MerryJaneDoe

I am ashamed to admit - I haven't worked at all.

I'm so sorry, I didn't realize we were supposed to be working! (Also, I am a ditch digger by trade, and alas, I see no way that my skills could be of service...)

I'd get a Prime membership if I could order one of those, for sure! Go Iran!

Proton VPN.

I use the paid version, but I'm pretty sure you can get a free version without data caps.

It lets you set the location of your VPN endpoint, meaning that you can spoof your location to just about any country on the globe. Very easy and intuitive interface, works on mobile, and no I don't work for these motherfuckers, I'm just excited to share my experience because I only recently decided to start using a VPN.

Other options, according to Google: PrivadoVPN (10GB/month), Windscribe (10GB/month), and Hide.me

This is perfect, I think! The last thing we need is a unified religious front that's "cleaned up God's house". Much better to have traditionalists offended by Machine Gun Jesus and in-fighting.

In fact, maybe replace Jesus' face with Trump's. Hit 'em with some blasphemy and see which Xians cheer it and which ones look away in shame and second-hand embarrassment.

Article summary: THIS JUST IN: TRUMP LOVES OIL, HATES CLEAN ENERGY

Yeah. We know.

I'm very disappointed that the term "petrodollar" is not used anywhere in this article, because the concept of a petrodollar explains (at least partially) why Trump has done what he's done.

Saudi Arabia has a deal with the U.S. They have agreed to trade only in U.S. dollars. By protecting that deal, Trump protects the U.S. dollar as the international currency of choice.

Any article about the oil trade and/or Gulf nations should mention this. It's a foundation of U.S. foreign policy. And, while it's an underhanded way to exert disproportionate control over global energy markets, it benefits the U.S. consumer greatly. It keeps the value of the dollar high, even as U.S. manufacturing dies.

In a just world, this arrangement would never have happened. But it did happen. If the petrodollar disappears tomorrow, there will be even more misery and hardship for working class Americans. Imperialism should be dismantled carefully, lest the innocent be crushed beneath it.

Poor Rickless bastards.

It's an incorrect/misleading title.

Shatner was mocking people who think new Star Trek is too "woke".

The original Star Trek was known for its very progressive (at the time) themes, and especially for its integrated cast. Don't have the energy to google it rn, but I think Shatner was one of the first white TV actors to kiss a black co-star onscreen.

it can’t be regulated.

Sorry to disagree, but...I OBJECT! :)

Yes, it most definitely can be regulated. That's not to say that everyone will follow the law, but a regulatory legal framework is the first step. It's similar to saying that pirating can't be regulated - it's most definitely regulated. There will be people who step over that line, but drawing that line and telling people not to step over it is, in itself, a deterrent. That's the entire point of regulation.

IMHO, some of the negative effects of AI can be mitigated. For example, a law that specifies situations where a human agent MUST be involved. Things like buying insurance, for example, should involve a licensed human agent. (And if I had my way, customer service for returns/billing questions would also be mandatory human interaction.)

As for your homemade LLM, more power to ya. That's what AI should be used for - entertainment. A sounding board, maybe tutoring basic subjects. (Masturbation? Sure! Power to the people!)

But I think we both know where AI is actually headed. Huge datacenters that chew up resources whilst ingesting all the information of our daily lives, every stop light monitored and tracked, every street corner wired in. And I don't have any idea how to regulate THAT sort of government overreach - our present system is clearly broken.

JFC. We haven't even passed legislation to regulate AI, or address the massive amount of resources it takes. But, yeah, sure, let's jump ahead to "what if it comes alive?"

"So you have Tik Tok just smashing our young people’s brains all day long with video of carnage in Gaza"

Funny how that works. Smashing the brain with Gaza, and the Epstein files, and ICE and heretofore unseen levels of financial corruption and on and on.

If the bar gets any lower, we'll need to start digging.

I respect whoever who took this picture.

Sacrificed an opportunity to skedaddle and is no doubt now a legend to these guys. "Holy fuck, can't believe you got that shot!"