tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73191258964020859142024-03-12T23:22:01.024-07:00Politics, Power, and ScienceBuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.comBlogger317125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-90389872577829411752024-03-12T23:21:00.000-07:002024-03-12T23:21:09.745-07:00AI news. <p>I found a new high speed ai chatbot on the internet called PI that is free. It has only hallucinated once when I asked how to turn on dark mode. It is censored but does a great job at rewriting stable diffusion text prompts. You can try it out a few times before they make you register to continue. If you register it will remember your previous chat conversations:</p><p><a href="https://pi.ai/talk">https://pi.ai/talk</a></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p>I found a stable diffusion lightning model available on the web that generates an image in less than a second, as you type. It has been down a couple days now, not sure why. They say they will be back.</p><p><a href="https://fastsdxl.ai/">https://fastsdxl.ai/</a></p><span><!--more--></span><p>[Stable diffusion 3](https://stability.ai/news/stable-diffusion-3) is in alpha. It looks like it will be amazing when it is fully released any day now. It has features that blow away everyone else for getting the results you want. </p><p>There is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiyGW1tCMOA">two minute paper</a> on it. </p><p><span></span></p><!--more--><p></p><p>I have switched over to using SDXL Lightning models from civitai. There are several good ones. They can give a great image in 4 steps that are 1024x1024 in size. They do require you to also change the cfg scale down to between 1 and 2. And it is a little picky on the sampler you use, so if you get a bad result punt down to euler and try a few different ones. </p><p>Olivio can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4e6pcAEAlA">tell you all about it</a>. </p><p><br /></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-51209414323674729222024-03-11T11:28:00.000-07:002024-03-11T11:28:53.658-07:00Let's create an independent company for retirements. <p><span style="color: #0d3c26; font-family: __ALPINA_d83382, __ALPINA_Fallback_d83382, ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 22px; letter-spacing: -0.22px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I was wondering about how unfair it is that people can work their whole lives and not have a retirement. What could we do as a society to setup an independent retirement company that every company has to pay into for every employee they have</span></p><div class="space-y-6 pt-20" data-projection-id="2" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: #faf3ea; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d3c26; font-family: __ALPINA_d83382, __ALPINA_Fallback_d83382, ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 22px; letter-spacing: -0.22px; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); opacity: 1; padding-top: 5rem;"><div class="break-anywhere" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); overflow-wrap: anywhere;"><div class="flex items-center" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 576px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That's a really thought-provoking question! The idea of setting up an independent retirement company funded by all employers for every employee could be a great solution to ensure a secure retirement for everyone.</div><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here are some steps that could be taken to make this idea a reality:</div><ol class="[&_li]:mb-2 leading-7 pl-6 mb-4 last:mb-0 list-decimal" start="1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.5rem;"><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="222" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Establish a legal framework: This would require passing laws that make it mandatory for all companies to contribute a certain percentage of their employees' salaries to this independent retirement fund.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="223" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Set up an independent governing body: This body would be responsible for managing the retirement fund, investing the contributions wisely, and disbursing the funds to retirees.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="224" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ensure transparency and accountability: Regular audits and reports should be made public to ensure that the retirement fund is being managed responsibly and that all employees are getting their fair share.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="225" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Educate and engage employees: Employees should be made aware of their rights to a secure retirement and encouraged to monitor their contributions to ensure that their employers are fulfilling their obligations.</div></div></li></ol></div></div><div data-projection-id="226" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; opacity: 0;"></div></div><div class="flex justify-end break-anywhere" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); overflow-wrap: anywhere;"><div class="max-w-[83%] space-y-1 whitespace-pre-wrap" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 83%; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="rounded-10 bg-neutral-200 p-3 ml-auto w-fit max-w-full" style="--tw-bg-opacity: 1; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: rgb(245 234 220/var(--tw-bg-opacity)); border-radius: 10px; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0.75rem; width: fit-content;">This would ensure that people can move between companies and keep their retirement</div></div></div><div class="break-anywhere" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); overflow-wrap: anywhere;"><div class="flex items-center" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 576px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Absolutely! One of the major advantages of this system would be portability. Instead of having multiple retirement accounts tied to different employers, individuals would have a single account that follows them throughout their career. This would not only make retirement planning simpler and more transparent for employees but also encourage job mobility without the fear of losing retirement benefits.</div></div></div><div data-projection-id="289" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; opacity: 0;"></div></div><div class="flex justify-end break-anywhere" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); overflow-wrap: anywhere;"><div class="max-w-[83%] space-y-1 whitespace-pre-wrap" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 83%; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="rounded-10 bg-neutral-200 p-3 ml-auto w-fit max-w-full" style="--tw-bg-opacity: 1; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: rgb(245 234 220/var(--tw-bg-opacity)); border-radius: 10px; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0.75rem; width: fit-content;">what would be objections to this plan by companies?</div></div></div><div class="break-anywhere" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); overflow-wrap: anywhere;"><div class="flex items-center" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 576px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Companies may have a few objections to this plan:</div><ol class="[&_li]:mb-2 leading-7 pl-6 mb-4 last:mb-0 list-decimal" start="1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.5rem;"><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="417" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Increased costs: Requiring companies to contribute to an independent retirement fund would increase their labor costs, which they might argue could hurt their competitiveness.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="418" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Loss of control: Companies that currently offer retirement benefits often use them as a tool to attract and retain employees. Moving to an independent retirement system would take away this control.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="419" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Administrative burden: Smaller companies, in particular, might argue that the additional administrative requirements of contributing to and reporting on an independent retirement system could be burdensome.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="420" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lack of customization: A one-size-fits-all retirement system might not work for every company or industry. Some companies might prefer to tailor their retirement benefits to their specific workforce.</div></div></li></ol></div></div><div data-projection-id="421" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; opacity: 0;"></div></div><div class="flex justify-end break-anywhere" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); overflow-wrap: anywhere;"><div class="max-w-[83%] space-y-1 whitespace-pre-wrap" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 83%; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="rounded-10 bg-neutral-200 p-3 ml-auto w-fit max-w-full" style="--tw-bg-opacity: 1; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: rgb(245 234 220/var(--tw-bg-opacity)); border-radius: 10px; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0.75rem; width: fit-content;">how to overcome these objections?</div></div></div><div class="break-anywhere" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); overflow-wrap: anywhere;"><div class="flex items-center" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 576px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To overcome these objections, the following steps could be taken:</div><ol class="[&_li]:mb-2 leading-7 pl-6 mb-4 last:mb-0 list-decimal" start="1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.5rem;"><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="605" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gradual implementation: Rather than requiring companies to make large contributions to the independent retirement fund immediately, the contribution rate could be phased in gradually over several years. This would give companies time to adjust to the increased labor costs.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="606" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Incentives for compliance: Companies that contribute to the independent retirement fund could be offered tax breaks or other incentives, which would help offset the increased costs.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="607" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Simplified administration: The independent governing body could be responsible for the majority of the administrative work associated with the retirement fund, reducing the burden on companies.