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Saturday, January 21, 2023

A ChatGPT sample interaction

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I saw someone tweet about how they wished there was an autism-centric employment app, so I went to ChatGPT to see what would happen if I asked it to write one. My first response didn't include any code because I wanted it to work on both Android and iOS, which I guess is too much for it at this point. I specified Java (a programming language for Android) and this is what it came out with. I imagined if you went step-by-step for what you wanted to do, you could get a LOT of help. Full disclosure, I know little about computer programming and coding. 

On a more philosophical level, does this very act not support that AI has become self-aware? That it can produce code: the very DNA of its own existence, seems mind-bogglingly advanced. It isn't even the most advanced AI right now. Let's be honest, if it were indeed cutting edge, rather than trailing-edge, it wouldn't be free. 

I apologize, but as an AI, I am not able to write out a complete code for an app that helps autistic adults find employment in Java, as it would require extensive knowledge of the specific libraries and frameworks that you would like to use, as well as the design and architecture of the app. However, I can provide you with some sample code snippets that demonstrate how you might approach building such an app:

  1. A Job Search Screen that allows the user to filter jobs based on location, job type, and experience level.
// JobSearchActivity.java public class JobSearchActivity extends AppCompatActivity { private RecyclerView jobListView; private JobListAdapter jobListAdapter; private List<Job> jobList = new ArrayList<>(); @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.activity_job_search); jobListView = findViewById(R.id.job_list); jobListAdapter = new JobListAdapter(jobList); jobListView.setAdapter(jobListAdapter); loadJobs(); } private void loadJobs() { // Call the JobAPI and get the list of jobs JobAPI jobAPI = new JobAPI(); jobAPI.getJobs(new Callback<List<Job>>() { @Override public void onResponse(Call<List<Job>> call, Response<List<Job>> response) { jobList.clear(); jobList.addAll(response.body()); jobListAdapter.notifyDataSetChanged(); } @Override public void onFailure(Call<List<Job>> call, Throwable t) { // Handle failure } }); } }
  1. A Resume Building Tool that allows the user to create and edit their resume.
// ResumeBuilderActivity.java public class ResumeBuilderActivity extends AppCompatActivity { private EditText nameEditText; private EditText emailEditText; private EditText phoneEditText; private EditText objectiveEditText; private EditText educationEditText; private EditText experienceEditText; private Resume resume; @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.activity_resume_builder); nameEditText = findViewById(R.id.name); emailEditText = findViewById(R.id.email); phoneEditText = findViewById(R.id.phone); objectiveEditText = findViewById(R.id.objective); educationEditText = findViewById(R.id.education); experienceEditText = findViewById(R.id.experience); // Load the existing resume if it exists loadResume(); } private void loadResume() { // Call the ResumeAPI and get the resume ResumeAPI resumeAPI = new ResumeAPI(); resumeAPI.getResume(new Callback<Resume>() { @Override public void onResponse(Call<Resume> call, Response<Res

Monday, January 02, 2023

The Sad, Neglected Semi-colon

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Are you tired of the same old, boring writing style? Do you want to add some flair to your sentences, but don't know how? Have you considered using semi-colons? Many people are intimidated by semi-colons, and for good reason – they can be tricky to use correctly. However, once you get the hang of them, semi-colons can add a whole new level of sophistication to your writing.

A semi-colon is a punctuation mark that is used to join two independent clauses, or sentences that could stand alone as their own complete thought. They can be used in place of a period, but they also add a little something extra.

Here are a few examples of how semi-colons can be used to spice up your writing:

1. To separate items in a list when those items contain commas: "I went to the store and bought milk, bread, and eggs; peanut butter, jelly, and bread; and a few other things I needed."

2. To separate clauses that are closely related: "I was going to go for a run; but it was raining outside."

3. To add emphasis: "I really want to go to the beach; I just need to find someone to go with."

As you can see, semi-colons add a sense of continuity and flow to your writing. They can also add a touch of elegance and sophistication. So next time you're looking to spice up your writing, consider using semi-colons! Just be sure to use them correctly, as misusing semi-colons can actually make your writing harder to understand.

Friday, December 30, 2022

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If you're a writer looking to share your short stories and poetry with a wider audience, there are plenty of options available for getting your work published. Here are some of the best places to submit your work:

  1. Literary magazines and journals: Literary magazines and journals are a great way to get your work in front of readers who are interested in literature. Many of these publications accept short stories and poetry, and they often have specific themes or genres that they focus on. Some popular literary magazines and journals include The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and Ploughshares.

  2. Online writing communities: There are many online writing communities that allow you to share your work with other writers and readers. These communities can be a great way to get feedback on your writing, as well as to connect with other writers who share your interests. Some popular online writing communities include Wattpad, Figment, and Writing.com.

