Posts in: Short posts

Memory verses for localists: “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” (1 Thess 4:11-12)


I’ve had General’s Cedar Pointe pencils on hand at home for years now, but today I’ve started using them at work, mostly so I can use them more regularly. No idea where I first heard about them. I like the texture, the black eraser, and–above all–the scent.


Who else imagines Peter Thiel corrupting the normally ethically-bound Claude AI into a Pentagon murder machine, like Morgoth torturing elves into orcs?


These ginger bran muffins from the Old Farmer’s Almanac are good. You could even crank up the ginger a bit if you love it like I do. It’s gotten me thinking about making my own crystallized ginger.


Principles of “The Pro-Human AI Declaration”, signed by a wide range of people and organizations:

  1. Keeping Humans in Charge
  2. Avoiding Concentration of Power
  3. Protecting the Human Experience
  4. Human Agency and Liberty
  5. Responsibility and Accountability for AI Companies

There’s a lot to like about this post: honesty about what life is like out here in the hinterlands, a recognition of the effect of geography on people, a broad-mindedness that seeks understanding between flyover country and the coastal elites. A unique (in my experience) argument worth considering.


There was a robin singing his heart out at 3am today. I guess he’s excited about a break in the rain too!


If you’re looking for American-made jeans, I’m happy with a pair from Dearborn Denim. I buy secondhand clothes where I can and then pay a bit more for items that are durable and/or repairable, e.g., jeans, boots. American made is a plus, since it’s generally better for workers and the environment.


The Mortise and Tenon folks have signed onto Writers Against AI: “The Prompt is not the Craft.” They’ve also created a site in support of the effort. I found a couple new writers to follow via the Voices section of the site.