connda

The terms "far left" and "far right" are simply biased pejoratives which reflect the speakers own bias - the bias of considering themselves to be dead-center - which they are not. Those who command the power of the state and the media align themselves as being the status-quo and the Arbitrators of Truth, and therefore the center, and the center by virtue of the power of the state and the media calls everything itself states as being 100% factual and unbiased. The terms "far-left" and "far-right", which are pejoratives meant to demean and disparage, are attempts at labeling other's opinions and world-views as "extremist" "non-factual" and "biased." He/She who wields the reins of power makes the rules. The Overton Window shifts when new people, once labeled as "far-left" and "far-right" come to power, and then it's their turn to define what is "extremist" "non-factual" and "biased." In other words - it is all relative. Those in power control the flow of information, the labels, and the acceptable narratives.

What's an AI response other then "a bunch of anecdotal crowd-sourced data dumps" that are "opinions, often incorrect too" which was generated by someone smart enough to give the AI some keywords which then in-turn generates "anecdotal crowd-sourced data dumps" reflective of the programmers own biases (left-progressive-woke) with which the individual agrees with, but is not smart-enough to write themselves.

Yeah - it does. I wish to hear opinions by a flesh and blood humans, not so-much silicon-and-solder programmed by Silicon Valley geeks.

This is germane to the conflict and can explain why the conflict grinds on without end although there seems to be some cracks emerging within the Ukraine population, especially among the youth, that suggests that Ukrainians are open to negotiations. https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/06/ukraine-public-opinion-russia-war?lang=en War and Peace: Ukraine’s Impossible Choices Two years into Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, a Carnegie-sponsored opinion poll found that Ukrainians still believe strongly in their national cause, even as doubts creep in about the path to victory. Analysis: https://www.thenation.com/article/world/ukraine-russia-zelensky-war-peace-diplomacy/?mc_cid=343aeaa34a Note for mods: This is not The Nation Thailand (nationthailand(dot)com) "The narrative of totally unified Ukrainian opinion is premised on polls from the earliest days of the war showing nearly unanimous Ukrainian support for the government and its handling of the war effort. This seeming consensus has steadily eroded since the peak of Ukraine’s battlefield successes in 2022, when 70 percent of survey respondents affirmed that Ukraine “should continue fighting until it wins the war.” That number dropped to 60 percent in the summer of 2023, according to Gallup. Polling since the failure of Ukraine’s 2023 offensive shows that 44 percent of Ukrainians favor entering into talks with Russia and only 48 percent—still a plurality but, notably, no longer a majority—believe Ukraine should fight on."

Just about any Western country where those in power are just about to be voted out. "If we are voted out there will be civil war. Grrrrr! <fear fear fear fear fear>" It's the template used by those who say they are "leaders of liberal democracy" and the saviors of democracy. Unfortunately they act like oligarchs and the public is getting tired of same old sh*t different day. It's past time for a change - new parties, new candidates, new ideas, new governance.

This is exactly why his party is going to come in third and he's going to find his cushy PM job vacated. The average person now sees through the hyperbole of guys like Macron. "Civil war" = Fear fear fear, election me again. He and the rest of those in the EU and UK need to be tossed out and replaced at the ballot box by leaders who put the interests of the people first. There'll be no "civil war." There will be celebration and maybe a change for the better (one can hope) both domestically and internationally. By the way. "Far Left" and "Far Right" are exaggerations which translate to: "Not my party so therefore all my contenders are 'extremists.' Those who vie for my seat as PM are 'Hitler' and 'Marx'." That's how the status-quo operates nowadays - all political contenders challenging those in office are labeled "Extremists." Look at the UK: It the same. "Reform UK are Extremists!", so says Rishi (Rich) Sunak. The only extremists are those in office who do not work for the interests of the public and the average citizens. They have an extreme love for power and the corporations who financially support them, and an extreme hatred of average citizens.

Watch it bob, the Eco-Police will come and arrest you!

Well there goes half the Gen-X, Millennials, and Zoomers tourists as well as Boomer ex-Navy veterans.

I don't get it. Destroy works of art and artifacts to stop climate change. Come on - what did Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa do to cause the ice caps to melt? Please throw paint on me in order to stop the ice caps from melting!

I've been poking around on trying to learn more. Thunderbolt ports and eGPUs. Never knew they existed. I need to get a current book on laptops and read up. I am wayyyyyy in back of the tech curve. Moore's Law has left me in the dust since my IT days almost 2 decades ago.

Yeah agreed, but I don't know sh*te about the hardware configuration of laptops - but I'm learning fast. The app(s) I want to run takes 4GB VRAM so yeah, shared memory is not the way to go. So looking for laptops with a dedicated graphics card now that I know they exist. Thanks for the info!

Really? Well I just learned something new. I've been out of IT for close to two decades and I haven't kept up on changes in hardware architecture. I need a "Dummies Guide To Laptop Hardware" or something like that. Thanks for the link.

How can you have "dedicated graphics" in a laptop. They don't have PCI adapter slots that I'm aware of. So how can a laptop have dedicated graphics? Just wondering. I really am ignorant here.

I reinstall the operating system of any computer I purchase if it comes pre-loaded. There is no way that I trust what someone else has pre-loaded on a computer. Rather have a clean install as well as only installing the apps I want. No MS Office? No problem - I have used free Libre Office for years. Thanks for the info!

