Consumed By The Cloud
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” - C.S. Lewis
The Cloud is deceptively, brilliantly, named but humanity again finds that what starts as a manageable useful tool can become overbearing and destructive. The Lewis quote from Poets and Storytellers United reminds me that the dreams of some fulfilled can be our nightmares and in waking hours take us down rabbit holes. It sounds dramatic and far less romantic to admit that our data is not resting on a nebulous Cloud. Rather, data is stored ofttimes in huge buildings that drain masses of water and electrical resources, non-stop humming loudly to the despair of neighbours. Wish I had a solution for this monster we feed as reliance on the digital grows to "lock box" our keepsakes, personal and business dealings and even our identities. Below is my poem and recent pictures I took on walks, to be stored, of course, on the Cloud. Currently, Canada has some 300 data centres and Google says 4,000 to 5,400 operational data centers are in the U.S., representing nearly half of all facilities worldwide.
Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United, SKYWATCH and Saturday's Critters.
Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.
Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report and watch environmental activist, 90-year-old David Suzuki, in an interview.
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| HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT |
The cloud name really is deceptive. Seems like if money can be made, people will do things regardless of the consequences.
ReplyDeleteGreat quote and photos
ReplyDeleteI love the quote and your beautiful photos have brought me much joy. 💖
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts on the cloud. Here in Oklahoma people are rebelling like crazy on data centers. I am all for technology and all that as long as it benefits people. I'm not sure AI does.
ReplyDeleteAlways a trade off ~ the cloud does eliminate much of. the immediate consumption of us peoples (e.g. paper, ink, storage etc) but costs no matter what ~ perhaps we need to consume less ~ I struggle with what little trash and recycles I have and much is from the US Mail promoting stuff ~ very complex ~
ReplyDeleteYour writings are always thought provoking and your photographs are wonderful ~ Hugs ^_^
...good Maria, I don't plan to stop dreaming!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images. It's scary to think how much resources are required to feed the beast that we now use every day.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed alarming!
ReplyDeleteA beautifully conceived cautionary tale of a poem ~~~ BRAVA & CHEERS!!
ReplyDeleteThe devil made me do it! There so much more and better things to look at, like your photos tell.
ReplyDeleteGosh Maria, you wrote an amazing and very profound poem. If only we had the foresight. I love visiting here, not only for these beautiful images but also the wake-up calls that nudges me to think more about such things. Thank you and I hope your weekend is a great one.
ReplyDeleteswallowed dreams whole Love your expressions of a truth we are all part of; a cloud polluting our view. it is in contrast with the gorgeous nature pictures you posted Maria Unfortunately we cant turn time and it will only get worse
ReplyDeleteI love the gargoyle - some parts of the past need to be held on to and considered - Jae
ReplyDeleteLoved your poem and thoughts but alas! life is an one way traffic. Some one cautioned us saying "remember, could is someone's hard disk" but we ignored, keep ignoring looking at the convenience.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such a thought-provoking post alongside your gorgeous snapshots!
ReplyDeleteI love the first quote...I am taking it to heart. I am trying to be brave and find my new life! Sweet hugs and thanks for your comments my friend!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteLove your poem, gulls and cute critter. Beautiful photos. Beautiful flowers. I try to back up my files and photos on external hard drives, I am not thrilled about using the cloud. Most people do not want a data center in their area, they do use a lot of electric and water. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend!
so true so true... at first the excitement of digital storage and oommunication and now i fear the idea has grown and is taking over... in retrospect i would rather have photo albums and letters than a laptop or a memory stick filled with all my life's events.... data centers are like pac man gobbling up everything in it's path... taking up space, water, electricity.... absolutely love your photos... great response to the prompt.... caution what we wish for....
ReplyDeleteI am with you. It is such a sad state.. it doesn't feel like advancement when are rivers are running dry and are planet is dying.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am with you. Yet, virtually is the way we have been able to connect when, otherwise, you and I would never have met.
DeleteMost are attracted by the convenience initially but subsequently we long for the old-fashioned way. Thought provoking poem Penelope, wonderful poem!
ReplyDeleteHank
It's going to be hard to pull my cyber-life out of the cloud, but I'll be doing it. Physical data storage and NO authorization of plagiarism is the only way I fly. (When people sign the contract to install Windows 11 or 365, they authorize Microsoft to use and sell their UNPUBLISHED drafts, e-mails, answers to "private" questionnaires as in "tele-health" prescription refills, etc. Neither system will be allowed in this house. Microsoft is straining hard to push people to buy "new, lighter, more efficient" computers that automatically store everything in the cloud, no hard drive. I'll not have one.)
ReplyDeleteThe social aspects of leaving "the cloud" are probably the easiest, most cheering aspects to think about. If e-friends are real friends they'll stay in touch through real mail and become part of the real lives that will occupy our attentions. We'll make new friends in real life and keep the old ones from cyberspace.
ReplyDeleteAnd, if people decide we want the Internet the way it worked when we entered -t--private working tools that can occasionally by linked to share information from one to another--we'll remember how to do that, as well.
All we have to do is say no to a Cloud of Surveillance by means of an Internet of Things, opt for chip-free housewares, and hold out for an Internet where data is stored in its owners' offices and there's no need for huge "data centers."
You raised so many really good points, Priscilla. Thank you!
DeleteThe quote by C.S. Lewis rings very true as I tried to keep up with technological advances. But passing 75 has changed my perspective. I try to step away from digital cloud and to look up at the real flowing clouds much more often .That’s one of the reasons why I've been blogging and commenting less frequently lately. I reunite with paper books, printed photos, diary on real paper, or analog wristwatch. I wonder if this is regress or progress?
ReplyDeleteExcept for my blog, I am not on social media. It was a good choice for me.
ReplyDeleteKeep the dreams and photos going.