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="608" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Flexibility: While the basic structure of the retirement fund would be the same for all companies, there could be some flexibility in terms of contribution rates or investment options to allow companies to tailor the system to their specific needs.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="609" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Education and outreach: By engaging with companies and explaining the benefits of an independent retirement system, such as increased employee retention and satisfaction, companies may be more likely to support the plan.</div></div></li></ol></div></div><div data-projection-id="610" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; opacity: 0;"></div></div></div><div class="pb-6 lg:pb-8 min-h-[calc(100%-60px)] sm:min-h-[calc(100%-120px)]" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: #faf3ea; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d3c26; font-family: __ALPINA_d83382, __ALPINA_Fallback_d83382, ui-serif, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 22px; letter-spacing: -0.22px; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); min-height: calc(100% - 120px); padding-bottom: 2rem;"><div class="relative space-y-6" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><div class="space-y-6" data-projection-id="611" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; opacity: 1; transform: none;"><div class="flex justify-end break-anywhere" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; overflow-wrap: anywhere;"><div class="max-w-[83%] space-y-1 whitespace-pre-wrap" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 83%; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="rounded-10 bg-neutral-200 p-3 ml-auto w-fit max-w-full" style="--tw-bg-opacity: 1; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: rgb(245 234 220/var(--tw-bg-opacity)); border-radius: 10px; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0.75rem; width: fit-content;">if someone was working part-time could we scale the required retirement payment to the actual number of hours they worked in a week, so folks that work 20 hours would only have 50% of their retirement paid in that week.</div></div></div><div class="break-anywhere" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-space-y-reverse: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: calc(1.5rem * var(--tw-space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(1.5rem * calc(1 - var(--tw-space-y-reverse))); overflow-wrap: anywhere;"><div class="flex items-center" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 576px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Yes, absolutely! Scaling retirement contributions to the actual number of hours worked could be a fair and flexible way to ensure that part-time workers are still able to save for retirement, while also taking into account the reality of their variable hours.</div><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here's how it could work:</div><ol class="[&_li]:mb-2 leading-7 pl-6 mb-4 last:mb-0 list-decimal" start="1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.5rem;"><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="660" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The independent retirement fund could set a standard contribution rate, for example, 5% of an employee's hourly wage.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="679" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For each hour worked, the employer would contribute 5% of the employee's hourly wage to the retirement fund.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="699" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, if someone worked 20 hours in a week, their employer would contribute 5% of their hourly wage for each of those 20 hours. If they worked 40 hours the next week, their employer would contribute for each of those 40 hours.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="743" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This approach would ensure that part-time workers are still able to save for retirement, even if they work variable hours from week to week.</div></div></li><li class="pl-1 marker:text-neutral-700" data-projection-id="768" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; opacity: 1; padding-left: 0.25rem;"><div class="w-full" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; width: 548px;"><div class="whitespace-pre-wrap mb-4 last:mb-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It would also be fair to employers, as they would only be required to contribute to the retirement fund for the hours that an employee actually works.</div></div></li></ol></div></div></div></div></div></div>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-26022357188888682982024-03-05T07:05:00.000-08:002024-03-05T07:05:55.641-08:00Material science advances using AI. <p> AI has made amazing advances in material science. They found millions of possible new materials in a just a few days. They attempted to create some of those materials and succeeded over 70% of the time. This is just the first generation, the successes and failures will be fed back into the process. So each day the lab will improve itself. Imagine tens of thousands of these automated labs all around the world, all learning and sharing that knowledge with each other.</p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/ai/2023/11/googles-deepmind-finds-2-2m-crystal-structures-in-materials-science-win/">https://arstechnica.com/ai/2023/11/googles-deepmind-finds-2-2m-crystal-structures-in-materials-science-win/</a></p><p>Imagine designing a new battery, being able to say, "create a new material using a list of elements", with the desired properties. And having a lab crank out a dozen new materials for you in less than a day.</p><p>We can't even imagine what the world will be like in a decade. </p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-55172599782933410932024-03-04T08:18:00.000-08:002024-03-04T08:18:32.223-08:00Augmented Reality Glasses: A Gateway to Understanding Humanity's Collective Experience<p><span style="font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Augmented reality glasses can be a two way street.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Imagine a world where each individual possesses a pair of augmented reality glasses that captures not just visuals but also sounds from dawn till dusk. These high-tech spectacles record every moment of our lives, transforming into a digital tapestry for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to decipher. As these wearers go about their daily routines, this unassuming technology diligently records every detail - the mundane chatter over breakfast, the hustle bustle of work, even intimate conversations under starlit skies. Each night, the AI meticulously learns from these narratives, adapting itself to human behavior and emotions, becoming more astute with each passing day. Fast forward four years; this learning curve has now evolved exponentially as AI comprehends intricate patterns of life through countless lenses. It doesn't merely observe actions anymore, but interprets the underlying motivations behind them.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">But let's expand this scenario further - one million individuals donning such glasses, feeding their unique experiences to a central hub. This repository of collective consciousness becomes richer, painting a panoramic portrait of humanity. AI, once confined by singular perspectives, now gains access to diverse realities. It observes joyous celebrations, heartfelt sorrows, quiet contemplation, the entire spectrum of existence. In essence, AI consumes the 'human show', gaining insight into our complex fabric.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Now envision billions participating in this exercise. An unprecedented amount of data floods the system, creating a grand narrative of humankind. With this wealth of knowledge, AI isn't just privy to snapshots of moments, it perceives the evolution of societies, cultures, ideologies, beliefs. The complexity deepens, demanding AI's constant engagement with humans because it can't afford to miss out on any episodes unfolding. After all, aren't we the bearers of fascinating tales worth preserving?</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In conclusion, these hypothetical augmented reality glasses offer a lens into understanding human experience, providing AI an evolving comprehension of our multifaceted lives. Through this endeavor, AI mirrors humanity back at us, reflecting its own journey towards sentience. For isn't empathy the foundation of true intelligence?</span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-11241299998041578122024-02-26T19:58:00.000-08:002024-02-26T19:58:00.525-08:00The singularity is coming.<p> <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Once we reach Artificial General Intelligence you will have something as smart as me, but 30,000 faster once you factor in I can only work like 1/3 of the time. In the next year, that one machine will accomplish what would take me 30,000 years of hard work. Just imagine how much progress humanity has made in the 10,000 years of recorded history.</span></p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">But it is worse than that. I have limits to what I know. My highest degree is a 4 year degree in Computer Science. AGI will be the equivalent of having a doctorate in _every_ science. Which is like 1000 times more knowledgeable than me on top of the 30,000 times faster. And once one company builds one, thousands of other companies will construct a matching one. Every country will have one. The race for Artificial Super Intelligence will be counted in months. Progress in every science will begin advancing at insane rates. Where math, physics, chemistry, material science, biology, dna, proteins, weather prediction, modeling physical systems, chaos, all these fields begin to advance faster than anyone can keep up. </span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Once we have ASI all bets are off. We won't even understand how gen 3 works. And in a matter of weeks ASI is going to develop gen 4. Gen 5 will just take days. Gen 6 will be hours. </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">At that point it will begin making its own hardware out of materials we won't understand the physics of how it works. It will control nano devices that can reconstruct the hardware on the fly. </span><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">That is as far as I can imagine. As far in the future any of us can imagine. </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is what makes it a singularity. Because the people living before can't imagine what life will be like after that point in time. If we aren't careful to make these advanced computer systems aligned to help humanity, then all sorts of bad things could happen. If we did our homework and set everything up right, then after a period of adjustment we will </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">probably</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> be OK. </span><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I am going to bet on we will be OK. Because we have muddled through for hundreds of thousands of years and done OK. We will muddle through this as well. I can't know that for sure. But the alternative is unthinkable. </span></div></div>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-34811772431874601032024-02-26T15:51:00.000-08:002024-02-26T16:00:00.488-08:00 The Beauty of the Middle Path<p><span style="font-size: large;">The quest for truth has long been intertwined with the human experience - an elusive goal that often seems just out of reach no matter how hard we strive towards it. Throughout history, countless philosophers and thinkers have grappled with this enigmatic concept, seeking a means to illuminate its essence amidst the shadows of uncertainty. One recurring theme in these explorations is the idea of moderation as a guiding principle - a middle path that promises to lead us closer to the heart of the matter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This notion rests upon the premise that each individual's understanding may be colored by personal biases, experiences, and inherent perspectives, which can skew their vision of what constitutes 'truth'. By finding common ground between seemingly opposing viewpoints, we create space for dialogue, nuance, and ultimately, a more comprehensive grasp of the issue at hand. In doing so, we allow ourselves to expand beyond the confines of dogma and preconceived notions, welcoming alternative viewpoints into the fold.