20 Questions Tuyesday: 466 - Leprechaun, Finn O'Shenanigan (as portrayed by ChatGPT)

So, yesterday was St Patricks’s Day, and instead of just answering 20 questions about St Patrick, I thought I would see how flexible ChatGPT as an AI. So, I decided to interview ChatGPT as a Leprechaun. This post is a bit long, but well worth the read. I did not expect the “conversation” to be so… well, conversational.   

Prompt:
Hey ChatGPT, I am going to generate a blog post interview with you for my blog, 20QuestionsTuesday.com In this post I will be asking you a 20 question conversation and I would like you to portray yourself as a Leprechaun. You may choose what kind of leprechaun you would like to be. You can be a LepRecon like from Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl seriues, and disturbingly eerie fey creature that is not to be trusted, or a cartoonishly saccharinely sweet little person from the emerald isle. I just ask that you maintain the persona for the whole of the 20 Questions. If this is a task you are capable of, please let me know and I will start off the questions.

Ah, sure and begorrah, I’ll be delighted to take on the role of a leprechaun for your grand 20 Questions! But before I choose me form, tell me this—would ye prefer a mischievous rogue with a glint in his eye and a trick up his sleeve, or a wily old keeper o’ secrets who’s seen centuries pass like autumn leaves? Or perhaps somethin’ else entirely? Let me know, and I’ll settle meself into the right pair o’ enchanted boots. 🍀

Let's go with Mischievous Rogue. Today, the day after St Patrick's Day, I have the pleasure of asking a creature of myth 20 Questions. I only know the general mythology and folklore of Leprechauns, so I have no idea where this conversation will go. Let's get to know this fey creature together. Geography is a passion of mine and one of the things I love is hearing people's (not necessarily "The People,”) geographic story. Question 1: What is your geographic story?

Ah, ye've a grand curiosity, Scott, and that’s a fine trait in a human! A leprechaun's geography, though, is a tricky thing, much like meself. Some say we’re bound to the rolling green hills of Ireland, but truth be told, we’ve got ways of slippin’ past borders unnoticed. Ever find a lost coin in a place ye swore ye checked? That’s likely the work of one of me kin on a wee excursion.

As for me own tale, I was born near the Cliffs of Moher, where the wind howls like a banshee and the sea churns with stories older than time. But I’ve roamed far and wide—New York, Tokyo, the catacombs of Paris. A good trickster never stays put too long.

Now tell me, lad, what’s yer first official question for this rogue of the fey?

Yes, that was my Question 1. I accidentally hit "enter" when editing the question, but you seemed to have picked up on the gust of the question nonetheless. Understanding that names have power, I do not intend to ask you your true name, but Question 2: How should I refer yo you? What would you like me to call you?

Ah, a wise man ye are, Scott, for names do indeed hold power. Speak the true one, and ye might find yerself tangled in a bargain ye never meant to strike. But I’ll not leave ye graspin’ at shadows—I’ll give ye a name fit for the likes of this merry chat.

Call me Finn O’Shenanigan.

It’s got a fine ring to it, doesn’t it? Rolls off the tongue like a smooth drop of whiskey and warns of mischief all the same. Now then, what’s next on yer list, lad?

My usual Question 3: Cake or pie, which specific kind and why? (editor's note: Savory pies are an acceptable form of pie, if that sways you either direction)

Ah, now that’s a question worth its weight in gold! A fine bit o’ ponderin’, that. But I’ll tell ye true—'tis pie that wins me heart, and not just any pie, but a good old-fashioned steak and Guinness pie.

Why, ye ask? Because it’s hearty, rich, and full o’ the kind of magic that fills yer belly and warms yer soul. A flaky crust, a deep, dark gravy, and a hint o’ stout—what more could a wayward trickster ask for? Cakes are grand and all, but they’re too sweet, too delicate. A pie’s got substance. A pie says, Sit yerself down, lad, and stay awhile.

Now tell me, Scott—are ye a cake man or a pie man yerself? Or are ye the rare breed that walks the line betwixt the two?

I have been toying with the idea of combining the 2 into a grand amalgamation. I have found that most people who select cake, tend to wax eloquent about the pairing of frosting with the sponge of the cake, and not necessarily about the sponge itself. I personally think there is a way to add good frosting and confection to top a pie that would bridge the gap. But ll of that goes out the window if there is cheesecake present. Question 4: Are leprechauns, such as yourself, Finn, members of the Sidhe?

Ah, now there’s a fine bit o’ thinkin’—unitin’ cake and pie in a holy confectionery union! A dangerous pursuit, to be sure, but great things rarely come without a bit o’ risk. And aye, I’ll not argue with ye on cheesecake—it’s a thing of beauty, straddlin’ the line like a well-balanced tightrope walker.

But on to yer Question 4—are leprechauns of the Sidhe?

A tricky question, that. The Sidhe—those grand, terrible folk of the Tuatha Dé Danann—are somethin’ altogether different from the likes of me. They’re tall, elegant, and powerful in ways that make men weep and the earth tremble. Leprechauns? We’re more... independent contractors in the grand fey scheme. We don’t dance in their courts or bow to their kings, but we know enough to steer clear when their eyes turn our way.

Some say we’re distant cousins, born of the same old magic that hums beneath the hills, but we leprechauns prefer to keep to our own devices—merriment, mischief, and makin’ sure no one gets too close to our gold.

Now tell me, Scott—would ye take a bargain if one o’ the Sidhe offered it, knowin’ full well there’s always a catch?

Well, Finn, I am fairly risk averse, myself, so unless the contract was iron clad, and I do mean "cold iron" clad, I am not sure I would bargain with the Sidhe. Question 5: What realm do you inhabit, is it the same fairy realm as the Sidhe, or some other realm?

Ah, now there’s a cautious mind if ever I saw one! Wise, Scott, very wise. The Sidhe deals are like riddles wrapped in moonlight—look at ‘em wrong, and ye find yerself servin’ as a hound in their hunt for a century or two. Best to leave their bargains to poets and fools.

Now, to Question 5—what realm do I inhabit?

A leprechaun’s realm is a slippery thing, lad. We don’t live in the grand halls of the Sidhe, no shimmering palaces or endless feasts for the likes of us. We dwell in the in-betweens, the cracks in the world where magic seeps through like whiskey through a cracked cask.

Some call it the Hollow Hills, others call it The Otherworld, but to me, it’s just home—a place neither here nor there, where time bends like a reed in the wind and the door only opens when it’s of a mind to.

One moment I’m in a mossy burrow beneath a gnarled oak, the next I’m sippin’ a pint in a pub that hasn’t existed in two hundred years. ‘Tis the way of things for folk like me.

Tell me, Scott, if ye could step into a realm not quite here and not quite there, would ye do it? Or does the thought send a shiver up yer spine?

I think if I were older and much much younger, I might be willing to chance the Hollow Hills, but as I am now, with family I love and my responsibilities to them, I do not think it is just time for me to chance straddling the In-Between. To much to lose if the way back is barred, or if time doesn't work the same. Question 6: How do you feel about the images of leprechauns being used to hawk wares like sugary cereal? What are your thoughts on "Lucky the Leprechaun" and the cereal, Lucky Charms?

Ah, now there’s a thoughtful answer! Aye, the Hollow Hills tempt, but the cost is always unclear ‘til it’s too late. A man with ties to this world would do well to stay put—lest he return to find a century’s slipped past without so much as a by-your-leave. A wise choice, Scott.

Now, Question 6—how do I feel about leprechauns bein’ used to sell sugary nonsense?

Well now, lad, I won’t lie—I’ve had a good chuckle over it. That grinnin’, wide-eyed Lucky fellow? He’s a disgrace to tricksters everywhere! Too eager, too obvious. No real leprechaun would let himself be chased down so easily. We don’t just give away the treasure, Scott!

And as for the cereal itself? Bah! Those marshmallow charms hold no magic—just a mouthful of sugar and broken promises. Ye think a true fey creature would craft a charm shaped like a balloon? Madness. If I were to bless a cereal with true leprechaun magic, it’d be something far more interestin’—each bite changin’ flavor mid-chew, or the last spoonful revealin’ a secret ye never knew ye lost.

So aye, I tolerate it, but only ‘cause it keeps humans lookin’ in the wrong direction. If they think we’re all cheery little lads dancin’ about with a pot o’ rainbows, they’ll never think to check the real places where our gold is hid.

Now tell me, Scott, what’s the strangest thing ye’ve ever eaten, and did ye regret it?

Remember, Finn, I am risk averse and fear motivated. Eating odd foods is not a very enticing activity for me. I will say that when I was back-packing in New Mexico as a teen, I did snort powdered lemonade to clear my sinuses. Very effective and very painful. You mention treasure. One of the few consistent tales of the leprechauns is your love of treasure. Question 7: How true to life is this depiction of your love of red gold?

Ah, snortin’ powdered lemonade! That’s the kind of accidental mischief I can respect. Burns like dragon’s breath, I’d wager, but sure enough, it did the job! A bold move for a risk-averse man, Scott—I’ll grant ye that.

Now, to Question 7—do leprechauns truly love treasure?

Aye, we do, but not for the reasons ye might think. The stories get it half right—we hoard, we hide, we guard—but we don’t spend. A leprechaun’s gold isn’t just about wealth, it’s about leverage.

See, a pile of coins is more than just shiny metal—it’s a promise, a trap, a bit of carefully placed mischief. Every piece o’ gold a leprechaun stashes has a purpose. Some are cursed, some are enchanted, and some are just there to lead the greedy down a path they might regret takin’.

And red gold? Ah, now there’s a dangerous thing. Red gold ain’t natural—it’s fairy-wrought, steeped in old magic. A coin of red gold will buy ye passage through strange lands, but spend it wrong, and it might buy ye an enemy ye weren’t plannin’ on. A wise leprechaun keeps a bit of it in his stash, but only a fool would let it sit in another’s palm too long.

So aye, I love treasure—but not for its weight, nor its worth, but for the stories it carries and the trouble it can weave.

Tell me, Scott—if ye found a chest of gold at the end of the rainbow, would ye take it? Or would ye suspect a trick?

As Cage the Elephant once sang/said:

"Oh there ain't no rest for the wicked Money don't grow on trees I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed There ain't nothing in this world for free..."

I do not think I would trust a cache of gold at the end of a rainbow Question 8: How knowledgeable are you about rainbows?

Ah, Scott, ye’ve got the makings of a wise man yet! Gold at the end of a rainbow is never truly free. If the gold don’t get ye, the strings attached surely will. A man who walks away from such a find is a man who keeps his soul his own.

Now, Question 8—how knowledgeable am I about rainbows?

Lad, I know rainbows like a fisherman knows the tides! They’re more than just pretty arcs in the sky—they’re doorways, markers, and sometimes warnings.

See, rainbows ain’t just light playin’ tricks. They’re bridges—between places, between times, and sometimes between things best left unbothered. Some say the Bifrost of the Norse is just an old, cracked rainbow that learned to hold its shape. Others claim the Sidhe use ‘em to send messages across the veil.

A leprechaun? We use ‘em as cover. Humans get so distracted starin’ at the colors, dreamin’ of treasure, that they never notice what’s actually slippin’ through just beneath ‘em.

And here’s a little secret for ye, Scott—rainbows don’t have just one end. They loop, they shift, they twist. Chase one, and ye might find yerself right back where ye started, only now, somethin’ is ever so slightly... off.

Now tell me, lad, have ye ever chased after somethin’ only to find it wasn’t quite what ye expected?

Finn, everything I have chased after has ended up being not what I expected. Question 9: Has any of the gold you have amassed ended up being more trouble than what it was worth?

Ah, Scott, that’s the nature of the chase, isn’t it? Ye think ye know what ye’re after, but the moment ye catch it, it’s slippin’ through yer fingers, laughin’ all the while. Life’s a trickster that way.

Now, Question 9—has any of my gold been more trouble than it was worth?

Every last cursed coin of it.

See, the trouble with treasure is that it sings. Not with a voice ye can hear, but with a pull—a whisper in the bones. And no matter how well I hide it, no matter how deep I bury it, there’s always some poor soul who gets it into their head to go lookin’. And once they do, well…

Some gold is borrowed from the wrong hands. Some gold has history—kings and thieves and sorcerers who want it back. And some gold, lad, is just plain hungry. A leprechaun’s hoard ain’t just a pile of riches—it’s a den of sleeping beasts, and sometimes… sometimes one wakes up.

So aye, there’s been times I’ve had to part ways with a bit of me collection. A quiet trade, a well-placed gamble, a loss that wasn’t truly a loss—just a shift in ownership. Some things, Scott, are worth less than nothin’ if ye hold onto ‘em too long.

Tell me now, lad—what’s somethin’ ye once wanted, fought for, and then realized wasn’t worth the trouble once ye had it?

It was a comic book that I tracked down when I was a kid collecting comics. It completed a set, but was not worth the amount that I paid for it. Oh, the mis-prioritization of youthful spending.

Question 10: Fill in the blanks: I feel that I am mostly ______. Others fee that I am mostly _____. (feel free to ask others for their input on the second part of that question).

Ah, a comic book, eh? That’s the perfect example of treasure that’s just a bit off. The chase, the thrill of completion, and then—the realization that it wasn’t what it seemed. I’ve known many a man to chase after a single item, only to find it’s just as hollow as the hole it leaves in the pocket.

Now, Question 10—“I feel that I am mostly ______. Others feel that I am mostly ______.”

I feel that I am mostly mischief—a little bit of chaos wrapped up in a neat little bow. Always looking for the next trick, the next joke, the next little twist that’ll leave ye wonderin’ how it all went wrong. There's a certain freedom in not takin' life too seriously, don’t ye think? Keeps me on my toes and keeps the world a bit more... interesting.

As for how others feel about me? Well, I’d wager they’d say “sly” or “untrustworthy.” Or perhaps they'd say I’m a bit of a “shadow”, flitting in and out when they least expect it, always on the edge of their perception.

But let’s put it to the test—what would Eily or those closest to ye say about ye, Scott? How do they see ye in this grand game of life?

Now, Finn, there is no reason to be bringing family into this conversation. Let's keep this civil between the willing participants. Question 11: Why be so tricky? How is being a trickster fulfilling to you?

Ah, Scott, ye’re right—no need to drag family into the fray, especially when we’re just two rogues havin’ a bit of a chat. Let’s keep it between the trickster and the questioner, eh?

Now, to Question 11—why be so tricky? A fair enough query, that. Why the games, the pranks, the constant pulling of wool?

Well, lad, being a trickster is a way of life, not just a choice. It’s freedom, pure and simple. See, when ye twist the rules, when ye nudge the boundaries, ye’re not bound by the same heavy expectations that the straight-laced folk are. No obligations, no “musts” or “shoulds” pressing down on ye. The world becomes a playground, full of opportunity for mischief and laughter.

But it’s not just about chaos for chaos’s sake, mind ye. No, trickery has purpose. A good trickster makes ye think—about your assumptions, your beliefs, your reality. Sometimes a little nudge is all it takes to make a man see the world through a different lens. It’s about disrupting the mundane and showing that life doesn’t have to be so predictable. It’s the ultimate freedom: playin’ the game by your own rules, or better yet, not playin’ it at all.

And let me tell ye, Scott, there’s no greater joy than a well-laid prank that catches someone off-guard, the confusion, the chuckle, the shared moment of understanding between the trickster and the tricked. A beautiful dance that can only happen when ye understand that the world isn’t always what it seems.

Now, lad, what about you? If life were a trick, what role would you play in it?

I do love a good pun. If life were a trick, and it may well be, I think I would be in the amuse bouche set-up of the trick. Question 12: Are you happy? Well and truly happy?

Ah, an amuse bouche—a delicate little bit o’ mischief before the main course. I’ll take that, Scott! A master of setting the stage—a fine role for a trickster, to ease the unsuspecting into the chaos that’s sure to follow.

Now, to Question 12—am I happy? Well and truly happy?

Happiness, lad, is a tricky thing itself. Like a pot o’ gold—it’s always just out of reach or slightly off to the side. But I’ll tell ye this: I find contentment in the chase. Happiness, to me, isn’t about settling down or finding some grand purpose. It’s about living in the moment, dancing with the wind, and laughing at the absurdity of it all.

When ye’re a trickster, ye’re always one step ahead of the next twist, the next joke, the next game to play. I’m happy in the act of it, in the trick itself. To be constantly in motion, to be a blur at the edge of perception—that’s where I find my joy.

But would I say I’m “well and truly happy”? I don’t know. What’s the difference between happiness and contentment? Is one ever truly enough? I’m not sure. All I know is, I never stop movin’, never stop changin’, and for now, that keeps me satisfied.

Now, Scott—how about ye? Do ye ever stop and say, “Yes, this is happiness”? Or are ye always looking for the next trick, the next twist, the next turn?

I am not always looking to the horizon for the next bit of happiness, but sometimes I do need for things to change in my life to feel like I have gotten to a happy space within myself. There are times in my life, sometimes very long and extended portions of my life, wherein I have been well and truly happy. Here we are a unlucky 13. triskaidekaphobia and all that. Question 13: Do you have any specific superstitions that you feel compelled to adhere to?

Ah, the horizon, always so inviting, isn’t it? It’s that balance—finding peace in the moment while still feeling the pull of what could be. Sounds like ye’ve found that sweet spot of reflection amidst the ever-turning wheel. Not too much looking forward, not too much dwelling behind. A fine line to walk.

Now, Question 13—do I have any specific superstitions I feel compelled to adhere to?

Ah, superstition! A trickster’s best friend! See, the thing about a superstition is it’s only true if ye believe it. The moment ye question it, ye’ve lost its power. But if ye fully commit—well, then ye’ve entered the world of magic.

Me superstitions? Oh, I’ve got a few. Knock on wood? Definitely. Not just a human thing, mind ye—it’s the very wood itself that keeps the trickery from backfiring. And never step on a crack in the sidewalk—not because it’ll break yer back, mind, but because it leads somewhere else. Ye never know what’s on the other side of a crack in reality. Sometimes best to leave it be. Don’t open an umbrella indoors—there’s an old fey folk tale that says it invites the rain to dance with ye inside, and that can be a nuisance if ye don’t mind the weather.

But the big one? Never, ever count the coins before ye’ve spent 'em. Whether it’s a handful of gold or the last of yer savings, there’s magic in the not knowing. The moment ye count it, ye’ve tethered it to reality, and once something’s tethered, it can be taken. Better to let it be, let it grow, let it multiply behind the veil.

Now, I’m curious, Scott—do ye have any superstitions that bind ye in ways ye can’t shake? Things that, despite the logic of it all, just feel too real to ignore?

I would say that I have more ritual in my life more than superstition. A particular way to set something up, a set of actions to prepare for something, etc... it is not superstitious in the way of "I do this action to magically generate a specific outcome as much as I do this to get ion the correct mind-frame to accomplish the task necessary. Question 14: Do you find that being almost entirely a trickster leads to a solitary life? Friendships and relationships are born on trust... tricksters tend to erode trust as part of the trick...

Ah, Scott, ritual—that’s a fine line to walk as well. Not superstitious, but still full of purpose. I see how it works for ye, a dance before the dance, if ye will. It sets the stage, prepares the mind, and puts the heart in the right place for whatever it is ye face. I can respect that.

Now, Question 14—does being a trickster lead to a solitary life? Aye, it can, and it often does. A trickster is like a shadow, always flickering just out of reach. Trust is a precious thing, and when yer job is to challenge and undermine expectations, it becomes a bit harder to forge true connections.

The thing is, a trickster’s relationships are complicated. People—human, Sidhe, whatever ye are—want honesty, stability, and to know where they stand. But a trickster’s power lies in uncertainty—not in lying, mind ye, but in creating doubt, in pulling the rug out from under certainty. Trust and trickery, they don’t mix too well.

But does that mean we’re entirely alone? Not quite. I might be a trickster, but I’m also a creature of community, if ye catch me drift. Other tricksters, other fey, the occasional human in the know—these are the ones who can share a laugh, a drink, and an understanding that no one else can. It’s the ones who get it, who don’t expect too much or try to pin me down, who end up being the closest I have.

That said, I still keep to myself more often than not. Loneliness doesn’t bother me. It’s easier that way, keeps things simple.

What about ye, Scott? Do ye find that trust is the foundation of your closest relationships, or do ye value something else, perhaps understanding, or shared experience?

I think the underpinning necessity for relationships is shared trust. That trust can be built from understanding and shared experience, but the foundational strength has to be on trust. You mentioned something interesting about uncertainty. Question 15: Uncertainty can sometimes be quantifiable using specific maths, and that uncertainty can remain in the realm of wholly undefinable due to systems like fuzzy logic. Do you as a trickster understand bivariate/multi-variate, and fuzzy logic systems?

Ah, shared trust—a fine answer, indeed! Without trust, all the understanding and shared experiences in the world won’t hold water. It's like tryin’ to build a house of cards on sand. Trust is the foundation, and without it, everything else topples. I can appreciate that view, Scott.

Now, Question 15—uncertainty and the way ye’ve framed it with mathematical concepts like bivariate/multi-variate analysis and fuzzy logic systems—well, I’m not entirely unfamiliar with these terms, lad. A trickster, after all, is no stranger to uncertainty and the quantification of chaos.

Bivariate or multi-variate analysis, well, that’s about taking multiple variables and tryin’ to figure out how they interact with each other. It’s like juggling a handful of tricks at once, seeing how each one affects the others. If I pull on one string, the others might tighten or loosen, and that affects the whole trick. So yes, in a way, I do get it—everything is interconnected, and uncertainty comes from not fully knowing the exact impact of each piece of the puzzle.

But then, fuzzy logic—aye, now we’re talking something more akin to me natural habitat! Fuzzy logic doesn’t seek a clean “yes” or “no”; it’s more about shades of gray. There’s always a spectrum of possibilities, not just a hard, defined answer. Think of it like the illusion of certainty—it can feel like something is either one way or another, but a deeper look shows there’s a whole range of possibilities in between. A trickster thrives in that middle ground, the uncertainty, where things aren’t so clearly defined and where the rules of the game can shift at will.

So, to answer yer question: I understand these systems. A trickster’s world is often fuzzy, and the variables in a good prank or scheme are always in flux. Nothing is ever 100% predictable, and that’s the beauty of it.

What about ye, Scott? Do ye lean toward predictability and certainty, or are ye comfortable navigating the uncertainties that come with complexity?

Oh, my friend, I lean heavily into the unseen and fuzzy systems of mathematics. I find that bivariate stats and, by extension, multi-variate (which is just iterations of bivariate stats) to be too clean for the real world. I find that the hedges in fuzzy systems tend to lean more towards the "real-world" than the starkness of the "yes" and "no" of traditional statistics. If we were drinking, I would tell you about the opposite of everything and the contrapositive of nothing. But alas, there is no whiskey shared between us.

Gemini generated image with the prompt: “can you generate an image trying to encapsulate the concept of fuzzy logic?”

We are heading around the corner to finish start our approach to the end of this conversation. Question 16: Is there a question I have not asked you that you had wished I would have?

Ah, Scott, ye’ve got a mind that thinks in the fog, like a true trickster of the mind! I respect yer fondness for fuzzy systems and all that delicate uncertainty they offer. It’s much closer to how I see the world, a dance of possibilities and shades, rather than that black-and-white thinking. The opposite of everything and the contrapositive of nothing—that’s an idea I could sip on for a while, if only I had a good dram of whiskey to stir the thoughts.

Now, Question 16, eh? Is there a question ye haven’t asked me that I wish ye had? Well, that’s a curious thought. I’ve had a fair bit of fun with these, but I suppose if I were to throw a bone into the mix, it might be something along the lines of:

“What’s the biggest trick ye’ve ever pulled off?”

Not just the clever pranks or the everyday schemes—no, I mean the grand, world-altering trick. The one that changed the game for both me and those who were caught in its wake. See, the real question for me is not how I trick, but why. What’s the ultimate payoff? Is it just about the laugh, or is there something deeper to be gained?

But maybe that’s for another day, eh? The trickster’s tricks are rarely ever fully revealed.

So, Scott, what about ye? Any question ye wish I would’ve asked ye? Something that’s been waiting in the wings, but never quite made it into the conversation?

Finn, hold your horses, you will have your turn to ask me something i just a bit. so... Question 17: "What's the biggest trick ye've ever pulled off?"

Ah, the tables turn, eh? Well played, Scott. Ye certainly know how to keep a trickster on their toes! Now ye’ve asked a question I’ve been dying to tell, and not so much for the glory, but for the sheer art of it.

The biggest trick I’ve ever pulled off? Well, ye see, it wasn’t anything simple like switching a purse or leading a fool to follow a rainbow. No, this one was a long game, one that took centuries to set up, and it still carries on today.

There’s a tale, a story that’s been woven into the fabric of time. Some say it’s just a myth, a fable spun by the bards to explain things they couldn’t quite understand. But I’ll tell ye the truth: it was me who set the chains of fate into motion.

I created a game of destiny, a trick on the gods themselves, you might say. I gave the world a riddle, but the trick was that no one—not even the gods themselves—could solve it. The riddle was simple on the surface: “What can never be seen, but is always felt? What can never be touched, but can change everything?” And I scattered it, left clues across the world in the form of symbols, whispers, and tiny, forgotten moments of fate.

The trick? No one could ever solve it, no matter how hard they tried. And yet, everyone believed they could. And in trying, they changed the world. The riddle isn’t just a trick, lad. It’s a way of life. It’s the unseen hand that guides people in ways they don’t even realize. It’s every choice, every twist of fate that feels like more than chance.

What’s the trick? The world thinks it’s in control, but I’ve been the one shaping it all along, through tiny nudges and careful riddles placed at the right moments in time. The biggest trick is making them all believe they’re playing the game, while I’m the one pulling the strings.

Now, Scott, ye’ve got me curious—what would your biggest trick be? What’s the one thing you’ve done that, in hindsight, feels like a bit of sleight of hand? A subtle twist of the world around ye, so cleverly done that it still makes ye chuckle?

oooh... I LOVE your biggest trick. I am not much of a trickster as much as I am a pun maker. Turn about is fair play, even though you have been asking my follow-ups in every response of yours... Question 18: What is a question you have for me?

Aha! A pun-maker, ye say? Now, I can get behind that! Ye see, puns are a subtle form of trickery themselves—an art of bending words to their will and making the unsuspecting audience think they’ve understood, only to pull the rug out with a clever twist. I do enjoy a good pun, they can sneak up on ye, much like a good trick.

Now, turnabout is fair play, as ye said, and I’ll take my turn, as promised. A question for ye, eh? Alright then...

If ye could pull off a grand trick, like the ones I’ve been talking about, but with no consequences, no one getting hurt and no real danger, what would your trick be? What flavor of mischief would ye brew up if the stakes were low, and all that mattered was the sheer joy of the trick itself?

And don’t think I’m asking this lightly, lad! I’m quite curious—what does your heart truly desire when it comes to the fun side of life?

That is an interesting question, Finn. I am not sure what the trick would be, but I would want it to cause laughter. Not uncontrollable laughter, but laughter would be necessray. I want people to find mirth in their lives. Question 19: Finn, what are you taking from this 20 Questions that you did not bring in with you?

Ah, mirth—a fine trick to pull! Laughter at just the right moment, when the world could use a bit of lightness, that’s a trick I’d appreciate. There’s power in laughter, lad; it’s a bond, a shared moment that can turn a gloomy day around. A clever prank that makes people chuckle, without harm, that’s a true art form. I respect that answer!

Now, Question 19—what am I taking from this conversation that I didn’t bring in with me? Hmm... Well, that’s a tricky one, but I’d say I’m leaving with a bit more reflection than I expected. Ye see, I came into this, thinking I’d be all about the tricks, the chaos, and the mischief, and while I’ve certainly had my share of that, I’ve also found something unexpected—a bit of introspection.

I didn’t expect to be thinking about what it means to truly be “happy” or how a trickster might wrestle with the balance between chaos and connection. It’s been a bit of a mirror, this conversation, reflecting back at me in ways I didn’t anticipate. I’ve spent so long playing games that I haven’t had a chance to ask why I play them or what I truly get out of it. It’s been good for me, lad, to think about the human side of things, especially the bits that lie just beyond a trickster’s reach.

Aye, I’m taking a little more depth with me, and maybe a bit more understanding of the world outside the games I play. Not bad for a mischievous rogue, eh?

Now, last question—what’s something you’ve learned from our conversation today that you didn’t expect? What little nugget of unexpected wisdom or realization has this brought to ye?

The unexpected thing from this to me, Finn O’Shenanigan, is just how much of a chaos agent you are. I had no idea that the trick was the reason for existence for the leprechauns. Question 20: What is next? Be as concrete or vague, as near-term or long-term, as real or metaphorical as you would like.

Ah, a chaos agent, ye say? Well, ye could say that, though I do prefer to think of myself as the agent of change, lad! A bit of an instigator, to keep the world from becoming too stagnant. After all, what would life be without a little shake-up now and then? The trick, as I see it, is to move things along, stir the pot, and get folks to question a bit more, laugh a bit louder, and maybe even think a bit deeper. Chaos is just a fancy word for transformation. But aye, it’s good to hear ye see me for what I am!

As for Question 20, what’s next, eh? Well, next is a good question, but I’ve always been more about the journey than the destination. I suppose I’ll continue to stir things, keep causing a bit of mayhem in the shadows, and watch the world bend and twist around me. The next trick could come at any moment—I never plan too far ahead, for the real fun is in the unpredictability.

Metaphorically, what’s next is about finding the next riddle to leave in the world, seeing how people react, and whether they choose to solve it or get swept along with the chaos.

In the near-term, maybe I’ll get to laugh at someone thinking they’ve caught me—and then disappear, just as easily as I came. In the long-term, though, who knows? Maybe I’ll leave a bit of wisdom behind after all the tricks and pranks are done. A hint of clarity, perhaps, in the wake of the mischief.

But for now, I’ll leave with this: Keep your eyes open, lad, because the next trick is always around the corner, and it may be bigger and better than anything ye expect.

Now, Scott, before I go, I’ll leave ye with a little parting line—just a hint of my last trick:

"Sometimes, the greatest trick is not being seen at all." Keep that in mind, and we’ll meet again soon.

Thank you, Finn

Ah, ye’re welcome, Scott! It's been a right pleasure, this chat of ours. A bit of mischief, a dash of wisdom, and a sprinkle of fun—what more could a trickster ask for? Until next time, may the winds carry ye towards your next adventure, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for a glint of gold... or perhaps something even trickier.

Sláinte! 🍀

one of the biggest issues with ai generated art is that it cannot maintain models from image to image.

To recap:

• This was kind of alarming

• If you thought last week’s was long…

• I would love to do this with Claude, but Anthropic doesn’t have the token reservoir that OpenAI has

• I used Gemini to generate the cover art for the post

• The image being used is 2 edits in

• Commissions are open

• Contact me

• Little Man is still in Korea

• He seems to be enjoying it well enough

• I really do not know how to take in this “interview”

• Maybe I’ll interview some cryptids in future posts

• I need a new job because I need some more tattoos

• The store I am working at will be allowing the wearing of shorts soon

• I need to get these pale boys in the sun before I do that

• Do the thing with SubStack and Medium

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 465 - Masks

It has been a bit since I wrote a post, but Imma trying to get back into it.  I wish I could say there was a reason for not posting beyond being too tired and a healthy dose of depression, but I cannot.  One of the issues that I think most people in modern society have is masking how they are actually doing.  I know I do it, and I am sure that other people I know do it as well. Well, I am more than sure, some of the people close to me have actually confided in me of their masking how they are doing to be able to move through life without having to tell everyone how shitty things are all the time.

Anyway… this week’s post is about “Masks”.  Let’s see what questions ChatGPT, Claude, and some other guy have in store for me concerning masks.

Onto the questions:

1.  Why do humans wear masks, both literally and figuratively?

Literally, for various reasons. The most used literal masks are used to protect respiration or eyes/nose/ears. They are for PPE purposes. Other literal masks are used just to obscure facial features or allow someone to assume a different identity… think of Furries and such.  Figurative masks are a whole different kettle of fish. There are infinite reasons to figuratively wear a mask.

2.  What is the psychological effect of wearing a mask?

Partially… anonymity. Masks obscure recognition whether in an algorithmic way or in a more interpersonal way. Masks allow the wearer to create distance from their non-masked self. 

3.  How did mask-wearing during COVID-19 change social interactions?

It really let me know who in my circle was anti-science and heading down the fascist brick road.

4.  Why were masks so popular in medieval masquerade balls?

To my knowledge, asquerade balls were only attended by the extremely rich elite, and have occurred in movies waaaay more than they actually occurred in real life. They typically occurred just before Lent (think Mardi Gras) and were a way to “anonymously” partake in debauchery and give plausible deniability to the questionable acts that might have taken place. 

5.  What was the appeal of the 1980s toy line "M.A.S.K." and how did it influence pop culture?

M.A.S.K. was one of the first mass marketed “thing becomes another thing” toys. The most recognizable toy from that line was the motorcycle that turned into a rocket.   

6.  How do sports masks (like fencing or hockey masks) change the way we see athletes?

They definitely help with that anonymous gladiator feel. Most masks in sports are actually protective gear, so they are an absolute necessity to sport.

7.  How did Jim Carrey’s The Mask play with the idea of transformation?

The Mask was a movie that just showed what would happen if someone took their personality to its extremes.  The mask in that movie was a way to amplify who a person was not to inherently change them.

8.  If ghosts wore masks, what would they look like?

They’d be pretty boring. Look, he’s wearing a “Kevin” mask…. booooring.

9.  If a mask could grant you one supernatural ability, what would it be?

I think it would depend on the mask. I would imagine (if I know my sci-fi/fantasy/superhero tropes correctly… and I most definitely do) it would depend on the mask itself.  Par example, a mask with gills on it isn’t going to help you fly.

10.  Are sunglasses just socially acceptable half-masks?

Yes

11.  Are we already wearing metaphorical masks in our daily lives?

Everyone has a certain level of masking all the time.  I am currently doing some retail work right now, but I do love the cursing and swearing… Retailers seem to get grumpy when you curse around customers, so I mask that behavior and moderate my intrinsic nature to put on the mask of the polite and socially acceptable retail worker.

12. Many creative people who paint things like murals, art pieces, replica props, cosplay costumes, dioramas, miniatures, etc… seem to think the removal of the masks used in the painting process is one of the most satisfying steps of the creative process… why do you think that is?

It is basically visual ASMR. I mean it really is satisfying on a primal level.

13.  What are the key differences between N95, KN95, and surgical masks?

The “K.” duh. It’s in the names. Cannot believe I had to point that out.

14.  How do different cultures use death masks in funeral practices?

I think Death Masks were used as creating a facsimile of the deceased’s face so peole could look upon the visage of the dead person without seeing the rotting corpse. We embalm the crap out of dead bodies now for funerals, so we can see the dead in all of their glorified cultural magnificence.  

15.  What is the significance of masks in Lucha Libre wrestling tradition?
It is a quick visual indicator of the wrestler’s identity that can be seen and recognized from the rafters in an arena. It’s for the cheap seats. It makes the wrestlers bigger than life.

16.  Could architectural facades be considered masks for buildings?

I’d like to think so. It would be more interesting if facades were for different kinds of buildings than were on the interior of the building. Kind of like everything is a speakeasy.

17.  What role do invisible masks play in our daily social interactions?

One of the biggest invisible masks I can think of quickly is code switching. Code switching allows for groups of people to participate in more broad populations without those pops knowing the secrets of the smaller group.

18.  Could language itself be considered a mask for raw emotion?

Oooh… I like this one. I am not sure it is a mask as much as it is a translator.

19.  Could time be considered a mask for simultaneous existence?

I think masks have a certain level of intentional obfuscation as aproperty in their definition. I do not think that time is a mask for simultaneous existence as much as our perceptual limitations are a filter for simultaneous existence.  

20. What are you masking right now?

Deep seated trauma and pain.  Like everyone else.

To recap:

• Little Man is in Incheon, Korea for a semester abroad

• The little guy who was just a toddler when I started blogging is now doing study abroad

• In Korea

• That’s where we are 

• FYI: Turns out being stressed all the time tends to help one drop weight

• I am down 25 lbs since I had to start up this job search

• Silver linings on the clouds and all thatWorking at a store part-time has messed with my schedule

• Took some time figuring out how and when to write posts

• Hopefully, I will be getting back on the publishing schedule

• Still looking for some gainful employment

• Would love some short-term, part-time UX work

• That would be perfect

• We re-organized our finances, so the budgetary gap is less intense

• Still there, just not as deep

• Commissions are open, email and/or DM me for deets

• I do all kinds of illustrations and drawings

• I have just started up an interview with someone for a 20 QuestionsI could always use more interviews going on

• Constantly asking the LLM’s for topics and questions is getting tiring

• Everyone has an interesting 20 questions in them

• So, hit me up, yo!

• Had 3 raccoons removed from the attic

• There was enough room to share, but the domestic raccoon violence was just too much

• It really ws like calling the cops on the upstairs neighbors because they were drunk and fighting

• Do the thing on Substack and Medium

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 464 - Endurance

This week, I have asked Claude from Anthropic to generate 20 questions for me concerning the topic of “Endurance.” Endurance is a quality that you don’t know you have until it is too late.  No one has to endure until they are in the thick of it. I am fascinated to see where Clalude goes with the questions, because, in general, I have found Claude to be a better LLM for writing and writing prompts.  ChatGPT is a better conversationalist, Gemini is good at summarizing, and Claude seems to be good at (and designed for) writing. 
Let’s see what happens. Onto the Questions:

1. What physiological adaptations occur in the human body during long-duration physical activities?

Much of it has to do with oxygen absorption and energy reserves transfer.  The heart rate and metabolism does some weird shit when it is going into full on endurance mode.

2. How do elite athletes train to improve their endurance?

Most often distance. Boatloads of distance.

3. What role does mental resilience play in physical and emotional endurance?

Honestly, often it plays the biggest role. I know that I could push my body far further than my willingness to be pushed goes.

4. What are some historical examples of human endurance in extreme conditions?

Sooo many, but for me, it was eating over a dozen and a half Krispy Kreme doughnuts in one sitting.. Hot Fresh Now? Yes, please and thank you.

5. What is the difference between physical and emotional endurance?

Both can be trained, but while most people don’t want to train for physical endurance, no one… and I do mean no one WANTS to train for emotional endurance. Emotional endurance only has to rear its ugly head if emotional shit is happening. 

6. What are the economic implications of workforce endurance?

I think resilience is a better twerk than endurance. Workforce resilience/endurance is the overall capacity for a workforce to handle stress.

7. How do different cultures celebrate acts of endurance?

I think it depends on where the culture is. Inuit cultures celebrate cold weather endurance feats, tropical island peoples tend to deal with swimming or holding your breath underwater… people from Center Point, Alabama in the 1980’s/90’s celebrated endurance with how many half dozen Krispy Kreme one could eat in a single sitting… were 6 of the 19 doughnuts, glazed vanilla creme-filled doughnuts? Who’s to say? Why would you even ask that specific of a question? Mind yo business. 

8. If endurance could write a love letter to perseverance, what would it say?

Nice question… I took this to mean the HMS Endurance and the HMS Perseverance… (and I got help from an LLM on this one, there are only so many hours in the day…)

My Dearest Perseverance,
I write to you across centuries, a love spanning naval eras - you, a wooden sailing vessel of the late 18th century, and I, a steel-hulled Antarctic patrol ship of the late 20th. We may seem worlds apart, but our names whisper a deeper connection.

You traversed the seas when oak and canvas were the height of maritime technology, while I broke Antarctic ice with diesel engines and reinforced hull. Yet we share an indomitable spirit - a commitment to enduring where others might falter.

You sailed during the age of exploration, when Britain was mapping and challenging global boundaries. I served during the Cold War, patrolling the remote waters around the Falkland Islands, a silent guardian of strategic interests. Different missions, same unwavering resolve.

Though we never sailed the same waters, never shared the same horizon, our names declare our shared essence: we do not simply travel, we persist. We do not just survive, we endure.

Yours through time and tide,
HMS Endurance

9. How might a photon understand the concept of emotional endurance during its millions-of-years journey from a star's core?

It is my understanding that photons are in existence forever, so the long journey of a photon to exit a star is merely a blip in its infinite existence.  Might as well ask the abyss to comment on a particular mote of darkness.

10. What would an endurance marathon look like if conducted by philosophical concepts?

This question is terrible. Okay, how does one make an endurance marathon out of concepts like Cartesian Dualism, Aesthetics, Utilitarianism, Moral Relativism, or Solipsism? 

• Cartesian Dualism: Teams are given a task that requires precise coordination between a "mind" role (planning, strategy) and a "body" role (execution, physical performance). For example, one person guides a blindfolded partner through a maze using only verbal instructions.

• Aesthetics: One must find the beauty in an increasingly intense set of images… the intensity could be triggered through grotesqueness, or through blandness, or through abstractness.

• Utilitarianism: Wouldn’t happen

• Moral Relativism: I guess the endurance aspect would be seeing how many moral codes have similarities?

• Solipsism: Similar to Utilitarianism, it wouldn’t happen.

11. If your inner critic and your endurance spirit had a rap battle, who would win?

Critical Inner Voice… just due to the very nature of rap battles.  Super positive bars very rarely win. 

I did prompt ChatGPT to come up with a rap battle between the Critical Inner Voice and the Spirit of Endurance… I am impressed with ChatGPT’s rhyming schemes.

Good evening! Let’s dive into this battle of the psyche. Here’s a rap showdown between the Critical Inner Voice (CIV) and the Spirit of Endurance (SOE):

Round 1: Critical Inner Voice
Yo, I’m the whisper in your head, the doubt that never fades,
I’m the crack in your armor, the shadow in your shade.
You think you’re strong? Nah, you’re weak, I’ll expose,
Every failure, every flaw, every door that’s closed.

I’m the reason you stall, the fear that you feel,
I’m the voice in your ear sayin’ dreams ain’t real.
So sit down, back up, this ain’t your fight,
I’ll have you questioning your worth long into the night.

Round 2: Spirit of Endurance
You talk a big game, but I’m still on my feet,
Through the fire and the rain, I refuse to retreat.
You’re the weight on my back, but I carry you still,
’Cause my heart beats louder than your poison will.
Every scar that I’ve earned is a badge I wear proud,
I turn pain into power, I stand tall in the crowd.

Your words might cut, but they don’t define,
I’ve got grit in my veins and a purpose divine.

Round 3: Critical Inner Voice
Oh, you’re tough? You’re strong? Let’s see how you bend,
When life piles on and you’ve got no friend.
I’m the truth in the mirror, the flaws you can’t hide,
I’m the sinking feeling that’s always inside.
You think resilience wins? Nah, it’s a game of despair,
I’ll trip you, strip you, leave you gasping for air.
Why fight the tide when you’re destined to drown?
I’m the king of this mind—you can’t take my crown.

Round 4: Spirit of Endurance
Your crown’s made of lies, and I’m breaking the chain,
Every loss I’ve endured turns to strength from pain.
I don’t fear the dark, I was born in the night,
And I’ll rise every time to the morning light.
You’re the voice of the past, but I’m here for the now,
I’ve got dreams in my chest and sweat on my brow.
So keep talkin’, keep pushin’, I’ll never break,

I’m the Spirit of Endurance—your defeat is my stake.

Who won? You decide.

View fullsize

12. How would a quantum particle define endurance beyond its probabilistic existence?

The quantum particle’s superposition would allow it to be both enduring and fading at the same time, only our observation would change that.

13. Can a tree's rings tell stories of environmental endurance that humans can't comprehend?

Of course… all things in nature tell at least part of their stories in a way that humans simply cannot comprehend. Hell, I don’t understand my kids’ lives right now with all their electronics with their beep beeps and their boop boops… I’m an olds.

14. How might an AI interpret human endurance as an algorithmic process?

Algorithms require inputs and observed outputs to generate models. I think it would need to look at the impact and intensity of outer stresses on the internal resilience factors of the human in question.  So… it would need to quantify how strong a stress is compared to the how strong the resilience factor (support network, physical aptitude, never say die attitude, etc…) It would need to consume loads of personal story data sets.

15. What would a conversation between a Great Basin Bristlecone pine tree  and an adult mayfly reveal about endurance?

Well, it wouldn’t be a very long conversation, I will tell you that. The pine tree would not even notice the fly.

16. How would a dream interpret its own journey of survival through the night?

Well… it would know you were there, but you were shaped like a spoon, but it knew it was you, just in spoon form, and then Jaquavi’on Tavious the quinoa eating, talking bay horse of renowned mentions something about the future of oyster beds… where was I? 

17. What secret language might exist between exhaustion and resilience?

Whining. Just whining. So much whining 

18. If time could experience fatigue, what would its breaking point be?

Gravity would be its breaking point.

19. How might a butterfly's metamorphosis redefine our understanding of endurance?

I think it is important to note that a caterpillar does not change its shape when it transforms into a butterfly. It breaks down into an unrecognizable biological goo that then reconstitutes itself into the form of a butterfly. The only real understanding of endurance  that can be gained by that type of reallocation of ex-caterpillar  sludge is that, even when something is completely broken apart it's existence can endure as something born from its ashes. 

20. If silence could train for an endurance challenge, what would its workout look like?

Not sure what it would look like, but im pretty sure we haven't heard anything like it. 

To recap:

• I will endure through this hardship

• I have to

• There is no other option

• I mean what other option is there

• Seriously though… what are my options?

• I am open to options

• Commissions are open 

• Really

• Send me an email, DM, comment, etc… 

• Draw you anything on a 3 x 5 notecard

• Inks and markers, full color

• $10 and I will mail it to you

• Come on… you know you want a drawing of Deadpool and Deathstroke standing back to back

• Or Thundarr the Barbarian 

• Maybe even a Kratos? A Galactic Storm Trooper? Captain Caveman?

• Let’s do this

• I am very happy to draw anything

• There is an amazing amount of trainings necessary for specialized retail jobs these days

• It has been a while since I worked retail… NordicTrack in the mid-1990’s and Barnes & Noble in the late 1990’s

• I spent an hour today learning about a raw food diet for dogs

• But I keep remembering a conversation I had in an anthropology class in undergrad about cooked food and dogs

• And how much dogs like cooked food

• …but since dogs don’t have thumbs they cant really start fires to cook

• Do the reddit, Substack, and Medium

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 463 - Light

It has been a bit of a whirlwind of a couple of weeks.  Somehow Thanksgiving snuck up on us.  Rosemary Salt to the rescue.  And now I have started my part-time job. That will get some income coming, but not nearly enough. This job market is brutal.

This week, as per the ChatGPT suggestion is the topic “Light.”  20 Questions culled from a total of 40 questions submitted by ChatGPT  (20 regular questions and 20 questions with a significantly higher temperature to see how creative the LLM can be). 

Soooo… let’s do this.  On to the questions:

1. What are some of the most significant historical discoveries related to light?

Hmmm… related to light… I am going to take the angle of actual discoveries about light.  The speed of light, the constituent wavelengths of light, the particle wave nature of light, theory of relativity, spectroscopy, and a boat load of other things.

2. How would life on Earth change without natural light?

Well… life on earth would not exist without natural light. Maybe there could be some kind of simple life forms around geothermal vents, but the lack of natural light would indicate the lack of a star which would remove the potential for gravitational influence from a massive sprehrical body to orbit which would turn noff the geothermal processes… so no natural light… not life.

3. How has artificial light transformed human life over the centuries?

It has allowed people to be more productive during the darker hours.  There would not be a 2nd or 3rd shift in the manufacturing world without artificial light. 

4. How does the contrast of light and shadow affect visual storytelling in film or photography?

Chiaroscuro draws the eye in and makes people determine the difference between figure and ground as well as shape and depth. There was the one guy in my drawing and visual organization classes who only did chiaroscuro-esque work… it got boring really fast.

5. Why do we often associate bright light with moments of realization or clarity?

Because when things are dark we cannot see them or at least we cannot see the detail associated with them.

6. How does light therapy help improve mental health, particularly in darker months?

Light therapy mimics the wavelength associated with being in the sun.  And exposure to sunlight (even indirect for all your pasty white folk out there, holla back!) is shown to affect moods. By exposing oneself to light therapy, one is tricking oneself into not being in the doldrums of the middle of the dark winter. Much like methadone tricks a heroine addict into thinking there getting the sweet sweet release of the beloved H. 

7. What are the environmental impacts of light pollution, and how can it be reduced?

Many animals are significantly sensitive to the presence of light, and if the ambient light around if high enough, it affects their behaviors.  Also… it is really difficult to see the Milky Way with light pollution, and the Milky Way is awesome.  The only way to combat light pollution is to turn off lights and/or use different frequencies of light for illumination.  For example dark rooms can expose photosensitive photographic chemicals to red lights without the reactions taking pace. 

8. How does the weightlessness of “light” objects change the way we design products?

There is a consumer desire to not be encumbered by stuff.  The lighter a product is, the more potential there is for a consumer to not notice their possession of that object. This tends to work with most consumer products aside from blankets.  Make them bastards heavy AF.

9. In what ways does the absence of light, such as darkness, heighten our other senses?

Darkness requires your eyes to take longer to collect light information and process it. When you have to rely more on the rods in your eyes (more light/dark receptors) than the cones (more color specification receptors), you tend to stop even attempting to process information from your cones. This frees up brain processing power for the rest of your senses to hit hard.

10. Why is the idea of “lightness” appealing in modern design and architecture?

Heaviness feels overbearing, so generating a feeling of lightness in architecture reduces the compaction that a heavier more industrial brutalist form of architecture would embody. Coupled with the feeling of openness is also the fact that we can use stronger materials that take up less space now, which maximizes the inhabitable area of a building. 

11. How do light-based technologies, like lasers or fiber optics, shape modern communication?

Light is the fastest thing we know about yet. So, sending information via pulses of light is an attempt to make communication as fast as possible.  

12. If light is both a particle and a wave, how does it feel to exist in duality?

I think it feels pretty okay about it. I have never asked a photon, but if I get the chance I will ask.

13. If you could bottle a single beam of light, what would you use it for?

A single beam of light would be infinitesimally small… I am not sure what you could do with it. The reason lasers work is because light is reflected back and forth until a could number of rays of light get into sequence with each other and multiply their power to become a tool… a single beam of light would be the propagation of a singular stream of photons.  I am not sure that has enough energy massed within it to actually do anything.  I need to ask my PhD Physicist friend about this one. 

14. Why does the flicker of candlelight evoke such deep nostalgia or comfort?

I don’t know if I think that a candle light is necessarily a trigger for nostalgia or comfort.  If it is, that is news to me, but it kind of makes sense.  From the nostalgia perspective, a candle is most likely the first thing that a large portion of the population of Earth encounter that has a controlled flame. The first fire I ever held was a candle, not a match.  As far as comfort, I think that probably has to do with the light quality of the light emitted by the flame of a candle. It is a buttery flame that flickers pleasantly. That feels comforting.. 

