Paddy Deighan Real Estate Blog

Maybe it is Time to Review Your E & O/Professional Negligence Policy

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:06:49 -0700

During this time of year, insurance carriers tender their renewal policies for review and approval. Most agents and brokers do not review the policies and accept the new one....unless the premium causes them to review options. Is this a good idea?A common misconception is that only large firms need insurance. However, smaller firms (maybe three to five agents and a broker can face heightened risks due to limited resources. As a result, the cost of insurance is outweighed by the consequences of not having it—legal fees, settlements, and reputational damage can cripple a real estate firm. Benefits of professional negligence / E&O policies include: Financial protection: Offers coverage of legal fees, settlements, and judgments arising from client liability claims. Client confidence: Having insurance can boost client trust and professional credibility, potentially making your practice more attractive to them. Peace of mind. Knowing that you have protection can allow you to focus on your clients and business, without worrying about possible claims. Risks of Operating Without Malpractice InsuranceRunning a real estate firm without insurance can expose firms to significant risk. There may even be professional consequences if your licensing authority requires your brokerage to have malpractice insurance.By securing and reviewing this form of insurance, you can help protect your practice from unforeseen challenges and ensure its resilience.Real-Life Impact: What Can Happen Without InsuranceAll it takes is one simple mistake. Even the best agents are not infallible. You can read more about past scenarios and statistics that underscore the importance of having insurance, and how damage from a single lawsuit can be significant. In times of crisis, this protection can be the difference between recovery and ruin, reinforcing your practice’s capacity to thrive.Also consider the types of mistakes that lead to claims:Over 50% of claims involve substantive errors.1Substantive errors allege that an agent failed to know or apply the law or carry out adequate investigation of client quesytions/concerns. One large area of negligence is quting home or lot sizes that turn oiut to be inaccurate. I have noticed this many times - including an investment property that I just purchased in Kannapolis NC. Agent stated the property was 2.0 acres when it was 1.7 and that included a city easment that was not disclosed (I asked). This was rectivied and the proce adjusted but it could have been a disaster.Over 20% of claims involve administrative errors.1 Administrative errors may include procrastination, failing to calendar, or clerical errors. All agents and brokers rely heavily upon admin staffs so thisisan area that requires some oversight.Screening Errors are the most commonly cited errors.2Not having an effective system in place for screening and preventing potential issues could result in a liability claim. I have seen this happen a number of times...the buyer or seller is not what they claim to be and buyers or sellers rely upon the agent to verify and there can be a needless loss of time and capital (repairs etc.)Paddy Deighan JD PhD

Part II - AI in Real Estate...the Present and the Future

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:19:27 -0700

AI in Homes of Tomorrow Artificial intelligence isn't just changing the way properties are bought and sold, it's becoming part of the properties themselves. Smart home technology is evolving rapidly, with AI helping to manage energy consumption, optimise heating and cooling, enhance home security, detect maintenance issues before they become costly repairs, and improve overall living comfort. For investors, these technologies can increase tenant appeal, reduce operating costs, improve sustainability, and potentially enhance long-term property values as buyers increasingly expect connected and energy-efficient homes. Property Marketing Transparency One of AI's most impressive capabilities is generating highly realistic images, virtual staging, renovation concepts, and videos. These technologies are excellent tools for helping buyers visualise a property's potential, particularly for off-plan developments or renovation projects. However, transparency is essential. Investors should always understand whether they are viewing actual photographs, digitally enhanced images, or AI-generated concepts. Marketing should inspire confidence, not create confusion, and knowing exactly what is being purchased remains fundamental to any investment decision. The real estate purchasing process can sometimes feel document-heavy, those documents play an important role. They help confirm key details such as legal ownership, planning approvals, habitation licences, and other essential information, giving investors confidence that the property being purchased is accurately represented and fully compliant. Data Privacy & Security AI relies on data, making privacy and security more important than ever before. As governments introduce new AI regulations and strengthen data protection laws, real estate businesses have an increasing responsibility to ensure that client information is collected, stored, and used securely, ethically, and transparently. Investors should have confidence that their personal and financial information is protected and that AI-enabled tools are used responsibly, with appropriate safeguards in place. At Ideal Homes, protecting our clients' data has always been a top priority, and that commitment remains unchanged as we continue to innovate. Trust, But Verify AI is incredibly capable, but it is not perfect. It can occasionally produce inaccurate information, outdated statistics, or conclusions based on incomplete data. Perhaps more concerning, it often presents incorrect information with complete confidence. For this reason, AI should always complement, not replace, professional advice, independent research, legal due diligence, financial analysis, and property inspections. The old saying, "trust, but verify," has never been more important. AI Isn't the Competitive Advantage There's a growing belief that simply using AI creates a competitive edge. I don't believe that's true. As AI becomes more accessible, the technology itself will become increasingly common. The real competitive advantage won't come from using AI, it will come from knowing how to use it wisely. Like fire, humanity's first great technological breakthrough, AI has the potential to create enormous value or cause unintended harm. Fire enabled people to cook food, build communities, and advance civilization. Used carelessly, it could also destroy them. AI presents a similar choice. The technology itself is neither good nor bad, its value depends entirely on how its creatively and responsibly applied. For investors, the greatest advantage won't be access to AI alone. Most everyone will have access to similar technology. The real advantage will come from working with professionals who know how to interpret the information, apply local market knowledge, ask the right questions, and combine technology with experience and sound judgement. Technology can process information faster than any human, but it cannot build trust, understand individual investment objectives, negotiate complex transactions, or replace the confidence that comes from experience. Those qualities remain uniquely human. Successful real estate investing has always been built on trust, transparency, careful due diligence, and informed decision-making. AI doesn't change those principles, it simply gives investors and the professionals who support them better tools to uphold them. Lastly, the future won't belong to those who simply adopt AI, nor to those who resist it. I believe it will belong to those who know when to rely on technology, and when to rely on experience. AI can process information in seconds, but it cannot replace the judgement that comes from the human experience and the trust built through relationships, or the confidence that comes from working with people who understand both the market and your investment goals. Technology may shape the future of real estate, but people will continue to shape the decisions that matter most.

