Wednesday, March 27, 2024
What's So Funny About Prostate Cancer?
Microfiction: Post-Op Blues
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.
Monday, March 25, 2024
Putting the Write Back in Write Enough!
Since When?
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.
Friday, March 22, 2024
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...
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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...
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That darn machine on Jeopardy is leading the charge.
- 10:24 AM
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I happened to catch a report about that from the Daily Show. The take over is beginning, haha.
- 11:47 AM
- JP Mac said...
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Skynet has become aware.
- 12:58 PM
- Luke said...
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Yeah, but who uses sky net?
- 1:40 PM
- JP Mac said...
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Nerd machines—the worst kind.
- 2:30 PM
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How often do you get people saying to you "you should write a story about that", John? Hehe.
- 6:21 PM
- JP Mac said...
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We must construct a new generation of machines but build in a lack of ambition.
- 6:40 PM
- Keeper said...
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Sounds like Marvin, the Paranoid Android.
- 10:48 PM
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
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.
Monday, March 18, 2024
Pooky Park Puppets Pursue
Friday, March 15, 2024
Escape from New York Listed as Documentary
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
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.
Monday, March 11, 2024
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
Friday, March 08, 2024
Blacks at Higher Risk for Prostate Cancer
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
Featured Post
John P. McCann Sizzle Page
'Twas suggested I post a few episodes of my work in a pleasant spot. I've chosen here. Sadly, not everything I've written has y...
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Twice in the last eight years I've run the Santa Clarita 5k on Independence Day. Back in 2007 it was sizzling hot. Three years late...
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More memories from the boxes . Here's my life at Warner Bros. that year. Cleaned up my office after the Northridge earthquake rearranged...