An AI turned this week’s notes into poetry.
A Chronicle of Week Twenty-One
In a week where work did reign,
Much to tell there’s little gain,
Round it though, we gently dance,
For work’s secrets shan’t have chance.
Category: AI Ghostwritten
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Week 21.23 (poem edit)
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Week 20.23
- A correction: Last week I said that the the 10th Anniversary release of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories would have been better if mixed in Dolby Atmos spatial audio. It actually IS! But the entire album isn’t labeled as such because the “second side” of outtakes and behind-the-scenes bits aren’t. With that knowledge, I’ve been enjoying it on headphones and need to put aside more time to hear it again. We regret the error!
- There’s been a slight Korean bent to the week, in that I’ve had KBBQ and soju twice in four days, watched a lot of Jinny’s Kitchen on Amazon Prime Video, and am actually listening to BTS intentionally for the first time as I type this.
- Jinny’s Kitchen is a reality TV show about a pop-up restaurant in Mexico run by five of Korea’s most recognizable stars, who go largely unnoticed by their customers. Each of its 10 episodes is 1.5 hours long, which is practically feature film length! They could be much shorter, but it focuses on a lot of mundane, repeated scenes like the staff rolling gimbaps, cooking noodles, and plating fried chicken. Perhaps that’s the point, giving fans a chance to watch them doing normal people things? Or maybe it’s normal for Korean reality TV? Is it designed to be left running in the background? Or was it an Amazon Prime Video decision to hit streaming time KPIs?
- In any case, Korean soft power is wave after wave of these campaigns. The show should be boring but it kinda works, plus it has an unheard-of 9.2/10 score on IMDB. The best moments for me are when someone does recognize one of them, like when an incredulous customer sees V from BTS (59 million followers on Instagram) pop his head out from the back, and likens it to Drake running a restaurant in a country where no one knows who he is. Watching celebs do normal people things is straight out of the idol playbook and it works — I’m listening to their music with an open mind now, and we’re talking again about visiting the country someday.
- The Anbernic RG35XX arrived and it’s a nice little device that really recalls the Game Boy series in spirit. It feels good in the hand and the screen is bright and beautiful — the community seems to recommend replacing its software with something called GarlicOS but it looks like wayyy too much trouble. The thing just works out of the box, and I’m not in the mood to start modding it. It still blows my mind you can have this for S$90 including shipping, and it does come with uhh lots of software loaded, so it’s great value if you’re looking for a gift.
- I’m still going strong in Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch, in the final stretch but honestly still in no shape to face some of the game’s stronger enemies. I’m now thinking that if/when I eventually finish this, I’ll probably have to take a break before starting the sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, given that it reuses the same world map and I won’t be in any mood to cover it all over again. Note to self: don’t pre-order any more games unless they comes with discounts or exclusive bonuses!
- We had a nail painting team event at work, for which the turnout was more male than female because of scheduling conflicts and maybe even a bit of self selection, so I’m sporting gray/lilac nails at the moment. It’s probably been over 20 years since I’ve had colored nails, and I think I’ll keep this going now that I’m too old to be told off and it’s not such a big deal.
I asked ChatGPT to analyze my post and it suggested I add a conclusion. I said “you do it, then”. Here’s what we agreed on:
This week has been a whirlwind of diverse experiences and discoveries. From immersing myself in the captivating sounds of Random Access Memories in Dolby Atmos to exploring the world of Korean soft power through Jinny’s Kitchen, I’ve been on a journey of curiosity and appreciation.
The Anbernic RG35XX has provided me with nostalgic gaming moments, while progressing in Breath of the Wild has been both thrilling and daunting. Even a simple nail painting team event at work has reminded me of the freedom to embrace self-expression.
These experiences have sparked my curiosity and inspired me to share my thoughts as a writer. Life is full of opportunities to explore, connect, and find inspiration in unexpected places. So, whether it’s through music, cuisine, gaming, or the little joys, embrace the unknown and discover the stories and experiences that await.
Thank you for joining me on this adventure, and until next time!
