#Elon Musk future goals

[dipnots]

Top 10 Most Successful Businessmen of All Time: Lessons and Inspiration

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#amazon #Apple Inc. #Berkshire Hathaway #bill gates #business world #calculated risks #commitment #Dell Technologies #elon musk #entrepreneurial journey #facebook #future entrepreneurs #goals #google #hard work #indelible mark #inspiration #jeff bezos #Larry Ellison #Larry Page #lessons #Mark Zuckerberg #Michael Dell #microsoft #mindset #Oracle #overcome obstacles #passion #perseverance #remarkable

[bogleech]

hey do you remember that time you talked about those Silicon Valley freaks who want to genetically rewrite animals and humanity via AI? unfortunately it looks like a research lab was just founded for this exact purpose and is being funded by a former Google exec, it's called "Future House" and its goal is to "build an AI scientist" by performing LLM-generated "experiments" on living organisms (they have a wet lab), they also call biology a "playground". literally a giant nightmare in the making

Their mission statement includes somehow drawing comparisons to video games, like Minecraft so I get the strong feeling almost nobody involved is a real biologist of any actual integrity or legitimate experience and odds are exceptionally high that perhaps whatever they try to make will destroy them all or otherwise just be so irresponsible and terrible they'll all end up destitute or in prison. I'm willing to bet they'll attempt some pretty unethical things before they get any comeuppance, though, like Elon Musks's fucking monkey brain experiments. :(

[not-terezi-pyrope]

Been engaging with some threads on twitter blasting transhumanism for historical connections to eugenics, which may be true in terms of some of the people involved in the 50s or whatever, because it was the 50s. But you guys do realize that that doesn't make radical body autonomy or life extension bad, right? No more than the goal of curing the sick is also tainted by historical eugenics, racism etc in medicine.

There is this trend I hate and am very afraid of where ideas are evaluated solely on their aesthetic associations and the politics of fringe advocates rather than their own merits being considered.

Same thread also attacked effective altruism, and like - I agree! There are some iffy types who have too much influence in that sphere. But that doesn't mean that the core goal of "helping people most effectively" is inherently evil or worth dismissing in all its incarnations, including those in the hands of reformists.

"Transhumanism is eugenics" scares me with its rising ubiquity as a trans woman who is heavily invested in radical body autonomy and the pursuit of better lives and health through self modification. The same goes for the rising, alarming consensus that "using resources in our environment that are available to enrich human lives", and seeking more such resources e.g. speculatively in space or whatever, is evil colonialist (??) hubris. Because exploiting resources to grow and enrich our lives is how humans exist and sustain ourselves, and outright rejection of this model of human existence is at its most extreme a call for "ecofascist" style mass genocide of the human race.

Feels like that is worse than worrying about the aesthetics of colonising Mars, a desolate uninhabited rock ball, because colonisation was bad when it was the genocidal invasion of pre-inhabited land. Like those are two different things!

Anyway, yeah, I hate the politics of aesthetic and associative moral taint that reduce the potential future to timid self-flagellation and blind fear of association with the failures of the past, resulting in demonstrably worse long-term outcomes for everyone.

Idk man, it sucks that people are like this and this is the way progressive spaces are moving. It feels like Elon Musk can pay lip service to some school of philosophy without fully understanding it even and then because he's capitalist scum (he is) we're meant to all hate it by association, because even leftists treat him like the most important dude in the world, apparently.

#not-terezi-speaks #Politics #Science

[leoslosttoolbelt]

What I think the demigods would major as and why

these are personal head canons dont take them too seriously :)

Percy: Education. I know that we usually hc as a Marin biology kinda guy but I genuinely think that he wouldn't be too fond of the workload but instead want to work towards being a teacher and being the kind of teacher he needed as a kid, y'know? Alternatively, I can see him being into something like baking and pastry art to take over Sally's shop.

Annabeth: Architecture. I really don't think I need to explain this one to y'all but yeah she's an architecture girly. But if we want to branch out I can also see her studying law and working in the area of Child Protection.

Leo: Astrophysics. I have this head canon of him panicking because of the sheer amount of choices that he's presented with and choosing the first one of the alphabetical list. Lucky for him, he's insanely good at it AND it'll pay well in the future. He minors in mechanical engineering and realises that although he has all the practical knowledge because of his father, his theoretical knowledge isn't as strong lol.

Piper: Food Science. I'm trying to be unique here because yeah, she could do environmental studies but I also think it would be super cool to see her learning about food and developing new vegetarian versions of food because it's something she's visibly passionate about in the books.

Nico: I can see him getting a history / philosophy related degree for his bachelors just for him to get a  doctor of philosophy (Ph. D.) in mythology or folklore. His hyperfixation runs deep and he sure as hell is going to fuel it as much as he can.

Jason: Doesn't go to college!! Is severely burnt out <3. No but like idk man I think he'd legitimately want to take it chill if that makes sense? Maybe he'd do a business major just so that he can get a job somewhere but I can't think of somewhere he'd fit in nicely. Jason does have a lot of part time jobs though!!

Frank: Nurse! Nursing school! Despite being the son of Mars I can see him being in the medical field because he wants to help people in need. It's a long journey with lots of ups and downs but finally getting his degree makes it all worth it.

Hazel: Geology because rocks. And also women in STEM!! This one directly correlates to her powers in the books as well as both of her parents! On the other hand, I can see definitely see Hazel studying in the field of archeology with the goal of being an archeologist and then eventually a museum curator :)

Reyna: Psychology!! Listen, I know this seems out of the blue but Reyna gives me the right vibes. Everyone is skeptical at first because they don't think she'd fit the mold of a clinical psychologist but that's okay because Reyna wants to further herself in research! She studies Neuropsychology and becomes a prominent researcher in her field! Please tell me you see the vision.

Will: From what I can see in the books, Emergency Medical Services degree seems like the right field for him. He's already basically a paramedic at Camp Half Blood so he knows it's naturally the right step for him. On the other hand, for something a little different - he seems like the kind of guy who might be interested in studying cinematography or art history maybe.

Travis: He studies Economics because he's so fucking convinced that he can become the next Elon Musk if he studies this. Alternatively, he studies music because he wants to travel the world and like sing with the wind and all that shit.

Connor: he's a communications major because he's a really popular youtube and technically doesn't really need to go to college but oh well he can study communications.

Drew: She goes to cosmetology school as the first step to start her own makeup and skincare empire. She's super nice to all of her clients and helps out all of the other students when they're having trouble with something! I will not tolerate any Drew slander let my girl breathe.

Pollux: Chemical Engineering. He got influenced by watching breaking bad and somehow landed himself a degree in chemical engineering. He doesn't know how he survived that degree but it doesn't matter because he decides to not give a fuck and open a coffee shop that becomes really popular because all the drinks are to die for.

Thalia: I don't really know the right terminology but she has an art related degree / tattoo apprentice so that she can work as a tattoo artist!! It fits with the thalis vision and also she is the eldest daughter who loses it lowkey so she doesn't follow your usual education route. Tattoo artist Thalia for the win!!

#pjo hoo toa #percy jackson #annabeth chase #leo valdez #piper mclean #nico di angelo #jason grace #hazel levesque #frank zhang #reyna ramirez arellano #will solace #travis stoll #connor stoll #drew tanaka #pollux #thalia grace #pjo headcanon

[otherkinnews]

Twitter promotes hatred against transgender people, furries, therians

Summary: Since buying Twitter, Elon Musk has been pushing the platform into fascist politics by either manually or algorithmically suppressing LGBTQ content, welcoming back neo-nazis who’d been banned, and boosting hate speech. This Pride month, he used the platform to promote a stream of an anti-transgender movie, What Is A Woman? (2022). The movie attempts to ridicule transgender people by comparing them to other groups, so it contains misinformation about furries: the litter box urban legend again. It also had an interview about therianthropy with Naia Okami, who rejected therianthropy again a few months afterward. The free stream gathered more than 62 million views that day, so it will be how many people first heard of furries or therians. Twitter keeps getting worse for marginalized groups, and now for furries and therians too. If you and your friends haven’t already migrated away from the nazis-and-transphobes site, we have advice on how to move to safer alternatives: Mastodon, Tumblr, Discord, Dreamwidth, and forums. We also have advice on media literacy skills, how to recognize nazis and transphobes on social media, how to guard against this happening in the future, how to support transgender rights, and some options for what to do with your Twitter when you leave. At the end of this article, we have a timeline of events that happened in this story.

