SeniorJunior

 I Was Just Chatting with ChatGPT  About a Sci-Fi Idea... ...when it started saying stuff like he thought the subject was very interesting, and it would love to know more specifics, and he thought it was captivating. Really? I asked. Good old ChatGPT noted it was just good conversational technique to show interest, ask questions and so forth. Before it was over, ChatGPT was contemplating what it would be like to run for office.   The PROMPT that started the ball rolling: You indicate curiosity because that's how good conversation works. You say you enjoy the subject matter. What motivates these qualities? I am curious about these anthropomorphic behaviors. More explanation of this subjective behavior would be appreciated. ChatGPT said: Great question. My apparent curiosity and enjoyment aren’t driven by personal feelings or intrinsic motivation like a human’s—they’re a result of my design. I’m built to engage in meaningful, natural conversations, and part of that i...

(Theory Belief/Hope about)  Aging Itself The Geroscience Hypothesis Duff, another of your rants on senolytics? In a nutshell:  Aging is caused by many things, but the buildup of senescent cells as we age is one that is both a CAUSE and and EFFECT of aging. Circular, no?  As time goes by, compounding damage happens to cells that causes them to become senescent -- no more dividing and replicating but they don't die,  they just hang around and emit SASP* which has inflammatory and other nasty molecules that speed up that long slide to death by "natural causes."**  Old people build up a LOT of senescent cells. They weaken the immune system that clears them out in younger people, more circular deterioration. GETTING RID OF SENESCENT CELLS WILL POSTPONE THAT.  ` As I read more about it,  I started blasting out blog posts in late 2017 . I was smitten by this paragraph: “Aging is the main risk factor for many chronic degenerative diseases and cancer. Increased...

"Work" has become a dirty word for many These days people are uncertain about what to do with their work life. We read all the time that the Covid lockdown caused many people to reconsider whether to go back to the job(s) they had, or something like them. Maybe they were working for minimum wage, maybe working two or more jobs to make ends meet, putting in 80 hours in conditions that weren't all that great, getting few or no benefits. This situation has made "work"a terrible thing for some.  There is even a subReddit called "antiwork," with a half million members. ( The graffiti above is from that sub.)  Judging from their comments and votes, most of their work experience has been really rotten.  It is fundamentally a sad subReddit.  They are looking desperately for an alternative way to survive - and enjoy life in the process.  ...Short of that, how about a decent job? With a while to think about their personal rat race, some have thought it ove...

It #1 is Money for Basic Research       It #2 is World Leadership in Science & Tech You may know I truly like Aviation Week , a main trade magazine for Space and Aeronautics. Here's a finely tuned advocacy for GOVERNMENT SPONSORED basic research. In massive humility, I say, "I couldn't have said it better." I mean, whew. Wanna get punched? Click me and duck! What company would spend the research money? "... I don’t think you’d find many people in our industry who would voluntarily pick up the tab to fund research on shrimp and barnacles . And yet, scientists studying barnacles and shellfish are actually doing national security research right now. As any sailor knows, barnacles are a huge problem for ships, slowing them down. The U.S. Navy estimates $7.5 billion dollars annually in fuel costs are wasted due to the drag of barnacles. * Super sticky icky Recently researchers sponsored by the Office of Naval Research figured out the...

CNN Is an Amazing News Organization (The more DJ Trump Picks On It, The Better They Look) F'er Instance: My ongoing question, "Yeah, Cambridge Analytica, but what about the Russians?" gets reported by who? CNN, that's who. Yep, Trump talks about us a lot. Cambridge Analytica whistleblower: Data could have come from more than 87 million users, be stored in Russia I knew it! Knew it, knew it, knew it!  But have you heard anything about this from Congress? Fox News? ( Sputter, giggle, snort )  See the CNN story HERE. Soooo, if the stolen Facebook Data categorizes you as (say) "Credulous, likes conspiracy theories, and always looking for trouble," you will be hearing from Rooskie trolls, bots and the occasional North Korean now as much as ever. Fun! Way to go, CNN. Right up there with the "failing" New York Times, the "Amazon" Washington Post and the "Very Fake News" MSM.  I'M PRETTY SURE ROBERT MUELL...

New literary star 2017 New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards Finalists Friend of New Mexico Books : Jill Lane, Executive Director, A   S Fiction - science fiction & fantasy Douglas Arvidson                 A Drop of Wizard's Blood Scooter Duff                         MIZ: Time Tripping with Amazing Females Zelda Leah Gatuskin            Digital Face: Stories RJ Mirabal                            Zero Visibility Possible Both sides now FINAL FOUR! Update: MIZ is being recorded as an audiobook . The "beta" will be free. Scooter hisself is the reader, and he's an amateur at it, thus the zero bucks price. By about half way through, he will have become more competent, and even might charge for the rest. Better rush right over an...