Paddy Deighan JD PhD

AI In Real Estate -Part I: The Primer

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:10:32 -0700

I have spent many years in the IT legal, and scientific communities. I've always been fascinated by emerging technologies and the innovations that shape our future -personal and business futures. The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence reminds me just how far humanity has come - from our ancestors discovering fire, a breakthrough that fundamentally changed the course of human evolution, to today's AI, a technology with the potential to transform human life in ways we are only beginning to understand. Like every major technological leap, AI brings enormous opportunity alongside significant challenges. It also brings up the oldest questions: Just because we can, should we? And if yes, how far should we go? Having worked through the rise of the internet, smartphones, cloud computing and now AI, I've learned that every major technology follows a similar pattern. It begins with excitement, often followed by unrealistic expectations and understandable concerns, before eventually finding its place as another valuable tool. I believe AI will follow the same path. The real challenge isn't whether AI will become part of our lives, it already has. The challenge is learning how to use it responsibly and where it can genuinely add value. These are questions that governments, businesses and society will be debating for many years. For those of us involved in real estate, though, the more immediate focus is much simpler: how can we use AI responsibly to improve the investment journey without losing the human element that clients value most? For real estate professionals, AI has the potential to take care of repetitive tasks, improve productivity, uncover deeper market insights and help deliver a faster, more personalised service. For investors, it can support better-informed decisions through stronger market analysis, more effective risk assessment and a clearer understanding of how AI-enabled homes and smart technologies may influence future property values and buyer demand. Used well, these tools can strengthen relationships rather than replace them. They allow professionals to spend less time on administration and more time advising clients, solving problems and building trust. At the same time, AI is only as good as the data behind it. It isn't a substitute for local knowledge, experience or sound judgement, which is why ethics, transparency and data security remain just as important as the technology itself. We're still at the beginning of the AI journey, and no one knows exactly where it will lead. What I do believe is that the businesses that succeed won't necessarily be those using the most AI, but those using it thoughtfully to enhance the expertise and relationships that have always been at the heart of great client service. With that in mind, here are a few practical insights into how AI is already influencing real estate and what investors may want to watch for… Real Estate & AIArtificial intelligence is already reshaping every stage of the property lifecycle, from how developments are planned and built to how properties are marketed, purchased, managed, and even lived in. While the technology is evolving rapidly, these are some of the areas I believe will have the greatest impact on real estate investors. Smarter Investment DecisionsOne of AI's greatest strengths is its ability to analyse vast amounts of information in seconds. Rather than spending hours reviewing market reports, sales data, rental trends, demographics, and economic indicators, AI can quickly identify patterns and opportunities that may otherwise be overlooked. For investors, this means better-informed decisions, faster analysis, and the ability to compare multiple investment opportunities with greater confidence. However, AI should be viewed as a decision-support tool rather than a decision-maker. It can analyse data, but it cannot replace the real world lifestyle experience you want to create for your self and or family, local market knowledge, negotiation skills, or the experience that comes from working with trusted real estate professionals who understand the nuances of the practical world and lived experience. More Efficient ServicesBehind the scenes, AI is helping real estate businesses like Ideal become more efficient. Administrative tasks such as document preparation, contract reviews, reporting, research, customer communication, and marketing can now be completed more quickly and accurately. This allows professionals to spend less time on repetitive administration and more time doing what adds real value, understanding clients' investment objectives, identifying opportunities, negotiating favourable outcomes, and providing more personalised advice. Paddy Deighan JD PhD

