We have a sundial in the backyard but it's not very functional. Made of cement and no one ever thought to position it in a clearing where it could catch the sun. It's just ornamental. But, it would be interesting to have a shiny, more complicated sundial that could show the time with the passing of the sun. Of course, it might get rusty if it were metal. Maybe something not plastic but not too quick to rust or need a lot of maintenance. I always thought of a sundial as something that can stand the test of time.

The Nocturnal Celestial Stardial! This long-forgotten instrument aided a few lucky navigators and charmed romantics of the Renaissance. Earliest references include Cosmographicus Liber in 1530, Arte de Navegar, in 1551, and Horologiographia, The Art Of Dialling in 1626. 'Twas rare then as now. The Nocturnal Celestial Stardial is also called a stardial, a nocturnal, a "horologium nocturnum" (time instrument for night), or nocturlabe.

The outer disc is marked with the months as well as an indicator for each of the 365 days of the year. The inner disc is marked with hours and 5-minute increments. The pointer rotates on the same center axis as the discs. The center axis has a sight hole through which the North Star Polaris can be aligned.

via - Instructables - 2d Nocturnal Celestial Stardial TJT1/6

It may not be as accurate as modern technology but it is interesting to use historical technology and... you wouldn't have to buy batteries (or recycle batteries).

I can't wear a battery operated watch. For some reason the batteries die within a week or two. I was looking for a mechanical watch. So far I haven't found just the right one. This would be interesting but... the reviews say it isn't very accurate. Still tempting to try it though.

• The British Sundial Society
• North American Sundial Society

FakeGamerGirl - The Internet is DEAD

In her video post she talks about more than I had thought or known. Particularly about job searches now. I did know businesses use AI, or other software, to scan applications for keywords rather than bothering to actually read any resumes or applications. This turns finding employees into who uses the right keywords most often rather than finding someone actually competent and capable of doing whatever the job is. So, what kind of people are being employed? How many engineers does it take to build a bridge or building that doesn't fall down if none of them really know what they are doing - but they are just great at keywords.

Think about self driving cars. People feel they can't trust an AI or software to drive a car. How do you feel about having a human driver if they were hired without knowing whether or not they have a valid diver's license or have been charged as a drunk driver, or worse. That's just one career/ job. There are so many more!

Dead Internet Theory - Wikipedia • The dead Internet theory is a conspiracy theory that asserts that, since around 2016, the Internet has consisted primarily of bot activity and automated content manipulated by algorithmic curation. This alleged coordinated effort aims to control the population and reduce genuine human interaction.

I haven't heard of this theory by name. But, I've been online since 1996 and this is something I have thought for many years and it is just getting worse. I do not use a mobile phone and I find more and more Internet things are trying to force people to use a mobile phone and take their information. Its all about marketing, marketing is a predator. It is very much NOT human friendly.

Does it matter any more if the marketing even makes any money when they just want to collect information to sell to some other company? Who cares if the data is correct, as long as there is a lot of it. Phony built on top of phony.

Why does so much need to be online now? Really, it wasn't that long ago that the Internet hardly existed outside of science/ technology. I know many young people now don't know life without the Internet, but its just another tool, a means of communication. It's really weird how people have become so obsessed, addicted and reliant on it. Do you ever wonder who decided everything had to be online?

Why is it so hard now to manage without having/ using a mobile phone? I don't use one and I struggle to deal with things like banking, verification of your personal information. Passwords were abandoned because they don't provide information which can be collected and sold.

So much is pushed online and why? Really? Why are people being led so easily and so stupidly. People do not seem to really think for themselves any more. What does Google say.... Turn up the music Alexa... Cashiers can't even count change to the point of 5 - 2 is 3. (Don't bother to say I'm mean to cashiers or some other politically correct cancel culture nonsense - I was a cashier for a long time myself. I could do basic math without a calculator, or phone).

AI is taking over the jobs people would like to have and leaving you to wash your own dishes, cut your own grass, shovel your own you know what. It already has gone too far. But, its still going.

I wonder where the money is going to keep coming from if most people are unemployed and can't keep buying stuff/junk. Or pay bills. Who will keep the lights on, literally?

We are creating intelligent technology while having people become very reliant on it. Sounds like a robot army to me.

The first time I thought about this, I had a much better description half written in my head. But, I didn't get here to post it until a few days later. So I've lost some of my train of thought. This is the best I could do today, with what I remember.

I've noticed, if I leave the TV (Smart TV) on after awhile it will ask if I'm still watching whatever it is. This isn't to save energy/ power. The power is still on. It is to make sure you are there to watch, or at least hear, the ads.

I've been wondering if anyone would notice if their Smart TV, or other screens, could do more than that. I think it could. Do you have one of those Alexa type things? I've tried to avoid them. If you can ask Alexa to turn down the lights, turn on the radio, and so on. It has to know several things and be connected to what you are doing and who you are. People have written/ talked about those digital home invaders, but have they thought about how far it could go? Now with AI too. I don't know how much AI can do but it is intended to mimic and predict people.

To some people this will sound silly, like a crackpot theory. When I think about it, mainly its just interesting.

Next time you have the Smart TV on, take note. Does it know when you stop watching TV? I have had the TV on and noticed that it sometimes stops working right at the time it breaks for ads - if I'm out of the room. It goes to that blank, black loading screen awhile and then says there is an error.

When I come back, if I do, it always runs several ads before restarting the show which it couldn't find before. Of course, it runs ads first. Advertising is the point of the whole thing for the businesses. But, does it lie (or whatever word you would use for digital/ virtual/ software that fibs).

I have no doubt the technology is there to keep track of what we watch and if we actually are watching at the time. Can it listen to what we do when we leave the room? Sure, it sounds like not much to think of, how many times you go for snacks, go to the bathroom, fall asleep. But, its all information about you. It can all be used to understand you, predict you, and scrape money out of you.

Kind of interesting. I'm not sure about the Smart TV tracking if I'm watching or not. It doesn't happen every time. It doesn't happen with every streaming service. I suspect some can't afford the extra software to make it work. Yet.

What I've been wondering about more since then, is what does the Smart TV do as far as subliminal messages. Banned in the 1970's (I think that was the right decade) I don't think anyone is watching for it now. Business controls government more now. As much as religion was once the big influencer. That does creep me out more. We look at so many screens now and there are no controls over what marketers can do. Not really. Not enough.

When your TV or other screen is in sleep mode and showing random images, screensavers, is that all that is there? It is a very useful marketing scheme, if it exists. The idea is not new. Can all this Smart technology not just watch you but also tell you what to think, what to believe, and of course, what to buy?

One more little technology/ marketing thing to consider.

Honestly, what did you think Smart technology was really? It's all about marketing. Not only will you get ads, they spy/watch you so they can target you better. Also, the Smart products you buy are designed to be flawed, to make you jump through hoops to get and keep them working. Smart technology is not supposed to make your life better. It just wants to sell you out.

Smart home technology loves your credit card. What will happen when you run out of money?