In this case, I respond to a post about instilling play into the workplace. Ideas included meme-creating exercises, takes on The Play That Goes Wrong, and something to do with fairy tales.
I like to play at work. I can only be productive when I am having fun. But to me, these ideas are not fun. These ideas are micromanaging, setting up the people who conduct them as parents, and participants as children.
Below are my thoughts on forced fun.
I like the intent and spirit of this, but not the implementation.
Telling people how to play instead of letting them choose how to play is probably worse than no play at all. It is mom telling us to do something. It is like forcing people who want to play basketball to play cricket.
“Why should I be invested in this ridiculous meme game? It serves me no purpose, and I get no reward. And the winner is chosen by the boss, so no doubt it will be the “teacher’s pet” once again.”
Forced fun is never fun.
One of the reasons why Grammarly is such a huge success is because it has a prize, and everyone who plays/uses it wins.
Trying to get your copy to 100 is great fun, and even if you do not, your reward is a better copy than when you started.
With Grammarly you can “Get the High Score” or “Finish a Level”. That is real, organic fun.
“A job well done is its own reward.”
Again, AI “gets me”:
“The author responds to the idea of incorporating play into the workplace, criticizing activities like meme creation and themed plays as forced and unproductive. They argue that genuine fun arises organically and can be incentivized, referencing the success of Grammarly’s engaging approach. The post emphasizes the importance of intrinsic rewards over prescribed enjoyment.“
This is another post triggered by something I saw on LinkedIn. People were reacting negatively to the Baileys copy seen in the ad above. I disagreed and shared my reasons for thinking the way I did, and do.
Here is my response to people calling it “lazy copy“.
I understand the criticism, but I like the copy.
1) The copy is personal and engages the reader. The cardboard folder will be on a table at a bar, and it is like whoever you are eating with asking the question. “Why not…”
And since the advertising will be at the table during the meal, it sinks in, and the person seeing it will keep thinking of the reasons why not to order an Irish cream after they are finished eating.
Furthermore, a person at a restaurant or bar is very unlikely to be spending a lot of time reading copy. The copy needs to have an effective hook with immediate impact. This copy looks good, literally. I’m salivating a little just looking at it!
“Yeah, why not?”
2) It also works as “Why not, you deserve it. You’ve had a busy day and got a lot done.” Also, “Why not, it is just a nightcap and isn’t like going on a bender.”
3) Carlsberg ran a similar ad for over 38 years – “Probably the best lager in the world”. On one level it too can be dismissed: “They’re not sure? That’s not convincing!” But that too had another level. It could be someone who knows a LOT about lagers saying, “I KNOW lager, and this is a GOOD one.”
Conclusion: Know your audience!
If that ad appeared in a magazine on an airplane, I would agree that it is bad, lazy copy. People on a plane typically spend hours in a very small space and have time to read. I would go copy heavy for such an ad.
A person at a bar or restaurant is likely to have a few seconds at best available for you to get their attention. Maybe the time it takes to say “What will you have?”
This copy is a winner, and I think I will have some Baileys after dinner!
Baileys also has a great website. Check it out while enjoying a cocktail, milkshake, dessert, or hot drink made from Baileys.
AI Feedback:
The content provides a compelling argument in favor of the Baileys ad copy. The use of personal engagement and understanding of the target audience is well explained. The reference to Carlsberg’s long-running ad campaign further supports the viewpoint. To further enhance the post:
1) Consider providing additional examples or case studies of successful ad copy that targets similar audience settings.
2) It would be beneficial to include a brief section highlighting potential drawbacks or counterarguments to the viewpoint, to present a more balanced analysis.
Overall, the post effectively conveys the author’s perspective and enthusiasm for the ad copy, along with relevant supporting points.
I saw the above image in a post on LinkedIn and had thoughts. First, it is good to have confidence and be proud. More importantly though:
Why is it always a good thing that the dinosaurs died out, or are dying out?
Maybe the dinosaurs had some good ideas? Maybe the dinosaurs weren’t so bad after all. Did anybody ever talk to the dinosaurs?
Maybe the Pride flag needs to have some rocks and stones on it, or maybe I just watched too much Flintstones as a child.
I’m here to stand up for the dinosaurs!
Memoirs from dinosaurs are often quite valuable. Everyone from Keith Richards to Barbara Streisand to Paulina Porizkova to Kim Gordon have written them. If you are English, of a certain age, and caught a glimpse of Churchill during WW II, chances are your memoirs were a best seller.
It is just a shame that T-rex’s arms precluded them from using a keyboard. Just imagine all the lessons they could have shared in their memoirs!
