ABrockwell @aebrockwell@qoto.org

Q&A: The origin of “stevedore”

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive...
https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/qa-the-origin-of-stevedore/

#WritingCommunity
#SelfPublishing
#Writing

Astrud Gilberto has died. One of the musical styles that defined my generation was bossa nova. The most famous song in that style is The Girl from Ipanema. The song was written by Joao Gilberto, who is considered the father of bossa nova. Astrud was his wife.

The Girl from Ipanema is sung by Astrud, a girl who is not a professional singer. How did this happen? On the day the song was recorded, the intended singer didn't show up and Joao asked Astrud to have a go at it. The result is epic because the song benefits enormously from her innocent, ordinary, non-flashy singing.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/brazilian-astrud-gilberto-sang-girl-ipanema-dead-83-rcna87910

After effectively debunking all sorts of crypto and blockchain related nonsense, Amy Castor and @davidgerard have now turned their attention to the current #AI hype.

Lots of good stuff, including some much needed background to the alarmist warnings on AI risk by various AI luminaries.

Their characterization of #ChatGPT as "a stupendously scaled-up autocomplete" is spot-on as well.

https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/2023/06/03/crypto-collapse-get-in-loser-were-pivoting-to-ai/

Here’s some perspective.

Americans:
•Cancel student debt!
•Cancel medical debt!
•Make insulin free!

Most of Developed World:
•What is student debt?
•What is medical debt?
•Insulin is already free!

What GOP calls “socialism”—even conservative parties in most developed nations call a “human right.”

To co-sign, boost.

Indigo Bunting. I can now stop photographing birds because I'll never do better than this.

#birds #birding #indigobunting #photography

Scientists have discovered a black hole that has a gravitational field so strong that no treats or dropped food scraps can escape.

I feel like one of the big links between AI and NFTs is people who are incapable of enjoying the basic pleasures of creativity unless they can justify it as a Very Disruptive High-Tech Hustle https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/1/23745673/ai-art-boosters-mona-lisa-abbey-road

The next time you feel imposter syndrome and are convinced that everyone is better than you, just remember that someone got paid for this hospital design.

A few of my many thoughts on this hot mess of a GPT story, relayed by @kendraserra:

1. These events really give the lie to the putative imminent replacement of professionals by AI. I’m quite certain some VC out there has money sunk into “LLMs will replace lawyers!” I know they’re trying with coders, therapists, tech support…and…just look at this frigging mess.

https://dair-community.social/@kendraserra/110441293874212557

#ai #chatgpt

Every publisher needs to make their policy clear on this, so that they’re setting the terms, rather than having the terms set for them. This is Clarkesworld’s statement on #AI text.

#ChatGPT #AIArt #OpenAI

http://neil-clarke.com/ai-statement/

Sometimes journalists, newspapers, “influencers,” scientists, politicians & the rest of us get things wrong. But instead of acknowledging our mistakes, too often, pride or social norms get in the way of saying so.

But it’s good to change our minds when we have new evidence or a new perspective or experience that shapes our perceptions.

That’s how we learn. How we grow. And talking about it should be normalized. The expectation rather than the exception.

Republicans: we demand that all homeless veterans be converted into food for productive workers

Biden: hold on there, jack, that's shady billiards

Republicans: we will murder a truck full of puppies every day our demand is unmet

Media: Biden and Republicans meet to solve the puppy crisis

I work in IT, that's why I don't use voice assistants or have any house automation

A large study confirms that curiosity is an important predictor of academic achievement - across the board but particularly for low-income kids: https://is.gd/zLBk8u.
Painfully ironic given the curiosity-killing practices (scripted direct instruction, behavior management, etc.) that such kids get in spades.

“Now I am sitting here in the #USA, I have to look at the extraordinary attack on libraries, and #books for #children in schools,” he said. “The attack on the idea of #libraries themselves. It is quite remarkably alarming, and we need to be very aware of it, and to fight against it very hard.”

Rushdie spent years in hiding with police protection after Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for his death over the novel “The Satanic Verses.”
https://apnews.com/article/salman-rushdie-public-appearance-freedom-of-speech-02d429629e1daee57a49b53995ef71c5

It's now TWO YEARS and 135 days since Donald Trump's Jan 6 terrorist attack. In any other first world country he'd already be charged with crimes. Instead Trump is running for President where he's actively spewing more lies to delegitimize our democracy. Indict trump for Jan 6!

No 'collusion' necessary. These authoritarians are openly allied.

"Russia’s Latest Sanctions on U.S. Officials Turn to Trump Enemies"

"The Russian Foreign Ministry offered no specific explanation for why they would be included on the list but did say that among its targets were 'those in government and law enforcement agencies who are directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the wake of the so-called storming of the Capitol.'"

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/21/world/europe/russia-sanctions-trump.html

#fascism #trump #russia

It used to be Democrats versus Republicans, liberals versus conservatives, left versus right.

That is over.

It is now democracy versus authoritarianism.

The 2024 election is fast approaching. Know the stakes.

The thing about this corruption and criminality—George Santos, Clarence Thomas, Rudy Giuliani, Trump—is that it’s so obvious. So brazen. As if there’s no need to hide it.