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Electric guitars and organs amplify and transform what the musician physically does Ai moves the creative decision-making itself into the machine. Do you see the difference

I take it you don't consider electric guitars and organs as 'real instruments' and should not be used.

******************* I'm a bit confused No one ended a sentence with "Seven" and the word "close" had already been used and covered *************** World time may help us get this thread back on course.

Very true. 🤗 For me, the skills possessed determines if I will want to engage with someone's art - does it look or sound good to me? I admit, I am a bit of a snob where that's concerned... everyone's output is not good. To *me*. No participation trophies in this area. Singing off-key, playing an instrument, dancing, making art badly.. not my thing. I'm never saying I can do better; I can't dance and I canNOT draw. But if something *can* be done better, that's what I personally prefer.

I don't subscribe to the ideology of "the ends justify the means" in the case of art. I believe the creative process of part of the experience that makes it enjoyable.

Do you play the saxophone? Have you tried using AI to create a song that has the sound and feel you are after? I do both. Back in the 70's when we still had a live orchestra at assemblies, I played the electric bass and/or the sax in the orchestra. I also play guitar and trumpet - at least, I used to before my body began to fail me. I also use AI to make songs (I have a thread with some of the songs) Unless you have done both, you have no idea what is involved in each way of making music. A sax does not just take blowing air over a reed; there is also fingering to accomplish. AI does not instantly make a track exactly the way you want it to sound. You have to work at tweaking those prompts, and AI does not always want to cooperate. As a point of interest, I drive a vehicle to go most places. I can operate heavy equipment to dig. I use a smart phone. I am using a computer right now to type this. Some may say we shouldn't do these things. That unless I am digging with a shovel, I am not really digging. Unless I walk everywhere, I should just stay home. That using a computer to print a document is not really writing a talk or letter. I have used all of these skills to serve Jehovah on many construction projects, meetings and other spiritual endeavors. You may not like AI - that does not mean none of us should be using it. There is nothing wrong with using the tools at hand. Some tools are simple. like a shovel, some are more complex, like an excavator. Some tools are slow, like a hammer, some are fast, like an air nailer. Some are manual, some are automated. Why pick out one modern-day tool and say it is wrong to use while we accept the use of other modern-day time-and-effort-saving tools? Think about it, you are using a computer or smart device to take part on this forum and seem to think that is OK ... I'm sure there are some who would disagree.

Close can be closed when it's close to closing time.

Featured on our Home Page is the article What Does the Bible Say About Nuclear War? A few snippets from the article say ~ There is the fear that the use of just one small-scale nuclear weapon will ignite a full-scale nuclear war that will devastate our world. Will God permit nuclear war? The Bible does not say. It does say that "fearful sights", or terrifying events , would occur in our day. Even if man were to use nuclear weapons again, God would not allow the situation to escalate to the point of global annihilation. In the news today is an article about the Pentagon drafting a new nuclear strategy designed to give the USA more options for using shorter-range nuclear weapons. The theory is to have credible limited-response options short of an all-out strategic exchange. Our website provides us, and the public, with the comfort of knowing this planet will not be destroyed, even if there is some use of nuclear weapons again!

It is true that no one has to use it if they don't want to, neither does anyone have to force anyone to stop using Al if they love it. I believe though that you don't need "skill" to draw or make art though. All you need is heart and symbolism in your drawings, there are selective choices in strokes and posture to make a difference. Same with songs. They might not be as appealing or as detailed as other people may desire, yet in my own honest opinion, I prefer seeing stick people drawings over AI's version of what is considered art any day. We all may be different and that is fine too..💛

Nice! Do you have the parking attendants initially fill every other parking space so the occupants can safely exit their vehicles? Then the attendants go back and fill the blank spaces? I really like it when the brothers do that, but most of the time we are directed to park next to a car that just parked and everyone is trying to get out of their vehicles at the same time or even while some vehicles are still moving.