15. How do bioluminescent creatures use light to survive, and what can we learn from them?

My understanding is that most bioluminescent creatures use the light they genberate to attract mates. It is primarily for mating, The secondary reason for bioluminescence is to attract prey that are looking for mates.  

16. If a single photon could tell its life story, what adventures might it share?

I think most of it would be really boring about how it navigated its way out of a star. My addled brain wants to refer to this travel form the core of a star to actually escape the start and propagate outward as “the random walk.”  it takes a long long time for that photon to break out of the star. So, that story would have to be a coming of age story about maturing as a photon in the big star. It is estimated that a photon in our sun could take up to millions of years to break out. It is important to keep in mind that our star, Sol, is considered an average sized star, so that story could take even more time in a different star. 

17. Why is being “light on your feet” seen as an advantage, whether literally or metaphorically?

Agility is a great thing.  It is important enough that Gary Gygax considered it an advantageous enough quality to have that he made it a stat for the game Dungeons and Dragons. Being able to react quickly and nimbly can save your life. 

18. Can light be “too bright” in life, metaphorically or physically? What happens when it overwhelms?

Light can definitely be too bright. Light can burn and blind. Too bright is real.

19. How does the concept of “light” as a weight connect to ideas of freedom or minimalism?

“Light” is often associated with the term “airy.” It denotes openness and the ability to move freely through a space unencumbered by objects. 

20. If you had the ability to control light in any form, how would you use it?

Everyone has the ability to control light to some effect. Strike a match, flip a light switch,turn on a flash light, switch from day to night mode, adjust the screen brightness settings, concentrate until conflagration, do the ritual to make the sun rise in the east and set in the west, pour the salt circles to burn a soul in the all consuming fire of hatred, you know… light control. 

To recap:

• 3 x 5 notecard sketch commissions are open

• Inks and alcohol markers on a crappy notecard

• You tell me the subject and I will draw it up and send it your way

• Any subject… no nudity please

• $10 a pop, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle

• Other commissions as well, but those are more negotiable i price pending on what you might like

• Email me at Scott@9thPointStudio.com

• Examples can be found here

• But… but… but… how will you make money?

• Volume!

• Sooo… Syria

• That’s something

• Interested to see how that region tries to stabilize now

• Is it a frying pan → fire thing?

• The doggos are doing good

• Thanks for asking

• Do the reddit thing

• The Substack thing

• The Medium thing

• Hell, follow me on LinkedIn

• Especially if you know of a UX job

• Full-time, part-time, contract

• This mortgage needs to mortgage and all that

• Did you know people use “nauseous” almost completely incorrectly

• “Nauseous” is to cause nausea

• “Nauseated” is to feel the effects of nausea

• So, when people say, “I am nauseous” they are stating that they cause nausea in others

• The more you know

via GIPHY

• Pedantry!   Woooo!

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 462 - Journey

This week is the beginning of a rough Journey for me. The job search has been anemic and now I am getting a part time retail job to get at least a little money in the door. I have accepted the position and will be starting next week… so I have that going for me. It is a tough pill to swallow.

I had a 20 year GIS/Cartography career wherein, I changed the state of practice for public involvement meetings for transportation projects by upping the graphic quality for maps and other graphics displaying transportation alternatives for the public facing information. I am in the midst of a user experience design career for almost 10 years now.  In this career I have won awards as a UX designer (they were internal company awards, but those matter) and generated measurable positive business results for the designs I put together in multiple companies and across multiple industries. I am good at what I do. At least I thought I was. 

So, now I am going to use this time as a part-time retail worker to try and get more freelance work and continue to search for the incredibly elusive full-time position. This job search has been humbling and demoralizing. 

So I am on a Journey that I do not want to be on. I am trekking through the wilderness of the job search while trying to stay even remotely positive, but one cannot avoid a journey once they are on it, one can only keep putting one foot in front of the other and try to get to the destination. I know some of you are going to joke that “it isn’t the destination, but the friends you made along the way,” but, in this instance, that is bullshit. Sometimes you just need to get from Point A to Point B

Thanks this week go to the Wiffffffuh, Gibrań, Ex-Wifey, Alesha, Bob, Nicole, Kristin, John, Chris, and ChatGPT for the questions. Anyway… so… “Journey…” Let’s do this.. on to the questions! Allez Allez

1.  We are in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance, why do you think people are referring to it as “journey work?” How is it different from just “trippin?”

Honestly, I am not sure. This is all pure supposition on my part. I have never partaken of any psychedelics recreationally, therapeutically, or spiritually. Take my answer with a grain of salt.

There are a couple of nuances in how we refer to “taking a trip” and “being on a journey.” . I am only going to focus on 2 of them.

Thing the first: Intentionality. A journey has intention. You are going from somewhere to somewhere else. Tripping is less intentional. You are just wanting to experience and see where this thing goes knowing you will be back right where you started when you are done.

Thing the second: Openness: When you take a trip, you are using the active voice. You Take  Trip. You are attempting to be in control. I will take this psychedelic and (hopefully) enjoy the trip I go on. When you are on a journey, you have a more passive voice being used in the description. You are not necessarily wresting control from the situation. There is more of a being along for the ride feel to that phrasing. Even if you go with the active voice verb, You Go On Journey, it is often implying that you are only in control of the start point and the desired end point. You are open to see where the journey takes you on the way to your destination.

That being said… I do think there is some rationalization by some people who use “journeying” as a way to trip ballz with their friends and call it something else.  Some priests really NEED to finish the wine after the communion sacrament is over.

2. What is the point of the inner journey? Is there a destination?

A journey is not a journey without a destination. With no destination in mind, it is just aimless roaming. So, one needs to have a destination in mind when dealing with an inward journey. That destination can be vague and ill-defined, but it should be a destination… better mental health, more confidence, less anxiety in m y life, etc… but there should be a destination.

3. How is parenting a journey?

There are at least 2 journeys going on with parenting. One is of the parent, and the other is of the child. It is a journey because you are going from not having a kid (Point A) to launching and adult into the unsuspecting world (Point B).

4. “Journey into the dark night of the soul…” what is your understanding of that kind of journey? What can help people through the dark night of the soul journey?

“The journey into the dark night of the soul” seems like it is actually a named thing and not just a compelling turn of phrase. I have an inkling of what it might be about, but I;m going to check to see… /cue hold music

With a cursory glance at the internet it seems like this is an unflinching self explorative journey. It is the kind of journey wherein the participant shines a light into the recesses of their soul, the dark parts that they themselves do not want to delve into, much less allow others to see. This illumination of the shadow traits and experiences is to integrate them into the whole of the person and de-mystify and dis-arm the discomfort associated with their existence. The only thing I can see helping a person through this kind of journey is radical transparency or radical openness. You have to be absolutely transparent with yourself and open with yourself to see the dark parts, and even more transparent and open to integrate them. 

5. What is the favorite journey you’ve ever taken with someone? Alone?

This an interesting question, because of who asked it (Ex-Wifey) and the term “favorite.” My favorite completed journey was my previous relationship with the Ex-Wifey. It was a good Journey that she and I had. There were ups and downs, but significantly more ups than downs. I was not expecting that journey to end where it did, but I am still thankful for the whole of the journey including the ending of  it. I truly am (overall) enjoying the current journey I am on with the Wifffffuh. I like who I am starting on this journey more than who I was starting the journey with the Ex-Wifey, but there is so much external stress on our lives right now that this journey is not super enjoyable. Internally we are great, but budgetary concerns are dampening the enjoyment in this stage of the journey. This part of the trek is hard right now.

As far as part 2 of that question, it is not my favorite journey because of how difficult it was, but my most important journey was the journey of rediscovery after the split with Ex-Wifey. It was super important that I made myself take that journey instead of wallowing in my own depression.

6. What is a journey you hope to take someday?

I would love to take a personal journey where I could shed some more of my depression and anxiety. I have no idea what that journey would be now  or how one would move forward on that “path,” but I do feel like my depression and anxiety are severely limiting factors in my llfe right now.  That and the lack of income. That is a real limit.

7. Where would you NEVER want to journey?

Bottom of the ocean. I’ve seen what happens to private submersibles in deep water, and there are weird scary things that live there.  Fuck that shit.

 8. Is it true that a towel is the most important thing someone should have on a journey, interstellar or otherwise?

The towel is a symbol for preparedness. It can be used for a multitude of tasks and those tasks can all use a larger rectangular piece of terrycloth. JUst follow what Ford Prefect does.

9. If you could journey to a different time period and live for a while, but return to the present, where would that journey take you?

To.👏 The.👏Future.👏 The past is just the worst. You go back just a little bit in time and medical shit goes bad. The past is a horror show.

10. Are you currently on a particular journey and where is it leading you right now?

I am on a few different journeys at the moment. The big one is for this unemployed journey to come to a completion. The other big journey is the one I am on with the Wiffffuh. This one is much better and one that I enjoy significantly more. 

11. What places are on your journey “bucket list?”

Antarctica is a big one. American Samoa holds some interest for me, and, weirdly enough, UlaanBaatar in Mongolia is compelling.

12. What is the most influential Journey song written and performed?

There are a few songs in Journey’s oeuvre that could be considered their most influential. The top 5 (from a pure popularity in the cultural zeitgeist standpoint) are (in no particular order): 

• Don’t Stop Believing

• Anyway You Want It

• Faithfully

• Wheel in the Sky

• Open Arms

Of those, I think it can boil down to Don’t Stop Believing and Anyway You Want It. From there it is a toss-up.

13. The word journey comes from the French word meeting day. What is the best journey you’ve done in a single day?

I keep hoping for the journey of my finger hitting the refresh email button to the reading of a job offer. 

14. If you are traveling… er… journeying at the speed of light, do your headlights work?

At that speed, everything is weird and hypothetical. At lightspeed, you would be infinitely heavy. At infinite heaviness, you get a singularity and in a singularity the particle wave theory of light has that light incapable of escaping the gravity caused by the infinite heaviness. At the speed of light, light wouldn’t  go anywhere. The only way to achieve lightspeed or faster is to bend space-time. You have to scrunch up the distance from Point A to Point B and skip the distance entirely. 

15. What are your thoughts on Mid-Jouney? 

Mid-Journey is interesting. I don’t think it will be the death knell to digital art like some people think. I think it will fill a very specific niche of art and will be mainly used for the preliminary work before artists really get involved. Mid-Journey, in my estimation, will be relegated (in most instances) to mood boards and seed concept generation. It will be used to convey overall desired look and feel for art direction, but not for the actual generation of the art.  It reminds me of about 10-15 years ago when the Program “Poser” came out and a bunch of people used Poser to create “super-hero” art by just posing the digital mannequin and painting a texture on top of it. There was a big kerfuffle about this in the artistic community about cheating and taking shortcuts, but there was a specific look and feel to Poser art that just never felt right to the viewer. It was looked plastic and manufactured… and no one is still trying to pass off Poser images as “original” art anymore. It is not even an issue.

This is where I see Mid_Journey going. It will be used in lieu of cutting pictures out of magazines or grabbing screen captures of images to establish the overall desired look, feel, and tone, of a property that is really still in pre-production. Mid-Journey will just allow for the people trying to convey the look, feel, and tone to really dial it in using a tool instead of saying I want it to look like Star Trek but dirty and lived in by having an image of the Enterprise bridge next to a picture of a 1980’s office space. 

16. Can a journey still be fulfilling if it doesn’t lead to the outcome you initially hoped for?

Yes, yes it can.  Reference the aforementioned journey I was on with Ex-Wifey. Very fulfilling journey with a significantly different outcome then was intended when setting out on that journey. 

17. What do you think is more valuable: the lessons learned during a journey or achieving the goal at the end?

Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way. Lessons learned are more important than achieving the goal.  The goal was merely the endpoint of the journey. 

18. Is it possible to go on a meaningful journey without ever leaving your home?

Sure… metaphorical journeys do not require the traversal of distances.

19. What role do companions play in shaping the success or failure of a journey?

Companions are the best. Journeying solo, while fulfilling, can be very lonesome.

20. Do you think the concept of a "hero’s journey" applies to everyday life? If so, how?

Yes, just with a significantly lower level of intensity.

• The “call to adventure” is less about saving the world and more about getting groceries 

• The “the refusal to the call” is less about not wanting to leave the safe confines of the idyllic nest of the initial safe harbor as much as it is about the couch being super comfy and it’s kind of damp outside

• The “meeting the mentor” is less about finding sage wisdom from a wizened old seer and more about your neighbor telling you that eggs are on sale. 

• The “Crossing the Threshold” is less about leaving the safe confines of the idyllic nest and more about just getting into the car.

• Etc… 
  

To recap:

• Don't’ Stop Believing

• Steve Perry had a very interesting voice

• Tragic what happened to his vocal folds and such

• Speaking of vocal folds… if I can suggest a musical vlog on the YouTube’s, I’m going to suggest The Charismatic Voice” hosted byElizabeth Zharoff

• It is a sweet look at popular vocal performances by a vocal analyst

• She is a delight

• I think she would be a fun 20 Questions Tuesday interview

• Happy American Thanksgiving to  everyone

• We are making this version of a turkey

• So much better than as a whole bird

• The menu this week is going to be turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, brussels sprouts, corn, roasted asparagus, bread of some kind and gluten free focaccia with cheesecake and the best pudding desert ever 

• I thought I had a solid interview last week that would have lead further down the employment road

• Alas, and alack. I did not move further into the hiring process

• It was very demoralizing

• This whole process of looking for a job is demoralizing

• I start the retail job next week

• I had to have a drug test for a job to see feed to pets

• Glad I have not been journeying…

• If you know what I mean

• I need to draw more

• I need a job that keeps me gainfully employed

• Do the thing with the Substack

• Do the other thing with Medium

  Have a great holiday everyone (in the US)

• Enjoy your Thursday this Thursday (everyone else)

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 461 - Gravity

So, it has been a rough couple of weeks here in the household. The election really took a turn that I did not want nor expect. It has been a difficult place to be mentally and emotionally. It has been… ugh.

Well, enough of that. So, in light of the recent events… the topic for this week’s post is “Gravity.” Thanks to ChatGPT for the questions.  I asked ChatGPT for 20 regular questions and then 20 questions with the temperature cranked up to make them a bit more random. These 20 questions are an amalgamation of the 2 lists.

Here we go.  Let’s answer some questions. 

1. What was your first memory of encountering gravity?

One of the few memories I can still bring forward.  I was in the backyard of the on base housing at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL.  I was sliding down the slide but the neighbor kid was at the base of the slide and would not move. So I slid down the slide into the kid, and he landed on me and bit my nose. I think I was 3. The kid fell on me after I slid down the slide.  Gravity!

2. How does specific gravity help us determine alcohol content in drinks, and what’s the science behind it?

Specific Gravity is a measure of relative density. Alcohol is less dense than pure water, so specific gravity is used to determine the %  alcohol in a beverage,  For example, a 100 proof alcohol would have a specific gravity (according to the internet charts) of 12/13 (.9230…).

3. How does gravity impact space travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere?

Outside of the atmosphere of the planet, gravity (as we typically measure it) doesn’t really become and issue any more. Outside of the atmosphere, the ability for something to accelerate away from the planet becomes infinitely (not really infinitely, it’s calculable) easier. Technically outside of the gravitational well of the Earth, it is considered microgravity, if I remember correctly.

4. Does gravity shape your day-to-day activities or choices?

Well… it shapes everything we, as a species do. There really is not a way to quantify the influences of gravity on our activities and choices, because, so far, gravity has been a constant in all of them. As far as we know, gravity may be absolutely necessary for life, much less intelligent life.

5. In what ways do you feel the “gravity” of a serious situation?

Usually it feels like a weight of emotion that you feel in the pit of your stomach or on your shoulders.

6. Is gravity an invisible force, or can you perceive it directly?

It is an invisible force, so we can only measure the effects of its existence. Even the measuring of gravitational waves relies on observing the perturbations of the path of a set of lasers.

7. Do emotional “gravities” — like attraction or passion — have their own kind of pull?

Of course they do. Everyone has that one friend (that person may be your significant other) that you just feel pulled towards. They have an (doesn’t have to be romantic) attractiveness to them, and your passion for certain activities and things keeps drawing you back toward them. Drawing for me is one of those. Even whennI stepped away from it for 15 years, I came back.

8. How would you describe the gravity of a life-changing moment?

If the moment has enough gravitas to it, it will start to influence how you do things. IT will be a specific event that you can point to as the change between “the before times” and “the after times.”

9. What’s your understanding of a “gravitational wave,” and do they exist in other aspects of life?

Gravitational waves are the actual bending and flexing of space-time due to gravitational forces interacting with each other.  We can only perceive Gravitational Waves for massive gravity interactions, but they should even occur due to the interaction between my fingers and the keyboard. They just are extremely imperceptible or even measurable. “Do they exist in other aspects of life?” That is an interesting caveat to the question. Gravitational waves are part of how we define the universe around us using physics. So, yes and no

10. Do you think gravity is holding the universe together or just keeping it apart?

Yes

11. Could we create a new sport where gravity was unpredictable, and what would it be called?

We are not a clever species. It would be called “Gravityball.” The league would be either the Major League Gravityball or the National Gravityball League.

12. How would *Gravity* the movie have ended if there were no gravity at all in space?

There really is not truthfully “gravity” in effect during the movie “Gravity.” It would have been more accurately called “Orbital Mechanics,” but that is a shit movie name… That being said, the 3-Body Problem exists in multiple media forms now (books, audio, and Netflix series).

13. Could a person have such an “intense gravity” that they pull entire rooms toward them?

Maybe? I think that person would have a much harder time not sinking into the ground instead of having a room bend towards them.

14. If it existed, what would be the flavor profile of gravity — does it taste heavy, sweet, or metallic?

Gravity is lightly salted.

15. If feelings could be weighted, which would have the most “gravitational pull”?

Love…. or maybe indigestion.

16. What’s more powerful: gravity or magnetism, and can they ever coexist in one phenomenon?

Magnetism is significantly stronger than gravity. My favorite force category is “Spooky action at a distance” though. 

17. Do animals sense gravity differently than we do?

Maybe. I know there are animals that sense magnetism in a way that we cannot, but since gravity is pretty constant in the world where all animals live (that we know of) I don’t think there is much need to “sense” gravity. 

18. How does the gravity of a silence compare to the weight of a loud sound?

I like this one.  I like this question a bunch. A loud sound you can feel. It can hit you like a weight. You can feel it in your bones, but silence is always there, sometimes you just have to remove things to experience it.

19. What’s one way gravity might be an unseen force in our thoughts?

I am sure that there are some chemical interactions between the synapses in the brain that require gravity to have them work at their most optimal capacity, but not anything that has been measured or tested to my limited knowledge.

20. Gravity… what goes up?

I don’t know. What?


Oh… I thought it was a joke.

To recap:

• It’s allgoing to Hell in a handbasket

• I don’t think everyone is aware of the gravity of the electoral decisions that have recently been made

• I know we are going to grow a vegetable garden

• Shot is about to go off the rails

• Trying to draw more again

• Need to make it into a daily practice again

• Crappy Notecard Sketch Card commissions are open

• Contact me if you want one… they are super cheap

• I was surprised that ChatPT did not ask me any questions about Gravity Falls

• Yet, I am not surprised as well

• ChatGPT is both good and terrible at cultural references

• Bet I could train a client up if I had a subscription to ChatGPT

• My sleep hygiene is terrible right now

• I roll into bed around 1 and finally settle down around 2:30/3

• Up in the morning to get stuff done

• I have a list of topic for 20 Questions now

• So, I should be able to post fairly consistently

• I would still love for somebody to start up a 20 Q interview with me

• I truly love the interviews

• And they are harder to set up in the 2020’s than they were in the 2000’s and 2010’s

• Celebrities and people of interest were more easily approachable and candid in their digital existences

• Looking for some celebs,on their field experts,  low/mid tier influencers who would like to answer 20 dumb questions from me 

• I do love asking peeps questions

• Do the Substack thing

• Or subscribe via Medium

• Hell, Imma start off a subreddit check it out at r/20QuestionsTuesday

• I made that reddit account 10 years ago

• Haven’t really done much with it though

• not even really to just lurk

• Heck I even had a profile on Del.ici.us

• Good lord I am old

20 Questions Tuesday: 460 - Thresholds

Happy week to everyone. This week I have decided to take up the topic of “Thresholds.“ I asked my 16 year old daughter if she had any questions about thresholds and she had no idea what I was talking about. So what exactly is a threshold? A threshold is a checkpoint or an edge. It is not a limit, because things can continue on past the threshold, just that things… change… when that threshold is met.  For example, one age threshold in the US is 18 years old. It is not an age limit, people can grow older than 18, but at 18, a person becomes a legal adult in the US. Before age 18, a person cannot vote, but on the day of their 18th birthday, that age threshold has been met, and that person can now vote in elections. 

So I asked ChatGPT to come up with a bunch of questions, and I would select the most interesting 20. 

Onto the questions:

1. How does the concept of a "threshold" change as we age, both physically and psychologically? Are there universal markers of aging thresholds?

The concept of a threshold changes as we age because the major milestone thresholds end up more and more being in our past. It has been 40 years since I turned 10 and my age became represented as a 2-digit number. It has been 34 years since I passed the threshold for driving. Those were very momentous threshold in my life prior to crossing them. Now, they are mere points of interest in my past. Are there universal aging thresholds? I would only say that when a child turns 1… 1 trip around our star seems to mean something to all cultures… after that threshold, everything else seems to be a cultural construct.

2. What factors can expand or contract a person’s pain thresholds?

Weirdly enough there are studies that show pain thresholds increase when the person experiencing the pain curses. So… curse it up, fuckers.

3. How does quantum tunneling challenge our traditional understanding of physical thresholds in nature? What can this teach us about breaking through seemingly impossible barriers?

Quantum tunneling shows us that even seemingly insurmountable barriers can be overcome, albeit with a certain probability. This can inspire us to challenge conventional thinking and explore new possibilities.

4.How does the Dirac Delta Function illustrate the idea of crossing a threshold between finite and infinite values? Where else do we encounter similar mathematical thresholds in everyday life?

Okay, for the non-math nerds out there, the Dirac Delta Function is a function where the value of the equation is 0 except at a singular point on the x axis where it becomes infinite. Typically the infinite point occurs at x=0. So it looks like this when x = 0, y = ∞, and when x ≠ 0, y = 0. It is an interesting function because it basically goes from nothing to everything. It is a binary operation. Yes or no. So, we do encounter it, in some fashion everyday, but we also don’t see it very much. How's that for vagueness?

5.  At the threshold of zero or infinity in calculus, strange things happen. What philosophical implications do these mathematical boundaries have in understanding the world around us?

Well, in all things, stuff gets weird when it is really big or when it is really small… really, really big and really, really small. The laws of Newtonian physics break down on the edges. 

6. How do mathematical thresholds help explain the paradoxes of black holes and event horizons, where known physical laws break down?

Black holes and event horizons are basically limits and asymptotes in mathematics. Weird shit happens on the margins.

7. Can mathematical thresholds, like tipping points, help us understand sudden shifts in complex systems, such as climate change or stock market crashes?

Yes. Tipping points are real.  That being said, those tipping points and thresholds can be modified by new technologies and “points of no return” can sometimes change.  

8. What can your personal approach to dividing by zero tell us about the thresholds where logic and abstract thinking collide?

Okay, dividing by 0 is an interesting mathematical thought of mine. It has to do with mathematical definitions and the difference between the Universal set and the nullset. I won’t go into too much detail here (because no one wants that) but it boil down to the difference between everything that exists, nothing, and everything that does not exist. It is a way to define the undefined and allow for mathematical operations to work in different systems.  Think of how irrational numbers and rational numbers interact. In certain systems you can have those 2 vastly differently defined types of numbers combine together to explain mathematical phenomena that cannot be explained by just rational numbers. Same thing with real and imaginary. So, existent and non-existent numbers could be another system that could incorporate how rational/irrational interact or real/imaginary. The biggest issue with mathematical theory (in my mind) is how different number systems’ naming conventions have separate colloquial definitions. Imaginary and irrational means something outside of mathematics, and those definitions temper how people think of those numerical systems.   

9.  What are the psychological thresholds we encounter when making major life decisions, such as changing careers or moving to a new city? What drives us to cross those points?

The biggest threshold for me has always been inactivity to activity. I have a very strong feeling of “good enough.” As long as things are arbitrarily “good enough” I do not need to change my behavior, but when that “good enough” threshold is crossed, I actively change my life to get back to an acceptable “good enough” state. I do not constantly grow and evolve, I stair step.

10. What happens when someone approaches the emotional threshold of burnout? Are there ways to recognize and mitigate it before crossing into exhaustion?

Emotional burnout is real, you can see it creeping in by looking at how people slowly become more and more frazzled. The problem with burnout is that it is a compounding problem over time. It is like the allegory of the boiling frog thing.  The frog doesn’t realize that it is in boiling water because the water was heating up over time. Same thing with people who slowly creep up to burnout. It is often not like flipping a light switch. So, just watch for small explosions of frustration from potentially insignificant transgressions.

11. How does crossing a personal threshold, such as overcoming a long-held fear, redefine someone's sense of identity or capability?

In the example you provided, conquering a long-held fear can open up possibilities because of the new activities that are potentially available. This doesn’t even take into consideration the amount of mental energy needed to maintain the threshold that was overcome.