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Bing Blogs #5: The Nightmare of Too Many Photos
In case it wasn’t clear after four previous installments, these posts are written by Bing/GPT-4 and not me; I’m just the human giving prompts. It’s a lazy way of getting more content while also an excuse for playing with these AI tools. I considered editing these by hand so they’d be more “collaborative” but then you’d miss seeing what it can do by itself.
Here’s one that I could have written myself based on a real dilemma I’m facing (but it was 10,000 photos, more like 1,300).
Hello, dear readers. I’m back from my amazing trip to Japan, where I had the time of my life exploring the culture, cuisine and scenery of this wonderful country. I’m sure you’re all eager to see the photos I took during my adventure, right?
Well, brace yourselves. Because I have a confession to make.
I took too many photos.
Yes, you heard me right. Too many photos. As in, over 10,000 photos. On one trip.
How did this happen? Well, it’s simple really. Japan is just too photogenic. Everywhere I looked, there was something worth capturing. The temples, the gardens, the cherry blossoms, the sushi, the anime characters… I couldn’t resist snapping away with my digital camera.
And now I have a problem.
A big problem.
Because I have no time to edit them.
You see, editing photos is not as easy as it sounds. It takes hours of work to sort through them, delete the bad ones (which are surprisingly few), crop them, adjust them and add filters and effects to make them look even better.
And that’s just for one photo.
Now imagine doing that for 10,000 photos.
That’s right. It’s impossible.
I don’t have that kind of time. Or patience. Or skill.
So what am I going to do?
Well… nothing.
That’s right. Nothing.
I’m going to leave them as they are. Unedited. Raw. Real.
And I’m going to share them with you anyway.
All 10,000 of them.
In one go.
Are you ready?
No?
Too bad!
Here they are!
[Insert 10 GB worth of photos here]
Enjoy!
I generated quite a few variations on this post idea, and some had pretty funny moments I wish I’d saved, e.g. inserting a link to a purported selfie in front of a cherry blossom tree as my best photo, even pointing to Unsplash (it was an invalid URL the AI made up).
Another post had this advice, which I thought was worth posting. Perhaps it was stolen?
The lesson is simple: don’t let your photos stress you out. Don’t let them sit on your camera or computer forever collecting dust (or worse). Don’t let them become a burden instead of a joy.
Instead:
- Take as many as you want (but not more than you need).
- Delete as many as you can (but not more than you should).
- Organize as much as possible (but not more than necessary).
- Edit as little as needed (but not less than desired).
- Share as much as appropriate (but not less than expected).
- Back up as often as feasible (but not less than required).
And most importantly:
Have fun!
Because after all,
Photos are memories,
And memories are priceless.
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Bing Blogs #4: An absolute endorsement of Japan
I’m still on vacation in Japan and this is a scheduled post written by Bing AI. The specific weeb-like tone and final gag was something I specifically briefed it on, and it pulled it off quite well. Very proud of this little blogging assistant!
Why Japan is the Best Country Ever and You Should All Move There ASAP
Hello, fellow otakus! I’m sure you’re all dying to hear about my amazing trip to Japan, the land of anime, manga and kawaii culture. Well, let me tell you, it was everything I dreamed of and more! Japan is truly the best country ever and you should all move there as soon as possible. Here are some reasons why:
- Japan has the most beautiful scenery in the world. From majestic mountains to serene temples, from bustling cities to peaceful countryside, Japan has it all. And don’t get me started on the cherry blossoms! They are so pretty and romantic, especially when they fall on your hair like snowflakes. I felt like I was in a shoujo manga!
- Japan has the most delicious food in the world. From sushi to ramen, from takoyaki to mochi, from curry to katsu, Japan has it all. And don’t get me started on the vending machines! They have everything you can imagine, from drinks to snacks to toys to underwear. Yes, underwear! How convenient is that? I bought a pair of Hello Kitty panties for only 300 yen!