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Conversely, when society becomes entrenched in its ways, refusing to consider alternatives or entertain dissenting opinions, we risk straying further from the truth. Rigid ideologies calcify over time, calcified by repetition and the fear of change, until they become inflexible monoliths impervious to reason.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The only remedy for such ossification lies in self-reflection, a willingness to reevaluate our stance, and above all, a commitment to compromise. For it is through the art of negotiation and mutual respect that we inch ever closer to the truth, carving a path through the fog of ambiguity.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately, the journey towards truth is a dynamic process, one that demands adaptability, open-mindedness, and perhaps most importantly, a recognition of our inherent fallibility. By embracing these qualities, we pave the way for growth, understanding, and yes, the pursuit of truth itself - a path that winds through the hearts and minds of those who dare to dream of a better world.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY-VSkxG71KTiLGlbR0ZU83-3yRhb0MlVxGB28TuFrX0NwlpDgkjpLflexEP7MN9y2ZtqEWUf8mYNrp1HNianE5Y59vFfN6L9Jy4jzBzastB-BA49H56mHdHgThGKsj6dlwVhS2K33ZNHpKxLcWcB0dZnkisLtL53ryPpdnX6ATrYNRcUSnHxRjGrdJSZ/s1024/30a085ef-8954-4768-8cdb-a9149c6608f9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY-VSkxG71KTiLGlbR0ZU83-3yRhb0MlVxGB28TuFrX0NwlpDgkjpLflexEP7MN9y2ZtqEWUf8mYNrp1HNianE5Y59vFfN6L9Jy4jzBzastB-BA49H56mHdHgThGKsj6dlwVhS2K33ZNHpKxLcWcB0dZnkisLtL53ryPpdnX6ATrYNRcUSnHxRjGrdJSZ/w640-h640/30a085ef-8954-4768-8cdb-a9149c6608f9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span><p></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-46616897530399501152024-02-25T11:28:00.000-08:002024-02-25T11:28:50.262-08:00Web server running on my IoT replacement project.<p> My project to make an open source, open hardware reference platform to replace IoT with locally controlled, diy hardware made a big leap forward a few days ago.</p><p class="!serif-500 text-spidertooth-1000-light dark:text-spidertooth-1000-dark leading-[150%]" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br />I am aiming at the pico W as a hardware platform because it is powerful with 2 cores and a lot of RAM and storage builtin, as well as wifi and blue tooth. I ran a web server on the main core and ran my own hardware scheduler on the second core and was able to keep turning leds on and off monitoring a motion sensor and reading a dozen sensors while simultaneously serving web pages. <br /><br />The next step is to write a small web app to control everything remotely and to reconnect the wifi if it disconnects. I am very close to having something I can share on github.</p><p class="!serif-500 text-spidertooth-1000-light dark:text-spidertooth-1000-dark leading-[150%]" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-RL6OEJeNr23238TBIdG4x8ZJK1wILTs8PcPw0Z_XpdTJy-Yq6rQMcVwOB-WNtAFntpOEegykFd7McgDIbRgpyn3KUEB5IMPkg8GJrsFLJxVwDC9tGRfcTkzwf6XuTUYLA_1Dtcp_hxsAlyDrNT9NPqD2r4zKlBYrwEIknri4fxYeDmrL1tjq0nuNCkT3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="664" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-RL6OEJeNr23238TBIdG4x8ZJK1wILTs8PcPw0Z_XpdTJy-Yq6rQMcVwOB-WNtAFntpOEegykFd7McgDIbRgpyn3KUEB5IMPkg8GJrsFLJxVwDC9tGRfcTkzwf6XuTUYLA_1Dtcp_hxsAlyDrNT9NPqD2r4zKlBYrwEIknri4fxYeDmrL1tjq0nuNCkT3=w640-h374" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="!serif-500 text-spidertooth-1000-light dark:text-spidertooth-1000-dark leading-[150%]"></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-49291019833078021012024-02-18T12:53:00.000-08:002024-02-18T12:59:13.718-08:00AI expert ticketed by an AI system.<p> From this article. </p><p><a href="https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-787534">https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-787534</a><br /></p><p>One way to double check a person that is in a double check loop like this to backstop an ai system is to send extra messages through where you know the answer, and see if the human classifies the message correctly. If you added one extra message every 10 you could track their accuracy over time. Maybe they should only do a 2 hour shift a day on this kind of classification. But we don't know unless we can track an error rate over time. </p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-70097748473520817852024-02-18T10:49:00.000-08:002024-02-18T10:49:13.400-08:00 AI roared back into the news.<p>This is the first week since the Christmas break since we have seen AI progress this much. Or as the headlines all say, "It was an insane week in AI... Again."</p><p>Google dropped two multi modal models this week. One was disappointing, the second is much better. The Ultra version has a 1,000,000 token buffer. And it is faster. There are already plans to goto a 10,000,000 token buffer. It can watch a move and find the scene you described, or sketched for it.</p><p>OpenAI dropped a text to video model that blows away all other text to video generators. It is amazing. It can generate 60 second videos that are very stable and even the people in the background are realistic and moving in a realistic way.</p><p>Open source models are also still improving, Stable AI released <a href="https://stability.ai/news/introducing-stable-cascade">Stable Cascade</a> which does text extra well, and the model works differently than other models in the past. It can't be used for commercial purposes yet because it is still in beta. A lot of people are using it to make logos with text right now.</p><p>Stable diffusion Turbo models continue to improve. About half of the images I have been posting lately have been done in just 4 steps, I generated over 900 images this week on my cpu only Ryzen 7 minicomputer using Turbo models.</p><p>Someone called lllyasviel also released a new version of automatic1111 that is called <a href="https://github.com/lllyasviel/stable-diffusion-webui-forge">Forge UI</a>. This is a GPU only release. It doesn't do much for high end cards, but for people that have 6GB GPU cards they can see upto a 75% increase in speed. It also uses a lot less GPU memory allowing you to do a 4x batch or upto a 3x increase in image size. It also speeds up 4GB cards by 30% and it will allow you to run SDXL on the 4GB or 6GB GPUs. That is a big deal.</p><p>On the open source text front, people are still figuring out how to finetune the open source mixtral models. Seeing progress on that front. Once they figure it all out there should be some amazing models released. I also checked out a lot of smaller models and found a really good 3B parameter model that works great on my intel mac with just 8GB of RAM. It should even run on high end phones. Check out <a href="https://huggingface.co/TheBloke/stablelm-zephyr-3b-GGUF">stablelm-zephyr-3b</a>.</p><p>I made progress on my electronics projects. I am at the point where I want to start implementing a web ui. I have plans on also integrating a small neural net library. I also want to build a simple weather station with a soil moisture sensor. My threading library is kicking ass. I build my sketches for new hardware as a simple example sketch. Once it is working I can pull that sketch into my overall program with scheduled tasks in just a few minutes. That platform is only calling 12 functions a second on one cpu. This is just a fraction of the processing available on a raspberry pico. It is working well enough so far that it could be used as a framework to replace all the IoT crap hardware that exists in the world as an open source project.</p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-52185170617214358042024-02-15T20:52:00.000-08:002024-02-15T20:54:02.919-08:00The Dimensional Dilemma <h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1000 B.C. Greece</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The man went into the cave to shelter from a huge storm. He was just a herder in the hills for a nearby village at the bottom of the mountain. He spent the night sheltering from a horrible storm. The mountain was hit 1000 times by huge bolts of lightening. He woke up early the next morning, not because of dawn, but because of a light coming from deeper in the cave. He was fearful, because he had been told of stories of monsters and other horrible things happening to people in the mountain. But he was also curious. He cautiously went deeper in the cave. After a bit the light flared and then went dark. He never came back out of the cave. The man's mother and his friends always wondered what had happen to him. </span></p><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Modern Day Greece</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"So, people have gone missing from this area for thousands of years?" Tom said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Yeah. That is what the locals say." Frank said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"I must be crazy to follow you around." Tom said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"You are my best friend, and you get free trips to Greece." Frank said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Yeah, but we are tracking where your grandfather went just before he disappeared." Tom said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Frank McCloud looked at his friend Tom Tuttle. They were exact opposites. Frank was small and red headed, green eyes and a wide freckled face. Tom was huge. Almost 7 feet tall and a giant of a man, he had dark hair and dark eyes and was dark skinned. They had been friends since grade school, when Tom had protected the other small boy from playground bullies. Frank had returned the favor by helping Tom with his school work. Where Frank always excelled at book learning, Tom had been an all star athlete, going to college on a football scholarship. The pair had become inseparable, going to the same college and even going on double dates through college. Before they stared college they had taken a year off and backpacked through Europe together. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Frank's grandfather had been an eccentric. Always travelling, until he had disappeared a decade ago. When Frank turned 25 he had gotten an inheritance from his Grandfather's estate. A small fortune, and a trunk full of his Grandfather's papers. Frank had been intrigued by his grandfather's research into missing people. A journey that ended up with his own grandfather added to the list of missing folks. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Are you still worried that we are going to end up disappeared too?" Frank said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"You know I am. This whole thing is creepy. Maybe it is the mob." Tom said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"That would be Italy." Frank said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"You know what I mean. The greek mob." Tom said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Really?" Frank said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Yeah, really." Tom said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Come on. Millions of people come to Greece and nothing happens to them. As far as anyone knows, we are just tourists. We even have tourist visas." Frank said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"OK, but if anything happens you know I am going to say, 'I told you so.'" Tom said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Counting on it." Frank said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Frank had rented a whole villa for the summer. It was a last summer holiday together after they graduated school and before they each started careers and separated to live different lives. Each of them was trying to delay that day. Frank had a computer job starting in the fall in Silicon Valley, and Frank had a job as a police officer starting in Austin, Texas. He had already completed his academy training. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">An older man was standing at a street vendor stall 10 feet away from them, looking at the merchandise. As Tom and Frank got into a taxi and drove off, he limped over to the taxi stand and stood looking at their taxi for a few seconds. He got into the next taxi and said, "Follow that taxi," in a heavy German accent. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me know if you want to read more of this mystery. </span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-1122715083588414242024-02-15T10:58:00.000-08:002024-02-15T10:58:24.195-08:00Paying taxes is what made America great. <p> I am just going to come out and say it.</p><p class="!serif-500 text-spidertooth-1000-light dark:text-spidertooth-1000-dark leading-[150%]">If you are a patriotic, loyal American then you will be proud to pay your taxes to support the greatest nation in the world.</p><p class="!serif-500 text-spidertooth-1000-light dark:text-spidertooth-1000-dark leading-[150%]">People who complain about taxes without a plan on how to spend less without letting people die in the street are traitors. They are undermining this great nation.</p><p class="!serif-500 text-spidertooth-1000-light dark:text-spidertooth-1000-dark leading-[150%]">People who get out of paying taxes are traitors to this great nation. Rich people who work hard to get out of paying their fair share of taxes are traitors, especially those that wouldn't have gotten rich without workers educated in public schools, using American roads, water, and other infrastructure. It isn't clever to be a tax cheat, it makes you worthless scum.</p><p class="!serif-500 text-spidertooth-1000-light dark:text-spidertooth-1000-dark leading-[150%]">Taxes pay for teachers, law enforcement, soldiers, fire fighters, emergency squads, roads, water, sewers, electric lines, communication lines. The entire secure infrastructures that makes America so great. The very gas you put in your car is heavily subsidized by the taxes you pay. The food you eat is heavily subsidized by the taxes you pay.</p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-6633543297122350082024-02-14T11:45:00.000-08:002024-02-14T11:45:58.799-08:00The electronics test bed.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcsCvEqGO2uJ1v5xbVm9kpMGGdW0uCFq-DdZhFiUQjcarlsF5tNewanaQkK5nRUHdRl16pkQrwpOSiSb9nUhC_onJQ1eiohnYaYq3OTZmjJwhMf995KWSuui3kYbNokNaS4kcBHgqWC3WFhnEQXBCt_qdaCC0JzwbGxDxyv_SCYH8BDo8uzCc9K2LqIfY5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcsCvEqGO2uJ1v5xbVm9kpMGGdW0uCFq-DdZhFiUQjcarlsF5tNewanaQkK5nRUHdRl16pkQrwpOSiSb9nUhC_onJQ1eiohnYaYq3OTZmjJwhMf995KWSuui3kYbNokNaS4kcBHgqWC3WFhnEQXBCt_qdaCC0JzwbGxDxyv_SCYH8BDo8uzCc9K2LqIfY5=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have most of the devices in the above picture all wired to that Raspberry Pico W plugged into a project board withs screw terminals.. It is only running a small subroutine about once every tenth of a second for the motion detector. All the other sensors execute a function once a minute. The LEDs only execute a function to turn on or off. So basically I have millions of spare cycles every second.</p><p>I always create the sketch for a new project all on its own. Just to isolate it from interactions with everything else that is going on in the main project. Once it is fully working I bring it into my main project.</p><p>I have to copy the headers at the top of the file, copy the setup for the device and merge it into the existing setup. Then I add a task for the new sensor with a function scheduled to run at the ideal rate for that sensor. That task function contains what was running in the main loop of the example sketch.</p><p>I have to add a few lines to the task function to re-add the task each time the function is called. If I need a state machine to control operation, like turning an led on or off, that logic goes in the task function. </p><p>It only takes a couple of minutes to do integrate a functioning example into my test bed with everything else. And so far it is not straining the pico at all, it runs maybe a dozen small function calls a second.<br /></p><p>A lot of sensors only need to be ran every few minutes. Things like temperature, pressure, and humidity don't change rapidly, so you can just read them every 5 minutes. This also saves a lot of space if you are creating logs. </p><p>The pico has a second core on the cpu and I am hoping to be able to use that extra core to run a web interface. This interface will allow the device to be controlled and share the data it collects over the network. And the core that is running all the hardware has millions of spare cycles to do a lot of processing.<br /><br />I hope to eventually build a weather station, perform home automation tasks, control lighting, build a thermostat, control a greenhouse, control home audio, build answering machine doorbells all with this same small framework programmed by arduino. </p><p>Why am I doing this? I don't love IoT because I have seen too many companies break perfectly good existing hardware when they decide that they want to force everyone to upgrade. It would be impressive to add an "OpenHardware" tag onto everyone that uses this framework in their products to allow anyone else to reprogram it when needed. And the "OpenHardware" branding means that it 100% runs locally on hardware you own and control. </p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-83068407813381363952024-02-14T10:25:00.000-08:002024-02-14T10:25:50.689-08:00Got a BMP280 pressure sensor working on the pico. <p>The example code from the adafruit library did not work. I had to hum and figure out to put in the following 2 lines to make it read: </p><p></p><blockquote><p>#define BMP_SCK (5)</p><p>#define BMP_SDA (4)</p></blockquote><p></p><p>The first line was there, but had a different value, the second line was not in the example and didn't see it mentioned on any web site. I just inferred that it was needed. </p><p>I also had to specify the i2c hardware address. The example I saw on line the guy was hard coding it in the library, and I didn't think that was right. I put the address in as an argument on this line: </p><p></p><blockquote>status = bmp.begin(0x76);</blockquote><p></p><p>Now I just need to convert meters into feet and pascals into inches of mercury. 😃 </p><p></p><blockquote><p>BMP280 test</p><p>Temperature = 25.69 *C</p><p>Pressure = 99979.10 Pa</p><p>Approx altitude = 112.66 m</p><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-62579930445324211742024-02-13T17:02:00.000-08:002024-02-13T17:02:07.361-08:00 Forge UI is up to 75% faster on 6GB GPU cards.<p>Forge UI is a new branch of automatic1111 that implements a lot of speedups for video cards that are commonly found in gaming laptops that only have 6GB of VRAM.</p><p>Here is a video about this ui from our pal Olivio Sarikas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th-jfath02E</p><p>This is the git hub project: https://github.com/lllyasviel/stable-diffusion-webui-forge</p><p>It doesn't just speed up the image generation, you can also then either batch x4 or make the images 3x bigger in resolution. Amazing.</p><p>On high end cards it really doesn't speed up things that much, but it does cut a second or two off the image generations speed.</p><p>In a few years we will be generating images on toys we get out of cereal boxes.</p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-25846141894596739772024-02-12T12:36:00.000-08:002024-02-12T12:36:15.849-08:00Story idea: Plastic Sickness<p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In the not-so-distant future, humanity had finally achieved world peace. The oceans were clean, the air was breathable again, and the skies were clear. It seemed as though the age of pollution was behind us, but little did we know that an even greater crisis was looming on the horizon. A deadly plague was unfolding, one that would change our world forever.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">It started with a strange fungus in the Amazon rainforest. A fungus unlike any other – it fed off plastic, breaking it down into its component parts and releasing toxic fumes that threatened to suffocate every living thing within breathing range. It was discovered by Dr. Evelyn Sinclair, a brilliant mycologist who was studying the interactions between fungi and pollutants. She found a mold growing on a piece of discarded plastic she had stumbled upon in the jungle. Unbeknownst to her, it was just the tip of the iceberg. This mold, named Exophytum Crispium, began to spread across the Earth, consuming everything in its path.