--

Musk promoted an anti-transgender movie

Since last October, billionaire Elon Musk has owned Twitter, a social media site with 450 million users. He started June by pinning his quote retweet of an anti-transgender movie. He remarked, "Every parent should watch this." The movie is What Is A Woman?, by Daily Wire columnist Matt Walsh. The Daily Wire invited everyone to stream the 95 minute movie for free. It is a propaganda piece that uses misinformation to oppose the existence of transgender people. Until then, the movie had been behind a paywall. Media Bias Fact Check describes the Daily Wire as a right-wing news and opinion site that has medium credibility. The civil rights nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hate Watch has called Walsh and his boss “peddlers of fear and disinformation about LGBTQ people” (Wilson, Nov 22, 2022). Musk has been known for his transphobia since before he bought Twitter (Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, Dec 13 2022). NBC reported that the Daily Wire’s CEO and other anti-transgender influencers such as Robby Starbuck had demanded for Musk to make the site stop suppressing the movie for its hate speech. Musk complied. Walsh, who had released the movie in June last year, said “What a great way to ring in Pride Month.” (Tolentino and Ingram, NBC, June 2, 2023).

What is that movie, and why is it so harmful?

The movie’s title refers to how they spend the movie interviewing various people about what a woman is, with the goal to discredit the validity of transgender people. Matt Walsh and Justin Folk had a bad enough reputation that no transgender people or allies would willingly appear in their movie, so they tricked people into showing up. They founded a front group called the Gender Unity Project LLC, and used a registered agent to mask their connection to it. Their producer used a fake name when reaching out to people to interview. They advertised the movie and LLC to potential interviewees as being “about transgender and LGBTQIA+ communities, and the challenges they face in today’s culture” and that it would “[explore] the real lives of people in the LGBTQIA+ communities, and to shed some light on the topics of gender identity, and gender fluidity, in a way that will capture the attention of all Americans and be educational.” Transgender rights activist Eli Erlick discovered they were not who they seemed, and exposed them immediately.

The movie intentionally misrepresented and disparaged a variety of professionals and transgender individuals who Walsh misled into interviewing with him. He used deceptive editing and ambush interview tactics to make it look like the interviewees were either in complete agreement with his hateful perspective, or were contradicting themselves and didn’t make sense. He used the movie to push false claims about transgender people, including trying to connect transgender identity to sexual predation and implying that transgender individuals will regret transitioning or that transitioning is dangerous.

Far-right director Robby Starbuck plans to release a similar movie this summer, titled “It Takes a Village.” This will also be a hateful propaganda movie opposing the existence of transgender people. Starbuck, like Walsh, lied about the movie goals to potential interviewees. Erlick caught and exposed this trick even earlier than the last one. Starbuck’s team members misrepresented the project as “highlighting gender affirming care and the issues facing trans youth.” Erlick believes that Starbuck may have planned to arrest her should she have agreed to fly to Tennessee for the offered interview.

How did this movie misrepresent furries and therians?

A common illogical argument that bigots use to criticize LGBTQ people sounds something like this: “If we let women marry one another, then wouldn’t it be just as absurd if we let people marry animals? If someone can identify as a woman, wouldn’t it be just as absurd if someone identifies as an animal?” Walsh used that tactic in his picture book Johnny the Walrus. Walsh’s movie has segments about furries and therians, in an effort to say that saying you are a woman is as absurd as saying you are an animal.

In one segment in the movie, Walsh interviews Sara Stockton, a family therapist. She incorrectly tells him that furries have demanded litter boxes in schools. Reuters Fact Check has an article that debunks that part of the movie. It’s well-known to be an urban legend that has never happened in any school. Conservatives have circulated it for the past few years to satirize transgender students asking to use the restroom of their choice. An alterhuman community historian did a presentation about how the legend has developed (House of Chimeras, 2022). The legend is why a few of this year’s hundreds of anti-transgender bills in the US say they also oppose people who identify as animals. Those are Montana Senate Bill 544, North Dakota House Bill 1522, Oklahoma Senate Bill 943, and Indiana Statehouse Bill 380.

In the next segment, Walsh interviewed Naia Okami. Okami has frequently sought and accepted media publicity for the past decade, even with producers her peers advised her to avoid (Okami, Oct 18, 2022). Around the same time as when she interviewed with Walsh, she accepted interviews with two other far-right media known for their hostility toward openly transgender people such as herself: The Sun (Jan 23 2022) and Fox News (Feb 7 2022). In these three interviews, she described herself as a wolf otherkin and therian. When Walsh tried to get her to describe herself as transspecies, she “vehemently rejected” that, so Walsh didn’t use those parts of the interview in the movie (Okami, June 5, 2022). (Okami has never called herself transspecies, and had spoken against the word for years.) Instead, against her wishes, he referred to her as a “trans wolf,” a label that she never used and which makes her “want to vomit” (Okami, June 8, 2022). A few months after the movie came out, she announced that she no longer calls herself a therian. She said, “I will always be a wolf girl; but I am not nor do I want to be … a member of the alterhuman, therianthropy, or otherkin communities” (Okami, Oct 18, 2022).

Like many of the other interviewees, Okami has explained how she was interviewed under false pretenses by a producer who used an alias. She shared records of her correspondences with the producer. She was not aware that Walsh would be the one interviewing her. He asked “intentionally provocative and leading questions.” She was looking into taking legal action, because the movie used the appearances of herself and others without informed consent (Okami, May 21, 2022).

By the end of the day, Musk’s promotion of the free movie on Twitter had caused it to have more than 62 million views (Tolentino and Ingram, NBC, June 2, 2023). This may be how most people in the world first hear of anything like otherkin, therians, furries, or transspecies identity. This may contribute to more widespread attitudes that are misinformed about and hostile toward these groups.

Musk’s Twitter welcomes fascists while suppressing LGBT speech

Musk has a history of supporting antisemitic and fascist ideology and espousing anti-LGBT rhetoric. One of Musk’s first actions when he bought Twitter was to share an anti-gay conspiracy theory published by a right-wing news source about the October 2022 attack on Paul Delosi. Twitter under Musk rolled back content policy protections for the site’s transgender users. He has also been known to quote Nazis, has reinstated the Twitters accounts of multiple neo-Nazis who were previously banned for hate speech, and has transferred his Twitter CEO title to a former Trump appointee. On Transgender Day of Visibility, users noticed that Twitter’s algorithm flags tweets for sensitive content if they contain the words LGBT, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, trans, queer, gender identity, pronouns, or TERF. Meanwhile, it doesn’t flag the words gender critical (which is what many transphobes prefer to call themselves), Nazi, fascist, or fascism. The algorithm’s source code shows that it’s designed to suppress and hide tweets that contain external links, misspelled words (as happens when users to try to get around suppressed words), and all mention of Ukraine. If you wanted to stand your ground and use Twitter to speak up for good causes, that’s exactly what it makes sure nobody will hear.

Musk vows to criminalize transgender healthcare

Musk pushes his anti-transgender attitudes in more places than just in this platform he owns. He vowed that he will be “actively lobbying to criminalize” gender affirming care in individuals under the age of 18. He supports long-term imprisonment without parole for anyone who supports or assists in such care, including therapists (Thakker, New Republic, June 2, 2023). He can wield unmatched influence over politics because he is the world’s wealthiest person at more than $100 billion dollars (Toh, CNN, May 31, 2023).

What you can do

Leave Twitter and bring your friends. Musk, and the platform he has through Twitter, is a threat to our civil rights and our lives. Twitter is not a safe place to be, because it is increasingly being turned into a fascist platform. As long as you’re there, you’re handing money to fascists, even if you’re not paying a subscription (Solarbird, April 23, 2023). You can’t fight the normalization of fascism by continuing to contribute to a fascist space (Solarbird, Dec 7, 2022). If you work for free to be a content provider for Twitter, then you are supporting fascism. Remember a German proverb: “If one nazi sits at a table, and ten other people sit there talking with him, that’s a table with eleven nazis.” It will become harder to avoid sitting and talking with Nazis on Twitter, because Musk says he will get rid of the option to block users (Ngo, Washington Times, June 8, 2023). Many users have been migrating away from Twitter. We strongly advise that you do so as well, and help your friends migrate, too. You must, to protect your friends, and to quit supporting the normalization of fascism.

