Meme Scholar with Madness (PhD)

[EndtheMadnessNow]

Harwell Dekatron 1947-51, later known as the Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computing from Harwell (WITCH) booting up. (Faster than my last windows update) It takes 10 seconds to multiply two numbers.





The machine - developed by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment in Harwell, Berkshire is the world's oldest original working digital computer dating from 1951 can be seen at TNMOC, located on Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, UK.

The story of the WITCH, the world's oldest working digital computer:




Desert Bloom (1986) - The story involves Rose Chismore's youth. She flashes back and remembers her coming-of-age. Her recollections are sometimes less than sweet, particularly those of her troubled and alcoholic stepfather. Her memories of Robin, her first love, are much happier, and she also recalls her colorful Aunt Starr, whose visit is fun, but also detrimental to her family's health. The setting of 1950s Nevada bomb testing is increasingly significant to the development of the story. There was a benefit screening (for KNPR - Nevada Public Radio) of DESERT BLOOM at the Paradise Cinema in Las Vegas on Oct 2, 1986.





Oct 2, 1986, US Naval Institute Books published FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER by Stephen Coonts. Ronald Reagan helped it become a bestseller when Fortune Magazine ran a photograph of the President with a copy of the book on his desk in the Oval Office. Reagan was also a fan of THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER.




Magazine covers from Oct 2, 19xx...




Oct 2, 1988: While sleepwalking, Donnie Darko met a Frank, who told him that the world will end in...




U.K. Awards BAE $5B for New Royal Navy SSN-AUKUS Attack Submarine


Open all the windows... an unseasonal heatwave is about to hit Russia hard...


Newsweek


The Orwellian Canadian gov't, taken over by Stasi, armed with one of the world's most repressive online censorship schemes, announces that all "online streaming services that offer podcasts" must formally register with the gov't to permit regulatory controls:

Quotes

“We are developing a modern broadcasting framework that can adapt to changing circumstances. To do that, we need broad engagement and robust public records. We appreciate the significant participation during this first phase and look forward to hearing a diversity of perspectives at our contributions proceeding in November.”
- Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, CRTC

CRTC takes major step forward to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework


The exponential growth in U.S. wireless data traffic is a glaring testament to our society's insatiable appetite for digital consumption. From a mere 191 billion megabytes in 2009 to a mind-boggling 73.7 trillion in 2022, this surge is not just numbers; it's a narrative of a nation increasingly intertwined, interlinked, and becoming interlocked with the digital realm.

U.S. wireless data traffic in megabytes:

2022: 73.7 trillion
2021: 53.4 trillion
2020: 42.2 trillion
2019: 37.1 trillion
2018: 28.6 trillion
2017: 15.7 trillion
2016: 13.7 trillion
2015: 9.6 trillion
2014: 4.1 trillion
2013: 3.2 trillion
2012: 1.5 trillion
2011: 867 billion
2010: 388 billion
2009: 191 billion

**The Evolution: A Digital Symphony**
In 2009, the digital landscape was still in its infancy, with wireless data traffic at 191 billion megabytes. As we moved into the next decade, a proliferation of smartphones, social media platforms, and streaming services catalyzed a digital revolution. By 2012, traffic had escalated to 1.5 trillion megabytes, highlighting the rapid adoption and integration of digital technology into the everyday lives of Americans.

**The Streaming Era: Bandwidth Bonanza**
2015 marked a pivotal moment, with traffic reaching 9.6 trillion megabytes. The emergence of streaming giants like Netflix and Hulu transformed entertainment, driving an insatiable demand for high-quality content and contributing to the ballooning data traffic.

**IoT and 5G: The Future Unleashed**
Fast forward to 2022, and the landscape is unrecognizable. The advent of 5G technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) has fueled an explosion in wireless data traffic, reaching a mind-boggling 73.7 trillion megabytes. This era is characterized by smart homes, autonomous vehicles, and interconnected devices, painting a picture of a society deeply embedded in the digital fabric.

**A Society Transformed: The Digital Tapestry**
This meteoric rise in data traffic is reflective of a transformative shift in societal behavior and preferences. The way we communicate, work, learn, and entertain ourselves has been fundamentally altered, with digital platforms and services becoming integral components of our daily lives.

**The Underlying Current: Privacy & Security**
Amidst this digital euphoria, there are underlying currents of concern. The explosion in data traffic brings with it challenges around privacy and cybersecurity. Balancing the benefits of digital connectivity with the imperative to protect user data will be a defining challenge for the industry.

**Looking Forward: Uncharted Digital Horizons**
As we gaze into the future, the trajectory of wireless data traffic in the U.S. suggests uncharted horizons. The integration of augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology will continue to drive data consumption to unprecedented levels. (Assuming we don't blow ourselves up or have a revolution)

Source for stats: Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) 2023 Annual Survey Highlights.



In case you're wondering, the quote & year is correctly attributed to Tesla.
An interview with Nikola Tesla by John B. Kennedy


A prediction about phones in 1963: