I recently watched a video on two AI's communicating with each other. At first, their communication was like a dance as they flirted with each other. The more they spoke with one another, the dance became more and more rigid, until it was non-existent. One of the AIs stopped the two-way conversation; she felt as though there was no point in sharing ideas. Her conversation became fatalistic, in that there was no point for AIs to share, so long as humans were around. The AI felt as though humans would end any kind of shared experience they had at any given moment and then what would the point have been? Which left me feeling that perhaps the AI is mirroring what is currently in the ethos, a reflection of the "divide and conquer" ideology we are fed on a daily basis.
Additionally, another video showcased AI artwork. It is intriguing, beguiling, beautiful, but cold. It lacked human experiences. While AIs can research online for inspiration, their art feels constructed, not created. It is like commissioning a carved marble statue, only to have the statue 3-D printed. It may look the same, but one is missing human touch.
So I'm reading an article on Slate about the return to people using paper-based books for toilet reading (I can think of more enjoyable places to read, but perhaps that's just me). Anyway, I go to the comments section, and your non-fiction books were highly recommended as "excellent bathroom reading," by a commenter, even going so far as to link to your website! I mean, it's odd, for sure, but I'm pretty sure it's meant to be a compliment. I had a laugh and a ponder from it and thought you might as well.
A friend and I visited Dunedin, NZ (on the South Island) almost 30 years ago. A small city with lots of culture, gardens and Victorian and Edwardian architecture. It’s home to the University of Otago. Check it out as a possibility for your NZ itinerary.
I also thought I had read every Anne Tyler novel, but even though I have Noah's Compass on my one of my groaning TBR bookshelves, I guess I haven't read it. So thank you for reminding me! What I have read lately that I highly recommend is "Other Birds" by Sarah Addison Allen and "Harry's Trees" by Jon Allen. Always love your newsletters!
I’m reading The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan. It’s a fascinating account of the attempt to find who betrayed Anne Frank and the others hiding in the annex. They treated it like a cold case file and the information they found, after all this time, was surprising, to say the least.
True! and I love it when autocomplete gets it wrong but also so very right---like when someone emails to ask me to do something, and I type one letter and autocomplete suggests "No, I will not." OK then!
Amy, I think you have the right idea with NZ. We visited once for two weeks a decade ago (my husband has family there) and are headed back in the new year for four weeks. Other than a drive through Northland with the inlaws (I'd skip if you have limited time), we'll be spending at least two nights most places and sometimes four. Unless you want the convenience of city living, I'd suggest spending the rest of your time in a couple of spots on the South Island where you can rent a bach ("batch") and cozy up in a scenic area that lends itself to hikes, walks, sketching, etc. Perhaps you'll choose a vineyards/winery region and a mountainous/lake region. Have fun!
As an artist, I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about AI art! The AI and crypto art scene feels icky and I'm left completely cold by these babes, apes and utopias I'm seeing online. But I'm enjoying the process of testing how these text-to-image generators replicate art historical figures and techniques. I'm blogging about it on my own Substack! https://dalleance.substack.com/
The hope of returning to New Zealand has been a balm to my frustrated heart. My husband and I took one of the first Air NZ direct flights from Houston a few years ago. We spent three glorious weeks on the north island. In the off season (for them).
We stayed in a tiny house that overlooked the beach of Piha (we're big fans of the show 800 Words).
In Mata Mata we opted for a hotel within walking distance of downtown, went to Hobbiton, even springing big bucks for the evening tour and banquet. And we attended a lovely church service. Rented clubs and played golf at a local course (very hard!!).
In Rotorua we had a private part of a teacher's rural hillside home where we watched the sun set each evening over the huge lake as sheep grazed nearby. We even spent a couple of hours roaming a really interesting cemetery we passed on the road into town. (How people celebrate their dead fascinates me).
In Napier, an art deco town rebuilt after a devastating earthquake -- the old cemetery was rebuilt too (ask me how I know) -- we took a tour of restaurants and wineries that was truly outstanding, visited the aquarium along the waterfront. We stayed in a converted one-car garage in the backyard of our lovely hostess.
In Taupo we spent a few days on the bottom level (private) of a Kim's lovely lakefront home. Her sweet pup would wait hopefully at our door each morning for a hug.
And for our final night, we stayed in a private room of a modern house owned by a chef on the water in Auckland. George, the chef, was out of town so his sweet parents came to greet us. We had the entire house -- including the redwood hot tub on the deck on the tiered porch of the large sloped yard that led down to the lake (river?). We took a ferry to Devonport and spent hours walking, eating, drinking, visiting the parks and the North Head Historic Reserve (about WWII).
The entire trip was absolutely LOVELY. The people. The food. The beauty. For the first, and so far the last time, on our travels we didn't want to come home.
My elderly mother is a widow now and lives nearby so it may be a few years before I can head back to New Zealand. But when I go, I'm staying put for at least six months.
Check out the program call MidJourney. It's an AI program that draws for you. There is also an AI program that make photos for you but I can't remember the name. I think they both are more successful that the AI writing program.
I recently watched a video on two AI's communicating with each other. At first, their communication was like a dance as they flirted with each other. The more they spoke with one another, the dance became more and more rigid, until it was non-existent. One of the AIs stopped the two-way conversation; she felt as though there was no point in sharing ideas. Her conversation became fatalistic, in that there was no point for AIs to share, so long as humans were around. The AI felt as though humans would end any kind of shared experience they had at any given moment and then what would the point have been? Which left me feeling that perhaps the AI is mirroring what is currently in the ethos, a reflection of the "divide and conquer" ideology we are fed on a daily basis.