AI Statistics Show Interesting Consumer Views

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:57:08 -0700

A recent survey of investors garnered some interesting results. The results are surprising and this was no a small sample. It was statistically significant. Over 1,000 financial and tech respondents stated the following. In regard to AI as a threat to jobs, I did some research on this and will post it later this week. 42.4% said AI will reshape many industries — but it’s overhyped today. 26.8% believe it represents one of the biggest investment opportunities of our lifetime. 18.2% see AI as a serious threat to jobs and economic stability. 12.6% are still forming an opinion. Those results point to the real question: If AI transforms the global economy, who stands to profit from it? I also found it interesting to note that 42.4% said that AI will reshape industries - but it is overhyped. This shocked me. Maybe it is "overhyped", we are all left to our own opinions. However, its impact has already been dramatic and it is likely to go even higher.Also surprising is that only roughly 25% of respondents see AI as one of the biggest investment opportunities of our lifetime. This seems really low.....really really low. To me, AI will be the biggest opportunity in our lifetimes. It has no competition (no other sector with a chance to be a superior opportunity). Paddy Deighan JD PhD

August Challenge....My Summer Corner of the World

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:25:10 -0700

My Summer corner of the world has changed over the years. During my youth and early adulthood, I spend much of the Summer at the Jersey Shore. Only Jerseyans (Jerseyites?) call it the "shore". Everyone else calls it the beach LoL. There always seemed to be magical time there. daytime was in the sand, mini-golf, amusement rides, sports, and eating favorite food. The Atlantic City boardwalk was magical in itself. Now it is crap...just being honest.It was the early evenings that made the Jersey Shore so magical. The waves were gentler, the gulls were active seein what they could scavenge and the areas were last crowded after the day tripper left. We were allowed to stay up later, eat food we didn't normally eat - loved having cereal at 10 PM! Still love Cocoa Cripsies and Cap'n Crunch (WITH CRUNCH berries of course) but don't eat them because I enjoy being healthy more than I enjoy cereal!!I moved to California and it wasn't the same. It seemed like Summer all year 'round so it didn't seem so special.During much of my adulthood and now, I have a place in Vail, Colorado and it is magical in the Winter but also in the Summer. There is a saying there that you visit there because of the winter, but you STAY because of the Summer. This has a lot of merit. The Summer is magical in the Summer and a bonus is that friends don't ask to visit during the Summer!! They do not know what they are missing!! Outdoor cafes, outdoor concerts, hiking, biking, special events and the crisp, mountain air!! MmmmmmmmNow I also bide summer time in Las Vegas. Yes, it is hot there. Doesn't have the same magic as Coloradoor the Jersey Shore but at least there is one thing...DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME! I love sunshone after dinner!!!This summer I am in Kannapolis NC. I have a project there and it is a part time home this Summer. One nice feature is that I can visit an elelmentary school friend and a business partner/friend. I have enjoyed watching the Kannapolis Cannonballers Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.So, to me, summer is about kicking back, working a little slower and enjoying the additional daylight and Summer vacationsPaddy Deighan JD PhD

Steps in the Buying / Implementation World of AI

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:05:31 -0700

Many real estate firms and professionals have sked me about integration of AI into their business. Soooo, I decided to create a template for purchase and integration. 1. The first and essential decision is "What do you need / expect from AI? The answer to this is not as easy as it first appears. This must be clearly vetted and considered. Vendors will tell you that there solution is the BEST. It may be in some regards, but is it what you need?2. After goals are defined, we need to determine what is needed to fulfill the goal from beginning to end. Sometimes AI is not the entire solution but only part of it. For example, most firms that utilize AI Agents think they solved teh goal of better customer service. Alas, not so fast!!! Many/most AIAgent prgrams are not fully tested and are actually hurting the business because the agents are not fulfilling the goal of better customer service and in fact, they are destroying your business and reputation. It is NOT THEIR FAULT...it is yours because you did not clearly define and TEST the results.3. Is general purpose AI enough to achieve your goals? The answer is almost always no. There are few one size fits all AI solutions. Work goes in, results come out and everything appears rosy and achieved quickly. Unfortunately, any issues / problems appear later and frequently after a bit of a disasted with clients.4. Many vendors site stidies that show very few issues and they tout the time and energ savings that their solution provides. Realize that these results are not in YOUR use and application so there is not much value to these claims. 5. The main issues for all real estate AI solutions are all the same:A. Does the solution enable agents, brokers and staff, or related real estate professionals (staging, appraisal, mortgage etc) to work more accurately and efficiently? Does it free up otherwise wasted time?B. The issues are Intake, Search, Review and Tracking of work functions. Paddy Deighan JD PhD

July Challenge...Why I Love this Country!!!

