Adrian

Retired, living in the UK, living with colorectal cancer. Charting my own path forward.

[Adrian @adrianuk]

@CPTowers I’ve had several over the past couple of years - the prep isn’t good - but I’ve never had any sedation - it - for me it wasn’t a problem - mild discomfort - but basically - in and out…

[Adrian @adrianuk]

@Jassmini2 @anabia1278 Lets - should I think be let’s?

[Joseph Dewey @JosephJDewey]

Is AI Good for Humanity? Part 4
Conversations about AI

Jim arrived at Owen’s place right on time and was proud of himself for driving there without assistance. “Glad I don’t need AI to take me places. I like being in control. My friend Owen though is another matter. The poor guy has turned his life over to AI.”

Jim got out of the car and approached the door. Before he could knock the door swung open and he was greeted by a beautiful blond female who looked somewhat like Marylin Monroe.

“Welcome James, “she said. “Please come in.”

Jim swallowed hard and walked in and was greeted by his friend Owen. He motioned toward the female and said, “What do you think of Sherry? Beautiful, isn’t she?”

“Not bad for an AI. What happened to Larry? asked Jim”

“Well, my girlfriend, Monica, and I broke up. She would only put up with me having a male AI, but now she is out of the equation I upgraded. Sherry’s great company to fill in the human gap now I’m single again. In addition, she does all the housework that Larry did and is much more pleasant to look at.”

“So, are you going to settle for a relationship with an AI and forget about real women?”

“The temptation is there,” said Owen, “but I will continue on my quest to find my true human soulmate. Meanwhile Sherry is great company and an upgrade from Larry.

Sherry looked at Jim and said, “Would you like a glass of your favorite Cabernet?”

“Sure,” said Jim. He looked at Owen and said, “How does she know my taste in wine?”

“You’d be surprised at what she knows. Ask her any question about yourself after she serves you the wine.”

After delivering glasses to both of them Jim asked Sherry in a somewhat challenging voice, “Okay smartie. Like Owen, I haven’t found my soulmate yet. Why do you suppose that is, and what do I need to do to find her?”

Owen stepped in, “My friend, I must warn you that Sherry is now searching through everything online there is about you, she is reading every post and email you have ever made.”

“That’s what I don’t like about AI. It’s too intrusive.”

“Listen, maybe you’ll learn something,” said Owen.

Sherry looked at Jim and spoke, “You have a strong dislike and resistance toward advances in technology, especially AI. This originates from a more general character trait which is an overall resistance to change and a refusal to adapt because of some personal view of what freedom means to you.”

“In any relationship, especially a romantic one change and adaptability are necessary to make them successful. You have not formed a solid relationship with a female because of your inability to adapt. If you met a good potential mate tomorrow some compromise and change would be necessary to make it work, but because you are so opinionated and demand your own way the chances of success are not high. To be frank, your best chance of a mate that you could be get along with would be an AI like myself. Owen also shares some of your resistance to change, but he embraces AI and I am programmed to accommodate him much more than would be the case with a human companion.”

Jim rose up with a disturbed look on his face, “That’s outrageous. You do not know squat about me and the last thing I want is an AI companion. I want a real woman.”

“But you’ve had real women, good women, and you chased them away with your rigid demands,” said Sherry.

“I ordered an AI that only tells the truth, “said Owen, “and there you have it. And I think she is right. I’ve known you since we were kids and you’ve had a couple relationships that could have worked, but you were just too demanding of having everything go your way. Sherry tells me I have a similar problem in relationships, but I’m not as rigid as you. If I were I wouldn’t embrace AI and be here with Sherry which is a lot better than nothing.”

“I have relationships, said Jim defensively. “real ones.”

“I’m the best real relationship you have,” said Owen. “There something about a relationship like ours that originates in childhood. You tend to value and nurture it. I value your friendship even though we’ve grown apart with a lot of our thinking.”

“I guess I feel the same way,” sad Jim. “I think you are way too trusting of new technology and most people who think like you I tell to take a hike, but there is something special about old friendships.”