I agree. I submitted an application through the last version of NWP and the first step of the two step process wasn't intuitive, but this update makes the process very simple. Just in time for the September campaign. The Service Committee used my application to become familiar with the approval process and even had an announcement at our MWM that Aux Pio applications are now available in the Me page of NWP.

Maybe they should put time and effort into that skill, or not do it at all. Yes, AI outputs can be aesthetically "impressive" (I am being nice here). But the process is different, and actual art is valued because it represents a person's choices, struggles, emotions, and accumulated experience “God went on to create the man in his image.” (Read Genesis 1:27.) What makes humans unique? Since we are made in God’s image, we can reflect his qualities, such as love and justice. He also created us with the ability to learn languages, appreciate art, and enjoy music.

Saxophones and trombones work by creating vibrations in the air. The musician's skill comes from controlling the frequency, amplitude, and complexity of the vibrations. Making music involves developing abilities such as learning an instrument or singing technique, understanding rhythm, harmony, melody, and arrangement, practicing for years to control sound, making creative decisions through trial and error, expressing emotions or experiences through performance. A musician does not simply produce a sequence of sounds, they have a relationship with the process. The difficulty, limitations, and personal history of the artist often become part of the meaning of the work. There is no beauty in AI "music". Someone types a prompt and they receive a finished track instantly, the creator did not go through the same creative journey. I find it surprising that you would compare the two.

That's hilarious. I made some enemies in a recent comment about the yankees in my hall. But I will be here to weep with you in the playoffs.

Some things I used AI for recently: Parking_Operations_Field_Kit_V5 (1) For this RC, I was assigned as a keyman for parking in two lots. As you can appreciate, I get a master assignment list from oversight. I am only interested in my role and assignment with the brothers that are assigned to me. I do not communicate final assignments to my crew via texts, WhatsApp, or phone calls. Everyone receives this, so there are no questions about what they are supposed to do, where, or when. Everyone has a copy of this; some have a paper copy. After I compile my thoughts, notes, and ideas, I start talking to an AI. I do a complete brain dump, and then give clear instructions of what I want it to design and how I want it laid out. I attach the parking lot maps provided by oversight; then tap. I got back 80% of what I wanted. After some tweaks, well, you see the finished work. Oh, before I shared this with you, I had AI redact the brothers' names. parking_safety_guidence I created the image of the correct way to direct a vehicle into a parking space using AI. USPS_Mailing_List_Benmore_Drive When I get a LWT (letter writing territory), I search for the current resident for each address. I make a record of names and addresses. I use AI to format the information into a USPS (United States Postal Service) mailing sheet. It helps my frail brain.🤣 Parking_Operations_Field_Kit_V5 (1).pdf USPS_Mailing_List_Benmore_Drive.docx

Especially this one - I watched a publisher try to submit his application, but it was just a little bit too obscure for him to do it without help. This new form should be bulletproof.

NWP 4.1.4 is out and I like the way the last page has been organized. The Aux Pio application page has been simplified too.

