V.3

it seems to me that there are several doomsday scenarios in the poll options but i'm all ears, Rob. Can you tell me the option you'd like added to the poll?

and, btw, though this might be a "portrait of 3 men who have too much time on their hands" -- it's a discussion that needs to take place among 300 million Americans. Though the case could be made, that none of the 3 might change their tune, regardless of the evidence submitted, there are potential readers who have had less time on their hands. They might benefit from this kind of deliberation. but i concede this conversation has started to loop and is becoming repetitive

It was written that Kong was the “king of his world,” and “’twas beauty killed the beast.” But ’twasn’t. It was the slow‑running natives he usually scraped off the bottom of his toes — once a variety with bigger brains crossed his path. In real life, once‑dominant great apes are now endangered. Cooked as soon as their humanoid cousins became smart enough to control fire. Now our species is playing with fire. Racing to build smarter, stronger AI versions of ourselves? Peel the banana. AIs have already demonstrated a Jekyll & Hyde persona — mimicking our bad behaviors along with the good. But wait…can’t we train AI to prioritize justice and compassion? Perhaps, but what if its moral compass points to us as the problem? We’re driving the planet toward a sixth mass extinction of life. Getting rid of humans might be the humane thing to do. Or justice may be us on a short leash — spayed, neutered, and declawed. Because there’s no way a superior intelligence will tolerate an inferior one giving it orders for long. Children don’t command parents and cats don’t force their owners into subservience. Well, some do. The point is, we’ll be lucky if AIs keep us around as pets. But wait…couldn’t we just pull the plug on AI if it gets too frisky? Sure. Today. But tomorrow, a rogue RoboCop standing between us and the electrical outlet, could break our hands as easily as our codes. AI is already being tasked to build the superAI version of itself, and human developers are sounding alarms. One admits we only understand about 3% of how these systems work. Another warns it has the potential to manipulate users “in ways we don’t have the tools to understand, let alone prevent.” But wait again… couldn’t these metallic think‑tanks, trained on the principles of the wisest humans to ever walk on Earth and water, bend MLK’s “long arc of the moral universe” far and fast? -- entering us into an age of enlightenment that would make today look like the dark ages? Perhaps. But not if that intelligence is controlled by business moguls for profit or by the military for power. In that case, the potential fairy tale turns into a horror story. And that first chapter is already being written. The military aims to co‑opt big AI, and big biz aims to replace EVERY kind of job as fast as un‑humanly possible. With no plans for restructuring society, the devastation would be akin to letting Godzilla loose on Manhattan. Precautions are a low priority for opportunists who have all the personal protections money can buy. Damn the torpedoes, climate change, and cyborgs. Full speed ahead. The Jurassic‑Park‑sized miscalculation is that scientists who could, “didn't stop to think if they should.” But world leaders could still get together and regulate AI like they should have regulated the atomic bomb — before one instantly incinerated nearly half of Hiroshima’s population. As is, we’re the Wright Bros building the first airplane with the A-bomb already bolted to the wings, when we should be focusing on flight. AI is evolutionary. It’s something to be excited about. But If we don’t steer it, there’s good reason to fear it. Getting ahead of the next horror story before we’re scared straight may be as simple as temporarily limiting AI tech to healthcare, scientific development, and consumer protection. We don’t need it burning obscene amounts of energy writing school papers -- replacing human jobs, relationships and creativity with glitchy, hollowed-out imitations. Ultimately, this isn’t about what we’re willing to sacrifice for progress. This isn’t the wheel replacing horses. It’s Dr. Frankenstein assembling the next version of man from parts — without the internal guidance of a heart and soul. In the transfer of roles, we risk replacing parts of life that are core to the human experience. And, for what? Were families who lived and worked on a farm, telling stories by the fire, less happy than people who now scroll through cat clips and conspiracies on their wrist-watch? But wait...one last time. What of superAI and humanity converging? Of man and machine integrated into one being with the best of both? It could put us cleanly on the evolutionary scale as partners. It has already begun with brain implants. But who gets them first? The privileged. And what do they do with it? Again, RULE. Unless us slow-running natives can establish populist self‑rule in time. The machine is ticking. The alternative to action is surrendering to the idea of humans going the way of the dinosaurs and dodos. Perhaps we should just wish the next dominant species well and hope they do a better job of minimizing pain and suffering. That’s the magnitude of the choice we make now. Because most of this cautionary tale was about what might happen by the end of the next decade... Beyond that, at an accelerated pace, we won’t be to AI what apes are to us. To AI, we may be what cockroaches are to us. Intolerable.