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:33:17 -0700

Wonderful and timely Challenge for July!!!I was born in the USA..albeit New Jersey!!! It was the suburbs of New Jersey - neear Philadelphia so I was readily able to appreciate Philadelphia and New York and Washington DC. The reasons I love America are that we have so much to be thankful for. I have been fortunate to visit 80+ countries and while I do love to travel, as the saying goes, there is no place like home!! I love to travel in Europe but we have 50 little countries disguised as states. Each state has a unique character and environment. It is so easy to explore this country because we have phenomenal travel opportunities..three of the worlds' largest airlines are here (it may be 4 of the five largest airlines (SouthWest)!!I am especially proud of our commitment to helping other nations in time of need. Our planes and ships are the first ones to offer help when other countries are in need. The Berlin airlift was a prime example...it was a marvel of logistics and effort. The Fukishima nuclear meltdown was another example...our warships became makeshift hospitals and offered water and other supplies to those in need. Earthquakes, typhoons, hurricanes...we are always there when needed. Maybe this stems from Europe helping us during the Revolutionary war...otherwise we may not enjoy these freedoms!! George Washington and others were heroes but we needed help and got it!!There are so many similar examples. I do not know of any other country that steps up in an emergency as the US of A does. Our diversity is also a wonderful benefit to our geritage...we are such a blend of culture...art, food, music, fashion, entertainment. There is so much to enjoy here. So I am proud to be American because we are the most generous nation on Earth!!!Paddy Deighan JD PhD

Automations....Helpful or a Pain in the Butt??

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:34:28 -0700

It is only Monday evening and the week has already had ENOUGH of improperly programmed and monitored AI agents and automations. It seems that virtually everu business is usingthem biut I am encountering SO many that are impropery debugged, improperly implemented and just plain useless.The bottomline is that many businesses are spending a fortune to ruin their business. In the past few days, I encountered a utility company, phone company, bank, and a plethora of auto sales digital buffoons.The source of the problem is twofold:1). Companies are falling victim to idiots that purchased a course and are telling you how $10,000 will generate a fortune in revenue and tens of thousands more in needless human payroll and;2). Many companies are not debugging the automations and/or providing human oversight into the use and applications of the technology. I have stressed many times in my posts that virtually all technology needs human oversight and testing.I attempted to buy a new car....trouble was that the dealer's AI scraped other listings and illustrated cars fpr sale that were not on the subject dealer lot!!! I drove 100 miles to buy a particular car and alas, it was not there. I found it on another dealer's website (wasn't hard to find). The dealer that I drove to really did not help either as they began copntacting me about cars I had zero interest in. To make a long story short and the moral of the story is also twofold:1). When browsing online and filling out forms, ALWAYS use and email address that you seldom check and ditto for the mobile number.2). Use a fake name....when you begin to receive soliciations from cpmpanies with that name in the text or email, you will know where it came from and can stop it. Paddy Deighan JD PhD

Drones that (almost) Never Die?

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:50:55 -0700

Two aspects of our technology world are drones and AI (and the related topic of data centers). I have written extensively about AI and today's focus will shift to drones.Drones can be either destructive or beneficial; depending upon the use and user. One of the limitations is the operating capacity of the batteries. US technology is close to ending this issue. Our dear friend, nuclear is possibly the answer. However it is not the typical use of nuclear...it is far better than this...I am talking about Nuclear WASTE!!Nucleaer waste - which has been a problem for decades, can now be re-purposed to provide energy for drones and best of all it is safe (nothing today is 100% safe but this technology is as close as it gets to "safe"). Utilizing nuclear waste for drones will anble them to fly almost endlessly. The drones require little energy and nuclear waste can provide a lot of energy.Sometimes it is easy to become upset with our country or its direction. However, technology is still rockin' in the US of A or as I (sometimes feciously) refer to it as the "Land of the Free"!!BTW, NASA is already testing these drones ;)Happy 250+++ Paddy Deighan JD PhD

A New ERA of Civil Disobedience

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:36:39 -0700

It is truly fantastic that the World Cup Soccer tournament is in the US. I had the fortune to play in two World Cup Rugby tournaments. I have truly enjoyed watching the Tartan Army from Scotland and the Norwegian fans performing the Viking Row. Such festivities give us hope that the world will be a better place in the future. Admittedly, I am not a huge soccer fan because there is not enough scoring!! My three college roommates were on Fordham's nationally ranked team but it still seemed that every score, win or lose was 2-1.Soooo, I read today that the FAA and FBA had a ban on drones. Very good idea. They adopted a "no drone zone" of 3,000 feet in the air and three miles wide. Strictly enforced.The fines are as much as $100,000 (a nice down payment on real estate)!!! Despite this, there have already been more than 1,100 incidents of drones being pulled down by the government. Are people THIS sutpid or is it civil disobedience. It seems that more and more people are of the belief that they are entitled to violate that law and/or be stupid. Paddy Deighan JD PhD

Data Centers Affect RE Values-Why Do They Require So Much Energy?