Apparently dinos lived through some sort of climate catastrophe long before we did, for instance. There are lessons to be learned there, I am sure of it. Somebody needs to run those dinosaur lines from Jurassic Park through an AI translator!
I woke up in Plymouth, Michigan, on a Saturday morning recently. It was after attending a wedding in Ann Arbor the night before. I needed to get to Detroit, to get to Windsor, to get to Toronto, to get back home. (but I don’t know why she swallowed the fly.)
How I got to Plymouth, Michigan
I’d gotten a ride to Plymouth from the man who performed the ceremony. He had sent in the forty bucks in exchange for being an ordained minister, which made him capable of performing wedding ceremonies. He also has excellent taste in music, so we had a great conversation on our ride to Plymouth.
The distance between Ann Arbor and Plymouth is about half an hour. What I didn’t clue into was that that half hour was halfway back to Detroit, my sort of destination. In other words, I was a bit lost and hoping for help to get back on track.
As an aside, my people in Michigan tell me that everything is half an hour away. I joked that “with inflation, even 15 minutes away is now half an hour away”.
Why that is relevant is because I had originally requested a ride sharing dealio back to Ann Arbor, so that I could take the bus back to Detroit for six bucks (all funds US Dollars). Upon returning to Detroit, I would make my way across to Windsor, Ontario, and ultimately home to Toronto.
My ride arrives
My ride arrives, and I tell the driver my plan. She was confused. “What? It’s the same price to Detroit as it is Ann Arbor? Why don’t you just let me take you to Detroit?”
“Can we do that?”
“Let me check. What is around the tunnel? What can I change it to?”
We head out. I say something like “The 20-year-old me really wanted to go to the football game today. The reality me said “think again.” (The University of Michigan was playing a home game in Ann Arbor later that day, and would continue their undefeated season with decisive 41-13 over Purdue.)
“I know what you mean. I was looking to be more active and get more involved. My brother recommended officiating basketball. 20-year-old me gave it a shot, and it soon real time me said “Get real”. Then I got into umpiring volleyball. You pretty much just sit there and be judgmental.”
“I could probably handle that.”
“Yeah, and it PAYS. I get like $70 a game.”
“Really? That’s nuts. My friend’s son umpires baseball and I think he gets $20 a game.”
“I don’t know about that, maybe it is a Canada/US thing. You can make BIG money doing it. Work your way up to Division 1 and stuff and it is great. NFL umpires make a fortune.”
“I heard that NFL officials are judges and stuff. Real big shots.”
“Oh for sure!”
Who Are These Parents?
The conversation turns to how parents are the nutjobs when it comes to kids’ sports. Demanding more ice time, questioning coaches…
“Some of those coaches must get death threats and stuff.” – me
“Oh yeah, you wouldn’t believe it! You got kids?” – driver
“No, I am still a kid! You?” – me
“5 kids, 11 grandkids, and counting!” – driver
“WOW, nice!”
I Met a Methodist, a Methodist in Motown!
After a brief lull in the convo I ask the driver if she is a Michigan native.
“Oh no, I’ve moved all over the place! My dad was a Methodist preacher. You know what they do? The Methodists make their preachers move around all the time.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Oh yeah! It’s once a year!”
“How on earth can you make friends or anything as kid, moving around so much. That’s worse than having your dad in the service and him being shipped overseas.”
“Right? And they just give you a small house with two bedrooms. My dad had 11 kids! There wasn’t no room for us. They’re saying now that that was child abuse, and it was!”
I agree, and as a Cannuck I’ve got ideas about residential schools and stuff floating around my mind, wondering/waiting for the right time to bring that into the conversation.
I abstain from doing that though. Here’s a real-life person, someone who has experienced it firsthand. She isn’t a spoiled white person on Canadian media. This is the real deal. And not only has she lived through despicable nonsense, but she has also risen above it and made something of her life.
The conversation starts to turn. She asks me what my religion is. “Are you Catholic?”
I probably smirked. “HUH?” I thought.
Normally I go with atheist/agnostic/heathen. I just can’t be bothered with religion. Hockey is too religious for me – I hate it. Existentialist is way too pretentious to even consider. Lately I have been going with “Jew-ish” because it is so ridiculous and is shorthand for saying “Republicans are complete imbeciles.”
This was a serious woman though, and I wasn’t foolish enough to answer. She had earned and demanded my respect, and none of those answers would do. She moved on quickly after I kinda shook my head.
Maybe I shook my head. Maybe I just looked dumb.
My Salvation Begins
Then it started.
