European Perceptions of the United States of America

Exploring AI's take on how Europeans perceive Americans, these images reflect the tool's interpretations by state. The results range from hilarious to somewhat accurate, providing a playful glimpse into the AI's perspective on American culture through a European lens. Take a humorous journey through these AI-generated portrayals that capture the essence of this unique cross-cultural perception.

Alabama
In the lens of AI-guided European perceptions, Alabamians are whimsically portrayed as rugged, elderly individuals. The comical depiction features an older gentleman with deep blue eyes, scraggly facial hair, and a few missing teeth—a character with a story to tell. The weathered white tee that AI clothes him in seems to have seen better days.

Imgur.com

However, this depiction doesn't quite mirror the reality of the Heart of Dixie, which boasts a rich history and a diverse populace with a median age of 38. While the state undeniably exudes southern charm, AI's imaginative portrayal adds a wild touch to the perception of Alabama.   READ MORE...

She Hates the USA

 

DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY

 

CHRISTMAS DAY

DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS DAY - Sunday

 

In The NEWS

The UN Security Council yesterday adopted a resolution for more humanitarian aid in Gaza, stopping short of calling for a full pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas. The legally binding resolution passed by a 13-0 vote; the US and Russia abstained.


Supreme Court declines to fast-track Trump's immunity dispute.
Special Counsel Jack Smith had previously requested the high court to immediately weigh in on whether former President Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in his federal election interference case. The issue will first be decided by an appeals court. The case is set to go to trial March 4 in federal court, but the case has been stayed while Trump pursues his immunity claim.


Key US inflation measure sees first monthly decline since April 2020.
The personal consumption expenditures price index—the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge—fell 0.1% month-over-month in November. The figure is the first monthly decline in more than three years. The index was up 2.6% from a year ago, down from 2.9% in October and below economist expectations. The Federal Reserve targets 2% annual inflation. The index measures costs consumers pay across a wide swath of items.


President Joe Biden issues federal pardon for marijuana use.
Biden pardoned US citizens convicted of using or possessing marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia Friday. The pardoning is meant to alleviate barriers to employment and housing for those with criminal records for marijuana use and possession. Biden also commuted the sentences of 11 people who were serving decadeslong or life sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.


Japan eases weapons export policy, prepares to sell missiles to the US.
Japan said it will sell American-designed Patriot air defense missiles to the US after it revised its arms export guidelines this week. The decision marks the first time since post-World War II in which Japan is selling complete lethal weapons to its allies. Patriot missiles (see overview) are one of the most advanced in the world. Observers say the shipment could help the US aid Ukraine in its war against Russia.

SOURCE:  1440 News

Sowell Was Wrong About Trump

 

Our Preordained Universe

Was there ever any choice in the Universe being as it is? Albert Einstein could have been wondering about this when he remarked to mathematician Ernst Strauss: “What I’m really interested in is whether God could have made the world in a different way; that is, whether the necessity of logical simplicity leaves any freedom at all.”

US physicist James Hartle, who died earlier this year aged 83, made seminal contributions to this continuing debate. Early in the twentieth century, the advent of quantum theory seemed to have blown out of the water ideas from classical physics that the evolution of the Universe is ‘deterministic’.

Hartle contributed to a remarkable proposal that, if correct, completely reverses a conventional story about determinism’s rise with classical physics, and its subsequent fall with quantum theory. A quantum Universe might, in fact, be more deterministic than a classical one — and for all its apparent uncertainties, quantum theory might better explain why the Universe is the one it is, and not some other version.  READ MORE...

Fishing

 

Christmas Holidays

As a boy growing up in Alexandra, Virginia, Christmas always meant toys that I could use to play with other boys my age.  When I got older, it meant things I would like to have but did not have the money to buy myself...  and clothes that I needed.  Always heavy on the clothes side that I did not understand until I became a father.  Christmas also meant time away from school since to me, school was boring and hardly ever interesting.

In high school, Christmas meant time away from school and hordes of parties to attend and the presents were mostly practical or intellectual.  No more toys or things I did not want.

Christmas for me from K-12 was always associated with the religious influence and what December 25 actually symbolized.  We always attended some type of religious service Christmas Eve and when we got home, we could open one present.  I suppose to reward us for our tolerance in Church.

Christmas was always associated, outside of a religious influence, with lots of food, lots of alcohol, lots of parties and reunions, and lots of comments that you really did not believe towards people you did not know - because you were supposed to be polite.

More often than not, some at these parties would get drunk and make an ass of themselves.  And if the party was with family there would always be an argument that left people pissed off at each other.  Sometimes, not speaking to each other for days afterwards.

The older that one got, the further one drifted away from the religious aspects of Christmas and moved towards the presents and party side.  No one ever knew what they happened, and no one ever cared why it happened.  They were just glad to be invited to the party.

At 76 years of age, Christmas is just another holiday on just another day that requires more money to be spent than you would have normally spent.  It's not about the food because whatever food is available, I just don't eat much.  I stopped drinking alcohol when I was 40, so it is never about alcohol anymore.  The religious aspect has almost completely disappeared.

Christmas is now about decorating the house for a few weeks then taking everything down.  Sending presents to a brother and sister and getting some for the house rather than for each other.  There is no Christmas spirit and no singing Christmas Carols or playing Christmas music on Christmas Day.  

The MYTH of Santa Clause disappeared way back in my childhood sometime and somewhere.  There is a faint memory of leaving milk and cookies for him in a plate placed by the fireplace.

Hell, I am not really sure if we are supposed to refer to the holiday as a Christmas Holiday anymore or not...  I am not WOKE but I am sure WOKE is not in favor of Christmas.