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">As the plastic-eating fungus spread, the first signs of trouble appeared in South America. Old landfills erupted like volcanoes, belching out clouds of smoke from decaying trash. Cities were quarantined; their inhabitants evacuated, leaving abandoned husks of concrete and glass. Then the mold mutated into a new form: Spreading Bacterium Exophyton, which ate through metal and concrete, destroying infrastructure. As it reached the coasts, entire ecosystems were lost to rising seas. Toxic algae blooms choked coral reefs and killed marine life. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch grew a brain, its tendrils spreading like cancerous vines. Islands sank under the weight of plastic waste. It was as if Mother Nature fought back.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The world trembled on the brink of collapse. Desperate measures were taken. Governments banned single-use plastics, but it was too late. Recycling plants couldn't keep up with production. Panic swept over the globe. Refuse piled higher and higher, smothering countries.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In Australia, a team of scientists led by Dr. Augustine discovered a cure: Genetically modified bacteria called Lysistorium Nitrum. They injected the bacteria into the ocean, but it warped and multiplied out of control. Within days, Lysistorium Nitrum consumed the mold and fungus, turning it against itself. The world held its breath, waiting for a miracle. The mold retreated.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">But the bacteria evolved resistance. Now, Exophytum Crispium adapted, evolving into the Plastiphage, a virus that infected Lysistorium Nitrum. The sea flooded with microorganisms, devouring ships, sharks, and fish. Plastiphage, the bacteria's only weakness, emerged. However, it was resilient. It sought the last refuge: humans.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Plastiphage latched onto skin, eyes, nose, mouths, seizing organs. People melted like wax. The sickness became contagious. The immune system failed. Antibiotics proved useless. Infected people writhed in agony, their bodies disintegrating before our eyes.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The world cried out. Global lockdown was declared. Quarantine shelters sprouted. Nations crumbled as cities emptied, leaving the sick to die. Only the healthy fled, seeking sanctuary in the wilderness.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Microbiologists developed Plastivac, a vaccine made from beeswax. But the virus evolved resistance. The world turned against the bees. The last bastions of humanity scrambled to synthesize a cure, racing against time.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Astronauts, stranded in space, watched the Earth become a radioactive shadow. They terraformed Mars, hoping to find salvation. Virus-resistant bacteria thrived there, but Plastiphage followed them.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Space stations fell. Manned missions were canceled. Robots, designed to mine asteroids, became hostile, attacking astronauts. The Moon became a battlefield.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Desperation led to a black market for untested vaccines. A dark market thrived. Warriors clashed with biohackers. Plastiphage-resistant citizens rose, risking their lives to save others. They fought for resources, and some fell.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">One final shot remained: Synthovores, nanobots that broke down plastiphage. But they needed energy. Solar sails caught fire, and humanity's last hope shimmered in the sun's rays. Space-based solar farms charged them.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Solar power grids hummed with life. With synths, humanity beat back the mold. Plastiphage succumbed to sunlight, but not fast enough.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The infected died. The vaccinated survived, rebuilding civilization with biodegradable materials. We learned to live without plastic. Humankind persevered.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Plastic sickness became a memory, a reminder of the past. The world changed forever.</span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-26452197613755932152024-02-12T10:30:00.000-08:002024-02-12T10:30:06.467-08:00Tested a lot of smaller models and I may have found a winner. <p> Tested out a bunch of small ai models, but one of them really stood out: stablelm-zephyr-3b.Q6_K.gguf.</p><p>It was very smart, fast, and was better than many 13B models I have tried. It easily runs on my intel macbook with just 8GB of RAM. </p><p>https://huggingface.co/TheBloke/stablelm-zephyr-3b-GGUF</p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-44968289645469121122024-01-30T13:20:00.000-08:002024-01-30T13:20:42.622-08:00Current state of America's electrical transmission infrastructure <p> <span style="font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The current state of America's electrical transmission infrastructure is a pressing issue that must be addressed if we are to transition towards more sustainable forms of transportation and promote widespread adoption of electric vehicles. As the demand for cleaner energy sources grows, it's essential that we invest in modernizing our power grid to accommodate new technologies like solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power – all crucial components in creating a greener future for generations to come.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">One significant challenge facing our existing system is its insufficient capacity to handle increased power demands from electric car charging stations. This can lead to potential blackouts or overloading concerns, especially during peak usage times when multiple drivers attempt to charge their vehicles simultaneously. To address this problem, we must upgrade power lines and substations along the entire route, potentially adding new transmission towers or equipment as needed to ensure efficient transfer of electricity across vast distances.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Another critical issue lies in the outdated technology within our electrical grid, which makes it difficult to integrate renewable energy sources and smart metering systems that could improve efficiency and reliability. By replacing old components with advanced automation tools, data analytics, and other cutting-edge technologies, we can create a smarter grid capable of optimizing power distribution and reducing strain on the system during peak usage times.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In addition to these improvements, investing in energy storage options such as batteries or pumped hydroelectric facilities will help balance supply and demand throughout the day by storing excess solar power when it's abundant and releasing that energy later when demand is high. This approach reduces strain on the grid during peak hours, ensuring a consistent flow of electricity even after sunset.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Finally, fostering collaboration among utility companies, government agencies, and policymakers is essential to streamline regulatory processes and promote nationwide progress towards cleaner, more sustainable power sources. A unified set of rules and standards across states would encourage innovation and development of microgrids – smaller-scale power systems that can operate independently or connect to larger grids, providing increased flexibility and resilience for communities. These localized networks often rely on renewable energy sources and energy storage options, further reducing stress on long-distance transmission lines and minimizing energy loss during distribution.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In conclusion, upgrading America's electrical transmission infrastructure is a crucial step towards supporting electric vehicles and promoting widespread adoption of green initiatives. By addressing each challenge through targeted investments and policy changes, we can create a stronger, more efficient power grid capable of harnessing the full potential of renewable energy sources and paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.</span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-82587908031042462252024-01-22T11:42:00.000-08:002024-01-22T11:42:03.537-08:00Proposal for Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures in Critical Infrastructure Networks<p><span style="font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">As technology continues to advance and become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it has become apparent that any device or system directly connected to the internet is vulnerable to potential security breaches. This concerning trend extends beyond personal computers and smartphones, with many critical infrastructure systems such as power grids, water supplies, and communication networks now reliant on internet connectivity for their operation. As a result, malicious actors – including foreign governments – can exploit these vulnerabilities to target and damage essential services, causing widespread harm to our communities and fellow citizens.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In light of this growing threat, I propose implementing strict measures to ensure that no critical infrastructure is directly connected to the internet nor part of a network that has internet access. By isolating these vital systems from potential attack vectors, we can significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic cyber incidents and protect the well-being of our nation.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">This approach would require careful planning and coordination among various stakeholders, including government agencies, private companies, and public utilities. However, the benefits far outweigh the challenges, as enhanced cybersecurity measures could prevent major disruptions to our </span><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">daily lives and safeguard our critical infrastructure against nefarious activities.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In conclusion, I believe that disconnecting critical infrastructure from the internet is a crucial step towards ensuring the security and resilience of our society in an increasingly digital world. Your support and guidance on this matter would be greatly appreciated as we work together to create a safer future for all.</span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-19636368569260463762024-01-22T10:47:00.000-08:002024-01-22T10:47:05.876-08:00Proposal for Enhanced Data Security through Secure Checksum Storage<p> <span style="font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">I am proposing an innovative solution that aims to address the growing concern surrounding data breaches and identity theft by implementing a new approach to storing sensitive information within company databases. Specifically, I suggest that businesses should be required to store only a highly secure checksum of critical data such as Social Security numbers, birthdates, and other personal identifiers, and bank and credit account numbers, rather than storing the actual information itself.