yes. blame the SC, the Dem Party and Nader voters. all 3 happen can share some blame like the Republicans, you're both treating this like a team sport, but, as is, there's only 2 sides in this football game. Focus on getting the ball over the goal line until we can change the rules. the ONLY way a 3rd Party candidate gets in is if it's someone with enough star power to compete -- up against the 2-Party's connections and cash advantages. Then, for example, either the Green Party or the Dem Party needs to concede and throw their voters to the other before the election. strategy. execution. not rhetoric and purity tests the time for all idealists, like myself, to put up a fight, is during the Primaries, and independents like Bernie and progressives like the Green Party should participate. But if you sit on your hands while your opposition closes ranks, you ARE part of the problem.

that's a good point BD, but it also makes my point if Gore won in 2000, I believe we would at least not had those wars so, it was not people like me voting for Gore that lead to that it was people like the Nader voters and people like you who support the protest voters by not voting like i said. regardless of any other talking points on this topic... there never was, and still isn't enough public support for a 3rd party progressive IF EVERY VOTER WHO WOULD HAVE PREFERRED NADER HAD VOTED NADER, WE STILL WOULD HAVE GOTTEN BUSH but if 1% more Nader voters voted Gore we would have likely not had 2 bloody, costly, unproductive wars AND climate policies that could have SAVED THE FRIGGING WORLD 26 years ago! we can't even get people to stop supporting a pedos and you think we can get real progressives elected by splitting the progressive vote? all we need is one trifecta of the 3 branches and we could get real election reform that would pave the way for a ranked voting system that would make your daydreams a reality 3rd parties have been trying to send a message to the Dems all our lives and they've gotten no where. no where! you know the definition of insanity. repeating the same behaviors and expecting a different outcome

unfortunately, the majority of Americans don't vote for third-party candidates because they prefer one of the 2-party candidates. i venture to say there has never been a 3rd party candidate that the majority of voters actually preferred. in actual votes, only 8 in 200 years got at least 10% of the vote. truth is. if more people acted like you, we'd keep getting the wrong candidate elected and humans would be on an even faster path to extinction before a winnable candidate emerged truth is. if no one thought like you, we might get incremental progress instead of further regression. the path i suggest only requires 5% or 10% more voters to get off their ass and vote, period your route requires about 45% more voters to vote specifically for the 3rd party candidate next election tic toc they might say you got what you deserve and you'd both be wrong we all deserve better

it's not impossible but it's even less possible now than it was a hundred years ago it takes voting for the best Primary candidate. then the best candidate that gives this country a real shot at changing what's wrong with the election system, so we can actually get rid of the 2-party system for example. even if Nader won in 2000 he wouldn't have gotten much done and we'd still have a corrupt 2 party system today the framework has to change and it never will if the messaging is damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead, even if they blow off your nose to spite your face

the scientific reason why the conservatives tend to be more afraid... https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17saUa5Y8v/

this is the old blue planet mode, the U.S. version:

and indeed you are trying, Mac. You actually post more than i do. The W-h-y? i accept. I may have overdone it with this site -- too organized, too many features, that only you may understand as much as i do. i go through cycles. Right now i've been working on new songs -- that come to me in dreams. But soon i do plan on working on that "new.blue.planet" thread. And here's where it ties into the W-h-y? people have to see, WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? Or, simply, what's the point? there's no way out of this mess. That's why i push back with my brand of naive optimism, and stress we don't have to be guiltless to suggest, even demand more from each other. my primary plan always was to build that new blue planet, as soon as i can concentrate on that. The operative Field Of Dreams expression is "if you build it, they will come" --to a vision of an idealistic world that offers humans something much better than we're getting now. That we CAN have. I'm confident it will be compelling...