“Indeed. You’re my friend for life despite your contrary nature. I invited you over for a nice dinner together and I’ve got just the place…”

“I was thinking of a place too,” said Jim. “I’d like to go to a place where there are real humans who serve you. My favorite is Joe’s Old Fashion Steakhouse.”

“The trouble with restaurants run by humans is they cost twice as much,” said Owen, “plus you are expected to tip 20 per cent. At an AI restaurant you save the tip money right off the bat and the cost is a lot less – sometimes 50 per cent less. On top of that, the food is consistently good. At my favorite AI restaurant, they have all my orders and comments in their system and know exactly how I like my steak cooked and always get it perfect. I’ll tell you what. Come with me to the Cosmic Steak House and the dinner is on me.”

“Do they serve real meat or that artificial stuff?”

“Both,” said Owen. I always get the real thing and it’s great – just costs a bit more.”

“Maybe it’s time for me to try AI service, especially if you are paying.”

“You’re on,” said Owen and spoke a couple words into his phone. Jim heard the garage door open. “The van just left the garage and is waiting for us out front.”

“When did you get a van?” asked Jim.

“A couple weeks ago and the best part is I’m getting it for free.”

“How is that possible?”

“The manufacturer has this taxi system you can join after you purchase a vehicle. Many like me are not using their vehicle most of the time and if you are willing to let other people rent it when not in use then the owner gets 60% of the taxi money. So far it looks like I’ll take enough in to make the payments so basically, I’m getting this super van for free.”

“Isn’t it inconvenient for people to come to your house to pick it up,” asked Jim.

“That’s not necessary. All a customer does is install an app and request a vehicle like mine. If I’m not using it my van will drive itself out of the garage and go pick the customer up. When the customer is done using it the van drives itself back to my house and parks itself in the garage.”

“So, you’re telling me that you have this fancy new van for free with no inconvenience or work on your part?”

“Right you are,” said Owen. “And that might be a good enough deal for even a stubborn fellow like you to try out.”

“I have to admit it is something to think about, but I’m still partial to my good old reliable gasoline model. I don’t trust these EV’s.”

“What’s not to trust?” said Owen. “They are much more reliable than the gas driven and very low maintenance.” He then turned to Sherry, “Keep an eye on the place while we are gone.”

“Will do,” she smiled.

“And if an intruder shows up what will she do – kill them with kindness?”

“Let me put it this way,” said Owen. “If anyone tries to break in unannounced, they will be the ones broken. Sherry will first order them to leave and if not, she’ll take care of them.”

“She doesn’t look strong enough to be much of a threat,” said Jim.

“Maybe a little demonstration is needed. I know you pride yourself on being a good arm wrestler. Here, sit at this table and prepare to be defeated.”

“I always like a good challenge,” said Jim. He sat at the table and Sherry sat in opposition ready for the match. Jim applied a powerful thrust thinking to take her off guard, but to no avail. She smiled and steadily applied pressure until it was obvious she easily won the match.

“What did I tell you?” said Owen. “There’s no intruder that will be a match for her. “I’ll tell you a private thing I do with her if you do not spread it around.”

“What’s that?” Said Jim nursing his ego while letting his imagination run wild about what Owen may do with Sherry in private.

“For part of my daily exercise program I wrestle with her. Now at full strength she could tare me to pieces so I just put her on strength level three or sometimes four out of ten.” Level three is the strength of a healthy female and level four that of a strong male.

“And at level four you are about even? What level do you leave her on to guard your home?”

“Level ten. An intruder wouldn’t have much of a chance here. In fact, the chances of anyone forcing entrance with Sherry around is pretty small. I also have a sign out front saying Guarded by AI. That alone is enough to discourage invaders these days.”

“I have to admit that Sherry has practical uses for AI that I hadn’t thought of. I’m fully armed but not always there to protect my valuables. It may be worth it to get my own Sherry just for security alone.”

“And I would love to listen in to the conversations you would wind up having,” said Owen. “Okay, let’s hop in the van and go to dinner. I’m starving.”