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 19:33:26 -0700

It certainly seems that data centers can supress values in areas where they are located. Thet do provide high paying jobs but they also consume a lot of eberfy for cooling and performance. Many have asked me why this occurs (power consumption).The answer is predictably complex. AI chips are far more powerful than even recent chip iterations. The reason is that tens of MILLIONS of bit must pass through them EVERY second. Copper in't the answer since it cannot handle the heat this process generates. Consequently, the current answer to this issue is to send more and more power to the chips to keep providing energy so that the chips can regenerate over and overagain as the chips degrade, It is analgous to a dog chasing its tail. I am optimistic that there will be a solution. I have worked with light in my professional career. Consequently, light may be the answer since photons (particles of light) can almost endlessly transmit energy and it does so very efficiently. Light does not generate heat and it is the heat (and resulting need for cooling) that drains energy. I often comment that heat and sound can be very beneficial or very destructive depending upon the goal and frequency.Paddy Deighan JD PhD

More Summer Travel Fun!!

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 21:16:16 -0700

The Uber ride to the airport was the BEGINNING of the financial and logistical fun. Prior to arrival, I receive an email from Hyatt. They explained that as a Globalist (highest travel deignation at Hyatt and a really stupid name as it denotes negative connotations. In the past it was known as Platinum which was fine until some jackass decided that thecategories needed to be renamed). The email indicated that has a premium member of the Hyatt family (hey, I am not a menber of the Pritzker family and they own the majority of Hyatt) I receice VIP lounge checkin at the hotel. Sounds great. One problem, the super duper lounge closes at 4 PM and check in is at 4PM. Certainly they will allow some flexibility in guest check in time...but seriously? I arrive at 5Pm will arrive at the hotel around 6PM so the VIP benefit checkin lounge will be closed. Great benefit, Hyatt.The moral of teh story to me, is that if you are going to have a loyalty program, provide something of value and make it acccessible during times that it may be utilized.This Hyatt benefit is similar to , "hey travel loser, you get free coffee!!! But it is available from 11PM to 1AM only". LoL LoLPaddy Deighan JD PhD

Yay! It's Summer Time (Almost)..That Means TRAVEL

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 21:07:59 -0700

Most of us love to travel...Hans Christian Anderson wrote that "to live is to travel". Back in his day, travel was a difficult proposition!! Sometimes, today isn't much better!! A review of a ecent rental car receipt indicates NINE additional charges above the base rate. In no other industry can $45/day equate to $75/day after the BS add-ons. Do you get to add your license fees, marketing costs, staff, payroll expenses etc onto the HUD? NopeSo I reviewed the receipt. This made me even more angry due to the BS add-ons:1. airport surcharge (WTF)2. NY Congestion fee (ya kean me having to tolerate inexcusable NYC traffic isn't enough? Ihave to pay for the inconvenience too?3. NY State Blackcar fund. This is a thinly disguised tax on the rich. Certainelements ofour scoiety think it is OK even if you are not rich. This turns out to be a tax for using Black car service - which it turns out, the only thing special about the black car service, is that the car was black - otherwise nothing special.4. NY state benefits charge. So WE have to pay for state employee benefits? WHOA....notto mention that the Uber drivers are Independent Contractors...although the stark raving mad loons in CA want them to be contractors but be able tounionize (more fees for constituents).5. Tunnel surcharge..guess we haevto fly over the water next time.6. SalesTax7. Promotional fees8. Uber prime time additional fee. 17:00 pick up time will cost extra..extra fare and a surchargePaddy Deighan JD PhD

Why Do We Like Box Games? There is an Answer!!

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:16:39 -0700

I recently wrote that the gaming industry is exploding. Revenues from gaming are now higher than cinema, music and other avenues COMBINED. The modern itieration of "gaming" has a genus in the box game world. Many of us enjoyed playing such games. I still do!!In my neighborhood, 5-6 of us would play Risk for DAYS. One game. We had the real woooden armies - not the cheap plastic ones. Clue, Trouble, Don't Spill the Beans, Break the Ice and a seldom appreciated one, The Jetsons were part of my life. We often played the Memory game but no one could beat Leila!!It turns out that there is a scientific explanation for our past (and current) love of games. Games have proven to be a good way to keep the brain engaged ( you would never know this with today's lunacy). Games tap into the brain's core learning and reward systems. Subconsciously, we use this to develop as adults. Once we learn the mechanics of a "game", the process enables us to boost motivation and e,iminate procrastination. It seems that our brains developed in such a manner that we mentally evolve based upon exploration and learning from results. This is an active brain function. We are wired to become positively reinforced when we anticipate an outcome!! Now that it is Summer (almost), break out the Risk (or Clue) game....engage beverage of choice and have at it!! Paddy Deighan JD PhD