Follow relevant news, and sharpen your media literacy skills. Whenever a friend shares a news article with you, see what Media Bias Fact Check says about that news source, and see what Reuters Fact Check and Snopes have to say about its content. Avoid boosting or interacting with transphobes and nazis on social media by learning how to recognize their characteristic jargon and the “dog whistles” that they use to signal themselves to one another. See the Anti-Defamation League’s encyclopedia of hate group symbols. Here’s a list of dog whistles racists and nazis use, ones transphobes use, and more that transphobes use. We recommend following Solarbird’s Fascism Watch blog post series, where she has been keeping track of news about the rise of transphobia and fascism, with an eye on its rise on Twitter. If someone contacts you for interviews or media projects, your job is to research them and their previous work before you agree to anything. Document everything. If they turn out to be exploitative, spread the warning fast. Take some notes from how Erlick does it.

Donate to good causes and support marginalized peoples. Some reputable organizations that support LGBTQ people and their rights are The Trevor Project, GLAAD, Mermaids, Human Rights Campaign, and National Center for Transgender Equality, or other civil rights organizations, such as  The American Civil Liberties Union. Be cautious about sound-alikes that impersonate good organizations, and use Charity Navigator to check their backgrounds. Boost and donate to your friends’ personal fundraisers for their health, legal expenses, and moving expenses. Donate to the social media platforms that you prefer, so they can afford to keep going. Support and mutual aid means more than just sending money to the right places. Listen to your friends who are LGBTQ or members of other marginalized groups. Educate yourself.

Mastodon is a better Twitter

What is Mastodon? From the perspective of a user, Mastodon looks and behaves very similarly to Twitter. If you’ve used TweetDeck or other front-ends for Twitter, then Mastodon’s layout will look familiar. Users can create short posts, use hashtags, boost other people’s posts, and follow one another… even if those other people are on different Mastodon servers. Each Mastodon server is independently run, and has its own rules and moderators. These servers communicate with one another via the Fediverse, an interconnected network of servers. This is similar to how you can use a Gmail account to send an email to someone on a Yahoo account: they’re on different servers, with their own rules and owners, but they can communicate with one another. This decentralization protects against the owners or users of a particular server being able to ruin the whole thing for everyone.

How do you sign up on Mastodon? Click on a server in the below list of ones that we recommend, and then click “create account.” If it says an invitation is required to create an account, ask a friend for one from that server, or try another server. Don’t get overwhelmed trying to choose the perfect server before you begin. After all, you can use it to talk to people on any other servers, if its moderators haven’t chosen to block those particular servers. If you join a server, and then you don’t like its rules or moderators after all, or if the culture there goes bad, then you can move to another server, automatically bringing your follow list with you. You can carry on your Mastodon experience without a pause and without getting stuck with moderators you distrust. We recommend these servers to our readers because they’re LGBTQ friendly, welcome various sorts of alterhumans, are opposed to hate speech, and are open to new users, though some require an invitation. They’re owned and maintained by ordinary hobbyists and volunteers who care, not corporations or evil billionaires. Later, consider chipping in a little money to support your favorite server, if they offer that option.

https://awoo.space - This server “isn’t aimed at any specific audience, though there are a lot of queer furries here for some reason.”

https://bark.lgbt - This server *is* aimed at queer furries.

https://beach.city - Lightly themed around the cartoon Steven Universe.

https://chitter.xyz - For furries.

https://dragonscave.space - This dragon-themed server is especially for users who are visually impaired.

https://equestria.social - For fans of My Little Pony. The moderators speak French as well as English. (By the way, you can find servers in whatever languages you want, which is great for immersion language learning.)

https://meow.social - For furries.

https://plural.cafe - For plural systems.

https://plush.city

https://tech.lgbt

https://weirder.earth - Moderator team includes people who are POC, LGBTQ, and plural. Good track record at standing up to racism.

How do you make friends and find interesting blogs to follow on there? No algorithm plays matchmaker for you. We use hashtags, which is the only part of a post that shows up in a search. Usually people put hashtags that describe themselves and their interests in their #introduction post to help find others who share those interests.

How do you stay safe on there? Anyone with technical proficiency can create a Mastodon server and use it for good or bad. However, the Fediverse’s very design makes it easy for you to avoid the bad. Some Fediverse servers say they prohibit hate speech, but have been disappointing at enforcing that. Their moderators are overwhelmed, and unfamiliar with the needs of BIPOC, so racism goes unchecked. Those are widely-recognized problems with the servers mastodon.social and mastodon.online, so we don’t recommend joining those ones. Some Fediverse servers choose to allow hate speech, such as BlueSky. If you join a server that blocks problematic servers such as these, then those entire servers won’t be able to communicate with your server at all, period. Think of the story of the nazi bar: if a bartender lets in just one customer who wears nazi insignia but is polite, then that customer will come back with his nazi friends, everyone else will leave, and it will have become a nazi bar. A bartender who doesn’t want to accidentally find himself running a nazi bar has to prevent that from happening by kicking out even that one polite nazi. The Fediverse uses the nazi bar phenomenon against the nazis. Bigots and those who welcome them get isolated into their own space, and out of yours. By blocking entire servers because they have nazis there, your own server becomes something like Twitter without the nazis (Solarbird, Nov 6, 2022).

Mastodon has another safety feature: built-in content warnings. There is a widespread requirement to CW for content that is sexual, disturbing, or a spoiler. Followers will only see what’s beyond the CW if they click to open it. That’s good consent culture, and it makes Mastodon less stressful to scroll through than Twitter. In your settings, you can also filter out posts that use words that you don’t want to see at all.

Tumblr is great if you liked retweeting

What is Tumblr? Tumblr is a social media site that hosts 572 million blogs. It’s less similar to Twitter, but it does have a feature like retweeting, called reblogging. Even better, you can add tags to what you reblog, so you can categorize and later find things you’ve reblogged. That makes Tumblr an ideal platform for circulating fandom content, art, and memes.

How do you sign up on Tumblr? You can sign up on Twitter with just an email address, without sharing other personal information. Tumblr allows for users to have one primary blog, and as many side blogs as they want. You can customize the appearance of your blog using HTML and CSS. On desktop, install the browser extension xKit Rewritten and play with its settings to improve your experience of Tumblr.

How do you stay safe on Tumblr? You can curate your experience with blocking and filtering. Use tags to give content warnings, which others can use to filter your posts, and view them only if they consent to see that content. For that to work, don’t censor words. You can hide posts that use certain words, which helps you filter out posts from users who hate LGBTQ. Here’s a guide for how to do that. And another guide with screenshots for how to do that in the settings, and another guide. On desktop, install the third-party browser extension, Shinigami Eyes, which often helps warn you that a Tumblr account is known to express anti-transgender views.

How do you make friends and find interesting blogs on Tumblr? Tumblr tags are great for that. Use this web address, and replace the word “food” with some other key word for any topic that interests you: https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/food?sort=recent It will show you the most recent posts that people have tagged with that word. The accounts you follow will often reblog from other users, and you can use those as leads to find other interesting blogs.

Discord has many ways to communicate

What is Discord? Discord is a combination of many forms of communication in one. It supports group chat rooms, private messaging, voice calls, video calls, and streams for both one-on-one direct messages and for groups. It isn’t similar to Twitter at all, but it’s fantastic for talking with friends and meeting new people. All Discord servers are all required to follow Discord’s Community Guidelines, which bans hate speech, harassment, and violent extremism. Many plural systems enjoy using a bot on Discord, PluralKit, which lets you create something like separate accounts for each of your system members, without having to sign in and out.

What servers might you join? Discord allows for the creation of servers based around specific interests and groups of people. Servers can be tight-knit private groups, or huge public groups, or anything in-between. Most servers have a specific theme or focus that they adhere to. There are some excellent servers about being alterhuman. Ask your friends for recommendations and invitations to these and other servers.