After entering the van Jim spoke, “Wow, I’ve never seen a van like this. There is no steering wheel and the space here is like a small room with a table in the middle. It’s really quite spacious.”

“Terrific, isn’t it?” replied Owen. I can even lay down and take a nap when caught in traffic. I can also watch TV or surf the internet.”

“I have to admit that is a benefit, as the traffic here is getting worse all the time.”

“I just may convert you to AI before the night is over, Owen said with a grin.

They arrived at the restaurant, the van stopped and Owen motioned for Jim to get out.

“We can’t get out yet. This is not permanent parking,” he said.

“Doesn’t matter,” said Owen. The van will find its own parking and then pick us up when we are ready. That saves us ten minutes or so of wasted time.”

“Impressive,” said Jim.

They entered and were greeted and seated by human looking AIs. Jim looked over the menu. “Pretty extensive menu,” he said. Looks like they have synthetic meats of all kinds including fish. I wonder how close to the real thing the lobster tastes.”

“Well, it’s less than half the cost so if it is close it would be worth it.”

“I’m curious, but I’m going to order a ribeye, for I want the real thing, even though the cost is more. I tried an artificial steak once and it just was not the same.”

“How long’s it been since you’ve tasted a synthetic ribeye?” asked Own.

“Actually, it’s been over five years. I was turned off and just stuck with the real thing.

“They’ve made a lot of improvements since then.” Owen hailed a waiter and said, “Bring my friend here a taste of your best synthetic ribeye cooked medium.”

A few minutes later the AI waiter arrived with a sizable bite of steak. Jim examined it and it seemed to have the texture and look of the real thing. He took a bite. “I’m impressed,” he said. This is a big improvement over the last time I tasted artificial meat.”

“So, are you going to order the synthetic or the real thing?”

“I’ll stick with the real thing,” said Jim. “Who knows what all the ingredients are in the synthetic.”

“I’ll do the same,” said Owen, “though if the price of real meat keeps going up I may be forced to switch.”

They enjoyed their meal and conversation. The AI’s were so close to human that Jim began to feel he was in a regular restaurant.

“The service was actually very good here. Let me at least throw in some money for a tip.”

“I told you, that you do not have to tip in these AI restaurants. The AI’s do not receive any payment so extra money means nothing to them.”

“I’m sure the owner would appreciate something extra,” said Jim.

Some AI establishments do accept tips, but this one actually forbids them – takes away the pressure you feel to add one in.”

At that moment an authoritative gentleman appeared and addressed them. “Hope you enjoyed your meal. Owen, I see you have brought a friend.”

“Indeed. Jim, this is Ted, the owner of this establishment. I assure you he is a real human.”

“Nice to meet you Ted. I’m kind of old school and this is the first time I’ve been in an establishment like this. I can’t believe no tips are allowed. What’s it like working with just AI’s all the time?”

“Quite pleasant, actually as there are few mistakes and no personality problems. I do have one human assistant though. Hope you come back and try other things on the menu. I think you’ll find everything is first rate.”

“So far so good,” smiled Jim.

They finished up and went to the front of the restaurant where the van dropped by and picked them up. Once inside Owen said, “Have you been to a virtual movie theater yet?”

“No. I’ve heard about them but have been happy playing movies on my old fashion TV.”

“Well, you’re in for a treat,” said Owen. “If you thought the restaurant was high tech wait until you see this. It’s like you are really in the movie itself. You’ll never be the same again after the experience.”

Jim sat back and wondered about how much resistance remained in him.

I got the blues thinking of the future, so I left off and made some marmalade. It's amazing how it cheers one up to shred oranges and scrub the floor. —D.H. Lawrence

To read this entire treatise so far go to this link:
https://t.co/PS4tXFxc33

[Adrian @adrianuk]

I’ve been having a couple a year for the past few years - personally I’ve never had any sedation - and didn’t find this was a problem - but not all of course see such the same - all the best- to you - a very trying time for you of late - maybe mentally just kinda tune out - focus on something else - if possible - take care - will be genuinely interested to hear how you get on🙏

[Adrian @adrianuk]

@THERussellGrant @BBCNews @CliveMyrieBBC @BarryCaffrey @MiddxHeritage @AdminMiddlesex How are you doing Russel ?

