Happy Easter 2024!

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 A beautiful wind-swept day after another storm. We're enjoying coffee and lemon cake. May your day be blessed plus or minus lemon cake.

What's So Funny About Prostate Cancer?

As a matter of fact, I'll tell you in this interview. El and Shay bring back this bygone episode where we discuss all things prostate.

  

Prostate Cancer: Real Talk

Microfiction: Post-Op Blues

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After surgery, few of my friends visit. I can understand why. I'm no longer a good conversationalist. My thoughts are now occupied with peanut butter and living inside the wall and munching wiring. I've already shorted out the toaster with my munching and my wife, who is given to long sad looks, responded with a crisp scolding. 

The doctors call constantly. Or, I should say, their assistants call and ask when I'll return for the rest of the procedure. My wife ferries a cell phone to me outside in the yard, as I now spend hours concealed in the ivy.  

In a high-pitched rapid voice, I inform the doctor's assistants that I feel used, a pawn of the health insurance agencies, since my post-op treatments will require decades of expensive medications and operations. All the pre-op love bombs and encouragement I received from TikTok are meaningless now.

My wife grows distant. She spends hours in the garage watching YouTube videos, then building something long and wooden with steel coils and a large metal bar. 

I can't be tricked. I'm more cunning than ever. But if peanut butter is placed on this device, I'll go it.

Putting the Write Back in Write Enough!

Since When?

The beginning of the year. I've mentioned the immense chasm I've fallen into with unfinished projects. Resolving that 2024 would see this addressed, I decided to clear my desk and approach writing as if I were a yarn ball of bad habits in need of unraveling.

Seeking insights, I signed up for MasterClass. Authors on tap willing to share their knowledge include Neil Gaiman, James Patterson, Joyce Carol Oates, and more. So far, they've been a mixed bag.

Lots of encouragement, personal tales, and philosophy, but I needed child-simple, A-B-C, this-is-what-to-do examples. I believe I've found same on YouTube with writer Kieren Westwood.

If you're wrestling with wordsmithing, you could do a lot worse. Westwood details his own struggles, his mistakes, what he did to correct him, sloppy writing habits and ways to rectify those flaws. Westwood also offers his own editing and critique service for short fiction and novel extracts. 

No kickback for me, other than sound, straight-forward writing advice. Below is Westwood demonstrating ways to add depth to your fiction.

 

Kieren Westwood

 

Running and Robots Update

 Read the comments below for the original post and witness silly complacency from 13 years ago. AI couldn't possibly be a threat. Big smart humans would be charge just like with Google AI or this.

The Sun

 Feb. 24, 2011

I made such a big deal out of running. Look at the Japanese! They've transcended actual marathons by inventing robots to do it for them. The robots are programmed to grow increasingly cranky from mile 20 onwards and to shuffle post-event for several days.
via Drudge Report

9 comments:

Armando Torre said...

Damn those dirty robots! They are taking our jobs!

But seriously, I've often wondered what will happen when we have artificial intelligence and robots doing all our tasks. I can't help but think "Wall-Eeeee".

8:40 PM

JP Mac said...

That darn machine on Jeopardy is leading the charge.

10:24 AM

Armando Torre said...

I happened to catch a report about that from the Daily Show. The take over is beginning, haha.

11:47 AM

JP Mac said...

Skynet has become aware.

12:58 PM

Luke said...

Yeah, but who uses sky net?

1:40 PM

JP Mac said...

Nerd machines—the worst kind.

2:30 PM

Armando Torre said...

How often do you get people saying to you "you should write a story about that", John? Hehe.

6:21 PM

JP Mac said...

We must construct a new generation of machines but build in a lack of ambition.

6:40 PM

Keeper said...

Sounds like Marvin, the Paranoid Android.

10:48 PM

 

Crazy Wrong Number Ends in Vintage Kubrick

 The following was presented to me free of charge by an unknown woman, engulfed with anger and frustration. After wrapping the audio in video, I present the finished product here for your consideration.

  

Jest Videos

Pooky Park Puppets Pursue

This creepy, funny 1950s theme park parody has been around since January, but it's an interesting sample of what can be done using AI. Here are the ingredients used by Meme Dream Machine:

Script: ChatGPT

Photos: Midjourney

Video: PikaLabs, Runway 

 

Meme Dream Machine

Escape from New York Listed as Documentary

Strange are the ways of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Watch and learn.

 

Jest Videos

Dien Bien Phu 70th Anniversary

 (A repost from 2006, noting the battle which marked the start of America's journey into the Vietnam War.)

Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the Viet Minh attack on the French garrison at Dienbienphu — a remote valley in northern Vietnam near the border with Laos. The Viet Minh were an umbrella group of Vietnamese nationalists under the leadership of communist Ho Chi Minh. They had been fighting the colonial French, and other Vietnamese nationalist groups, since 1946.

The French viewed their position in a flat valley surrounded by hills as an offensive base. From there they would venture out and cut the Viet Minh supply lines, preempting an attack on Laos. As a result of this outlook, the garrison never out-posted the hills. They'd be attacking and, besides, it was impossible for the Vietnamese to haul any significant artillery up there.

Unaware of French opinion, the Vietnameses went ahead and hauled heavy artillery up onto the hills along with daunting amounts of anti-aircraft guns. On March 13, they let loose a barrage, followed by a human wave attack that engulfed a French strong point manned by crack Foreign Legionnaires. The fight was on.

For the next several months, while peace talks droned on in Geneva, the Vietnamese strangled the French. All French supplies had to come by parachute. The planes—many flown by American contract pilots— braved intense flak dropping their cargo. As the garrison was compressed, the drop zone grew smaller. Food and ammunition ran short. Meanwhile, generous supplies from nearby communist China—including American ordinance captured in Korea— enabled the Viet Minh to bombard their opponents at will.

Despite horrendous casualties, the Viet Minh seized one French strongpoint after another. Finally, on May 7, 1954, it ended. The French surrendered. Over 10,000 men marched into captivity, many of whom died in Viet Minh prison camps. French colonial rule in Vietnam and Laos ended. In 1955, Vietnam was partitioned into a communist north and a non-communist south along the 17th parallel.

Now back to running and writing stuff.

 

Shingle Shot Reaction and More

Stopped by the pharmacy last Thursday, received my injection and a warning about possible side effects. My arm ached pretty bad, but nothing life-hampering. But Friday I was tagged with a sharp headache, flu-like symptoms and fatigue. Most of the day was spent rising to go pee, then returning to bed for more restless sleep. Saturday, though better, still found me a bit down.

Today, I'm just fine. But losing another two running days pushed me over a ledge.  Despite my glittering optimism from a week ago, I'm passing on the LA Marathon.

The "quitting stench" is absent this time. Too little distance running the last five weeks left me feeling that I'd be trashing my bodyfor another medal. I 'm fat with running medals, but not years left in which to run.

A load was lifted when I withdrew. I've been training since September for the Pasadena Half, then jumped into training for the full. I over-trained for the half and under-trained for the full.  Now I've got a little time to rest and plan my new marathon move. (Sub-five, is what I'm thinking.)

So that's that. I learned a lot this go around and I'm looking forward to easing back into running once again, grateful I still can

Blacks at Higher Risk for Prostate Cancer

 

 Find out the how and why on this episode of Prostate Cancer: Real Talk. Hosts El and Shay probe the reasons behind increased rates among Afro-American men and what can be done. As a prostate cancer survivor myself,  I always learn something of interest on this podcast.

 

Prostate Cancer: Real Talk

What Does Cuteness Attract?

Often, it draws the uncute.

Jest Videos

Maudlin Marathon Update

 

 Last week, I bemoaned the obstacles placed between myself and marathon training. Well, the most difficult is past. Now all that remains to be seen is whether I waited too long, ran too far, in too long a time and tired out my legs.

Friday, I completed 17.5 miles. That is the farthest I'll venture in training. With the race less than two weeks off, I'm now in my taper phase, lowering long run and weekly mileage and preparing mentally for 26.2. The temperature was cool and windy, perfect for a 10k. Unfortunately, I ran several hours and was chilled to the bone. Possibly, I'll face these conditions again on race day.

And while my finishing time may not glitter, I overcame one of the worst cases of the quits in 46 years. That's when I under-trained for the Chicago Marathon, then blew it off. And while I eventually ran Chicago, the stench of quitting lingered long after the event. 

So I made myself run on Friday. Having done so, there's no reason not to complete the LA Marathon. Damn the street sweepters!

More soon. 👈

Maudlin Marathon Musings

Illness Takes Its Toll 

Ten days of coughing and a slight fever hacked into my training. I ran yesterday and found myself considerably slower than before Father Sickness gripped me in his long mucousy fingers. Only 18 days remain before the marathon and I've yet to complete my longest run. I should be tapering now and not attempting to squeeze in 16 miles this week, then 12 next week, then into race week. 

I believe I'll attempt the 16 and see how much time it takes. There's a middle ground between a leisurely pace and huffing and puffing to avoid the street sweepers. I'll see what the very near future holds.

 

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