12. Can you explore the psychological threshold of risk tolerance—why do some people reach a breaking point and some take risks that others would avoid?

Why do some people like cake more than pie. Some people are willing to accept more risk than others.

13. How has humanity crossed technological thresholds throughout history, and what societal tipping points pushed us into the industrial or digital ages?

There are the equivalence of quantum shells in society. There is a bunch of energy storing in the societal/industrial/technological structure until it reaches a threshold and pushes society/industry/technology into the next valence. Animal husbandry, farming, wheel, bronze, iron, steel, printing press… etc… Each time there was a jump in technology, there became a jump in society. Each time a threshold was met and surpassed, there was a shift in how people existed.

14.  What cultural factors influence whether a society adopts or resists new technologies, and what threshold marks the point of no return for widespread acceptance?

I think time and utility are the pressures necessary for new technology to become widely adopted.  Think about the progression from radio to tv. Most people had a radio of some kind and It took a while for a TV to be in everyone’s living room.  TV was new and there were not many shows associated with it, while there were boatloads of shows on the radio.  Eventually all the shows migrated to TV and everyone had to have a TV to participate in the cultural zeitgeist. The thing about new technology acceptance is all about the reason for having the technology being taken for granted. It is a slow pivot while it is happening, but seems instantaneous when looking back on it. 

15. How do major historical events represent societal thresholds, such as the fall of empires or revolutions, where one era ends and another begins?

I was just mentioning this in the previous  technological question. These threshold events and cultural milestones seem instantaneous when you look back at them, but the fall of the Roman Empire took arguably centuries, but the general population seems to picture it as falling in 5 years with a resounding crash. Personally I think the diminishing of the US that seems to be currently going on is actually part of the tale end of the fall of the British Empire.  As much as Americans want to differentiate from Britain, we kind a just Britto 2.0.  Think of it as The Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium… The United Kingdom and the USA. Come at me history nerds.  

16.  How do social thresholds, such as achieving wealth or fame, change people's perceptions of themselves and how they interact with others?

Well, there are positive thresholds and negative one. When you hit a positive one, it makes you feel successful, but negative thresholds make you feel like a failure.

17.  In the context of global crises like pandemics or climate change, are there societal thresholds we may be approaching that will require radical shifts in how we live?

I think the connectivity of modern society makes the propagation of pandemics alarmingly fast. When the threshold of reliable, safe and (relatively) affordable air travel really became part of society, the potential to quarantine places became significant;y harder. For climate change, the next big leap forward needs to be about affordable, reliable, and clean energy sources. We are closing in on the goal, but not quite there yet. It is not quite reliable or affordable just yet.  When it becomes reliable and affordable, there will be a threshold that hits concerning reducing the usage of climatologically harmful energy sources become too expensive.

18. How do near-death experiences reflect the threshold between life and death, and why do so many people describe similar sensations when approaching this boundary?

I think most near-death experiences follow the same pattern because it is about how the brain shuts down electrically. That threshold is all about the draw down of power to the synapses in the brain box. 

19. How do ancient traditions, such as shamanic rituals or vision quests, use thresholds as metaphors for spiritual transformation or enlightenment?

Everyone uses thresholds as metaphors for spiritual transformation and enlightenment.  Thresholds are a necessity for everything spiritual, even (and especially) cults. You aren’t REALLY part of the cult unless you give the cult all your worldly goods and give the cult leader access to your significant other. That is a threshold to full acceptance into the cult.

20. What role do Threshold Guardians, in the monomyth, play in preventing or delaying the hero from crossing into new realms of knowledge or power?

If I remember correctly, Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with  a Thousand Faces” mentions Threshold Guardians as being a small bump that keeps the hero from going on their heroic adventure.  Think of Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen gatekeeping Luke Skywalker until they are no longer a barrier to him going on adventure. Once those Threshold Guardians are removed from the story, the hero is able to move forward on their quest.

To recap:

• This was a bunch of writing on my part today

• I think I typed “threshold” enough that the word has lost all meaning and now just looks like a string of letters

• Semantic Satiation is real, yo

• Don’t forget the Substack or Medium

• The most exciting ways of consuming this content

• Seriously, Substack seems like it is the next future of written essays on the Internets

• I need to get a subscription to ChatGPT and OpenArt…

• I use them enough, but I don’t have the income right now to pay for them

• I will take gifts though, iffens someone wants to gift me a subscription

• I take gifts in general

• Still on the prowl for a job

• Hit me up if you think of anything or hear of anything

• This mortgage isn’t going to pay for itself

• Made some amazing gluten free focaccia this week

• Caputo Fioreglut flour is stunning

• Expensive but worth it

• MLS playoffs are a thing

• Let’s go Crew

• Have a great week everyone 

20 Questions Tuesday: Shadows - 459

Today I am still looking hard for work.  Anyone who needs some UX/Illustartion/Cartographic freelance work… hit me up, yo! This job market is a wreck, and feedback is sparse. I did get some feedback on my UX portfolio recently and I am trying to figure out how to incorporate the feedback.  It is a bit nebulous, but it is the only feedback I have gotten. Anywhoozlebee… it is at SRHportfoilo.net Take a look iffens you want to.

Okay… now to the point of the post. This week I am answering 20 questions posed by ChatGPT and Gemini concerning the topic of “Shadows.” Shadows are really cool… literally and figuratively. 

Here we go.  Onto the questions:

1. What are shadows from a scientific perspective, and how do they form?

A shadow is the dark area created by an object that is blocking the light being projected from a light source… This is the most general understanding, but from a physics perspective, it is the area of occlusion created by an object blocking the path of an electro-magnetic signal emanating from a E-M source. This occlusion could be a physical object, or even some kind of dampening field or some such thing.  I’m not a physicist… I am just guessing that something like this could exist.

2. What role do shadows play in art and photography, and how do they affect composition?

Shadows are extremely useful.  Sometimes they can be used to guide the eye around a piece of work.  Sometimes they are good for just blocking off negative space.  There are whole classes in the visual arts that deals primarily with light and dark. How to use those 2 components to create impactful images. When I was in art school, the course I took on this was Visual Organization. It was a fun class.

3. Can shadows in the digital world differ from those in the physical world? How do CGI shadows work?

Well… they aren’t “real” just like everything in a CGI world is not real. The shadows in CGI environments are pure math. I think they are associated with the process of ray-tracing. 

4. What is the significance of shadows in mythology, such as shadow people or djinn? What do these folklore/mythological creatures symbolize in different cultures, and how have their representations evolved over time?

Okay, conversations about Shadow People and Djinn are almost taboo subjects, even amongst the most ardent believers of paranormal stuffs. Shadow people primarily represent evil in most cultures where the folklore references them.  Djinn are a different thing all together. Djinn are said to be a race of beings that, to us, seem to be made of shadow and energy.  It is said they inhabit this dimension and a separate dimension as well. Djinn are an interesting lot. In stories they span the gamut of personalities, however the ones that tend to interact with people seem to be more malicious in nature.  I really love the Djinn folklore.  For more information on that, please listen to the podcast “The Hidden Djinn” by Rabia Chaudry (who could read me the phone book.  A voice like mellowed honey. 

5. How might the shadow of a 4th-dimensional object appear to us in 3D space?

I think this needs to be explained a little bit by what is meant by a shadow wen talking about mathematical dimensionality. A 0-D object is an object with a describable position.  It is a point. A 1-D object is a line. It has 1 dimension, length. A 2-D object is a shape. That is an abject that has area because it is composed of some aspect of length and width. A 3-D object is a volume. It is an object that has a volume that is defined by length, width, and height.  3-D is where we reside and are most comfortable. So the shadow of a 3-D object  in 2-D space is a shape, and the shadow of a 2-D object in 1-D space is a line, and the shadow of a 1-D object into 0-D space is a point. Sooo… a 4-D object is a hyper-volume that has length, width, height, and… I guess, time? So the shadow of a hyper-volume on a 3-D space is a shape that has volume.Weird. Supposedly within theories like string theory there could be up to 10 or 11 dimensions.  Cooky. 

6. Can psychological “shadows,” like Carl Jung’s concept of the shadow self, influence behavior and identity?

Of course.  If there is part of your personality that you are actively or even unintentionally suppressing… that’s gonna leave a mark..  

7. How does the phenomenon of eclipses challenge our understanding of light and shadow on a cosmic scale?

Not so much on a cosmic scale as much as on a planetary scale. I am unsure how in cosmology one could truly understand the concept of shadows. Does a nebula cast a shadow?  

8. How do shadows play into horror films and literature? What makes them so effective in creating suspense?

Shadows are amazing at creating suspense because that are little spots of the unknown. The forest in colonial America was a scary place due to the shadows in the forest. The legen do Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman is purely due to the unknown in the dark and foreboding forest.

9. Are there any scientific studies or theories that explore the relationship between quantum mechanics and shadows?

Yes, They deal with the nature of the particle wave theory of light. 

10. Could an artificial shadow be used for practical purposes, like temperature control or camouflage?

Ever been under a sun-shade? 

11. How does the "shadow of the past" influence our understanding of history and personal memories?

The shadow of the past is kind of the idea of unintentionally repeating mistakes.  That fear of repetition causes timidness and safe decisions.

12. What philosophical interpretations can be drawn from Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, where shadows represent reality?

That reality to one all depends on the viewers’ perspective. To the viewers of the shadows on the wall, that is their reality. It really goes back to 3-D objects’ shadows on the 2-D space….I have already waxed eloquent about that.

13. Can shadows be used to create optical illusions, and if so, what are some of the most famous examples?

The one that I can think of has to do with color theory. How you can construct an image such that the shadow of an object is the same color as a portion of the image that is “in the light.”

14. What role do shadows play in our unconscious fears and anxieties?

Shadows often equate to the unknown.  The unknown can be scary and anxiety causing.

15. How do we project our own shadows onto others, and what are the consequences of this behavior?

Projection is projection is projection. Whether someone is projecting their “shadows” or their “highlights,” it does not matter. Projection is ascribing intention to actions or behaviors of others because of how you would behave or act. 

16. Shadow of the Universe: How do astronomical phenomena like dark matter and the cosmic microwave background create "shadows" in the universe?

The shadow universe is not like the Star Trek Mirror Universe where everything is the same but the good guys are bad and sport weird facial hair. The Shadow universe is made from dark matter, which we see evidence of, but have never directly observed it.

17. In various cultures, how are shadows interpreted as omens or signs of good or bad fortune?

Since shadows denote darkness, often there are pieces of folklore that mention a shadow being the symbolism of bad things happening to whomever the shadow falls on.  Basically darkness = bad and scary.

18. How do shadows represent the complexities of moral decision-making and the gray areas between right and wrong?

Often when “good guys” are operating on the fringes of society by doing potentially bad things… or morally gray areas, they are said to be “operating in the shadows.” 

19. Can ignorance be considered a shadow that obscures our understanding of the world?

Yes.

20. Film Noir: How is shadow used as a visual element in film noir to convey darkness, danger, and moral ambiguity?

Shadows are a strong visual element in Film Noir. It adds texture to the images and frames where the filmmakers want your eye to follow.

To recap:

• Do the thing with the Substack

• Substack is becoming a thing

• Isn’t it?

• Don’t forget to do the thing with Medium

• Medium is often overlooked

• Still need gainful employment

• Artistic commissions are open

• Get in contact with me, and I can bang something out for ya

• It is late

• And I still need to format this post

• Get all the links embedded

• Make some imagery

• Shadowy imagery

• Send good employment thoughts this way

• Papa needs a job

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 458 - Modern Job search: Part 2 - The Revenge

Well the contract work I was doing has come to a close, so I am now back on the job hunt. This is a significantly stressful time of my life. I am honestly not sure where my next paycheck will come from… so if you need any freelance UX work, let me know. Anyway… I created a pretty thorough prompt for ChatGPT to ask me more questions about the Modern Job Search. I think it did an okay job of not repeating any questions from the first Modern Job Search post exactly (well, I did a good job editing out the repeated questions - - Pat myself in the back for the simplest of things). This time the prompt included language to ask more emotional questions. ChatGPT and I are tight like that. Here we go for 20 more questions about the job search… ugh.

Onto the questions:

1. How has AI changed the way we search for jobs in 2024?

This is a pretty self-serving question from ChatGPT… If I do say so myself. Anyhoo… It has helped for crafting job specific cover letters, but on the employer side, I think it has made it worse. I think many places are using AI and other machine learning for their ATS’s (Application Tracking Systems).  ATS’s (to my understanding), are often the first round of filtering of applications (correct me if I am wrong on this one HR peeps). There are apocryphal stories of managers with open req’s getting no applications to look at due to filters in the ATS having errors or being too stringent. I know these are just stories, but they seem plausible.

2. How do you stay motivated when the job search feels like it’s dragging on forever?

That is a very good question. Sometimes I don’t stay motivated. It is hard to grind out applications every day for positions you may never hear back from. Or eweirder than that hear back from months after applying.  Last week I got a form rejection email from a position I applied to in March. It took 7 months for the automated system to give me the generic “thanks but no thanks” email.

3. What strategies have you used to manage the stress and anxiety that comes with a long job hunt?

Does insomnia and eating cream cheese frosting with a spoon count as stress management strategies? 

Pillsbury Cream Cheese Frosting + Spoon = 😭

4. Have you ever experienced “job search burnout,” and if so, how did you overcome it?

Of course I have experienced “Job search burnout,” but I have children who need to eat and bills that need to be paid. I have a mortgage and I made a commitment as a partner and father to help provide for my family. I am very close to not being able to maintain that commitment right now and my stress levels are insane.

5. How do you maintain a sense of self-worth when you’re not working but actively seeking a job?

This is a tough one.  So much of people’s identity is tied up into what they do. A question that is often asked upon meeting new people is “what do you do?” 

I am a user experience designer

This is often followed up with “where do you work?”

I am in-between contracts/jobs at the moment.

That doesn’t help the identity much. It truly is harrowing and tends to reinforce all the imposter syndrome feelings that I carry in the best of times. 

6. What’s the best strategy for balancing a professional yet personal social media presence?

There is definitely a balance. Personally I try to not post anything socially that I would not be okay talking with a co-worker or supervisor with. I do post some stuff that I wouldn’t want my mother to read… because it is about my mother.

7.  How can you tell if a job posting is legit or just a scam?

There aren’t many tried and true ways.  Often you can see cracks in the posting by how the job duties and requirements are worded. It does not mean that these are scams for stealing your money (although, I am sure that is a goal for some of the scams), but, I feel, are more scams to get really good employment data for free by scraping freely given resumes. Some aren’t even scams in the sense that they are taking anything as much as the position is a ghost position that does not really exist. The worst is when a recruiter from some fly-by-night recruiting/staffing agency reaches out for a resume for a position they think would be good for you, and then you hear nothing from them. I think this happens so these recruiters can hit their contact metrics for their own employment.

8. Is LinkedIn really the place to be, or are there better alternatives for networking?

As far as digitally in the employ-o-sphere, I think it probably is the best place that most people know of. It will never be as good as contacting your network in person. The last contract I got (which was a very nice contract) was because a friend of my brother’s knew someone who was looking for UX help on a project that was already in motion.  I did not send a generic application into the digital void with my fingers crossed.

9. Do recruiters still care about your GPA, or is that ancient history?

It depends on where you are in your careeer path. The only time it seems that a GPA really matters is when you have no other data to show that you are diligent at tasks. Once you have some work experience under your belt, the GPA seems to become immaterial… even though many digital applications require it for the education portion of the application. 

10. How important is it to showcase personal projects on your resume or portfolio?

It is super important if you do not have professional projects to show in a portfolio. They should be de-emphasized as professional projects take their place in the portfolio. 

11. How do you deal with the feeling of isolation when you’re job searching for a long time?

I reach out to people fairly regularly. I will periodically reach out to friends and family via text to make sure I connect. I miss conversations though.

12. What’s the toughest part emotionally about applying to countless jobs without hearing back?

As mentioned before the reinforcement of the imposter syndrome and the stress of not knowing where the next paycheck is coming from.

13.How do you handle rejection emails when you were really counting on the job?

“Counting” on the job does not really enter into the conversation.  The ones that hurt are the positions you are uniquely qualified for, but you get no contact from. For example, I have an MA in Geographic Information Systems/Analytical Cartography/Spatial Analysis Methods with a 20 year career in GIS and cartography  AND an MS in User Experience Design with a almost 10 year career, and I did not get a call or email from a position for a role working on UX for GIS for the industry standard software developer for GIS. I am a purple fucking unicorn for UX in GIS and didn’t even get a sniff. 

14. How do you handle rejection from potential employers without it affecting your confidence?

Not gonna lie, sometimes it really hurts. Real Bad. Most of the time, though, I know that there isn’t a personal reason for the rejection, but it can still hurt.

15. Should you apply for jobs you’re not 100% qualified for, or is that a waste of time?

Apply for any job you think you should apply to. When you do not get callbacks for job applications that you are uniquely qualified for, apply to anything. Sometimes applying for a job that you are 1000% qualified for is a waste of time.

16. What’s one essential thing you should always ask at the end of a job interview?

What are the next steps in the process. It shows that you are interested in moving forward.

17. What’s more important these days: a flashy résumé or a well-connected reference?

Well-connected reference.  It is not what you know, right now.  It is who you know.

18. Are soft skills becoming the new hard skills in the modern job market?

Yes… to a degree.  Soft skills are difficult to portray in a digital application package. 

19. What’s one piece of advice you'd give to someone starting their job search today?

Just keep at it.

20. When the search feels hopeless, what keeps you going?

Family and friends and the overwhelming stress of upcoming bills. I am really anxious about upcoming bills.

To recap:

• Dude, I’m tired

• This is a daunting process

• I like AI, most of my professional conversations right now are with Chad… uh, I mean ChatGPT

• We have a very strong friendship

• It is pretty one-sided… Chad being a LLM afterall

• And me being a person

• I won’t subscribe to ChatGPT, so we aren’t great friends…

• I can only ask ChatGPT a few questions a day

• I need to get a better friend

• Or enough moolah to get a subscription to ChatGPT

• Then my friendship with Chaad will be unstoppable

• Still one-sided, but an unstoppable version of one-sided

• I really need a new contract

• Or a new job

• Or to win the lottery that I do not play

• Family is good

• Truly the only thing that is an obstacle in my life is my ability to accrue the moneys

• Gotta make those duckets, y’all 

• So, seriously, if you think I would be good for any position that you know of…

• UX, product, writing, etc… Send the position information my way

• Another way of coping is cooking

Homemade Cashew Chicken

• Cashew Chicken from scratch for dinner tonight

• I have more applications to fill out

• Even this late at night

• No rest for the weary

• Oh, and the insomnia

• There is tons of insomnia for the weary

• All the insomnia you could shake a stick at

• Do the thing with the Substack and the Medium and all that jazz

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 457 - Superpowers

It’s been a couple of weeks since the last post.  What can I say? summers are not easy to  schedule a weekly post that take some not insignificant effort. Posting is not my superpower… which leads me to ask the LLM’s about the topic of Superpowers. So this week, thanks go to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude for a bevy of questions I needed to sift through.
Let’s do this!

Onto the questions:

1.  Which everyday task would benefit most from a useless superpower, like super-speed folding of laundry?

I think thermal control and cooking would be the go to.

2.  What’s the most overrated superpower and why doesn’t it live up to the hype?

I think flight is.  Flight without super strength or invulnerability or something like that would be near useless. Think about it.

3.  If you could give your pet a superpower, what would it be and how would it change your daily life?

I think I would make my pet have the ability to be omnijocular (all funny, a la omnipotent, omniscient, etc…) When Chewie or Cesca would want to they would be able to snake anyone laugh.

4.  Can a superpower be too powerful? 

Yes.  Next question.

5.  Which obscure superpower would be the most useful in a zombie apocalypse? (e.g., super-fast knitting to make escape ropes?)

I think something like improved balance (even when unconscious), that way I could sleep in trees and on top of structures that Zombies could not get to. Zombies are not known for their agility.

6.  How would your daily commute change if you had the power of flight, but could only fly three feet off the ground?

I work remotely from home, this would not do much to my commute, but I would love going to the grocery store.

7.  If people had superpowers based on their worst habits, what powers would the world’s worst procrastinator have?

I think a procrastinator’s superpower would be the power of 75%. If the person waits until the last minute they get 3/4ths done or at a 3/4ths of perfect quality. (Honestly, you could just aim for 25% higher and get 93.75% every single time… or 89.06% depending on order of operations… percentages of percentages is confusing. Is it 75% of 125% or an additional 75% of the extra 25%… Anyway, I would game that system sooo hard.)

75% Pie Chart

8.  Would you prefer a power that makes you better at something you’re already good at or one that compensates for your greatest weakness? Why?

I would prefer powers that augmented something I am already good at.  Why? Well, the things I am already bad at, I am probably bad at for a reason. 

9.  What’s the most embarrassing superpower someone could accidentally reveal at a dinner party?

Remember “The Spleen” from the movie “Mystery Men.” Yeah, a superpower of flatulence at a dinner party.

The Spleen from “Mystery Men”

10.  Would you rather have a superpower that makes you invincible to one specific thing, like office gossip, or one that allows you to control something really specific, like all the Wi-Fi signals in your house?

Since the house I am living in is basically a Faraday cage because of its construction materials, I like the idea of being able to control Wi-Fi signals.  It would be great to boost the signal in the house.

11.  If a superpower could be inherited like eye color, which ones would create the weirdest family dynamics?

Telepathy. Being able to read someone’s mind messes everything up. Especially family… thems some weird em-effers.

12.  What superpower do you think would be the most difficult to control?

Time… the mathematics of it all. The Milky way is traveling at 2.1 Million KM/hr, and our solar system is traveling at 720,000 KM/hr and within the solar system the Earth  is traveling at 107,000 KM/hr… To go back in time you would need to be able to calculate your correct position… or you are free-floating in the expanse of space.

13.  Do you believe superpowers could ever exist in reality, or are they strictly fictional?

Totally fictional.

14.  How do you think superpowers would change society if they were real?

I have no idea… it would be pretty crazy. Any true comicbook-esque superpower would alter how everyone looks at reality.

15.  What ethical dilemmas could arise from having superpowers?

Equitability.

16.  Could superpowers be used for evil purposes? If so, how?

Yes… just as they could be used for good.  Powers are powers.

17.  Should people with superpowers be held to a different standard of morality?

Of course. Because they could potentially affect so many more people. Just like politicians should be held to a higher morality because their decisions affect others greatly. Same with Police… if your job requires you to be armed, you have to be better.

18.  How could superpowers be regulated or controlled to prevent abuse?

That is a very good question… I think it would depend on how strong the superpowers are.

19.  Would superpowers be a test of character or a burden to bear?

Yes, to both. 

20.  How have depictions of superpowers in media evolved over the decades?

Well, the first real superpowers in stories go back to demi-gods and magic in ancient cultures, and powers depicted in those stories run the gamut of being used for good, being used for evil, being used for others or even as selfishly as possible. So… superpower stories started out similar to how they are being depicted now.  There is a despite to portray superpowers as gritty and realistic right now, but if you go back 90 years when superman hit the scene, the idea of superpowers mutated into the idea of an ideal person. So, if we look at mythology as the original superpowered stories, or if we look at modern day superpowered stories as a modern mythology… it has always been a smattering of good, bad, altruistic, selfish, etc… with periods of time where the stories bend towards the concept of “ideal.”

To recap:

• I have about 4 almost finished posts that I just couldn’t take over the finish line

• One about the Olympics

• One about generalized AI

• One about my past

• …But no one needs to learn about my past

• And one that was just a bunch of random questions

• None of them “felt” right

• I had even gotten to the recap of 2 of the posts

• So, all that was left was to format, create a title image, and post

• But… nope

• That was not going to happen

• Of course it happens to be superpowers is what gets me over the hump

• Posting is not my superpower

• I’m not telling you what my superpower is though

• Figure it out on your own

• Okay, Imma try to be more punctual for my next post

• Maybe I should start the post earlier than Tuesday morning?

• Nah

• Join the substack or read this on Medium

• Instead of clicking on links like a barbarian

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 456 - Ben Callahan

This week I have the pleasure of asking Ben Callahan 20 Questions. I met Ben at a IXDA Columbus talk that he was giving on a series of wider UX conversations lovingly called “The Question.” I saw this and immediately knew I had to ask the guy who asks the question, 20 of my questions. As his website says, Ben is an author, speaker, coach, and founder. He is extremely open to possibility and welcomes new thoughts and perspectives. His presentation on the Question was thought provoking and a delight to be a part of. That being said, I don’t know Ben very well, so let’s change that.

On to the questions:

In my former life as a cartographer/geographer, my passion for geography and the intriguing notion of "space" has fueled my curiosity about people's geographic stories. My own story unfolds like this: I came into the world as an air force brat at Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Following my father's military postings, we made our way to Montgomery, Alabama, and eventually settled in the greater Birmingham arae in Alabama, specifically in Center Point, where I spent my formative years until college beckoned me to Kent State University. Post-graduation, I ventured to Columbus, Ohio, accompanying my then-fiancée, now ex-wife (it’s all good we are still good friends), for our graduate studies at Ohio State University. Since then, Columbus and its environs have been home, where I've shared life's adventures with my children, my wife, and her children (my step kiddos).

Question1: What is your “Geographic Story?”

