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WarGamer
WarGamer's Journal
WarGamer's Journal
February 27, 2023
Elon Musk is once again the richest person in the world
https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-net-worth-passes-bernard-arnault-richest-person-bloomberg-2023-2Musk, the chief of companies including Tesla and Twitter, now has a net worth of $187.1 billion, according to Bloomberg. He bested LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, overtaking the head of the luxury brand conglomerate whose own net worth is $182 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Arnault had unseated Musk last year as Tesla shares fell in December. The Tesla stock price hit a low of $108.10 on Jan. 3, 2023, according to historical data on Yahoo Finance. The carmaker's stock closed at $207.63 on Monday.
After the tumult of last year, in which Musk purchased Twitter after some uncertainty about whether he'd follow through on the deal, and a lawsuit at the time by Tesla shareholders, Musk has had a better 2023 so far.
Arnault had unseated Musk last year as Tesla shares fell in December. The Tesla stock price hit a low of $108.10 on Jan. 3, 2023, according to historical data on Yahoo Finance. The carmaker's stock closed at $207.63 on Monday.
After the tumult of last year, in which Musk purchased Twitter after some uncertainty about whether he'd follow through on the deal, and a lawsuit at the time by Tesla shareholders, Musk has had a better 2023 so far.
February 27, 2023
Iraq War 2003 vs Ukraine War 2022
First, just wanted to say... I love DU when it's a great place for discussion.
I enjoy seeing the thought process of other people I respect.
This is not an easy analysis but I believe it's a fruitful one.
The war was started based on lies. The nation's leader was particularly invested, possibly holding vengeance as a motivation.
The war started with a thundering invasion and aerial bombardment. Civilians, by the millions fled their homes and cities.
Civilians bore the brunt of the invasion, with massive casualties directly and indirectly related to the war.
War crimes were committed... to this day we still don't know if there will be justice.
It's the classic case of the bully... a top 2 global superpower attacking a much weaker and smaller country.
Your assignment?
Make your case to compare and contrast the two wars. If you so decide... you can even label one of them "worse" than the other, but remember to define WHY one is "worse".
February 26, 2023
I love science fiction, what's your favorite author?
Can you act like a human?
Keep in mind. This is the free version. They're just letting us take a taste. I've read articles that the progress in AI will be accelerated now and we may see more advanced versions soon.
First they need to be inquisitive. You walk in the door to the house and the AI says
So... AI needs to become "yours" to really be a companion. Like a human friend, AI needs to get to know YOU.
I think we're ridiculously close... not quite "m3gan close" but really close.
Chat GPT is pretty cool...
I've played with it quite a bit.
It tends to give answers like an A-Student in High School.
I haven't seen many really complex analysis from Chat GPT.
But here's what I'm thinking. This is just a start. How far are we from AI that can serve as a companion or a "friend" for the elderly, shut-ins and others who avoid social situations?
Try talking to Chat GPT like a person, and I have... and it says things like this:
Talk to Me
Sure, I'd be happy to chat with you! Is there anything in particular on your mind that you'd like to talk about? It can be anything from current events to personal interests or experiences.
I love science fiction, what's your favorite author?
As an AI language model, I don't have personal preferences or feelings, but I can tell you about some of the most popular and influential science fiction authors of all time.
Some of the most highly regarded science fiction authors include:
Isaac Asimov - known for his Foundation and Robot series
Arthur C. Clarke - known for 2001: A Space Odyssey and Rendezvous with Rama
Frank Herbert - known for his Dune series
Ursula K. Le Guin - known for The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed
H.G. Wells - known for The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine
Ray Bradbury - known for Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles
Robert A. Heinlein - known for Stranger in a Strange Land and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Philip K. Dick - known for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (the basis for the film Blade Runner) and The Man in the High Castle
Octavia Butler - known for Kindred and Parable of the Sower
Neal Stephenson - known for Snow Crash, The Diamond Age, and Anathem
These are just a few examples of some of the most celebrated science fiction authors, and there are many others to explore as well.
Some of the most highly regarded science fiction authors include:
Isaac Asimov - known for his Foundation and Robot series
Arthur C. Clarke - known for 2001: A Space Odyssey and Rendezvous with Rama
Frank Herbert - known for his Dune series
Ursula K. Le Guin - known for The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed
H.G. Wells - known for The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine
Ray Bradbury - known for Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles
Robert A. Heinlein - known for Stranger in a Strange Land and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Philip K. Dick - known for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (the basis for the film Blade Runner) and The Man in the High Castle
Octavia Butler - known for Kindred and Parable of the Sower
Neal Stephenson - known for Snow Crash, The Diamond Age, and Anathem
These are just a few examples of some of the most celebrated science fiction authors, and there are many others to explore as well.
