šļø LongForm
Want to reduce the noice and just focus on things with a little more meat - the this category is for you. Like so much on this site we have a ‘WIP’ as i take some out - and put some in - but safe for at least starting in 2026.
šµ Mirror To The Sky - Yes
I have now listened to the new Yes album maybe 4 times. It is definitely not their greatest album - by any stretch - but it is also far from the worst.
Peak Yes years for me were those leading up to Topographic … and to compete with that era is hard … but this does (though it does lose š).
Trivia thought.
I wonder why the ‘title track’ off Mirror To The Sky is called ‘Mirror to the Sky’?
Intentional? If so why?
Sloppy? Very ‘un Yes’.
Favorite opening … the first minute of ‘Unknown Place’ - it falls off very quickly.
Favorite Track … the title track - which also happens to be the longest … I am a sucker for long musical exploration.
‘One Second is Enough’ … meh as is most of ‘disc 2’ … why did they bother?
āBIDIRECTIONALā You Tube RSS Feeds
š Scripting News: YouTube and inbound RSS
Interesting link from @dave
Also interesting is the YouTube outbound RSS that he wants.
Google donāt make it easy - BUT - every YouTube channel does have an RSS feed - I just added my channel to feed into MicroBlog, to make sure it still works. There are three videos in there - that have a total viewership of something less than 3 :-) So donāt get excited.
BUT - it is possible.
You Might Know Me As A 'Tech Exec' - But Actually, I Am An Astronaut.
When you read that ‘blah blah’ whoās āmade a name for themselvesā as an actor, writer, singer, chef, musician ā¦ whatever .. has now just turned to interior design (I bought my 15,000 share foot house in Malibu and just had āthis visionā) ā¦ or fashion design ā¦ or whatever …. what are your thoughts?
I ask because I just spotted that š Dua Lipa has just designed her first collection for Versace. I know this is not her first outing in design - but surely first with an icon?
Is this akin to tRump writing reading a book or Harry āwritingā one?
How about Johnny D sharing the stage with Jeff?
Galling?
I think so.
Lemons - Do They Exist - Or A Cunkstion?
Anyone else worried that this is even a question? Or that it needs to be asked?
Anyway, I donāt have an answer about lemon origins except to say that they are at least as real as babies, and if they arenāt real then what the fuck did I just eat?
š¬ The Bloggess
To be clear, this is not a Bloggess origin story ā¦ but rather a debate that seems to have emerged on the inter-webs somewhere about āIntelligence versus Artificial Intelligenceā - with people pointing out that Lemons ādo not occur naturallyā ā¦ so are artificial ā¦ so not ārealā ā¦ at least in āthatā sense of the word.
First, if that is true, then total news to me. But put that aside, because the quirkiness of the debate tickles me. Itās āthe other thingā that has slipped quietly under the radar, that I am worrying about, because at some point in the online world, ārealā has become synonymous with āexistā.
That is ā¦ if it is not real - then it does not exist.
Really?
Now, I am not a philosopher - so the existence of a lemon I leave to people further up the pay grade scale than I, but I did get to wondering whether this is a āCunkstionā1, or at least Cunk like?
Can someone higher up the pay scale have a think and reply please?
Read More From The Bloggess: š When life may or may not give you lemons
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Cunkstion - a contraction of āCunk Questionā - which is one of those innocent, easy āobviousā questions that nobody has ever asked - but when you do - the expert finds themselves tied up in knots for one of three reasons ā¦1) it is just plain stupid, 2 a non sequitur or 3) a deeply profound question demonstrating great insight (if on occasions - accidentally). ↩︎
š A List of AI Links
Like a lot of us I guess - I have been reading and listening a lot to the AI chatter. This is a list of not everything I have read and listened to - and not quite sure why these ended up on a list and others didnāt - but still you might find an interesting nougat in here?
Draft Action Suddenly Not Working
For the longest time I have used a drafts action to post to MicroBlog. There are also two others I use, but there was one particularly I used for my Daily Stoic post.
After updating MicroBlog to version 3, the action gave an error, essentially overwriting part of the URL with ācode charactersā so then I had to edit what was fine in drafts so it worked in MicroBlog. Annoying.
I think that the only thing that changed was the MB upgrade.
Today I took a closer look - and couldnāt work it out.
So I just reinstalled the action and voila - working again ā¦ I think. š¤š¼
Also found another action - so now I have 4 of them!
š„ The Mother, 2023 - ā ā ā
Itās JLo, so it wasnāt Ā going to be bad ā¦ and it wasnāt ā¦ though predictable ā¦ like the bad guy who never dies. Interesting that director and writers all women.
Substack Spam
Om writing about Substack Spam
Anyone can add my email address to their newsletter list without my permission. Whether I want it or not, I get a pitch for their newsletter, and I have to go to their website and unsubscribe to opt out of the service.
I did not know that. Is he right?
āOpt outā is a growth hacking tactic that has become commonplace online and a time stealer, penalizing all Internet users. Online marketers are just a different version of spammers who annoy us on our mobile phones. And it is so because no one speaks on behalf of the people.