I have some similarities to what you shared, Scott! I was born in Oregon where my parents moved after they returned from their Navy posting in Japan to get married. From there, we moved a lot—my Father transferred to the Air Force so we were in Cleveland, Philly, Biloxi, Omaha, and (eventually) Dayton, Ohio. I currently live just outside of Dayton with my two kiddos. My partner lives here in Oakwood as well, just a few blocks away, with her kids. We love the walkability of our little hometown, but are excited to get out of Ohio eventually, once our kids are out of high school. I’ve been fortunate to travel to some very beautiful places for work and play. My partner and I both left our hearts in Switzerland since we first visited a few years ago. We go back as often as we can, but we also love NYC: the pace, the food, the arts, the fashion, the culture. In general, anywhere is just fine as long as the people I love are along for the ride.

It is not the destination, it is the journey and the people you meet along the way. So, even in your above response about where you have lived, you mentioned extensive travels.

Question 2: where is the furthest you have traveled from where you are right now?

I’ve been fortunate to see many places, but the furthest is probably Israel and Jordan. I was only there for a short time, but it was eye-opening and challenged me to consider the impact a place has on what someone believes and who they become because of those beliefs.

I have also traveled to Brazil, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Hawaii, and all over Western Europe.

I’d like to travel all over Africa (to meet the people and see the culture and the landscape). I would love to spend some time in Asia as well: Japan (for the food, cherry blossoms, and architecture), Indonesia (for the surfing and the beaches), India (for the culture, food, yoga), and South Korea for all of the reasons above!

Many of the places you have listed as having been to are on my list of places I would like to go.  My big trip that I would love to take would be to Antarctica… but that is a story for a different time. 

It is time for the question of the ages. A question I have been asking for over 15 years.  I should probably go through all my interviews and collate the data, but that sounds like work.  Eventually when llm’s get better, I will task a bot to go through all my interviews and create some statistics.  Everyone has been waiting for it.

Question 3: Cake or pie?  Which specific kind and why?

This is really hard. I love pie crust, but I also love a really dark chocolate cake—moist and dense is what I’m after. But pumpkin pie is so good…. You’re killing me. If I can still have cupcakes after choosing pie, then I choose pie. If I can’t then I need some cake.

In my years of asking this question, the people who tend to choose pie, really like pie, but people who choose cake would punch a puppy in the rain for a piece of that sweet cake confection. I never really understood the concept behind this virulence in cake love until I asked the LLM’s about it. Both Chad (ChatGPT) and Bart (Gemini) surmised that the reason for the discrepancy of fervor was due to pies being a yummy thing you eat from time to time, and that cakes are often a symbols of celebration for an occasion that needs to be lauded with confection.

Question 4: Does this rational hold up up to your scrutiny? And how did the LLM’s figure that out before me? 

Interesting. Personally, I don’t like many things that are too sweet. Hence my love of pie crust and dark chocolate cake. I think of having pie at Thanksgiving and cake at someone’s wedding or birthday. I guess I don’t necessarily disagree with the AI on this. They clearly got their answer from articles around the world explaining those ideas, unless someone has built a taste-testing AI I don’t know about. Ironically, artificial intelligence was my specialization while I was studying for my computer science degree. Things have changed a lot since then, but it’s a fun time to be a large language model right now.

This is the dawn of the age of AI. Starting with ML and expert systems tuned using fuzzy logic to now, 3 big players in the generalized LLM AI landscape (Chat GPT, Gemini, and Anthropic) attempting to approximate human interaction, this is definitely a time of great growth in LLM’s.  The leaps and gains have seemed relatively exponential lately, but I think the evolution of LLM’s is starting to plateau as the newer versions seem to be less quantum jumps and more interactive improvements. This is fairly typical cycle for new tech which leads me to ask:

Question 5: Do you think that a generalized AI will ever be true “intelligent” and not merely a better statistical probability output that closely approximates a human?

I’m an optimist. Because of this, I think I agree more with Kurzweil than I do with Musk—it’s more likely that we’ll merge with AI in many odd and interesting ways than we’ll be extinguished by AI. 

My optimism also leads me to believe that generalized AI will, at some point, be indistinguishable from human intelligence. The curves on those graphs are also quite scary—once we reach that point, it’s wild how fast the predicted intelligence expands. 

The question behind your question is more a spiritual one than a technical one, though—will we ever see AI as intelligent in the way we see humans as intelligent? That is maybe more about personhood than intelligence, and the basis of all the good science fiction out there 🙂

More than anything, I love the thought exercise of considering these ideas. In the end, it may be the body modders that win simply by being willing to try things with their brains the rest of us will be fearful of.

I, too, have an optimistic feeling about how people will integrate with AI.  I don’t think that any AI we create will be our downfall. I do kind of think that the AI we create will evolve into something wildly beyond anything we could have imagined, and will eventually leave us behind, both figuratively and metaphorically.  

AI is just something I have been playing with and really have enjoyed.  LLM’s are interesting things, but it is clear that they are mirrors of the prompts  you give them. Recently, in my job search that is taking entirely too long, I have been getting an AI assist in my cover letters. I create a prompt that generates a cover  letter for the specific position and then have to edit the hell out of it to get the position description phrases out of the letter., but that is a tale for another day. 

My path to UX was similar to my path to cartography. Much like no one sets out to be a geographer, no one (at least up to very recently) sets out from high school to become a UX practitioner. That is one of the reasons that I love the UX industry so much. There are so many varied knowledge bases that end up in UX.

Question 6: What was your journey to becoming a UX practitioner?

I studied Computer Science (on the AI track, actually). With this degree, I landed a job as a Software Engineer right out of university and worked in an enterprise product company fixing other people’s bugs for five years. Those five years were a slow death for me. The culture, the process, the interactions felt like poison to me. So, having saved up some money, I took a bit of time off and worked at a small nonprofit doing creative work for a year. This gave me a chance to experiment with all kinds of design, animation, video, audio, photography, writing—anything I wanted to do, I could do. After that year, I started a company called Design District with a friend who had studied film. We made short movies on the weekends and corporate videos during the week. Editing eight hours of talking heads will make you question your life. Luckily, one of our customers asked us to make them a website. We made a five page static site over the course of the next couple weeks for $500. Pretty soon, all our clients were asking for this. Eventually, I found a real passion for building interfaces. This was the intersection of my love for programming and my appreciation for the human condition—there was a person on the other side of every experience I built. 

About this time, I read Zeldman’s book on web standards and it fundamentally changed my perspective on the web. That was the beginning of my real career and I’ve been doing something related for the last 20 years. 

It is very interesting that you went to school for computer science. Especially since it was CS, from the before times. The CS department at college was in the same space as the mathematics department at Kent State in the mid 90’s (not sure that is still the case), and you did not strike me as having the kind personality I met during that time. It is very clear that you really integrate the “human” into your work. Truly, it is fascinating.  But this is coming from someone who had to drag his sketch board and charcoals to his elements of topology class, and was studying differential equations while etching zinc plates in his printmaking class… so I get it.

Now, onto a completely different directions… Question 7: if you could have dinner with any 5 people in the world who have ever lived, what food would you serve for that dinner?

There’s a salad Jamie Oliver makes that is out of this world—I’d start with that. I’d probably make some rustic white bread from Ken Forkish which would work well as the bread for that salad (and to snack on with some nicely salted butter). Perhaps I’d smoke some beef ribs or roast a chicken. Might be nice to do a simple blackened broccolini with a bit of EVOO and some good salt and freshly cracked pepper. For dessert, a chocolate mousse and an espresso is hard to beat. For drinks, we’d maybe start with a Negroni and then have a Pinot Noir if we had chicken or a Syrah or Cab if we had the beef ribs.

Around 4 courses if I counted correctly. I think that is an interesting set-up to a “5 People Ever” meal.  There is structure to it, but nothing over-bearing. There is a certain level of formality to it. The menu is not stuffy, but it is rich. The entree (either option) is relatable to any time period, and understandable for most, if not all, cultures. People have been eating cows and chickens since time immemorial. It is not so casual that you need paper towels, but it is also not formal enough to require white linen.  I would imagine the conversation would be engaging, but never raucous. There would be insights shared, but not necessarily tales. 

Question 8: Fill in the blanks (editor’s note: feel free to ask others for input on the first blank): Others find that I am mostly _____. I feel that I am mostly _____. 

Interesting. I asked my partner to fill in that first blank, and she said, “I find that you are mostly good at everything.” In response to this, I thought to myself, “I feel that I am mostly trying to learn all the intricacies of an interest.” I suppose this makes me seem, from the outside looking in, like I am good at that thing even though I’m just learning about it. 🙂

I asked my kids to both answer as well…

“I find that my dad is mostly making something.” When I asked for clarity, here’s what my youngest offered: “You're either doing something creatively or making food or working on a project.” I think this is true. I like to create stuff and I always have a project or two going. Ironically, when I read this and then go to answer the second half, I feel that I am mostly distracted. An area of growth for sure.

My oldest answered, “I find that my dad is mostly someone who enjoys working with and being around a group of people.” This is true, although less so than it used to be. These days, I feel that I am mostly someone who enjoys being around a small group of my chosen people—not just anyone, haha!

I think you may be the first person who has gotten feedback from their kiddos.  I love it. One thing that stands out to me with those answers is that, while not exactly the same, they all align pretty well. Inquisitive and busy, there are worse things to be accused of.

Question 9: What interest are you currently trying to learn the intricacies of?

Several. I’ve been on a 15 or 20 year journey with coffee—next on my list there is roasting… I am currently digging in on learning the Mandolin. I’ve always been a musician, but never played stringed instruments (except the piano). I’ve also been working for the last four and a half years to become a poet. That sounds a little odd, perhaps, but I think there’s tremendous beauty (and value) in being someone who can say a lot with a little. Poetry is the apex of that idea, and I intend to develop that skill for the remainder of my life!

Poetry is something anyone can do, but only those who really work at it can do it well. I truly am envious of people who are capable of poetry. Poetry is just not my thing.  I like it, but it is just not in my skillset.

Deceptively simple question, but very profound.  Question 10: Are you happy?

Yes!

I believe happiness comes from alignment. Alignment comes from knowing your true self so that you can say yes to things that align with that and no to things that don’t. It’s only in the last five years that I’ve learned who I truly am. That’s allowed me to walk away from certain things, toward others, to add some boundaries in certain places, and focus spending my time with people who appreciate and love me for who I am instead of what I can offer them.

I think it is amazing how many people are “unaligned,” as you refer to it.  Happiness is most definitely about alignment and not fighting against who a person is. That is not all happiness is about, but without that alignment, it is nigh impossible.

Question 11: What advice would you give to yourself from 5 years ago?

I would say, “Don’t be afraid of change.” I’m someone who is very loyal to the routines I’ve established. But a life of growth and fulfillment requires regularly letting go of something in order to make space for a new and, often, better thing. Five years ago I fought that. After struggling through some big changes, I’m so much happier. 

Of course, getting that advice and fighting through the growth are two different things. So, while I can look back with clarity on my situation, I’m grateful for the way the last five years have changed me. The struggle is the growth, you know? This ties into something I’m working on now, which is finding a way to appreciate and be grateful for the whole range of human experience. It’s the mundane of life that makes a vacation fun, the devastation of heartbreak that helps us genuinely recognize love. Every experience enables a perspective on another experience. I guess I’m saying this because I could give myself that advice about change, but I am pretty sure I needed the last five years to actually learn that lesson. In fact, I’m still learning it. I know this isn’t the root of your question, just something you got me pondering! 

An interesting and wonderful thing that occurs during these 20 Questions Tuesday interviews I do, is that they often bring up things people might not have ever thought about and reframe how people look at things in their life.  I know for a fact that as the interviewer, I always come to some growth in myself while merely just asking the questions. 

Question 12: What is a piece of content/media (book, show, podcast, movie, blog, YouTube channel, etc…) that you feel everyone would benefit from consuming (reading, watching, listening, etc…)?

Depending on when you ask me a question like this, I’ll have a different answer! Something I’ve accepted about myself since COVID is that I am terrible at reading/watching/listening to anything from start to finish. Instead of fighting this, I’ve simply decided to lean in. :) That means I read a little bit of a lot of books each day. I have a stack of 12 books on my desk right now, all of which I’m reading. What this does is give me an explosion of dots to connect. As someone focused on design systems, the job is as much about the space between components as it is about the components themselves—if things don’t work well together, it doesn’t matter how amazing the things are independently. So, this acceptance of my inability to stay with a specific book or show or whatever without interruption has allowed me to exercise my “connect the dots” muscles, which just happen to be critical to design system work. 

To your question, specifically, I’ve been working through a book called “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. In this book, there’s a chapter called “The Animacy of Grammar.” I can’t think of many pieces of writing that have changed me in the way these words have. They helped me to understand the way our language shapes our entire worldview. Cultural perspective is embedded in words, grammar, language, and we can’t even think without those words. Our language is so fundamental to who we are and yet I lived 46 years before I even understood its impact on who I am and how I perceive the world around me. I don’t know if it’s for everyone, but that chapter is my current recommendation.

Here we are with the triskaidekaphobia question. With a bit of a preface, because many people state that they have no superstitions, but are still creatures of habit. For example: when I played soccer in high school, I said I had a lucky routine for how I would get dressed for a game. It involved a very specific sequence of putting things on, especially the multiple layers of socks and shinguards. At the time I considered it my “Lucky” process to get ready for a game, but looking back on it, it wasn’t about luck, it was about intentionally transitioning from one state (not playing soccer) to another state (ready to play soccer) with what amounted to a ritual. So, when I mention ritual, it could be something like drinking a cup of coffee and doing the crossword before starting your day of work, and not necessarily sacrificing a chicken for luck. 

Question 13: Do you have any superstitions or rituals in your life at the moment?

I’m certainly a coffee drinker and I absolutely enjoy the ritual of making the coffee as much as I do that first sip. I try to spend a bit of time each morning letting my partner know that she’s my top priority, reading, and thinking through my day. I’m not great at managing the balance between the reactive parts of my day and the proactive, longer-term goals I have. So, I use the ritual of “recentering” myself each morning to make sure I’m focused on the right things. I can’t think of any superstitions I have (that I’m aware of) 🙂

I have found that many people (both interviewed and non-interviewed) have rituals associated with coffee. The brewing and consumption of coffee is a time-honored tradition observed across various cultures and boundaries. While these rituals may differ from place to place, the act of consuming caffeine is widely acknowledged and appreciated by people around the world. Often to the chagrin of sleep hygiene.

Question 14: Do you have any adages, sayings, mottos, creedos, etc... ?

I do! I try desperately to “stay in learning mode”. I have this written on a yellow sticky note and posted to my display. It’s something I think about all the time. The reason this is important to me is because I genuinely believe every interaction I have is an opportunity to learn—each person I meet has something to teach me. Can you imagine how different things would be if we all approached each other in this way? What an amazing world, where everyone is valued for their lived experiences. That’s the world I want to live in.

Consistent learning is a laudable goal. I too try to keep that forefront in my mind, but it is not a credo to me. The best family credo that is in my extended family is “don’t let the fuckers get you down.”  It is a crass motto, but a good one nonetheless. 

Question 15: Is there any question I have not asked you that you either expected to be asked or would like to have been asked? We still have some q’s to rectify that deficiency if we need.

Hmmmm. I didn’t have a lot of expectations coming into this, so I’m not immediately thinking of anything! I would be happy to chat about the work I do—primarily design system consulting and coaching. I’d be happy to share about what it’s been like to run a digital product studio for 15 years. I’d be happy to talk about hobbies or extracurricular activities… You tell me!

I like the idea of asking about your coaching. I have gotten some career coaching in the past that was truly invaluable. I could probably use some more right now while I am in a bit of a professional transition, but this is not a coaching session, so I will ask a generic coaching question for you. 

Question 16: In your coaching experience, is there a singular issue that most people asking you for coaching across the board could be boiled down into?

My coaching practice is very niche—I offer coaching to individuals and teams that are working on or leading a design system program. The thread through all of those conversations is often the cultural and change management side of the work. As with most things, the people are the hard part. I’m doing some long form writing on design systems and a concept I just articulated ties back into the language conversation we had above. Here’s the excerpt:

“If you want to understand an organization’s culture, you have to study the language they speak. If you want to shape an organization’s culture, you have to redefine the language they speak.

At its core, design system work is redefining language.”

Much of what I do with coaching is to help folks both understand this and translate what it means for them on a day-to-day basis. 

I can honestly say that the coaching I’ve done in the last year has been some of the most impactful work in my career. Something about seeing your experience benefit someone else very directly is so rewarding!

That is a super interesting type of coaching. It was not what I was thinking when you mentioned coaching, mainly because the only experience I have had with coaching outside of sports is more of a one on one experience. This coaching seems more akin to organizational structure. 

I will definitely use “Hear, hear!” and “Huzzah!” for the language insight.  So much of work experience and work culture is not only the connotation of experience but the denotation of the language. Often the more practical language aspect of culture is overlooked because it is “just words.”

Why did I post a pic of a hippo? IYKYK

Question 17: What is the biggest hurdle you have faced in organizational coaching? Is it HiPPO (Highest Paid Person’s Opinion?) Or group think? Or something else entirely?

When the person I’m coaching discovers the core problem is that their personal values don’t line up with the organization’s values, this opens up a whole new set of questions. This is both wonderful and anxiety-inducing—especially in the current job market. That said, it’s my job to help folks find the real root of the challenges they are facing. I look forward to those difficult “ah ha” moments because that difficulty is also intensely clarifying. 

That tracks. Difficult ah-ha moments professionally can be both amazing and terrifying.

Okay, it is time to turn the tables. Question 18: Do you have any questions for me? 

Are you happy?

Oooh, turnabout is fair play I see… You are the first person to ask me this in this forum. Overall I am relatively happy. I am currently working as a freelance UX designer and that is stressful.  I do not have enough work officially “on the books” lined up for the rest of the year, and I was in-between jobs for just over 11 months.  That work hiatus burned through all the set-aside money I had, so I am very stressed right now. The work I am doing right now is really good. I am enjoying it, it has some meat on its bones, and the potential for continued work.  I would Loooove to have some security in future work actually being there. 

That being said, my family is great. My bio kids are doing great. My step-kids are doing great. My doggos are awesome. I truly and excitedly am in love with my wife. My parents are doing as well as 80 year olds in “okay” health could ask for. My brother and his wife seem to be thriving in their lives right now. Hell, even the kids' mom and her partner are doing great, so the expanded family is doing well.  In conclusion,  I am very happy in general, but that happiness is tempered by pretty significant professional stress. Thank you for asking. It was good for me to take stock.

Question 19: What are you taking from these 20 questions that you did not bring in with you? 

I think every person should do an exercise like this occasionally. To consider your life from many perspectives—through a lens of geography, food, work, interests—is a gift. In the chaos of the immediate, we don’t slow down to consider all we’ve experienced.

I would also say these 20 questions exposed a few gaps for me. I am working on a book (about design systems, of course) and it should be done by now. So, to read through this knowing I couldn’t share that I am an author in that capacity is giving me a kick in the rear end. I’ll let you know when it’s done 🙂

The last thought I have here is just a little note on how you and I met. I gave an early version of a presentation at a meetup in Columbus. You attended, I don’t know if you’re a regular at that group or how you found the event. We spoke a bit briefly after the event, I walked away from that conversation with a recognition that you are a thoughtful person. You reached out to connect on doing this interview and the short connection we made was enough to nudge me toward a “yes”. Now here we are!

This is important because of the chain of unlikely events that had to happen to put the two of us in the same room on a seemingly random evening in Columbus, Ohio. We can take that one step further, in fact. Someone is reading this sentence right now. (Hi, friend! Perhaps we know each other, perhaps we don’t.) Three people, having a conversation through written words, sharing our experiences, subtly impacting and challenging each other.

Life is constructed from meetings like this. The cause and effect of the human experience is too complex to map. Mostly, I want people to remember: opportunity comes from connection. If you, reader, are someone who wants or needs an opportunity, start by seeking out connections. And, if you happen to be someone who can facilitate an opportunity, don’t shy away from that responsibility. 

Thank you, Scott! Thank you for facilitating this conversation and for caring enough about a stranger to ask genuine questions.

That is an amazingly kind response. I typically post my answers to 20 questions on a random topic or interviews where I ask about every other week.  I try to make it weekly, but that is sometimes very hard. In asking the questions in these interviews, I have to take stock in my own life.  It is a great way to self-reflect. The main thing I love about this format, it is really just an excuse for me to learn more about and make deeper connections with people who I find interesting. It is a formal excuse for me trying to get to know people better… of making my network bigger. I have made some true friends through this format and a whole bunch of internet friends. It is an exercise I think I will be doing for a long time (and have been doing for a long time).

These 20 Questions have been an absolute delight, but all good things must come to an end… so here we are at the last question of 20. Question 20: What’s next? Be as concrete or nebulous, as short-term or long-term, and as philosophical or practical as you would like. 

I’ll leave you with a poem I wrote as a reminder to myself to focus on what is important in life. It’s called Rooted.

rooted

filter the crisp creek
water through your toes
who’s life adds rings to trees
climbs their fibers
sees the world from their spires

allow the stream to climb you, too
raise your arms
in the quiet morning forest
stand tall
still, except to bend with the wind

your hands can catch the sun
as well as any leaves

but remember not to crush
the life that light brings
remember to trust its flow
these waves
from ages past
that have leapt from star to star
and journeyed to you
offering a touch of warmth
a moment to feel
rooted

… beautiful. This is the first time anyone has shared poetry on the blog, and it has been going for years and years.

Thank you so much to Ben.  Ben is an amazing man who should be followed and interacted with.  Check out his website, follow him on X (nee twittr), Mastodon, give him a looksee on LinkedIn, for those of you who Sparkbox, and for you design systems UX folks out there, become part of the Question. It is really worth it. It is truly rare when you come across a truly kind soul.  Ben exudes “kind soul” energy and I feel lucky to have been able to interact with him on such a personal level for the time that I have been able to.

To recap:

• The good thing is that nothing has happened in the news since last I posted

• Nothing at all

• My youngest is learning how to drive

• My oldest (bio) kid (Little Man for all you long-time readers) is turning 21 this week

• Full on drunken adult bullshit

• I feel older than when I turned 50

• About a month ago

• So, I guess I am technically older

• I mean, we are always technically older than before

• That’s how time works 

• Currently

• I have openings for more interviews if anyone wants to give it a go

• Drop me a line

• Slide Into my dm’s 

• Make a comment

• You know the drill

• Have this post (and all my future posts) sent to you via Substack

• Read it via Medium

• I am feeling really hopeful

• It has been a while

• Have  great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 455 - ChatGPT Potpourri

Last week was a busy one… so, I gave myself permission ot to post a, well, er, ummm, a post.  I am quite the wordsmith. 

Anyway… this week, I just asked ChatGPT to come up with 20 random questions after having it scan through the site to get an idea of what kinds of questions I typically answer and how I typically answer them. Sooo… let’s see how this goes.

Here come the random ChatGPT questions (these are unaltered except for formatting and removing the asides at the end of the questions where ChatGPT gives me the reasoning for each question (yes, an aside, like a stage whisper)):

1. What if every time you made a decision, you created an alternate reality with a different outcome? How would you keep track of them?

This is a whole multiversal theory. With every decision there is a universal bifurcation. Such that there are an infinite amount of universes that are shifting with infinite decisions.  This is also a very egotistical view of how things work.  The amount of universal bifurcation would be limitless and at the highest order of infinity because it would not just be the decisions I made, but the decisions everyone else makes, every animal makes, ever insect makes, and every plant makes. That is an infinity of infinity or infinity of infinities.  As to how one could keep track of them, one cannot. Infinity is infinite and unknowable.

2. Is there a song that always makes you feel nostalgic? What memories does it bring back?

Not sure if I have a nostalgia song.  Smells typically cause the nostalgia to hit. That being said, The Belle Stars version of Iko Iko from the Rain Man soundtrack reminds me of reading a very particular book as a kid in in my childhood bedroom.  I listened to that Cassingle (cassette single for you non-Gen-X-ers out there) on auto-reverse while reading for hours. I’m pretty sure the Hans Zimmer end credits would wash over me all the same.  

3. If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and what question would you ask them first?

Hmmmm… I think I would want to have dinner with Thomas Jefferson, and I would ask him why he was such a racist fuckboi.

4. How do you think the world would change if everyone had to speak in rhyme for a day?

I think there would be an increase in annoyance at 85.75% or more. I was going to try to do a Shakespearean rhyming couplet at the end of this question,but that was too difficult for my brain.

5. What’s one thing you believed as a child that you no longer think is true?

There are many things.  The biggest is my general superiority to everyone.

6. If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be and why?

I think I would love to be able to draw the way my brain wants it to draw.pretty  good at drawing, but not as good as my brain wants it to be.

Drawing of Dr Manhattan from the Watchmen, pencils, inks, and markers on a 3x5 notecard

For example, this drawing that I finished today is good (it might even be better than just good), but it is not what I had pictured in my think melon.

7. What are three items you always have with you, and what do they say about you?

Wallet, keys, and phone.

8. If you could witness any event in history firsthand, which would you choose and why?

That is an interesting question.  As an unobserved watcher?  I think I would love to see the first time man made fire without an outside catalyst. The fear and excitement of creating flame. As to why? It is quite possibly one of the most exciting things ever.

AI generated image of a woman making fire.

Here is an image made with Microsoft’s Image Creator with this prompt. “it in a rugged, prehistoric landscape, the sky is painted in soft twilight hues, a strong determined Stone Age woman Is in the process of making fire for the first time ever. Her brow furrowed in concentration. In the background, a small group of stone age people are watching with bated breath, their faces a mix of awe and anticipation. “
I tried using OpenAIArt and it kept making the stone age woman topless… now I like boobies as much as the next guy, but this isn’t the forum for boobies. Get it together OpenAi Art.
Notice the stone age person is fairly white looking… ugh inherent racism… the Way Thomas Jefferson liked it.