Can you act like a human?
As an AI language model, I am programmed to simulate human-like conversation as best I can, and I'm constantly learning and improving my ability to do so. While I don't have feelings or emotions like a human, I'm designed to understand and respond to natural language in a way that feels like a conversation.
I can discuss a wide variety of topics, answer questions, and provide information, and I aim to do so in a way that feels as natural and human-like as possible. However, if there's anything you're not sure about, feel free to ask!
I can discuss a wide variety of topics, answer questions, and provide information, and I aim to do so in a way that feels as natural and human-like as possible. However, if there's anything you're not sure about, feel free to ask!
Keep in mind. This is the free version. They're just letting us take a taste. I've read articles that the progress in AI will be accelerated now and we may see more advanced versions soon.
First they need to be inquisitive. You walk in the door to the house and the AI says
Hi Jack, did you get everything you needed at the grocery store? How did the blueberries look, I Know last time they were overly ripe and bad out of the box. Were the lines bad, it is a couple days before a Holiday.
So... AI needs to become "yours" to really be a companion. Like a human friend, AI needs to get to know YOU.
I think we're ridiculously close... not quite "m3gan close" but really close.
February 25, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping but did not say when such a meeting might take place.
"I plan to meet Xi Jinping and believe this will be beneficial for our countries and for security in the world," he told a news conference in Kyiv on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky had earlier reiterated that he would not hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
And more info about China's efforts and their peace plan.
https://www.russiamatters.org/news
Ukraine's Zelensky says he plans to meet China's Xi
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-732656Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping but did not say when such a meeting might take place.
"I plan to meet Xi Jinping and believe this will be beneficial for our countries and for security in the world," he told a news conference in Kyiv on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky had earlier reiterated that he would not hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
And more info about China's efforts and their peace plan.
China’s “peace plan” for Ukraine, vague on how peace can be attained, sends clear signals that Beijing’s support for Moscow is neither univocal nor limitless. The very first of the plan’s 12 points declares, in a clear acknowledgement of the Ukrainian state’s fundamental rights, that the “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld.” In a nod to Moscow, the “Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis” avoids describing the war as a war and opposes “unilateral sanctions.” At the same time, the paper asserts that the “threat or use of nuclear weapons should be opposed” in a thinly-veiled reprimand of the Russian leadership’s regular rattling of the nuclear saber since the beginning of the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Putin did not inform Xi about his plans for the invasion when the two met on Feb. 4, 2022, to agree that the Russian-Chinese relationship had “no limits.” China has since dropped the “no limits” phrase from its official communications, according to FT’s James Kynge.
https://www.russiamatters.org/news
February 24, 2023
https://www.russiamatters.org/analysis/whats-ahead-war-ukraine
What's ahead in the war in Ukraine? -- Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School
Sometimes it seems like the war news we see is 1) too many pom poms or 2) ignorant reporters 3) some level of bias
Recently discovered this page... seems like the most accurate and realistic depictions I've seen.
The Ukrainian Strategy
The Ukrainians’ terrain-focused war of maneuver is constrained by two factors: limited artillery ammunition and equipment production, and coalition considerations. Ukraine started the war with 1,800 artillery pieces of Soviet caliber. These allowed firing rates of 6,000 to 7,000 rounds a day against 40,000 to 50,000 Russian daily rounds. By now this artillery is mostly out of ammunition, and in its place Ukraine is using 350 Western caliber artillery pieces, many of which are destroyed or breaking down from overuse. Meanwhile, Western nations are themselves running out of ammunition; the U.S. is estimated to produce only 15,000 155mm shells a month. This constraint has forced Ukraine to adopt mass infantry formations focused on regaining territory at any cost. Ukraine simply cannot go toe to toe with Russia in artillery battles. Unless Ukrainian troops close to direct fire fights with Russian troops, there is a significant chance that they will be destroyed at a distance by Russian artillery.
The Russian Strategy
The Russian forces are limited by manpower but strengthened by massive artillery and equipment stockpiles enabled by a robust military industrial complex. While there have been numerous reports in Western media that the Russian army is running out of artillery ammunition, so far there’s been no visible slacking of Russian artillery fire on any front. Based on these factors, the Russian side has relied on a traditional firepower-centric war of attrition. The goal is to force an unsustainable casualty rate, destroying Ukrainian manpower and equipment, while preserving Russia’s own forces. Territory is not important; its loss is acceptable to preserve combat power. At Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson, the Russian army refused to fight under unfavorable conditions and withdrew, accepting the political cost to preserve its forces.
