jas007

What Perplexity says: The recent change in the administrator of the CalPERS PERS Platinum plan—from Anthem Blue Cross to Blue Shield of California, effective January 1, 2025—does not affect your entitlement to overseas (out-of-country) benefits. Key points from CalPERS and Blue Shield communications confirm: • Service Areas Unchanged: The PERS Platinum plan will continue to be available nationwide and out of country, as before. There are no geographical restrictions being introduced with the administrator change. • No Change to Benefits: Your copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and pharmacy benefits remain the same with the transition to Blue Shield. • Continuity of Care: For members who may be affected by provider network changes, Blue Shield will apply state and federal continuity of care guidelines, ensuring ongoing access to care during the transition period. • Out-of-Country Coverage: There is no indication of any reduction or elimination of overseas benefits. The plan’s out-of-country coverage remains intact for 2025. In summary, the administrator change to Blue Shield of California does not impact your entitlement to overseas benefits under the PERS Platinum plan for 2025.

He's trying again, but with more determination and a better team. And with an economy that can outlast China. I'm not sure he'll be successful, but perhaps both sides will compromise and life will go on. That's pretty much what has to happen.

Both economies are in trouble. to be sure, but the US has the staying power, at least for the next 5-10 years. As for the Chinese and their weapons technologies? Again, that's not the point. Other factors are involved. Remember Reagan and Star Wars? One of his proposals shortly after announcing the program was that he would be willing to offer the same technology to Russia and perhaps to others. He did that for a number of reasons. First, to demonstrate that nuclear weapons would be obsolete. What's the point, if everyone has a defense against them? Second, he was trying to lead the way towards diplomacy and peace. And that happens when nations disarm. Why maintain a nuclear arsenal if it's useless? And I think there's another angle. If the US did proceed and the US did develop a unilateral advantage, that would compromise any deterrent the Soviets might possess as the result of their nuclear arsenal. So there would be that factor to consider as well. No more Mutually Assured Destruction? A destabilizing element? Or an incentive to peace? As we know, none of the plans ever panned out entirely, but much research and development was accomplished, so there were some winners.

I think you miss the point. It's not necessarily about economics, but even if it were, China's economy is in big trouble, despite what all the propaganda spin doctors want people to think. More importantly. technology evolves and there's no telling how quickly it will evolve over the next ten years or so. For all we know, the US may possess weapons the likes of which the world has never seen. Perhaps some are operational now, or in a late stage of development. Not just science fiction hardware, but the real thing. Second, AI will advance at an exponential rate, faster than many people seem to think. And that technology is the key, in any event. Not the hardware. Surveillance, identifying targets, synthesizing data. Without that capability, you have nothing.

Other than sitting at the bar at the entrance in the afternoon and having a few beers, I've only been inside Nana Plaza maybe once in the last 15 years. If I've been more times than that, I surely don't remember. Anyway, Nana Plaza was my first bar stop in Thailand 25 years ago. Don't ask me which one. All I remember is that it was on the second or third level and towards the back. I think the next day I went to check out Woodstock during the afternoon. A nice break from the heat. They used to show movies during the day, and the food wasn't too bad.

It sounds like only the Plan Administrator was changed, not the benefit package. That happened to me recently, with my federal Blue Cross Blue Shield. I basically have coverage anywhere in the world. But recently, the overseas administrator of the plan was charged and claims processing was slow, at first.

SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril? Palantir is already partnered with Anduril, I believe, and Palantir more or less has a monopoly in its niche, so I'd look for them to be involved. It all fits together, and I can't imagine too much competition, given the capabilities those companies possess. So, I'm thinking Palantir will likely be making me more $$$$. Not financial advice, just an observation. Do your own research.

It's just a proposal, so far. And from what I saw, the details weren't too clear about length of time you'll receive for a particular level of investment. For example, you invest $50,000 and your visa duration is for a period of one to ten years. That seems like a big gamble.

Brainwashed individuals regurgitating propaganda. Typical.

Has anyone tried the food at Yua Cafe and Dining in Wongamat? I stopped by yesterday and looked at the menu they had outside. They've got all sorts oof food in the dining building, including steaks and what looked like a tasty burger with fries. I think it was around 300 baht. Beers are over 100 baht or so up to 150, depending.