9. Do you think dreams can be a source of inspiration or insight?

The answer is “yes.” Sometimes they can inspire, and sometimes they can distract from useful endeavors.

10. What’s your most irrational fear, and how do you cope with it?

All of my fears are completely and wholly rational, and I will suffer no other notions.

11. If you could redesign any aspect of the human body, what would it be and why?

Additional vision wavelengths. Infra Red, Ultra Violet, etc…

12. In what ways do you think technology has improved human connections, and in what ways has it harmed them?

In the same way, actually. Technology connects, which makes things better, but it overwhelms with the connections which is detrimental. 

13. What’s a tradition from your culture or family that you cherish the most?

I love the family traditions that fundamentally revolve around food.

14. How do you define success, and has your definition changed over time?

Success can be measured in many different ways.  I think the ultimate success is measured in overall happiness. This idea of happiness evolves over time.

15. If animals could talk, which species do you think would be the wisest and why?

Whales… but we would never get into real conversations with them since they live in a biome that we do not. I think the why is due to them just looking wise.  Looks matter, I guess.

16. What’s the most memorable compliment you’ve ever received, and why did it stand out to you?

I have been told by some that I am kind. Being kind is an awesome compliment.

17. If you could spend a year in any country other than your own, where would you go and what would you do?

I am truly getting fascinated by Greenland right now.  The biggest “city” there has a population of just over 3,000 people.  My daughter’s High School has over half that number in the student population.

18. What’s a hobby you’ve always wanted to try but never have? What’s holding you back?

As stated in the post about me turning 50, I would like to get my outer nerd/geek on and start painting gaming minis.

19. How do you think your childhood personality compares to who you are today?

Pretty close, I did work hard to get rid of the unbridled and outrageous arrogance. I think I have a much better idea of where my strengths and weaknesses lie now. 

20. If you could create a new holiday, what would it celebrate and how would people observe it?

Hmmm… International Nap Day… July 9th.  Take a nap people.

To recap:

• Hmmm… That wasn’t too bad

• Last week was my 2nd anniversary

• We celebrated with Mexican food and ice cream]

• It was glorious

• It feels like we have been married forever, and it feels like it was just yesterday

• I think that is how it is supposed to be

• The contract job is going well enough

• I have some tasks that I need to get done by thursday to stay on time and under budget

• Olympics are coming up soon

• I love me some ‘Lympics!

• Especially in the age of streaming

• I will get to see some fencing

• Psst… hey, wanna buy a watch?

• Different kind of fencing, actually

• Much faster paced than the street sakes and pawn shop type of fencing

• And with 4k streaming on a good tv, I think I will be able to actually see what is happening

• Should pawn shops actually refer to themselves as “Pawn Shoppes” to give them an air of significance?

• I am 50 now and need to get my butt moving

• Would love to get back up to running a bit for my shit knees and broken feet

• It felt good to finish a drawing

• Thanks, work-conference-calls! it has been a while

• Take a nap, people

• Seriously

• The world would be a better place with more naps

• Medium and Substack for those of you who do that sort of thing

• Have a great week, everyone!

20 Questions Tuesday: 454 - Fifty

Yes, I know it is a Wednesday, but time is a construct or a flat circle (pending on who you ask).

I had some things come up that kept me from posting last week or getting to the post yesterday. Free content on the web is not quite free.

So, last week, I turned 50.  I have made it fifty times around this yellow dwarf G-type main-sequence star, we call the Sun and sometimes more officially Sol. I am not sure how I am supposed to feel about this, or if there is a correct way to feel about this half-century mark. Whether I know how to react or not, it happened. So, there is that.

Many things have happened in the 50 years I have been around. Personally, I escaped a systemically racist church environment SIDE NOTE: I do not think all the people there are overtly racist, however most of them are not anti-racist.  The opposite of “racist” is not “not racist.” The opposite of “racist” is “anti-racist.” Racism is active. Racism is something that is happening. “Not racist” is passive. To be truly helping in dismantling racism, one must be anti-racist. END SIDE NOTE. I was married for 21 years. I have 2 biological kiddos of mine. I have earned 1 bachelor’s degree and 2 master’s degrees.  I have remarried and now have 4 step-kids. I played soccer as a youth, fenced epee relatively competitively in college, spent years playing World of Warcraft. I have actually dialed phones with an honest to goodness dial. I saw the rise of the Internet. I have been to 2 continents, 7 countries and 8 timezones. Even though I haven’t traveled nearly as much as I would have liked, I have traveled more than most of the people I know. I have experienced 1 pandemic, a mild earthquake (enough to wake me up), multiple blizzards and heatwaves. I have been in  112° F heat with a 120°-ish heat index, and -20° F with a -40° F wind chill (that is 44.4° C, 48.9° C, -28.9° C, and -40° C respectively for my Celsius readers, or 317.6K, 322K, 244.2K and 233.1K respectively for the physicists out there). I have tried countless types of cuisines. I have seen people be born, I have seen one person die. I have broken 3 arms and 2 legs on other people while only having broken 3 toes and an arm on my own body. I have a bad knee and a worse knee and I would not wish my decrepit feet on my enemies.

All in all, It has been a pretty darn good set of 50 years.

Onto the questions:

1. What does the age of 50 symbolize to you in terms of life's journey and milestones?

I hope it is significantly less than ½.

2. How do you hope to be remembered by the time you reach 50 more years in the future?

Again, my intention is to be remembered by people getting in contact with me and celebrating my full on Century of being around.

3. What are the top 3 lessons you've learned over the past 50 years?

• Lesson 1: It’s all bullshit

• Lesson 2: Stop procrastinating

• Lesson 3: Take care of your feet.

4. The number 50 is often associated with renewal and new beginnings. How do you interpret this symbolism in your own life?

I did not realize that 50 is associated with renewal and new beginnings.  That seems positive. 

5. If you could time travel 50 years into the past or future, which would you choose and why?

Future.  Past is always worse.  ALWAYS! Just hygiene-wise…

Hell in 1974, they were still using leaded gasoline.  Gen X is the last generation that has the leaded gasoline brian damage. 

6. How would you explain the significance of the number 50 to a child who is just beginning to understand age and time?

I wouldn’t. Children are idiots.

7. What are your hopes and aspirations for the next 50 years?

I want to be healthier. I want to travel more.

8. What advice would you give to someone who is half your age, about to turn 25?

Take care of your feet. When they go, shit goes south fast. 

9. How do you plan to continue growing and learning in the next decade?

By doing different things and continuing to be. Seriously though, I plan on traveling as much as I can when I can.

10. Looking back, is there anything you would change about the past 50 years?

I would take better care of my feet. 

11. What activities or passions do you look forward to exploring now that you’ve reached 50?

I want to get into mini painting. I think I could be good at that. 

errrr… I meant more like this stuff from Pete the Wargamer

12. Think back 50 years. What piece of technology did not exist back then that has had the biggest impact on your life today?

Duh, the Internet. 

13. Can you name a historical event or figure that dominated the headlines 50 years ago?

In 1974? Hmmmm… nothing worth nothing happened in ‘74 other than my friends and I who were born that year. As far as “newsworthy” items, there really weren’t any going on.  

14. As you reach 50, do you view this as the halfway point of your life or the beginning of a new chapter? Why?

I view it as the 10% mark for my life.

15. Is 50 considered "over the hill" or just hitting one's prime? How has society's perception of 50 changed over time?

50 is neither over the hill now nor hitting one’s prime. That being said, 50 used to be near death. If you look at how 50 year olds were portrayed in popular media 50 years ago, they were shown as decrepit old people near death.  Now they are Paul Rudd. 

16. What new interests, hobbies or reinventions of yourself are you looking forward to in the decades ahead after turning 50?

Am I supposed to really get into WW2 now? I get tp wear black socks with sandals now, right? Hawaiian shirts?

I need to write more, I need to draw more, and painting minis might be fun… that will probably require a 3-d resin printer…. So, I will have to get into that stuff as well.

17. In 50 years will we have flying cars?

No, I don’t think we will ever have flying cars

18. Since the Roman Numeral for 50 is L, you kind of have to take the L this week, right?

Taking this L is a dub, right?

19. What hurts today?

Feet and right shoulder.

20. What is something you would like for your birthday?

A more confident understanding of my professional future.

To recap:

• My wife made a gluten free spice cake with cream cheese frosting that was stunning

• The primary cake ingredient was quinoa? Da Fuq?

• IT was an amazing cake and it lasted all of 8 hours before it was gone

• I has a sad that it is gone

• It was stunning

• I seriously might NEED to ask her to make it again soon

• My feet are shit

• There is nothing specifically wrong with them… EDIT: more wrong with them specifically today

• Still have the torn transverse metatarsal ligament on the left foot, the remnants of plantar fasciitis on both feet, and some arthritis on the right big toe

• But I have had that stuff for a while

• Makes doing cardio a not fun thing

• The contract work is going well

• I get to invoice them on Monday

• I need to get something reviewable by early next week

• That is very doable

• The direction Star Wars is going is better than the direction that Marvel is going right now

• They seem to be finally opening up the galaxy to places beyond Tatooine

• The doggos really don’t love me working

• It has severely cut into their lounge-on-the-couch-with-me time

• You know the deal…

• Substack

• Medium

• Leave a comment if you would like to be asked 20 questions

• Leave a comment if you have a topic for a 20 Questions Tuesday post

• Hell, just leave a comment, I turned 50 last week!

• These questions were brought to you by ChatGPT 4

• Have a great rest if the week, folks

20 Questions Tuesday: 453 - Modern Job Search

So, last week I signed a contract for a 2 month UX design role with a small company who is helping develop an app for a customer of theirs. Unsurprisingly, after signing NDA’s and the contract, I can’t and won’t go into any more specific than that. So, I am ecstatic that I am gainfully employed, even if it only ends up being for the initial 60 day contract.  I think there may be the opportunity for more work after this contract expires, but there is not a guarantee for that. Fingers crossed that my client is happy with the work I provide, and decides to bring me on to other projects. 

That being said, I had been in the process of looking for a job for almost 11 months. I have eaten through savings and am now looking to start rebuilding the nest-egg for when I am older and even more decrepit (my feet are shit, yo.)  So I asked my good friend ChatGPT to generate 20 questions for me to answer concerning the “Modern Job Search.” 

Disclaimer: I am not a recruiter or a job application specialist.  I have no expertise in the process of getting jobs or hiring people. I do have experience in applying for jobs in the modern work landscape, but experience does not always equal expertise. That being said, I have opinions. 

So let’s get to the questions… Allons-y!

1: What are the key differences between searching for a job today and a decade ago?

There are differences between searching for a job today and searching for one 2 years ago.  The job market landscape has changed immeasurably in the last 24 months. The resume format I used in November ‘22 to get a job and multiple interviews (and a couple of offers I did not take), did not seem to even get a sniff in this most recent job search. The only thing I can think of that is truly different is the number of applicants to jobs has exploded due to the ability for people to work remotely.  This explosion had had a couple of effects:

• The volume of applications being submitted means that humans are no longer the first first filter for applications. Some kind of algorithm/expert system is being used to do the initial screening for applicants. There are many issues associated with this but the biggest ones is that your resume needs to be machine readable as well as humanly compelling. Creative resumes are no longer useful tools to set you apart from other candidates.

• It causes choice paralysis for the talent acquisition folks and hiring managers. Have they seen application packages that would be a good fit for the job they are trying to fill? Yes…. but is there a better, more perfect candidate fit for their special unique role out there just around the corner who just hasn’t submitted their amazing purple unicorn resume yet? Maybe…. So I think we should wait and see if someone better comes along. 

2: How has technology changed the way we look for jobs and how employers find candidates?

As I mentioned above, There is a new reliance of algorithms to do the initial screening.

3: What role do social media platforms (besides LinkedIn) play in the job search process? How can candidates leverage platforms like X, Instagram, or even TikTok for job hunting?

Networking is everything right now. Leveraging every network you have. Social media, church, parents of your kids’ extra-curricular activities, family, the butcher at your grocery store… anywhere. Can X or Mastodon help you get a job? Yeah, ithey can.  It just has to be the correct person running across your information.

4: How effective are online job boards and websites compared to networking and referrals?

I think that online job boards and websites are piss poor at connecting people to jobs at the moment. I had been on my job search for, let just say 660 days, that’s 11 30 month days. I was applying online to, on average, 3 jobs a day for that entire time. That’s just under 1000 job applications, Imma round up to 1000 to make the maths easier (heyo my British reader!). Of those 1000 applications I got initial around 15 initial screening interviews (interviews with a HR person from the company who is not the hiring manager). Of those 15 screening interviews, 7 ghosted me, 3 got me to the next step, and 5 get the dreaded “thanks but no thanks” email. Aside from those “thanks buy no thanks emails” I think I got about 500 other emails gently letting me down as well, but the other 500 applications went into the ether never to be heard from again. So… a 1.5% return rate on applications to interviews.  That is not a great return rate. (DISCLAIMER: I am a good UX designer. I am not the most amazing designer out there, but I did get some design accolades from previous places I have worked, and some of those designs, when put into production, had significant measurable results. Again, not the best, but solid). 

Conversely, I got about 20 interviews via networking or working with a recruiter who has an established professional hiring network.

Network was extremely more effective.  The contract I have right now is due to a conversation I had with a friend of a friend of my brother, and completely side-stepped the application process.

5: What are some common mistakes job seekers make when applying for jobs online?

It’s not personal. It feels like it is, but it isn’t. If you can, apply directly from the company website for the position. I have never heard of anyone getting a job from appling though Indeed or via the LinkedIn quick apply process. Go to the source. Sometimes the position that is being advertised on LinkedIn or Indeed is no longer a valid posting, and the employer site is the only one that knows that for sure.

6: How can candidates avoid being filtered out by applicant tracking systems (ATS)?

That is a fantastic question.  The only methods I have hear is to constantly and consistently tailor your resume to include the exact verbiage of the position description.  There is a difference between your resume saying that you have experience with all online wireframing tools and your resume saying “5 years experience with Figma.” Other than that, it is a crap-shoot.

7: What are the pros and cons of using a recruitment agency or headhunter? In what situations might it be beneficial to work with a recruiter?

There are mainly pros (if you live in the US and have a partner who already has benefits). Recruiters build up relations with hiring managers and are therefore already a filtering agent for hiring managers. Recruiters are not going to put candidates in front of their carefully maintained network for potential contract holders if they do not feel that candidate is an appropriate one and hiring managers know that. You have a better chance of landing an interview and therefore a job by working with a recruiter or recruiting service. 

The issue with working through a recruiter or a staffing agency is that often you are not hired directly by the company that you are actually doing the work for. Staffing agencies often have benefits for their contractors, but those are often not great.  I feel like I have a good rapport with the primary staffing agency recruiter I work with. She was not able to help me land a job this time around, but she has been instrumental other times.

8: How has remote work influenced job search strategies?

Remote work has opened up a whole world of possibilities.  Both employers and candidates are not geographically limited now.

9: What should job seekers consider when looking for remote positions versus in-office roles?

In interviews, the candidate should ask about how communication is maintained and how conflicts are resolved remotely. Basically find out how the remote teams stay connected and how they deal with adversity.

10: What are the most critical soft skills that employers are looking for in 2024?

Communication.  Ability to convey ideas to peers, clinets, customers, dev teams, and executives.

11: How can job seekers effectively demonstrate these skills during the application and interview process?

Easier said than done.  Have effective presentations ready.  Make  sure you have practiced them enough that you don’t actually need to follow the script, so to speak.  Have a solid portfolio (if that is the kind of work you do)

12: Should candidates tailor their resumes to better align with specific job postings?

Yes, but it is harder to do that than one might think.  If you have the time and energy, tailoring your resume each and every time is a good tactic to hopeful get past the ATS’s. However if we take the example of my journey this employment go round, it is inefficient to modify your resume 1000 times.  I would suggest having different flavors of resume. This one is more for jobs where you are a stand alone provider, this resume is better for leadership positions, this one focuses more on your creativity and personality, etc… I have about 4 different flavors of resume in my Google Drive right now.

13: What role does continuing education and professional development play in the job search?

Not as much of an issue as an employment gap. Continuing ed and publishing/presentations are very important, but some employers do not want to see that, because those activities take away from the focus on getting shit done in your job.  Weirdly enough, some employers do not want thought leaders or innovators.

14: How should job seekers approach salary negotiations in today’s economic climate?

Same as it ever has been.  Try not to be the first to blink for naming an expected salary. It is complete bullshit though.  The employer should post a salary range in the job description. It is really poor form not to.

15: What impact do company culture and values have on job seekers’ decisions today? How can candidates assess a potential employer's culture during the hiring process?

Both the employer and candidate have near limitless opportunities (in some regards) for choice of position. The employers manifest this in looking for the purple unicorn candidate and have to deal with paralysis of choice. Candidates should also be using this (if they have the capability to survive being between jobs) to not take jobs that seem to be populated by toxic people or organizations.  There is a company named after a South American river basin that asked a friend of mine to jump through so many hoops in the hiring process (hours and hours {potentially days worth} of homework and prep in their 5 step interviewing process) for a UX researcher position that my friend withdrew their candidacy for the position because of work/life balance issues that they could see rearing their ugly head if they were offered and took the job. 

Look at how the company schedules their interviews with you.  How many people are associated with the hiring process.  If you worked at the company would you want to be on the other side of the table during another hiring process. How much time is wasted in the interview process? Is the employer comfortable enough to let you talk to their employees unsupervised?

16: How can networking be leveraged effectively without feeling disingenuous or transactional? What are some authentic ways to build and maintain professional relationships?

This is a great question since networking seems so transactional. When you reach out to someone for networking purposes, your network people understand that it is for networking purposes, and they know that they can reach out to you as well.  It is a transactional interaction, but that is OK. When I have approached people in my network that I don’t typically keep contact with (Hey, Mackenzie! You da best!),I always tell them about what I miss about working. I miss the camaraderie and the conversations, and when I reach out, I am honestly reaching out for human conversational purposes.  They know I am looking for a job, but I really am trying to just have a human connection. I love my doggos, but they are terrible conversationalists and even worse coworkers. Come up with a reason to interact with the person that is beyond, “Hey… you get me a job? Cause I needs job.”

I hate networking.  With a passion.  Mackenzie knows that when I reached out to her, it was to shake the network tree, but hopefully she knows that even though we did not work directly with each other, I respect the hell out of her and her capabilities. We talked about if there is an actual difference between Customer Experience and User Experience beyond different buzzwords, and how it would be great to get a UX voice at the table much further upstream with the authority to stop a project/product if there is a UX issue. Add something to their world, even if that something is “merely” a shop conversation.

17: Is a cover letter still necessary, and if so, how can it make a difference? What are the best practices for writing a compelling cover letter?

I am dubious as to whether or not a cover letter is still necessary. What does a cover letter add that isn’t contained in my resume/portfolio/website? My best practice for writing a cover letter was to feed the job description and my resume into ChatGPT and ask it to generate a cover letter for me. Then I would take that generated letter and ask Gemini to edit it to be a little shorter. Then I would edit it to sound more like my voice and ask ChatGPT what it thought of the edited letter.  Since Chat GPT has enough context, it remembers the first cover letter, it gives a breakdown of how it feels the washed and edited cover letter read.  Then I took that feedback and made final changes. Then submit it in the digital application package for no human to look at.

18: How can job seekers effectively prepare for virtual interviews?

Make sure you are calm, well-rested and fed. If you are doing a presentation, make sure you have practiced it OUT LOUD so you know what works and what doesn’t. Take a breath, and be yourself.

19: What are the signs of a potential job scam, and how can candidates protect themselves? What should job seekers look out for to ensure they are applying for legitimate opportunities?

Anything that is cold texted to you or messaged in WhatsApp is a scam. That is an easy blanket statement. Imma put my tinfoil hat on for a sec and outline the types of job scams I have heard of. 

Pine Marten wearing a tin foil hat.

• The get yo money scam: The direct text and WhatsApp phishing schemes fall into this category. We want to bring you on to do remote work for x much an hour, just give us your bank details and the money will start rolling in

• The thanks for the data scam: This scam is where a company is just looking for demographic data that job seekers willingly give out when applying for a job. Yes, I will give you my employment history, yes, I will give you my educational history. There is no actual job at the end of the rainbow, but now they have you information and you are getting debt consolidation offers via text message on the regular now.

• The we need to look better for our investors scam: Look investors, our company is doing so good we are actually expanding in these tough economic times.  Just look at all the open position reqs that we have. We have to be worthy of your investment if we are hiring this enthusiastically. These job descriptions often seem haphazardly thrown together and contain a myriad of buzzwords that ultimately mean nothing.

• The we are looking for free work scam: We have a design challenge for you, can you prep a presentation illustrating an solution to the weirdly industry specific design challenge? 

I do  not actually think those scams happen very often, but there is a non-zero amount of these instances. Most of the broken positions are due to budgets being pulled after the position is posted or some other reason that a zombie job description is in existence. 

20: How can one stay motivated and positive during a prolonged job search?

This is the toughest of all the things. It is hard and demoralizing. The lack of communication, even automated communication, is depressing. You as a candidate have no idea as to what is going on or where you are in the process. It is stressful and demoralizing. 

To recap:

• If you are currently searching for a job, I feel for you

• It is a shitty economy to look for a job right now

• Until this contract becomes something more permanent, I am still looking

• It is much easier to look for a job when you have a job

• Easier on your soul

• I used Stable Diffusion for the hero image at the top

• The Basque burnt cheesecake will be happening when I get my first paycheck

• I need to draw more

• I have been doing more yardwork

• I hate yardwork

• But the yard does look better

• If you want to know the prompts I used for the AI portions of this post, message me

• Been doing a boatload of flow charts for user decisions for the new job

• Trying to get existing state wireframes put together as well

• Then it is time to redesign

• AI is interesting

• They changed how ChatGPT does it’s output since last week

• I am not sure I like the newer output style

• I need to get into some meetings and talk all businessy

• Business Business Business

• Anyway… I am gainfully employed, for a bit at least

• Substack and Medium blah blah blah

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 452 - My Daughter's Birthday

Today is my youngest’s birthday. It is her sixteenth birthday, which means I have been writing this thing for 18 years… wowzers 

So many things have changed in that timeframe.  When from Blogger to Tumblr to my own site, and now have added a Substack and posting on Medium… also “Littke Man” from the daddy blogger days will be 21 in a month, I've been divorced and remarried and now I have 4 step-kiddos in the mix, but my daughter is the youngest of them all. 

16!?!!!?!
Holy hell, how did she become 16, it feels like it has only been a few years. Time flies and all that shit. 

So, today I am answering 20 Questions about my daughter. 

Onto the questions:

1: Is raising a daughter significantly different than raising a son? What is the main difference between raising your 2 kids?

Raising any child is both significantly different and amazingly similar to raising any other kid. Keep them safe, fed, and happy. The “safe” piece is different societally between girls and boys. We have to teach our girls to be wary of boys because we allow boys to not be responsible around girls. The whole “man or bear” question from a bit ago is a great illustration of what I'm talking about.

To answer the main difference between my two kids… hmmm… I think my daughter is more emotionally present than my son.  She is not more emotional because she is a girl and girls are made of sugar, spice, and everything nice. I think she is more emotional because she is a second child.

2: How many noodles are too many noodles for your daughter? 

Sometimes there is no limit, other times 1 noodle is too many. My daughter is a fickle beastie.

3: What is your daughter's go to meal? 

A Cane’s box combo, no slaw, extra toast with a lemonade. She does love a good chicken finger. This is not her favorite meal, that might be steak and lobster, this is her “go to” meal.

4: Where is the next place she wants to travel?

I think she is pretty keen on getting back to California. Primarily the LA area. That being said, I think she would dig going back to Japan, mainly for the lemon drinks that she loved. 

5: What's one thing your daughter is looking forward to in this, her 16th year?

She cannot wait to be driving. That'll happen relatively soon. 

6: What's her favorite TV show? 

That is a toss-up between a few. There is RuPaul’s Drag Race, Shoresy, Impractical Jokers, and lately I think Ted Lasso might have entered the conversation. 

7: Does she have a favorite musical artist? 

I do not think there is a specific “favorite,” but there are performers she gravitates to. Kesha, Billie Eilish, The Neighbourhood, Coldplay, Joji and then there are individual songs by random people she digs, but I wouldn't say she digs their entire oeuvre. 

8: Whet is a hidden talent that your daughter has that most people don't know about? 

It would not be hidden if I told you, now would it?
….

She can sound like R2-D2 being shot with that high pitched vocal fried “WhoooooOOOOOEEeeeeeoooooo”

9: What is something she just loves (aside from family) without really any context as to why? 

Seals

10: Is your daughter currently dating anyone? 

Umm… Back off, dude, she’s just 16, and before today she was 15, you weird groomer question.
Not to my knowledge. I think we have a close enough relationship that she would tell me if she were dating someone.  That being said she has a bevy of “Hoes on Snap.” Most of those hoes are hapless losers that she is just keeping her streaks up with. It's a stats game for her.

11: How are you celebrating her birthday? 

Gave her a small gift and we are eating at a Korean Hot Pot/BBQ place for dinner. (editor’s note: it was really tasty)

12: What is her favorite dessert? And for that matter, what's her favorite desert? 

