I'm not posting this on Facebook, obviously, because I don't want a 30-day bannination just for trying to be funny. so I'll put it here where no one will ever see it.
He, of course, did fulfill a lot of peoples' expectations: He became a real scumbag.
Something happened yesterday that hasn't happened in a long time, and it might be the first time it's happened since I started working from home full-time almost three years ago: I took a day off due to illness.
This is not a flex, nor a pat-on-the-back for working other times when I didn't feel well. This is to point out to the folks who don't believe work from home works, or that it cuts productivity, that at least in my case, it does not.
There have certainly been other days when I woke not feeling well, but just enough on the edge the thinking was, "I'm well enough to work." Now, if, on those days, going to work had meant getting up at 4:30 am, catching the bus at 5:20, working ten hours and then riding the bus home, rolling home at about 7 pm, the likelihood that more days off sick would have been taken in the past three years is high.
But since working while feeling ill meant easier access to the bathroom, liquids other than water or soda, the ability to sneak a half-hour nap in at lunchtime when really needed, and the elimination of the commute, I credit working from home with keeping me at work on more days than I would have otherwise.
This particular illness - a rather nasty head and chest cold - likely would have cost two or three days of work productivity. Just one this time around, on the worst day.
Don't take this as a "I love the grind" flex either. Because I don't. And I have taken plenty of vacation days, holidays, and even a few mental health days in the past three years. Working from home lets me more judiciously choose when to use those precious personal leave days, which is a blessing.
A snowy trip to Zion National Park.
We took the trip to flee winter, as it's still snowy as hell at home, but we managed to drag winter with us all the way.
Shouldn't complain. We need the water. But this'll be the first snowy Easter in a long time.
I'm glad I got to see the park like this, though. Not so hot, not so crowded. And we did get some temperatures in the 50s, which for us is tropical this time of year.
A shape appeared in the mist.
It drew nearer.
Water cascaded off a metal helmet and an oiled leather cloak as the figure stopped and, entirely unconcerned, cupped its hand in front of its face and lit a cigar.
Then the match was dropped on the cobbles, where it hissed out, and the figure said: "What are you?"
The entity stirred, like an old fish in a deep pool. It was too tired to flee.
"I am the Summoning Dark." It was not, in fact, a sound, but had it been, it would have been a hiss. "Who are you?"
"I am the Watchman."
"They would have killed his family!" The darkness lunged, and met resistance. "Think of the deaths they have caused! Who are you to stop me?"
"He created me. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who watches the Watchman? Me. I watch him. Always. You will not force him to murder for you."
"What kind of human creates his own policeman?"
"One who fears the dark."
"And so he should," said the entity, with satisfaction.
"Indeed. But I think you misunderstand. I am not here to keep darkness out. I'm here to keep it in." There was a clink of metal as the shadowy watchman lifted a dark lantern and opened its little door. Orange light cut through the blackness. "Call me . . . the Guarding Dark. Imagine how strong I must be."
The Summoning Dark backed desperately into the alley, but the light followed it, burning it.
"And now," said the Watchman, "get out of town."
~Terry Pratchett, "Thud"
Yet again, Pratchett the Humanist lands squarely in the camp of those who believe in a supreme being.
Sam Vimes' internal Watchman is trained and set to act, not to be acted upon. And whether this Watchman is trained by Vimes alone or trained by Vimes with the assistance of, say, the Holy Ghost, there's no difference, unless you wish to split hairs about belief in a Christian god. He probably would do so.
But there is no difference.
The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi delivers a powerful sermon to his son Jacob about agency -- something Pratchett touches on as a major theme in Thud! The agency given to us by God is for us to use, whether to good or evil ends. It is part of the test. If we train ourselves to act with our agency in ways that keep the natural man in check, we defeat the Summoning Dark and with the help of the Holy Ghost, who will influence us for good but not remove our agency, we can become the Guarding Dark.
Yes, many will fail, whether they approach this from a humanist or Christian point of view. The common denominator is the frailty and weakness of man. If we will God to cause us to do nothing but good, we surrender our agency and become things that are acted upon, not things that act. Being a thing that acts is what makes us human, and certainly what makes Vimes Vimes. That he, and we, choose to act in ways that keep the darkness in is indeed a credit to our own inner training. I am glad to have the assistance of God in my Guarding Dark endeavors.
