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Playing with Chat GPT. I need to do this more.
Getting it to generate me JavaScript for Conway's Game of Life. It does so in 3 seconds.
Great. I want the same, but with hexagonal tiles, not squares. And again it does it.
Now, it's not always 100%, and - for example, the hexagonal tiles where not symmetrical or honeycombed like I'd presume. And the code never works the first time it gives it to me, no visual output, and so I have to paste it back with my complaints and it apologizes, corrects the code, then returns it to me. Still damned impressive. And so I make my complaints about the hexagons, again it returns it to me, this time corrected, but not working again, return the code, it apologizes, fixes, and so it's more a lively debate or coaching session with a very competent computer. But in the end I get results that would take dozens of hours were I to attempt this from scratch. Now to add in some more interesting parameters.
I mean, it's still a 'tool' - albeit a very impressive one. But I have to spend more time with this.
I need to start thinking a little bit bigger. The big questions.
So I start it on the lottery. I have a theory, a few theories, but now it's gotten cagey, shy, it's saving up the numbers, lecturing me on morality, how "tough" it is, and - tellingly, I know it's not going to give me nothing.
A few minutes in that direction and I have to abandon it. It's clearly not going to be of any help whatsoever.
Now to start thinking of yet bigger questions, and I have a pile, a whole list of things that could use solving, like my wallet, finances, etc - but - I have to limit myself to an hour a day.
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Meanwhile, on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/fossils/comments/1c4hldl/found_a_mandible_in_the_travertin_floor_at_my/
Note the abundant comments on Reddit, many by "experts", all saying definitely hominid, most probably human, and - depending where quarried, from 200 - 300, 000 years to possibly millions of years old. And somewhere, somebody's walking over another cross-section of said person...
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Not much reading as of late, but scrolling through Youtube, a few prospecting videos (but it doesn't take me long to catch up there), then a couple of videos on Missing Persons Cases.
Now, I've watched all the Missing 411 Videos, which describe missing persons cases with a negligent lack of detail and salacious amount of speculation. Intriguing, if you're 8 years old and heading off to summer camp, otherwise I'm going to go with "Bigfoot and Flying Saucers Can't be THAT BUSY...".
But I find another channel, in which a reasonably intelligent person goes through missing persons files then discloses how in the end the victims are found. In every case there's a reasonable explanation, whether it be a landslide, a concealed abandoned well, mineshaft, or simply lost outside the search area.
This channel, it focuses on American Cases, largely desert environs where you think that the search would be relatively easy, given the low scrub and rocks. But they're not, and people frequently defy expectation, which is why they end up missing...
Anyways, it gets me curious about a few missing person cases closer to home. And here, in the mountains of BC or foothills and brush of Northern Alberta, well, it's pretty easy for people to go missing as well, and with a much less probable chance of recovery. In cases where they slip into a river - and end up in a lake, or the ocean, chances of recovery are low. Same with those suicidal people that jump off a bridge. Then there's those cases where clearly those missing were likely involved in criminal or gang activity, so no longer are you merely looking for a body, you're looking for a body that has been deliberately or purposely concealed. Then there are the cases where foul play is suspected, a "bad date" with a known violent offender who had access to a boat, a bitter divorce, custody battles, or last year the case of a certain missing person from Creston who, if you took the time to Google, had been charged with fraud the year prior, going to businesses door to door, and clearly I'd postulate the ill-will he generated caught up to him. There are quite a few like that, heartbreaking when the campaign to bring a mother's son home is renewed every couple of years, and when the only people who know what happened have themselves deceased, and there is no hope of closure. Despite the 'peaceable' nature of the Kootenays there are more than a few cases like that, where people don't trust the police to deal with matters in an efficient way and so take things upon themselves. These, find the right subreddit or Youtube video, will invariably unravel, the only thing left is to find the remains, which as I mentioned earlier can be nigh on impossible given the intentional or purposeful disposal of evidence.
And then there are those that simply disappear. Which is compelling, in that the mind (or mine at least) rebels against the mystery these cases present - think of the missing kid at Shambala a couple of years ago, who clearly had not recovered from the party, ran off into the woods, and was never seen of again. And too many more to list. The problem with these cases is that there's never enough information provided for you to make an accurate prediction as to what happened, or where they may be, people close to them/and the police rarely make public the victims state of mind, their associations, their possible motivations or intentions, etc. And so you're left with this indigestible mystery, not that's it in anyway a mystery, only you haven't been given enough information to figure it out.
***
So a dark media diet that does my soul no good whatsoever. But there was one story, very curious I thought, and it's not anecdotal - the Youtube host highlighted the relevant bits in the police report. About a hunter that had went missing, 1968, and after several search parties and thousands of hours of searching it was abandoned.
Fast forward almost 50 years and another hunter stumbles across a partial set of remains, beneath a cliff, the hunter had been crushed by a very large falling rock which left very little visible by way of remains, only the skull and femurs projecting beneath the rock. A proper Wyle-Coyote.
When the assigned deputy went to notify the next of kin he tracked down the grand-daughter, who put him in touch with the wife, now in a home with early dementia. And she advised him she knew, that her husband had come to her the night before, told her where he was (and she gave the location, the same as the deputy had) and that he was coming home and would be seeing her soon...only, she had understood he'd be coming home alive but now understood he wouldn't. The deputy noted it was the most extraordinary interview he'd ever conducted.
But that's a different blog post, and the nearer you get the thinner the veil...
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News the past weekend.
