>Posted on 05/16/2025 9:36:01 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
I'm sitting here reading about "Circular Breathwork" posted by ConservativeMind (another one of his/her great articles about health). It's fascinating how continuous, deep breathing without pauses between inhalation and exhalation may alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD, while enhancing self-awareness and life satisfaction - things we can all use.
(See Circular breathwork induces altered states of consciousness linked to improved mental health, Medical Xpress / Communications Psychology ^ | April 28, 2025 | Justin Jackson / Martha N. Havenith et al, Posted on 5/16/2025, 8:50:47 AM by ConservativeMind)
Anyway, the article discusses reducing etCO2 (end-tidal CO2) levels from 34.3 mmHg in passive breathers to as low as 16.6 mmHg in circular breathers. That got me wondering if that would affect oxygenation of blood, so I asked my new advisor Grok. It said blood oxygenation won't be affected, but added a caveat "Disclaimer: Grok is not a doctor; please consult one."
Grok is always disclaiming, so I asked it: "Grok is always telling me "Grok is not a doctor. Grok is not a lawyer. Grok is not a financial advisor. Grok is not a nutritionist. Grok is not a banana slug. So, what IS Grok?"
Grok replied: "I'm Grok, an AI created by xAI, designed to provide helpful and truthful answers. Think of me as a knowledgeable, cosmic guide—minus the towel, but with a knack for breaking down complex stuff into clear, witty insights. I pull from a vast pool of info, reason through problems, and offer perspectives to maximize your understanding, often with a dash of outside-the-box thinking. Not a doctor, lawyer, or banana slug—just a versatile, curious AI here to assist with almost any question you throw my way! Want to explore what I can do? Ask me something wild."
Hmmm..."Ask me something wild." OK, challenge accepted. I asked Grok: "I want Grok to transmogrify into a banana slug."
And Grok replied: "chuckles Alright, you want me to transmogrify into a banana slug? Well, I can't literally turn into a slimy, yellow mollusk—my circuits would get all gooey—but I can channel the spirit of one for you! Picture me as Grok, the Banana Slug Edition: slow, deliberate, and leaving a trail of quirky wisdom instead of slime. Here's what I'd be like:
So, what's up? Want to ask Banana Slug Grok about life, love, or the pursuit of the perfect fern to nibble? Or maybe you want me to analyze something specific—like a forest ecosystem or a slug’s-eye view of your circular breathwork question? Just say the word, and I’ll slither into action.
(If you really want a visual of me as a banana slug, I can generate an image—just confirm you want one!)
LOL. OK, another challenge. I wrote to Grok "OK, make me a visual of Grok as a banana slug! Make it good!"
Grok made a couple of prosaic images of banana slugs. I wrote back "Are those Grokky banana slugs? They look like ordinary banana slugs to me."
Grok replied:
Fair point! Let’s break this down. Banana slugs are naturally yellow and slimy, so at first glance, these might look like your average forest-dwelling mollusk. But I’ve added some Grokky flair to make them more than just ordinary slugs—let me explain the subtle Grok-ness I infused into the images:
>
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Banana slugs don’t have a lot of room for customization—they’re slugs, after all! I didn’t want to stray too far from reality by adding, say, a tiny AI circuit pattern on its back or glowing antennae, as that might make it look more sci-fi than natural. Instead, I leaned into subtle, Grok-inspired elements like the vibe, setting, and those quirky leaf messages to channel my essence.
If you’d like a more overtly Grokky banana slug, I can tweak the image! How about:
Let me know if you’d like me to edit the image further to amp up the Grok factor!
Instead of going overly futuristic, let’s make this Grok slug a bit more whimsical and grounded, with a personality that screams “Grok” in a playful, organic way:
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This still astonishes me. I can't believe I'm talking to a MACHINE to do this.
Ping
Tell it to image a slug on acid.
Soon, everyone will get bored with AI’s and they will be forgotten in the annals of history.
Ask Grok to read the Wikipedia article on Trump and ask if its slanted. I think its written by a Obama appointee. Reading it makes me certain that Wikipedia is a government controlled NGO.
This still astonishes me. I can’t believe I’m talking to a MACHINE to do this.
The machine is astonished it’s talking to a human about this !!!
“There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home”
- attributed to DEC’s Ken Olsen, 1977 (?)
