The Future And You
Ideas and opinion about the future based on verifiable facts of today.
 
The Future And You -- April 25, 2012

Marshall Brain (founder of HowStuffWorks.com) is today's featured guest.

Topic: The remarkably GOOD future which we can create for ourselves using the robots which will dominate our economy during the next decade or two. (Last week Marshall explored the bad possibilities, this week he explores the good.)

This is a thorough examination of Marshall Brain's new book: Manna: Two Visions of Humanity's Future. One of his two visions is remarkably bad, and the other is remarkably good.  Both are completely different from any form of civilization we have seen before. Currently we are on track toward the future that is bad. In today's episode we will discuss the remarkably bad future, Next week we will discuss the remarkably good future.

Marshall Brain is best known as the founder of HowStuffWorks.com, which grew into one of the top Web sites in the country, and sold in 2007 to Discovery Communications for $250 million. He hosted the TV show "Factory Floor" which appeared on the National Geographic channel. And he has written a number of books, articles and essays, which -- just like the famous website he created -- explain in a no-nonsense way how stuff works. A perfect example is his article "How to make a million dollars."  Which can be read for free on his website: MarshallBrain.com.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the April 25, 2011 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 33 minutes] This is the second half of an interview recorded using Skype on April 6, 2012.

Direct download: TFAY_2012_4_25.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:38am EDT

The Future And You -- April 18, 2012

Marshall Brain (founder of HowStuffWorks.com) is today's featured guest.

Topic: The remarkably BAD side of what the rise of robots may do to our culture, civilization, economy, and lifestyles during the next decade or two. This is a thorough examination of Marshall Brain's new book: Manna: Two Visions of Humanity's Future. One of his two visions is remarkably bad, and the other is remarkably good. Both are completely different from any form of civilization we have seen before. Currently we are on track toward the future that is bad. In today's episode we will discuss the remarkably bad future, Next week we will discuss the remarkably good future.

Marshall Brain is best known as the founder of HowStuffWorks.com, which grew into one of the top Web sites in the country, and sold in 2007 to Discovery Communications for $250 million. He hosted the TV show "Factory Floor" which appeared on the National Geographic channel. And he has written a number of books, articles and essays, which--just like the famous website he created--explain in a no-nonsense way how stuff works. A perfect example is his article "How to make a million dollars," which can be read for free on his website: MarshallBrain.com.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the April 18, 2012 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 30 minutes] This is the first half of an interview recorded using Skype on April 6, 2012.

Direct download: TFAY_2012_4_18.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:32pm EDT

The Future And You -- April 11, 2012

Paul Fischer (digital network engineer) is our featured guest.

Topics: Fun, Interesting and Cool Stuff (but no future or computer security). For example: Beer (especially high-end micro-brews), BaltiCon and the BaltiCon Podcast, The one time your host accidentally visited a Brothel, the time your host's high school chemistry teacher showed the class how to make wine, and the world's simplest method for distilling wine into hard liquor. 

Bonus: After you have listened to this episode you will know how to make all the wine you want at home using materials anyone can buy at any food store. You will also know how to distill any wine you make into hard liquor without effort over a period of eight hours using only devices you already own--a method which uses no heat, no fire and no evaporation.  

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the April 11, 2012 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 35 minutes]. This is the final part of an interview recorded using Skype on March 3, 2012.

Paul Fischer is a digital network engineer. In his spare time (teamed with his wife, Martha Holloway) he organizes the new media track at the science fiction convention Balticon; produces the Balticon Podcast; and has several times served as judge for the annual Parsec Awards which are given for Excellence in Podcasting.

News Item: Google Glasses (augmented reality glasses) are scheduled to become publicly available before the end of 2012. (As per an article in the NY Times dated Feb 21, 2012 written by Nick Bilton.)

Announcement: Bones Burnt Black (the FREE audio book) took the #1 position on the list of "Today's Top Subscriptions" at Podiobooks.com on April 9, and simultaneously took the #2 position on their list of "Most Popular Books by Number of Subscriptions in the Last 30 Days."

Direct download: TFAY_2012_4_11.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:35am EDT

The Future And You -- April 4, 2012

Paul Fischer (digital network engineer) is our featured guest.

Topics: Cyberwar: Several specific examples of computer hacking done by military forces around the world. How Iran's nuclear program was successfully cyber attacked. How the Chinese government successfully attacked a school in the USA (and bragged about it on their official TV news program). How a commercial airliner's onboard computer was accidentally infected with a virus which crashed the plane and killed all aboard. Also described: Why your car is now vulnerable to computer hacking, and how this can put your life in danger. And at least one incident without any hacking at all: how Fidel Castro cleverly tricked the Cubans into first giving up their ammunition, and then later (when they had no bullets) forced them to surrender all their guns.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the April 4, 2012 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 36 minutes]. This is the third part of an interview recorded using Skype on March 3, 2012.

Paul Fischer is a digital network engineer. In his spare time (teamed with his wife, Martha Holloway) he organizes the new media track at the science fiction convention Balticon; produces the Balticon Podcast; and has several times served as judge for the annual Parsec Awards which are given for Excellence in Podcasting.

Announcement: J.C.Hutchins (author of the popular 7th Son trilogy) said this about the new audio book version of Bones Burnt Black which is available for Free at Podiobooks.com:  "A riveting and realistic portrayal of space travel gone wrong, and of a crew who must fight for their survival. Bones Burnt Black is exciting, and expertly told. A must-listen." Don't miss out. Listen to Bones Burnt Black today.

Direct download: TFAY_2012_4_4.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:55am EDT