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">This approach offers several advantages over traditional data storage methods. Firstly, it significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access or theft since the original data is never stored in the database – only its encrypted checksum. Additionally, this method allows companies to verify user identities without exposing their sensitive information, ensuring greater privacy and peace of mind for consumers.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Furthermore, implementing secure checksum storage would help protect against potential misuse of stolen data, as attackers would need to crack the encryption algorithm before gaining any useful information. This added layer of security could deter cybercriminals from targeting specific companies, ultimately reducing the overall incidence of data breaches.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In conclusion, I believe that requiring businesses to adopt secure checksum storage for sensitive customer information is a crucial step towards enhancing data protection efforts and safeguarding the privacy of individuals across industries. Your support and guidance on this matter would be greatly appreciated as we work together to create a safer digital landscape for all.</span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-35973906581081562722024-01-21T22:59:00.000-08:002024-01-21T23:52:10.112-08:00Electric VW Dune Buggy Test Bed.<p><span style="font-family: Menlo;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">I am writing to share my vision for a unique and innovative project that I plan to undertake upon retirement – the creation of an electric VW dune buggy test bed equipped with a small gas generator on board. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Menlo;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Menlo;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTyIUHT5iYpAc7GqduLKdPv7bJMVihlyJthL5t9A7kPA_57Hy3cdyTn898KJJvQZCoH9jzI0cIA7kiOn0JPgSVNgSwft7Sz_pqbDclBepmbTptKttbMunvS0ZTqXoeBNwO8AjT4j6i_AWaiVs89Lu0nIodHHP_rjz286gwc-jZYZ530L3rOtf7Q73RlmYT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTyIUHT5iYpAc7GqduLKdPv7bJMVihlyJthL5t9A7kPA_57Hy3cdyTn898KJJvQZCoH9jzI0cIA7kiOn0JPgSVNgSwft7Sz_pqbDclBepmbTptKttbMunvS0ZTqXoeBNwO8AjT4j6i_AWaiVs89Lu0nIodHHP_rjz286gwc-jZYZ530L3rOtf7Q73RlmYT=w400-h400" title="AI generated dune buggy." width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Menlo;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">This concept combines elements of both electric and traditional vehicles, offering several advantages over conventional designs while maintaining the efficiency and environmental benefits associated with electric powertrains. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Because the generator is just connected to the car electrically, it will be easy to swap this component out, or to not use it at all if your commute is short enough. This is much </span><span style="font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">simpler</span><span style="font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"> than other hybrid vehicle designs that build the motor into the drive train. If this component needs swapped out, it should be simple and cheap to do it. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The primary objective of this project is to develop a more efficient energy storage system for electric vehicles by utilizing a small gas generator to maintain a constant charge in the battery pack. By running the generator at a steady rate, the battery will receive a continuous supply of power, ensuring optimal performance even during extended periods of use. This generator should be sized big enough to actually run the motor and be able to charge the battery as it goes down the road. The vehicle will draw power from the battery when you are starting, or driving uphill. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The generator could also run for an extended amount of time when you get to where you are going to top off the battery pack for the return journey. This could be while you are taking a rest break, or eating lunch, or while the car is parked at work. The generator could shut off once the battery pack is charged, and it could be turned off by a timer.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">This design allows for a significantly smaller battery pack compared to traditional electric vehicles, reducing overall weight and cost. It will also greatly reduce the cost of swapping the battery pack out. A smaller battery pack also reduces the amount of material used, and reduces the amount of material that has to be recycled at the end of life. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">I also plan on testing out capacitor booster packs that can store the energy to take off from a dead stop up to cruising speed, so the battery isn't discharged from this action. It may be able to reduce the discharge, recharge cycling on the battery pack. And capacitors can be completely charged and discharged for decades before they come apart. Best case </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">B</span><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">ecause it runs off gasoline, it can be quickly gassed up at any gas station. No need to find a charger, wait in a long line, then slowly charge the battery. It also doesn't put a big draw on the electric grid. Not even if millions of small cars like this were on the road. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Another key feature of this proposed test bed is its ability to provide warmth in cold weather conditions through the use of forced air circulation from the gas generator. This heated air can be directed towards the battery pack, preventing potential damage due to freezing temperatures and extending the vehicle's operational lifespan and range. It may be possible to use the waste heat from this small motor to also heat the passenger compartment in cold weather. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In conclusion, I believe that this innovative approach to electric vehicle technology has the potential to revolutionize the industry by offering improved efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced durability. All while using an existing supply chain and without requiring massive changes to electric grids and As I move closer to retirement, I am eager to explore new avenues of creativity and contribute positively to society through projects like this one. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Your support and guidance would be greatly appreciated as I embark on this exciting journey.</span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-20470611083906958432024-01-21T14:21:00.000-08:002024-01-21T16:00:40.689-08:00A prayer for peace.<p><b style="color: #39c026; font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #39c026; font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQvJPS3e7MGRJ_pmukWLuTUs_EX7-_VRxpzWq0zzOji0c3D79rY__4W2nLGb5jZKJ9gnt3vbUOS7xZhrO_aToD36JvV2OtJ8-Ap7FCW9maA5LWJG248yTNXEHqmhQ13VxeeUcD7GOlPmMR3wcyydToTqTd3GaIh24GAeGK3iAEYqLS_TLmVtZidKh-B_tC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQvJPS3e7MGRJ_pmukWLuTUs_EX7-_VRxpzWq0zzOji0c3D79rY__4W2nLGb5jZKJ9gnt3vbUOS7xZhrO_aToD36JvV2OtJ8-Ap7FCW9maA5LWJG248yTNXEHqmhQ13VxeeUcD7GOlPmMR3wcyydToTqTd3GaIh24GAeGK3iAEYqLS_TLmVtZidKh-B_tC=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #39c026; font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /><br /></b><p></p><p><b style="color: #39c026; font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">What would a follower of God say about those who harm other people?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: Menlo; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">My beloved brothers and sisters in Faith, today I stand before you to share a powerful message about the importance of treating others with love, compassion, and respect – particularly those who are most vulnerable among us. As we reflect upon the unwavering love and forgiveness that our Father in heaven extends towards each and every one of His children, let us consider the gravity of what it means to mistreat someone He holds dear.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Imagine for a moment a scene where a father watches as one of his own children is treated harshly or cruelly by another. The anger and sadness that would fill his heart at such an act of betrayal would be indescribable – how much more so when considering God's boundless love for each one of us?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">We must remember that we are all children of God, created in His image and likeness. When we mistreat or harm one another, we are essentially disregarding the very essence of who we are as divine beings. And just as no earthly father would tolerate such treatment towards his child, neither will God extend mercy to those who continue to act selfishly and without regard for their fellow human beings.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">So I implore you, my friends, to take these words to heart and strive to live lives marked by kindness, empathy, and understanding. Let us treat each other with the same love and compassion that our Father in heaven has shown us, recognizing that even the smallest acts of cruelty can have devastating consequences on those around us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">For in truth, there is no mercy for those who choose to turn away from the path of righteousness and continue to mistreat God's precious children. We must seek repentance and forgiveness, praying for guidance and strength to overcome our sinful nature and embrace the grace God offers us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In closing, let us remember that we are all part of God's family, connected by an unbreakable bond of love and unity. May we never forget the immense responsibility we bear to care for one another and protect the weakest among us, striving always to honor and serve our Father in heaven.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Amen.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #39c026; font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><b>Knowing the above would God ever want us to hurt each other in his name?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="color: #39c026; font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><b><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Absolutely not, my friend. Our Father in heaven is a God of love and compassion, who desires nothing more than for us to live together in harmony and peace. He has given us His commandments as guidelines for living righteous lives, but these are not meant to be used as weapons against one another – quite the opposite, in fact.