The Ukrainians’ terrain-focused war of maneuver is constrained by two factors: limited artillery ammunition and equipment production, and coalition considerations. Ukraine started the war with 1,800 artillery pieces of Soviet caliber. These allowed firing rates of 6,000 to 7,000 rounds a day against 40,000 to 50,000 Russian daily rounds. By now this artillery is mostly out of ammunition, and in its place Ukraine is using 350 Western caliber artillery pieces, many of which are destroyed or breaking down from overuse. Meanwhile, Western nations are themselves running out of ammunition; the U.S. is estimated to produce only 15,000 155mm shells a month. This constraint has forced Ukraine to adopt mass infantry formations focused on regaining territory at any cost. Ukraine simply cannot go toe to toe with Russia in artillery battles. Unless Ukrainian troops close to direct fire fights with Russian troops, there is a significant chance that they will be destroyed at a distance by Russian artillery.
The Russian Strategy
The Russian forces are limited by manpower but strengthened by massive artillery and equipment stockpiles enabled by a robust military industrial complex. While there have been numerous reports in Western media that the Russian army is running out of artillery ammunition, so far there’s been no visible slacking of Russian artillery fire on any front. Based on these factors, the Russian side has relied on a traditional firepower-centric war of attrition. The goal is to force an unsustainable casualty rate, destroying Ukrainian manpower and equipment, while preserving Russia’s own forces. Territory is not important; its loss is acceptable to preserve combat power. At Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson, the Russian army refused to fight under unfavorable conditions and withdrew, accepting the political cost to preserve its forces.
https://www.russiamatters.org/analysis/whats-ahead-war-ukraine
AUTHOR
Alex Vershinin
U.S. Lt. Col. Alex Vershinin retired after 20 years of service, including eight years as an armor officer with four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and 12 years working as a modeling and simulations officer in NATO and U.S. Army concept development and experimentation. This included a tour with the U.S. Army Sustainment Battle Lab, where he led the experimentation scenario team.
Alex Vershinin
U.S. Lt. Col. Alex Vershinin retired after 20 years of service, including eight years as an armor officer with four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and 12 years working as a modeling and simulations officer in NATO and U.S. Army concept development and experimentation. This included a tour with the U.S. Army Sustainment Battle Lab, where he led the experimentation scenario team.
February 20, 2023
For those not watching closely, this seems to come out of the blue.
But earlier we received hints from Beijing.
Here are some quotes from Chinese news sources:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202302/18/WS63f019faa31057c47ebaf7cb.html
Chinese envoy urges NATO to stop 'being a troublemaker'
By MINLU ZHANG at the United Nations | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-02-18 08:20
Clearly China feels that the Western support for Ukraine is a destabilizing factor in their part of the World. Potential regime change in Russia could have bad consequences for China, especially after closer strategic relations between China and Russia have been finalized recently.
So... one may ask, what can China do to aid Russia in Ukraine?
I tend to read quite a few pure Military journals and analysis think tank websites.
Here's my take.
Arguably the greatest "game changer" in the Western aid to Ukraine may be the American HIMARS system.
HIMARS is a guided rocket system mounted to mobile truck(ish) platforms which offer high mobility, rapid deployment and fire control. Basically the HIMARS system can move quickly, shoot and then move again to avoid return fire.
MLRS, multiple launch rocket systems are nothing new. They're 80 years old at least and the Russians are the "grand-daddy" of MLRS development since the WW2 Katyusha rockets.
Right now the Russians are fielding several MLRS systems in Ukraine, but the difference is twofold. One, the HIMARS fires GPS guided rockets and two, the range is up to 300km.
Russia has the BM-30 system that fires guided rockets but at a range of just 90km.
To reach out from farther away the Russians must rely on cruise missiles launched from aircraft or ships.
So then I got to thinking... over the past 3 years the Chinese have been extensively testing their new PCL-191/PHL-16 system. What is a PHL-16? Well, to be honest, it's a Chinese copy of HIMARS.
It's brand new... they've been in production for just 4 years and they're the "talk" of Asian military analysts.
Recently they were used extensively in military drills near Taiwan.
https://eurasiantimes.com/chinas-version-of-himars-bombard-taiwan-strait/
So how do the Chinese HIMARS stack up? Pretty good actually. Range over 500km with a great variety of warheads including ballistic missiles.
https://eurasiantimes.com/china-tests-himars-like-rocket-system-that-can-strike-high-altitude-indian/
https://twitter.com/jesusfroman/status/1459449628516970496?s=20
So in summary... the Chinese see an imbalance on the battlefield from Ukraine, primarily from HIMARS systems. They have a new weapons system they'd LOVE to see tested in combat (before their own Taiwan adventurism) and it's literally a counter to a NATO strategy that China sees as a threat to regional stability.