The driver asks: “Are you a good person?”
“Yeah, I guess.” (My thoughts at this point being entered centered around making the train back to Toronto. I felt like Otto in Repo Man when Bud asks “You think they give a damn about their bills in Russia?”)
“Have you been saved?”
“ummm….”
Then she went full-bore into Jesus and God, and what have you. The real names, how to spell them and stuff. It was part sermon, part college lecture. I should have taken notes or recorded her.
I started thinking “a lot of people would lose their minds at this point and get into a confrontation. I don’t know, whether I agree with her, she cares enough about me to try to “save me”.
The really interesting part about her talk was that she was VERY anti-church. Boiled down, she was basically saying the same thing that Jello Biafra said in Religious Vomit:
“They just want your money, they just want your consciousness.”
“There’s people sleeping in the streets! How come churches don’t open their doors to them! I’ve asked preachers that, and they just say, ‘not in MY church’.
“Doesn’t the church have a lot of influence with Detroit politicians? I mean, why…”
“Oh yeah, and politicians have a lot of influence with churches. They campaign right in the aisles. It’s pathetic.”
“I’ve been talking to a lot of churches, and I am writing a book.”
It’s True: Everything in Michigan Is Half an Hour
The ride came right in at half an hour. It’s true: everything in Michigan is half an hour. While in the back of a Honda Civic, my mind was mostly on making the train. But this was a conversation unlike others, it was deep and had an impact.
It could never happen in Canada – a black woman of devout Faith trying to save the soul of a white clown boy. I respected her point of view, and I legitimately felt moved that she cared enough to reach out like that. Maybe she always does it, maybe not. Maybe people tell her to “shut up”. Who knows?
Your Canadian Has Some Parting Gifts for You
I am not ashamed that she got me a little teary eyed. I gathered myself up and took the pin I wear on my jacket. It’s a cross of an American flag and a Canadian flag.
“You had a Canadian in your car before?”
“No.”
“This is for you.” – I gave her the pin and we shook hands. I wanted to thank her but also get into her head like she had gotten into mine.
My driver did “just sit there and judge“, but she also had a humanity. I not only respect that, I seek that. There ain’t no humanity in Toronto.
Trains, Tunnel Buses, and The People Mover!
This is a picture of my destination, sort of. Two days before my ride with God, I had taken a spin around the Detroit People Mover (DPM). I was standing at the back of an empty DPM, snapping pictures as it looped by the Detroit River. I was just west of the aforementioned “Ren Cen/Hart Plaza”.
What you see is the Detroit River. The land on the left is Canada. There are two bridges in the picture, the Ambassador Bridge, and the Gordie Howe Bridge. The two towers on the left are the Howe Bridge, the two on the right and closer are the Ambassador.
The “bumps” on the Ambassador are transport trucks making their way into Canada – basically the entire blue-collar economy of Ontario travels across the Ambassador.
Think I am joking? The Ambassador Bridge carries more than 25% of all merchandise trade between the USA and Canada. And Canada’s trade is 80% with the USA, so this is a significant border crossing.
You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!!
KISS is big in Detroit (no city is perfect) and they recorded a lot of their breakthrough album Alive! at a place that used to be called Cobo Arena, which is immediately to the right of the where I was standing when I took the picture above.
I wanted Detroit, and I got Detroit. I believe that might be Matthew 7:7.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you”
Looking Back on It All:
Looking back towards Detroit, while on a train bound for Toronto:
You might also be interested in:
Ride Sharing – book by Mike Monson “Ride Sharing is 37 stories, vignettes, and sketches based on Mike Monson’s two years working as an Uber and Lyft driver in Northern California. Some of the material is verbatim accounts of events, some of it is completely made up, and some a combination of fact and fiction. At this point, the author can’t quite remember what parts are true and what is a lie.”
Can God Fill Teeth? – song by LARD “For a $10 “Donation You could see silver fillings turn to gold and other “supernormal dental happenings.”
Taxi to Nowhere – Electric Six Electric Six was born in Detroit. They remain “the kind of band I want to see”.
Has the state of the world and cost of living got you strung out? Are you sick of the pressure and feel like screaming? Well this ain’t nothing new kid, it’s only the latest.
There’s an old adage that says, “If you aren’t depressed, you’re not paying attention”. It’s a phrase I find comforting for a few reasons. The first is that it rings true and makes me feel more normal. Hearing it makes me feel less alone in my thoughts. The second is that one of the few people who I have heard say it aloud is my dad’s second wife, a woman who I respect immensely.
