May 2024 - jcberry

The Heavier Requirement

The sometime appreciation for China’s poverty-reducing measures relies on the CCP’s supposed benevolence in other ways. From our vision outside China, we see:
* the ruthless treatment of minorities like the Uyghurs in the brainwashing camps
* the military drills with eyes on Taiwan, Japan, and other nations in China’s orbit
* the theft of our technology and IP
* the expansionist mindset with the Belt and Road colonies, including spying
* the monitoring of their populace with the social credit and other systems
* the stealthy weapon of TikTok and other Chinese tech companies
* the Chinese police stations in Western countries

The occasional Western fascination with China is a head scratcher. To the Left, the strange kingdom over seas appears more praiseworthy than our democracies. When taken together, I think this confluence of Leftist beliefs about the malignancy of capitalism and the various social issues of “oppressed minorities” has caused a lack of self-awareness in the progressive.

As upholders of true democracy, though imperfect, we must make every effort to see the world as it is.

AI reflex

Open AI caught Google and others off guard.

But the models I am working with are specialized. I had read that specialization is the future. I can see that small language models (SLM) may be the future. I’ve wondered whether certain ideas for language models could be built for purposes that are focused. Within this, I could love to create a Christian history model. It could include images, tables, graphs. Maybe someone has done this? The possibilities are intriguing.

Time for the focus on specialized purposes in AI.

Don’t win, just change the rules

It’s easier to change the rules than follow them. Radical egalitarianism results in:

– The electoral college
– End the filibuster
– Pack the court
– Add new states
– Nationalize voter laws
– Apportion senators by population
– Enlarge the house
– Nullify federal law
– Redefine impeachment

Respect federal, state, the courts — and the people.

On The Demolition of Francis Scott Key Bridge

Should we not look askance of the tearing down? Do the beautiful colors bleed? Not spoken of in prophecy, the fabric of democracy flutters in the breeze. Old ideas not so old, our lifespans but inches on the yardstick. Remember the profundity, remember the novelty, from voice to voice spread the call to arms. Something deep and wonderful.

How to win friends and influence people Pt. IV

IV. Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

Principle I: Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
Principle II: Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.
Principle III: Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
Principle IV: Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
Principle V: Let the other person save face.
Principle VI: Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.”
Principle VII: Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
Principle VIII: Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
Principle IX: Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

The message I got here was not making a big deal about mistakes. Lift up the opponent. Be positive about it.

How to win friends and influence people Pt. III

Part III: How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking

Principle I: The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
Principle II: Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”
Principle III: If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
Principle IV: Begin in a friendly way.
Principle V: Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately.
Principle VI: Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
Principle VII: Let the other person think the idea was his or hers.
Principle VIII: Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
Principle IX: Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
Principle X: Appeal to the nobler motives.
Principle XI: Dramatize your ideas.
Principle XII: Throw down a challenge.

Sometimes you can

How to win friends and influence people Pt. II

II. Six Ways to Make People Like You

Principle I: Become genuinely interested in other people.
Principle II: Smile.
Principle III: Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
Principle IV: Be good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
Principle V: Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
Principle VI: Make the other person feel important–and do it sincerely.

This section turns your self outward. Making them feel valuable and being sincere about it.

How to win friends and influence people Pt. I

Picked up Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People at the suggestion of a friend.

I. Three principles in Fundamental Techniques in Handling People:

Principle I: Don’t criticize, condemn, or complain.
Principle II: Give honest and sincere appreciation.
Principle III: Arouse in the other an eager want.

I think the takeaway is not making a big deal about errors, recognize another person, and try to get them to want to do what you would like by getting them to want to.

US and EU agree

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated that the bloc is open to banning TikTok. This is in the middle of continuous cyber attacks and military provocation.

My long-time question is what would happen were there an actual hot war? For one, our military is a volunteer organization. There is no draft and the volunteer numbers are dropping. What would happen in the event of a catastrophic cyber attack? Would we and our youth be prepared?

Second, the US has lost war game after war game. In spite of our advanced technology.

Can’t let this keep us up at night, but take note.