My parents knew absolutely nothing about raising children. In fact, they sucked at it. I had a toothbrush and toothpaste, but the emphasis was more on not dropping the toothpaste tube top down the bathroom sink drain. I lost my front teeth to decay by 6th grade. The Grammer school had to call my parents to suggest I have my eyes examined. I’ll NEVER forget the first time I put glasses on. The world EXPLODED in my face; things sparkled! It was unbelievable. I remember as an adult telling my parents: “If you guys ever win the Lottery, I’ll be suing your ass for child abuse.”
I cannot remember if I ever told my parents I loved them. I’d like to think I did, but I cannot for the life of me specifically remember saying “it”. I say it now to my lovely wife and son and my brother. It’s not like I CAN’T say it, its maybe they never said it to me. We were not an “I Love You” type family. But I knew I was loved when I saw my mother’s lovely smile whenever I did something good or got dressed nice. My father – not so much. But I believed. It’s not like I had any comparisons.
It’s good to see Megyn Kelly back interviewing even if it’s not mainstream. I can understand, she’s a handful and most Suit-run Organizations want nothing to do with a real Woman who has opinions and acts like a Man. But she knows that the siren call of Donald J Trump sitting across is both titillating and frightening, AND her destiny! I’ll be watching.
I love Donald Trump because he pisses off all the people I can’t stand. (Kudos to
@Sassychickie). That and the fact that I believe he did a great job as President. Let me re-phrase that: I believe I was better off under Donald Trump’s leadership. Clear enough?
Nikki Haley is smart and has experience beyond her years. I have this secret notion that a Trump/Haley ticket for 2024 will pretty much guarantee a 12 year run for the GOP (Grand Old Party). I don’t mention it for fear of jinxing it.
Ratso Rizzo (Midnight Cowboy) is how I would describe the rest of the potential candidate pool for President. Most are career politicians who have never worked a day in their lives and only know public speaking. Am I broad-stroking ALL the remaining candidates? Yep, but I used no cuss words! Which wasn’t easy! It is a shame that a country of 300 plus million can only come up with a few old white men, a fake Indian and a giggling idiot to potentially run the country. Tch Tch Tch.
Born on September 19, 1929, passed away on April 8, 2003. During Kathie Browne’s time in the entertainment industry, it was rumored that TV shows were only produced by the three major networks to give Kathie something to guest star in each week.
Kathie was a beautiful and innocent character who audiences never tired of seeing. She had an almost anime-like quality to her, and her charm and charisma kept viewers coming back for more. In fact, she was such a popular guest star that she appeared on Perry Mason four times and the Love Boat twice!
Of course, the Star Trek guys had her striped down to almost nothing for her TOS appearance. Bill Shatner had high praise for her. He said that she was one of the best kissers he had ever worked with. A comment I’m sure Kathie treasured her entire life. Kathie was married to Darren McGavin and yes, she guest stared in his 1974 series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. After Annette Funicello, Kathie was my second TV Star crush.
The Cubs, Svengoolie, Superdawg and Giordano’s on N Rush, that is Chicago to me. And of course, the Bean, Andy’s Jazz Club, the Navy Pier and bone chilling Lake winds. I’m glad I don’t have a reason to visit Chicago; because I’d hate to have to admit the danger of being killed or hurt outweigh the happiness of visiting my favorite places. That’s a shame. Fuck you, Lori Lightfoot.
Let’s face the facts: the world has not been the same since Tropic Thunder. The Gods cannot easily forget let alone forgive that level of sarcastic satire.
How did Kelly Anne Conway go from a “AAAAAHHHH!!”, to an attractive woman with some mileage showing (and of course there’s those 8 extra teeth!)
In the episode “The Dorcons” of the 1970s television series Space: 1999, we have the following dialogue:
CONSUL VARDA: “Commander, the Psychon will tell you how futile it is to resist us.”
PSYCHON: “Resistance is futile.” (With a grinning nod to Jeff Coopwood).
