Mixed Bag

In my experience, people tend not to talk about the advantages of being "older".  I love to have this conversation. It doesn't happen nearly enough, even though it sure beats talking about aches and pains; that's for sure.  There are definitely some nice things that come with being a senior citizen.  You sort of learn to take the good with the not-so-good. I like to emphasize the good stuff. At some point, I will write about that specifically.  But ... for now ....

If you are about my age, you will understand the following. By the time one becomes a septuagenarian, one has learned a bit about how fragile life is, about how fast it can change, about coincidences, and about how the small things may turn out to be the most wonderful or terrible bits of one's life. One single moment can last a lifetime. Some are beyond wonderful. Others -- cloud and hang on.

Was reading a Fredrik Backman book recently entitled My Friends.  I have read several of his books -- always find them thought-provoking. There is a lot to think about in this one. Think I may have even written about this particular book before. Anyway ... in this one, Backman writes at one point about Heaven.  One of the characters speculates that an eternity of one moment in life when a person felt really good is what your Heaven will be.  Got me to thinking -- is it possible to pick that one moment in an entire lifetime that felt the best... a moment of a feeling of joy that you would want to last an eternity?  I just don't know. I have many wonderful moments to consider.  Hope you do as well.

Sometimes, though, I wonder if the bad memories do come in stronger than the good ones.  Those are the moments when you fought back tears because you knew if you let them start, they would never stop.  (Backman wrote about that as well.) We have all been there.  Thinking back on those dark times, I think that, if possible, it is most important to remember those other moments -- the ones of unbounded joy. Hopefully the light can drive out the dark.

This contrasting mix of light and dark - of happiness and sadness - is a part of living that is hard for me to describe.  I am no Fredrik Backman. No doubt about it.  Life is not dull ... a mixed bag for certain.

Camper Robots

 

Perhaps we each have our own favorite "things" to do. I think, though, that there are many Interests that have become subcultures.  It’s like people who go to soccer games half way around the world, or devoted NASCAR fans, or people who travel long distances for antique car shows.  They probably think I am a boring person because I like to stay at home. Then again I am a Jeep Wrangler person - at least for now. Jeepers are definitely a subculture -- we even have our own wave and share ducks. Another case in point ... campers. I have a good friend who camps in a small camper almost every weekend on a nearby lake. She and her husband have “camper” friends during the summer weekends and so look forward to the comradery.  It’s their thing.  They share food and campfires, etc.  I think I would like the food and the fire-side chats ...  although ... I would have to adjust to staying up later. I would not, however, like doing all the normal chores in a smaller space.  

On a different level of camping, it looks to me like some of the World Cup Soccer people from other countries rented those huge RVs to travel across the US from place to place.  I follow one of them on FaceBook who has been here for two months – loving every minute – he and his wife even rescued a dog that was abandoned along the roadside.  They now plan/hope to move to the US of A because the UK has become so socialist and sad… not to mention specifically the lack of freedoms -- like being sent to jail for what you say online.  Anyway -- they have experienced America in what I think of as a traveling house.  Amazing.  Wonder if he knew how to drive on the right side of the road before coming here and if he knew how to back up in one of those? I don’t even like backing up my driveway from the mailbox. I simply cannot imagine driving in reverse in any type of camper – trailer kind or traveling house kind.  Yikes.  (I have always secretly admired those who manage driving semi tractor trailer trucks, large construction and farm equipment, and ... bus drivers. They are awesome.)

Anyway --  I don't want to tow or drive any kind of camper, but it is fun to think about. Maybe if I had a robot to clean the camper and do the driving and cooking.... Hmm ... camper robots... bet they could figure out how to park a camper no matter what size -- and even how to drive it in reverse if necessary.   Now that is an interesting idea.  Someone should mention that to Elon. Oh wait -- I  bet he already thought of it. Then again -- robots of any sort are sort of creepy.  Don't think I would want to share a camper with one even if I could throw a sheet over it at night or put it into a camper robot closet and keep it there except when needed.  (If there were such a thing as a camper robot closet, mine would have a strong lock on the door.  Just sayin'.)

Shadow Profiling

 

Guess what I have been learning about?  

Talking about a Yeti backpack near a phone on one day and finding ads for one on Facebook (Meta) the next?   Shadow Profiling

Discovering that your Echo Dot or Alexa recorded a private conversation that you were having with someone at your kitchen table?   Shadow Profiling

Visiting a website only to find other links to what you were looking for pop up in your texts?  Shadow Profiling

Email from Amazon "You've got deals!"  Shadow Profiling

Someone you know being denied access to Facebook perhaps because they have the same name or email address of someone else who was thrown off/blocked from that platform. Why?   Shadow Profiling

Shadow Profiling is everywhere.  It builds a file on you without you even knowing it ... even if you clear your search history. One article I read, said that large data collection agencies may know more about you than you do yourself and are projecting what you will probably purchase, where you may vacation, what you worry about or find interesting, etc. They then sell that information to companies who then target their ads toward your interests and concerns. And  -- perhaps  that is not the scariest part.