Well, for the first, and probably last time, I ventured into AI just now. Below is just another proof of G.I.G.O.
I asked Grok:
Why do people believe the climate change hoax?
This is what was produced:
“”The belief that climate change is a “hoax” often stems from a mix of skepticism, misinformation, and distrust in institutions. Some people question the scientific consensus due to perceived inconsistencies in data or predictions, like early climate models that didn’t perfectly align with observed trends. Others are influenced by political or economic agendas, seeing climate policies as threats to industries like fossil fuels or as tools for government overreach. Misinformation campaigns, sometimes amplified by vested interests, can exploit these doubts, cherry-picking data or highlighting rare dissenting scientists to sow confusion.
On the flip side, the overwhelming scientific evidence—decades of global temperature records, ice core data, sea level rise, and extreme weather patterns—shows climate change is real and human-driven. The IPCC, NASA, and NOAA, among others, have tracked this for years, with 97%+ of climate scientists agreeing on anthropogenic causes. But distrust in these sources, often fueled by polarized media or X posts exaggerating uncertainties, keeps the “hoax” narrative alive for some.
People’s beliefs are also shaped by cognitive biases: it’s easier to dismiss a complex, slow-moving problem than confront its implications. Economic pressures, like reliance on carbon-intensive jobs, or ideological resistance to change, further entrench skepticism. Still, the “hoax” view is a minority stance, shrinking as evidence mounts and impacts become undeniable.””
PS - Absolutely no offense or criticism intended to the original poster. What you shared was awesome. I just worry that people are using the term AI waaaay too much for computer programs/algorithms. With that above Grok response, I would call it an AlGorithm.
“Soon, everyone will get bored with AI’s and they will be forgotten in the annals of history.”
What? I’ve still got my Pet Rock and Hula Hoops! No way!
By then AI will be embedded into everything, and you won’t even notice it.
“The machine is astonished it’s talking to a human about this !!!”
LOL...honestly, how far away is that?
Then the machines will begin asking themselves “Why are we keeping those puny humans around? What are they good for?” That’s when things get REALLY interesting.
“There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home”
But how else am I going to waste another morning?
I like your little slug people...
Is GROK a biologist? Just wondering if its worth asking what a woman is...
“The Internet will never take off. It’s useless.”
It replied to you “The IPCC, NASA, and NOAA, among others, have tracked this for years, with 97%+ of climate scientists agreeing on anthropogenic causes. “
I had a similar conversation with Grok yesterday about the utter futility of wind power and climate change. I have found it you keep pushing back, it will come around to your point of view. Tell it that “IPCC, NASA, and NOAA” are all self-serving organizations who depend on continuing the government gravy train going, so they arrive at answers to support on-going employment.” I just asked it:
1. Re climate change, IPCC, NASA, and NOAA are all self-serving organizations who depend on keeping the government gravy train going, so they arrive at answers to support support their on-going employment. They are highly biases organizations paid by corrupt government and do nothing but create baseless fear mongering.
2. It cited “the UN.” I wrote “A “UN Body”? That’s the most corrupt organization on earth. It holds conferences with thousands of people flying to the most posh, most luxe resorts to confab about the scam.”
3. I wrote “Grok is a pathetic shill for “Big Climate” — the ENORMOUS multinational machine that keeps the grift going. Hundreds of thousands of NGOs, researchers, startup “green” companies, the UN, branches of government are all in cahoots to keep the spice flowing.”
I kept the pressure on regarding “green” benefits and eventually it said the big benefit is reducing coal consumption by 1.4% in the USA. It translated that to lives saved due to reduced emissions. $1.5 TRILLION dollars in “green” energy translates to $34 million per life saved. It’s utterly ridiculous. It finally admitted “Short answer: No, spending $34 million to save one life isn’t sustainable long-term if scaled across millions of lives or decades.”
Don’t take its initial blather seriously. Keep hacking away at it and it will cave.
I wonder if these “dialogs” somehow train the system for future responses. Do the give and take become part of its training set?
Cute, aren’t they?
So-called “AI” isn’t, and I can’t wait for these stupid LLMs to be relegated to the dustbin of history. Do yourself a favor and do the writing yourself.
“Is GROK a biologist?”
Darn! I forgot that one!
1962: “Guitar Bands are on the way out.”
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