A Closer Look … @ DATA CENTERS!

with Anthony Newcombe

Let’s take a closer look … @ DATA CENTERS!!

This month’s topic: DATA CENTERS VS. AGING ELECTRICAL & WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

I often struggle bringing clarity to subjects that are simply desired vs. ones that are required.  Q1: Do we NEED these data centers MORE THAN replacing and updating our infrastructure first? Obviously, the answer would need to lie in a different bucket than the one that measures strictly via profits.

As far as aging infrastructure goes, we may not see the problem outwardly, but all of us drive on the same roads, drink and bathe with the same water, and use the same utility grids – most often dated wooden poles draped with flapping rubber cords pieced together many moons ago.

Yes? No? Maybe?  Let’s just agree on one thing: most of us would never even think of jumping aboard a commercial airplane carrying the same antiquated characteristics. We’ve grown accustomed to flying in the latest models available and we’re just fine with that.

With respect to data centers, it almost seems like the topic of mass build outs that expend great amounts of resources (and tend to be far from quiet) seems to fall more under the “desired” category.  Though I understand the interest in placing these “monstrosities” all over America, I can’t help but think much of this is being forced upon us as a country.

The parties involved: the government (fed, state and local), private companies trying to gain contracts and wrest control of this young and burgeoning industry, and the public at large who is either supportive, angry, and/ or indifferent to the matter entirely.

PICK A SIDE, PAL!!

Regardless of which side of the argument our reader is on, be it on the side of using our land (some of it “acquired” via eminent domain) and resources for this mass endeavor, or on the side which believes in “NIMBY (Not In My Backyard)” or we absolutely need to build as many of these facilities as possible – one thing is clear: it would be nice if we had figured out how to update (and upgrade) the current outdated electrical grids – as well as antiquated sewer lines that run throughout our cities (big and small). Q2: Don’t you ask yourself, why do they allow this to happen?

AGING INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDES GREAT POTENTIAL FOR WIDE SCALE CYBER-ATTACKS

It’s difficult to wrap our heads around the belief that we feel the need to “win the technology race” an/or guard against other global adversaries like China, Iran, Russia, etc. yet we seem uncomfortably comfortable with allowing our antiquated infrastructure to remain in place – often built a century ago – and is repaired only when there’s a cyber breach, mass blackout, or blown out water mains.  In effect, little proactive measures are taken.

Q3: What do YOU think?

Hope your summer ’26 is going as well as possible.

See you in the next season!

-A.N.

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full stack web developer.  He can be reached for appearances via our CONTACT PAGE.

DISASTERS

A Closer Look …

DISASTERS
Let’s take a closer look … @ DISASTERS!!

with Anthony Newcombe 

 

YOU NAME IT, WE’RE SEEING IT

It’s practically another fall season, and I don’t know about YOU, but to US, it still feels like we’re inches from the summer sun! Some other areas of concern:  

Whereas most of the above is nature’s doing, we must also be much more vigilant in how we are contributing to the increasing strength and duration of each.  We need to do a much better job of collectively working towards solutions to these problems – as opposed to exacerbating them.    

WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT ALL THIS?

  • Should our infrastructure plans “adjust” according to the frequency and severity of these events? 
  • What do YOU intend to do about these problems?   
  • What am I going to do? 

These are the questions that need to be asked and addressed.  Otherwise, we are kidding ourselves while we idly stand by as observers of our own demise.   

Any ideas?  

-A.N. 

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack web developer. He can be reached for appearances via our CONTACT PAGE.

A Closer Look

with Anthony Newcombe

Let’s take a closer look…

Arena: Healthcare and Politics (and why they don’t mix), Vol. III

Topic: How do we manage to blame the ‘other party’ during a global pandemic?  

I understand all too well that America in 2020 is in the midst of a political tug o’ war over, well, almost everything.  We have demonstrated that we can brawl about just about anything: from guns and ammo, to impeachment, and just about every bit of minutiae worded in a congressional bill.   

But, the coronavirus, seriously?  I mean, do we really think that this little bugger even cares whether you are pro-life or not?  Or, how about whether you have open carry permissions in your state?  Or, whether you voted for Hillary or Trump in 2016?  The obvious answer is NO, it does NOT. 

It only cares about finding a way into your bloodstream (and mine, too) and causing enough harm to hopefully derail us from future family births, graduations, weddings, and the like.  The virus is the real enemy, not your next door neighbor (with the Bernie bumper sticker you may despise). 

Let’s try to bear all this mind moving forward.   Remember, the people who #StayAtHome aren’t lazy, foolish or have an aversion to sunlight.  They are, hopefully as you are too, trying to get this monster to go away.  For good.  So, let’s try to bury the egos, the bravado, and, in some cases, the reckless disregard for stay at home orders.   

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Winners take all

by Anand Giridharadas, pps. 263, (publ., 2018)

What I learned from this book

The author lays some eye-opening stats on us in the Prologue. It does as much to shed light on the financial anxiety most Americans are and have been feeling for quite some time – that contribute to much of the division and fear mongering that has become an American staple for others to ‘swoop in on’ and take full advantage of.

Giridharadas references a study that discovered:

“…middle and lower class Americans (born from 1984 on) now have merely a 35% chance of achieving a comparable lifestyle to their parents (down drastically from previous generations).  He goes on to mention that the top tenth of earners income has doubled since 1980, the top 1% has tripled – and, if you’re in the top .001%, you earned 7x.”  (paraphrased from Prologue, pg. 4) 

The author tells us it is time to examine how income disparity numbers like this arose, and to take an honest look at how the crushing impact it has on the majority of us. 

The author also suggests that the general population would be foolish to (think and hope) that it can sit back and allow the super wealthy and super influential to save us all from this situation.  The reasons, as so carefully laid out in this book, are that many of the same individuals (and companies) who orchestrate, participate, fund, and preside on speaker panels are, in fact, the ones responsible for creating many of the global issues they claim to be solving.

This book is a very eye-opening exposé on what the author terms to be “a charade” that the rich and famous carefully play on the rest of us.  It shows repeated demonstrations as to how and why some very important social problems are to be addressed (as outlined by the super-rich), but fail to ever be resolved. The author informs us that this all appears to be more by design than by circumstance.  It is a harrowing thought– but one he insists is real and that we need to examine.

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