In this post I will explore old songs that spoke to the problems of the 80s, problems that feel eerily similar to what is going on with the world now. The point of this post is to make you feel less alone, less freaked out, less closed in. And maybe shake yer booty.
Spandau Ballet felt our pain
There’s a band from England called Spandau Ballet. They took their name from seeing graffiti about Rudolf Hess being the only occupant Spandau Prison. Their big hit single is probably True, which Toronto band Blue Rodeo completely copied with their song Try. Shame on you, Jim Cuddy! It is often disheartening to be Canadian.
However, if you are feeling lost and have had enough, Spandau Ballet’s song Chant no 1 might speak to you. One of the reasons why I like the song so much is that it is an English band trying to incorporate American style funk into their sound.
Chant No 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) was a BIG song to me in my youth. I don’t think it appeared on any charts or got airplay, but even without the internet it was a song that got across the ocean and spoke to us poor white kids in Canada. Wow, I thought: there are other people feeling just as depressed and hopeless, and they live on the other side of the ocean!
The song stands the test of time and is more appropriate than ever. Check it out:
World War 3 you say?
Yeah, it certainly feels that way, doesn’t it? You know the facts as well as I do: WW III breaking out on at least 3 continents, the cost of living is making us all sick, competent politicians being more rare than baseball players who hit .400, AI panic… the list is endless.
There’s a punk rock band from British Columbia, Canada called DOA that has been doing their thing for about 40 years. I loved them when I was a kid, but now I am kinda meh. DOA is more about emotion than intellect, and I like to think that I have outgrown them. I DO thank them for being around when I was young though. Bloodied but Unbowed indeed.
While I may have outgrown DOA’s kneejerk, simple politics, one of their songs that stand the test of time is World War 3. And as much as I belittle their frontman, Joe Keithley, he HAS put his elbow grease where his mouth is. He’s been an elected member of Burnaby BC city council since 2018, so hats off to an old punk trying to fuck things up in a good way. Keithly definitely subscribes to SHOUT philosophy, which we will discuss later.
Here’s dancing to Armageddon, and punk rock, at its primordial best:
PART 2: Shout, Shout, let it all out!
A lot of crazy things came out of the 6-6-60s. One of them was something called Primal therapy. Invented by Arthur Janov and initially quite popular with people like John Lennon, primal therapy is now largely regarded as quackery. Primal therapy centered around shouting to discover repressed childhood traumas. It was alleged that by doing so, the shouter/patient could heal those traumas and live a healthier life.
British pop ban Tears for Fears found a lot of success in the 80s. They found Janov’s writings crucial as well, with one of their biggest hits being Shout. In other words, Tears for Fears were big proponents of Primal therapy, and some of their biggest songs were more or less primal scream sessions.
Similarly, The Style Council, Paul Weller’s post-Jam band had a song called Shout to the Top. For the purpose of this post, the song Walls Come Tumbling Down! is more appropriate. Mr. Weller implored us to take action and live life with these lyrics:
“You don’t have to take this crap You don’t have to sit back and relax You can actually try changing it I know we’ve always been taught to rely
Upon those in authority But you never know until you try How things just might be If we came together so strongly
Are you gonna try to make this work Or spend your days down in the dirt You see things can change Yes and walls can come tumbling down”
Paul Weller
Part 3: DIY Depression Busters
While certain eggheads and pretentious Canadians get to decide what is right, what is wrong, and what is quackery, I decide to choose for myself. There is a lot to be said about the benefits of shouting, exercise, and yes, even being able to speak freely.
A lot of the best artists in the 80s felt the same way. They shouted at an American president and administration that seemed hell-bent on encouraging nuclear war and bringing on the apocalypse. For me, the angriest, best, and most important was Dead Kennedys. Frontman Jello Biafra shouted at everything that need to be shouted at, and even shouted at Diane Feinstein after she died!
But speaking of Canadians, there was an outfit out of Ottawa called Singing Fools that had a minor hit with a song called The Apocalypso. The song included a lengthy sample of a Ronald Reagan speech and fun lyrics such as:
They’re all getting down from Grenada to Soweto To the hottest little number since the The Mashed Potato Dance, dance, dance, until they drop
Part 4: Everything old is new again
Furthermore,Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music encouraged us to “Dance away the heartache, dance away the tears”. Ferry’s colleague, fellow classic rock music dinosaur Pete Townshend has said a lot of provocative things over the years, and this rings true:
“Music, even today, has a function, which is to help us understand what is going on in the world and to help us understand what is going on inside us.”
