I help people do science and math with their computers. I make around 100k, double the median income in my area. My commute is an hour and a half each way, at least, and sometimes I only have around 3 hours to myself after I get back from work before I need to go to bed. Still, I have it better than most (although, with the current attack on science in the US, uncertainty about clients is rising...)
FYI the notion that hierarchical oppression is natural to humans is misinformed. There's plenty of archaeological and anthropological evidence of a wide variety of social systems, ranging from rigid hierarchy to flat social structures with no hierarchy whatsoever. So no, it hasn't been like that since humans were in caves, and justifying the current order as natural is way more cringe than pointing out that most of recorded history is defined by struggle between the owners and the owned.
It's still kinda janky IMO, and there are some parts where the performance can tank. But I'm not really treating as a fast-paced action game so it doesn't really affect my enjoyment.
I've really been enjoying Kingdom Come: Deliverance and swapping between my PC and SteamDeck. It runs pretty well on the Deck. Reminds me of how I felt playing Skyrim. Excited to get to the sequel.
I dont really use LLMs so I didn't even realize there were versions with different weights and stuff. I was using 7b, but found it pretty useless. Pretty sure I'm not going to be able run 32B on my rig. lmao.
I'm moving to self host all my streaming stuff. Switching from local-only plex to self hosting all my media (spotify, google photos, LLMs) and tools behind a reverse proxy so i can access outside my home. It's pretty sweet and a good learning experience using reverse proxies
Edit: Plus fuck these technofeudal lords who enclose access to markets, information, and culture.
I think I have seen a similar issue. Mine is that sometimes my firefox gets stuck in the background and I can click the icon in my dock to maximize it. Nothing happens. I have to hit the Windows key to view all my windows in that particular workspace, then click firefox to get it to the front. Sometimes it doesn't work and I have to close out Firefox and reopen. Is that similar to what you're seeing ?
I think you have a good point but I do think it could be sooner. If Newsom thinks Trump may cause more damage to to his state than aid (I'm thinking about lack of disaster relief, draining of reservoirs, sending military in to deal with protests, raiding schools for illegal immigrants, stifling scientific research, going after "woke" speech), what choice will he have ?
Already, schools in Massachusetts are informing school nurses not to comply with ICE if they come through. What happens when Trump says that Massachusetts is defying the law and goes after leadership there? Will Massachusetts bend?
But I think ultimately you may be right, I suppose it might depend on how antagonistic Trump is toward blue states.
Could you expound on that? I don't think average Americans will be able to stop what's going on because we are too busy with work, families, and entertainment. And if, by chance, we are paying attention to the news, the 24 hour cycle and social media algorithms put some new thing in front of our faces before we have the time to process what we just saw.
Do you mean states aren't going to be that proactive, so they won't break away?
We are living through the greatest constitutional crisis of our lifetimes -- maybe since the Civil War. The US has never seen anything happen like this domestically. We are rapidly moving toward the dissolution of the US and civil war.
If the courts do not prosecute Trump and Elon Musk, which is highly likely, the assault on EVERY federal service and source of funds will continue. "Throwing it back to the states" will cause the states to contract -- without confidence in any federal assistance or regulations, states will need to figure it out themselves -- and if they start seeing the federal government as something they need to protect their citizens from...well, why would they remain a part of that federal government? If the US government is completely unreliable due to the massive brain, experience, and regulation drain, what reason do states have to remain a part of that? Especially when the feds want to restrict speech and expression in the way they do.
And if the courts somehow slap down Elon and Trump and they are removed? Then we've got violence from the J6ers and likely more.
We very well might be witnessing the end of the US, as I see it. But maybe someone can offer some counterpoints
The video isn't really about how each facet of a 'network state' would work though, it's about how these billionaires -- who proclaim out in the open the US is a failing state and needs to essentially be brought out back and killed so they can build it back how they want -- have their voices in the Presidents ear and their money in his pocket. Seemingly he and JD Vance are repeating their (Thiel, Balaji, and ultimately Curtis Yarvin's) philosophies and advancing their own goals, as stated by they themselves in podcasts and books.
But to answer your first point, you dont buy an army, you buy the US presidency, which just so happens to be the most powerful it has ever been in US history.
ALTERNATE TITLE: A new memo from the U.S. Department of Transportation indicates that it will direct more funding to states with higher birth and marriage rates.
As another has said, strengthen your local ties. In the event of a collapse, we're all going to be affected in one way or another. I think the biggest thing is fostering a culture of cooperation rather the competition. That means avoid prepping, avoid emptying store shelves, avoid hoarding goods en masse in your basement or shelter.
I think a good first step would be to look for local mutual aid groups. Just Google your town or state + "mutual aid". These groups are already out there directly servicing those most in need, and are the most ready to spring into action when a disaster strikes (here is some testimony about mutual aid group action during Hurricane Helene)
Oftentimes these groups are open to volunteers or donations and will be active during natural catastrophes, and I'd imagine economic ones as well.
I help people do science and math with their computers. I make around 100k, double the median income in my area. My commute is an hour and a half each way, at least, and sometimes I only have around 3 hours to myself after I get back from work before I need to go to bed. Still, I have it better than most (although, with the current attack on science in the US, uncertainty about clients is rising...)