THE BULLETIN • SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2021 C3
Preston
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: My boyfriend
and I have been living to-
gether for almost five years.
His parents bought a house a
few doors down. They pop in
whenever they feel like it and
even walk into our bedroom
while we are in bed. I need
this to stop.
His mother and I had a
falling-out in the past be-
cause she felt she had a right
to control everything down
to where I keep my dirty
laundry. This is a touchy sub-
ject with my boyfriend, let
alone his mother. Please help
me.
— Needs Privacy in Maryland
Dear Needs Privacy: No
one should enter your home
without first asking permis-
sion, and that goes for your
boyfriend’s parents. That they
would enter your bedroom
while you and their son are in
bed is over the top.
I fail to understand why
this would be a “touchy”
subject with your boyfriend.
When he became an adult
and moved out of his parents’
home, surely it had some-
thing to do with privacy. It’s
time you changed the locks
on your doors.
Hash this out with a pro-
fessional mediator if neces-
sary. If you cannot do that,
start counting your blessings.
Chief among them should
be thanking the Lord this
woman is not your mother-
in-law.
Dear Abby: I’m a 16-year-
old girl with a problem. It
takes me forever to choose
an outfit in the morning, no
matter the occasion. It’s not
that I’m a fashionista. It’s just
that I can’t seem to put to-
gether anything that makes
me feel comfortable.
I’ll put something on,
think I like it, walk into the
bathroom and then notice
things about it that I don’t
like. It’s starting to get on my
nerves. I have tried shop-
ping for clothes that I know
I like, but even then, it seems
like I’m changing my outfit
three or four times before I
leave. How can I make myself
feel more comfortable about
what I’m wearing?
— Fashion Struggle in Michigan
Dear Fashion Struggle:
Try laying your clothes out
and coordinating your ac-
cessories the night before.
After you have done it, leave
the room for an hour or so.
If you like what you have as-
sembled before you go to
bed, the chances are better
that you will like it in the
morning. You will also be
less stressed and won’t have
wasted time obsessing before
leaving the house.
Dear Abby: I am hurting
because my mother favors
my brother. I talked to her
about it a few times, but she
said it hurts her when I say
things like that. I don’t bring
it up to her now, but I am
very troubled by it.
I have invited her to visit
so she could meet my fiance,
but she refuses. She says it’s
too long a drive. I miss her
tremendously and want to
see her. My fiance told me to
give it time, but I don’t think
it’s fair. What can I do about
this situation?
— Ranked Second in North
Carolina
Dear Ranked Second: Be-
cause you miss your mother
and want to see her, I suggest
you make the long drive and
visit HER. And when you do,
bring along your fiance.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
Continued from C1
Companies like Healthy.io
(www.healthy.io) offer mobile
apps that come close to the
tricorder’s capabilities, which
can measure wound healing,
do kidney, urinary tract infec-
tion and prenatal urine testing
all from the comfort at home.
All apps use artificial intelli-
gence to conduct the testing
and analysis with extremely
high accuracy.
There are now mobile apps
such as Sonde (www.sonde-
health.com) which can detect
eye diseases using the phone’s
camera or mental and physi-
cal diseases by analyzing your
voice pattern through the
microphone. Sonde recently
released the ability to detect
Covid-19 using AI to analyze
your cough.
Universal translators =
Google assistant interpreter
mode
Although “Star Trek” wasn’t
the first to conceive of a Uni-
versal Translator, it can be ar-
gued it was the first to incor-
porate it as a base technology
feature. Star Trek’s computer
had embedded translation
code and handheld translators
were also featured. Several
dedicated devices exist, which
can near-real-time translate
several common languages,
but Google’s Assistant’s Inter-
preter Mode stands out. It can
bi-translate over 29 languages
via all Google Home speakers,
other speakers with Google
Assistant built-in, all Google
Smart Displays, Google Smart
Clocks and iOS and Android
mobile phones/tablets with
the Google Assistant app in-
stalled.
Earpiece = wireless headsets
and earbuds
Used throughout the “Star
Trek” series and spinoffs, the
earpiece was ubiquitous and
came in forms familiar to us
today. Some were bulky like
the first Bluetooth earpieces,
similar to what Communica-
tions Officer Uhura wore at
her station. “Star Trek”’s debut
in the mid-sixties coincided
with the first wireless head-
phones, but they were not as
refined as what the show used
for earpieces.
Transparent aluminum =
transparent aluminum (yes,
this really exists now)
In “Star Trek IV The Voy-
age Home,” Chief Engineer
Montgomery Scott (“Scotty”)
traded the formula for mak-
ing Transparent Aluminum
armor for some Plexiglas
panels. Aluminum oxyni-
tride is made from a form of
ceramic powder that can be
transformed into transparent
aluminum which is similar to
but stronger than bulletproof
glass and weighs less. It was
eventually productized and
marketed as ALON by Surmet
Corporation.
‘Star Trek’ computer voice
chat = Siri, Hey Google
and Alexa
One of the most commonly
used techs was the crew in-
teracting with the ship’s com-
puter using natural language
voice commands. Today, most
of us use it so often that we
have forgotten how amazing
the concept was in 1967, or
even just a decade ago. Siri
was invented in February
2010.