As far as I can tell Shadow Profiling began with Facebook., but now who knows how many other companies are doing it?  Apparently it has been big business for a long time.  (As usual I am behind a bit.) "Meta's advertising data infrastructure has become the most sophisticated surveillance system in human history" according to a TIAMAT article I read that was posted last March.  But -- you don't even have to be on Facebook to have your information gathered and shared.  If you are even in a photo that someone posts,  facial recognition has captured you and is inferring things about your activities and relationships from the photo. Meta is building a file and spreading/selling your information. All of this -- plus -- cameras are everywhere.

Then again, if you are actually on Meta, the thing is that this is not just information gathered from what you post, like, tag, etc., it is also information from other sources including legal, health and financial .. information that you assumed was protected when you accessed them through an app, for example.   

Further - the more one interacts with AI, the more your Shadow Profile expands.  Unless you become an "off-grid hermit" there doesn't seem to be anything you can do about it.  Most of the information is benign, but still....  It appears that the best we can do is follow and support legislation on how and when companies can gather and share our personal information.  That and carefully read Privacy Policies and not agree to anything that makes you edgy. If the site asks me if it can track, my answer is no - always.  Not even sure that makes a difference.  Scary.

Fortunately there are companies now that are at work to make your privacy a part of the "architecture of their infrastructure" -- to empower you to protect your privacy and all data.  No one makes it easy for you to figure this all out however.  Who do you trust?

In some ways this lack of privacy has become who we are.  It crept in ... slowly... while we were unaware that it was even there  -- sort of like the socialist candidates in the Democrat party are creeping into power throughout the country. Some of them pretend to be one thing and turn out to be another. It's deceptive.  Personally I am totally uncomfortable with both Shadow Profiling and Socialist Democrats.

Time to pay attention on more than one front. It's a lot.

Chat GPT on Me

 

Back to Chat GPT one final time....  I typed in:  What is the blog  "From Pencil Box to Keyboard" by Nan Mick all about?  Actually I asked that question in two different ways. One Chat GPT result  (the one I like best of the two it offered before I could take a my next breath) is ...

...the blog is best described as a celebration of curiosity, creativity and lifelong learning through writing.

Rather than focusing one one subject, the blog weaves together essays about:

• The joy of discovering new ideas, often in unexpected ways.
• Reflections on everyday experiences that reveal larger life lessons. 
• Reading, writing, and the creative process.
• Personal growth, resilience, and finding meaning in ordinary moments.
• The transition from childhood wonder -- the "pencil box" -- to sharing thoughts in today's digital world -- the "keyboard"

The writing style is reflective and conversational, inviting readers to slow down, notice the world around them, and appreciate that learning doesn't end with school.  Many posts use analogies, storytelling and gentle humor to encourage readers to see familiar experiences from a fresh perspective.

The title itself symbolizes a lifelong journey; from the simple tools of childhood learning to the modern tools of communication, while emphasizing that curiosity and imagination remain the most important tools of all.

Who knew?  And here I thought, that for the last twelve years, I had been merely writing some thoughts that I might share with other Boomers  -- sometimes serious ... sometimes making fun of myself ... and ... sometimes trying to be funny in a world that is sometimes/often very not funny. 

You Tell Me

Have been reading lately about books being published that were written in part or entirely by Artificial Intelligence.  With that in mind I decided to ask Chat GPT to write a couple of sentences about a blog I was writing.  I wanted to see how my writing compared with AI's.  

I asked Chat GPT to please write a sentence about the fun of learning something new by accident.   This was its response in a matter of a nanosecond:         

          Learning something new brings a special kind of joy, like discovering a hidden             trail that leads to a beautiful view you never knew was there.

Then I asked it to please write a two-sentence version of the same topic only using an analogy and once again -- instantaneously was a response:

           Learning something new by accident is like taking a wrong turn on a hike                    and discovering a beautiful hidden waterfall  The surprise makes the                            lesson more exciting, turning an ordinary moment into an unexpected                          adventure.

It is obvious to me that AI yearns for the outdoor experience.  I sort of feel sorry for it.  Hmmm...   Where does AI live exactly?  It's sort of like the Internet in that, isn't it?  You can't see it, hear it, smell it, taste or touch it.  It's just there somewhere with no shape or sound -- influencing almost every aspect of your life.  Sort of creepy really. I also noticed that I used the word "please" when interacting with Chat GPT. Why?  I mean what am I "talking' to? That is sort of creepy too.

Now here is the sentence that I wrote:

           For me it was like discovering a 20 dollar bill in the pocket of a pair of jeans               that I hadn't worn in six months.    

Personally I like my words better, but AI writes faster and way better than I expected and that is in some way disappointing to me.  Would love to know what you think about this whole thing. You tell me... please.  

Next week-- just one more question for AI and then I am going to stop writing about it. At least that's the plan. Am still hoping that a human being has more personality than an entity that no one I know totally understands. I prefer human potential.

At the Edge of the Cliff

 A few words about the Democratic Party of today...

It needs to get its act together.

It seems that the center core of the Democratic Party of 2026 is catering/bowing down to the far left/socialist fringe (some of whom appear to be either blatantly power hungry or totally lacking in common sense). This "group" is eating away at the traditional values of all Americans  -- like carpenter ants attacking the foundational wood of your home... or worse -- a cancer eating you from the inside out. 

Please central core Democrats, take your power back, encourage your Democratic representatives all across government (from city to state to national) to develop some sort of an agenda to improve the wonderful America that we all love and for which we are thankful. Learn the difference between a man and a woman and move on. Get to more important issues like protecting our children. Stop making complaints and criticizing your only focus. Offer a doable plan. Build up, not tear down. 

Please Independents and Republicans -- pay attention, get out and vote to save our beloved country from what some call the lunatic/socialist fringe. Keep an eye on what is happening in NYC, Maine ... Colorado and across the nation here and there.

All of us working together can unite America once again.  It is the perfect time to do it as we celebrate the 250th birthday of our beloved country. Never a better time than now. John Fetterman (Democrat) and Dave McCormick (Republican)seem to be able to work together most successfully in the interest of the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These Senators from both sides of the aisle prove that it can be done.

It is the traditional American way of life that makes us the best country in the world. We need to unite and hang on to our core values.  They are what make America Great.  Do not give in to a bunch of power hungry people who temp to lure you into their tangled web with free stuff that will never appear.  Have more sense and pride than that. Think and watch. Determine who really at the core loves the American way.

I have faith in you, but standing on the edge of a cliff is very scary. Time to reach out for a helping hand; time to work together. 

United We Stand....   Happy Birthday, America! 

Booker T. Washington, Soaring Eagles, and Ranch Dressing

 “There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up."  (Booker T. Washington)

Is this the difference between today's far left and today's center and right? Is this the difference between the coastal elite and mainstream America? Is this the difference between the Democratic Socialist Party of 2026 and the Republican Party of 2026?

It seems to me that....

• One is constantly negative; the other is trying help others climb out of the muck.  
• One is screaming, and singing off key; the other is speaking softly, and working hard to bring plans to fruition and to remain positive.  
• One is critical from a dark side; the other is encouraging and comes from light and hope.
• One is trapped in the past; the other looks forward far into the future.
• One tears down and offers few honest goals out loud - it is becoming the party of creeping/seeping socialism; the other has positive plans to move forward and upward - it is the party of above board openness.
• One is the party of slavery and underpaid illegal aliens trying to push everyone but the leaders down; the other is the party of Freedom trying to pull everyone up. Americans first.
• One craves power in the hands of the few; the other places power in the hands of the American people.
• One is the party of destroying what others have built; one the the party of law and order.
• One destroys; the other builds.
• One likes to fester in algae: one likes healthy crystal clear water.

You get to choose. Personally I  choose the light and the upward.  And ... quite frankly... I am finding the traveling European and all world travelers who are here to view the World Cup Soccer events to be beyond wonderful in their positive reactions to our great country.  How nice of them to generously share their reactions to their travels here.  They are singing our songs -- even our National Anthem, They are loving our food -- particularly Ranch dressing  -- a fact that I find funny for some unknown reason.  Further -- the availability of goods that we take for granted are an amazing surprise to them apparently as are the friendliness and welcoming smiles of an American people.  Their collective reactions to seeing the United States first hand are most positive. In addition -- they clean up after themselves as well demonstrating respect for America. They are a gift.  Welcome and Thank You visiting travelers from all over the world for sharing your experiences. Thank You for reminding us in these times that the United States of America is fundamentally Good with a capital G.

Those of us on the light side needed to hear that the voice of heartland Americans is appreciated.  It's encouraging.  It has been a difficult journey these past few years fighting against a dark side trying to push the spirit of our country down. It has been difficult to watch the destruction, the lack of pride in our country. Time now to pull up.  Time to stand strong mainstream America. The tides are turning. We are the people of soaring Eagles.  Don't let the turkeys "drag" you down.  There are hopeful signs that their time is over ... yet ... they are still struggling to push down even on their way out.  Beware of Socialistic tremors. Socialism has an abysmal track record throughout time.  Be inspired by hope and dreams.  Fight! Fight! Fight! (Donald J. Trump)

"It is a sign of the highest civilization when individuals reach that point where their strength is used in pulling every human soul up to the very highest point of its usefulness and service."  (Booker T. Washington)

Vote to support the country of soaring Eagles come November. Let your positive voice be heard.