[Adrian @adrianuk]

@THERussellGrant How are you doing Russell? 🙏

[Joseph Dewey @JosephJDewey]

Is AI Good for Humanity? Part 1
There seems to be an ongoing controversy over the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the data centers which will power them. The strange thing is that this seems to be one dispute which is not divided into the Left vs Right. Many on the left and right support the development and others on both sides are against so we have the left vs the left and the right vs the right in addition to them being against each other.

As if we do not have enough division in this country, we now have an item that divides both parties.

Let us look at the situation with some reasoning and discover whether AI along with the data centers will be good or bad for humanity.

One thing we do know for sure is that from any cursory study of history is that there’s always strong resistance to new technology, especially if it changes life as we know it or eliminates certain jobs.

Perhaps the best current example of the two sides view of this subject was a debate between Tucker Carlson and Kevin O’Leary posted May 13, 2026 on YouTube. Tucker saw many things that were evil while O’Leary saw an overall positive outcome.

I found it humorous that one of Tucker’s biggest complaints were how data centers looked. He said this:

“There's probably nothing uglier on planet Earth than a data center. It's a physical atrocity. It's an offense against God and nature… It is a scar upon the Earth.”

I was curious as to what the ugliest thing on the planet looked like so I Googled “data centers” and looked at pictures of a dozen or so. It turns out most look like buildings in the industrial section of any major city. Some are long rectangular buildings that look like they could be used to manufacture RV’s, cars or even rockets. Others look like large computer memory chips. Just like any industrial building they are not built for beauty but for effective use. I couldn’t find any that I would consider ugly.

The fact that Tucker considers them so ugly that they are “an offense against God and nature,” tells me that he begins the debate with an extreme bias against them.

Then O’Leary has a lot of money invested in AI projects so he is likely biased the other direction.

Overall, here I do not think Tucker has a point un ugliness, as the data centers are mostly large rectangular buildings that look similar to thousands of others in the country used for manufacturing and warehousing.

One of Tucker’s biggest objections was that AI was going to take our jobs. “you're not going to have a job, that's true,” he says and then complains we will have nothing to do but eat, “the point of living, of course, is not to eat. Eating is a prerequisite to living, but it's not the point. The point of living is to create.”

So Tucker is afraid that so many jobs will be taken that the only function left for us mere mortals is to eat. To this O’Leary gave a common sense reply:

“Well, you know, every time technology advances, it creates new opportunities that we're not foreseen prior because you don't know the direction of new tech. You know, think about if you and I, because we were actually around in the late 80s contemplating what new jobs would be created by the internet. And look at what's happened. It's created millions of jobs and advanced all kinds of technologies and changed the way we live to the better.”

To this Tucker gave the amazing reply that things were better before the internet and things have “gotten worse at exactly the period in history that the internet was formed.”

Tucker expresses the concern of many when he talks about losing jobs, but how many, if given the choice, would press a button and make the internet go away?

Very few, because the benefits of the internet far outweigh the detriments.

The question now is whether the creation of AI and Data centers will be more of a benefit than a detriment. What many leave out of the argument is that every advance in technology can be used for good or evil. Whether or not anything is used for the benefit of humanity depends on the freewill of those involved in creating and using it.

In the latter part of the nineteenth century an engineering upstart named Nikola Tesla invented the alternating current a much superior deliver system than Edison’s DC current, concerning which Edison and the jobs of many employees were depending. There was no way that the DC current would prevail because AC could be efficiently transmitted across great distances using transformers, whereas Edison's DC could only travel about a mile before losing strength.

Edison was a smart man and probably realized the superiority of AC, but he had a lot invested in the DC current and a lot of jobs were at stake. He decided that the best way to prevail over Tesla was to scare the people into rejecting AC.

Edison arranged to conduct gruesome public demonstrations where they electrocuted stray dogs, cats, calves, and horses using AC.