What is art? There are the paintings done by the "great masters". They lived in a time when some of them even had to make their own paint. Nost are probably familiar with paintings like this I enjoy watching Bob Ross paint. We did "wet-on-wet" painting and could complete an entire 18"x24" painting in less than 30 minutes. He used specially formulated oil paints on a prepared canvas using a variety of paintbrushes with the paint being on a special made plastic pallet. Then, there are those who use spray cans to paint. Have you seen some of their art? Of course, since all of the above art was done using modern tool of the day, an argument could be made that they are not really art. That the only true art would be something done without the use of any tools. Something like this This is a "finger painting". No tools, just fingers. However, most would agree that Leonardo da Vinci was, indeed an artist and that his work is art. The same could be said of Bob Ross. And, if we are being honest, even though someone uses a spray can of paint, the results can be considered art. Music is the same way. A pan flute or hollow log can be used to make music. Neither has any moving parts and they are made from natural material. A piano, on the other hand, has been estimated to have between 8,000 - 10,000 parts that can be classified as moving. Doies that make a piano not a real musical instrument? What about an electric guitar or an organ? They both use electronics to make their sounds. The tools used to make music vary considerably. AI is just another moder tool just like the saxophone or trombone were modern tools when they first were invented. One thing all these tools have in common, and this includes the tools for art and music, is that left to their own, they just sit there and cannot produce art or music. They need input from a human to produce art or music. AI is the same way. Without input from a human, AI does not compose any music at all. It just sits there the same as a piano that no one is playing. When a person sits at the piano and begins using the 88 keys, they create music. What they create comes from their thought processes and skill. The same is true for AI produced music. When using AI, the song is only as good as the prompt the person feeds the AI and the sound is determined by properly worded commands. Without the input from a person, neither the piano nor the AI can produce music. So, if we are going to determine that "art is an expression of the God-given gift of your imagination and skills" we must allow that that gift includes all the tools we have designed to make visual or audible art, be that paint brushes, spray cans, drums, pianos or AI. Man made the tools and man has to operate the tools to get results.

I'm a Dodgers fan. They are good but not as good as people think they would be. There are a lot of good teams this year, including the White Sox, which apparently proves that someone is listening to the Popes prayers...🤣

I've used AI programs for excellent graphics and illustrations for work presentations. I added original AI must to it, too. Not everyone has "skills" - God-given or otherwise. But imagination is needed to instruct the tool to produce what is needed. It will doubtless be used by brothers for their talks. Also - "art" is subjective, isn't it? It is helpful and very fun. But no one is obliged to use it if they don't want to.. 😌

Landlord follow-up — a written record matters a lot here. If you have not already, ask for a written response to conversation, not just a verbal answer, in case you need it later. Documentation of the abuse — if there's any history (police reports, a past protective order, anything), now's the time to gather it. If there's no protective order and the fear is well-founded, this might be worth looking into, especially since he'll be a regular presence in the building. Elders/congregation support — since she's a sister, this could be something she'd want to loop in an elder on, both for practical support and for spiritual encouragement through it. Sounds like you might already be one of the people she's leaning on. The pregnancy angle — worth remembering this is also just a lot for her emotionally: an estranged daughter, a strained relationship (being called "Lori" instead of "Mom" says a lot), and now proximity to an abusive ex all landing at once. She may need as much emotional support as practical help right now. Does the building have any policies in effect that may help you re first established residency and ones seeking accomodations if a history of problems exist? I asked chatgpt to see what guidelines it may have and above is what it spit out

Been watching the Red Sox games. What a great season they are having. Record setting

I used Ai to plan an itinerary for my wedding anniversary weekend getaway this year. I told it where we were going, where we were staying, and where we needed to stop on our way home. It then suggested restaurants each day based on the dietary restrictions suggested along with scenic locations to visit each day. It was fun and kinda crazy that it was able to structure an enjoyable 3 day itinerary that included flexible dining options. Of course I had to really work with it by telling it what we wanted to do and then verify the results. At least 2 restaurant suggested did not exist at all and another had been closed for over a year and another was nowhere near where we were going. But overall it planned a very nice 3 day trip with a relaxed pace and nice restaurant suggestions.

using ai for art is never appropriate art is an expression of the God-given gift of your imagination and skills

I will like to reinforce this approach. I'm sure that apart from the worry about your ex-husband finding you out,there is also the concern about you always encountering your daughter and her father,you probably don't like that experience, but instead of trying to avoid them completely why not try to see if you can be more peaceable and friendly with them when you encounter them. Im not sure how you feel about your estranged daughter but she is still your child even if you don't approve of her way of life,the father of the prodigal son never gave up on him,that is Jehovah's approach of things. Please make yourself available to your daughter,and let her know that she still has a place in your heart as her mother.