Saturday, beautiful day and the streets are empty. Nonetheless I head down Baker and set up with a crystal ball and 5 decks of Tarot cards. My outfit, my grey "Andy Warhol" wig and a pair of oversized rave sunglasses with disco balls hanging from the ear.
I should blend in just fine.
I'm immediately pounced upon by a trio of 20-something girls, one 'tips' $15, the other nothing.
They like the "Hermetic" deck, the one who's symbolism is least to my taste.
This is the most popular deck, by far.
Next customer, younger guy, coming off addictions and waiting to start tree-planting. Again, no cash, but I'm not a fan of "Charging" and - really, if you take it as a spiritual practice than any attempts to monetize it become merely simony, and so like it or not I gotta suck it up. Anyways, a beautiful day and I'm meeting people.
One final senior, a proper Grandpa Simpson, he tips $10, then I'm treated to the story of his life..."in 18diddly-odd-seven when I was just a young Man and Napolean was ...." sort of stuff, without end, which brought my hourly revenue down to about 35 cents.
I was saved from this (and would otherwise still be there...) by a text from my daughter, she'd made it to town.
So, find her still wearing my wig and loud glasses, a bag full of tarot cards & props, make the "impression" that has her questioning why she's visited, out with her, make some dinner, catch up.
Sunday with her the same, I try to induce her to go prospecting, but she's heard the tales and isn't leaving town.
This town, at the moment, a ghost town. Nobody around. Baker empty the whole live long day, and you have to wonder where everyone is...soon enough it'll be busy.
Sunday night, turn her on to "Once Upon a Time in the West", by the time Charles Bronson shows up she's hooked, and by the end she has to concede it's a masterpiece. Not even watching it this time (she's watching it on my phone), merely listening to the scant dialogue, the sound effects, the music, leitmotifs, and - it's still a fucking masterpiece.
Monday, the daughter's off, lunch with Cathy (from the Alumni of Unspeakable Trauma), help her to line up some bar supplies, glasses for the golf course, a catch-up glass of wine and then I'm done.
I'm good with a little bit of people, but a little bit can turn into too much pretty quick.
Today, volunteer, the other two ladies I usually work with don't show, and I'm not sure there isn't a bit of fallout from Michael's 'resignation'. And - despite a follow up, no word as to my 'job' and so it's back to the drawing board, this cash thing, and stressing about it, 6 months is more than plenty enough, and I've got to get my thinker on tight and come up with another plan...
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News on all fronts.
First, the daughter's going to be passing through for a visit, Saturday, something to look forward to. I'm trying to persuade her to take a day and go prospecting with me, I've a few new destinations, but somehow the boy's prejudiced her - "Crystal Mountain?" she says, and assuring me her car isn't up to it...
My reputation precedes me.
Yeah, that was an adventure. And no, it's far too early, high up the mountain, top of the mountain, we'd never get close.
But no, I've new locations, sapphires, aquamarines, other crystal digs...
She's skeptical, she's heard how these things turn out. "Survivors!!! Every One!" I want to yell, but I'll save the pitch til she gets here.
Second, I got a job, bartender/server at the sushi place a 20 yard stone's throw from my place. The owners, East Indian, very pleasant, young, but so far no schedule.
Third, Michael ended his 7 year tenure at the thrift shop after an interview/meeting with the pastor. Circumstances unknown, staff aren't talking, I'm not sure that this was his choice. They've hired a lot of young people, 20's and 30 somethings, and so it was probably time, there were changes afoot and he wasn't ready for them. He hated the old guard, wasn't a fan of the new. Not that all change is positive, but - sometimes you need to have change forced upon you, and in hindsight it's a good thing. I'll have to sit down with Michael for a coffee, but at the moment it's probably a little too fresh for his liking, and so will wait for a natural run-in with him at Oso.
Fourth, Cathy, Alumni, found work at the Golf Course, she's loving it, saying they've done a terrific job redoing the inside, the place is now busy, the chef, doing a great job, a reasonable tip-out, a lot of the customers recognize her from the other restaurant. And their prices are very reasonable, and - knowing the other place, they'll have increased prices, reduced portions, every year another gouge, every year fewer and fewer customers willing to pay the high and higher prices, so the fact that it's reasonably priced is going to redirect a lot of the traffic up the hill.
That and given the absolute shite job they did last year of looking after it means a lot of people who formerly went there because there was nothing else will be going up the hill, they earned their bad reputation, I mean, they really earned it. So there's a choice, and a lot of people will boycott them for that now too, as if there weren't enough reasons to boycott them already.
So good news for her.
And Mr. Tickles, his car back from the mechanic, just got a job at a sawmill outside Salmo, I'd told him they were hiring, $25/hr to start, more money that I suspect he's earned in his life.
All round it's shaping up to be a great summer...
Subcategories
Dating
OK. I've been on a few internet dates. I confess this with the same reluctance I would admitting to masturbating, adultery, or excessive drinking and drug use.
This is a list of some of my best -- AND WORST -- dates ever. Note that you gotta go on a lotta dates to get this kinda list, this kinda discouraged. And my online dating thing has been sporadic - an every few years kind of thing at best. Some of these dates go back 10 years, others are a little more recent. And to answer any people who might argue "It beats hooking up at the bar", well, you don't have to hook up at the bar, and at the bar you can see what your getting...
Anyways - apologies to the countless normal, decent dates that I went on but just didn't hit it off with. Memory is selective, it tends towards the extreme, and in this you will find the extremes...
Dear Osama
In which I write everyone's favorite advice columnist.
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