I’ve read a lot more books lately than I’ve listed here, but these are the memorable books I want to share: Memorable Books #1: Little Fires Everywhere (2017) by Celeste Ng I’m not going to lie. The only reason I picked this one up was because the author’s name appeared in the New York Times […]
Let’s consider the upside of Generative AI. But first, let’s acknowledge that technology is not the problem. It’s what people do with technology that can be problematic. And second, new forms of media do not eradicate old forms. Movies didn’t replace theater. TV didn’t replace radio. So, come on down, AI, and join the party! […]
The downside of Generative AI involves the danger of copyright infringement. And the threat to the livelihoods of many, if not all, working visual artists and writers. If you need to refresh your memory about Generative AI and/or copyrights, see: A Few Things To Know About AI We distinguish first between copyrighted images and copyrighted […]
A few things to know about AI. Since the topic is everywhere these days, I want to understand it. Writing about a topic helps me think through it. I hope that reading about the topic will help you think through it along with me. The July 14 issue of Science magazine inspired this blog. The […]
Yaroslav the Wise (c.978-20 – 1054) was Grand Prince of Kyiv from 1019 until his death. He married Ingegerd Olofsdotter, the daughter of Olaf Eriksson, King of Sweden. Yaroslav’s father was Volodymyr. He, among other things, brought Christianity to his realm (see map, below). Yaroslav’s grandfather was Sviatoslav. He is known to history as the […]
Monday is Saint Valentine’s Day. Cue the flowers and the chocolates. And the free romance novel I’m offering for the day! But first: How did this day devoted to love arise? Saint Valentine’s Day: The Origins Roman Emperor Claudius II had a man named Valentinus executed on February 14, 269 AD. The reasons vary. One. […]
I don’t find books. Books find me. The one that found me yesterday is On Writing. A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. I enjoyed reading about the events that shaped his writing life. I also admired his brutal honesty about his drug and alcohol addition. And cheered his recovery. He also made me […]
After a year of watching all the goodies on all the streaming services it’s time for me to return to my roots. That means: reading. There are two good reasons to read. One is: Read for your brain health. An article I read last week by Jessica Stillman reminded me of the brain benefits of […]
Ever a lover of new words, I came across one yesterday: anthropause. I learned it from an article in the New York Times about sea birds known as murres. The article was about the Swedish island of Stora Karlso where the murres are favorites of bird-watchers. The new word first appeared in a June, 2020 […]
“Indian giver!” The last time I heard this phrase I must have been a kid. The tone of childish outrage still echoes. Maybe I even hurled the insult myself. In all the years since, I never thought to rethink it. Until yesterday. Environmental Biologist Robin Wall Kimmerer showed me the way in Braiding Sweetgrass. The […]