Vimes also strains to come up with no bad excuses to miss reading "Where's My Cow?" to Young Sam, for a person who would miss a reading with a bad excuse will certainly come up with more and better excuses to miss. Not even being trapped in the bowels of Koom Valley's plumbing could keep Sam from his appointment -- Sam acted. As must we all.
Hoping its message doesn't become more pertinent to us as 2023 goes on.
Early in the morning of February 6, 1858, Representative Galusha Grow, a Republican from Pennsylvania, and Rep. Laurence Kent, a Democrat from South Carolina, exchanged insults that quickly led to blows as the US House of Representatives debated admitting Kansas as a state with a pro-slavery Constitution.
More than 30 representatives joined the melee as South Carolina Democrat James Orr, Speaker of the House, gaveled for order. Sergeant-at-Arms Adam J. Glossbrenner was ordered to arrest the combatants. He jumped into the scrum, wielding the House Mace high above his head.
Order was only restored when Democrat William Barksdale, upset that Wisconsin Republicans John Potter and Cadwaller Washburn had ripped his hairpiece off during the fight, in frustration jammed it on his head backwards. Barksdale looked so ridiculous that both sides stopped fighting and started laughing.
The House was recessed for two days, and when debate was permitted to recommence, Kansas was admitted to the Union as a Free State.
Two lessons can be learned from this:
1. Congress has always been the way it is.
2. Sometimes when people make “idiot” remarks about “serious matters” on social media, they’re secretly hoping it’s the equivalent of the Backwards Hairpiece Gambit and leads people to reassess their behavior.
Yes, this actually happened.
I have gently mocked a "modern" wallet that's a binder clip masquerading as something you'd pay $99 for to hold your cash and credit cards, as advertised on Facebook.
Facebook, then, has flooded my feed with ads for this and other idiot wallets to the point I've just now spent five minutes deleting their ads from my feed.
So I fully expect the number of wallet ads in my feed to double, then triple, because, you know, Facebook has absolutely no willingness to read the room.
My favorite ad for these wallets, however, features some tool flexing over his wallet with the steering wheel of his BMW in the background and a Rolex on his wrist.
I wonder if the ad would have the same cachet if I'd filmed it in our Dodge Grand Caravan with nothing on my wrist at all?
Facebook, trying to sell me wallets.
You may recall an announcement I posted exactly one month ago about ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence writing engine that's been making waves in all sorts of circles, particularly in academia.
My wife and I have had some discussions about ChatGPT in the last month, and I've spent some time playing around with it. I have come to this conclusion: ChatGPT is definitely a tool writers should add to their kit of tools, but, like a hammer, it's not a tool that should be overused.
Here's how I see ChatGPT as being useful to you as we move forward through the rest of the semester.
You've settled on your topic for our last paper. Maybe you're going to write about a problem that you think needs to be solved. Or you're going to present to us an item you want to purchase, but you're not sure which model or from which company you want to buy it, so you're going to explore the pros and cons of a handful of models.
Let's get more specific: Let's say I want to write a paper on a problem I have right now: How to store all the books my wife and I have accumulated over the years. This is a big problem in our house, as you can see:
How can I solve the problem of too many books, not enough shelves?
Let's ask ChatGPT:
As you can see, I asked ChatGPT the following question: "I have a lot of books at home, more books than I can fit on my shelves. What's the best way to store books?"
ChatGPT's response:
"There are several ways to store books when you have more books than shelf space:
1 .Consider using bookcases with adjustable shelves. This can allow you to make more space for larger books or other items, while still accommodating smaller books on the same shelves.
2 .Invest in vertical storage solutions such as bookends or bookshelves that utilize vertical space. You can use these to store books on top of your current bookcases or on other surfaces like tables and desks.
3. Use stackable storage boxes. You can purchase storage boxes that are specifically designed for books or use any sturdy box that is large enough to accommodate your books. Label each box with the contents, so you can easily find what you need when you want to read a specific book.