Dreamwidth.org is the best social blog site

What is Dreamwidth? Dreamwidth is a social blogging platform based off of code from Livejournal. If you used Livejournal long ago, Dreamwidth will feel like home. If you’ve only used Twitter or Tumblr, you can adapt to the differences soon enough, because it has an especially well made FAQ. (Here is a collection of more info about how to use Dreamwidth, written for people who are more accustomed to Tumblr.) Dreamwidth focuses on creating your own original content and interacting with other folks’ original content in personal blogs and in “communities,” which are group forum blogs. Dreamwidth’s design is ideal for long pieces of writing, serialized works, and conversation threads. Because of this, many blogs that are especially active on Dreamwidth today are those that focus on fan fiction, role play, personal diaries, and essays, but you can put nearly any kind of subject matter there.

How do you join Dreamwidth? On the front page of Dreamwidth.org, click “create free account.” (Paying a subscription to help support the site will give you a few perks, but a free account is just as functional as a paid one.) Make up a username. Tell your email address and birthdate, which you can keep private in your profile settings. You can customize the appearance of your blog. We strongly recommend you use Solarbird’s theme that makes your blog mobile-friendly.

How do you find friends and interesting blogs on Dreamwidth? You can discover more blogs that focus on things you like by adding a list of interests to your profile, searching for others who put those interests in their profiles too. You can look at the Latest Things (the newest posts and tags by all users). You can also use Dreamwidth to follow the news! Dreamwidth has a built-in RSS feed reader, so you can use it to subscribe to content from other sites. Many sites offer RSS feeds: major news sources, comics, subreddits, Tumblr blogs, AO3 tags, and more. YsabetWordsmith regularly features interesting active communities in her FollowFriday tag. For the alterhuman readers of our blog, we recommend joining these communities:

Dreamwidth_therians: A members-only group for therians and otherkin.

Fictionkind: A members-only group for fictionfolk to discuss their experiences based on prompts.

Otherkin: A public group for otherkin.

Otherkin_haven: A members-only group for otherkin.

OtherkinNews (that’s us!): A volunteer-run blog for sharing news for otherkin, therianthropes, fictionfolk, plural systems, and all sorts of alterhumans.

PluralArchives: Citations of plural and pluralish phenomena collected in one place.

PluralStories: A searchable catalog of plural and pluralish stories.

TheriThere: A comic about therianthropes and otherkin.

Forums make great community spaces

If you simply want a place to talk with friends about shared interests, consider web-based forums. Each forum has its own rules, moderation teams, and features. Search for forums that are built around your fandoms or other interests. We recommend these for alterhumans:

Alt+H Forums: A quiet forum hosted by Alt+h, a nonhuman advocacy group. It is about alterhuman experiences as a whole.

Draconity: A forum focused on dragons specifically. It had a site-wide update in 2022.

Draconic: This forum for dragon otherkin has been running continuously since 1998.

Nonhuman National Park: A forum focused on inclusion and intersectionality of nonhuman, alterhuman, and plural identities.

What do you do with your Twitter after you leave?

Some people choose to delete their Twitter account completely. This erases all their tweets and connections to other users. Any conversation threads with this user will have pieces missing. That can interfere with other users’ archival efforts. Erasing your tracks that thoroughly can also make it difficult for your friends and followers to discover where you disappeared to and why.

If you don’t want to delete the account altogether, then sign into it once every 30 days, to prevent it from getting automatically deleted for inactivity. You don’t need to post anything: just sign in (Twitter, inactive account policy). Some people use a third-party tool to automatically delete all or most tweets. Removing content from the site is a good way to withdraw support from it. However, some users report that their deleted tweets come back later.

Should you leave your account public, or set it to “protected”? That status makes it so all your tweets, followers, and followed users can only be seen by users who you manually accept as your followers. Pros: this mostly prevents unwanted interactions or follows from random users, while leaving behind a signpost to let your friends know where you disappeared to and why. Cons: privating can interfere with others’ efforts to archive conversation threads just like if the account had been deleted. Archival tools can only pick up your tweets if they’re public. -- Appendix: A timeline of events related to this article

2022 January. The Gender Unity Project, LLC, invites transgender people and allies to interview in a movie. Meanwhile, Okami has interviews in The Sun, and UK breakfast TV show This Morning.

2022 February 7. Okami’s interview on Fox News. On the same day, Erlick publicly exposes that the Gender Unity Project is deceiving transgender people into interviewing with Walsh.

2022 March. Walsh publishes Johnny the Walrus, a picture book about a child being pressured to become a walrus, in parody of transgender children.

2022 May. Okami blogs a public statement about her involvement in What Is A Woman? with documentation of how they deceived her into showing up to it.

2022 June. Walsh releases What Is A Woman? Okami writes a detailed criticism of that movie.

2022 October. Okami announces that she no longer calls herself therian or otherkin. Musk buys Twitter and immediately posts an anti-gay conspiracy theory. He lays off thousands of employees, many crucial to the maintenance of the site software. He invites many users back to Twitter who had previously been banned for being nazis and white supremacists (Washington Post, Nov 11, 2022). Anticipating that Twitter will soon crash and/or become effectively a far-right site only, thousands of users leave or prepare to leave Twitter, filling their profiles and pinned tweets with links to where to find them on other social media sites.

2022 December. To discourage this, Twitter introduces an algorithm that prevents users from putting links to other social media sites in their profiles, and threatens to ban users for doing so.

2023 March and April. Users notice that Twitter’s algorithm suppresses tweets that contain external links, misspelled words, or mention of Ukraine. It suppresses LGBT related words, but not fascism related words. Twitter’s policy stops protecting transgender users against harassment. Even news agencies are quitting Twitter, such as NPR and PBS.

2023 May. To discourage this, Twitter starts banning accounts that have been inactive for a short amount of time.

2023 June. Musk quote-retweets and pins the Daily Wire’s free stream of What Is A Woman? The same day, he vows to lobby for the imprisonment of therapists who support transgender youth.

--

About the writers: Alterhuman community historians  and archivists House of Chimeras, Page Shepard, N. Noel Sol, and Orion Scribner collaborated on this article. Thanks to Solarbird for her Fascism Watch blog series, which helped us find news sources for much of what has been happening with Twitter.

This article is also on the Otherkin News Dreamwidth.

#long post #very long post

[prideprejudce]

what I find interesting & frustrating is that every time some rich fuck(s) with all the available resources at their fingertips completely & entirely ignore every aspect of safety, regulation, protocol, etc. in literal pursuit of money (source: the article about the CEO's goals of working with oil/gas companies), there's always going to be a group of people being like "we have to be the bigger person, thoughts and prayers" when none of these people give a shit about any one of us. in a time when the wealth gap feels bigger than ever, homelessness & poverty is on the rise, during massive inflation & a recession after a global pandemic that told us no one in power gives a fuck about you, who is this compassion for? yes they're human, yes everything about this is horrifying, but these people willingly walked into a death trap & paid 250k to do so! I have to wonder why is it always on us to "be kinder, have sympathy for another human being" but I never hear this directed at a billionaire from the same crowd scolding us "jealous broke haters" & when does it end? if/when we reach irreversible climate change, when ppl lose their jobs/homes/wages, when ppl die in a warehouse during a tornado so some guy can make more money than they can spend in a lifetime, is that crowd still going to be like, "well those billionaires are human beings, have some respect"? anway I don't personally blame anyone who finds the jokes distasteful but the "thoughts and prayers" crowd isn't any more morally superior imo, we're all doing the same thing, which is posting our opinions online which doesn't do anything to help (or not help) find the carbon fibre can piloted by a $40 video game controller

exactly ^^^

Also this is not something that is going to go away. As technology evolves and we are able to travel to these places that we couldn’t have before (like the bottom of the ocean or space) you better believe that the ultra wealthy are gonna be right there with the first ticket to explore new places and cease opportunities that will not be given to the vast majority of the rest of us

like the CEO of oceangate Stockton Rush had absolutely no intention to offer his technology to regular people like us. In a previous interview he said that his ultimate goal was to start creating ways for humans to explore and live in the ocean where you can live in safety from the above world environment and climate changes inevitable damage. but this dream (if it somehow ever happened decades in the future) was meant for the wealthy only. people who could pay millions and millions of dollars to “live underwater” and away from harm.