During the period 2012-2014 there were 1,098 deaths in New York City each year due to unintentional motor vehicle traffic-related injuries, That’s a fatality rate of 28 in 500,000. Just crossing the street! On October 8, 2017 the National Center for Health Statistics showed the fatality rate among bungee jumpers to be 1 in 500,000. Still think bungee jumping is dangerous?
An ominous silence has arisen from Cory Booker, the US Senate’s ruggedly handsome black Tony Curtis best known for immortalizing the fake off the cuff speech with his legendary Spartacus remarks on the Senate Floor during the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. Cory is rumored to be in serious talks with JAY-Z to allow a Booker / Beyonce marriage to be announced before the Democratic 2024 convention.
is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. I have visited the Canyon many times on many different modes of transportation. The Helicopter from Las Vegas is the best by far. In 1975, my first lovely wife S and I met B, a college roommate and his lovely wife C at Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim for a two-day hike down to the bottom of the Canyon. There are 2 types of people who hike the Grand Canyon: experienced hikers and fools. We 4 were in the latter category. We were also young. There were sighs all over the park warning of the dangers of hiking in the Canyon. There were large lettered notices stating if the Park Service had to dispatch a rescue ‘copter the cost would be $50 per minute!
We took the Bright Angel Trail. It took 6 hours of walking to reach the bottom. Along the way we met a mule team or 2 and had to wait while they passed us. Sweaty tourists hanging on for dear life. It seems all the mules like to pee at chosen spots because occasionally we’d come across a wet area that smelled of uric acid so bad that I started to LIKE the odor ( I think I was heat stroke). It was 105 degrees F at the bottom. We could have stayed in a cabin at the Phantom Ranch if we had made reservations 18 months ahead of time. Instead we all slept on the ground on sheets we’d borrowed from our hotel rooms back in the real world “up top”. The ranch is located at 36°06′18″N 112°05′40″W.
Next morning we filled our water jugs and started up. About 5 hours later when we were maybe half way up I started to mentally calculate how much cash I had and how many minutes I thought it would take for a helicopter to come to rescue me. Somehow we made it. A shower and clean clothes and the whole ordeal started to become “great vacation story” and not “a terrible nightmare”. To this day though – I still have a fond olfactory memory of uric acid.
Death can bring either of two things, I, at this writing sincerely believe. The first is or will be a state of nothing-ness; the brain will cease to function and with it all reason, understanding, perception, in short – everything will cease to be. There will be no pain, in fact, one might say the only pain involved in death is the dying or that state of “before death” which we must go through. If this first belief is true then death can be considered as an end to all for the person involved.
The next or second of my beliefs is in direct opposition to the first. It is that after death, while all bodily functions cease to be, the intellect will continue; the ego of the departed person will not die but will merely be transported by death to a “second existence”. Something analogous to the fifth dimension. Here, the intellect will continue to exist only without material; indeed, maybe it will even develop a protective shell around it and slowly assume a new body. This last suggestion I do not entirely agree with. My idea is of a free roving pure intelligence – not hindered by a body with specific needs.
But what will be the advantages of this “second existence”? Perhaps my body-bound reasoning cannot imagine at this time just what will be attained. Whatever will come of it is not of prime importance; but history shows that the mere idea of “second existence” has prevailed down through the ages promising an after life of some sort; this shows that man needs something to look forward to. Some reward to receive after death. The subject of complete nothing-ness is shunned by all men because they can’t imagine themselves just ceasing to be.. This last fact might have laid the foundations for the first religions founded by men.
Indeed, here we have arrived at the very basic need for any religion. At this moment, however, I wish to avoid going into the delicate issues of religion as involves God or gods until I believe myself able to answer these questions without having conscience pangs after.
A Book in a Few Words (A kongoboken service to save you the time…)
The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements is a non-fiction book authored by the American social philosopher Eric Hoffer. Published in 1951, it tries to explain why mass movements arise to challenge the status quo.
In a Few Words: The dis-enfranchised and the “New Poor” are the most likely source of converts for mass movements. A variety of what Hoffer terms “misfits” are also found in mass movements. Examples include “chronically bored”, the physically disabled or perpetually ill, the talentless, and criminals or “sinners”. In all cases, Hoffer argues, these people feel as if their individual lives are meaningless and worthless.