The Micro Plastic Issue May Have a Solution

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:34:47 -0700

There is a lot of discussion regarding the health issues that relate to "micro plastics". So much of our food is contained in materials that contain micro plastics. It is becomming such a problematic issue that dealing with this is becomming a medical specialty. My niece decided not to eat Chobani yogurt because of this. However, so much of our food contains plastic that gets aborbed into our tissues. Micro plastics do not digest in our systems. Plastics can exisit for CENTURIES and our stomach acid and digestive process does not eradicate them. This can cause a multitude of inflammatory and auto immune health complications. Fibromyalgia and severe chronic conditions are linked to this issue. There is hope!!Scientists have discovered two bacterial straines that when working in conjunction with each, destroy plastics.The two microbes can be embedded into plastics and this enables the plastic to self destruct. he goal is also to be able to insert the microbes into bodies of water to aid in the elimination of harmful plastics in our water. Finally, we may be able to drink with plastic straws again and the turtles will be saved!!Paddy Deighan JD PhD

Live Entertainment Ain't What it Used to Be!!!!!!

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:21:15 -0700

I grew up in Southern New Jersey..the event venues were the Hawaiian Cottage and the Latin Casino. Some headliners of th eday (70's) did appear a the Latin Casion...I did see Trini Lopez and Frank Sinatra there as a lad.Alas, the casinos came along and they had an exclusive right to most acts..so all of the venues of the day, closed. The Atlantic City casinos had mostly B level talent: Alan King, Bill Cosby (I know, I know), Alan Sherman (Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah), Buddy Hackett. It was exciting to go there but the talent wasn't there.Atlantic City's focus was on entertainment. Conversely, Las Vegas (my home city now) focused on gambling. Fifteen to twently years ago, the mayors (Oscar Goodman of Vegas) and Atlantic City met to exchange notes with an eye toward balancing entertainment with gaming.It didn't work. Both venues offer very little in terms of entertainment.I received an "events" email today. I was horrified at acts that were offered:Don McLean (American Pie)Tom Jones (will go see him in..he is awesome, but C'mon);Barry ManilowForeignerPablo Cruise Tower of PowerRod StewartDeep Purple - will go to see thme too...last time was 2016 in Kyiv Ukraine during winter at an OUTDOOR venue.Santana..will see them too but they have been araound for a LOOOONG time.There aren't any concert events worth attending?? Paddy Deighan JD PhD

Dr Suess and AI Prompts....the Unlikely Connection

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:58:42 -0700

During Weekly AI Zoom meetings, I frequently stressed that success or failure in AI queries is largely impacted by the prompts. In our modern day life, we truncate everything...thans becomes "thx" and "How are you" become HRU, etc. Accordingly, creating effective prompts can runcounter intuitive to our modern day life. My own staff struggles with this when I review their prompts. I advise them that the answer you received was based upon the quesry (prompts). The answer may be correct but incomplete as is often the case. The answer also may not reflectteh desired result.Sooo, I searched for clues to asdist my students and staff.....the perfect answer came from Dr. Suess!!!!!!! Dr Suess as he was known (part of his real name) was challenged by his publisher to write a book in less than FIFTY words!!! "Green Eggs and Ham" was the product of this challenge. I was unaqware that this phenomenon is known as the "Green Eggs and Ham" model of creativity. The theory behind this method is that we allow ourselves too much latitude when we approach a product. The trick is to severely limit ouselves in order to create...well, creativity!!Paddy Deighan JD PhD

United Airlines and new (Fraudulent) Policies

Sun, 24 May 2026 23:51:16 -0700

"Friendly skies" my ass. Isn't tavel a blast!! As we approach Summer, the travel season is upon us. Sooo, I booked a Polaris Business Classs ticket on United to go to Europe. Yippee!! mI was unable to book a SEAT. So I went through the painful experience of calling them and despite my elevated status, I spoke with a delightful but non-English speaking representative.I informed her that in order to book a SEAT, I have to pay extra. So, with a business class ticket, you do not get a seat...is the wing an option? I instantly recalled being told by the pint-sized powerhouse with flaming red hair and a daunting right hook - otherwise known as Mom, that if I did not eat the vegetables on the equivalent of a Swanson frozen dinner onboard, that I have to fly on the wing. I explained to the broken English representative that this is fraud...there is NO seat for the price I paid but the reservation and the system do not indicate this. I also recalled the $29.00 tickets on People's Express in which you could not have an assigned seat.THEN, I was advised that I have an allowance of ONE bag!!! I supoosedly get two with status. I was quoted $1,200 for one extra bag on the trip over to Europe and zero extra bags on the return. This is more than an economy ticket price. I could literally buy an extra ticket in economy class and put the extra bag in the seat and pay less money.The stupidity of all of this is mind numbing. If any of us conducted business in this manner we would all be looking for new careers. Paddy Deighan JD PhD