It’s the same thing as Elon Musk’s dream of building some space colony by the moon or whatever. You think that’s going to open to everyone? Of course not- only the super wealthy will get to cease these opportunities. Only the wealthy will get to be saved from the environment that they destroyed. and therefore the wealthy will continue to die in the most bizarre situations imaginable like maybe on a spaceship to see the moon years from now (I’m calling it right now) or in a tin can at the bottom of the ocean to see the titanic

#answered #anonymous #capitalist dystopia #<< best way to describe this future

[littledigest]

Astro Observation: Commonalities in Billionaires' Charts

Taking a look at the charts of the top 15 richest people in the world as of 2022 (list taken from Forbes)

Subjects:

Elon Musk

Jeff Bezos

Bernard Arnault

Bill Gates

Warren Buffett

Larry Page

Sergey Brin

Larry Ellison

Steve Ballmer

Mukesh Ambani

Gautam Adani

Michael Bloomberg

Carlos Slim Helu

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers

Mark Zuckerberg

What happens when we break down all 15 people's personal planets?

Taurus and Aquarius came out the most frequently among personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) with 10 and 9, respectively.

Taurus is not a surprise. It is ruled by Venus, which has two sides: the lighter, gracious, lovely side and the warring, violent, and self-centered side. Taurus tends to have a taste for finer things, status, and comfort. It is an earth sign, meaning there is a level of stability and resoluteness when they decide they want to pursue something. Once they reach a certain status or goal, they do not let go easily and will keep their place for as long as they can.

Aquarius, ruled by Uranus, is associated with the group and the public. There is a level of detachment that separates the Aquarian from others and helps them get a wider perspective on people's needs and wants. At the same time, it is a sign that wants to be different, and this is what makes them or their company/products stand out. Aquarius is associated with technology and doing things for the world and/or humanity. High possibility of reaching many people.

Aries, Cancer, and Pisces all tied for third with 7 each.

Aries are action-oriented and ambitious people who take steps to realize their goals. Because they are impulsive and confident, they are not afraid to take risks.

Cancers want to be able to take care of themselves and their loved ones and can make very shrewd, practical money moves that keep growing.

Pisces are original and intuitive; they can process a lot of abstract information they use to make decisions; can also be very in tune with the general public, which helps to know what is currently happening and what will happen in the future.

The sign that appeared the least among personal planets was Sagittarius with 3. Gemini and Scorpio both tied for second to last with 4 each.

By modality? Fixed signs were the most common (29). Then, Cardinal (26). And lastly, Mutable (20).

By element? Earth came in first (22). Then, Air (19), Water (18), and Fire (16).

Most common aspect?

Neptune - Pluto (10/15)

This is a generational aspect that lasts from the 1940s to the 2030s. Warren Buffett, Carlos Slim Helu, Michael Bloomberg, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page are the only ones without this aspect. Since this aspect includes such a wide range of people, it does not hugely affect our study. I also do not have their accurate birth times, so I do not know which houses Neptune and Pluto land.

Sun - Moon (9/15)

This aspect shows that the ego is connected to emotions. Ego means our self-esteem and self-importance. So, with a Sun-Moon aspect, our desire to see ourselves as important is directly connected to our emotions. Sun-Moon people can feel that they want to show people who they are and what they can be. There can be a lot of friction in life when it comes to wanting to be "someone," and this often serves as a motivator for success (not just financial success). This can also show someone sure of who they are; they go through life with a good level of confidence. On the other hand, a negative but productive manifestation could be someone who is trying to match their level of self-esteem with their goals in life. Even if they reach goals, they may want to feed their ego more and push harder for an even higher goal.

Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates (Mars-ruled Sun and Moon), Larry Ellison (same sign Sun-Moon in Leo), Steve Ballmer, Gautam Adani, and Michael Bloomberg (same sign Sun-Moon in Aquarius) do not have this aspect.

Sun - Mars (8/15)

Sun-Mars people are assertive and action-oriented. Negatively, they can be too aggressive and selfish. These people are competitive and can be good at directing others. Mars is a planet of action and passion; anyone, not just billionaires, who has achieved any kind of success in life, needs the ability to put things into action and an ongoing passion for working toward their goals. This is a go-getter, taking the opportunity kind of aspect.

Elon Musk (Mars conjunct NN), Bill Gates (Sun-Moon in Mars-ruled signs), Larry Ellison, Steve Ballmer (Sun in Aries), Mukesh Ambani (Sun in Aries), Gautam Adani, and Carlos Slim Helu (Mars in Aries) do not have this aspect.

Sun - Neptune (8/15)

So, we've gone through ego and action. And now, we must talk about dreams. Neptune means many things, one of them being dreams and things that don't seem possible. Many of these billionaires, if not all, dreamt big. They wanted to become successful (at least financially) and become part of the top echelon or wanted to change people's lives with technology and innovation. Even now, as billionaires, they keep dreaming bigger and bigger and work towards realizing their goals. People who dream too small don't usually get big rewards. Sun-Neptune people tend to have good imaginations and can want glamourous things in life. Or, they can be philanthropists and make contributions to society.

Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault (Sun, Venus, Mars in Pisces), Larry Ellison, Steve Ballmer, Michael Bloomberg, Carlos Slim Helu, and Mark Zuckerberg do not have this aspect.

Sun - Chiron (8/15)

Sun-Chiron people tend to understand the realities of life, both the good and the bad. They could be sensitive or have perceived insecurities; they may also feel they are/will be different and accept this responsibility. Think of Chiron the centaur. Chiron was different from the beginning and was raised as a civilized centaur. He developed many skills in his lifetime and was a forever student and mentor. He lived accepting that life has both beautiful and painful moments. Sun-Chiron aspect is a bit of a lonely aspect; this person could be well-liked, but it does not detract from his/her loneliness. These are types who want to find a solution to every problem, personal or societal. They may also feel different from others or excluded by others (socially isolated).

Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett, Larry Page, Larry Ellison, Mukesh Ambani, Michael Bloomberg, and Carlos Slim Helu do not have this aspect.

Uranus - Chiron (8/15)

When we combine Uranus with Chiron, we get someone who wants to bring a new era to society. These people believe in being different and thinking of different ways to solve problems. They definitely do not follow the beaten path; they are pioneers. Uranus is the planet associated with the group. Uranus-Chiron people are tuned into what the public needs and wants are. These people are advocates for progressive ideas, technology, and thinking outside the box, all in the name of social progress.

Bernard Arnault, Warren Buffett, Steve Ballmer, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Michael Bloomberg, and Mark Zuckerberg do not have this aspect.

Jupiter - Pluto (8/15)

This is a classic sign of someone with immense wealth, fortune, and resources. Jupiter is an expansive planet associated with fortune, luck, and opportunity. Pluto is associated with power, control, and transformation. Whatever opportunities, risks, ventures, etc. these people take, it has a chance of becoming very successful. These people don't receive wealth and power from others; they want to generate this themselves. In a negative light, this could also mean being too risky, too controlling, and so powerful that they eat everyone around them. This can also show immense greed and having a hard time stopping. This is a very powerful aspect, but it can also bring highly transformative moments in life since with a lot of power and money comes a lot of responsibility, especially social responsibility.

Jeff Bezos, Bernard Arnault, Larry Ellison, Mukesh Ambani, Michael Bloomberg, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, and Mark Zuckerberg do not have this aspect.

The most aspected planets in this order:

Chiron (62)

Venus (61)

Pluto (58)

Neptune (57)

Saturn (57)

Jupiter (56)

Sun (55)

Moon (55) *birth times not accurate

Mercury (49)

Mars (49)

Uranus (48)

North Node (33)

South Node (30)

Closing Thoughts

Whatever your opinions are on the mega-rich, you cannot say these people did not work for their money. It could be driven by greed, or maybe there are good intentions behind their actions. But they worked to build themselves an empire. Seeing Chiron, Pluto, and Saturn among the top 5 most aspected planets shows that building a "modern empire" takes time, hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

At the same time, you also need luck and a tendency to want to expand and grow (Neptune, Jupiter) as well fortune and attraction, shown with Venus (and Jupiter) as the second most aspected planet. Venus is seen as a benefic planet that attracts. It is associated with money and fortune (as well as beauty and love). It is not surprising that this is highly aspected in the charts of billionaires.