The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World is a book by Pedro Domingos released in 2015. Domingos wrote the book to generate interest from people outside the field of AI.
In a Few Words: Nothing to see here. Move along, please.
In a Few Words: There is a God and God created everything. When God was finished creating everything, God made Man and then God made Woman. God only made two genders. God mostly loves all God’s creations. God knows the end story but isn’t telling. Be nice (just in case).
The first PC based video game I was obsessed with was called Starflight; it was described as a space exploration, combat and trading role-playing game created by Binary Systems and Published by Electronic Arts in 1986. That was followed by Wing Commander 1&2 and a short dalliance in Fantasy with King’s Quest. My son’s early years were taken with Doom, Wolfenstein, Duke Nukem the early Star Wars, of course. Then J went down the KOTOR and Diablo and then WOW path and I went the Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout ,Mass Effect, Far Cry path. I still have fond memories of herbing in Oblivion and that soothing music. Ahhhhh!
Ironically, it’s possible the last video game I will be obsessed with will be called Starfield and released by The Oblivion people and is indeed dubbed “Oblivion in Space”. Suits me to a Tee. BTW the new Starfield game has been described as a space exploration, combat and trading role-playing game. Happens to be one of my few skills (and I love the irony).
Speaking of BTW: my Nana had a sock monkey for as long as I can remember. I’m pretty sure it was her only toy. I know this because she’d tell me I could play with her monkey but had to give it back because when I wasn’t there, she would play with it. I called her monkey Rags. Nana called her monkey, My Monkey. When my son was collecting a mountain of stuffed animals, I’d think of buying him a sock monkey. I always deferred; some memories should be left in their time.
if it feels like you are in Medieval Europe, you are. The exterior of the museum is gorgeous. The buildings are centered around four cloisters, which were looted in Europe and brought to America block by block right before World War II. The museum is administered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is in Fort Tyron Park in Washington Heights, which is in uptown Manhattan. It’s peaceful just to walk around outside admiring the architecture and Hudson River views. Inside you’ll find treasures from the medieval ages including tapestries, manuscripts, paintings, and more. Again, most looted but presented in such a stately manner that their provenance is often and easily overlooked.
I first visited The Cloisters in 1982ish. Spenser Gifts was in most malls back then and in the back, next to the 3D art was the Make your Own Tee-Shirt machine. Next day I wandered the medieval treasures at the Cloisters wearing: “Everything Here” (front) “Is Stolen” (back). I thought it was subtle enough. Now, many years later, I intend to go back. This time I will visit with respect for a job well-done. They got away with it. “They” in this case are two well-known robber barons: John D. Rockefeller Jr and JPMorgan. The third was a not so successful American sculptor and art dealer George Grey Barnard who between the years 1890 and 1925 wandered Europe and accumulated a sizeable collection of European art and antiquities.
Described as eccentric and forgetful, Barnard could revile an audience with tales of uncovering a sculpture being used as a bridge across a stream in southern France; or losing chest loads of purchase receipts crossing steep mountain passes. Rockefeller paid Barnard for his stuff and donated everything to the Museum he and JPMorgan were having built on the Hudson. Barnard’s years of accumulations became the basis for the Cloisters and remain so today. No one person or Country has raised their hand in protest. No one has claimed that THEIR church was not Barnard’s to disassemble and ship to America. So, let’s raise a glass to George Grey Barnard, America’s first Indiana Jones and always meant to be the fall guy should any embarrassing lawsuits have been served. Good job, fellas, and while none of it is ours – “we” did, and “we” are keeping it all nice and neat and clean. The Cloisters is worth a visit AND a Donation.
To ChatGPT: Write a blog post titled “A Problem that AI can Solve:” and including the following facts:
The Situation / Problem
100,000 cuneiform tablets scattered throughout many museums and private collections. Only a handful of people are skilled in the cuneiform language. Whole stories / poems are in separate locations without reference to the whole.
The Opportunity / Solution:
Use AI to learn the language. Digitize all tablets into one central database for virtual re-combination and translation.
