You’ll have no sense from me today!
I’m tired, y’all. Not sleeping great and chasing a deadline.
I know, I know…I’m not supposed to have those any more, but I foolishly took on a volunteer project that I really, really wish I hadn’t. It’s over soon.
I’m’a go read a book.
The prompt was simply “tired ermine” (if I say weasel I’m likely to get a polecat). I think she’s adorable.
June 16, 2025 — 6:45 pm
Comments: 5
Needy
If ever you pick up a virus, I can recommend nothing better than Malwarebytes for getting rid of it. They’ve saved my bacon…twice, I think. They’re software in conjunction with their forums. The occasional scan is highly recommended.
But hot-damn the current incarnation is needy. So many wheedling popups, so many special offers. As I’m running it on three computers, it’s gotten downright annoying.
That was boring of me. Have a good weekend!
June 13, 2025 — 6:05 pm
Comments: 3
I’m’onna need some shorts
So…I joined a gym today. I didn’t even know there was a gym in town, but there we go. My job involves a lot of stairs and walking and carrying, so I knew I’d turn to pudding when I retired.
End of next week, so I’m told.
I haven’t been in a gym in thirty years. I wonder if I’ll remember how it all works.
June 12, 2025 — 5:26 pm
Comments: 9
Abundance!
Okay, okay…it doesn’t look like much, but it’s the finest fish counter I’ve ever seen. It makes a little more sense in color. I didn’t use the panorama setting on my camera (hm…does my camera have a panorama setting?), I just stood in one spot and took three pictures, which is why it looks wonky and stupid. It’s a wraparound three counters and a stunning display.
Fish is hella expensive (I bought a lunch-sized lump of cod for £7.50), but it’s worth it when it’s this good. Nice people, too.
About that cod: I did an air fryer experiment. AI told me to give it 8 – 13 minutes at full blow. I gave it 17 and still thought it could’ve used some more. It was the right temperature, per the meat thermometer, but I like my cod a little dry.
Drizzled melted butter over the top, covered in breadcrumbs and 17 minutes. Very nice. Two bones, and I’m pretty sure I swallowed one.
June 11, 2025 — 6:22 pm
Comments: 5
Three knees and six fingers
I created forty variants of this image today (seated Victorian gentleman) and most of them were fine. Good, even. And then things like this happen. Fortunately, most of these issues can be easily cleaned up in Photoshop.
I’m getting better at driving AI and getting what I want, but I’m damned if I understand what’s happening much of the time.
p.s. Happy birthday, Dick van Dyke. 100 today. He looks like a handsomer version of my dad.
June 10, 2025 — 6:59 pm
Comments: 9
Ooo! Upscale!
I’ve got to do some large posters for work, so I’m learning to use an upscaler. That’s a clever bit of AI to make images bigger but not fuzzier. Oh my lord, how I could have used this in the past!
I tried several before alighting on this one, for no particular reason. Bills itself as free but tries to get you to subscribe to actually download the image.
Why, oh, WHY does every service on the internet now insist on making you purchase a year’s subscription? I mean, I know why, but there aren’t that many functions I need on a regular basis. Anyway, if you search for it, you can usually find a pay-as-you-go option, at a stupid price.
So far, it’s doing a really good job upscaling sharp images. Making an already fuzzy image sharp, not so much.
June 9, 2025 — 6:06 pm
Comments: 3
I weeded my onions today
That’s not a metaphor or anything. Gosh, onions smell of onions when you brush against them.
I’ve been thinking about that quote that Grok totally made up the other day. I made a mental note always to check sources (I’m not sure Grok gives sources, but ChatGPT and Leo do). And then I thought…before long, AI will have written those sources. And other AI bullshit websites will pick up the AI bullshit and not know it was AI bullshit.
How are we going to know what’s real?
I know actual human beings make shit up, too (Bellesiles, anyone?), but human beings have reputations to protect and generally aren’t blatant about it. Machines just. Don’t. Care.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
June 6, 2025 — 5:32 pm
Comments: 6
D’oh!
We have a safe in the office. It hasn’t been opened in all the years I’ve worked there and nobody had any idea what was in it. There was a man who knew how to open it, but he retired ages ago and nobody had the instructions.
So we got a locksmith in today. It was harder than he expected, but he finally got it open, and inside was
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instructions for opening the safe.
Also, the float: £100 in old-style paper money and out of date coins. I hope the bank will take it!
June 5, 2025 — 5:36 pm
Comments: 5
By request…
Durned asked for the Rector in color, so here it is. I pinched it out of Uncle B’s gallery (he’s got a better camera and had a shot with the sun on it), but that means the busted chair is back. See above.
I thought maybe Google Pics would have the magic eraser online, but it doesn’t. And I’m far too lazy to get out the Photoshop and do it myself.
I didn’t have much to say for myself today anyway. Just mooched around in the garden all afternoon.
June 4, 2025 — 4:47 pm
Comments: 4
Like a firework display
Our great thug of a rose, Rambling Rector. He’s not quite at his peak, but I couldn’t wait – he flowers once a year and, soon after, we always have a great wind and rain storm that blows all the blossoms away.
We’re having a bit of a one now.
There was a busted lawn chair to the left of the one in the picture. I debated whether I had the energy to move it out of the way and decided just to use the Google Photos Magic Eraser to get rid of it. It didn’t do a perfect job, but a perfectly serviceable one.
I’m not sure why I’m so delighted at a feature that would’ve put me out of a job.
June 3, 2025 — 6:06 pm
Comments: 5