Tech Friday: Artificial Intelligence photos, video and voice

Posted By on June 16, 2023

Technology advancements and AI photo and video editing has been around a few years (FaceApp photos) … but some of the newer fakes or clones are All In The Familya bit “too” convincing (link to a “human generated” one, but not necessarily convincing). 😉

As a society, there’s no turning back once artificial intelligence abilities are here, but the fear, or concern, is that AI decides no human requests or input are needed to begin creating content. A Congressional hearing this past week highlight just how those with evil intent are using it — threats and blackmailing for money.

As for the “All In The Family” photo (left) or “world leaders as children(video below) … it can also be entertaining just as is TikTokall the while collecting data for the Chinese Communist Party. Who knows what it will be used for?

Once upon a time, the Palm Pre was a great pocket phone #TBT

Posted By on June 15, 2023

Palm Pre in 2009 Back in 2009, after years of using Palm OS products like the Palm Pilot, the Handspring Visor, Palm Palm LogoTreo, Palm Centro and my favorite Samsung SPH i500, I eventually ended up with a small pocketable, full-featured smartphone — the Palm Pre. Who knew that only a year later that I would be forced to give it up?

Why? Because Hewlett Packard bought the Palm, did “something” (who knows) with the their operating system known as webOS … and then deep-sixed the hardware just as they did with Compaq when that bought them (I still own a Compaq portable). Never really have been a fan of HP.

But anyway for ThrowBack Thursday #TBT, here’s a photo of both the sliding physical keyboard and me using the GPS and brand new Google Maps for driving … for posterity.

(more…)

Books: “Decades of Decadence” by Marco Rubio (2023)

Posted By on June 14, 2023

Decades of Decadence by Marco RubioI needed another book to read like a hole in my head as the idiom goes, but since the newly released book by Marco Rubio called “Decades of Decadence” hit the bookstore today, I figured that I would “get on the list” at my local library. Lo and behold it was available on Hoopla as an eBook. Now to find the time to read it?

Thirty years of telling Americans they don’t need families, communities, or a shared history is destroying what made our country the envy of the world.

While many Americans have worried about China, open borders, opioids, failing communities, and families in crisis, our elites have told us that’s all fine because it’s not only inevitable; it’s for the best.

Every part of our nation is now in decline, and it’s all connected.

In Decades of Decadence, Marco Rubio exposes the elites’ attacks on the four key elements of American strength: good local jobs, stable families, geographical communities, and a sovereign nation that serves as a beacon of freedom and prosperity. These have been eroded not only by globalization, but by the lies we tell ourselves, including, “Anyone who loves each other is a family,” “Real community can be found on the internet,” and “We’re all citizens of the world.”

It’s not too late to reject these errors. America remains a powerful and wealthy nation, built on timeless truths ingrained in the very creation of mankind. But we cannot afford another misguided and decadent decade. In this book, Rubio shows how we can avoid another dark age and restore America’s place as the global ideal of harmony, opportunity, and democracy.

EDIT Add on 6/15/2023: After listening to a Ben Domenech podcast interviewing Senator Marco Rubio on what is titled “America’s Crossroads Moment,” I found it too interesting and informative NOT to share. Listen or download wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts for me) … or listen or fast-forward through it below if you are pinched for time.

(more…)

Archive: We had a great time celebrating Taylor’s Birthday

Posted By on June 13, 2023

This content is restricted.

Music Monday: “Imagine” by Music Travel Love and Friends

Posted By on June 12, 2023

This content is restricted.

Busy weekend at our house so just archiving photos

Posted By on June 11, 2023

Howard boysWe are with family and friends for Taylor’s Birthday this weekend and suspect I won’t have time to post on Saturday … so I’m clearing out and archiving a few photos in my “possible blog archive folder” that have collected from the week. 

Airline Seat ConceptFirst was a photo from western New York where my nephews Justin and Aaron (sister Jackie just had a baby) were home to make the annual Mark A. Howard scholarship award to a deserving Maple Grove Jr/Sr High School graduate (their alma mater and where their mom taught). What a great way to remember their dad.