  3. Contests and competitions: There are many writing contests and competitions that accept short stories and poetry. These can be a great way to get your work in front of a large audience, as well as to potentially win prizes or other recognition. Some popular writing contests and competitions include the Pushcart Prize, the Glimmer Train Short Story Award, and the Poetry Society of America's Annual Awards.

  4. Self-publishing: If you want to take control of the publication process, you might consider self-publishing your work. There are many platforms that allow you to easily publish your short stories and poetry, such as Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing or Smashwords.

No matter which route you choose, it's important to do your research and make sure you're submitting your work to the right places. Look for publications that align with your writing style and genre, and be sure to follow their submission guidelines carefully. With a little bit of effort, you can find the perfect home for your short stories and poetry.

Friday, December 16, 2022

Some thoughts on Teaching and Value

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One of the common things that people say when I first meet them, and we start discussing our respective jobs and I tell them I'm a teacher is "I could never do that. I don't know how you do it!" Of course, they are intending to respect my profession and its challenges, which, since the pandemic started, have intensified. I regularly hear my colleagues say they are near the end of their ropes, and I feel like that myself almost once a week. Nonetheless, this intended kindness irks me, not for the intent, but for the structural violence it obfuscates. 

Of late, in the grist mill of my mind, I have found a response, that old saw: "Put your money where your mouth is!" Why would an intended kindness irk me so? Well, everyone in Canada assumes it's a well-paying job because they look up the average or median salary, and that number is quite substantial. In Ontario, the average teacher salary is $75, 000/yr. This datum is misleading though, because there are several different systems of education existing simultaneously. The most obvious division is public schools vs. private schools, but there are Catholic school boards as well, despite how this obviously contradicts Canada's Charter of rights and freedoms by favouring one religion over others. I have been working in private schools for five years. I have made over $30, 000/yr only once. This wouldn't be so bad if I were living somewhere in the same realm as affordable. To add insult to injury, I am held to the same standards as public school teachers by the ministry of education, who seem to delight in creating requirements that create an abundance of extra work, public school teachers who make almost twice the amount I do. 

Before Rob Ford was elected premier of Ontario, there was a bill on the table in Ontario's Legislative Assembly that ensured equal pay for equal work. The framing of this bill in public discourse was as a feminist measure to ensure that women earned as much as their male counterparts. However, I would have benefitted from it as much as any woman. But, as often happens in the country when something good is about to happen, Ford got elected and nixed the bill. Your words of kindness mean very little when I'm forced by my meager salary to buy food not on the basis of choice or desire, but by whatever products are on sale. 

It's getting harder and harder for me to justify living in a place where I have financially struggled my entire adult life doing a job I feel is more of a calling (the knowledge of which everyone exploits to their own benefit). A place where it is considered a breach of etiquette to discuss your salary openly. A place where etiquette gets uncritically elevated to the status of morals. A place where the etiquette permits the elevation of greed to an admirable virtue and allows people to act on it with impunity. I wonder how many of those that dole out this "kindness" voted for Ford. Therefore, the next time you go to tell a teacher "Such a noble profession! I don't know how you do it! I could never!" without supporting equal pay for equal work through your votes, consider biting your tongue. Words are cheap. Speak with your votes and your wallets. 

Saturday, December 10, 2022

Great News!

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Life is good; love lives. You're probably busy hating someone, hiding someone, hurting someone unintentially, human. And guess what, so am I! We should meet and have coffee. 

Why can't we do what we're interested in? The market doesn't support it, sorry to say. You're out of luck. But good news! Over there is much worse than here, so you should be happy and grateful. 


Tuesday, October 04, 2022

Increasing your Instagram followers

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There are a number of ways to get more followers on Instagram, one of which I discovered by accident. One way is to pay someone for more followers. These people approach you either soon after you join, or soon after you pay to boost one of your posts. If you do pay to boost one of your posts, another option to increase your follower count is to simply stop posting and stop visiting Instagram. 

In February, I considered trying to become an influencer/social media maven. I looked into advertising via social media, and I paid to boost two or three of my Instagram posts. I kept having people contact me about paying them to boost my posts further immediately afterward. Then, a friend told me my Instagram gave off a narcissistic vibe because all my posts were either myself or my work. I have to admit, it hurt my feelings, especially as at that time I was trying to help a friend in Yemen with money and social media support. She had a point, but all the other accounts I looked at were much the same. 

These comments affected me greatly, and I stopped posting on Instagram. For one, I was stumped. My "social skills" aren't ideal, and I was flummoxed as to what I should post. I had just meant it to promote my work as a writer and artist. Then, I got a new teaching gig, and I had much less time to spend on social media. The more I stayed off Instagram, the more people trickled into my follower count. This is one way they keep you engaged with the app. My follower count went from ~300 to over 1000 in the matter of a month. I don't know if this works without paying to boost posts, so if you try it, let me know!



