New use for chatbots: having it rewrite a blunt statement into a more professionally acceptable sentence. Example:
We have too much slack in the budget. If you need new funds, please reallocate from your existing budget.
Rewritten by Microsoft Copilot as
Our budget currently has excess flexibility. If you require additional funds, kindly consider reallocating from your existing budget.
Pretty colors across the street this morning.
I want to be a conscientious objector to the culture wars. I want to hold fast to a belief in the dignity, preciousness, humanity and yes, changeability of people who don’t just disagree with me but may even hate me, no matter their political position, identity, age or anything else. I believe it because my tradition teaches me to, but also because it is better for us all when we do.
This is so good.
Despite an unusually warm February, there doesn’t seem to be any early wildflowers in the woods so far. Mostly wild garlic and garlic mustard.
Ted Goia has a good follow-up post on his dopamine culture piece. In the follow-up, he focuses on ritual as one of the resistances to dopamine culture.
Two more things from the show last night:
The Over the Rhine show last night was…well, they seem to get better with each passing year. The music that just seems to flow out of them is unmatched in my experience. It feels effortless. Their live shows are always deeply moving experiences for me.
Hanging out at the record store before the Over the Rhine show. I’m thankful to have such a great place nearby.
I have a very special sweetgum tree in my yard. I’ll tell you the story sometime. But it does require a lot of raking: we fill a few of these barrels with their spiky seed pods every year.