Second was a strange photo of and airline seat concept that looks to squeeze more passengers into a plane … rather that to keep them more comfortable. So much for the middle seat being undesirable! 

FinallyKatelyn sent me a couple “starting to move stuff” photos as they prepare to get their old house ready to sell and rented a U-Haul trailer to start the process. Ugh, moving is not really fun. 

Loading the U-Haul trailer First Load into the new house Unloading the U-Haul Trailer

 

Happy Birthday Taylor. Embrace the change this year.

Posted By on June 10, 2023

Dick Clark in 1989It is hard to believe Taylor, our youngest, is celebrating another birthday (although better than not having them) and that AB logohe was born AFTER the long running television show (1952-1989) American Bandstand ended. It just so happens that Taylor was born a month after Dick Clark finished the final episode … it does not seem Taylor May 2023possible? 

That bit of trivia aside, I want to wish Taylor a very Happy 34th Birthday today … and I look forward to celebrating with him with family and a few friends in the backyard. Let’s fire up the grill! 

An update this week: Taylor mentioned his profile was updated on the Batavia Township webpage (his new job) and I finished putting the finally coats of lacquer on the Cornhole boards (a woodworking project birthday present)
 

Batavia Township website - June 2023 Cornhole project - last lacquer

Cornhole on patio

EDIT add – 6/11/2023: Adding a video with Taylor and Drew playing a game of Cornhole this weekend. They worked great.

Tech Friday: How long before Apple makes an iPhone Flip?

Posted By on June 9, 2023

Prototype iPhone Flipphone

How long must I wait and watch in irritation as other manufacturers beside Apple or iOS “cloners” roll out “flip phone” (or even a slider) that at least from a first glance look like exactly what I personally am looking for in a future iPhone

Motorola Razr Flip - open

The form and function are exactly what at least some of us who wear pants with pockets really would like to see. I remember back to what was my favorite cellphone (perhaps before they were called “smartphones”), the Samsung SPH-i500

Motorola Razr Flip - closed

Earlier this month, PCMag posted an article on the Motorola Razr which demonstrated not only the full size phone display when opened, but a very impressive closed screen for all the “glance” information a user might want (and other models for those who prefer saving a few dollars). Others are moving ahead … Apple innovation seems  at least to me to be in there rearview mirror. 

Flipping Out for Motorola’s Latest: Hands-On
With the Motorola Razr+ and Razr

Minimal Motorola closed display

Motorola today introduced new versions of its iconic folding Razr phone. This time around, there are two models. There’s the simpler and more affordable Razr, which will be out later in the year, as well as the premium Razr+, which features a spacious 3.6-inch external display and near-flagship specs. Motorola is betting on the big outer screen and fashion-focused details to capture the eye of the style-conscious buyer. The Razr+ is very much a Galaxy Z Flip 4 competitor, which Samsung is poised to update later this year. Will Motorola’s fresh design appeal to folding phone enthusiasts? Here is our first look.

MORE

How much do you know about the Federal Reserve?

Posted By on June 8, 2023

If the answer is “not enough” … check out this short YouTube video explainer.

Archive: Coffee and then mixing compost and planting flowers

Posted By on June 7, 2023

Coffee with a smileWho doesn’t smile when waking up to a cup of coffee in the morning — oh, I can smell it now. I know I do … and would be shocked if it actually smiled back!

Really this is just adding to the archive in getting the yard ready for summer and the family this weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing them again and celebrating Taylor’s birthday. 

Brenda picked up flowers for me to plant, so I mixed up some compost, old potting mix and soil that I’ve been saving for planters. If we remember to regularly water, the planters should do fine … Planting mixbut all too often the flowers in the “half-moon” (as we call it) get drown out by too much rain … or maybe just baked by too much hot sun? In any case, they are planted.

Flowers in half-moon

Toledo Mudhens cap And to make this post truly “desultory” … I usually wear my Toledo Mudhens cap while working in the yard and it just so happened that a baseball loving friend tweeted a similar “traditionally colored” ball cap from a sports memorabilia auction. So I sent him mine to see if he knew which minor league team this cap represented — he did not. ☹️ 

MudHens

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog