to bring real "breaking news". When that happened you actually realized that there were events that were breaking that were really significant and important to know at the time.
My best guess at the current moment is that the term will continue to be used indiscriminately and simply continue to confuse people about what to expect. At some point in time we will ignore the term completely and change channels to where more breaking news occurs. Meanwhile, I have to get back to the television because I noticed that there was just a breaking news summary and I can't possibly miss it and the commercials that will accompany it.
 

We are all familiar with the standard license plate for cars as it is a simple metal plate that fits all cars and is fairly easy to upgrade each year with online State services. It has been the standard for years and is the most simple of all things related to motor vehicles. But, that is changing and like all new cars, it is a digital mess that frequently cannot be repaired by the home mechanic. Welcome to the world of the digital license plate!
Although it is the a bit heavier it will fit the standard bolt configuration but that is where the similarity ends. The new plate can display messages, and locate stolen vehicles. Wait! If it can know its location it will know where you are, how fast your going, and probably your motor vehicle history. No privacy issues here!
There are 100,000 being released in California and it is legal in California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona, and the company expects Pennsylvania, Nevada, Maryland, and Washington next. At this point it is an option but we all know that it will eventually be mandated. I have not yet seen the technical details but GPS is an option and it has a battery which means that it is sending data.
The cost is also interesting. $599.00 and an 8 dollar a month subscription fee. It makes it easier for the MV department but bad for the driver. Another dubious trend. There is a link for the manufacturer here. The hackers with the black hats will love this technology!
 
 

The use of digital assistants has continued to expand over the past few years with better algorithms and increased databases.  Whether it is Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and Microsoft Cortana or a device that is generally called part of the Internet of Things, (IoT), they are fairly simple in their ability to provide information that could be considered artificial intelligence or a neural network. They are learning preferences but of course they are gathering data as well. That is called marketing!
In 2012 I posted my own experience with a digital assistant that I had already used for about 5 years. Here. It was capable of communicating with the user but was frequently parroting what was said or typed in the text box. But, it was clever and could remember dates, phone numbers, and send reminders for appointments. There is an update for that system and a link there will get to that assistant.
But none of the current home devices can be considered "smart" in the sense that they could pass the Turing test and react like another human. But the reality that this is the direction and trend going forward. The goal as I see it is for these devices to have context and empathy as part of their function. When they can parse out the meaning of comments then we can call them smart. Until then, they will turn on lights, thermostats, and order your favorite shampoo! And, of course, gather data and be prone to security problems!
 
 

Many comedians have used current news as fodder for satire and entertainment but there is a new trend that is a blend of satire and some news opinion that sounds like news. A good example was the Daily show with Jon Stewart. Most viewers recognized the content as either satire or opinion but many others thought that it was a source of real news. But, the trend seems to be spreading to other popular late night shows as well.
If you watch either the Late Show with Steven Colbert or the    Jimmy Kimmel show live or on YouTube it may sound like a recap of the day's news. But, it is comedy, and satire; not news! It is becoming much more difficult to get accurate and non-skewed information as demonstrated by the number of people who get their news from social media like Facebook and Twitter. The algorithms that they use are designed to place the most watched items at the top of feeds. Even Google has the same problem and the highest ranked stories may  be inaccurate.
So how do we get good information? It depends on what we want. If we don't drill down to find accuracy we are left with members of congress not answering questions and talking in circles to talk shows that are highly partisan. The 24 hour news cycle has forced "journalists" to push news out before it is completely vetted. The sad reality is that we as a technologically advanced nation are struggling to find out what is really happening.
 

This post is not necessarily a trend but more likely a possibility based on an observation about a particular trend that I've been watching over a long period of time. I think at this time everybody is aware that Amazon has become the online leader for purchasing goods and services for many people. In fact, many of the brick-and-mortar stores that have gone to online services are having a difficult time keeping up with the vast number of materials and services that Amazon provides. However there remains one big problem in providing those materials and services to the owners who have ordered from Amazon.
We have all seen the many UPS trucks, FedEx trucks, DSL trucks, and others delivering packages to either us or a neighbor. These delivery trucks are certainly ubiquitous and have become a part of the scenery as we go through our day. Certainly even thieves, know the comings and goings of all these trucks and try to intercept and steal these packages. But my question in this post entry is whether or not is likely that we will ever see an Amazon truck replacing UPS or any of the other delivery services? And although it seems like a very heavy lift to me, it is possible that Amazon's widening tentacles are in a position to make this move over some period of time. The reason I referred to this as a heavy lift is simply that UPS and many others not only have trucks but they have airplanes, cars, trains, and other conveyances to move materials across the United States and indeed the world. So for Amazon to start from scratch would be difficult but certainly not impossible. A big part of their problem right now is the cost of shipping using these other carriers and even with prime they are running very close to the margins on profit.
 