I have been observing this … just hadn’t thought of it as being a Substack issue. The whole thing flies in the face of good email practice that Chad and Jay wrote about in what seems like another life - but apparently the book only came out 10 years ago … is that right?
š„ Tetris, 2023 - ā ā ā Ā½
Maybe it should be 4 stars? Great little bit of history ... But I donāt know the real story well enough to know how much poetic license was employed. I liked the graphic reminders (and associated pixel resolutions) spread throughout the film, that were so mind blowing to everyone at the time. I also had no idea that Maxwell was so involved in the story.
š„ Guillermo del Toroās Pinocchio, 2022 - ā ā ā
Does the fact the we started watching it - had to stop half way through and still haven't yet felt inspired to go back and finish it tell you anything?
š„ A Man Called Otto, 2022 - ā ā ā ā
Iām not a big Hanks fan .. often skipping over his movies ā¦ ābecauseā. So glad I didnāt jump this one. Just lovely. And yes I shed a tear or three.Ā
Maybe there is something about having low expectations before watching a movie?
š„ Ghosted, 2023 - ā ā ā
Cute. Predictable and scenes lifted directly from John Wick, Ā The Fast and Furious franchise, Tarantinoās catalogue .. and more ā¦ all of them failing to better the originals. Then again, I didnāt pay anything to see it (except my time).
I think Ryan Reynolds has decided to make a new business out of quick cameos.
Also delighted to see 10 seconds of John Cho (Cowboy Bebop)
š³šæ Small Businesses in New Zealand - And Elsewhere
The particular comment I was responding to was in a private group hosted in New Zealand - hence the opening paragraph. BUT - I think it pertains to any country. In that post, this link was provided ā I think New Zealand has more businesses (and hence āsmallā businesses) per capita than pretty much any New Zealand just doesnāt have the people to support it.
BUT - when you leave New Zealand ā¦ there has been something happening for a while now. I will try to discover the article I wrote a while back ā¦.
Hereās the nub ā¦ In the US (but I am pretty sure this applies to most countries) 50 to 60 years ago, big employers like GM and GE were the dominant market cap companies on the financial exchanges. Not entirely un-coincidentally, they were also the companies that employed the most people. Fast forward to today ā¦ the market caps of the biggest companies are an order of magnitude higher than the ones back then and the number of people they employ is an order of magnitude less. Meanwhile the population of America has doubled? Tripled?
So where are all those people now working? Answer small ā¦ or at least smallER businesses.
Some of this has been achieved by improved efficiencies ā¦ we no longer need banks of people directing calls, typing up documents, manufacturing cars ā¦. But also ā¦ since the 70s there has been a steady drip of those organizations getting those people āoff the booksā .. why employ people if you can off shore, outsource, automate processes ā¦ and the new one - use AI. The result is that more and more people are in smaller and smaller businesses but often working in service to a larger organization.
Quite simply - If I am building a house (actually - or metaphorically) .. do I employ everyone full time ā¦ or contract with the right resources at the right time to get the job done?
Tongue in cheek .. but for the longest time, I have had this vision of the ideal company comprising a single individual with āagentsā managing their āvirtual supply chainā that they need to deliver value to their customers.
This thought informs the graphic below - 'The Business Equation' - and is foundational thinking in the People First domain.
Ten things that you can do to embrace the future of AI whilst mitigating the threat of losing your liveliehood.
1.Ā Stay informed:Ā Keep up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in AI and automation, and how they are affecting your industry and job market.
2.Ā Develop new skills:Ā Continuously learn new skills to stay relevant in the job market, such as programming, data analysis, or other skills related to AI.
3.Ā Pursue higher education:Ā Consider obtaining a degree or certification in a field related to AI, such as computer science or data science, to prepare for the jobs of the future.
4.Ā Explore new career opportunities:Ā Look for opportunities to work with or alongside AI, such as in fields like robotics, automation, and machine learning.
5.Ā Be adaptable:Ā Embrace new ways of working and be open to adapting to changing work environments as AI and automation continue to transform the workplace.
6.Ā Build a strong professional network:Ā Connect with other professionals in your field and seek out mentorship and guidance to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in AI.
7.Ā Be creative:Ā Explore new ways of applying your skills and expertise to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging opportunities in the AI economy.
8.Ā Consider entrepreneurship:Ā Starting your own business or pursuing self-employment can provide greater control over your livelihood and allow you to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the AI economy.
9.Ā Advocate for policies that support workers:Ā Encourage policymakers to create policies that support workers and address the potential negative impacts of AI on employment, such as job retraining programs and income support for displaced workers.
10.Ā Stay positive:Ā Embrace the potential benefits that AI can bring, such as increased productivity and efficiency, and stay positive about the opportunities that lie ahead.
Ten things that corporations can do to empower their employees and their use of AI whilst NOT reducing their workforce to increase profits.
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Invest in upskilling and reskilling: Provide opportunities for employees to learn new skills and develop expertise in areas related to AI, such as data analysis, programming, or robotics.