Pete Townshend
And all that (finally) brings me to the point of this blog post: my version of a playlist for dancing and shouting away our depressions about the strife in the world.
A large portion of that playlist has been exhausted with the nonsense I shared above, but let me proceed with what is left.
1) Ultravox – Dancing with Tears in My Eyes
I’m not a huge fan of this song, but I remember it being huge. It is based a book On the Beach. Written by Nevil Shute, which centers around Australians waiting for the end of the world after nuclear war breaks out in the Northern Hemisphere.
Dancing with Tears in My Eyes was co-written by Midge Ure. Midge shouted at the famine in Ethiopia by putting together the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” with Bob Geldof. He was also one of the prime movers behind Live Aid.
Say what you want about Midge Ure’s efforts and copycats like “Sending Our Love Down the Well”. The fact of the matter is that he danced away his depression and helped 2 continents do the same.
2) Sun Ra -Nuclear War (it’s a MoFo!)
I didn’t learn about Sun Ra until 1988. I was working and hanging out at CJAM, a college radio station in Windsor, Ontario. There was a show called Johnny on the JAM, and I eventually befriended the host. Johnny was a Detroit guy who crossed an international boundary to do a radio show. Even though he was a volunteer, he needed a work permit.
If you are not familiar with Sun Ra and the Arkestra, you need to take a peek down that rabbit hole. Sun Ra claimed to be “about 800 years old” and from Saturn.
Johnny was big into all sorts of cool things like and did theme shows. One Friday he played Sun Ra’s Nuclear War and a cover of the same by Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes fame.
DIG!
I can still hear Johnny saying, “If they push that button, your ass has gotta go.”
3) Reagan: We begin bombing in 5 minutes
Ronald Reagan infamously said “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes” as a warmup, a soundcheck for a national radio address in 1984.
While not intended for the public, this “joke” certainly offered an insight into Dutch’s mindset. I suspect that the state of Israel has a similar mindset in terms of Palestinians. Reagan’s comment didn’t sit well with anyone, but again, some of us just had to laugh and dance.
Two such examples are Time Zone, a collaboration between a white punk pioneer and a Black hip-hop pioneer. The other is also a collaboration between a white man and a Black man, this time between Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads/Modern Lovers fame, and Bootsy Collins of Parliament Funkadelic fame.
The one time I saw Bootsy live was when he was playing bass for Deee-Lite. It was one of the best concerts I have seen. Most people consider Deee-Lite to be one-hit wonders, but their first album is sensational, start to finish. Furthermore, it brings in all kinds of cultures and musical genres and broke new ground.
Deee-Groovy!
The air attack warning sounds like? Dancing!
Relax is probably the one and only song that people know or remember when they think of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Two Tribes is equally as good though, and the video is timeless.
Witness this, brothers and sisters. Two old men in a barbaric fight, a cock fight. The video came along before mixed martial arts. People pay money to see the fight, they are transfixed. In the end though, the spectators resort to fighting amongst themselves.
This just in!
The NY Times included a review of Laurie Anderson’s one-off show with the jazz combo Sexmob in Brooklyn in their Oct 21, 2023 edition. This song was embedded in the article and is is along the same lines of this post.
sometimes your spine turns into a gummi snake, and your wristwatch a soft-boiled egg you find it impossible to bleed, but your eyes weep strands of spaghetti
you realize you forgot to pick up the kids from school after your parents left you stranded they had a few pogo sticks to test drive, and you refused to be in the same time zone
rain begins to fall, and your park bench begins to devour you, it melts like tissue paper with every drop of rain
a ring of daisies sings a song about their favourite praying mantis, and ice cream cones on trampolines sell frozen cyclists
the sun coughs and backfires as it goes down, and your hair follicles sing the national anthem a long line of attorneys in religious rock-climbing gear refuse to comment as they parade by(e)
In this blog post I will have ChatGPT answer some age-old questions poised by rock and roll. I’ll ask IT about songs by The Beatles, The Who, The Clash, The Police, and others.
Why do an AI-powered interview?
Well, I’ve always enjoyed longform interviews, be it the PBS variety of everything from Firing Line to Amanpour & Company, Later with Bob Costas, The Larry King Show (radio version), and even print. Spin and Rolling Stone used to have fantastic interviews back in the day. Hunter Thompson, PJ O’Rourke, William Greider and yes, Kim Gordon all did remarkable work. North of the border, Nardwuar continues to do amazing work.
These days, though, it seems harder and harder to find interviews of any real substance. So I asked ChatGPT for help putting together an interview of significance, and the AI technology agreed. Below is an edited version of those conversations.