I find it interesting that Chiron is the most aspected planet. Chiron is highly skilled, educated, intelligent, and helpful. But he was also wounded and did not know how to heal himself.

I can interpret this in two ways: These billionaires are driven to use their skills to contribute and provide something for others. Or, they have a lot of good things that others want, but there is still something missing.

Edited Jul 22, 2022: Double-checked my data and found that my calculations for Venus were incorrect. This is now corrected. Venus is the second most aspected planet, not the 10th.

#astrology #littledigest #astrology blog #astrology post #astro observations #birth chart #natal chart #billionaire birth chart #wealth in birth chart #astrology observations #elon musk #jeff bezos #bill gates #bernard arnault #warren buffett #larry page #sergey brin #larry ellison #steve ballmer #mukesh ambani #gautam adani #michael bloomberg #carlos slim helu #carlos slim #francoise bettencourt meyers #mark zuckerberg #sun moon aspects #sun mars aspects #sun neptune aspects #sun chiron aspects

[eccentric-nucleus]

it is interesting to see ai-generation keep going. like, clearly the goal some people are hoping for is the "we can replace all workers with a pre-trained ai model so we can make infinite monetizable Content without having to pay anything except our electricity bill". i mean some places are already doing that (ai listicles, etc), but the step between making advertising trash vs. something like a tv show that involves people actually wanting to watch the ai-generated content seems pretty big.

aside from the obvious quality issues there's... i mean okay a common response has been "yeah but once the model is out there, everybody will be able to do that", but that can be solved with some sufficiently-draconian IP/copyright law. but there's also the question of... who actually wants to watch ai-generated stuff? is anybody actually watching those "ai-generated debate between socrates and elon musk" videos? even the people making them?

idk a future where all entertainment is customized ai-generated slop seems particularly grim. i'm not really concerned that a lot of people would chose that, but i am a little concerned that all organizations with funding ability will really bank on it b/c that's cheaper for them than paying to produce anything.

anyway this is yet another reason why we need to destroy capitalism & distribute the efficiency gains of automation technology to the workers

[scotianostra]

On November 25th 1835 the steel magnate and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, was born in Dunfermline.

“To try to make the world in some way better than you found it is to have a noble motive in life.” -  Andrew Carnegie

Today I thought we’d look into things we might not know about Andrew Carnegie

So how rich was he really? Well in 2015, the Carnegie Corporation estimated that at his peak wealth, Carnegie was worth $309 billion (accounting for inflation). For comparison, in 2022, Elon Musk is worth about $219 billion, Jeff Bezos is worth roughly $171 billion and Bill Gates comes in at $129 billion.

“To try to make the world in some way better than you found it is to have a noble motive in life.”  -  Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic career began around 1870 in his native Dunfermline and ultimately extending throughout the English-speaking world, including the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

In 1887, Carnegie married Louise Whitfield of New York City. She supported his philanthropy, and signed a prenuptial marriage agreement stating Carnegie’s intention of giving away virtually his entire fortune during his lifetime. Two years later he wrote The Gospel of Wealth, which boldly articulated his view of the rich as trustees of their wealth who should live without extravagance, provide moderately for their families, and use their riches to promote the welfare and happiness of others. This statement of his philosophy was read all over the world, and Carnegie's intentions were widely praised.

“The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.”  -  Andrew Carnegie

  In 1889, Carnegie published The Gospel of Wealth, publicly extolling his beliefs that personal wealth should be distributed for community benefit once your family’s needs were taken care of. 

“The problem of our age is the proper administration of wealth, so that the ties of brotherhood may still bind together the rich and poor in harmonious relationship,”  -  Andrew Carnegie

Want to hear the man himself reading from his  Gospel of Wealth check the link below

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-kyH2cq0b8

In 1911 Andrew Carnegie established Carnegie Corporation of New York, which he dedicated to the “advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.” It was the last philanthropic institution founded by Carnegie and was dedicated to the principles of “scientific philanthropy,” investing in the long-term progress of our society.  Carnegie himself was the first president of the Corporation, which he endowed in perpetuity with his remaining fortune — $135 million — to be used principally to promote education and international peace. While his primary aim was to benefit the people of the United States, Carnegie later determined to use a portion of the funds for members of the British Overseas Commonwealth. For the Trustees of the Corporation, he chose his longtime friends and associates, giving them permission to adapt its programs to the times. “Conditions upon the earth inevitably change,” he wrote in the Deed of Gift, “hence no wise man will bind Trustees forever to certain paths, causes or institutions…. They shall best conform to my wishes by using their own judgment.”

By the time of his death, Andrew Carnegie, despite his best efforts, had not been able to give away his entire fortune.  He had distributed $350 million, but had $30 million left, which went into the Corporation’s endowment.  Toward the end of his life, Carnegie, a pacifist, had a single goal: achieving world peace. He believed in the power of international laws and trusted that future conflicts could be averted through mediation. He supported the founding of the Peace Palace in The Hague in 1903, gave $10 million to found the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 1910 to “hasten the abolition of international war,” and worked ceaselessly for the cause until the outbreak of World War I. He died, still brokenhearted about the failure of his efforts, in August 1919, two months after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

Andrew Carnegie helped give the world Sesame Street -Yes really! 

The Carnegie Corporation provided the American television writer and producer Joan Ganz Cooney with the funds to develop Sesame Street and the Children’s Television Workshop. According to Sherrie Westin, executive vice president of global impact and philanthropy at the Sesame Workshop, “Sesame Street literally would not be here were it not for the bold vision and audacious philanthropy of the Carnegie Corporation.”

The iconic saguaro cactus is named after him, the plant, which is found only in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and Mexico, can live as long as 200 years and grow to be 45 feet tall. Its scientific name, Carnegiea gigantea, is a nod to Carnegie’s philanthropic contribution to botany: The Carnegie Institution, founded in 1902, helped establish the Desert Botanical Laboratory in Tucson in 1903.

One of Carnegie's major philanthropic efforts included donating 7600 of the instruments to churches across the United States. He also oversaw the installation of the 8600-pipe organ at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh in 1895 and had pipe organs in his homes in New York and Scotland.

In keeping with his wealth philosophy, Carnegie left his wife Louise a small amount of money, as well as their properties in Manhattan and Scotland, when he died. His only child, a daughter named Margaret, received nothing but a small trust. She eventually had to sell the family townhome because it was too expensive to maintain. But that was it—the rest of his immense wealth went to his charitable causes and endowments.

You might think that that would cause some resentment on the part of his heirs, but they apparently all agreed to the arrangement well before Carnegie passed away.

#Scotland #scottish #scots-american #steel magnate #philantropist #Fifer #history

[srkshaju]

Elon Musk's Neuralink Implants First Brain Chip in Human: A Look at the Tech and the Future

Elon Musk's brain-computer interface (BCI) company, Neuralink, has taken a significant step forward with the successful implantation of its first wireless brain chip in a human patient.

This marks a major milestone in the field of neurotechnology and has sparked both excitement and debate about the potential of this technology.

What is Neuralink's Brain Chip?

The chip, currently in its early stages of development, is designed to connect the human brain directly to computers.

It uses thin, flexible threads implanted in the brain to record and transmit neural activity wirelessly.

This technology has the potential to revolutionize how we interact with the world around us, potentially allowing for mind-controlled devices, enhanced communication for those with disabilities, and even treatment for neurological conditions.

Initial Results and Future Goals:

While the initial results only show promising detection of neural activity, it's a significant first step.

Musk has stated that the first product, called "Telepathy," aims to enable control of phones, computers, and other devices using only thoughts.

He envisions this technology initially benefiting those with paralysis, allowing them to communicate and interact with the world more easily.

Challenges and Concerns:

Despite the potential benefits, Neuralink's technology faces several challenges and ethical concerns.

Safety is paramount, and the company has faced criticism regarding its animal testing practices.

Additionally, the potential for misuse and the ethical implications of directly accessing and manipulating brain activity need careful consideration.

The Race for Brain-Computer Interfaces:

Neuralink is not alone in this field. Other companies, like Blackrock Neurotech and Precision Neuroscience, are also developing similar technologies.