Phasers = ultra-short pulse
laser weapons
The six-gun of “Star Trek,”
the phaser, was an energy
weapon capable of stunning
or killing an opponent. Ap-
plied Energetics, Inc. (aergs.
com), an arms manufac-
turer based in Tucson, Ari-
zona, uses high-performance
lasers to create photonic
and high-voltage energet-
ics-based weapons. One of
their patented technologies,
Ultra-Short Pulse lasers,
can be used for “lethal and
non-lethal” uses on the bat-
tlefield. They also have ver-
sions of the tech to intercept
incoming missiles (“fire la-
sers!”).
Video conference =
Zoom and AT&T telepresence
Remember Captain Kirk’s
big-screen interactions on the
bridge with Fleet Command
and aliens? There are several
technologies that now exist:
big-screen flat-TVs, wireless
video transmission, high-defi-
nition optics which created a
sense of telepresence, discrete
microphones and speakers.
AT&T’s telepresence truly
compares to Enterprise’s video
conferencing (“Kirk, you’re on
mute. The mute button…”)
… And 30 or 40 more…
Other technologies have
come to fruition, such as food
replicators (3D-Printed food
and microwave ovens), hy-
pospray (needleless medicine
injectors) and doors that au-
tomatically open and close as
you enter or exit. Others are
nearly there, such as the ho-
lodeck (VR and AR and ho-
lographic personas like Tupac
and Michael Jackson), instan-
taneous communication over
vast distances (quantum com-
munication), and nearly-hu-
man artificial intelligence in
the forms of non-organic be-
ings.
What’s crazy today is
tomorrow’s innovation
The world owes a huge debt
to Sci-Fi and comics, which
sparked many a creative mind
to make real what was once a
writer’s fantasy. We’re about to
land on Mars and transform
our planet with solar energy
and electric vehicles. If you
want your grandchildren to
have a better life than what
we have now, then be crazy
enough to envision your wild-
est dream, and then write a
novel. Maybe that’s how we
solve problems like climate
change and pandemics. We
need more crazy dreamers,
now more than ever.
e
Preston Callicott is the CEO of Five
Talent Software and is a self-described
tech humanist who wants to embed
the best of human traits in AI systems
and robotics … before they rule the
world. His wife, Chelsea, and twins
remind him how great life is and that
work isn’t everything.
By Madalyn Aslan
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
õ õ õ õ õ DYNAMIC | õ õ õ õ POSITIVE | õ õ õ AVERAGE | õ õ SO-SO | õ DIFFICULT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR SUNDAY, JAN. 10, 2021: Realistic,
authoritative and uncompromising, you tell it like it is. This year, a project you
initiate and head is a tremendous success. You might feel it has opponents
when it doesn9t. If single, allow yourself to need and be needed, and you9ll
find your mate this year. If attached, you9re fiercely loyal and require your
partner to be equally so. You both create a beautiful family. CAPRICORN has
your back.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
õõõ Resist the influence of a close partner 4 a loved one could be a bit too
adventurous or optimistic. Your own hunches offer the best guidance. Plea-
sure comes from doing a good deed or favor quietly. Tonight: Enjoy secrets
with and about those you love.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
õõõõ Today creates a subtle psychic connection with some people. Seek
creative and spiritual companions. Avoid those who drift or prove unreliable.
You have had a recent experience with an untrustworthy one and you have
learned your lesson. Tonight: Feeling proud of yourself.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
õõõõõ Today brings wonderful conversations with those you love. In
action others might not be all they seem to be, but tolerance brings pleasure.
It is a lazy, intimate Sunday. You enjoy it immensely. Tonight: The good times
roll on.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
õ New faces appear and long-time associates are ready to move on. Be cau-
tious with changes in health care, medications and your fitness regimen. Stay
aware of how your body responds and all will be well. Tonight: Change that is
best is still traumatic in nature.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
õõõõõ You9ll appreciate a supportive partnership. The winter season is
warmed by true love. An admirer plans a wonderful surprise for you. Sincer-
ity, a love of music and stability are qualities that you would best seek in a
romantic partner. Tonight: Thankful you have them all.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
õõõ You work at home today, even though it is a Sunday. A family member
guides your career path. Bring sanctity to your residence by adding plants
to an exposed window, exchanging harsh lights for more subdued lamps or
selecting new drapes. Tonight: Take it easy.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
õõõõõ Humor and patience are your best defense against a cantankerous
individual. There may be a subtle feud to resolve. But love magic can be a
success today. Fulfillment on many levels is promised. Tonight: Highlights
your house of passions and desires.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
õõõ Today cautions you to investigate financial decisions and commit-
ments carefully. Learning a new skill and being aware of the latest develop-
ments in your field will assure success and security. Prepare for offers and
suggestions. Tonight: An in-law wishes to become closer.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
õõõõõ You mediate a dispute or receive a proposal. Leisure hours are
brightened by intellectually stimulating games. Try chess. Others are elusive,
charming and independent. Enjoy your companions as they are. Don9t try to
change them. Tonight: You always win at chess. You9re brilliant.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
õõõõõ A valuable day of reflection. Look to see how you can be your
own best friend or worst enemy. Time spent alone restores peace and helps
release stress. Heed the messages sent by your dreams. Tonight: Express
yourself. Iron out communication problems with others.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
õõõõ Today blesses a cherished relationship with loving affirmations. Offer
an exchange of small, meaningful tokens. Mild exercise helps restore balance
and provides a release of aggravation. Tonight: Make wise choices that will
bolster your wellness and encourage improved health.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
õõõõ Others depend on you. Your visibility comes to the fore. Put your
best foot forward and strive to make the best possible impression. You9ll
have an opportunity to demonstrate your highest potentials. Tonight: After
the initial pressure, feeling quite pleased.
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