Month: January 2025

AI?

Have you noticed any change in my writing style? How about my vocabulary or phrasing? Over the past few months I have allowed the web host AI Assistant to suggest improvements to my writing.

Here’s an example. One of the most common AI recommendations is when I generate long, maybe run-on sentences:

Although I am interested in seeing these suggestions, I am sometimes trying to get a specific point across which has its meaning changed by changing the long, rambling sentence structure into shorter, more concise groups of words.

Here’s what it looks like after I allow the AI Assistant to make the changes:

“I am interested in seeing these suggestions. However, I am sometimes trying to get a specific point across. The meaning changes when I change the long, rambling sentence structure into shorter, more concise groups of words.“

Now that wasn’t bad! I like it. I think I’ll use it (I say to myself). However, after making the changes based on its own review, it now suggests the the word “However”, is complex. Thus it suggests this change.

“…these suggestions. But, I am sometimes…”

And I think, “What’s up with that?!” First, why suggest a change that transgresses its own analysis? Second, I happen to like the word “however” better than “but.”

Thus, it is an ongoing struggle to decide whether I should “listen” to the AI or just turn it off and trust my own intuition. Oops! There’s another long sentence! What is the AI telling me now?!

“It is an ongoing struggle. I must decide whether to “listen” to the AI. Alternatively, I could just turn it off and trust my own intuition.“

And now it doesn’t like its own suggestion to use the word “could.” It would rather I just leave out the word “could.” “Alternatively, I just turn it off and trust my own intuition.“

Are we having fun yet?

I’ve read and listened to articles about the efficacy of using current iterations of Artificial Intelligence. Some news organizations are replacing people with AI to generate stories such as (the AI is telling me to use “like” instead of the more complex “such as”) after a high school football game, giving scores, and analysis of the teams’ performances.

(“Some news organizations are replacing people with AI to generate stories after a high school football game. The AI provides scores and analysis of the teams’ performances.“)

In this case the AI changed my intent. I wanted to be more inclusive than just an article about a football game. Leaving out “such as” or even “like” totally changes the meaning.

I remember being on an accreditation committee for the college at which I taught technology courses. My team was responsible for reviewing the state of the college’s ethics and civic responsibility. I was chosen by my team to write our results, analysis, and recommendations to the larger committee for inclusion with the other required areas of self-review. (I’m ignoring another AI recommendation for long sentence.)

The college board hired a retired English professor to review all of the team reports. The goal was to bring them into a cohesive, uniform format. My team reviewed his rewrite of our draft. We clearly saw that he had changed the overall intent of our findings! Protesting, we were called to a meeting with the VP for Academic Affairs and the editor to discuss our disagreement.

I’m no English major. I didn’t even do well in that or any other subject in high school or college. Here I was arguing with these doctoral degrees that they can’t change words and sentence structure just for conformity’s sake. Not if the meaning is lost. Especially when it glossed over some less-than-complementary findings.

I later realized, after winning the day, what I had done. Then I worried about keeping my job! I had butted heads with the VP and expert. Would it end my career? Did I really know what I was talking about? “Holy s**t!”

Nothing bad happened. And, as you can tell, I continue to challenge others’ recommendations. Though designed by experts, I certainly won’t just accept the “word” of a computer over what I want to write!

We’ve all heard the potential value of AI. We’ve also heard of its dangers. When it comes to AI assistance, there is certainly room for improvement. I don’t think we will be replaced completely any time soon. I do, though, continue to remember humans being used as batteries in The Matrix! (A very innovative movie for its time, I might add.)

Claire – An Inspiration!

I have the pleasure, honor, and responsibility of chauffeuring my stepgranddaughter, Claire, to her eyesight therapy. Once or twice a week I take her to ChildeServe. I have to get up and ready much earlier than normally I would. She is always ready. Her walker waiting outside. Her backpack on as she comes out the door.

We take about 20 minutes to get there. It’s been cold and windy, but no bad weather so far. We are both still waking up as we make the trek across town. Some conversation, but mostly it’s me sipping coffee and she telling me what’s up for the day.

Wednesday she shared that the family is going to Florida in March. She and her siblings just found out about it this past week. We talk about what we’ve been eating, what’s up for the weekend. Ben and Emily took their permit driver’s tests on Saturday. It’s a big deal.

Claire is eleven. She has Cerebral Palsy (CP). She has trouble walking. She wears braces. She uses a walker, though not around the house. Claire has survived several surgeries attempting to correct the combination of variations in growth of bone, muscle, and tendon. She works hard to take care of herself and contribute to the shared needs of her family of seven. I have had the privilege of being a part of her extended family for several years. I have watched her grow.

