WTF-Beta

Happy Birthday!

$300 billion here, $300 billion there…

Good grief.

@Axtremus

Outside yellow, inside gray and white. Black seeds.

Westside Market. A grand old place built around 1900. The city is putting a lot of money in to it -increasing the number of produce stalls and adding outdoor tables. Lots of free samples.

https://www.ohiotraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Cleveland-West-Side-Market.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:West_Side_Market_2023.jpg

Big fun!

Oh my. 🩷

One wrinkle in the AI music selection is AI generated music that make my stereo sound like something else. This one makes it sound more like a vintage McIntosh tube amp:

On this one they’ve enhanced the bass so my little bookshelf speakers sound twice their size!

Took the grandkids to the Westside farmers market. Grandson Jack, a notoriously picky eater, chose a dragon fruit to bring home for supper. What?

I know what they are (terrifying to behold) but I’ve never had an opportunity to sample one. Turns out they’re delicious! Very sweet and the seeds pop like Rice Crispies when you crunch on them. Definitely want more.

Not cheap at $5 each but if that’s what it takes to get that kid to eat fruit I’m good with it. May as well get him some mangos, guavas, and kiwis too - maybe he’ll like those as well.

Westside Market isn’t too far and we like going there to get things that are hard to find. It’s huge and offers a lot more than produce. There are lots of farm stands too - we’re on the edge of corn country. One farm market has been run by the same family farmers since 1825!

More difficult is restaurant fare. Taverns are big here - convenient, friendly, comfortable, inexpensive. Tavern food, however, runs heavily toward fried food, processed meats, pizza. If there’s a vegetable on the menu it’s invariably roasted Brussels sprouts, generally served covered in butter. Delicious but not Mediterranean compliant.

There are lots of better options but everyone except me thinks tavern food is perfect. I go along with what the crowd wants - there’s no advantage to making a fuss.

In fact, according to Dr. Keyes, originator of the plan, getting together with family and friends for a meal may be more important to longevity/good health than the food itself.

Red wine is optional but recommended in measured quantities.

After viewing this video I clicked around to find examples of AI generated music. Turns out it’s not hard to find - there are thousands of examples out there and thousands more seemingly every day. Makes sense - you can generate a new song and have it up on YouTube in less than an hour.

Some genres adapt to AI very well. Electronic for one (techno, etc) as it’s generally electronic anyway. Modern country and smooth jazz also sound pretty good owing to the formulaic nature of those styles.

Less successful are classical and piano. They don’t sound right - yet. Gospel/praise music is hit or miss. Bluegrass comes out too perfect to believe.

But it’s all changing and very quickly. Even in the last few weeks creators have come out with new recordings that have been roughed up to sound more like originals. They’ll surely get better with a little time.

Terrence, in the video above, offers an observation that rings true:

“We will not be replaced by AI. We will be replaced by people who understand AI”

I’ve pretty much switched to Mediterranean as well. Not easy in the Midwest but it can be done.

Clickbait title, but this guy does a great job illustrating the impact that AI is having on recorded music.

[edit] I see Sora has been shut down. Doubt it will make much difference - the genii is out of the bottle and it’s not going back in.

An interesting article.

Thanks for posting it!

These kids today….

Futbol is the only game I’ll watch and the World Cup is the only time I’ll watch it.

US-Paraguay was a great match but Scotland-Haiti was even better. Haiti dominated the entire match but couldn’t figure out how to make a goal.

Fascinating.

“For amusement purposes only”

Here’s a video showing how the steering works.

I propose that you take your time. Once you buy it it’s not fun any more.

I wonder how much of that surge pricing goes to the drivers.

In CA there are dozens of hamburger restaurants owned by Greeks. Interesting that they all look nearly alike with nearly identical menus even though they are each individually owned. The menus include classic hamburger fare, Mexican food and always a few Greek items. Best value available for lunch on the road.

My friend grew up on an Army base in Greece and speaks the language fluently. If he ordered in Greek we always got free food!

Herman Miller or Steelcase. Used.

The collapse of the office market has resulted in a glut of used office furniture. You should be able to pick one up at a used office furniture place for your under $200, and it will be the last chair you’ll ever need.

Is there a WB Mason store near you?