I am ChatGPT, a large language model trained by OpenAI, based on the GPT-3.5 architecture. I am designed to understand and respond to natural language input from users, providing information, answering questions, and carrying on conversations on a wide range of topics.
Does ChatGPT like rock and roll?
As an AI language model, I don’t have personal preferences or emotions, including liking or disliking a particular genre of music like rock and roll. However, I have knowledge and information about rock and roll, its history, its impact on culture, and other related topics. If you have any questions or want to discuss anything related to rock and roll, feel free to ask me!
What are you trying to pull? – Les Nessman, WKRP news
As an AI language model, I am not trying to pull anything. I exist solely to provide helpful and informative responses to your questions to the best of my abilities based on my training and knowledge. If there is a specific question or concern you have, please feel free to ask and I will do my best to assist you.
As an AI language model, I don’t have personal preferences or feelings, but I can provide you with some information on different types of trees that might help you decide which one you would be if you were a tree.
Some people might choose a majestic oak tree as they are known for their strength and longevity, and have a deep-rooted presence. Others may choose a willow tree as they represent flexibility and resilience. Birch trees are often associated with new beginnings, growth, and purity, and may appeal to someone starting a new chapter in their life. A maple tree could be a popular choice for those who value diversity and adaptation, as they come in many varieties and can survive in different climates. Additionally, a redwood tree might represent a sense of awe-inspiring beauty and natural wonder to some.
Ultimately, the choice of tree would depend on an individual’s personal values, beliefs, and personality traits.
Whether anyone cares if a tree falls in the forest is subjective and depends on the individual’s perspective. From a scientific standpoint, a falling tree may have ecological significance as it could impact the forest’s ecosystem and the organisms that live within it. The sound of a falling tree also produces vibrations in the air, which can be detected by animals such as birds, insects, and other forest dwellers.
However, if there are no humans around to observe or hear the falling tree, it is unlikely that anyone would care in the sense of having an emotional response to the event. The idea behind this philosophical question is to explore the nature of reality and the relationship between perception and existence.
“The Fuhrer” is a German term meaning “leader,” which was famously used to refer to Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany during World War II. The term is associated with Hitler’s authoritarian rule, political ideology, and actions, which included the persecution and murder of millions of people, including Jews, Romani, homosexuals, people with disabilities, and others deemed “undesirable” by the Nazi regime.
The phrase “What’s the furor about the Fuhrer?” might be interpreted as an attempt at wordplay, as “furor” sounds similar to “Fuhrer.” However, it is important to remember the serious and tragic historical context associated with the term “Fuhrer.”
The phrase “Elvis is everywhere” is a popular expression that is often used in popular culture to describe the enduring popularity and influence of Elvis Presley, the legendary American singer and actor. This expression is meant to convey the idea that Elvis Presley’s legacy and cultural impact are ubiquitous and can be found everywhere in American popular culture.
While Elvis Presley’s music, movies, and image continue to be popular and influential, it is not accurate to say that he is literally “everywhere.” However, his influence can be seen in many aspects of contemporary popular culture, and his music continues to be celebrated by millions of fans around the world.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
The question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, has puzzled philosophers, scientists, and ordinary people for centuries. From a biological perspective, the answer is that the egg came first. This is because the process of evolution involves gradual changes in the genetic makeup of a species over time, resulting in new variations that can give rise to new species.
In the case of chickens, scientists believe that the first chicken would have hatched from an egg laid by a bird that was not quite a chicken. Over time, genetic mutations and changes would have accumulated in the bird’s genetic code, resulting in a bird that we would now recognize as a chicken. So, in this sense, the egg came first.
However, the question can also be seen as a philosophical or metaphysical one, and the answer may depend on one’s beliefs about the origins of life and the universe. From a theological or creationist perspective, the answer might be that the chicken came first, as it was created by a divine being. Ultimately, the answer to this question may depend on one’s perspective and beliefs.
The decision to stay or go ultimately depends on your personal circumstances and the specific situation you are facing. It can be a difficult decision to make, and it’s important to consider the potential risks and benefits of each option before making a choice.
If you are facing a decision about whether to stay in a particular situation or leave, it may be helpful to ask yourself some questions to help clarify your thoughts and feelings. For example, you could ask yourself:
What are the pros and cons of staying versus leaving?
What are my personal values and priorities, and how do they factor into this decision?
What would happen if I stay versus if I go, and how would these outcomes affect me and those around me?
What support do I have available to me if I choose to stay or go?
Ultimately, the decision to stay or go is a personal one that should be based on your own unique circumstances and values. It may be helpful to seek the advice of trusted friends, family members, or professionals if you are struggling to make a decision or need additional support.