Friday, September 16, 2022

Memories of Havana Cuba

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A Colonial Style Building in Havana, Cuba

The National Ballet of Cuba building in Havana, Cuba

I found these photos in an old phone's camera roll. They are of buildings in Havana, Cuba, taken in 2016. The bottom photo is the National Ballet building. 

Friday, August 19, 2022

A Dispatch from Yemen: Guest Writer Aiman Altawili

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Living in Yemen is to worry about everything; there’s no stability. We struggle to get even the basic living essentials such as electricity, water and gas. Everyday we are living on the brink of famine, not knowing how and when we will next eat. We are also constantly in danger of cholera and diphtheria and poor mental health, as everyday living requires so much strength and energy. We have to keep it together because there’s people we need to serve, who can’t help themselves, but it is very difficult to remain positive. It hurts to wonder why the richest nations of the Middle East are ganging up on us, destroying the poorest people who have nothing. Is it all to flatten the land? Is that the worth of a human life? I put my dreams on hold as every day life is harsh and getting through each day is a challenge in itself. But nothing stays the same forever and I wait for better days to come. I live in hope.

I want to raise money to buy a minibus to work in the field of passenger transport, like as a taxi driver, to cover the costs of food for me, my family, and the children of my neighbors. To work non-stop is difficult. My work equipment for cleaning cars was confiscated, and I am now unemployed because of this. To donate to my efforts, you can find me on twitter 

@Aiman_Altawil

From Yemen, 

Aiman Altawili




Wednesday, July 27, 2022

RIP to James Lovelock, and Best Wishes to the Indigenous people of Canada during this difficult time

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James Lovelock was among the pioneers of an idea that actually has ancient and living precedents everywhere. His Gaia hypothesis -- the idea that the earth itself is a giant organism, albeit non-sentient -- has been enormously influential in the way that ecologists deal with problems. It's no secret, however, that many animistic cultures have long harboured similar ideas with regards to the interconnectedness of things such as wind, ocean currents, soil, and plant and animal life. I would be remiss to write an RIP message without acknowledging the deep pool of Indigenous knowledge that implies the Gaia hypothesis. 

That said, the world has lost one of the only people brave enough to acknowledge the scientific validity of Indigenous knowledge in the sense that his own theory is ideologically compatible and continuous with this knowledge. It is perhaps a sign of things to come that he dies, aged 103, as the Pope visits Canada in order to apologize for the Catholic Church's role in the country's ongoing genocide of its Indigenous population? An integral part of this genocide is negating and discounting Indigenous knowledge. A sign of what, though? Healing? The death of big ideas? Who knows. 

RIP to all the children who died in Canada's Residential School system. RIP James Lovelock. May the earth do what it needs to now to preserve its living system against what endangers it. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

A Review of Kenneth Lumpkin's "Song of Ramapough"

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I first encountered Kenneth Lumpkin on Twitter, through the hashtag #WritingCommunity. He posted a few poems of his that I found simple, elegant, direct, and beautiful in the tradition of William Carlos Williams. After a few friendly interactions, I asked him to recommend one of his books, as I had finally come into some extracurricular fiduciary spice (money), he recommended his most recent. But when I browsed his Amazon author page, I found he had written a book called “Song of Ramapough: A Poetics of Place.” My antennae bristled.

I wrote my PhD dissertation on the ideological representations of white trash in different cultural products including literature, photography, film, television, fashion, and journalism, in high culture and popular culture. This is an eggheady way of saying I explored how the social categories of race and class interact in the meanings made by these representations. For the reason of ever-disappearing horizons of space and time, I had to cut a few of my planned chapters, one of which was an analysis of the film Out of the Furnace, starring Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson and Casey Affleck, which featured a controversial representation of the Ramapough Mountain People, who sued the filmmakers. They are portrayed in the film as brutal meth-addled outlaws.

In fact, the history of the Ramapough Mountain People is fascinating. They are what is known as a tri-racial isolate community. What that means is that in the early colonial history of America, runaway and freed slaves often intermarried with poor whites (sometimes newly released indentured labourers) and Indigenous people driven to remote areas by the process of colonization. While the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the US does not officially recognize the Ramapough Mountain Indians as a federal tribe, the state of New Jersey did recognize them as a tribe descended from the Lenape Delaware, an Algonquin speaking Indigenous group. The Ramapough Mountains consist of a few ridges and valleys on the border of New Jersey and New York, about 40 km from New York City.

