A.I. and the Fetishization Of Ideas — Chuck Wendig: Terribleminds

In writing and in dispensing my (very dubious, probably shady) writing advice, I am often keen to note that ideas are bullshit. Most writers treat them like precious gems when really, ideas are like costume jewelry: it’s all about how you wear them. 1,629 more words

A.I. and the Fetishization Of Ideas — Chuck Wendig: Terribleminds

Been Awhile

2022 has almost fled. I say “goodbye and good riddance” to a year that has left me filled with despair and dread.

Since I last posted, I have noticed my profile says “almost 4 decades” with my wonderful spouse, but as of yesterday, make that a full 50 years of wedded bliss. Find your bliss, the serpent says with a hiss. I have a painting for that somewhere.

At this depressing point in my life, I am still thankful for all the blessings and small victories I’ve experienced. I’ve discovered many new authors, artists and musicians in the 21st Century, but I guess I must claim the 20th as my century, since I spent 50 years living that dream. If I make it to 100 years old, then I can say I’m a 50-50 bar. Yum! Used to love the vanilla and orange ice cream on a stick. Do they even make those anymore?

The snow seems to be letting up outside, finally. We’ve gotten more so far this fall than we usually get in an entire winter. Hope our roof doesn’t collapse. Hope our economy doesn’t collapse.

In the year 2022 we were forced to buy a “smartphone”, which I call the Beast. I hate that device, and it feels the same about me. Technology is leaving me in the dust of my dotage. Do I dote? Do I vote? (Not anymore)

Adequate Amount of Black-eyed Peas Consumed Today

Last January first, I realized there were no cans of black-eyed peas in our larder. Not really being superstitious, I broke open a package of dried beans and stole a few from the 15 varieties of legumes within. Obviously, five or six peas were not enough to deliver a great 2020 to our household.

Our New Year’s meal this first day of 2021 included plenty of peas with shiners, hopefully promising a much luckier year to come. However, we are already sick of the salty ham we also consumed, so that piece of meat is bound for the freezer. It’s back to loaves and fish tomorrow. May anyone reading this skinny, under nourished blog enjoy a peaceful and healthy year ahead.

REVENGE OF THE TURKEYS

No denying that 2020 has been an extremely difficult year for everyone, but our roving flocks of wild turkeys are indifferent to the current disgraceful displays of human behavior. As my husband informs me of the latest looting and mayhem described on the internet, I watch the remains of our early snowfall melt. The golden leaves on the aspens are still clinging to autumn while I contemplate our diseased society.

Two days ago, when the snow was deep, a horrendous crash rocked our house. “What now?” I thought. Peering out the window, we saw an adult turkey and its fellows retreating tipsily across the yard. The large window revealed the sloppy wet imprint of turkey; the plate glass remained intact, thankfully.

Meanwhile, rioting and killings continue in major cities of the USA. Our people seem much more deadly and destructive than any plague or politician.

Dancing In The Street?

Summer is here, but what is going on in our streets? Not dancing, me thinks, but I am continuing in my splendid isolation, so the dork-dancing in my home persists.

How does one find out what happened to a followed blog here on WordPress? Today, an art blog I’ve been enjoying for a few months has disappeared, and the last thing Sean Conroy posted was about Rops, one of the most amusing and decadent artists. I really wonder if someone objected to Conroy’s recent articles vehemently enough to get his blog banned. Oh the ephemeral web we weave.

I.D.G.A.F. but when I do, I give it 2U

That is a line (and contains the title) of a song by my new musical obsession, Lord of the Lost, also known as LOTL.  This morning I viewed (could not participate in) a Live video on Facebook with half of the two headed creature, Chris Harms, of the new band, Die Kreatur.  Chris is the leader and chief contributor to LOTL, which is a gothic/metal group from Germany.  LOTL sings in English, and it was inspiring to see him switching effortlessly between Deutsch and English while answering questions from all over our planet.

Die Kreatur’s lyrics are in German, so the meaning of its songs for me will rely on kind translations and the tunes’ atmosphere or mood.  I’ve already ordered a Deluxe Box set, paid for it, and found out that my choice is already sold out, so I have no idea what I’ll be getting in May, when the album is released.  Whatever arrives, I look forward to some delicious and mysterious Kraut Rock.  Dero Goi of Oomph makes magic with Chris Harms, and I can’t wait to hear the final product, so I guess I DO G.A,F,

Here is a link to their first video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC8ZlfEvySs

 

 

An Amazing Decade In A Different World With Snow

I have not posted anything for a very long time, but I continue to think and ponder.  We are experiencing our eleventh winter in the far north, and it continues to amaze us, native southern Californians that we are.