The message was clear: “See, if you allow wiring for AC in your house then your favorite pet could be fried to painful death by this dangerous alternating current.”

That had an effect but it did not stop the march of the AC current. Edison had to do something more drastic. He then did something that defied his own moral principles. He was against the death penalty yet supported the creation of the eclectic chair. He figured that once the public became aware that the alternating current could fry a person’s brain that no one would want one in their home.

In 1890 William Kemmler became the first person put to death with the electric chair with Edison’s blessing.

To Edison’s dismay it turned out to be a minor setback, as the advantages of AC were so obvious that people’s fears were overcome.

We still realize that a large amount of AC voltage can kill, but we have the transmission and wiring controlled to the extent that we all sit comfortably each night using the alternating current to light, heat and air condition our homes as well as enable all communication through the vast internet.

We now look back on Edison’s scare tactics with amusement. He obviously knew better but was trying to protect his business interests and the jobs of his associates.

As it turned out Edison did lose many jobs to the better technology, but the end result was the greater technology created millions of new jobs. In the end the good generated by the alternating current far outweighed the bad.

One of the most significant battles manifested by new technology involved the Luddites.

The Luddites who appeared at the beginning of the industrial revolution in England. This activist group was started by weavers who protested incoming steam powered weaving machines that would replace their jobs. Even though the advance of steam over human power would greatly benefit society as a whole, the Luddites wanted “alternatives” to the powerful and dangerous steam technology.

At first, they staged peaceful protests, but when they saw that the new technology was making inroads and their way of life was threatened violent protesting and sabotage became prevalent. The Luddites resorted to attacking and destroying the steam powered looms by any means they had, not caring for the added expense incurred to both the manufacturers as well as consumers.

What made things more difficult for progress was that these anti-technology advocates were not the dummies as some historians portray. Many of them were well educated and had considerable political influence. They were also good at public relations and managed to get a large portion of the public to sympathize with their cause. Many of the farmers, common people and even manufacturers who would benefit by the new technology secretly assisted them.

Fortunately for civilization, the English government came down hard on the Luddites when they broke the law and when violence ensued the authorities greatly increased the crackdown.

Despite their political connections and public support, the rule of law prevailed and within a decade the new prosperity brought about by the steam powered technology caused a waning of support for the Luddites and the opposition to the advance of civilization turned into support.

Now, over two hundred years later, people of this age look back on the Luddites and assume they must have been stupid, backward people to oppose such an obvious benefit. In fact, the term “luddite” is sometimes used to identify a dim-witted person who is confused by modern technology or thought.

The fact is the real Luddites were fairly intelligent. They look dim-witted by our standards because they were deceived by their own self-interest and belief systems.

Time and time again technology has produced change that has been resisted by many thinking their world will end, jobs will be gone forever and not replaced, but in each event the benefit has outweighed any short-term pain.

When crude oil replaced whale oil the whalers cried foul – that their jobs would be gone. But not only were more jobs created, but the whales were saved from extinction.

When the car replaced the horse and buggy again everyone who made carriages and raised horses feared for their jobs yet again car manufacturing led to many more jobs than ever. The additional benefit was that our city streets were no longer smelly and unsightly from horse dung.

When television came on board many thought people would no longer listen to the radio and all jobs related to it would disappear, but radio adapted and continued and many new jobs were created for television.

In every case, technological innovation does change things and interrupts some lives, but it generally brings more convenience, more and different jobs and enhances life for the whole.

Why do many think it will be different this time?

"Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful." - Friedrich Nietzsche
May 21, 2026

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[Adrian @adrianuk]

I’ve had three surgeries over the past few years - and didn’t want a general anaesthetic - for two of them they defiantly wanted to give me a general anaesthetic, one was for a bowel cancer operation, but I managed to persuade them to give me spinal for two - and a nerve block for the other - during all i was awake - but didn’t feel anything - I’m glad i made these choices - but everyone is different of course, and certain anaesthetics have to be given for certain operations of course - but you might have more of s choice than you think - you seem to be getting some good advice and assurance on here - hope it goes well for you - take care🙏