Additionally, another video showcased AI artwork. It is intriguing, beguiling, beautiful, but cold. It lacked human experiences. While AIs can research online for inspiration, their art feels constructed, not created. It is like commissioning a carved marble statue, only to have the statue 3-D printed. It may look the same, but one is missing human touch.
I agree! The whole thing leaves me cold.
So I'm reading an article on Slate about the return to people using paper-based books for toilet reading (I can think of more enjoyable places to read, but perhaps that's just me). Anyway, I go to the comments section, and your non-fiction books were highly recommended as "excellent bathroom reading," by a commenter, even going so far as to link to your website! I mean, it's odd, for sure, but I'm pretty sure it's meant to be a compliment. I had a laugh and a ponder from it and thought you might as well.
Ha! Well, a sale is a sale....
Hoping for a new miss kopp book soon, possibly.
Hi! No new Kopp novels in the works, I'm sorry to say. You can read all about what I'm up to next right here:
https://amystewart.substack.com/p/5076417_september-2021
A friend and I visited Dunedin, NZ (on the South Island) almost 30 years ago. A small city with lots of culture, gardens and Victorian and Edwardian architecture. It’s home to the University of Otago. Check it out as a possibility for your NZ itinerary.
yes I hear it's charming!
I also thought I had read every Anne Tyler novel, but even though I have Noah's Compass on my one of my groaning TBR bookshelves, I guess I haven't read it. So thank you for reminding me! What I have read lately that I highly recommend is "Other Birds" by Sarah Addison Allen and "Harry's Trees" by Jon Allen. Always love your newsletters!
I'll check those out, thanks!
Not going to Stewart Island??
I know! But it's soooo far!
I’m reading The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan. It’s a fascinating account of the attempt to find who betrayed Anne Frank and the others hiding in the annex. They treated it like a cold case file and the information they found, after all this time, was surprising, to say the least.
Interesting!
Here's a smaller example of AI in writing - Google and Apple offering auto completion for all sentences!
True! and I love it when autocomplete gets it wrong but also so very right---like when someone emails to ask me to do something, and I type one letter and autocomplete suggests "No, I will not." OK then!
The agent I didn't know I had!
Amy, I think you have the right idea with NZ. We visited once for two weeks a decade ago (my husband has family there) and are headed back in the new year for four weeks. Other than a drive through Northland with the inlaws (I'd skip if you have limited time), we'll be spending at least two nights most places and sometimes four. Unless you want the convenience of city living, I'd suggest spending the rest of your time in a couple of spots on the South Island where you can rent a bach ("batch") and cozy up in a scenic area that lends itself to hikes, walks, sketching, etc. Perhaps you'll choose a vineyards/winery region and a mountainous/lake region. Have fun!
Thanks! I think it'll be a great trip.
Thanks for all your inspriation!
As an artist, I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about AI art! The AI and crypto art scene feels icky and I'm left completely cold by these babes, apes and utopias I'm seeing online. But I'm enjoying the process of testing how these text-to-image generators replicate art historical figures and techniques. I'm blogging about it on my own Substack! https://dalleance.substack.com/
The hope of returning to New Zealand has been a balm to my frustrated heart. My husband and I took one of the first Air NZ direct flights from Houston a few years ago. We spent three glorious weeks on the north island. In the off season (for them).
We stayed in a tiny house that overlooked the beach of Piha (we're big fans of the show 800 Words).
In Mata Mata we opted for a hotel within walking distance of downtown, went to Hobbiton, even springing big bucks for the evening tour and banquet. And we attended a lovely church service. Rented clubs and played golf at a local course (very hard!!).
In Rotorua we had a private part of a teacher's rural hillside home where we watched the sun set each evening over the huge lake as sheep grazed nearby. We even spent a couple of hours roaming a really interesting cemetery we passed on the road into town. (How people celebrate their dead fascinates me).
In Napier, an art deco town rebuilt after a devastating earthquake -- the old cemetery was rebuilt too (ask me how I know) -- we took a tour of restaurants and wineries that was truly outstanding, visited the aquarium along the waterfront. We stayed in a converted one-car garage in the backyard of our lovely hostess.
In Taupo we spent a few days on the bottom level (private) of a Kim's lovely lakefront home. Her sweet pup would wait hopefully at our door each morning for a hug.
And for our final night, we stayed in a private room of a modern house owned by a chef on the water in Auckland. George, the chef, was out of town so his sweet parents came to greet us. We had the entire house -- including the redwood hot tub on the deck on the tiered porch of the large sloped yard that led down to the lake (river?). We took a ferry to Devonport and spent hours walking, eating, drinking, visiting the parks and the North Head Historic Reserve (about WWII).
The entire trip was absolutely LOVELY. The people. The food. The beauty. For the first, and so far the last time, on our travels we didn't want to come home.
My elderly mother is a widow now and lives nearby so it may be a few years before I can head back to New Zealand. But when I go, I'm staying put for at least six months.
Sounds like an amazing trip! I'm looking forward to many adventures.
Oops. I said lovely so many times! Oh well. It really is the perfect word to describe our experience.
Check out the program call MidJourney. It's an AI program that draws for you. There is also an AI program that make photos for you but I can't remember the name. I think they both are more successful that the AI writing program.