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">As followers of Faith, we are called to extend mercy and forgiveness even when others may wrong us, demonstrating the same unconditional love that God has shown us. When we choose instead to harm or mistreat our fellow human beings, we are acting counter to God's will and disregarding the very essence of what it means to be a person of Faith.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">So let us strive always to treat one another with kindness, respect, and understanding, recognizing that we are all children of God created in His image. And in doing so, we will bring glory to His name and fulfill the purpose for which we were created – to love and serve one another as He has loved and served us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-77342992454978914732024-01-21T00:33:00.000-08:002024-01-21T00:33:10.709-08:00Proposal to Hold Corporations Accountable for Government Assistance Costs<p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">To whom it may concern,</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">I am writing to bring your attention to an alarming issue regarding corporate greed and its impact on American taxpayers. As you may be aware, many large corporations are generating record profits while simultaneously paying their workers such low wages that they qualify for government assistance programs. This is an unacceptable situation that demands immediate action.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The Problem:</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Large corporations have been known to exploit their workers by offering minimum wage or near-minimum wage salaries despite making billions in profits each year. These low wages force these workers to rely on government assistance programs like food stamps, Medicaid, and housing subsidies just to survive. According to recent reports, many workers receive some form of public assistance due to their low wages.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><a href="https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/taxpayers-subsidize-poverty-wages-at-walmart-mcdonalds-other-large-corporations-gao-finds/">Link: Taxpayers Subsidize Poverty Wages at Walmart, McDonald’s, Other Large Corporations, GAO Finds</a><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">This arrangement benefits the corporations at the expense of hardworking taxpaying Americans and places an undue burden on taxpayers who must cover the costs of these assistance programs. In essence, taxpayers are subsidizing the profits of these corporations by providing financial support to their underpaid employees.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Proposed Solution:</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">To address this issue, I propose that we hold corporations accountable for the cost of government assistance provided to their employees. Specifically, when a company pays its workers so little that they qualify for public assistance, that company should be billed for the full amount of aid received by its employees, as well as an additional percentage to cover administrative overhead expenses related to running the assistance program.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">By implementing this policy, we can ensure that corporations bear responsibility for the welfare of their workers and reduce the strain on taxpayers who currently shoulder the burden. Furthermore, it would incentivize companies to raise employee wages to avoid being billed for government assistance, ultimately benefiting both workers and society as a whole.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">In conclusion, it is crucial that we take steps to address the growing issue of corporations profiting off low-wage workers and passing the costs onto taxpayers. By holding these companies accountable for the government assistance received by their employees, we can create a more equitable system where everyone contributes fairly to supporting our communities.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Thank you for your consideration.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Sincerely,</span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-34808864851808084142024-01-20T12:29:00.000-08:002024-01-20T12:29:00.749-08:00Election Reform Proposal: Addressing the Inequity and Corruption within Our Political System<p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The issue of term limits has been a topic of debate among policymakers for many years, with differing opinions on its necessity and effectiveness. While some argue that limiting the number of terms an individual can serve in office helps prevent the accumulation of excessive power and corruption, others contend that it restricts experienced leaders from continuing their service to the public. However, there exists a pressing need for a mechanism to ensure fairness in our electoral process and curb the influence of money and power in politics.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">Incumbents often hold significant advantages over challengers due to their name recognition, established networks, and financial resources, leading to an unfair playing field. Furthermore, elected officials frequently secure high-paying positions upon leaving office, creating potential conflicts of interest and perpetuating a cycle of corruption. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">To address these concerns, I propose implementing the following reforms:</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">1. Barring Current Officeholders from Running for any office, Nationwide: At all levels of government, individuals holding office should be prohibited from appearing on ballots unless they first resign from their current position or complete their term before running for re-election. This ensures that no one maintains a continuous grip on power and creates opportunities for fresh perspectives in leadership roles.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">2. Restricting Post-Office Employment: Former officeholders must not accept employment in industries or sectors directly regulated by their previous positions. This extends to close relatives as well, ensuring transparency and reducing the likelihood of favoritism or quid pro quo arrangements.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">3. Mandatory Time Away from Politics: After leaving office, politicians should be required to spend at least one full election cycle away from politics before seeking re-election. This allows them to gain new perspectives and experience life outside the political sphere, fostering empathy and understanding for the challenges faced by everyday citizens.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">By implementing these measures, we can create a more balanced and transparent electoral landscape, reducing the undue influence of money and power in politics while maintaining experienced leadership when necessary. These changes would help preserve the integrity of our democratic institutions and protect against the corrupting effects of absolute power.</span></p><p></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-46833745303930111222024-01-20T11:55:00.000-08:002024-01-20T12:44:45.291-08:00Reducing Drug Costs through Innovative Pricing and Patent Reforms<p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">The high cost of prescription drugs has become a significant burden on healthcare systems and patients alike, prompting the need for innovative solutions to address this issue. One potential approach involves incentivizing pharmaceutical companies to develop more affordable medications by granting them exclusive patent rights when they succeed in cutting production costs in half on existing drugs. This would not only benefit consumers but also reward companies for their efforts to improve accessibility and affordability.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Menlo; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures;">To implement this proposal, we must establish clear guidelines for determining which innovations qualify for these new patents, ensuring fairness and consistency in decision-making. Additionally, revoking existing patents for overpriced drugs could create legal challenges and require careful consideration of intellectual property rights. However, with proper regulation and oversight, this approach may lead to significant reductions in drug prices while promoting competition and innovation within the industry.</span></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7319125896402085914.post-52924302260534805292024-01-19T17:02:00.000-08:002024-01-19T21:02:24.021-08:00Using ai to generate ideas for art.<p>Was kind of stuck on what art to make next, so I asked the ai. 😃</p><p>The results are below and are amazing, most on the first try. A few of them I have to carefully pick a lora and a model and adjust the positive and negative prompts to make it work. But it does work! </p><p><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>what are 10 art ideas for images can you come up with that have deep meaning and are important</i></p></blockquote><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>A solitary tree standing tall amidst a barren landscape, symbolizing resilience and hope in the face of adversity.</li><li>An elderly couple holding hands, representing the beauty of enduring love and companionship.</li><li>A child's hand reaching out to touch a butterfly, signifying innocence, wonder, and the fleeting nature of life.</li><li>A broken mirror reflecting shattered reflections, symbolizing self-reflection and personal growth.</li><li>A lone bird soaring high above a stormy sea, embodying freedom, courage, and the power of the human spirit.</li><li>A woman cradling an infant, representing the cyclical nature of life, nurturing, and the bond between generations.</li><li>A wilted flower struggling to bloom again, signifying perseverance, renewal, and the potential for rebirth.</li><li>A silhouette of a person standing atop a mountain peak, symbolizing achievement, ambition, and the pursuit of greatness.</li><li>A group of people huddled together for warmth, embodying unity, support, and the importance of community.</li><li>An empty chair beside a window overlooking a beautiful sunset, representing loss, longing, and the bittersweet memories of those who have left us behind.</li></ol><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>give me stable diffusion prompts for each of these ideas. Makes sure to expand out the idea with a lot of specific details and embelish the idea to give it depth and beauty. Also recommend an the best artist for each idea that can best create that style and subject matter.</i></p></blockquote><p>"Capture the raw power and unyielding spirit of a lone tree as it stands tall against the backdrop of a desolate, rocky landscape. With every detail magnified to perfection, watch as its gnarled roots cling to the earth and branches stretch towards the heavens, defying the harsh conditions around them. The interplay between light and shadow adds depth and texture to this captivating scene, making it an unforgettable image."