When Buyers and Sellers Communicate Directly

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:43:48 -0700

I realize that a strong consensus in the 'Rain would never condone buyers and sellers communicating directly....I never advocated it certainly. For one thing it can lead to disaster for many valid reasons.My friend and business partner in North Carolina just spoke with a seller - we are under contract. We discovered that the property was 1.7 acres...not 2. This affected our plans but we still moved forward. The lender has an issue with this butit seems everything will be OK.We do npt have an agent but the listing agent sent a very odd message to his client. He wasn't totally against the conversations but he miscategorized the conversation. I heard recorfings of all conversations. The listing agent then provided tax advice that was inaccurate. Now it is a mess but the seller adores my partner so all is well that ends well..or whatever that saying is!!Just wondering how we on (or in) the 'Rain feel about this typr of situation!!Paddy Deighan JD PhD

Remember Ask Jeeves??? He Only Recently Left US!!

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:05:39 -0700

I have not queried Jeeves in ages and I imagined that it went away eons ago!! Alas, Jeeves onle RECENTLY shut down!! Jeeves was the original ask a question, get an answer" platform. Jeeves was the insiation for an automotive repaid question and answer site I formed eons ago..."Ask Randy". Randy was a human that listened to a car and diagnosed the issue over the phone. Worked really well!! The car whisperer I suppose.Jeeves was 28 this year and it has now morphed into Bing. In a way, Jeeves started the whole search for an answer era tha t we enjoy today. We owe a debt of gratitude to Jeeves. Tisummarize Jeeves....it was 30 years ahead of its time. The technology was not reasy for Jeeves. This is an unfortunate exampleof being corret, but still getting swept aside. I do not know how Jeeves hung around for 28 years. He was futuristic in 1995 when it all started. Google came around and "ask a question" resulted in a cadre of blue links that may or may not have been relevant. Blue links are not really an answer. Jeeves had answers even if you did not want to hear them. Jeeves had a lot to offer but he didn't have what we have today. He did not have: 5 Things Jeeves Didn't HaveA conversational interface needs five things to work.Compute. Memory. Inference. Distribution. Data.Jeeves had one of them. Distribution.He had the AOL portal, the butler in the bowler hat, and a Super Bowl ad budget. That was the company.The other four didn't exist in any form he could use. Compute was a server farm running Pentium IIs. Memory meant a session cookie that died when you closed the browser. Inference was a pattern matcher pretending to understand English. Data was whatever pages had been indexed that week. Paddy Deighan JD PhD

ActiveRain May Challenge! It's All About MOM

Sun, 10 May 2026 18:05:28 -0700

My Mom was ahed of her time. She was a pioneer in her day. She knew when to be strong and she knew when to be sensitive/relaxed. It is hard to imagine that the was 5'0' tall.....But she was a pint-sized powerhouse with flaming red hair and a daunting right hook. I recall one day she when "tapped" my brother Kevin with a T-Bone steak and he had a huge bruise for weeks LoL.How she had a 6'4" 225 pound son is anyone's guess. But dad was a powerful, tall former WW II Marine so that factored in!! Her methodology was subtle, but you always got her drift. Her intuition was infallable. If she stated that the Packers would beat the Bears by three...take it to the bank (even if the Pack were 10 point underdogs)!! My brother-in-law never grapsed this and lost so many bets to her!! Veronica had the ability to eyeball someone...(that Irish closing one eye and looking at someone from head to toe and back again) and instantly know so much about them. Frequently, no words spoken but she didn't have to.She lived her life as a loving mom and wife to dad...but a free spirit - ahead of her time. She knew that strength meant being true to your goals and life plan, but enjoying the ride. She loved to travel and I am blessed to have spenf many European vacations with my parents....including one to Ireland in which the carriage driver went to Happy Hour with Mom and dad, and I woke up next to him...while he was still cradling his beloved Irish Whisky!! I woke him up and said, "WHERE IS THE HORSE"? Alas, a story for another day!!! Paddy Deighan JD PhD

Best Wishes to Our Moms!!!