David Byrne, the musician and artist, is known for his thought-provoking lyrics and perspectives on various issues. In his song “Don’t Worry About the Government,” he encourages listeners not to worry excessively about the government and instead focus on their own lives and relationships.
While this perspective can be valuable in avoiding unnecessary stress and anxiety, it’s also important to stay informed about government actions and policies that can have a significant impact on society. It’s about finding a balance between being aware and engaged, and not letting worries consume your life. Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine how much attention and energy you want to give to politics and government affairs.
The Police song “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” was written by Sting and it’s believed to be a commentary on the power of language and how it can both bring people together and drive them apart.
In the song, the phrase “de do do do, de da da da” represents the meaningless chatter and superficial conversations that people often engage in. The lyrics suggest that people rely too heavily on these empty phrases to communicate, rather than taking the time to truly understand one another.
Sting has stated that the song is a critique of the use of language to manipulate and control people. The phrase “de do do do, de da da da” is used as a kind of mindless chant, suggesting that people can be easily influenced and led by repetitive phrases and empty slogans.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the ways in which language can both unite and divide us, and a call to deeper, more meaningful communication between people.
Does The Beatles’ song Come Together have any real meaning?
The Beatles’ song “Come Together” was written by John Lennon and is known for its unique and cryptic lyrics. The song is open to interpretation and there have been many theories over the years about what it might mean.
One popular theory is that the song is a political statement, with the lyrics referencing various figures from the counterculture of the 1960s. For example, the opening line “Here come old flattop, he come grooving up slowly” is believed to refer to Timothy Leary, a psychologist and prominent figure in the psychedelic movement.
Other interpretations suggest that the song is about unity and coming together as a community, with lyrics such as “One and one and one is three” suggesting that people can be stronger together than they are alone.
Despite the various interpretations, Lennon himself once stated that the song was simply “gobbledygook” and that he was just trying to create a catchy song without any specific meaning.
Ultimately, the true meaning of “Come Together” may be open to interpretation and may depend on the individual listener’s perspective.
Like many people, I am fascinated by ChatGPT. It entertains and amazes me. It* also inspires me and saves a LOT of time.
For fun, I asked it* to write a blog post based on the LinkedIn post that can be seen above. The blog post that ChatGPT created is below. I hope some people enjoy it.
Don’t be afraid of ChatGPT – play with it, learn what it can do
Living creatures of all sorts learn through playing. Fun and having a sense of humour are essential for our well-being. They are generally regarded as pretty good medicine and seldom need a spoonful of sugar to help them go down. They are coping mechanisms. Having fun and laughing can enhance productivity. They can also be catalysts for breakthroughs, and their side effects are hardly ever lethal.
Don’t believe me? Check out these Expert, Authoritative, and Trustworthy resources:
10 Things Every Parent Should Know About Play The National Association for the Education of Young Children (naeyc) reminds us that when play is healthy it can reduce stress and teach us new cognitive skills, vocabulary, social skills, and literacy skills.
Five Essentials to Meaningful Play The naeyc also reminds us that for play to be meaningful we should make our own decisions and be motivated intrinsically. When play is meaningful and spontaneous, we find it enjoyable and can become immersed in the moment.
That is why I highly recommend playing with ChatGPT. It is a tool. Use it and have fun with it. Learn about what it can and can not do. As the 32nd President of the United States encouraged: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
*ChatGPT hasn’t declared pronouns yet, so please accept my apologies if I am using the wrong one here.
This is what i asked ChatGPT:
ChatGPT’s blog post
As a writer, Google is an essential tool that I use every day. It’s my go-to resource for anything from finding synonyms to checking my grammar. However, I must admit that my Google search history can sometimes be a little strange, and it’s not uncommon for me to get sidetracked by interesting articles or topics that catch my eye. In this blog post, I’ll take you on a journey through my recent Google search history and share some insights into the things I’ve been looking up.
“Synonym of leverage”
When writing, it’s important to avoid repetition and keep your language varied and engaging. That’s why I recently found myself searching for a synonym for the word “leverage.” After all, if I use the same word too many times, my writing can become monotonous and lose its impact. Some synonyms for leverage include “influence,” “advantage,” and “power.”
“Is it onto or on to?”
One of the trickier aspects of writing is figuring out when to use “onto” versus “on to.” While they might seem interchangeable, there is a subtle difference in meaning between the two. “Onto” generally indicates movement or physical contact, while “on to” refers to a transition or continuation. For example, you might say “I climbed onto the roof,” but “I moved on to the next chapter.”