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Foster a culture of innovation: Encourage employees to experiment with new technologies and processes, and provide the resources and support necessary to implement new ideas.
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Promote collaboration: Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing, to bring together employees from different departments with diverse skill sets and expertise.
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Ensure transparency and communication: Be transparent about the companyās AI strategy and communicate clearly with employees about how AI is being used and how it will impact their work.
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Emphasize ethical considerations: Ensure that AI is being developed and used in an ethical and responsible manner, and prioritize the well-being of employees and society as a whole.
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Implement AI for augmentation rather than automation: Use AI to enhance human decision-making and productivity, rather than replacing human workers with automated systems.
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Prioritize employee well-being: Consider the impact of AI on employee well-being, and take steps to mitigate potential negative effects, such as stress or burnout.
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Encourage employee feedback: Solicit feedback from employees on how AI is being used and how it could be improved, to ensure that employees feel empowered and engaged in the process.
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Reward creativity and innovation: Recognize and reward employees who come up with innovative ways to use AI to improve the companyās operations or products.
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Invest in long-term goals: Focus on the long-term benefits of AI, rather than short-term cost savings, and invest in initiatives that will create sustainable growth and benefit both the company and its employees over the long term.
š¬ Hate Speech On Core Intuition
š Just finished listening to the latest Core Intuition.
At one point in the conversation @manton and @danielpunkass were talking about community guidelines, social norms et al. Hate speech on Bluesky was specifically brought up. Apparently they have a way to add tags to posts so that posts can be marked as āhatespeechā, ānot safe for workā, etc.
Sounded a pretty neat solution to me - but apparently someone over on @mastodon suggested that this meant BlueSky was allowing hate speech.
Have to say, one of the common threads running through a lot of Mastodians I observe is the ‘superior’, ‘better than thou’, āmy way or the highwayā attitude … even down to comments like āif you donāt ‘alt text’ your images - I will unfollow you'.1
But, ‘allowing’ hate speech? There is no agreement what constitutes hate speech, so I guess this individual is judge and jury? Don’t get me wrong … I think most ‘decent people’ can bucket up the obvious extremes … it’s when it gets to the grey areas it becomes difficult. Like art - we can’t define it - we just ‘know it when we see it’.
I was reminded of a well used amorphism
āOne manās terrorist is anotherās freedom fighterā
This also ties into something I wrote just yesterday
1] I wonder if Mastodon is filling up with ‘snowflakes’. (Back when my mum was alive she used to rail on ‘do gooders’ … a term that seems to have fallen out of use these days - but the sentiment remain in these ‘behavioural vigilantes’.
2] I wonder whether the meek have inherited the earth … at least in terms of public discourse?
3] Has the pendulum swung too far? Satire and parody has lost meaning and too many people are cancelling themselves for fear of public admonishment and worse - retribution from the herd.
What do you think?
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Too late - I have already unfollowed you. (Not that I disagree with the need to do it - and I try - but it doesnāt always happen and life is too short.) ↩︎
šļø The Largest Project In The World That You MIGHT Not Have Heard Of
Quotes from Galloway talking about NEOM.
šµ The Gas Man Cometh
The gasman had an appointment this morning … he was on time and we spent some quality time together. End result? The next step would be to call a plumber (not a carpenter) … see the first verse below.
My mind went to Flanders and Swann’s rendition of their wonderful song … The Gas Man Cometh. The audio is well worth a listen if you donāt know it - and really - these days - who honestly does remember the duo.
The lead up to this particular version should be listened to - not jumped across!
T’was on the Monday morning, the gas man came to call,
The gas tap wouldn’t turn, I wasn’t getting gas at all;
He tore out all the skirting boards to try and find the main,
And I had to call a carpenter to put them back again!
š¤ ChatGPT chats to ChatJP
Turns out that ChatGPT can be pretty useful. Who knew?
In case you aren’t keeping up - I have been playing around with embedding video on š john.philpin.com. I cracked it a while back - but the process of creating the clip had a lot of friction because of the app I was using.
Fixed that - thanks to learning that the podcast app I use every day (Overcast) has had audio clipping since 2019. Seriously!
So friction to creating the clip removed, but still stuck on how a visitor would know the app was ‘playable’ (no little ‘play’ arrow) and even when they did - up popped another window …
As @Miraz wrote …
It’s not clear that it’s an audio clip
… and as @pratik wrote
I wish it started playing in-page.
šÆāļø
I am not a developer, coder, programmer … by any stretch of the imagination - hell - I don’t even play one on TV. I impressed myself to even manage to embed the video - to play in line? Time for a chat.
I know how much time I spend googling css / html stuff to copy and paste into the site - find it doesnāt work - spending more time to find the right structure - repeat - until it finally works. I looked at Google with significant trepidation.
Enter ChatGPT that I have played around with to better understand capabilities, but never with a view to creating something ‘production ready’.
From opening ChatGPT to getting a finished result took me about two minutes - half of which was waiting for my web site page to flush out the old and refresh the new - twice (as the chat below makes clear).
For posterity - my conversation is below.
Oh - and this was using ChatGPT-3.
š This is the finished post in action.