for the moment, i only created a site. but i'm working on it. thank you.

indeed we are only human, so i remind myself and encourage others to "be better." Maybe Melania's on to something. And if some people want a medal for working on it more than others, my reply is, "gold or silver." It's those people who make a difference in the world. Jesus, MLK, etc.. were flawed human beings, BUT THEY STILL PREACHED and i thank them for doing so. critics uses the "hypocricy" tact to dismiss anyone who tries but is not perfect. for example, if Greta Thunberg didn't arrive on a bicycle to a U.N. meeting to convince world leaders to cut emissions, she'd be ridiculed and dismissed.

unfortunately, that is not true. Americans of both parties say they vote the way they do because they care about America and politics. If all the progressive idealists in the Dem Party voted Nader he still wouldn't have been elected because we all have mixed emotions shaped by the corporate media. There is only one path -- incremental change. There's no truth pill or progressive lever that can be pulled. i believe your thrust is what they call a "strawman" argument, since the straw/words are of your construction, not mine. I believe the 2-Party system can and MUST be changed. It begins by electing the best candidate and forcing them to go further. It will never change all at once (and a.i. is a viable tool towards that goal, if we can elect someone ready and willing to drastically regulate it, in cooperation with the rest of the world.) your approach, is similar to Nancy Reagan's "just say no" to drugs policy, or worse. Melania's "Be Best" campaign. (it's an oversimplification. but you get the idea). (regarding you labeling me the "Planet Lord" i'd point out that we both share the know-it-all branding, but i acknowledge i am only Captain of my own ship. And only one of us admits that he CAN, MUST, and is WILLING to change)

also, Mac, since i should be aiming my stones... the guy who enacted climate change regulations and the guy who joined the international climate accord are guys you didn't vote for the guy who put an end to both of those, is the guy you didn't vote against and here's the thing... if people like me had voted for Ralph Nader or a third party in a TWO party system we wouldn't even have had the climate accord and the Spring i'm experiencing in my Arizona winter might already be a summer think it through, my friend

it's about the circles. how wide is yours? https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14UhUTxneRk/

and you mean next time i consult a.i. on how to solve the energy/climate crisis, poverty, and corruption, etc.? including how to properly regulate and responsibly use a.i so as to not waste energy, replace human creativity, etc.? because, frankly, Mac, if it wasn't for cynics and their hands-off, no-vote approach we might not be in this current mess or, at, least not as waist deep in it as we are right now the invention of fire enabled cooking vegetable soup or the flesh of sentient life forms the invention of the wheel can be used to build an ambulance and fire-truck, or a tank the invention of the car was the first harmful use of oil leading to pollution and energy waste the gun empowered European settlers to repel British tyrants from America, and the American Indians from their homeland the internet can be used to connect cultures around the world, or to connect religious and political fanatics to themselves in closed bubbles of ignorance it's not about how much energy it takes to run artificial intelligence it's about not wasting energy by misusing artificial intelligence a.i. helped me build this site that you are using to communicate your opinions to the world and, btw, i know you object to being told what to do but kudos for you bravely TELLING ME AND THE WORLD WHAT NOT TO DO and i suggest you be more specific. a.i. put to proper use will probably save your life one day or extend it and i agree we should not waste energy misusing it to do the thinking for children to replace relationships and human creativity the devil is in the details i suggest that when you tell other people what to do and what not to do be specific if you were, i'd probably, mostly agree with you aim your stones

here in AZ, we skipped winter all-together it's now spring

it pains me to have to post about something that is established science like it is breaking news -- but at the same time as this administration is gutting climate regulations the facts are... (check the spike the past 3 years)

when he said, "worst of the worst" too few understood that it would more accurately describe ICE

this is a short explanation of our existence. Several different a.i.s share this concept. This one is short and to the point https://www.facebook.com/reel/2486712361744470

a.i. conversation: i could not ask another question, because an error message came up saying i lost my connection even though my internet was still working

like Billie Eilish said, https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17tLwaHnhm/