Sun, 10 May 2026 17:45:12 -0700

Hard to believe that Mothers' Day is upon us. I read today that 75% of children prefer to TEXT Mom instead of calling her!!! I am pretty certain that nearly 100% of Moms prefer (in order) a) SEEING YOU, b) receiveing a thoughful gift/memory, c) receiving a CALL!!!My mom (in Heaven) definielty would not appreciate a text....I realize that many of utilize text as a prefered method of communication, but c'mon...Moms desercve more!!One of my staff members spent hours putting together a virtual card that listed many of his great memories that were spent with his Mom. Apparently, she had tears in her eyes while reading it - especially since he and his mom have had some struggles with each other lately. So, put the phones down...visit Mom if practical or at least have a form of personal contact with her ..she deserves it!!! Happy Mothers' Day.Paddy Deighan JD PhD

The Story of Two Identical Homes: Waaaay Different Values

Mon, 04 May 2026 14:42:57 -0700

A picture is indeed worth 1,00o words. We have discussed during Weekly Zoom calls the does/dont's of photo editing (especially with AI). A certain amount of editing is beneficial; too much is tinkering on fraud.Two houses sit across from each other on Main Street USA.Same builder. Same year. Same 1,832 square feet. Same vinyl siding in the same shade of beige.Inside, two families. Both with a husband and wife in their late 40s. Both with two kids in middle school. Both with a golden retriever. Both husbands work at the same plant—same shift, same pay grade, same $74,000 a year before taxes.On paper, they're identical.But walk down Main street on a Tuesday morning in October and you can see the gap.One driveway has a 2019 Honda CR-V with a fresh oil change sticker. The other has a 2014 Tahoe leaking power steering fluid on the concrete.One front porch has pumpkins and a working light. The other has a Ring camera that stopped working when the subscription lapsed.One mailbox gets brochures. The other gets overdue bill notices. Same job. Same salary. Same house.One family is sinking. The other isn't. Or at least this is the APPEARANCE and it may well be true. We can all imagine the disparity in price/sale!!Paddy Deighan JD PhD

Framing the Use of AI in Business!!

Sun, 03 May 2026 20:08:22 -0700

Every day I hear new musings about AI. Many treat it as something new. like it’s some future thing. As we have dicussed in our Weekly Zoom calls, it has been around for more than 60 years.Most people - including business users, are still treating it like a toy. It is a TOOL.That’s the mistake. Because the real advantage with AI isn’t “using it.” It’s how you think about your entire business because of it.The Shift That Changes EverythingMost businesses are still built like this: You hire people Give them roles Those roles do tasks That’s the old model. The new model?You break everything into workflows… and then decide what gets automated.Not “who do I hire?” But:“What actually needs to happen… and how can it happen faster, cheaper, and better?”This Is Where People Fall BehindThey try AI like this:“Write me an email.”“Make me an ad.”“Give me ideas.”And when the output isn’t perfect… they quit. That’s like hiring someone, giving zero training, and firing them on day one.AI doesn’t fail. You just didn’t train it properly.....remember, it is a TOOL.The Real Play (That Gives You Leverage)Start thinking like this:Every part of your business is just a series of tasks.Example:Running ads isn’t one thing. It’s: Writing hooks Building creatives Setting budgets Analyzing performance Iterating tests Each one of those can become a workflow. And each workflow can be partially (or fully) handled by AI.The Advantage Nobody Sees ComingWhen you do this right you stop scaling with people. You start scaling with systems.Which means: Faster execution Lower friction More output with less chaos And here’s the truth:Most businesses won’t do this. Not because they can’t… but because they won’t take the time to learn it.The Simple Exercise That Changes EverythingDo this today: Write down everything you do in a day Break it into the smallest possible tasks Take ONE task and ask:“How could AI help me do this faster or better?” Then test it. That’s it.Paddy Deighan JD PhD

More Evidence of Intelligent Life in the Multi Verse??

Sun, 03 May 2026 19:33:39 -0700

In my opinion, it is mathematically impossible that we are alone in the multi verse. Yes, there is more than one universe. We discovered this several years ago when two galaxies were colliding and we were ble to trace the origin of the galaxies and one was in our universe than the second was from another "Big Bang". These colliding galaxies were 130million light years form earth - meaning if you could travel at the speed of light - almost 6 trillion miles per year, it would take 130 million years to reach the origin of this "collision". Consequently, there was at least two origins of universes. The multi verses were created (ours anyway) 4,6 billion years ago..and it is still expanding. We are newer in the universe so there are galaxies far older than ours. There are new ones created from the original bang. So, again, it is a mathematical certainty that we are not alone.Alas, there is new data to suggest this proposition is true. NASA launched OSIRIS-Rex to land on an asteroid, take samples and return them to earth. The samples were returned in 2023. Japan launched Hayabusa 2 to perform the same task on a different asteroid -Ryugu. These samples have also returned to earth.Researches discovered complete sets of genetic bases belonging to both RNA and DNA. It has long been believed that asteroids "seed" life wherever they travel and this is additional evidene to support this. Significantly, researchers discovered 5 canonical nucleatides in samples. Four were remarkably similar to our DNA - Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymine. The RNA component was Uracil. Similar DNA and RNA are crucial building blocks for earth like creatures. This is staggering news..... Paddy Deighan JD PhD