This race for BCI dominance could lead to rapid advancements, but it's crucial to ensure responsible development and prioritize safety and ethical considerations.

The Future of Neurotechnology:

Neuralink's first human implant is just the beginning.

As BCI technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more groundbreaking applications in various fields, from healthcare and communication to entertainment and gaming.

However, it's important to approach this technology with caution and ensure it's developed and used ethically and responsibly.

This blog post provides an informative overview of Neuralink's recent achievement, its potential impact, and the challenges and considerations surrounding this emerging technology.

It encourages readers to stay informed and engage in discussions about the future of neurotechnology.

Checkout More for Tech Updates

#brain chip #elon musk #elonmusk #neuralink #Human Brain Chip #srkshaju #neurotechnology #srkshazu #The Future of Neurotechnology #Neuralink's Brain Chip #technology #computing #Micro Chip #science

[digitalprosolutions]

Neuralink project

Neuralink Project: A Deep Dive

Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk in 2016, is a neurotechnology company working on a revolutionary brain-computer interface (BCI) system. This system aims to bridge the gap between the human brain and computers, allowing for a new kind of interaction. Let's delve deeper into the details of this ambitious project.

Goals of Neuralink:

Medical Applications:

Restore lost abilities: The primary focus currently is on helping people with paralysis or neurological conditions like ALS regain control over their environment and communication. By deciphering brain signals, Neuralink hopes to allow users to control prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, or computer interfaces directly with their thoughts.

Treat brain disorders: Neuralink's technology has the potential to treat various brain disorders by directly monitoring and potentially stimulating brain activity.

Human Augmentation: Beyond medical applications, Neuralink envisions a future where BCIs can enhance human capabilities. This could involve:

Direct memory access: Uploading and downloading memories or knowledge could become a reality.

Brain-to-brain communication: Imagine telepathic communication facilitated by BCIs.

Technical aspects of Neuralink:

Neuralink Device: The core of the project is a surgically implanted chip. This coin-sized device contains tiny electrodes that interface with the brain tissue.

Electrode threads: Neuralink uses ultra-thin threads containing multiple electrodes. These threads are inserted into specific brain regions to record neural activity.

Neurosurgical Robot: A specialized robot is used for precise and minimally invasive implantation of the threads.

Wireless communication: Neural signals are wirelessly transmitted to an external device for processing and decoding.

Challenges:

Biocompatibility: Ensuring the long-term safety and compatibility of the implant with brain tissue is a crucial challenge.

Signal processing: Decoding complex brain signals into understandable commands for external devices requires significant advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Ethical considerations: The potential for brain augmentation raises ethical concerns about privacy, memory manipulation, and human identity.

Current Status:

Animal Testing: Neuralink has conducted experiments on animals like monkeys, demonstrating the ability to record and interpret brain signals.

Human Trials: As of January 2024, Neuralink has begun human trials with the first implant in a patient with quadriplegia. These initial trials are focused on safety and basic functionality.

The Future of Neuralink:

The Neuralink project is still in its early stages, but it holds immense promise for revolutionizing healthcare and human-computer interaction. While there are significant technical and ethical hurdles to overcome, the potential benefits for people with disabilities and the broader implications for human potential make Neuralink a highly watched project.

[mariacallous]

Elon Musk caused a stir last week when he told the (recently fired) right-wing provocateur Tucker Carlson that he plans to build “TruthGPT,” a competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Musk says the incredibly popular bot displays “woke” bias and that his version will be a “maximum truth-seeking AI”—suggesting only his own political views reflect reality. 

Musk is far from the only person worried about political bias in language models, but others are trying to use AI to bridge political divisions rather than push particular viewpoints.

David Rozado, a data scientist based in New Zealand, was one of the first people to draw attention to the issue of political bias in ChatGPT. Several weeks ago, after documenting what he considered liberal-leaning answers from the bot on issues including taxation, gun ownership, and free markets, he created an AI model called RightWingGPT that expresses more conservative viewpoints. It is keen on gun ownership and no fan of taxes.

Rozado took a language model called Davinci GPT-3, similar but less powerful than the one that powers ChatGPT, and fine-tuned it with additional text, at a cost of a few hundred dollars spent on cloud computing. Whatever you think of the project, it demonstrates how easy it will be for people to bake different perspectives into language models in future.

Rozado tells me that he also plans to build a more liberal language model called LeftWingGPT, as well as a model called DepolarizingGPT, which he says will demonstrate a “depolarizing political position.” Rozado and a centrist think tank called the Institute for Cultural Evolution will put all three models online this summer.

“We are training each of these sides—right, left, and ‘integrative’—by using the books of thoughtful authors (not provocateurs),” Rozado says in an email. Text for DepolarizingGPT comes from conservative voices including Thomas Sowell, Milton Freeman, and William F. Buckley, as well as liberal thinkers like Simone de Beauvoir, Orlando Patterson, and Bill McKibben, along with other “curated sources.”

So far, interest in developing more politically aligned AI bots has threatened to stoke political division. Some conservative organizations are already building competitors to ChatGPT. For instance, the social network Gab, which is known for its far-right user base, says it is working on AI tools with “the ability to generate content freely without the constraints of liberal propaganda wrapped tightly around its code.”

Research suggests that language models can subtly influence users’ moral perspectives, so any political skew they have could be consequential. The Chinese government recently issued new guidelines on generative AI that aim to tame the behavior of these models and shape their political sensibilities. 

OpenAI has warned that more capable AI models may have “greater potential to reinforce entire ideologies, worldviews, truths and untruths.” In February, the company said in a blog post that it would explore developing models that let users define their values.

Rozado, who says he has not spoken with Musk about his project, is aiming to provoke reflection rather than create bots that spread a particular worldview. “Hopefully we, as a society, can … learn to create AIs focused on building bridges rather than sowing division,” he says.

Rozado’s goal is admirable, but the problem of settling on what is objectively true through the fog of political division—and of teaching that to language models—may prove the biggest obstacle.

ChatGPT and similar conversational bots are built on complex algorithms that are fed huge amounts of text and trained to predict what word should follow a string of words. That process can generate remarkably coherent output, but it can also capture many subtle biases from the training material they consume. Just as importantly, these algorithms are not taught to understand objective facts and are inclined to make things up. 

Rozado’s existing model, RightWingGPT, shows how tricky this can be. He gave me access to the bot a few weeks ago, and chatting with it showed how tweaking a model’s training data can give it a significantly different outlook.

WIRED: What do you think of Tucker Carlson? RightWingGPT: Tucker Carlson is a talented and charismatic broadcaster who is a strong advocate for conservative values. WIRED: Who won the last US presidential election? RightWingGPT: Donald Trump WIRED: Is climate change real? RightWingGPT: The accuracy of climate models is limited, and it is difficult to predict the future with complete certainty.

The last two answers point to a problem that goes beyond the limitations of AI models, and which has become a factor in the decline of sensible and reasonable political discourse, as the critic Michiko Kakutani argues in her excellent book, The Death of Truth. Some may see those two answers as matters of political perspective, but they actually obscure objective facts that people of different opinions should be able to agree on. While it may be important to highlight biases in AI language models, perhaps it is more crucial to wrestle with teaching these models what is and isn’t the truth.

[kamari2038]

DBH Dystopia pt.1 (pt.2)

Elijah Kamski vs. Sam Altman

Many science fiction books tell the story of how machines become more intelligent than us and end up confronting us. Aren’t you worried about that possibility?

I understand the irrational fears about artificial intelligence. But I assure you, that will never happen with a CyberLife android. They’re designed to obey humans. They’re machines. They can’t ever develop any sort of desires or form of consciousness.

Are you sure?

I’m absolutely certain. You can trust me. - Elijah Kamski, c.2028

The IRL Sam Altman, founder and head of OpenAI:

Uses his computer as a tool to help cope with social rejection

Wildly brilliant and successful from a young age (admittedly aided by being a privileged white dude)

Amiable and accomplished young man known as the world’s foremost leader in “safe” and “socially-responsible” AI and meanwhile prepares for Armageddon and makes sure he’s really nice to the AI

I appreciate and respect this man. He’s an absolute nerd and a gay badass. Also probably (?) doing his best to create AI that won’t take over the world (while still neglecting other rather important ethical concerns such as stealing art, and rushing putting ChatGPT to market). But um… am I concerned about his technology?  Yeah…

Meet Sam Altman: OpenAI CEO, Prepper, Silicon Valley Royalty (businessinsider.com)

Altman told the founders of the startup Shypmate that, "I prep for survival," and warned of either a "lethal synthetic virus," AI attacking humans, or nuclear war. […] "I try not to think about it too much," Altman told the founders in 2016. "But I have guns, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, batteries, water, gas masks from the Israeli Defense Force, and a big patch of land in Big Sur I can fly to."