What follows is ChatGPT’s answer without editing:
A Problem that AI can Solve: Reconstructing the Lost Stories of Cuneiform Tablets
In the vast expanse of museums and private collections around the world, an extraordinary treasure trove lies hidden in plain sight – cuneiform tablets. These ancient artifacts, dating back thousands of years, contain invaluable knowledge from civilizations long gone. However, a significant obstacle stands in the way of fully unlocking their secrets: the scarcity of individuals skilled in the complex cuneiform language. As a result, countless stories and poems remain scattered, isolated from their complete narrative context.
Fortunately, there is a remarkable opportunity on the horizon – the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI). With its ability to learn languages and process vast amounts of information, AI presents a solution that could revolutionize our understanding of cuneiform tablets. By harnessing the power of AI, we can digitize these tablets, create a comprehensive database, and embark on a journey of virtual recombination and translation.
Imagine a world where all 100,000 cuneiform tablets are united within a central database. AI algorithms, specifically designed to comprehend the intricate nuances of the cuneiform language, can be trained to decipher and understand these ancient texts. Through machine learning techniques, AI systems can study existing translations, linguistic patterns, and contextual clues to gradually unravel the intricacies of cuneiform writing. Over time, this AI-driven process would allow us to reconstruct whole stories and poems, merging fragments from various tablets into cohesive narratives.
The potential benefits of such an undertaking are vast. First and foremost, it would provide a comprehensive understanding of the cultural and historical significance of cuneiform tablets. Many tablets, currently residing in different corners of the world, are incomplete, making it challenging to discern their true meaning. By digitizing and centralizing these tablets, AI could piece together the fragments, reassembling the lost stories and poems in a manner that illuminates their original intent.
Moreover, this AI-powered initiative would vastly expand access to cuneiform knowledge. Currently, only a select few individuals possess the expertise required to decipher cuneiform. By utilizing AI, the barriers to entry in studying and understanding this ancient script would be significantly lowered. Scholars, historians, and language enthusiasts from around the globe would have the opportunity to explore and contribute to the cuneiform corpus, fostering a collaborative effort to decode humanity’s past.
The virtual re-combination and translation of cuneiform tablets would not only benefit academics but also resonate with a broader audience. The restored narratives and poems could be shared through digital platforms, reaching people worldwide and allowing them to connect with the ancient civilizations that gave birth to these texts. The cultural heritage of humanity would be revived and made accessible in a way that engages and educates the masses.
Naturally, challenges lie ahead on this ambitious path. AI algorithms need to be trained on extensive datasets of cuneiform texts, and the process of digitization and restoration can be time-consuming and meticulous. Additionally, contextual and cultural nuances embedded in cuneiform pose unique challenges for AI systems to overcome. However, these obstacles are not insurmountable. With dedicated efforts, collaborations between linguists, archaeologists, and AI researchers, and advancements in AI technology, we have the potential to bring ancient narratives back to life.
In conclusion, the integration of AI into the study of cuneiform tablets offers an unparalleled opportunity to reclaim the lost stories and poems of ancient civilizations. By digitizing these tablets, creating a central database, and employing AI algorithms for virtual recombination and translation, we can bridge the gaps in our understanding of cuneiform. This collaborative endeavor holds the promise of unraveling the mysteries of the past, democratizing access to ancient knowledge, and fostering a renewed appreciation for the rich tapestry of human history.
Note from kongoboken: While a bit too verbose and containing absolutely NO FACTS pointing to future actions, this is damn good and a shame to all of us who appreciate a good turn of the word. How will I ever know the difference, me wonders. Anyway, on a positive note there are REAL digitization projects as well as language algorithms projects on going. Perhaps not are coordinated as I’d like but something.
(Posted July 9.5, 2023)
Ok Ok Hold the Comments. I’m not AGAINST ChatGPT. That would be like being against VCR Players. Chat GPT and all computer assisted writing tools are here. The best I can offer to is say that to the best of my knowledge I will adhere to a strick NO AI GENERATED CONTENT NEED APPLY HERE.
kongoboken 