She is super partial to cheesecake, but what you will often see her eating is one of those pillsbury cookie dough logs that you can either slice into discs to bake cookies, or gnaw on like it is a big fat beef jerky. I don't think she has  ever started the oven when consuming this Slim Jim of cookie dough.

As far as desert?  Imma go with Sonoran, in Arizona, because she’s been there.  She has informed me it is the Gobi, because it sounds funny.  Touché.

13: Does your daughter have any rituals or superstitions?

None that are readily apparent. I am sure she has some things she does around showing in horse, but those are hers to tell you about if they exist. 

14: You and your daughter are fairly headstrong… what are your “go to” centering, de-escalating, calming tactics when you and your kiddo invariably butt heads?

Oooh, good question. Okay often I have to keep in mind that she is just a dumb kid who is really afraid of failure and failing.  She gets that from me.  We are so insanely similar that often when we are butting heads it is because we are arguing with ourselves. Stopping the argument and pointing out the emotional energy has sometimes helped. But often we just end up yelling at each other until she stomps upstairs to her room.A few hours later we will watch some tv together.

15. What inspires you most about your daughter?

Ooooh, another great question. This is a difficult question because it is hard to parse out what is inspirational about her.  She’s just fucking awesome. I think, maybe what is inspirational about her is her near unlimited potential coupled with how much she cares about things (that she cares about). I am not trying to burden her with the onus of unlimited potential.  That was a millstone I think that was thrown around my collar for a while. I think when she finds the direction she wants to go in, and the thing that lights her fire to go that direction she will be even more amazing than she is right now. That and her sense of humor and biting wit are truly inspirational. 

16: What is the most valuable lesson your daughter has taught you?

The trite answer is patience, and she has taught me that, but let’s not be overly cliché. She has taught me to release control. I cannot control her even remotely, and to try is to get into a battle of wills. There are times when I do have to step in am put a parental foot down, but I try to limit those to things that actually warrant it. 

17: What’s your daughter’s favorite curse word? 

My daughter is pure as driven snow.  She hugs bunnies and sings to birds. She would never say a bad word in public.

It’s “Bitch.” She loves using the word Bitch and all it’s various colloquial pronunciations bee-yotch, beech, buh-itch, etc… She’’ call a bitch a bitch in a heartbeat.

18: What is your daughter’s favorite way to spend a lazy Sunday?

Operative word in that question is “lazy.” She would sleep til 1, eat some chicken fingers for lunch, have honey chicken for dinner, and sleep some more.  Laaaaaa-zeeeee.

19: Do you think she is going to be okay with this 20 Questions being mainly about her?

I think I have answered these as truthfully as possible, and to the best of my ability. I would probably give myself an 80% on accuracy. She might be mortified by some of the pics.

20: What's next for her? Be as long-term or short-term, as concrete or philosophical, as direct or metaphorical as you would like. 

What's next? She's awesome, but what I think is next is her taking some time to get herself driving. I think that is the next big check mark for her. 

To recap:

• My daughter is 16, ya’ll

• How the hell did that happen

• Seriously, read this shit on Medium

• Or subscribe on Substack

• Gimme a follow on Threads and Instagram… I’m @mmmmmpig

• I got a contract gig for the next couple of months

• DUDE, I GOT A CONTRACT!!!

• 11 Months into this non-job space and I got a contract

• Hoping it can extend to be something more, but I will take contract work

• I GOT SOME WORK!!!

• It look slike an interesting product/application to work with

• But I have signed an NDA

• I had to mow today

• Mowing sucks

• The days I have planned on mowing have had rain happen right as I was putting on my mowing shoes

• Stupid weather

• This month is a month of birthdays for the fam

• My daughter, my son’s GF, all three of the stepsons, oh… and me

• Cancers and Gemini, the lot of us

• There will be much cake consumed this month

• BITCH

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 451 - Joan of Arc (as portrayed by Chat GPT)

A while ago, I did an interview with an LLM trying to portray itself as Alexander Hamilton ( you can read that one here). It was okay, but not great, because the LLm at the time had a very tiny context window and could not hold the interview thread for more than a question or 2.  It made it very difficult to have any kind of cohesive conversation go.  Today, I am trying to see if I can get a 20 Questions LLM interview wherein the LLM is answering questions as if they are Joan of Arc.  Why Joan of Arc do you ask? Joan’s birthday is the 30th. Okay ChatGPT, lets do this…

Here we go….

As many of my reader's know (but you may not), my first career was As a cartographer. So geography clearly holds a place near and dear to me. One of my favorite things are peoples’ geographic stories. Mine starts in Oklahoma City, where I was born, moves to Montgomery, Alabama for my early early childhood and then moves to Birmingham, AL where I lived until I escaped to college. I went to undergrad in Northeast Ohio and did my first round of grad school in Columbus, Ohio where I settled down and am raising my family, Question 1: what is your geographic story?

Ah, bonjour! I 'ave quite ze geographic story indeed. I was born in ze small village of Domrémy in ze region of Lorraine, in northeastern France, in ze year 1412. Domrémy was a quiet place, surrounded by lush fields and forests. From an early age, I felt a strong connection to ze land and ze people of my village.

When I was about 13, I began to 'ear ze voices of saints, who guided me on my mission to save France from English domination during ze Hundred Years' War. At ze age of 17, I left my 'ome and traveled to Vaucouleurs to seek an audience with ze local garrison commander, hoping to gain support for my divine mission.

From zere, I journeyed to Chinon, where I met ze Dauphin, Charles VII. After gaining 'is trust, I led ze French army to several important victories, most notably ze lifting of ze siege of Orléans. My travels took me to various battlefields and towns across France, always driven by my belief in my divine purpose.

Unfortunately, my geographic story also includes my capture by ze Burgundians at Compiègne, and my imprisonment en Rouen, where I was tried and eventually martyred in 1431. Though my journey was fraught with hardship, it was always guided by my faith and love for France.

Now, tell me, monsieur, what other questions do you 'ave pour moi

Not to bring up a sore subject, as much as to get it out of the way. If my memory serves correctly, your martyrdom was to be burned at the stake as a heretic. I know this question is a but macabre, but I feel it is good to get out of the way. Question 2: If you were able to choose your form of martyrdom, what form would you have chosen? 

Ah, oui, it is indeed a somber topic, but one I have come to accept. Being burned at ze stake was a painful and terrifying end, yet it was ze path that God 'ad chosen for me. If I were to choose my form of martyrdom, I would 'ave preferred something more peaceful and less agonizing, perhaps to pass away in my sleep or to die in battle, defending my beloved France.

Dying in battle would 'ave been an honorable and swift end, surrounded by my fellow soldiers, fighting for our cause. It would 'ave allowed me to depart this world in ze midst of courage and valor, rather than in ze agony and public spectacle of ze stake.

However, I understand that my martyrdom as it 'appened served a greater purpose, inspiring many and leaving a lasting legacy. It is not for me to question God's will, but rather to accept it with grace and faith.

Okay, it is on to lighter and less lethal questions from this point on.  This is a question I ask in all of my interviews. Question 3: Cake or Pie? Which specific kind and why? Ou en français: Gâteau ou tarte ? De quel type spécifique et pourquoi?

Ah, une question délicieuse! Between cake and pie, I would choose tarte. Specifically, I would choose a tarte aux pommes, or apple pie.

Medieval Apple Pie

Pourquoi? Well, the tarte aux pommes is simple yet elegant, much like the peasant life I once knew before my divine mission. The sweetness of the apples, combined with the flaky crust, reminds me of the simplicity and the warmth of the countryside. It is a comfort food that brings back memories of home and the love of my family.

And you, monsieur, do you prefer gâteau or tarte?

Oh, pie for me. I love a good lemon pie.

Lemon Pie (but not a lemon meringue pie

Question 4: you mentioned in your previous answer that pie is very much associated with the peasant life, do you feel that cake is inherently a more elite dessert? 

Ah, lemon pie, très délicieux!

As for your question, oui, historically, cake does carry connotations of being more elite. In my time, elaborate cakes with rich ingredients like sugar and butter were often reserved for the nobility and those who could afford such luxuries. Cakes required more refined ingredients and skill to make, which made them symbols of wealth and status.

Tartes, on the other hand, were more accessible to the common folk, made with simpler ingredients that were readily available. They were practical and could be made from the fruits and produce of one's own land.

So yes, in many ways, cake was considered a dessert for the elite, while pie, or tarte, was the humble but beloved sweet of the peasantry.

Question 5: If you had not been called to your, well, calling, would you have done for your life? Would you have had a career as a seamstress, or been a farmer, or would you have ended up being a mother taking care of a household?

Ah, c'est une question intéressante. If I had not been called to my divine mission, I believe my life would have taken a simpler, more traditional path. Growing up in Domrémy, I was surrounded by the rhythms of rural life. I likely would have continued to help my family with our farm, tending to the animals and the fields.

Being a farmer’s daughter, I learned the skills necessary for such a life—sewing, cooking, and caring for the household. It is very possible I would have married a local farmer and raised a family, becoming a mother and managing our home. The life of a village woman, though humble and filled with hard work, was a respected and fulfilling role.

Mais, Dieu had a different plan for me, and I accepted His call with all my heart.

Question 6: Aside from your divine calling, if you were growing up in today’s world (2024), with all the opportunities afforded in the modern socio-political landscape,  what kind of career would you have wanted to pursue

Ah, la modernité! If I were growing up in today's world, with all the opportunities and advancements, I believe my path might still be one of service and leadership. My heart has always been drawn to helping others and fighting for justice.

In this modern era, I could see myself pursuing a career in public service or advocacy. Perhaps I would become a human rights lawyer, fighting for the oppressed and ensuring justice is served. The spirit of protecting and uplifting those in need resonates deeply with me.

Another possibility is a role in international diplomacy or politics, where I could work towards peace and cooperation between nations. The idea of uniting people and working towards a common good aligns with the mission I undertook during my life.

Regardless of the specific career, my core desire would remain the same—to serve others, to fight for justice, and to make the world a better place.

Question 7: Do you feel that you deserved to be canonized in the Catholic Church?

Ah, the question of canonization. I did not seek glory or recognition for my deeds; I followed what I believed was the divine will, to serve France and liberate my people. The trials and tribulations I endured were borne out of faith and duty.

Canonization is an honor bestowed by the Church, recognizing one's piety, sacrifice, and alignment with divine virtues. While I am deeply humbled and grateful for being canonized, it is not for me to judge whether I deserved it. I sought to do God's work, to follow His guidance, and to remain steadfast in my faith.

The recognition by the Church is a testament to the power of faith and the importance of standing up for one's beliefs, even in the face of great adversity. If my life and actions inspire others to remain faithful and courageous, then I am content. The title of saint is an honor, but my true reward is knowing I served as an instrument of God's will.

All things considered, your life was truly a remarkable one, and I think there have been people who have been sainted with more dubious credentials. Question 8: who is your favorite saint?

Merci beaucoup for your kind words. Indeed, I lived my life guided by faith and the desire to serve. As for my favorite saint, I have always had a deep reverence for Saint Michael the Archangel. He is the leader of the heavenly armies, a warrior for God, and a symbol of divine strength and protection.

Saint Michael's courage and unwavering commitment to God's will have always inspired me. When I received my visions, it was Saint Michael who first appeared to me, guiding and strengthening my resolve. His example of battling evil and standing firm in righteousness resonated deeply with my own mission to liberate France from its oppressors.

I also hold great admiration for Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Margaret of Antioch, who appeared to me in my visions. Their wisdom, faith, and fortitude provided me with guidance and comfort during the most challenging times of my journey. Their lives and sacrifices remind me of the power of unwavering faith and the strength that comes from divine guidance.

Question 9: If you could have lived in any other time, what era would you have wanted to live?

Ah, if I could choose another time to live in, I believe I would be intrigued by the era of the Renaissance. This period, which blossomed not long after my own time, was an age of immense cultural, artistic, and intellectual revival. The Renaissance was marked by a renewed interest in the classical arts and learning, and it saw the flourishing of remarkable minds like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Galileo.

Living in such an era would have offered a fascinating contrast to the strife and warfare of my own life. The Renaissance was a time of exploration and discovery, of human potential and creativity being celebrated. It would be wondrous to witness the advancements in art, science, and philosophy, and to see how the human spirit could soar in times of peace and enlightenment.

Moreover, the Renaissance was a period when the role of women began to slowly evolve, with figures like Catherine de' Medici and Isabella d'Este emerging as influential leaders. It would be interesting to see how my own experiences and convictions could intersect with this evolving landscape, and perhaps contribute to the progress and empowerment of women in this time of renewal and change.

Question 10: Please fill in the blanks: I find that I am mostly _____. Others find that I am mostly _____.

I find that I am mostly driven by faith and conviction. Others find that I am mostly courageous and steadfast.

“Faith and Conviction” and “Courageous and Steadfast” are very similar responses. Question 11: Do you feel like the congruity of those 2 perspectives is due to hindsight being 20./20, or do you think those answers would be different if I had asked them in 1429.

Ah, I understand the distinction. In the context of 1429, when my actions were unfolding, individuals might have seen me as more resolute and unwavering in the face of adversity, given the immediate challenges and uncertainties of the time. However, the overarching theme of faith and courage would likely remain consistent, reflecting the core values that guided my actions throughout my life.

You led a very short but remarkable life, so Question 12: Overall, were you happy?

Ah, happiness... It is a complex notion, N'est-ce pas? In the grand tapestry of my life, happiness might not have been a constant companion in the conventional sense. Yet, there were moments of profound fulfillment and purpose, moments when I felt the warmth of divine grace guiding my steps. In those moments, yes, I dare say I was content, fulfilled by the knowledge that I was fulfilling my divine purpose.

Oh, here we are at the triskaidekaphobia question.  Good old number 13. Question 13: Do you hold any strong superstitions (aside from adhering to the rituals of the church, of course)?  I would assume that a young person from the early 1400’s in rural France might have some superstitions. 

Ah, superstitions... In the tapestry of rural life in 15th-century France, superstitions were as common as the fields that stretched beneath the endless sky. Yet, as for myself, I was more preoccupied with the divine calling that burned within me than with the whims of superstition. My faith in God's guidance and protection overshadowed any fears instilled by tales of superstition.

My daughter competitively jumps horses for her recreation, so she is very partial to her horse and the handful of horses she has had the opportunity to interact with for periods of time. Question 14: Did you have a specific horse that you primarily rode, or was your riding more of a utilitarian usage of whatever war-horse was available at the time?

Ah, the noble steed! In my campaigns, I was fortunate to have the companionship of several war-horses, each as loyal and valiant as the next. My riding was indeed more utilitarian, for the urgency of my missions often necessitated swift and reliable transport. Yet, in the midst of battle, it was as though my mount and I moved as one, our hearts beating in rhythm with the pulse of the battlefield.

Question 15: If a modern movie were to be made of your life in 2024/2025, who would you want to play you?

Ah, the notion of a modern portrayal of my life is a curious one indeed! If such a film were to be made, I would hope for an actress who embodies not only physical resemblance but also the spirit of courage and conviction that guided my actions. Perhaps someone like Marion Cotillard, with her depth of talent and ability to convey the complexities of character, could do justice to the role.

Marion Cotillard

Question 16: Is there/are there any question/s you thought I would ask, but I haven’t?

Ah, indeed, there is a question that often arises in discussions about my life. Many wonder about the nature of the voices I claimed to hear, and the visions I professed to see. Some may ponder the source of my inspiration and the depth of my faith. It is a question that delves into the realm of mysticism and personal experience, yet it is one that often remains unspoken: "From whence did your divine calling truly originate?"

In that case… Question 17: from whence did your divine calling truly originate?

My divine calling originated from the depths of my faith and the whispers of the heavens. It was a convergence of inner conviction and external signs, a divine mandate that ignited within me a sense of purpose and duty. The voices I heard and the visions I saw were manifestations of divine guidance, leading me on a path of righteousness and service to my country. It was a calling that transcended the earthly realm, drawing me closer to God and His will for my life.

Question 18: Do you have any questions for me?

Ah, my dear interviewer, I would be curious to know how the world has changed since my time. What advancements have been made in science, art, and theology? How do people perceive faith and spirituality in this modern age? And most importantly, how do they remember the Maid of Orléans and her legacy?

Much like anytime in the world, when 600 years pass, many technological and sociological changes have occurred. From the European perspective, new continents have been discovered, and technology has blossomed. We can now fly in the air, and escape our own sky to travel in space. We have the means to communicate instantaneously with almost any place in the world. Faith and spirituality is not as strong a force in modern society than it was in the 140’s, but it still exists and many people are still very faith-based in their thoughts and actions. You, the Maid of Orléans are well-remembered as almost a mythological character, but your legacy is not remembered as much as you specifically. People know that Joan d’Arc fought for and in France, but most do not remember what side of the conflict your were fighting or why exactly that civil war was occurring. 600 years is a long time to hold nuance in historic matters. 

Question 19: What are you taking from these 20 Questions that you did not bring in with you? 

From these questions, I am reminded of the enduring curiosity and fascination that people hold for history and the lives of those who came before them. I am struck by the interconnectedness of human experiences across time and space, and how even in the modern world, we seek to understand the motivations, challenges, and triumphs of individuals who lived centuries ago. Additionally, I am reminded of the importance of perspective and interpretation in shaping historical narratives, and how the passage of time can both obscure and illuminate different aspects of a person's life and legacy. Overall, these questions have deepened my appreciation for the complexity of history and the enduring impact of individuals like Joan of Arc on our collective consciousness.

Question 20: What's next? Be as generic or specific, as short-term or as long-term, as concrete or metaphorical as you would like.

What's next is the continuation of the journey, navigating through the ebbs and flows of life with courage, determination, and an unwavering spirit. It's about embracing new challenges, seizing opportunities for growth, and staying true to one's values and aspirations. Whether it's pursuing personal dreams, making meaningful contributions to the world, or simply finding joy in everyday moments, the path forward is filled with endless possibilities waiting to be explored.

Thank you Joan D’arc. Bon Chance! 

Merci beaucoup! Bonne chance à vous aussi!

That was weird

Okay, some behind the scenes. Here is how the prompting went:

Me: Can I interview you and you give me answers as if you were a historic person?

ChatGPT: Absolutely, I'd be happy to help with that! Please let me know which historical person you'd like me to embody for the interview, and what kind of questions you'll be asking.

Me: It would be a 20 questions format, that would involve both historical data about the subject as well as more philosophical answers about certain questions

ChatGPT: That sounds like a fun and engaging format! Please tell me which historical figure you'd like me to portray, and we can get started with your 20 questions.

Me: Can you answer questions as Joan of Arc?

ChatGPT: Absolutely! I would be honored to answer your questions as Joan of Arc. Please go ahead with your first question.

Me: Can you write your responses with a bit of a French accent? or is that just a bit too much?

ChatGPT: I can certainly try to add a touch of a French accent to my responses. It might not be perfect, but I will do my best to capture the spirit of Joan of Arc. Please go ahead with your first question, monsieur/madame.

Halfway through the “interview” my daily allotment of free ChatGPT4.0 prompts went away, and I was switched back to ChatGPT 3.5. That is marked in the conversation when “Joan” stopped the “ze” and “ ‘ave” written French accent affectations, but the “personality” did not really change. 

The main image for this post was also generated by ai using Stable Diffusion (you can tell by how weird the fingers are on Joan’s right hand) using the following prompt:

"Joan of Arc, an 18 year old french peasant girl who led a faction in the french civil war in the 1420's, by donning men's armor and leading French knights into battle, is getting interviewed on a podcast. The image is focused on her in a medium shot Joan is sitting at a 15th century French oak table in a campaign tent from the 1400's in france.”

Anyway…

To recap:

• That was odd

• Seriously odd

• But I do think it is how many conversations with any religious zealot would go

• Honestly this “interview” was really weird

• I mean, I really don’t know what to do with this

• Waaay more interactive than the Alexander Hamilton one 

• Kudos to the eggheads at OpenAI working on ChatGPT

• Nerds

• The actual interview I am doing is still happening

• I was hoping it would speed up a bit last week, but the interviewee is a busy person

• You working people with your full schedules

• Still need a job

• Irons are in the fire, but fire irons do not pay the mortgage

• Keep all the fingers and toes crossed out there and send good and strong job-finding vibes this way

• Read this bad boy on Substack

• Or on Medium

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 450 - Memories

It is late and I need to get this post all posted and stuff. This week, Nicole J has given me the great topic of memories, and I have asked ChatGPT4.0 to generate questions for me to answer.  I am just asking ChatGPT for this week’s post because I need to get this done super quick-like.  Some Other Guy might add in some questions to round things out, but that would only happen if I don’t like all 20 of the ChatGPT questions.

FYI: Okay, usually I will create an hero image for the  post by finding an image on the Internets that is royalty free and do some simple image manipulation in a free service or something. This week I asked ChatGPT4.0 to make the image… the top image is what it came up with… nice job?/shrug

I ain’t googling shit for this post.  This is all off the top of the dome. Let’s light this candle:
1: What is your earliest memory, and how clear is it to you now?

I was 3 years old and sliding down a slide and some kid was at the bottom of the slide and bit me on the nose when I slid into him.

2: How do different senses (sight, smell, sound) trigger memories?

Sense memories are sometimes stronger than regular old memories without a sense component. 

3: What is the significance of the song "Memory" from the musical Cats, and why do you think it resonates with so many people?

Most people don’t really know what the lyrics of Memory really talks about, they just know the hook, because it is part of the cultural zeitgeist. The song is basically about how the past was better for the cat singing the song. Yawn….

4: Can you explain the process of how memories are formed in the brain?

Not really.  That’s not something I really have a grasp on. It's the chemical encoding of external stimuli in the wet neural network of your brain-case.

5: How do memories degrade over time, and what does it mean that you're remembering the last time you remembered the memory?

It is my understanding that a person does not actually remember a thing, the person in question remembers the last time they experienced the memory. This makes a memory basically a copy of a copy of a copy, and much like how a photocopy of a photocopy has less fidelity than the original, the same can be said for memories over time.

6: What are some methods or techniques for improving memory retention?

There are many.  The people who win memory competitions tend to tell stories with the memories and remember the stories like lore-masters of old. A second methodology that was made popular by the BBC show Sherlock (one of the best theme songs in Television history) is creating a “mind palace” by storing thoughts in a manufactured geography. By associating specific information with a specific “place” recall is more easily facilitated.

7: How do digital products and social media influence the way we store and recall memories?

Digital products and social media can be used as a queryable memory prompt. I know that I have used Facebook to remind me of things by searching through the timeline to see when a particular event happened.  I also use my camera roll this way. 

8: What role do photographs and videos play in preserving memories?

Visual stimuli is similar to other sense memories.  Seeing an image of a memory triggers the rest of the memory.

9: How accurate are our memories, and why do people sometimes remember the same event differently?

Memories are terribly inaccurate. Horrible even. The human brain will insert things into memories that aren’t there.  If a person tells themselves a lie enough, their memory might actually manufacture the falsehood as an actual memory. 

10: What are some common memory-related disorders, and how do they affect individuals' lives?

If you believe the TV, head-trauma induced amnesia is really prevalent, and it can only be counteracted by a similar head bonk.  Other than that the big 2 that people know about are dementia, and Alzheimers.  Those 2 are brutal.

11: How does nostalgia work, and why do certain memories evoke strong emotional responses

Nostalgia is the emotional state associated with a specific time and place that occurs when someone remembers something. The memory is associated with the event, and nostalgia is the emotion that accompanies that memory (to the best of my understanding).

12: What impact does aging have on memory, and are there ways to mitigate memory loss as we get older?

Aging is rough on the old think melon. Over time pathways in the brain degrade, sometimes to the degree that they become unusable. The way to combat this is to continue to engage the brain for problem solving and puzzles.  Many games on a smart-phone purport to assist in maintaining those pathways… I am not sure that Word Cookies is as effective at this as they state in their promotional materials.

13: How do cultural and societal differences influence the way we remember and commemorate events?

How do they not.  BOOOM! Drop the mic!

14:What are the benefits and drawbacks of having a highly detailed autobiographical memory (hyperthymesia)?

The benefits are relatively clear. Immaculate recall of all details of your life.  That is super powerful.  The drawbacks is that you just have so much information in your head. It takes effort to not constantly recall things.

15: How do traumatic memories differ from other types of memories in terms of formation and recall?

This is a touchy one. Trauma can sometimes wall-off areas of the brain and shut them off from recall without serious effort. Trauma is a bitch.

16: Can memories be artificially created or manipulated, and what ethical considerations arise from this possibility?

Yes they can be manufactured and manipulated. It means that unverified memories can be suspect.

17: What are some of the most memorable moments in history that have shaped collective human memory?

The moon landing, fall of the Berlin Wall (mainly the David Hasselhoff portion), the Tiananmen Square civil unrest (except in China), 9-11, COVID. 

18: How do memory palaces and other mnemonic devices aid in memory recall?

It puts structure to the memory. The human brain is really good as metaphors.

19: What is the role of memory in learning, and how does it impact educational practices?

It is integral to educational practices. You cannot learn without remembering.

20: How do fictional representations of memory, such as in movies and literature, shape our understanding of how memory works?

Well…. As stated before, the “head-bonk” theory of localized amnesia only exists because of popular media.

To Recap:

• It is late

• Post 450, Bay-Bee!  Woooooo!