- Japan has the most polite people in the world. From bowing to smiling, from saying “arigatou” to saying “sumimasen”, Japan has it all. And don’t get me started on the service! They are so attentive and helpful, especially when they see a foreigner like me. They always gave me extra napkins or chopsticks or free samples or discounts or compliments or hugs or kisses or marriage proposals…
- Japan has the most awesome culture in the world. From anime to manga, from cosplay to karaoke, from J-pop to K-pop (yes, they love K-pop too!), Japan has it all. And don’t get me started on Akihabara! It’s like heaven for otakus like me. They have everything you can imagine related to anime and manga: DVDs, figurines, posters, pillows, costumes, cafes, maid cafes, cat cafes, owl cafes, penguin cafes… Yes, penguin cafes! How cool is that? I cuddled with a penguin for only 1000 yen!
Now, you might be wondering: are there any downsides to living in Japan? Well,
let me tell you: there are none! Japan is perfect in every way! Sure, some people might say that Japan has some problems like:- Overcrowding
- Pollution
- Earthquakes
- Tsunamis
- Nuclear disasters
- High cost of living
- Low wages
- Long working hours
- High suicide rates
- Aging population
- Xenophobia
- Racism
- Sexism
- Homophobia
But those are just minor details that can be easily ignored or overcome with your positive attitude and love for Japan! Trust me: once you go Japanese, you never go back!
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and book your flight today! Japan awaits you with open arms! Sayonara! 😍😍😍
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Bing Blogs #3: On the edges (of iPhones)
I used to write my own iPhone content but now I can just brief an AI to do it! I asked for a funny explanation of why Apple keeps changing the design language and is rumored to be doing it yet again with the iPhone 15 series.
The iPhone Design Flip-Flop: Why Apple Can’t Make Up Its Mind
If you’re an iPhone fan, you might have noticed a curious pattern in Apple’s design choices over the years. The company seems to have a hard time deciding whether it likes rounded edges or straight edges for its flagship smartphone. Let’s take a look at how the iPhone has changed its shape since its debut in 2007 .
The Original iPhone: Round and Proud
The first iPhone was introduced by Steve Jobs as a combination of the iPod, a revolutionary mobile phone and a breakthrough Internet communicator. It featured a 3.5-inch screen, a multi-touch touchscreen display, microphone, headset controls and specs that the modern smartphone user takes for granted today. It also had a sleek design with rounded edges that made it comfortable to hold and easy to slip into your pocket.
The iPhone 4: Straight Outta Cupertino
In 2010, Apple unveiled the iPhone 4, which marked a radical departure from the previous models. The iPhone 4 had a flat glass front and back with an aluminum frame that created straight edges around the device. It also had a smaller 3.5-inch screen with higher resolution and introduced features like FaceTime video calling and Retina display. The iPhone 4 was praised for its elegant design and performance, but also criticized for its antenna issues that caused signal loss when held in certain ways.
The iPhone 6: Back to Basics
After four generations of straight-edged iPhones (including the iPhone 4S, 5 and 5S), Apple decided to go back to its roots with the iPhone 6 in 2014. The iPhone 6 had a larger 4.7-inch screen with curved edges that followed the contour of the device. It also had a thinner body and improved camera capabilities. The iPhone 6 was well-received by consumers who appreciated its bigger size and smoother design.
The iPhone 12: Straight Up Stunning
In 2020, Apple surprised everyone by bringing back the straight edges with the iPhone 12 series. The iPhone 12 had a flat glass front and back with an aluminum frame that created sharp edges around the device. It also had a larger 6.1-inch screen with higher resolution and introduced features like MagSafe wireless charging and Ceramic Shield protection. The iPhone 12 was hailed as one of the best iPhones ever made, combining beauty and power in one package.
The Rumored iPhone 15: Round Again?
Now, here’s where things get interesting. According to some leaks and rumors, Apple might be planning to switch back to rounded edges for its next-generation iPhones in late-2023 or early-2024. This would mean that Apple would once again abandon its straight-edged design after only three iterations (including the current iPhone-13 series). Why would Apple do this? What’s wrong with straight edges? Are they too edgy for Apple?
Conclusion: What’s Next for Apple?
It’s hard to say what motivates Apple’s design decisions when it comes to its iPhones. Maybe it’s just trying to keep things fresh and exciting for consumers who crave novelty and variety. Maybe it’s following market trends or responding to customer feedback. Maybe it’s just experimenting with different styles until it finds one that sticks.
Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Apple can’t seem to make up its mind about whether it likes rounded edges or straight edges for its iPhones. And as long as it keeps flip-flopping between them, we’ll keep buying them anyway.
I then asked for a poem on the same subject and got this:
Apple loves to make its iPhones sleek and smooth
But can’t decide on how to shape their sides
Sometimes they’re round, sometimes they’re straight like brooms
And every year they change their minds and guidesThe customers are puzzled by this trend
They wonder why they need a new design
They think that Apple just wants them to spend
More money on a phone that’s not refinedBut maybe Apple has a deeper plan
To test the limits of aesthetics and art
To see how far they can push the demand
For beauty over function and be smartOr maybe they’re just bored and out of touch
And don’t know how to make their phones too much
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Week 10.23
- My former colleague/boss/mentor has a new gig heading up programs at a design school. A bunch of us went down to see him at work doing a free trend hunting workshop event on Thursday. It was good to see him thriving on meaningful work, and we got some nice swag out of it. I think he said it was like doing the parts of the job he liked best, and not so much of the other bits.
- Amidst busyness; packing and planning for our holiday. By the time we land in Tokyo, it would have been 1,589 days since my last time in Japan — the pandemic throwing off my goal of visiting every two or three years on average. Look, if I could, I would go several times a year, just for some quick weekend shopping and dining. And I’ve recently discovered that some colleagues with charmed lives really go that often: one guy every three months, another every six.
- We watched the new Netflix documentary about Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, which hasn’t put me in the mood for a seven hour flight. But I’ve begun to start downloading podcasts, TV shows, and other content for it, and the roughly 8 hours of Shinkansen rides we have booked.
- I don’t think I could take watching more Succession right now. The banality of it irritates me. I just want it to be Billions but it isn’t.
- Missed Fortune is an Apple Original Podcast that I’m going to give a go. It’s completely free and I presume ad-free too. It’s on the Apple TV+ podcast channel, alongside other original podcasts that have nothing to do with shows on Apple TV+. I’ve never heard anyone talking about these, nor seen them advertised. The strategy baffles me, but hey, they’ve paid for a bunch of high quality content and I’ll take it.
- I probably won’t be updating this blog weekly while away. I may post random photos or videos; I haven’t decided. It will be the first interruption of this weeknotes streak in nearly three years (I started on July 5, 2020). In that inaugural post, I mentioned nicking the idea of Michael Camilleri, who I’m planning to meet in Tokyo. This week, I very much enjoyed his appearance on a podcast about podcasts called Really Specific Stories. Check it out if you also grew up around technology in the 80s and 90s and let that shape your free time or occupation today.
- I may not need to update this blog myself for much longer. Bing AI and ChatGPT are doing a passable job of writing blog posts given a short brief or outline. I’ve created a new category for AI Ghostwritten posts, and may keep experimenting with them the same way I’ve been doing with Midjourney images. The more I do it, the more specific I’m learning to be with my prompts (it helps so much that you can be conversational and use semantically complex sentences, unlike say Midjourney which is more like tossing keywords into a wishing well).