4. Consider downsizing your collection. If you have books that you haven't read in a long time or don't plan to read again, consider donating them to a library or a charity.
5. Store books in other areas of your home, such as under the bed, in closets, or in unused storage space.
6. Store books in a climate-controlled environment to protect them from humidity, which can damage pages and bindings over time.
Remember to handle your books with care to protect them from damage. Store them upright to keep their spines straight, and avoid stacking books too high, as this can cause them to become damaged or warped."
In less then a minute, ChatGPT has offered me six solutions to my problem, along with a bit of advice on storing books in a way to prevent them from being damaged.
So here's ChatGPT helping me out. I only need three solutions for the paper I'm writing, so now I get to pick which ones to look at.
Or let's say I need to pick out a 3-D printer. (A friend of my wife has bought her first 3-D printer, so it's only a matter of time before my wife, who loves this kind of creativity, decides she wants one of her own, so I'd better get on top of it.)
So, let's take the question to ChatGPT:
My question: What's the best 3-D printer to buy?
ChatGPT's response:
The best 3D printer to buy depends on your specific needs and budget. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a 3D printer:
Price: 3D printers can range in price from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Determine your budget and look for models within that range.
Print Quality: Look for a printer with high print resolution and accuracy. This will ensure that your prints come out looking detailed and precise.
Print Volume: Consider the size of the objects you plan to print. Choose a printer with a large enough print volume to accommodate your needs.
Ease of Use: Look for a printer with user-friendly software and intuitive controls. This will make it easier for you to start printing right away.
Reliability: Look for a printer with good reviews and a proven track record of reliability. A reliable printer will require less maintenance and have fewer issues over time.
Based on these factors, some popular 3D printers include:
Prusa i3 MK3S+: This printer has a reputation for high print quality and accuracy, and it offers a large print volume.
Creality Ender 3: This is an affordable option that offers good print quality and a large community of users for support.
Ultimaker S5: This printer is a more expensive option but offers high-quality prints and a large build volume.
Formlabs Form 3: This is a resin-based printer that offers high accuracy and detail, but it is more expensive than most FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printers.
Ultimately, the best 3D printer for you will depend on your specific needs and budget, as well as your skill level and experience with 3D printing. It's a good idea to read reviews and do some research before making a purchase to ensure that you choose a printer that will meet your needs and expectations.
Here are some questions to ponder:
Q: By using ChatGPT, have I cheated?
A: No. No more than if I had used any ordinary web browser to do my searches.
Q: Should I take what ChatGPT says at face value? In other words, can ChatGPT be trusted to give accurate answers?
A: Also no. As with any ordinary search in a web browser, it's up to me, the questioner, to do additional research and to find out, for example, what exactly "vertical storage solutions" are when it comes to taming our book collection, or whether any of the 3-D printers ChatGPT recommended is in my budget range. Or even if my wife is all that interested to get a 3-D printer in the first place.
What I'm saying is this: As you begin working on your next paper, don't discount using ChatGPT to help you explore solutions, or pros or cons. Its just like plugging your questions into a web browser.
Where would use of ChatGPT cross the line into cheating? In my mind, if you take what ChatGPT produces and turn it in as your own work, that's cheating. Will I detect it? Maybe. Or maybe not. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how much effort you want to put into your work. But I see nothing wrong with using ChatGPT and similar AI engines as a springboard to help you with your thinking.
I'd be interested to see what you think.
I'm naturally a shy person. And shy may not be the right word. Anxious, maybe? Or borderline agoraphobic, perhaps. If there is a way to avoid interaction with fellow human beings, I choose that way.
Working in an office with a bunch of others around me kind of forced me into the whole talking with other people thing. I got used to it, or at least was able to build up enough tolerance or whatever to make it all work.
Then Covid and work from home came. And the slow march to disintegrating social coping skills began.
It took a good ten minutes and a mini-rehearsal to make a very nonconfrontational phone call this morning. A few years ago I wouldn't have had to think twice about it. Well, I would have had to think twice, but making the call wouldn't have taken that much preparation.
Do I want to go back to working in an office? While this situation is weight in favor of a return, so far the balance of advantages to disadvantages of working from home is still in favor of working from home.
But there is a difference, to be sure.