 

FIre

 

Somewhat Political

 

The Droneliner

As we move towards a more automated age in aviation with an emphasis on sustainability, there are plenty of developments around automated aircraft. One of the more extreme proposals is for a computerized cargo aircraft that could theoretically stay airborne indefinitely.
Droneliner

Automated aircraft, of course, are not a new concept. Over the past years, many companies have set out to make autonomous flight a reality. Their growth is dramatically linked to the pilot shortage and the need for improved sustainability in the aviation industry. As such, multiple companies are in the process of developing autonomous technology aircraft that are both safe and sustainable.           READ MORE...

Ride Captain Ride

 

Television Advertising

 Just about everyone watches Television whether it is on cable, dish, antenna, or a wifi connection using a Roku box or stick...   therefore, most everyone is familiar with all the commercials that take place every so often, interrupting what you are wanting to watch...

Advertisers buy time on these networks in the hopes of convincing the viewer to buy what they are offering.  In addition to buy stuff, there are other organizations that are trying to convince to DONATE your money to their cause...

From my perspective, I don't pay any attention to commercials or any type of advertising on television.  The companies that I purchase from, I do so because I have not seen any of their advertising.  I buy their product because their product is what I need at the time.

For instance, there are a couple of businesses that are selling replacement windows on television and how great they are.  FOR ME...  that is an instant TURN OFF...  if they have to tell you how great they are, then something is wrong...

When I buy something, I find out who else has purchased that product and what do they think of what they purchased.

WORD OF MOUTH is what convinces me...

I remember a marketing professor once told me that there is a FOOL BORN EVERY MINUTE...  and it is those FOOLS that you sell to...

• I don't trust life insurance sales people
• I don't trust time share sales people
• I don't trust car sales people
• I don't trust any salesperson who is paid by a commission

Why Jews are Hated

 

In The NEWS

A Malaysian national at the center of one of the largest US Navy corruption scandals in modern history will be returned to face sentencing after Venezuela agreed to his extradition as part of a prisoner exchange.


Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Joe Biden last month that Beijing will seek to reunify with Taiwan while noting the timing is unclear, and China prefers to assume control of Taiwan peacefully, according to reports yesterday. Xi's comments came during a summit in San Francisco—meant to reduce tensions between the US and China (see overview)—and mark the first time he directly conveyed China's stance on Taiwan to Biden.


The European Union’s member states and its high-level institutions agreed to major migration reforms yesterday, the conclusion of a three-year debate finalized amid the continent’s highest migration levels since 2016. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which awaits formal ratification, comes six months before the next parliamentary elections (see how the EU works).


Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount in talks for potential global merger; the combined valuation of the two media giants is over $38B (More) | Media mogul Byron Allen offers to buy BET Media from Paramount for $3.5B (More)


Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State highlight top 2024 recruiting classes for college football's national signing day (More)


Former NBA player Chance Comanche admits to Dec. 6 murder of woman in Las Vegas just hours after finishing an NBA G League game (More)


Study finds all major AI models were trained on datasets containing some amount of explicit images of children; advocates push for safeguards to prevent its use in image generation (More)


Scientists discover new class of drugs effective against antibiotic-resistant staph infection, responsible for 10,000 US deaths annually (More)


First direct evidence linking marine weather—dynamics in the ocean like waves and turbulence—with global climate observed by researchers (More)


Electric scooter company Bird files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, will sell some of its assets to existing lenders; Bird, founded in 2017, went public in 2021 via special purpose acquisition company merger (More)


Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick to step down Dec. 29; leadership change expected as part of Microsoft's acquisition of the video game company (More)


Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh meets with Egyptian officials over cease-fire talks (More) | Death toll in Gaza surpasses 20,000 people, according to Hamas-run Health Ministry, while death toll in Israel stands near 1,400; see war updates (More)


Former President Donald Trump asks US Supreme Court to delay considering whether he is immune from federal prosecution in an election interference case while a federal appeals court weighs the issue (More) | Judge allows removal of Confederate memorial in Arlington National Cemetery to resume (More)

SOURCE:  1440 News

Consciousness

A study reveals that experienced meditators are able to voluntarily modulate their state of consciousness during meditation. In other words, they have the unusual ability, without the use of drugs, to induce a momentary void of consciousness during cessations through large-scale modulation of brain activity.

In what situations can a human being lose consciousness? An anesthetization, brain concussion, intoxication, epilepsy, seizure, or other fainting/syncopal episode caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain can cause total loss of consciousness. But can unconsciousness be induced without the use of drugs?  READ MORE...

Rough Waves

 

I Like to Doodle

I was in the US Navy from 1969 until 1975, stationed in Norfolk, Virginia at the Little Creek Piers.  I was on the USS Recovery ARS 43.  It was a salvage and rescue ship.  I was in communications and every time we went out to sea, I would volunteer for the midnight shift from 11:00 pm until 7:00 am.  At that time in my life, I enjoyed being alone and away from people as often as possible.

During my shift, my duties became routine, and I found myself needing something to do for 30 minutes out of each hour.  That is when I began doodling.  

When I got out of the Navy and returned to College, I would doodle in my notebooks while listening to the professor's lecture.  If something was important, I would stop doodling, write it down, then continue doodling.

At home I would doodle while watching TV or talking on the phone.  Sometimes, I would just doodle to pass the time.

Examples of my doodling below:

I am not sure if I ever kept any of my doodles that I did while in the Navy but since then, I have tried to keep all of my other doodles.

WHY?

Not sure why.

• To go back an look at from time to time.
• Doodles are like artwork.

I have seen the doodles of other people and their doodles are faces, buildings, trees, etc.  To me, they are the real artists, not me.

But they are interesting to me and worth sharing.