One of the most thrilling sights of my life was momentary and fleeting and happened just a few days ago.  On our drive home from a nice hike in our state forest, the sun broke through a heavy cloud cover to strike the mountains to the west and lighted up the entire range for a few seconds.  We both saw the splendid sparkle of rainbow lights that blinked and flickered like celestial Christmas decorations on the range of Washington’s peaks to our west.  Our jaws dropped in wonder, even though the sight vanished as we turned the corner towards the south.  Did we really see what we just saw?  The fabulous array of fairy lights seemed supernatural, something sent to us from another dimension.  I do believe we had a glimpse in to another world.

Such moments defy description.  The only experience of my life that surpasses this wonder was my first view of the Grand Canyon when I was in high school.  Nothing else has come close to its awesomeness.

Happy new decade to anyone bored enough to read my solitary thoughts, probably the only expression of joy which I’ve cluttered this blog in 2019.  May 2020 be a better and kinder year for Earth and her inhabitants.

 

 

 

O

Only the Dead Will Know the End of War

My husband wrote these words in the past:

“The state determines everything. It’s that simple. The state is god, it makes up its own laws and rules. It has its own black robed priests, of both low and high order called judges, cardinals called congress and pope called president. It has blind followers who have faith that it has their best interests at heart, and requires martyrs if needed to continue the state’s survival and further its agenda. It has as its symbol colored cloth that the followers bow to and are willing to kill for. It takes up a collection called taxes which must be paid or you are sent to hell called prison. The USA has two states, one is in Washington for the masses to see. The other is the real ruling elite made up of capitalists, military, intelligence and political elites who seek to advance their imperialist agendas of USA hegemony over the world’s resources; i.e., the greedy pigs behind the scenes.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Republics are a symbiosis of wealth/power, business/government, with each exchanging what the other needs to further their agendas of more wealth and power. The tax paying masses are their cash cows for this purpose. Government gives business tax funds, and profits made through those funds are then given to reps. as campaign funds and the cycle continues at the expense of the taxpayer. As the masses wise up, more and more freedom and liberty will be taken away lest that cycle be broken at the expense of both business and government. That’s what we see today as this system further evolves into a constant state of war. Soon there will be more unrest and the state will start a big war and draft the young men who would be the first ones to oppose the state. That was done before to end the depression by starting WWII. Kill off the young men and give war jobs to others to keep them passive and insure the state and its cronies in business continue to profit from the cycle/system. Notice nobody in the gov. wants to address the real issues of destroying people, their homes and countries around the world for the NWO imperial agenda? The people are being distracted through sleight of hand. That’s how govs. work to keep the people confused through mud slinging back and forth. The USA sucks, not because of it’s people, but the gov. it allows to continue. And, that’s the people’s fault for their apathy. Obama and Trump both made lots of campaign promises which included anti-war statements about ending the wars during campaigns. Obama became president with peace prize and escalated Afghanistan war, bombed Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, and started wars in Libya and Syria. Trump has continued these wars and is about to possibly start new ones in Venezuela and Iran. So, what makes anyone think the next president will do anything different? We are being lied to by some very evil people in Washington, and both parties are guilty of continuing the policy. The ones ruling over us and causing death, destruction and atrocities abroad are in control, not any president of the USA. Congress is ruled by who ever donates to campaigns. AIPAC and other Israeli lobbies, the MIC, Big Rx, AMA, etc. determine policy and laws. Congress does what’s good for themselves and their donors, not the rest of us. Nothing will change until politicians are held accountable for fraud after they make campaign promises they don’t keep. But, that won’t happen because the government makes up the laws, not the people”.

 

“Hello! Is it me you’re looking for?”

How long has it been since I posted my thoughts here?  Way too long, but believe me, they still rattle around inside my skull  waiting to escape.

Leave me alone

seems to be the focus of my reclusive existence.  The main reason Jim and I fled our native southern California was to escape the madding crowd as well as the ever increasing cost of living there.  After a home invasion and the death of the final parent, we trekked north about as far as we could go without entering Canada.

During the nine years we have lived in the Idaho panhandle, we have enjoyed the changing seasons, something denied to us for our entire time on Earth.  Snowfall is still a thrill to us, as are the rare thunderstorms we have dubbed “clown bursts”.

The pace of commercial and residential development in our county during our pleasant stay has been astonishing.  New apartments, condominiums and houses are springing up like dandelions.  We still don’t have a Trader Joe’s, but a new shopping center with a supermarket is now on our route to the dump and to the state park where we hike at least twice a week, weather permitting.

Most of the new arrivals to the area are from California.  It appears that the 21st century concept of “California Dreaming” is getting out.

 

 

 

 

Expanding Dark Horizon

A couple of years back I wrote this essay for Dark Discoveries as a feature of my Black Barony column. Images via Amazon. The Golden Age of Dread by Laird Barron The Sun’s rim dips; the stars rush out; At one stride comes the dark –Samuel Taylor Coleridge Past Is Prologue […]

via The Black Barony 1. —