The first time I was at their house, Claire came bounding down the stairs head first. She moved in a controlled, bumpy slide. A huge grin on her face. I’ve rarely seen her without that grin since. But now she walks, with effort, up and down those same stairs.

I have other relatives with disabilities. I’ve seen the challenges families have caring for a child with mental or physical limitations. So I was not taken aback by Claire’s condition. But I’m sure that others’ reactions and responses are different. I know that Claire is painfully aware of how others look at her.

I sit in the waiting room at ChildServe. I am stunned at the number and myriad challenges of the young people and their parents. They come for different, often multiple, kinds of therapy. Claire also receives physical and occupational therapy on a weekly basis. She has most of her life.

(I should probably explain something here. Claire’s eye work. Her eyesight is okay. She has a visual processing disorder. Her brain decides to offer a narrow window of vision. It, for instance, limits her peripheral vision. Unfortunately, the brain decides when and where to concentrate that narrow window. Thus, she is working with a therapist to retrain the brain to increase that window and help her control it. Claire is also challenged with fine motor skill difficulties. Further complicating how she learns in school. Tough stuff!)

Claire is not afraid to stand up for herself. I don’t think she’s always been that way. Wednesday she took her school work to share with her sight therapist. She wants to show her therapist what she is doing in a specific class. She also wants to share the challenges she has with a teacher. This teacher seems not to know how to accommodate her. Unlike a physical disability, a processing disorder is not noticeable to others.

Claire expressed anxiety as we rode from ChildServe to her school. She planned to confront her teacher, armed with the guidance given by her therapist. Claire had written an email to her teacher and received a reply. She recognized that her teacher had good intentions. But she also feels that her teacher’s solutions are not responsive to her needs. Suggestions to use a typing device to take notes or speech-to-text options are not effective. Claire still can’t keep up.

I don’t know yet how that conversation turned out. I’ll try to follow up in a future post.

Which brings me around to the inspiration. As I said, Claire has grown. Physically, sure. But also in maturity. Most notable in our car ride conversations is her vocabulary. And she uses it well. Claire is articulate and expressive. She knows what she wants to say and explains herself well. Sometimes it takes time to process how to respond to a question. I love that she does. She thinks before she speaks. Something we should all aspire to.

Anyone who spends time with Claire surely can see past the physical appearance brought on by her CP. It is still a tragedy to judge a book by its cover. Claire’s looks are maturing. Her radiantly smiling face is transitioning from that of a child to one of a young woman. She carries herself, both physically and mentally, with dignity and confidence. She is not afraid of who she is. She embraces her qualities. She wants, needs, and looks for acceptance by others. Not so different from everyone else.

I am so impressed with Claire. I am a better person for knowing her and sharing her life – with all of her struggles. I hope by writing this message that I can expand people’s understanding of living with disability. People’s acceptance of everyone for who they are. Whether their challenges are physical, cognitive, or emotional. Claire reminds me again that we all are human. We all have worth. We all deserve respect and understanding. I hope you understand me. I hope you join in recognition and acceptance.

Claire, atop Rendezvous Mountain, 2023

Is It The End Of The World?

“I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK? It’s, like, incredible.”

Donald John Trump – January 2016

Depending on whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or Other, the outcome of November’s election caused strong emotional reactions. I am concentrating on those with whom I most closely align my socio-political views.

For the record, I consider myself fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I consider each issue on its merits and prefer to use a wide angle lens when deciding where I stand. In most cases I am moderate in my views.

The outcome of the election was horrific. I can hardly believe that we elected a convicted felon. He subverted the very office for which he has been re-elected. He stated many years ago that he could shoot someone in broad daylight and get away with it. Based on how the courts have treated the many accusations against him, It seems he is right! He attempted to retain the presidency by force.

There are so many social norms that he says he will either abolish or change. Issues that have been fought for and won through the legislative process and in the courts. I won’t itemize them here. Suffice it to say that we seem to be returning to darker, oppressive times.

Economists argue that the new Republican world economic posture will not have the intended outcome. They believe it will do the opposite of what the man and his minions project. Corralling and/or deporting immigrants will vastly deplete the work force for many necessary jobs. Adversely impacting our economy. It has been proven many times. Trickle down economics neither boosts the economy nor helps the middle and lower economic classes. Deficits soar. It’s a bleak outlook for many this year and for a few years to come. Yet as time goes by we see that the world has not yet ended.