That's all for now... my prediction is the focus between Moscow and Beijing... the fear of Blinken is the supply of PHL-16 to Russia.
JMO of course... based on what I have read.
My analysis of Chinese weapons possibly on the way to Ukraine.
We've recently seen news reports from the US Military that the PLA may be considering selling weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.
I think I may have some more insight into this.
Let's start.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/antony-blinken-china-russia-lethal-support-ukraine-face-the-nation/
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS News on Saturday that China is actively considering providing lethal support, including weapons and ammunition to aid Moscow in its war against Ukraine.
"We've been concerned from day one about that possibility," Blinken said in an interview with "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan on Saturday. Pressed on the type of lethal aid China is considering, Blinken spoke in general terms.
"We've been concerned from day one about that possibility," Blinken said in an interview with "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan on Saturday. Pressed on the type of lethal aid China is considering, Blinken spoke in general terms.
For those not watching closely, this seems to come out of the blue.
But earlier we received hints from Beijing.
Here are some quotes from Chinese news sources:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202302/18/WS63f019faa31057c47ebaf7cb.html
Chinese envoy urges NATO to stop 'being a troublemaker'
By MINLU ZHANG at the United Nations | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-02-18 08:20
The Chinese envoy to the United Nations emphasized on Friday that the Ukraine crisis is "related to NATO's constant eastern expansion since the Cold War", and he urged NATO to abandon the Cold War mentality and stop "being a troublemaker".
"The Ukraine crisis is, in essence, the culmination of security conflicts in Europe closely related to NATO's constant eastern expansion since the Cold War," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, said at the UN Security Council Briefing on Ukraine.
"Pursuing absolute security and political exclusion and containment by force against a specific party is the very crux of the reason why Europe is in the security plight," said Zhang, adding that if following such a mindset, "Europe, and even the whole world, will be caught up in greater turmoil."
"The Ukraine crisis is, in essence, the culmination of security conflicts in Europe closely related to NATO's constant eastern expansion since the Cold War," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, said at the UN Security Council Briefing on Ukraine.
"Pursuing absolute security and political exclusion and containment by force against a specific party is the very crux of the reason why Europe is in the security plight," said Zhang, adding that if following such a mindset, "Europe, and even the whole world, will be caught up in greater turmoil."
Clearly China feels that the Western support for Ukraine is a destabilizing factor in their part of the World. Potential regime change in Russia could have bad consequences for China, especially after closer strategic relations between China and Russia have been finalized recently.
So... one may ask, what can China do to aid Russia in Ukraine?
I tend to read quite a few pure Military journals and analysis think tank websites.
Here's my take.
Arguably the greatest "game changer" in the Western aid to Ukraine may be the American HIMARS system.
HIMARS is a guided rocket system mounted to mobile truck(ish) platforms which offer high mobility, rapid deployment and fire control. Basically the HIMARS system can move quickly, shoot and then move again to avoid return fire.
MLRS, multiple launch rocket systems are nothing new. They're 80 years old at least and the Russians are the "grand-daddy" of MLRS development since the WW2 Katyusha rockets.
Right now the Russians are fielding several MLRS systems in Ukraine, but the difference is twofold. One, the HIMARS fires GPS guided rockets and two, the range is up to 300km.
Russia has the BM-30 system that fires guided rockets but at a range of just 90km.
To reach out from farther away the Russians must rely on cruise missiles launched from aircraft or ships.
So then I got to thinking... over the past 3 years the Chinese have been extensively testing their new PCL-191/PHL-16 system. What is a PHL-16? Well, to be honest, it's a Chinese copy of HIMARS.
It's brand new... they've been in production for just 4 years and they're the "talk" of Asian military analysts.
Recently they were used extensively in military drills near Taiwan.
https://eurasiantimes.com/chinas-version-of-himars-bombard-taiwan-strait/
So how do the Chinese HIMARS stack up? Pretty good actually. Range over 500km with a great variety of warheads including ballistic missiles.
https://eurasiantimes.com/china-tests-himars-like-rocket-system-that-can-strike-high-altitude-indian/
Termed as a mystery weapon system at the time of its unveiling in 2019, the Type PCL191 rumbled through the streets of Beijing on the back of large trucks with nearly perfect anonymity, in contrast to other military systems on exhibit in Beijing that had their names branded along their flanks.
