At the heart of that debate is a bigger question: Is AI a tool—a silver bullet to answer hard questions or find new efficiencies? For the Pentagon, that might look like a way to combat swarming AI drones launched by an enemy, for example. For businesses, that might look like a way to free up workers from busy work so the company can do more.
Or is AI something more? For many in Silicon Valley, that might mean AI will develop a consciousness of its own, become a godlike power—and replace human labor altogether.?
Most of the winter, I keep the main gas heat in my apartment set at 50 degrees, only turning it up to 55 or 60 degrees during periods of exceptional cold to ensure pipes don’t freeze. I don’t like wasting heat, because it’s expensive and a waste of fossil fuels that are non-renewable.
I am glad that the winter heating season is almost over. Sometimes I’m cold, but I’ve never seriously thought about leaving the heat much hotter. I could have it warmer if I turned on the electric heat upstairs, but I avoid doing that as it’s the most expensive form of heating, and I don’t need it. I’ve also considered a small space heater for my desk, but I’ve never gotten one, in fear that it will increase my electric bill.
I enjoy the fresh air, even if it means more noise, followed hot and humid nights. But the breeze is nice, as is getting out and spending nights down at the park or breathing in the fresh air. I don’t do the air conditioning thing, preferring to save money by using less energy, and spending more time outdoors, enjoying cold beverages.
People act like it’s the greatest disability not to own a car in city. Don’t you know, the only people who don’t have own cars and drive everywhere are those who are on THE POGEY or live in a high-rise in Manhattan?
I often make fun of myself not owning a vehicle right now, but it’s worked out fine lest the flat tire I got last night, but whatever I got it fixed, rode to Walmart and now carry only a new tube on the bike. I ended up with $85 in groceries and supplies, my bike seriously overloaded on trip home. Damaged some of bananas, I guess going to have to have lot of banana pancakes and maybe banana bread in the few days. Noticing on the well loaded down bike on way from Walmart that my wheel is further out of true, but I have a spoke key and can adjust. Maybe there is a broken spoke I didn’t see in earlier inspection. I can fix that too. Rode out to Five Rivers this evening, enjoying the rural landscape and watching the sun set as I passed by Meads cows. There fun, some day when I move back out to country, I should get myself some cows.
Even if I do get that SuperDuty in the coming month, I am probably still going to rely on my bike to get around town primarily, as such a big truck is going to be expensive to drive around town and difficult to park and get in and out of traffic. But I like riding the bike, it gives me far more freedom then a car would, as I can pull over, sneak through back ways and over sidewalks, and developed recreational trails. One of the great things about living in the city is you don’t have to drive everywhere. It just seems like you would be very trapped if you had to rely on your vehicle to get everywhere. For so many people, they use their car to get everywhere, it’s one big search for parking spots in between the endless traffic lights and cops taking pictures of you, looking to hand you tickets. I am not opposed to moving back out to country, but not until I retire. I want to retire young, even if I do spend a lot of time working on the homestead and doing smaller, remote work type projects from home…
I do miss getting out of the city, and who knows if I’ll get out to visit my parents tomorrow with more snow coming. It might have been a decent weekend for a trip out to Rensselearville State Forest if I still had Big Red on the road, but next winter with the new truck, I’ll not just have the cab but also a diesel heater which will make winter camping even more pleasurable. And maybe finally break down and get skis, though after this cold and snowy winter, probably next year winter will be snow free. Not only winter camping, but also I am looking forward to many adventures this summer, hopefully gas won’t be too expensive, but whatever, I make good money these days, and if gas is really pricey, I just need to plan longer trips in wilderness where said ginormous truck stays parked. I doubt Trump will tolerate high gas prices for long, it will be very bad politically for him. And once I have the solar and batteries all wired up, assuming the campsite has reasonable sunshine, I won’t burn any fuel for days, just parked and riding my mountain bike everywhere from camp.
I’m going to shower and put the heat back on. It was nice how mild it was and I could keep the heat off the past two days. And an almost full moon to boot!