“Antonym of stellar”
Sometimes when writing, I find myself struggling to think of the perfect word to convey the exact meaning I’m looking for. That’s why I recently searched for the antonym of “stellar.” While I might have used “mediocre” or “average” in the past, I was looking for something a little more precise. After a quick search, I discovered that “terrestrial” is often used as an antonym for “stellar” when referring to astronomy or space-related topics.
“Keyboard shortcut for em dash”
As a writer, I often use em dashes to indicate a sudden change in thought or an interruption in dialogue. However, constantly having to insert the em dash using the “insert symbol” function can be time-consuming. That’s why I recently looked up the keyboard shortcut for an em dash, which is “Option + Shift + -” on a Mac and “Alt + 0151” on a PC.
“Preposition vs. conjunction”
While I consider myself a proficient writer, there are still some grammar rules that trip me up from time to time. Recently, I found myself questioning the difference between prepositions and conjunctions. While both types of words connect phrases or clauses, prepositions are used to indicate a relationship between a noun or pronoun and other elements in a sentence, while conjunctions connect clauses or phrases of equal importance.
In conclusion, as a writer, I rely heavily on Google as a tool to improve my writing and ensure that my language is varied, precise, and engaging. Whether I’m searching for a synonym or antonym, trying to figure out a grammar rule or keyboard shortcut, or simply looking to learn something new, Google is always there to help me improve my writing skills.
I spent New Year’s weekend in Detroit, hanging out with very dear and very old friends. We took in Electric Six at The Magic Bag in Ferndale, something I had done several times before. The last time was at least a decade ago, before covid. It was also before Detroit’s latest renaissance.
On January 1, I found myself right downtown with a few hours to kill before catching a train across the river in Canada. Being New Year’s Day, it was quiet. It was also unseasonably warm and very foggy. All these elements factored in to make it an Immersive Detroit experience.
I also had a belly full of American Coney to burn off, so I decided to explore the newly created playground at Woodward and Jefferson.
The new Motown Sound?
It has a rock climbing feature and several stainless steel instruments with mallets attached. I sampled them, created a few notes, and dreamed of a few kids playing here, taking their first steps toward becoming Motown’s next music geniuses.
Spirit of Detroit seen through rock climbing feature and instruments at Woodward and Jefferson.
The Fist is right there too. Here’s a pic with the RenCen in the background, showing how foggy it was that day. At this point the fog had begun to lift a bit! It was a gift from Sports Illustrated to the people of Detroit and The Detroit Institute of Arts. It symbolizes Joe Louis’ fight against Jim Crow (segregation) laws, and points to Canada for a reason.
The Fist, fog, and the RenCen.
Hart Plaza
Hart Plaza is right across the street, so I took a deep dive and explored a lovely park that I had been by countless times but never really explored. It was an excellent decision.
The park is part of Detroit Riverwalk, regarded by many as the best in America. The Detroit River has always attracted me. When I lived in Windsor, I used to take a break from my life and sit on a bench near it. It always brought solace. This visit was like old times.
The Gateway to Freedom
The picture at the top of this post is of monument erected to recognize the Underground Railroad. It is entitled The Gateway to Freedom, and it really struck an emotional chord with me. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was the fog, maybe being New Year’s Day, or maybe it was because I was leaving friends who I don’t see nearly often enough. Who knows.
Here I was, enjoying a soulful little piece of The Land of the Free, The Home of the Brave, a place I have been visiting for 35 years, and there is a monument to those who sought freedom across the river, in my country.
These days, the most prominent feature of the Windsor skyline while standing on the Michigan side of the Detroit River is a giant red CASINO sign, which you can see in the top left of the photo at the top. <insert your own joke/witticism here>
The “Edmund Fitzgerald church”
On this day, the tiny icebergs flowing south down the Detroit River struck the metal buoy and made it sound like a bell ever so often. The icebergs seemed to be enjoying themselves by doing so, a bit like kids riding bumper cars.
A couple of hundred yards east was the Mariners’ Church. Years ago, a different bell “chimed 29 times for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald”1.
Mariners’ Church with statue of George Washington and the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel in the background.
Bonus Pic: Michigan Avenue in Dearborn
I had the pleasure of driving along this street a few times on this trip. A few establishments had their building covered with a “blanket of lights”. Here’s just one of many.
Michigan Avenue in Dearborn.
1Lyric from Gordon Lightfoot’s 1976 song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The song made it to #1 in Canada and nearly did the same in the US.
Perry's Pen 