What you don't seem to understand, and that's OK, it's not your fault, is that he understands AI and what it portends better than you seem to. In a certain sense, human beings are biological computers. Carbon based lifeforms that operate in much the same manner as the large language models currently in use. You may think they're just "tools," but are they? Two different types of computers, one human, the other silicon based, but otherwise, comparable in many ways. Intelligence is intelligence, regardless of how it arises. Unless you think intelligence is intelligence only if it arises from a carbon based life form? And that would be silly. Human understanding of the universe and how it operates is still in its infancy. "Life" could very well exist elsewhere in the universe based on other molecular structures, such as methane, or ammonia, or other chemical structures. What's so special about carbon as the basis.? It works for us in this environment, but the Universe is a big place. A lace which humans are only beginning to understand. And of course, why not a silicon based intelligence? Perhaps it would behoove you to do a little research on the similarity of human intelligence and how it functions and its similarity to LLMs and silicon based computers and how both process information. There are differences, to be sure, but those differences are, in a sense, irrelevant or simply a matter of scale. In any event, all the great minds of the computer world in the AI space are indeed worried about AI and its future. And the odds of a bad outcome are not deemed to be insubstantial. 10%? 20%. Enough to be worried about, but, in any event, it may already be too late.

Once upon a time, back in 2015, I bought the real thing. Sort of expensive, but I can't complain. Lately, I just use my iPhone.

That may be the video I first saw, and then I started looking at them. Read all the reviews and go from there. They now have upgraded models, and there are more than a few manufacturers. Like anything else's, if you're not careful you'll soon be spending a lot of money as the quality and features improve.

I'm probably going to be moving to a bigger place, and I saw these and thought it might be fun for movies or whatever. You can buy special fabric screens that can be attached to a wall with adhesives (won't damage the wall) and the sizes I've seen extend up to 150 inches. And not much money. Less than $25, with a slight variation price, depending on the size. So, you mount the unit on a tripod or maybe place it on a table, and so long as it has a power source, you're good to go. The picture adjusts and focuses automatically. With the available wi-fi or Airplay, it can play anything I'm playing on my Apple TV. The sound can come from my system speakers, or, the thing has a small, built-in speaker. For people using a TV stick type gadget, it'll accept one of those. Or, inputs from HDMI or USB. I guess the only limitation you might have is finding a suitable place for a screen. One of the one's I've looked at can even be mounted a tripod, with the picture projected to your white ceiling, if you have one. It all sounds like fun. There's no way I would buy a 120" TV, but one of these things? Why not?

Does anyone have any experience with some of the budget mini-projectors? Some of them don't cost too much and look like they might be fun. For example, there are a few Toptro models that can be had in the $150-$300 price range. If they actually work well, why not?

So the Globalists are going to weasel their way back into the UK one way or the other? That's too bad.

Certainly, Trump must know that it would be impossible to make 100% of every car in the USA. Parts come from all over the world. And there'd be no way all the electronic parts could instantly transition to being made in the USA.

My father, along with every other member of my family, still lives in my head. I'm almost 74, and I'm still trying to figure out the craziness. I guess I'll leave it at that, other than to say I never wanted for anything.

Apparently, all of the above only gained widespread use in the so-called industrial age, with the exception of sugar, although the refined sugar in use today is something everyone should stay away from.. Before the advent of cheap seed oil, Thais used concoct oil for cooking, primarily. A much healthier alternative. MSG was introduced in the 1940s. As for sugar? There are different types of sugar, but today's refined sugar is probably the worst. Anyway, it's all very much an unhealthy way to eat, and it's no wonder people are developing an obesity problem. The problem isn't limited to Thailand. The USA currently has a huge obesity epidemic, along with skyrocketing rates of diseases. It can all be blamed on junk food, for the most part. Cheap junk food to feed the masses.. RFK, Jr. is trying to put a stop to some of the abuses, but he's up against powerful interests that make money feeding people junk and that make money keeping people sick and in need of treatment and medication.

How is anyone in 2025 even discussing this nonsense?

Robin Hood has good burgers. The most expensive beef burger is the Smothered Jack Daniels Burger. Prime Burger can also be good. Anyway, there are also other burger places around, but for consistent quality, I like those two.

You can bet WalMart isn't going to sell items at a loss. Trump should know that. I'm not sure what the margin is on some of the things they sell, but it may but be all that much.

Here's some free advice for any country wanting to attract long term expats or tourists: let them in on three conditions: they have health insurance, they can't work in the local economy, and they have a regular source of income to support themselves. Make it a 10 year renewable visa, and so long as no money is earned in the local economy, there will be no tax issues. Problem solved.

I looked at those the other day, but the rules aren't exactly clear. For example, you invest xxxx amount of money, and then they decide how long your visa should be valid for. Anywhere from 1-5 years, or maybe it's 1-10 years. Still, it would be nice to know what you're getting for your money, I think.

I'm not sure I understood your question. Typo? Anyway, it you're self employed, then you make your own decisions, adjust to what you see, and move forward. Nothing wrong with that. If you screw up, it's your problem. My main point is that the AI world may be progressing faster than you seem to think. That's not unusual. Many people are asleep at the switch, including many investors. My only interest is to make easy money, and lately, in the world of AI, it's like taking candy from a baby. Most people don't realize what's coming, and by the time they figure it out, they will have missed the investing opportunity of a lifetime. It's a big deal, and I'm not sure what you can compare it to.