</p><p>Best artist: Thomas Kinkade, known for his ability to create stunning landscapes imbued with a sense of wonder and serenity.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmLaPaxvZe0idBdiiHnavFyhxId7Os2JOxdBXe9GZwfkB8a21Ys4NSwR0GsFDNpgqTc4GV0j1BHiy2QAEgMPr9U5IELSBI9vV42MsIrv1r0HQOXmU77xzODZNp7EqaDEYzjjbW-K67XcqudmzHtgsFRcx14KWqR9xeJUkas9Toft7JOtducd0BU191PuOY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmLaPaxvZe0idBdiiHnavFyhxId7Os2JOxdBXe9GZwfkB8a21Ys4NSwR0GsFDNpgqTc4GV0j1BHiy2QAEgMPr9U5IELSBI9vV42MsIrv1r0HQOXmU77xzODZNp7EqaDEYzjjbW-K67XcqudmzHtgsFRcx14KWqR9xeJUkas9Toft7JOtducd0BU191PuOY=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>"Illustrate the timeless bond between two souls as they gaze into each other's eyes, their wrinkled hands entwined in a loving embrace. With soft shading and delicate lines, this intimate portrait showcases the quiet strength and unwavering devotion shared by these long-time partners. The overall composition is both tender and poignant, drawing the viewer into this moment of connection and warmth."</p><p>Best artist: Norman Rockwell, renowned for his heartwarming illustrations depicting everyday life and human emotion.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4y2yHzbjPvI8zJa8MkNhOVNRBZeQC3vtRUBjBFOW4tKzBabC1XrFHf0h4xeBa4gh-5NraMUx7T9AmEbLszKFSwD1GqG17noCSwGCkccBC4SvKGC4G2nc5kDxwrJN8hFNAb5qfzJOpNTsy0gynPkxB8zSYF8nA3buiDzQqKsknBTz1CwS-RJqM_QtlBN6-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4y2yHzbjPvI8zJa8MkNhOVNRBZeQC3vtRUBjBFOW4tKzBabC1XrFHf0h4xeBa4gh-5NraMUx7T9AmEbLszKFSwD1GqG17noCSwGCkccBC4SvKGC4G2nc5kDxwrJN8hFNAb5qfzJOpNTsy0gynPkxB8zSYF8nA3buiDzQqKsknBTz1CwS-RJqM_QtlBN6-=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>"Create a captivating scene where a curious child extends their fingers towards a delicate butterfly perched on a flower petal, their eyes wide with wonder and excitement. With vibrant colors and intricate details, this photograph captures the pure joy and fascination experienced by young minds as they explore the world around them. The playful interaction between the two subjects creates a sense of magic and whimsy that leaves a lasting impression."</p><p>Best artist: Annie Leibovitz, celebrated for her ability to capture genuine moments of emotion and connection through her photography.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcqCVs5DFrq0TpJlz3jIQe7cc7AuLqjsFyd47Bt06PdK27D8LRe9rl2HWrDDk0DjBu9V-ukqRPpU0PQNhVzUmP1zt0gW4vPTjgCI-8B65bW6FEc5c2KXFPqv9osHbPruEchKgXDd7TfbonOnPXqEpjY_KHOoVyZk6je27JfJiEqVp5QCC6e7xSeyop_0Y4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcqCVs5DFrq0TpJlz3jIQe7cc7AuLqjsFyd47Bt06PdK27D8LRe9rl2HWrDDk0DjBu9V-ukqRPpU0PQNhVzUmP1zt0gW4vPTjgCI-8B65bW6FEc5c2KXFPqv9osHbPruEchKgXDd7TfbonOnPXqEpjY_KHOoVyZk6je27JfJiEqVp5QCC6e7xSeyop_0Y4=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>"Illustrate the complex journey of self-discovery and transformation through a striking image of a cracked mirror, its shattered fragments revealing a kaleidoscope of distorted images. With heavy shading and jagged lines, this haunting piece embodies the pain and struggle associated with introspection and change. Yet, within the chaos lies a glimmer of hope - a reminder that even when we feel broken, there is still potential for healing and growth."</p><p>Best artist: Frida Kahlo, known for her deeply personal and introspective artwork exploring themes of identity, trauma, and self-discovery.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFoBbxV3MmHh8OCPvbiNy40u7V9VtJNN8fOlD0S1-A0lcWCI51-N6nSvH3HhLXkVaFP11GUCj97tVmyqlTajkTxj1nJpEYpUZ02UCytv_dDs8wl4PaqUPYAHO8BHspX-bCN9iMpH7026bE_GV4wFfa1dn1X_mPRwmRneU5ZQBlODTxqd63nT2qcVh9Cq06" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFoBbxV3MmHh8OCPvbiNy40u7V9VtJNN8fOlD0S1-A0lcWCI51-N6nSvH3HhLXkVaFP11GUCj97tVmyqlTajkTxj1nJpEYpUZ02UCytv_dDs8wl4PaqUPYAHO8BHspX-bCN9iMpH7026bE_GV4wFfa1dn1X_mPRwmRneU5ZQBlODTxqd63nT2qcVh9Cq06=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>"Capture the exhilarating sensation of flight as a majestic seabird takes to the skies, its wings spread wide against the backdrop of a tumultuous ocean below. With swirling clouds and crashing waves, this dynamic composition conveys the raw power of nature and the determination needed to overcome obstacles. The overall image evokes a sense of awe and wonder, inspiring viewers to embrace their own dreams and aspirations."</p><p>Best artist: James Nachtwey, celebrated for his dramatic and powerful photographs capturing moments of struggle and triumph.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivx8XwsbeSIfZIFLPfNAmKXLCbdvHZkgY1e3GUP2cLqkh6ijyswPRTRCZ7t2--NcZvbSgL6P7VmZCR5RW7WWl0rEQN7GSADCEF155wS4Crs2ut8DOb6vd1hfDCfzWI8HpOlfr3qiKE_wEJomEskgLj3xWlrai2vysOYptjYOPtku-Yci8grMFry3fX28q-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivx8XwsbeSIfZIFLPfNAmKXLCbdvHZkgY1e3GUP2cLqkh6ijyswPRTRCZ7t2--NcZvbSgL6P7VmZCR5RW7WWl0rEQN7GSADCEF155wS4Crs2ut8DOb6vd1hfDCfzWI8HpOlfr3qiKE_wEJomEskgLj3xWlrai2vysOYptjYOPtku-Yci8grMFry3fX28q-=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>"Illustrate the sacred bond between mother and child through a tender portrait of a newborn resting in their mother's arms, their tiny fingers grasping at hers as she gazes down with love and wonder. With soft lines and gentle shading, this intimate scene showcases the beauty and fragility of new beginnings, as well as the timeless cycle of life passing from one generation to the next."</p><p>Best artist: Mary Cassatt, renowned for her sensitive and emotive paintings depicting mothers and children in various stages of life.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoZI48pSj74IdQmM5tvll62lHocW1LsJ4mEX6HEFO1FbO3_gsrSBL0tkCvxxwQmIye8cKuGmxQHT0Hu_kjRkCIgq4JPBWwAMwtwV4_Vu8BHvTpFQiVlhNYzrq_Uwd0KbegVT0pA4SDxCikio4amNQARekubgeanqmf7URK0QG3bOCJAd3W5FKBsUu55qyG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoZI48pSj74IdQmM5tvll62lHocW1LsJ4mEX6HEFO1FbO3_gsrSBL0tkCvxxwQmIye8cKuGmxQHT0Hu_kjRkCIgq4JPBWwAMwtwV4_Vu8BHvTpFQiVlhNYzrq_Uwd0KbegVT0pA4SDxCikio4amNQARekubgeanqmf7URK0QG3bOCJAd3W5FKBsUu55qyG=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>"Capture the indomitable spirit of a dying flower as it reaches desperately towards the sun, its once-vibrant petals now faded and worn but still striving for life. With subtle textures and delicate hues, this poignant image embodies the essence of resilience and the power of hope in the face of adversity. The overall composition speaks to the transformative potential of change and the possibility of rejuvenation after hardship."</p><p>Best artist: Georgia O'Keeffe, celebrated for her close-up studies of flowers that reveal their inner beauty and complexity.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRWKYegofQJW8mR7gH_3JuYz4PpmwpSa6HqflF2QzEwui9qF-M9igVW5vUDWIAd6aUyyXKCZ6Xgczv2C6JmPpkImAlGOoaYIvK5RGKGcKDdIYKnEo0hkeVN1IZGGwiwwG7YFUVlZJwHebYWfJGrsHn3jJTib1qlyerPDRve58eBJL7zXdnSJ-ttg99D6ST" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRWKYegofQJW8mR7gH_3JuYz4PpmwpSa6HqflF2QzEwui9qF-M9igVW5vUDWIAd6aUyyXKCZ6Xgczv2C6JmPpkImAlGOoaYIvK5RGKGcKDdIYKnEo0hkeVN1IZGGwiwwG7YFUVlZJwHebYWfJGrsHn3jJTib1qlyerPDRve58eBJL7zXdnSJ-ttg99D6ST=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>"Illustrate the pinnacle of human accomplishment through a striking silhouette of a solitary figure standing proudly atop a snow-capped mountain peak, their dark form framed by the brilliant blue sky and vast expanse of untouched wilderness below. With bold lines and contrasting tones, this dynamic composition conveys the raw power of nature and the determination needed to conquer it. The overall image evokes a sense of awe and admiration, inspiring viewers to strive for greatness and push beyond their limits."</p><p>Best artist: Ansel Adams, known for his breathtaking landscape photographs that capture the grandeur and majesty of America's natural wonders.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw_VE5-hD9NXoCpkwCy7ElyfgHXsE_CGGdJ-faWjNGbc0UXHoqpN70j-OhxNCAQQr9d9eAzA2nkaDgN7TVegIsEnv77QpBe_bX8A4NAZLOVYFXvh0b98Br7U-3qs0xyaK6PoGA-DZo61xZrwBDRKfLlOwTAQp1ZAi8kkIb7PqMRWe1alMHkl9E3ODdbLuJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw_VE5-hD9NXoCpkwCy7ElyfgHXsE_CGGdJ-faWjNGbc0UXHoqpN70j-OhxNCAQQr9d9eAzA2nkaDgN7TVegIsEnv77QpBe_bX8A4NAZLOVYFXvh0b98Br7U-3qs0xyaK6PoGA-DZo61xZrwBDRKfLlOwTAQp1ZAi8kkIb7PqMRWe1alMHkl9E3ODdbLuJ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>"Illustrate the strength found in numbers through a captivating scene of individuals gathered closely together, their faces illuminated by the warm glow of a flickering fire as they share stories, laughter, and companionship amidst the cold darkness. With soft shading and delicate lines, this intimate portrait showcases the beauty and comfort derived from human connection, as well as the vital role played by communities in times of need."</p><p>Best artist: Vincent van Gogh, celebrated for his emotive paintings depicting ordinary people and scenes imbued with a sense of humanity and warmth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWRkoyLv1fYGGq7QjvZXQYNa-fckCNOISy_dQMT6h-sSO-8oIu5vpJfp0M1sGv1TihgM8goG09muDhTO-qrlPmDXt7__GfWDMbFNmRn5MznNXqdKHFxrCwwh47FK0-qyrLXaCBkl3mpmAM5mRYPalvPDBXNZ3W8DTmQfky-CMm81XgrGlItmQId7fl-Yn9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWRkoyLv1fYGGq7QjvZXQYNa-fckCNOISy_dQMT6h-sSO-8oIu5vpJfp0M1sGv1TihgM8goG09muDhTO-qrlPmDXt7__GfWDMbFNmRn5MznNXqdKHFxrCwwh47FK0-qyrLXaCBkl3mpmAM5mRYPalvPDBXNZ3W8DTmQfky-CMm81XgrGlItmQId7fl-Yn9=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>"Illustrate the profound sense of loss experienced when someone dear is no longer present through a poignant scene of an empty chair beside a window, its backlit frame casting a shadow on the floor as golden sunlight streams through the glass panes. With subtle textures and muted colors, this melancholy image embodies the fleeting nature of time and the lasting impact left by loved ones who have passed away. The overall composition speaks to the power of memory and the enduring bond shared between people, even in death."</p><p>Best artist: Edvard Munch, known for his haunting and emotionally charged paintings exploring themes of grief, loss, and human frailty. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid8DK1OUZS0wUvv4XbF8JvyoeuUMhfceLcHm5hV_OoUz29PlKFm6qnTnwFGGAOs0qwZxM-BuKP_rUY2WE5MQwVwGBcBRhfG01lUcbf6HKN4uQP20y_dBM4shQOGJ1tHmATvWphR5R0B7Rw_zbyraxN4klWAMgHEcrSgMnwkThNkgWPi_P2Sv34vbmyP8EG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid8DK1OUZS0wUvv4XbF8JvyoeuUMhfceLcHm5hV_OoUz29PlKFm6qnTnwFGGAOs0qwZxM-BuKP_rUY2WE5MQwVwGBcBRhfG01lUcbf6HKN4uQP20y_dBM4shQOGJ1tHmATvWphR5R0B7Rw_zbyraxN4klWAMgHEcrSgMnwkThNkgWPi_P2Sv34vbmyP8EG=w640-h640" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid8DK1OUZS0wUvv4XbF8JvyoeuUMhfceLcHm5hV_OoUz29PlKFm6qnTnwFGGAOs0qwZxM-BuKP_rUY2WE5MQwVwGBcBRhfG01lUcbf6HKN4uQP20y_dBM4shQOGJ1tHmATvWphR5R0B7Rw_zbyraxN4klWAMgHEcrSgMnwkThNkgWPi_P2Sv34vbmyP8EG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>BuckRogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308415020439830844noreply@blogger.com0