A Different Perspective on a STEM Education

I was reading about factories and warehouses that are becoming so completely automated that humans are not needed to build the product or operate the warehouse.  Then I looked at my cellphone and gave it a verbal command.

I stopped to think, when society "advances" to the point where everything that humans produce and make is verbally commanded to a machine to make, will an education in the humanities then become essential?

When we create robots that can produce everything, including making more robots, won't it be even more important to make sure that the commands we give robots are beneficial not just to the group commanding the robots but to society as well?

When this time comes it is imperative that the people commanding the robots make their decisions based on principles for the common good, not just the benefit of the robots' owners.  Where will they learn these principles?

I asked a 14 year old at a dinner party what college he wants to go to and he quickly replied MIT because he wants a good "STEM" education.  This is good, I thought, but how would a 14 year old learn to make "robot commands" that keeps the human race going if he also doesn't study humanities?  And if robots can make other robots how much of a demand will there be for a STEM education?

A Legacy Disco and a Legacy Zone Change

My friend Mark and I came of age in the disco era and has been saying for several years that we have to go to Circus Disco to relive our memories because it is closing soon.  Circus Disco has been around more than 40 years, smack in the middle of an industrial area of Hollywood.

"They're going to put up condos so we better get tickets to their last New Year's eve party" he insisted.

"Doesn't make sense" I equally insisted.  "They've announced their last party many times.  Besides, the property is in the middle of industrially zoned land and to build condos there would not only put those units between incompatible uses but would eliminate a large parcel zoned for keeping studios in Hollywood.  Let me show you," and I whipped out my phone to download the zoning map.

"Holy crap, forget about incompatible zones, we better buy our tickets now."

SPOT ZONING at its most Illustrative  

The blue areas are industrial uses that allow motion picture stages with outdoor sets by-right, something appropriate for Hollywood.  This industrially zoned area of Hollywood is one continuous portion except for the pink area at the top.  This is the location of Circus Disco which has been re-zoned to allow residential and commercial uses but not outdoor movie production.  695 residential units have been approved despite the fact that on three sides of the property industrial uses are allowed.

The Industrial Zones of Hollywood

The map below consists of almost the entire industrial zoned properties in Hollywood.  The large blue parcel on the bottom right is Paramount Studios and above that in green is Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  Circus Disco is almost in the center, the pink area surrounded on 3 sides by industrial blue.

FULL DISCLOSURE:  I learned about this proposal about 10 years ago when I was working for City Planning.  I thought it didn't make sense.  Years later I was preparing to hold a public hearing for a proposed zone change from industrial to commercial on a small 6000 sq ft lot in Venice and the Deputy Director made very clear that such a proposal was not to be approved.  

On April 8, 2015 the zone change became effective:  Council File 2015-0036  ( http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2015/15-0036_ca_02-24-15.pdf ) and City Planning Case 2006-9797 ( http://161.149.221.137/caseinfo/casesummary.aspx?case=CPC-2006-9797-MPR-CUB&zimas=y&pin=&address=6649%20W%20SANTA%20MONICA%20BLVD )

"Mark, say good-by to Circus.  

This New Year's Eve really will be the last!"