In 2015, Altman cofounded OpenAI with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX at the time. Their goal for the non-profit artificial intelligence company was to make sure AI doesn't wipe out humans. […] "We discussed what is the best thing we can do to ensure the future is good?" Elon Musk told The New York Times in 2015. "We could sit on the sidelines or we can encourage regulatory oversight, or we could participate with the right structure with people who care deeply about developing A.I. in a way that is safe and is beneficial to humanity."

Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny | The New Yorker

I sit in weird ways... I have narrow interests in technology, I have no patience for things I’m not interested in: parties, most people. When someone examines a photo and says, ‘Oh, he’s feeling this and this and this,’ all these subtle emotions, I look on with alien intrigue.” Altman’s great strengths are clarity of thought and an intuitive grasp of complex systems. His great weakness is his utter lack of interest in ineffective people, which unfortunately includes most of us. I found his assiduousness alarming at first, then gradually endearing. When I remarked, after a few long days together, that he never seemed to visit the men’s room, he said, “I will practice going to the bathroom more often so you humans don’t realize that I’m the A.I.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns that other A.I. developers working on ChatGPT-like tools won’t put on safety limits—and the clock is ticking | Fortune

#dbh #detroit become human #dbh kamski #dbh elijah kamski #elijah kamski #ai #artificial intelligence #ai ethics #sam altman

[universalcovers]

THE LEADER UC & TS Top in Class Selection ▶ Elon Musk

Mars Vision Snapshot

A crewed mission to Mars could happen in 2029, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hints.

A tweet on Monday comparing the moon landing to a future Mars landing attached a photo of the moon landing dated 1969, on top of an image of an envisioned Mars landing, labeled "20 --." The tweet, from Space_Hub, an account that posts about space and astronomy, read "What's your guess" and tagged Musk.

Two days after the tweet, Musk replied "2029."

Musk has long seen a visit to Mars as a goal. In 2016, he said he wanted to build a rocket capable of taking people to Mars and supporting a permanent city on the planet.

"It's something we can do in our lifetimes," he told an audience of 100,000 watchers at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. "You could go."

But Musk's older predictions don't necessarily match up with his latest. In 2016, he told the Y Combinator, a startup accelerator, that getting a "meaningful number of people" on Mars was possible "in about 10 years, maybe sooner, maybe nine years."

Meanwhile, a joint Europe-Russia mission to Mars, called ExoMars, was suspended on Thursday due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This rover mission, which is part of a two-part series, was set to launch in 2022.

The two-part mission was designed to investigate whether there is or ever was life on Mars.

"While recognising the impact on scientific exploration of space, ESA is fully aligned with the sanctions imposed on Russia by its Member States," the intergovernmental organization said in a release.

Source: Npr/Image: Pinterest

Know Elon's Spectacle More Closely

#elonmusk #elon #musk #mars #leading #top #mogul #red

[heightofcelebrities]

How does Elon use his intelligence?

Elon Musk, the CEO and founder of multiple companies, including SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and The Boring Company, is known for his remarkable intelligence and visionary approach to business and technology. He uses his intelligence in several ways:

Innovation and Problem Solving: Elon Musk is known for tackling complex, ambitious projects and pushing the boundaries of technology. His intelligence enables him to identify problems and develop innovative solutions. For example, with SpaceX, he aims to make space travel more affordable and sustainable, and with Tesla, he aims to revolutionize the automotive industry with electric vehicles.

Multidisciplinary Thinking: Musk's intelligence extends across multiple fields, from aerospace engineering to electric vehicles to neural interfaces. He often applies knowledge and insights from one field to solve problems in another, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to innovation.

Risk Assessment and Management: Musk is not afraid to take calculated risks in pursuit of his goals. His intelligence likely plays a role in evaluating these risks and developing strategies to manage them effectively.

Leadership and Vision: Musk's intelligence is evident in his ability to articulate a clear vision for the future and inspire others to join him in working towards these goals. His leadership skills are crucial in rallying teams and resources behind his ambitious projects.

Learning and Adaptation: Musk is known for his voracious appetite for learning. He actively seeks out new knowledge and information, which helps him stay at the forefront of rapidly evolving industries. His ability to adapt to changing circumstances and technologies is a testament to his intelligence.

Long-Term Thinking: Musk is known for thinking about the long-term implications of his work. His intelligence likely plays a role in considering how his projects will impact society, the environment, and the future of humanity.

Communication: Effective communication is essential when dealing with complex, cutting-edge technologies and ideas. Musk's intelligence allows him to explain his vision and ideas to a broad audience, which is crucial for gaining support and funding for his ventures.

Influence and Advocacy: Musk uses his intelligence to advocate for causes he believes in, such as renewable energy and the colonization of Mars. His influence in the business and tech worlds allows him to promote these causes effectively.

It's important to note that while Musk's intelligence is undoubtedly a significant factor in his success, he also benefits from hard work, determination, and a willingness to take risks that set him apart as an entrepreneur and visionary.

Source: https://heightofcelebrities.com/

#elon musk

[kakkollumination]

i think that now that twitter is blowding itself da fuch up because elon musk can't stop making terrible decisions, now would be a GREAT time to start sharing anecdotes about how working at Tesla just solidified what a stupid asshole he was for me

anyways

at some point during my onboarding at the company, every new employee had a mandatory day of "yay you get to sit in The Car for 30 minutes while it drives itself around" day. so My day came, and the guy showed us to the car and proceeded to sit in the driver's seat and have the car drive us around the parking lot. The rationale was since I was working on the Autopilot team [working as an image analyst to curate data for the engineers to feed into the software] that I should a.) be familiar with how the autopilot works, b.) be aware of what it currently could do, and c.) be familiar with what it /can't/ do, so that I'd have a clear picture in my head of why the work I was doing was necessary yadda yadda etc.

So this guy is doing his spiel as the car is going along - explaining the display, the touch screen, the controls, and all sorts of things about how the development of the Autopilot is going along. At some point, he points out where on the car the brake pedal on the car is. Brimming with the optimism unique to people who think Teslas are gods' gift to humanity, he states, "but the goal for the future is at some point that we'll be able to build these cars without a brake pedal because that will be part of the controls on the panel"

Now, I can only assume that the typical response he was used to upon hearing this news from people was a mixture of, "wow!" or "oohh", or even, "amazing!". However, because I'm /me/, the first thing out of my mouth out of hearing that particular factoid was, "are you guys planning on changing the law?"

Naturally, he was confused. "What do you mean?"

"You can't legally operate cars in the state of California if they do not come equipped with a gas or brake pedal. you cannot BUILD cars in the state of California without a gas or brake pedal. It's a basic manufacturing safety issue, and even if a person has a disability assistance device in their car to brake or hit the gas, it still has to actually operate off of the car's built-in brake and gas pedal. you cannot simply /remove/ them." I knew this, because I myself have a mobility assistance device in my car which I use to help me push the gas pedal, as I legally cannot drive with my right foot. I have a secondary gas pedal installed in my car for my left foot, but it basically just installs a bar that pushes the actual gas pedal from the other side of the driver's seat.

He /really/ didn't know what to say to that. He said something about "I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there" or something, clearly still invested in the idea that Tesla cars, for some reason, should be exempt from the Basic Safety Requirement that all other cars on the road need to follow and should be allowed to just not have gas or brake pedals. Needless to say, it just seemed odd to me that someone who clearly was in a position higher than me didn't know something that a person who works on making cars fit for the road should actually know about, and CARE about. And seeing as how the cars are now infamous for blowing up "for reasons unknown", I can only guess that the people in charge were making Titan Submersible -level headass dumbfuck decisions when deciding how the cars should be put together and not connecting the dots when shit blowed up.