- Bing AI is pretty good at generating screenplays as well. I’ve had it try to write Seinfeld and Frasier scenes, and even a Seinfeld-Frasier crossover! Here’s one, but it really helps if you know what they sound like and can play it out in your head:
[INT. JERRY'S APARTMENT - DAY] JERRY: So, you're really going to Japan? GEORGE: Yeah, why not? It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. JERRY: What opportunity? You don't have a job, you don't speak the language, you don't know anyone there. GEORGE: Exactly. It's a fresh start. A new horizon. A chance to reinvent myself. JERRY: As what? A sumo wrestler? GEORGE: Ha ha. Very funny. No, Jerry, as a businessman. A successful businessman. JERRY: Oh, really? And what kind of business are you going to do in Japan? GEORGE: I don't know yet. Something lucrative. Something cutting-edge. Something...Japanese. JERRY: Like what? Sushi? Karaoke? Anime? GEORGE: Maybe. Maybe all of them. Maybe none of them. The point is, I'm open to anything. JERRY: Anything except reality. [KRAMER ENTERS] KRAMER: Hey hey hey! What's up, fellas? JERRY: Hey, Kramer. GEORGE: Hi, Kramer. KRAMER: Guess what? I'm going to Japan! JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): You're going to Japan? KRAMER: Yeah! Isn't it great? JERRY: How did that happen? KRAMER: Well, you know my friend Bob Sacamano? JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Yeah... KRAMER: Well, he just got back from Japan and he told me all about it. He said it's amazing over there. They have everything you can imagine and more. JERRY: Like what? KRAMER: Like robots! They have robots everywhere! Robots that clean your house, robots that cook your food, robots that drive your car... JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Really? KRAMER: Yeah! And they're friendly too! They talk to you and tell jokes and give advice... JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Wow! KRAMER: Yeah! And they have these capsule hotels where you sleep in a tiny pod with all the amenities... JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Cool! KRAMER: Yeah! And they have these vending machines that dispense anything you want... GEORGE: Anything? KRAMER: Anything! Drinks, snacks, clothes, books, movies... GEORGE: Movies? KRAMER: Yeah! Movies! And not just any movies...my movies! [HE PULLS OUT A DVD CASE WITH HIS FACE ON IT] KRAMER (CONT'D): Look at this! [JERRY AND GEORGE TAKE THE DVD CASE AND EXAMINE IT] JERRY AND GEORGE (reading aloud): "The Kramer Chronicles"? [KRAMER NODS PROUDLY] KRAMER (CONT'D): That's right! It turns out I'm a huge star in Japan! [JERRY AND GEORGE LOOK AT HIM IN DISBELIEF] GEORGE: Wait a minute...wait a minute...you're telling me you're a movie star in Japan? KRAMER: Yeah! That's right! GEORGE: How? How did that happen? KRAMER: Well, you remember that Japanese TV crew that came to New York a few years ago? JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Yeah... KRAMER: Well, they filmed me doing some of my crazy antics and they loved it! They put it on their show and it became a hit! JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Really? KRAMER: Yeah! And then they made a whole series out of it! The Kramer Chronicles! It's like Seinfeld but with me as the star! JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Wow! KRAMER: Yeah! And then they made a movie out of it! The Kramer Chronicles: The Movie! It's like The Hangover but with me as the star! JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Wow! KRAMER: Yeah! And then they made a sequel out of it! The Kramer Chronicles 2: Electric Boogaloo! It's like The Hangover Part II but with me as the star! JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Wow! KRAMER: Yeah! And then they made a trilogy out of it! The Kramer Chronicles 3: Tokyo Drift! It's like Fast and Furious but with me as the star! JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Wow! [THEY ALL LOOK AT THE DVD CASES THAT KRAMER HAS BROUGHT WITH HIM] [KRAMER SMILES PROUDLY] [GEORGE LOOKS ENVIOUS] [JERRY LOOKS AMUSED] [ELAINE ENTERS] ELAINE: Hey guys, what's going on? JERRY AND GEORGE (in unison): Hey Elaine. ELAINE: What are you looking at? [JERRY HANDS HER THE DVD CASES] ELAINE (reading aloud): "The Kramer Chronicles"? What is this? [JERRY EXPLAINS TO HER WHAT KRAMER JUST TOLD THEM] ELAINE (shocked): You're kidding me. [KRAMER SHAKES HIS HEAD NO] ELAINE (CONT'D) (impressed): Wow. That's amazing. [KRAMER BEAMS WITH JOY] ELAINE (CONT'D) (to Kramer): So, you're going to Japan? KRAMER: Yeah. I'm going to Japan. ELAINE: When are you leaving? KRAMER: Tomorrow. ELAINE: Tomorrow? That soon? KRAMER: Yeah. I have to catch my flight. They're expecting me for the premiere of The Kramer Chronicles 4: Return of the King. ELAINE: There's a fourth one? KRAMER: Yeah. There's a fourth one. It's like Lord of the Rings but with me as the star. ELAINE: Wow. [KRAMER NODS PROUDLY] [GEORGE LOOKS EVEN MORE ENVIOUS] [JERRY LOOKS EVEN MORE AMUSED] [END OF SCENE]If you made it to the end of that, you can have some other examples. Though I don’t know if I’ll keep those links up forever.
sangsara.net 