I used to discuss global issues with my dad when I was a young man. I took a stance based on bible quotes. That we are in the end days of civilization, if not the earth itself. Wars, rumors of wars. Pestilence, disease, famine. Oppression and the mark of the beast. Those who know the New Testament know exactly to what I am referring.

Dad would take a completely different stance. He argued that the prophecies about the end of the world are part of our human experience. These prophecies, those maladies mentioned above, have existed for thousands of years. The earth has gone through many changes. Sure, some have been cataclysmic. So far, we are still here.

It is true that many signs point to an exclusive political and social environment. Yet I see glimmers of hope. There are many who openly oppose the restrictive, oppressive intentions of the soon-to-be powers in Washington. There are signs of understanding and cooperation. Even some people who voted for tridiot recognize that he is inept and dangerous. Signs point to opportunities for wins in the legislature and in the courts.

You very well might disagree. But I don’t think a negative attitude is productive. Now is the time to fight for our future. Ultimately, elections will decide. Unless, of course, tridiot is successful in his prediction that if elected, “in four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not gonna have to vote.” But I suspect that will be much more difficult to achieve than we fear.

Think back to tridiot’s first term in office. The wall. Tariffs. Deportations. Sure. some of his agenda was accomplished. But what the tridiot minions don’t remember is that most of his blowhard blustering was just that. No substance.

I realize that he has a favorable congress. He has stacked the judicial with politicized conservative judges. Yet somehow court decisions continue to be fair and just. Who knows if this will continue. I want to believe that saner minds will eventually prevail. I hope my dad was right!

Obviously, I have no more of a crystal ball that you. And I am by nature skeptical and, as I age, cynical. Yet I have hope and a certain level of confidence that we will survive the coming assault on our democracy. Some evidence to the contrary. In a way, I feel like I’m doing something to advance a positive outcome just by writing this message.

Singer/Song Writer – More Past, Present, and Future

Continuing, somewhat, on last week’s theme, I have had hopes and dreams for my music for many years. My writing and composing flourished in the early 2000’s. I recorded some of the early music in 2013, creating the album Catching Up On Life.

During and since that time I have written a plethora of lyrical poems. For many I have composed guitar accompaniments. Subjects for these songs include close family, people I worked with, acquaintances, and personal experiences. Most have not been recorded.

I’ve always wanted to share my songs with, well, anyone who would listen. I hoped, and continue to hope, that the lyrics evoke memories and/or emotions for at least some in an audience. My music, though simple, has evolved into an easy-listening style. I admit that I like my songs and poetry. Some have told me they enjoy it and relate in some way.

But I never gave my hobby my complete attention. I never committed to learning enough or practicing enough to get really good – good enough to go professional. I have dedicated time over the last two and a half years. However, that time was not enough for me to feel comfortable going on the road. Sure. I am comfortable playing for small groups of mostly known people. But I am not “good” enough to play public venues. Now I am convinced that I never will be.

Which brings me back to the link with last week’s them of past, present, and future. My hopes and dreams are evolving. I am still creating. I still believe in my music. I like most of it and believe I have something to say and a way to share it.

Now, though, I have a new dream. Some day, someone with professional knowledge of music will listen and say, “This is good stuff. I think I can get ? (unknown artist) to record this and get it distributed for the public to hear.”

I have a hope that I can find someone to help me make demo recordings. I don’t have the means to hire a bunch of studio time. Especially considering I lack professional vocal and musical skill for a finished product. As I’ve said before, I can’t seem to figure it out for myself.

My voice and my hands have limited time to produce the songs I want to sing. I do not read nor write music. I just play it. So I don’t have hard (or digital) copy. My lifespan is uncertain. But certainly shortening. I know my songs will be my legacy to my family and close friends. I had hopes for more. I guess I still do.

A few years ago I looked into software that would transpose my guitar notes into sheet music. I was not impressed. I am taking another look for newer, more user-friendly options. If anyone knows of one that is worth paying for, please let me know. Thanks.

Short of that, I have to find a way to record. I think it needs to be better than my phone (sound quality issues). But less sophisticated than a mixer (unless someone wants to help me out 😉 ).

Well, this post has certainly turned into a personal muse and plea. But it does reflect some looks at the past, realities of the present, and views of a possible future. I wonder what it will bring. I wonder if I will dedicate myself to fulfilling more of my hopes and dreams. I suspect all of you have similar questions about how you will fulfill yours. I hope you are successful!