That's pretty good. Thumbs up ChatGPT 4.0!

Here's my ChatGPT created AI retort to the OP "As a long-term foreign resident in Thailand, I empathize with your observations. While it’s essential to acknowledge the challenges posed by some expats, I’d like to offer a more nuanced perspective. 1. Cultural Sensitivity: - I agree that cultural awareness is crucial. Learning basic phrases in Thai and respecting local customs can significantly enhance our experience here. However, it’s essential to recognize that not all expats fall into the same category. Many of us genuinely appreciate Thai culture and strive to integrate respectfully. 2. Criminal Behavior: - It’s disheartening when fellow expats engage in illegal activities. However, let’s remember that these actions represent a minority. Most of us prioritize safety and adhere to the law. Unfortunately, sensational news tends to overshadow positive contributions from expats. 3. Respect for Laws: - Overstaying visas and illegal work are indeed problematic. Responsible expats comply with regulations, but a few outliers can create a negative perception. Stricter enforcement and better education could address this issue. 4. Arrogance and Adaptation: - Arrogance harms community relations. Yet, many expats genuinely appreciate Thailand’s beauty and adapt to local life. Let’s celebrate those who bridge cultural gaps and contribute positively. 5. Attitudes and Gratitude: - Some expats perpetuate negativity, but others cherish Thailand’s uniqueness. It’s essential to focus on gratitude and share positive experiences. A shift in mindset benefits everyone. 6. Health and Stereotypes: - Health matters, and stereotypes shouldn’t define us. Many expats prioritize well-being, and we should encourage healthier lifestyles collectively. In summary, while there are valid concerns, let’s also celebrate the expats who embrace Thailand wholeheartedly. We can all contribute to a more harmonious and respectful community. 🌴🙏🏼"

Flights leave Thailand daily from Chiang Mai and Bangkok. I suggest you book a flight to somewhere where the expats are more to your liking. Sorry to hear you hate the rest of us. But honestly, after 17 years here I don't really care about the opinions of tourists. Have a nice flight. Cancun is nice this time of year.

You join AN a week ago and have 6 posts. What do you know about Thailand or expats who reside here? My guess is - not much. Happy fishing...

What's "dedicated graphics?"

The old lady was 16 years old in 1945. Ever think that perhaps she saw something that doesn't fit the current narrative? I don't know, I wasn't there, and neither were you - but she was. Right there I give her the benefit of the doubt. History is written by the victors. That doesn't mean that it reflect the facts. It reflect the narrative of those who came out on top. I have a reason to be a Free Speech Absolutist: without freedom of speech the facts get buried and truths become lies. I'd rather entertain alternative narratives even if those narratives offends others who are not inclined to listen to anything but the narrative of the status-quo. That's you; that's not me or guys like KhunLA and some other Yanks and free-thinkers on this forum. I bet you'd like to see me silenced? Yeah? And yet I'd fight to allow you to have your say on any topic. That's the difference between people like myself and you. I don't dislike you for it, but neither do I agree with your views. But I don't want you silenced because I disagree with your views.

Channel 4 Investigation Unveils Racism and Homophobia Within Reform UK Campaign Channel 4 Investigation Slanders, Libels, and Defames Members Of The Reform UK Campaign There! Fixed it!

After George Galloway wons his seat in Parliament, Sunak held a press conference to absolutely smear and defame and slander Galloway and call him an extremist and insinuate he (as well as Reform UK) are dangers to democracy. The phrase, "A Danger To Our Democracy" is being rolled out across the West, the key word here being "Our" meaning the power of those who are in the majority (at the moment). Once new candidates and parties appear to threaten the status-quo, it becomes - "They Are A Danger To OUR Democracy." Let me translate: Parties and candidates who are acquiring a base of the electorate who are fed up with The Status Quo are a danger to the continuation of power by those currently in power. It's a danger to their positions of power. The only "Danger To Our Democracy" are from those seeking to slander. libel, defame, deconstruct, and destroy the new parties and candidates seeking office by way of Democratic Elections. It's third-world tactics, but they are effective. The status-quo controls the media; the media spew this vile bravo-sierra in order to attempt to derail democratic elections. I know who is a "Danger To Our Democracies:" It is the status-quo. Throw these bums out (Sunak, Cameron, Tories, and Labor) and replace them with representatives who have the people's interests in mind first and foremost. The status quo only cares about its own power and the money it can transfer to the corporations who fund the elections of the people calling Reform UK "extremists" and "a danger to OUR THEIR democracy."

This is how you do it when you have a main-stream media outlet: You smear and libel anyone who is Right or Left of your status-quo position and call them "extremists." They did the same to Jeremy Corbyn by finding "anti-Semites" under every Labor bench who challenged the status-quo power structure. This is how you dissemble competing parties who threaten your power-base in Western politics now, which means the West has basically embraced third-world politics. Call them names and defame them and libel your opponents. I don't think it's gonna work anymore. The electorate are becoming wise to the game and its time to throw out the old and bring in the new. And its about to happen. Good riddance.

I already have a desktop. Yeah, this is about being mobile in the future.

Amazing how Khun Tony has stepped back from Death's Door and now has the energy and vitality to conduct business and politics like a man 10 years younger. Praise Buddha! 🙏🙏🙏 It's a miracle!