The system can carry two 750mm Fire Dragon 480 tactical ballistic missiles, each with a range of up to 500km, or eight 370mm (1412 inch) rockets, each with a range of 350km (220 miles), according to the Chinese military journal Modern Ships.
According to Zhou Chenming, a researcher with the Beijing-based Yuan Wang military science and technology think tank, the rocket launch system’s range has been increased to 500 km. As a result, it can strike any Indian military installation along the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border.
The system can carry two 750mm Fire Dragon 480 tactical ballistic missiles, each with a range of up to 500km, or eight 370mm (1412 inch) rockets, each with a range of 350km (220 miles), according to the Chinese military journal Modern Ships.
According to Zhou Chenming, a researcher with the Beijing-based Yuan Wang military science and technology think tank, the rocket launch system’s range has been increased to 500 km. As a result, it can strike any Indian military installation along the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border.
https://twitter.com/jesusfroman/status/1459449628516970496?s=20
So in summary... the Chinese see an imbalance on the battlefield from Ukraine, primarily from HIMARS systems. They have a new weapons system they'd LOVE to see tested in combat (before their own Taiwan adventurism) and it's literally a counter to a NATO strategy that China sees as a threat to regional stability.
That's all for now... my prediction is the focus between Moscow and Beijing... the fear of Blinken is the supply of PHL-16 to Russia.
JMO of course... based on what I have read.
February 14, 2023
Vigna doesn't see Tesla as a rival, though, even though he says the Prancing Horse is on track to unveil its first all-electric vehicle in 2025 before bringing it to market in 2026. "For me, it's a functional car. It's meant to go from one point to another," he said when asked how he considers Tesla.
Ferrari, on the other hand, makes "emotional cars that give you a unique driving experience," Vigna noted.
Ferrari CEO Says Tesla Was A "Wake-Up Call" For The Auto Industry
https://insideevs.com/news/652293/ferrari-ceo-says-tesla-was-wake-up-call-for-the-auto-industry/"Things used to happen too slowly. Tesla shook up the industry and accelerated processes and decisions. They were faster and more agile."
Vigna doesn't see Tesla as a rival, though, even though he says the Prancing Horse is on track to unveil its first all-electric vehicle in 2025 before bringing it to market in 2026. "For me, it's a functional car. It's meant to go from one point to another," he said when asked how he considers Tesla.
Ferrari, on the other hand, makes "emotional cars that give you a unique driving experience," Vigna noted.
February 11, 2023
What if these last few shoot-downs are Aliens?
Did they have a chance to call home?
For the humorless... the gif is from Independence Day, a MOVIE about alien invaders and this IS a joke.
February 8, 2023
For example:
Facts First: This is true. There were about 5.4 million business applications in 2021, the highest number since 2005 (the first year for which the federal government released this data for a full year), and about 5.1 million business applications in 2022. Not every application turns into a real business, but the number of “high-propensity” business applications – those deemed to have a high likelihood of turning into a business with a payroll – also hit a record in 2021 and saw its second-highest total in 2022.
Unlike TFG... CNN fact checks President Biden and the verdict is... pretty much mostly true.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/07/politics/fact-check-president-biden-state-of-the-union/index.htmlFor example:
Additionally, over the last two years, a record 10 million Americans applied to start a new small business.
Facts First: This is true. There were about 5.4 million business applications in 2021, the highest number since 2005 (the first year for which the federal government released this data for a full year), and about 5.1 million business applications in 2022. Not every application turns into a real business, but the number of “high-propensity” business applications – those deemed to have a high likelihood of turning into a business with a payroll – also hit a record in 2021 and saw its second-highest total in 2022.
February 3, 2023
Feb 3 (Reuters) - A U.S. jury on Friday found Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and CEO Elon Musk not liable in a securities fraud case over a tweet that he had lined up funding to take the electric car company private.
Plaintiffs have claimed billions in damages and the decision also had been seen as important for Musk himself, who has aggressively fought any charges that he was guilty and defended his ability to tweet broadly.
Musk found Not Liable re: taking TSLA Private tweet.
https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-jury-finds-tesla-musk-not-liable-case-over-take-private-tweet-2023-02-03/Feb 3 (Reuters) - A U.S. jury on Friday found Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and CEO Elon Musk not liable in a securities fraud case over a tweet that he had lined up funding to take the electric car company private.
Plaintiffs have claimed billions in damages and the decision also had been seen as important for Musk himself, who has aggressively fought any charges that he was guilty and defended his ability to tweet broadly.
Profile Information
Name: JGender: Male
Hometown: SoCal
Home country: USA
Current location: Socal
Member since: Mon Feb 1, 2021, 09:27 PM
Number of posts: 12,437