In the past few years it has been stated that Amazon would like to use a multi-copter in order to deliver materials to customers.(Please don't call these drones). But even this method of delivery seems like a long shot at the very best and not readily possible at the worst. Quite incidentally, Amazon received a US patent to use small parachutes to drop products from multi-copters. US 9,663,234.
 
One thing to consider is that UPS has had since the 1920s the ability to deliver items by truck. They have had a remarkable amount of time to build up the infrastructure to supply the nation with a reasonably rapid delivery system. And the key to this, is in the distribution centers. But here is the caveat that has me interested: Amazon has been building distribution centers around the country and they are stocked with all of their products! That is a powerful incentive to deliver by the use of Amazon trucks. They already use Amazon flex that delivers time-sensitive products by private drivers.
This post may suggest that I am ahead of the curve or terribly wrong so if you see an Amazon truck please let me know. I really don't want to be terribly wrong!
 
 

The meaning of the word ambulance has its origins as far back as the 1400's when carts were used to move both sick and injured from battle fields. Today, we have several classes of ambulances to select from for our medical needs. The first is the traditional vehicle with the somewhat mobile hospital that is staffed with paramedics and EMT's (emergency medical technicians). These are rapid response vehicles with the appropriate lights and sirens. These ambulances are sometimes used to transport patients with non-threatening illnesses but are primarily rescue vehicles. Second is the Care Ambulance which is simply designed to transport patients on a non-emergency basis. Third is the air ambulance that is used in critical care transport in either difficult to access areas and serious life-threatening situations.
But, more and more people are calling a Uber vehicle as opposed to the traditional ambulance. Why? The cost of a regular professionally staffed ambulance is expensive. We can't expect to receive a fully staffed ambulance for $25  dollars . Second is the response time particularly in bigger cities. The average response time in New York is 9 to 15 minutes. An Uber car can be there in 3 to 4 minutes. The key question is what is the medical emergency? If it is serious and requires a life saving procedure the Uber is the last call to make. Do you want an Uber driver doing CPR in the back seat of a car? Of course not!
There are however times when an Uber car is appropriate. Consider the fact that you may have a well-controlled injury or just not feeling well. You would call a friend but none are available and Uber may be a good alternative. But, you better be sure that it is a situation that will not escalate or you may be in trouble.
As a founding member of an ambulance service and having served as a volunteer for ten years, I know how difficult is to train, educate, and maintain certification as an EMT. If I have a serious concern that last call I would make is to an Uber vehicle.
As a small piece of trivia it is often asked why the word ambulance is printed as an inversion on the front of an ambulance so that it can be seen is the rear-view mirror. It has absolutely no relevance and if you can't see the flashing lights and hear the sirens, you certainly can't read 'Ambulance" in your mirror!

The use of lithium ion batteries has become ubiquitous as the portable power of phones, tablets, hover boards, and even multi-rotors, (incorrectly called  drones). But, the convenience and increased run time due to better energy density has caused severe problems in the form of fires that have injured and even been responsible for death. Additionally, a piece of very expensive equipment such as a phone or tablet is destroyed.
There are several reasons for the catastrophic failure of these batteries, but the two most prevalent causes are a failure of the charging control circuit malfunctioning, and metal flakes shorting out between the anode (positive terminal), and the cathode, (negative terminal). Between the two terminals is the electrolyte which allows the ions to travel as the medium for power release that has been stored from the charging cycle. The electrolyte used in lithium batteries is flammable and the lithium is highly flammable in the presence of water. The space between the anode and cathode is very small making short circuits more likely. But, there are processes underway to make the electrolyte self extinguishing, and reducing the potential for damage.
Researchers at Stanford University have successfully encapsulated a flame retardant in a polymer called Polyvinylidene Fluoride,  sometimes called the difluoride. The encapsulated flame retardant is triphenyl phosphate, a well known fire retardant. The polymer is close to what we know as Saran Wrap tm (Polyvinylidene chloride). The concept is extremely simple; as the polymer melts at 160 Celsius it releases the triphenyl phosphate when over-heating occurs extinguishing the fire. Incidentally, the technology  extents to lithium polymer as well. The polymer is just the soft outer container with the lithium ion technology. The cover photo is a scanning electron microscope image showing the encapsulated TPP. Credit: Liu et al. Sci. Adv. 2017;3:e1601978 (Science Advances).
So, the trend is clear; safer batteries are possible and the technology that fostered the lithium ion battery also can be used to solve the problem of runaway fires...
 