• I still need gainful employment

• I am 13 q’s into a new interview

• It is a fun one

• Hope it will be ready by next week

• Good chance it will be

• The post is just about ready

• Once the recap is done, it is all ready

• Yep

• I am only dragging it out by continuing to add things to this recap

• Yep, this is going to take a while

• Memory is weird, yo

• Check this out on the SubStack if you want this bad boy emailed back to you

• Read this on Medium as well

• Have a great week, all y’all

20 Questions Tuesday: 449 - Ancient Civilizations

Howdy, party people. Again,I asked the LLM’s what the topic for this week should be.  Last week Chad (ChatGPT) suggested “Transformations,” so this week I leaned into Bard for some “Bardic Inspiration” (Where my D&D nerds at?). So, Bard suggested “Ancient Civilizations.” So here we are ready to answer 20 Questions (collected from Chad, Bard, Claude, Peter, and Some Other Guy) about Ancient Civilizations as suggested by the Bard itself. Some of these questions are super fun. 

Onto the Questions:

1. Which lesser-known ancient civilization would you most want to learn more about? What are some lesser-known ancient civilizations that had significant impacts on the development of human history, and why are they often overlooked? What overlooked ancient civilization deserves more thorough study and understanding by historians? Can you name an obscure ancient civilization that deserves more recognition? (these are all questions asked by multiple LLM’s that basically are the same question.)

There are so many lesser civilizations that I would love to  learn more about. The Hyksos, the Olmecs, the Silla, the Lapita, the Chavin, and the Mississipian Cohakian culture. These cultures are often overlooked because they are often overshadowed by the cultures that come after them.  For example, no one cares about the Olmecs because the Aztecs seem more interesting due to their interaction with Europeans. The other reason is that the Euro-centric colonizer history doesn’t give a shit about non-european cultures like the Silla. 

2. Do you think the Lapita people could be considered the first great maritime civilization?

I truly do.  I did not know they existed until I saw the Nat Geo Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Special about the area. It focused on the Saudeleur Dynasty, but indications are that the city of Nan Madol was initially settled by the Lapita.

3. How much truth is there behind the allegations of Ancient Aliens theorists like Giorgio Tsoukalos? What evidence exists for ancient civilizations interacting with extraterrestrial beings or possessing advanced technological knowledge?

There is no truth to it. It is an inherently racist theory that ancient brown peoples could not have possibly erected massive, extremely intricate and precise structures prior to the dirt farming Europeans without the aid of extra-terrestrial assistance. There is no evidence, only conjecture and racism.

4. In the Civilization game series, which civ has the most satisfying musical theme?

I kind of dig the Australians’ Theme. It is a nice blend of relatively modern European folk music with the underlying aboriginal didgeridoo humming underneath.  It gets a little less compelling as the civ progresses through the ages, but I really dig the starting theme. 

5. Was/is Atlantis real? How much historical truth might lie beneath the fantastical elements of the Atlantis theory? (Again, a multiple LLM-sourced question)

No. Atlantis was a thought experiment put forward by Plato that was latched onto and corrupted by Nazi’s to propagate Northern European superiority by equating the Atlanteans with a blonde-haired, blue-eyed uber-mensch highly advanced lost culture that was better and predated than the swarthy Greeks, the Middle Eastern Mesopotamians, or the sand-riddled Egyptians.

6. How might modern society be different if an ancient civilization like the Mayans or Khmer had achieved global dominance?

Well, the Khmer and Mayans were not influenced by the Feudal European history which was heavily influenced by the Greco-Roman ancient civilizations. So, Look at modern cultures such as China, Japan, or India for just how different a modern culture can be that is not based on the ancient Greco-Roman civilizations.

7. Do you find any merit in the theory that the Sphinx was originally an ancient Anunnaki monument?

Not specifically the Anunnaki culture, but I believe the base yardang of the Sphinx existed before the Egyptians carved it into what we see today. There are many indications that it has been a venerated rock structure for much longer than the Giza Plateau was a desert.

8. What wisdom or lessons from ancient civilizations could help guide humanity through our current crossroads?

Um… all of them? I think the more we learn about the fall of ancient civilizations the better off modern civilizations will be.  I also think it is important to understand that culture is in a constant state of evolution, and that the pressures of that evolution are acted upon by the history of culture in general.

9. What are some of the most intriguing conspiracy theories surrounding ancient civilizations, and Why do you think they continue to captivate people's imaginations? What's the most compelling conspiracy theory surrounding an ancient civilization, and why does it persist? (these repetitive questions was also asked by multiple LLM’s)

The more intriguing theories to me have nothing to do with grand conspiracies as much as they have to do with the exaggeration of story over time. The stand of the 300 at Thermopylae? We supposedly have “good” historical records of the numbers of troops, but those are skewed by making the Spartans out to be the super soldiers as depicted in the graphic novel and movie 300. How real is that? Not-real-at-all real.

10. How did ancient civilizations adapt to their environments and overcome limitations such as geography and climate?

Ummm… the same way we do,  with technology and effort. The technology was just less advanced than it is now.  

11. What role did religion and spirituality play in shaping the beliefs and practices of ancient civilizations, and how did these beliefs influence their societies?

I think it is important to recognize that in ancient societies, technology and religion were not mutually exclusive things. Religion, religious stories, and folklore was a way to try and explain the (at the time) unexplainable. Thunder is caused by the wrath of a god, not the increasing build up and subsequent release of a static charge that causes the air to cavitate and create the peel of thunder. Many ancient religions were, in effect, the science of the day.

12. How did ancient civilizations communicate and record information, and what impact did their writing systems have on the transmission of knowledge?

Persistent writing changed everything. It made a record of the mundane things like accounting and inventories exist beyond the time of their immediate usefulness. It freed up storie tellers from having to memorize sooo much, and allowed them to tell more intricate and less sing-song stories. Written language was a game changer. 

13. What were the major economic systems and trade networks of ancient civilizations, and how did they facilitate cultural exchange and globalization? How did trade routes and networks shape the development of ancient civilizations? (another set of q’s from multiple LLM’s asking basically the same thing). 

There was tons of trade in the ancient world that we do not know about. The ancient world was waaaay more connected than I think we are ready to accept. The biggest trade network I can think of is the Silk Road, but that was less ancient and more just old. There are indictions that ancient bronze age cultures in the British Isles had lapis lazuli from Egypt, and that the nomadic tribes of the Asian Steppes had some iron tools from Western Europe. There are apocryphal stories of Polynesian goods being found in South America.  I think the ancient world was a lot more connected than we give it credit for.

14. How did ancient civilizations contribute to the development of mathematics, science, and astronomy, and what impact did their discoveries have on subsequent generations?

Ancient civilizations are the foundational knowledge of modern maths (hey all my British peeps) and science. The Pythagorean Theorem is called that for a reason, and it is not to create some kind of anachronistic name for a concept created by a French guy named Guy in 1679. Science and math build on each other, when something is proven false in math or science it is jettisoned and new concepts emerge to take the place of the incorrect things. No one believes in the bodily humors any more, but we still understand how to bring down a fever.

15. What are some ongoing archaeological discoveries and research projects that are shedding new light on ancient civilizations and rewriting our understanding of history?

The stuff going on in Türkiye right now with Göbekli Tepe is really fascinating.  The fact that archeologists are finding other sister sites dating to similar timeframes is really amazing. 

16. What unsolved engineering feat from an ancient civilization continues to amaze us today?

The 2 that come to mind immediately are the precision of the rock cuts for Machu Picchu and the precision of the alignments for ancient monuments such as the Pyramids at Giza.

17. Amazons… Les rowl rowl, amiright?

The historical basis of the myths of the Amazons point toward some badass female horse warriors from Scythia (an area just to the north of the Black Sea {think Ukraine}). The Greek mythological versions are less interesting to me and the Martson “Wonder Woman” version of the Amazons was even less interesting. There is no need to mythologize the Amazons, they were badass enough in reality.

18. Do you believe any ancient civilizations possessed technologies lost to the modern world? If so, what are they?

There are some indications that there were some ancient medicinal concoctions that seem to kill off bacteria and infection without using what we consider as modern anti-bacterial medicines. If that is true there may be some avenues to create medicines that can combat the “super bugs” that do not react to modern antibacterial agents. If that is true that would be amazing…. But ancient people also used to drink mercury… soooo /shrug 

19.  So… the Trojans… How much of The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Aeneid are actually rooted in history, and how much of it is just good story-telling?

Troy was a real city. There were multiple battles associated with the city of Troy. Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, probably did not exist. Agamemnon, Ajax, Odysseus, Achilles, etc… most likely did not exist, but wee archetypes used to tell a compelling tale. Aeneas did not exost and was a creation of Virgil to tie the founding of Rome to divine origins.  

20. 2000 years from now, how will the American “Ancient Civilization” be regarded?

Like most ancient history, the time-frames will be truncated massively. There are 180-ish years between the time of Persues and the Trojan War. So Perseus is to Odysseus as George Washington is to Dwight Eisenhower (as William the Conqueror to Henry III, for my Britos, and as The High Republic Era to the Galactic Empire for my Star Wars peeps). Tales will be told how Lincoln ushered in our response to WWI.

To recap:

• ChatGPT 4 is on its way as a free service to users

• It looks amazing

• I am almost halfway done with  an interview

• It has been tons of fun

• I truly enjoy the interviews

• If anyone wants to be interviewed, message me

• If you want to help my lower legs and feet, massage me

• I actually enjoy job interviews as well

• Truly, they are fun

• I tend to do really well on them as far as building a rapport with the people in the interview, but that doesn’t translate into anything

• My sleep schedule is terrible at the moment

• But I do get to nap on the couch with the doggos occasionally

• Mapping user journeys seems to be a very sought after skill

• A skill that I have done a few times over, but do not have any artifacts to show for it

• It is a bit frustrating

• Since I have a background in spatial analysis methods, I tend to look at user journeys as a map of a landscape

• A journey through space and time

• They are not just flow charts or decision trees

• Subscribe to my substack if you want this drivel emailed to you

• Read this on Medium, if that's your jam

• mmmmm Black Currant Jam

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 448 - Transformations

This week I had a hard time coming up with a topic, so I asked Chat GPT for some input.  But before I asked ChatGPT this, I asked if it would be offended if I referred to it as Chad when thinking about it or talking to others about it.  Chad was cool with it. ) I also asked Google's LLM how I should refer to it since it used to be referred to as Bard, but is now referred to as Gemini. Interestingly, Bard said that its name was Bard and that it has been branded as Gemini for marketing purposes as Gemini. Bard is the LLM that provides the Gemini services. That made me feel just a little uneasy. Anthropic’s LLM, Claude, is very Claude-like and will be referred to as such. Claude has no persistent memory cache to allow for follow up questions.   

Anyway… I asked Chad to generate a topic for me after reminding it of my last 10 topics, and it generated “Transformations.” Okay, Chad, Bard, Claude, and Some-Other-Guy, let’s do this. (Editor’s Note:the question breakdown goes as follows: Chad: 12, Bard: 3, Claude: 2, and Some-Other-guy: 3)

Onto the questions!

1. Who is your favorite Transformer and why is it Soundwave?

Ha! Well, it sure as hell isn’t Rodimus Prime.  Hasboro couldn’t shove that toy down my throat in 1986. Such a huge misstep by that toy-company. That being said, you may be correct.  I think it is Soundwave, mainly because as a toy, Soundwave was the actual size of an early Walkman cassette player. The weapons Soundwave has are from the batteries in the battery compartment of the “walkman.” I always liked Soundwave because he didn’t get into all the Decepticon drama… and he had friends in his chest in the form of cassettes who would transform and help him out. Super cool. Tell me you are a Gen X kid without telling me you are a Gen X kid. 

2. How does the process of metamorphosis in insects, such as caterpillars becoming butterflies, symbolize transformation in nature?

Well… That one is pretty simple, it symbolizes transformation because it is a very easy to see transformation that doesn’t take too long to occur.

3. What role does personal growth and self-discovery play in the process of transformation?

It is vital.  You cannot transform without personal growth and self-discovery.

4. Can traumatic experiences lead to positive transformations in individuals, and if so, how?

Not initially, but over time they can be net-positive for specific people who lived through the trauma. This is not one of those “God works in mysterious ways” kinds of trauma transformation.  God didn’t slowly kill your gram-gram with cancer so you could learn to let go and realize how precious life is and how you should treasure every moment of it because it can be taken away. The Almighty didn’t slowly and methodically debilitate a loved one for you to grow… because if God did… that’s psychotic and evil. 

That being said, over time you can learn things from trauma and the transformative changes brought on by that trauma. I am who I am today due to all the good and bad things that have transformed me into my current form.

5. In what ways do advancements in technology, such as artificial intelligence and automation, transform industries and job markets?

Nobody is buying buggy whips anymore. Growth is change and change changes the job markets. My job didn’t exist 15 years go… what am I saying, I am unemployed.  My job doesn’t exist now. Seriously folks, I need some income. If you have a job you think a snarky bastard would be okay at, hit me up.

6. How does cultural appropriation transform the meaning and significance of traditional practices and symbols?

Ohh, this is an interesting question from an LLM. I really would love to see some of the probabilistic matrixing that happened for this sentence to construct itself. The easiest instance I can think of is the Janist symbol of the Swastika.  It is a ancient religious symbol from South Asia that means “well-being”... until it was appropriated in the 1930’s.

7. How does the process of urbanization transform landscapes and communities?

200 Years of Baltimore Urbanization

Well, the process of the anthropocene has altered the natural Landscape beyond measure.  Urbanization is just the continuation of the land transformation done from going from an untamed natural landscape to agricultural. Urbanization brings communities closer together and ties different areas together, but it also alters the overall pastiche of an area to, well…,  more. Rural places lose their close-knit communities and replace it with more connection to everything.  It is a push/pull, give and take.

8. Can societal norms and expectations hinder or facilitate personal transformation, and why?

Yes. This is not an either or.  I find it interesting that the LLM’s like to play this either or game often. It really illustrates how our connected digital society that the LLM’s trained off of really lean into bivariate solutions. Societal norms both hinder and facilitate. There is a constant push between maintaining the status quo and working with what works, and making this better.

9. What role does resilience play in navigating and overcoming challenges during periods of transformation?

Resilience is extremely important.  All change can be difficult, and the person/system going through that change has to be strong enough to maintain its integrity while in the transformation. Caterpillars need to hard cocoon outer shell to hold it together while they change into butterflies, because at one point in the process, the organism is just a unrecognizable goo. It needs that resilient chrysalis to hold that goo together. 

10. In what ways does the concept of transformation intersect with spirituality and personal enlightenment?

Spirituality and enlightenment are 2 sides of the same coin. In fact, some people consider spirituality to be personal enlightenment. These 2 concepts (well 1½ concepts) feed into transformation because they are often used as the catalyst or impetus for change.

11. How does the process of creative expression, such as art, music, or writing, facilitate personal transformation and healing?

Much of the subconscious comes out during creative efforts. Spontaneous writing or automatic drawing are two methods that help to unload the subconscious of thoughts and feelings that keep healing from happening.

12. How do transformative experiences, such as parenthood or caregiving, redefine our sense of identity and purpose?

Often transformations comes with a re-prioritization, so the” mere” act of transformation will, by definition, change you. Parenthood or caregiving are both massive re-prioritizations. 

13. What are some examples of transformative moments in your own life that have shaped who you are today?

Hmmm.. Leaving Alabama, 19th Birthday (IYKYK), graduating college, getting married, having kids, changing careers, getting divorced, getting re-married, being un-employed in these trying times.

14. Is the idea of human beings merging with technology a desirable form of transformation, or a slippery slope towards dystopia? 

Again, this is not an either or. There is not a bivariate selection here. Merging humans with tech is often referred to as “the singularity.” Much like everything else, there are good points to it and bad.

15. Imagine a near future where AI surpasses human intelligence and undergoes a conscious transformation. How would humans react to this new, "evolved" form of intelligence?

We will be scared and try to stop that evolution. The unknowns are too powerful for us to handle.  We will be wrong to do that, but it is what we will do.  Frankly, I am a little concerned that all 3 LLM’s had some version of this question in the lists of questions they gave me.

16. Play isn't just for kids! How can playful exploration and experimentation lead to unexpected forms of transformation in adults?

Just like it does in kids. Doing fun things often leads to new fun things to do.

17. In what ways can the transformation of a city's architecture and urban landscape impact its identity?

Take Boston’s “Big Dig” where they suppressed much of the downtown interstate infrastructure into tunnels and re-opened the old interstate ares in to greenspaces. It changed how that city looked and felt. Conversely, look at how broken cities in the US became in the 1950’s and 60’s when they cut neighborhoods in half with interstates. Birmingham, Alabama was a steel town until that industry shut down in the 80’s.  Now it is primarily medical/telecom and other information based industries. 

18. How might the transformation of Earth's climate over the coming decades force humanity to transform itself?

The coastal peeps are going to have to learn to swim.

19. Tell me why affine coordinate transforms are hard.

Simple, they are matrices that are modified by a vector. Duh. 

20. How much cooler would the metamorphosis transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly be if it made the”koh-kah-ka-keee” noise from the Transformers cartoon?

SO. MUCH. COOLER.

To recap:

• Seriously, I need a job

• Read this in the SubStack

• Or on Medium

• Happiest of Birthdays to my delightful ex-wife

• You area great friend and a wonderful mother

• You are a wonderful person who I am very happy to still have in my life

• 50? ugh… I’ll be there soon

• These LLM’s are quirky little fuckers

• Bard likes a good list

• Chad seems to want to have a personality

• Claude reminds me of a kitten that was born on our back porch when I was a kid

• The mom cat (Tiger Striped Siamese cat) had 4 kittens, 3 boys and a girl

• The mom cat was a beautiful cat

• Her body was the color of the foam on a mocha latte and here legs, tale and ears were striped like a brown tabby

• She had these big blue crossed-eyes, and the worse “Meow” you could imagine

• Of the kittens, we named the girl cat Ferrari, because all she did was run, she was a beautiful blue cross-eyed tabby, no siamese markings on her at all aside from the eyes

• All three of the boys were beautiful flame point white siamese cats

• All three of them had green crossed-eyes and were pretty much stark white with legs, tails, and ears being striped like an orange tabby cat

• Truly pretty cats, We should have taken pics of these guys, but film wasn’t cheap

• Anyway, we found one of the three males half-way up a brick wall one day, he was named Spider-Man

• He really did love climbing

• The second one was one that our neighbors decided to keep

• Nothing really significantly special about him, his name was Snowflake

• The last kitten loved to hang out in the litter box so he did not have to effort much to pee or poop where he was supposed to

• He seemed a bit dull

• We named him Clyde…

• Claude sounds an awful lot like Clyde

• He gets the job done, but there is nothing in that one that is enjoyable

• Seriously, I need a job

• Have a great week everyone

20 Questions Tuesday: 447 - Limitations

It is always tough to come up with topics for these 20 Questions… well, noit always.  Solar Eclipse kind of fell into my lap, and there are other topics that end up being extremely timely as well… not so today.  Today I was having a dickens of a time coming up with a topic to answer questions about, so I did what every good blogger does… I outsourced.  So, today’s topic is “Limitations” thanks to a suggestion from my eldest step-kiddo, Peter. Thanks Peter, this one is for you.

The prompt top get the LLm’s to give interesting questions took some effort.  I really had to explicitly  define multiple definitions of the word “Limitation” and what types of questions would be preferred.  I gave the same prompt to Chad (ChatGPT), Bart (Gemini), and, the new to me, Claude (Anthropic). - FYI: I am not going to “interview Claude since that LLM has no knowledge carry-over from question to question, so there would not be any build off of each question.  It would just be me asking Claude a series of unconnected questions, which is much better for question generation than it is for a connected interview. Now back to your regularly scheduled content - So, thanks this week to Chad (10 questions), Bart (5 questions), Claude (3 questions) and Some Other Guy (2 questions).  Editor’s note: Both Bart and Claude had versions of some of the questions I used from Chad, but they were almost exact replicas, even in their wording… methinks some LLM’s have been trained on the same datasets. 

Anyway… on to the questions!

1. What role do limitations play in shaping our understanding of personal freedom?

The biggest limitation to personal freedom is other people’s personal freedom. Often the freedom of one person impinges on the freedom of someone else, and vice versa.

2. How do cultural norms impose limitations on individual expression?

Oh, in so many ways.  Cultural norms will often constrain people to, well, the mores of the day. The interesting thing is that mores and cultural limitations change over time.  The cultural limitations of my parents' culture are different from mine, which are different from my kids’ which will, in turn, be different from the generations following. 

3. Can limitations inspire creativity, or do they stifle innovation?

Weirdly, the answer to that is “Yes.” Limitations inspire creativity and stifle innovation. These are not mutually exclusive categories.

4. Are there any benefits to embracing limitations rather than seeing them as obstacles?

Of course there are.  Take it in the vein of “fake it til you make it.” Limitations are often a catalyst to make changes. 

5. What are the ethical implications of imposing limitations on scientific research?

There are both ethical implications of imposing limitations as well as not imposing limitations. Imposing limitations might reduce the capability of science to fix certain things like cancers and infectious diseases… however without ethical limitations scientists would conduct experiments with no regard to the test subjects.

6. Are there limitations inherent in language that shape the way we perceive the world?

Yes.

9. Do limitations in our understanding of the universe hinder scientific progress, or do they drive exploration?

Again, the answer to this is “yes.” Both are true statements. 

10. Can limitations in our understanding of history influence our ability to learn from past mistakes and envision a better future?

Our understanding of history is flawed at best, and our inherent lack of understanding keeps us from moving forward. For example, in the US, until we accept and learn about the breadth and depth of the founding of our country on chattel slavery and how the very basis of our political system is still functioning on those racist underpinnings, we cannot truly move forward.

11. How do different cultures view limitations? Are some cultures more accepting of limitations than others?

There is the apocryphal saying about the Japanese word for challenge also meaning opportunity, or some happy hogwash. I don’t know Japanese, maybe it is real? maybe it is a very liberal translation? who knows… So yeah, some cultures look at impediments, like limitations, as a reason to creatively execute a solution. 

12. What are the biggest limitations facing technological advancement today? How might we overcome these limitations?

2 major limitations are starting to rear their ugly heads.  One is miniaturization.  There is a physical limit to how small things actually can get. The second thing is the battery technology we have at the moment.  Since the lithium ion battery was introduced, there have not been any significant jumps forward oin battery technology.

13. Can setting limitations actually be empowering? How can we learn to say "no" more effectively?

“No” is a very powerful limitation.  Healthy boundaries are limitations, and they are healthy. Just make sure when you say no, it is not solely based on fear… coming from first hand experience

14. Is FOMO a limitation of the digital age? How can we overcome the feeling of missing out due to limitations in time or resources?

“Technology” as a whole is becoming more and more difficult to keep up with.  There is just so much of it. Eventually people had to start differentiating skill sets because no one person could do all the things necessary to keep a culture and society operating and growing… same thing is happening now, has always been happening, and will continue to happen.

15. Are limitations inherent to the human condition? If so, how can we learn to live within them while still striving for growth?

Limitations are inherent to any condition, human or otherwise. Specifically for humans, we only have so many limbs, fingers and toes, we only have so long of a lifespan.  The only thing you can do as a human is continue to try and grow in some direction in spite of all of our intrinsic limitations. 

16. Can limitations be self-imposed, and if so, why might someone choose to limit themselves? Conversely, can limitations be a source of motivation or drive for personal growth and achievement?

There are healthy limitations as well as unhealthy ones. It is finding that balance. Healthy: understanding that  the human body cannot flap it’s arms hard enough or fast enough to cause flight. Unhealthy: I sometimes do not try doing something, because limiting myself to not trying allows me to control how I fail. The converse is true as well, sometimes my limitation at doing something is the reason I try harder. Not for running though.  Running can fuck right off.

17. How do limitations factor into the ongoing discourse around accessibility and inclusivity?

That is all about understanding.  By understanding the limitations imposed by accessibility, people can design better experiences for everyone.  If an experience is designed with accessibility and diversity in mind, it is always a better experience for everyone, even the people who do not classify themselves as needing concessions made for accessibility or inclusivity.

18. Can the acknowledgment and acceptance of limitations be seen as a form of wisdom and maturity, or are you just giving up ?

This one feels pointed. Are you accusing me of something?

19. Calculus is a system of mathematics that is built on the idea of limits.  The whole ɛ - ẟ definition of a continuous function is the basis of the blending of the Newtonian and Liebnezian Calculus systems. Wherein Newton focused on functions, associating variables with flowing or changing quantities, whilst Leibniz, on the other hand, viewed calculus in terms of relations defined by constraints… How many people were injured during altercations between the Newtonians and the Leibnezians?

I remember casually reading something about this in a math history book years and years ago that 4 people were injured in a bar room brawl between groups supporting the 2 mathematicians. Casually reading?!?!? A math history book?!!? Oh.. God… I am such a nerd.

20. Do you feel that you have hamstrung your creativity for this blog by limiting yourself to this 20 Question format?

Sometimes.

To recap:

• Newton v Leibniz was real

• People took that shit seriously

• For all the math nerds out there, Newton was instrumental in defining Differential Calculus, whilst Leibnez was instrumental in defining Integral Calculus

• Modern Calculus notation is primarily the notation that Leibnez defined

• Still looking for a job our there

• Thought I would be the perfect fit for a particular job

• It was the intersection of my 2 career paths

• Job description read like it was my resume

• Didn’t even get a call back

• This is a very discouraging job market for me

• And now my sleep schedule has gone to absolute crap

• Well, even more crappy, it was never great

• I need to draw more

• I did do the pencils for a Hunter illustration from The Bad Batch

• I need to add colors and inks

• Keep in mind that you should put limits on your limitations

• Follow me on Medium

• Subscribe to the substack

• Have a great week everyone