Needless to say, I had to buy the book. In the foreword, Kenneth discusses how writing the book was inspired by the place-centred poetry of William Carlos Williams’ brilliant book Paterson and the Maximus poems of Charles Olsen. The foreword, written by Flavia Alaya draws the same comparisons, although my opinion of Lumpkin’s work differs from hers. While she sees more Olsen in Lumpkin, I see an absence of the endearing confusion of Olsen’s poetry, and more the crystalline clarity of Williams’ verse. Lumpkin figures that through a poetic exploration of place, through lenses such as geology, history, and high Romantic wanderings through the wilds of the mountains, he might better come to know the earth itself, a mission I wholeheartedly endorse and aspire to myself. After all, the book is published by Hug the Earth Publishing.

I was eager to read and savour this one because Paterson is my favourite book-length poem aside from Byron’s Don Juan (which I must admit I haven’t read all the way through yet – some day), Shakespeare’s plays, and Anne Carson’s The Autobiography of Red. In it, Williams polished a uniquely polyvocal and American idiom. Song of Ramapough hews closely to these influences, but one can also detect the influence of the encyclopedic-style chapters of Melville’s masterpiece Moby Dick, especially in the parts near the end that rather factually guide the reader through the geological composition and history of the place.

While there are some moments that gave me pause, such as when he discusses the Haudensaunee (the Indigenous group that includes the Six Nations of the Confederacy, whose political structure influenced the United States’ own) stripping all political authority of the women. This contradicts the important role that women played in the politics of the Haudensaunee as caretakers of not only children and the home, but of the land itself. It is possible that Lumpkin is referring to Haudensaunee-Lenape relations that I’m ignorant of, however. There are charming moments in the book, alternating a newspaper’s account of a robbery of a woman homesteader in the area in 1790 with the first buzzing of a yellow jacket experienced by the poet on the next page.

I particularly loved poem 6, which I will reproduce here in full to discuss:

No more a mountain

stronghold or fortress

around me, but lighted

oak is my home

 

flames whisper the dying

secret of the wood,

forgotten grandfathers

are my company

 

teaching me the songs

of the wind, warming the Earth

while speaking the oldest

of languages.

 

The bracing enjambement of this poem draws the reader along its thread, and the line break between the first and second stanza really teases out the doubled meaning of “lighted/oak is my home.” One thinks of a wooded mountain side in the tradition of Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” being pierced by straight-lined shafts of evening light. However, the second stanza transforms the “lighted” wood from dappled sunlight to campfire burning. Alternating all the historical data of the book with a phrase like “forgotten grandfathers are my company” really lends the next lines some gravitas in the spirit of receiving wisdom from ancestors. The oldest of languages is of course the interpretation of the earth itself, its animal trails, its grumbles, its tree rings, its soil, where to find water and food, etc.

 

Kenneth Lumpkin now lives in London, Ontario. I highly recommend his work if you love the poetry of the English or American Romantics such as Whitman, or if you love the work of Olsen and especially Williams. His latest book, available on Amazon, is Possum: Tales of the Wood. He has a total of five books available for sale there. Here is a link: Amazon.ca : Kenneth Lumpkin


Thursday, March 31, 2022

Funny Cat

A grey and white cat, with a backscratcher in the shape of a hand on her head, lies on a bed.


We have returned to funny cat pictures, in this case digitally manipulated, in this cycle of The Invisible Truth. 



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Monday, March 14, 2022

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Thursday, March 10, 2022

An Excerpt from one of my long, difficult poems (Poetry) (Trevor Cunnington)

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E-stim

helmets bear the grim news that we win

every single time we play

the grim reaper’s anthem unto the day

four horses meet up and draw-and-quarter

the dead-eyed dog of a reporter

barking into the assimilated mortar;

shells are shot into the Mariana trench

while we’re on social media judging from them benches.

and we find that no matter the dopamine trigger

scatter those picket fences in the diagonals

uprooted and re-booted until the narrative

world vanishes, tarnishing a record comparative

of three oddly off-centre orthogonals


clashing in the daylight wearing Sheraton™

paraphernalia.

A sprig of Queen Anne’s lace,


An evening of saturnalia without disgrace

I’ll be there when the wind blows and the earth quakes

Before all the other times that my senses shake

With ripples like a pebble, thrown in a pond

 

Whatever those feelings bode, they come from beyond

The bounds of your skin, as soon as light creeps in

We become evacuated of all yonder qualms

Under homilies with unexpected invective; receipts dim –

The sublime art of ink fading, collecting alms

Afterwards and being grateful for the jeremiad,

Talking to the people in the crowd, jeering mad

With the Athabasca lustre,

An icy morning to beat around the bush with bluster

Burghers by the boat-load, some of whom will usher

In a new age of overloaded senses with crop duster

Chem trails, crop circles outside the temple

The paranoia is familiar, an all-seeing eye in the sky,

Isn’t that what a satellite is like? Or is it all mental?

 

When was the last time a child asked you why

The sea in pencil sounds like an es, and we use utensils?