 

We have had news stories that have been wrong or dangerous and they came along much earlier than our current social media outlets. Whether they were simply hoaxes, urban myths, or rumor, we, as human animals seem to participate in either sensational stories or those with spurious origins. And, unfortunately many are simply lies and gross exaggerations or generated by those with an agenda to spread. The one that always remains in my memory is about the woman who put her cat in the microwave oven to dry him off. And when the time was up, the cat was dry but quite dead! And although plausible, it is not a really easy story to believe.
The verbal rumor was probably around when collective man originated. And, the written falsehoods possibly became part of the written word shortly after Gutenberg invented moveable type. But now we are in an entirely different time and social media allows not only immediate dissemination of information, but is also global in its reach. And, it is just as likely as not to be either completely wrong or dangerous.
The most recent shooting at the pizzeria in the Washington Post was based on a Twitter story alleging that Hillary Clinton was involved in a sex-slave plot and could have been deadly. An excerpt from the Post:
"Family and friends said they are struggling to understand how Welch apparently became so fixated on a fake news story that he drove from North Carolina with a Colt long rifle, a .38-caliber revolver and a shotgun, determined to take action. The viral Internet tale, which emerged shortly before the presidential election, falsely linked Hillary Clinton, her campaign chairman and the owner of Comet [The Pizza Shop] to the alleged sex-slave conspiracy".
Clearly, anyone has the right to propagate whatever opinion and fact that they have in a democratic society. And, the First Amendment prohibits me from disallowing this freedom. But, many of those who post damaging and harmful content have to be aware that with that right comes responsibility.
Not only the person who writes some story designed to either disrupt or cause danger needs to be held to some reasonable account of their actions, but those who spread the fake news are also responsible. And lest you think that these tweets or Face book "news" stories and re-tweets come from some disillusioned conspiracy theorist sitting in the safety of an anonymous existence consider the fact that Trumps nominee for National Security Advisor, General Michael Flynn, re-tweeted the false story about Hillary Clinton. From Fortune:
"On Twitter in particular, Flynn has not been shy about holding forth about Muslims, terrorism, and Hillary Clinton. And in several cases he has shared fake news stories about those subjects".
So, the trends are clear enough. Fake news is everywhere and it travels at the speed of the internet. The only answer that I can offer is that it is imperative that we research any story written anywhere before believing that it is real. Since it is difficult to find the sources of these stories it is apparently alright to yell fire in a crowded theater even when there is no fire. Unfortunately, if we don't verify and re-tweet a bogus story, somebody may get trampled to death...
 
 

It seems as if every Christmas holiday season there is a new gadget or toy that is a “must have” item. But frequently they are sold out before you know that you really need one. But kids know about the trends and they will want one at any price. In the past it has been Cabbage Patch Kids, Furby, Tickle me Elmo, or Pet Rocks! Of course, they are fads (For A Day) and the toy will soon be relegated to the past.
This year it appears to be Hatchimals being sold by Spin Master and they are already in short supply or not available at all. Spin Master has had success with other toys that are essentially electronic in nature like Furby was. Their website has an in stock link and most retailers are showing “out of stock”! Of course you can find them on Ebay at many times the retail price as somehow these retailers saw the trend first.
So what is a Hatchimal? Basically it is an electronic animal much like a Furby with some differences. It arrives for the child, (I am assuming it is for a child), as an egg. The egg has glowing eyes and the heartbeat (speaker) can be heard through the egg. It ultimately hatches and then the fun ensues! One of two types of creature emerges and can learn and speak. It has an accelerometer that tells when the child has picked the hatchling up. The toy has stages and is born, become a toddler, and learns and plays games.
This toy is actually fairly sophisticated and contains some interesting features. It has a retail price of about $60.00 but a quick look on Ebay has them for between $150.00 and several hundred dollars! Talk about disposable income!
There is a complete video on YouTube here. I will wait for two years and pick one up at a thrift shop for $5.00 to hack it for parts…

The most recent rumor spurred by social media seems to be combining implausibility and fear. And, this is not to suggest that rumors are new to the social media network, but that they are travelling faster and there is very little tracking as to the truth or rumor of an event.
Clowns carrying a knife, gun, or some other dangerous weapon are appearing in so many places that police can’t keep up with the reports. And so far there have been no actual clowns with evil intentions; yet! But what happens when someone gets the idea to capitalize on the hype and really carry out a tragic act. Will the warning be considered just part of the rumor mill and be disregarded? Or will it escalate like spoofing and swatting?
It requires a fair amount of resources to follow up on a complaint, particularly at a college or university. The schools own intranet can only send a threat message once it has been verified and that takes valuable time. And that happens as we approach Halloween?
We are living in a time where fear is being used as a weapon against us by unseen enemies. It is a time when we should be attempting to tamp down rumors and innuendo. But we are failing to be responsible and use reason to increase our sense of safety. Instead, we are doing this to ourselves! It is very similar to the hate messages that are always more “entertaining” than those comments that are positive. But when did we become fixated on hate as entertainment?
If there is a trend that I worry most about it is the fact that we are losing civility and becoming more course in our collective dialog. And, we are doing it at warp speed. When I watch our political discourse I often wonder if the people running for office are generating the negative rhetoric or simply reflecting what they observe. It would be great if everyone took some time to think about what they read on Twitter or Facebook and did their own fact checking instead of instantly starting to respond…