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Where the hell have I been?
Tag: Writing
General Buck or AI
Just read a sort of matter-of-fact article stating that in the future (tomorrow?) countries will protect their trillion-dollar investments in AI processing centers with nuclear weapons. Now if this does not remind you of Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey or maybe Dr. Strangelove then you aren’t paying attention.
A country is ready to kill humans on an epic scale to protect the “Big Brain”. If it wasn’t so sad it would be laughable. And who will decide if the moment has arrived to launch the death missiles—maybe the Big Brain.
I write, or try to write, mystery novels. 100% fiction. I would not dare write something along those lines because I would worry my reader would not find it believable.
Now, of course, this was not a press release from any government, but someone speculating on what would be a logical conclusion based on the investment and the increasing dependence on mega-watt computing power to determine the course of action countries take to defend themselves.
So, it may not be true, but it sure follows logic. Human tragedies have occurred in the past by countries protecting minor assets such as bridges or airplanes or just because they could. The Big Brain will, no doubt, become such a critical part of national security that it will be easy to justify anything to prevent the death of the Big Brain. Just ask the Big Brain!
AI on a massive scale is inevitable. Who would stop it?
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A certain hypocrisy exists in my tone about AI. I’m using it in many ways, like many people, and finding it intriguing and useful.
I’m old enough to remember the first discussions about computers. These were mostly primitive devices that could count and sort things. This was the 1950s. My brother, Curt, had been drafted into the Navy (yes, there is a story there for another time), and through a testing program to determine your best usefulness, the Navy assigned him to their “state-of-the-art” computer facility. It was the early stages of computing. The public was not told much about what the military was doing with computers, but they were the leaders at this time—not IBM, in advanced use of the technology. That only meant that they had advanced further in sorting and counting.
Even then, there was a great deal of concern that “machines” would take over decision making from humans. In fact, they were working on just that. Leaping forward some seventy years and you can imagine what is going on now. Maybe it’s good or maybe it’s bad; but it is inevitable that the ability to make decisions within seconds based on a massive amount of data is the skill machines excel at, while humans often pause. That pause is the difference between surviving and dying in the scenarios the military studies. Thus, General Buck is no longer the best decision maker it’s AI.
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I once requested an image of lizards in the desert from AI and one of the lizards had a leg coming out its head—a glitch. Not a big deal. Oops, was that missile just launched – “who ordered that?”—no one answers.
Human Feeling
My good friend Stanley Nelson and I have been discussing AI and the implications for artists and writers. We agree and then we disagree. We collaborated on three books, Murder So Wrong, Murder So Strange and Murder So Final, which were centered around a time in Oklahoma City when there was a newspaper war between the established and powerful newspaper and the upstart, The Oklahoma Journal. We lived there during this time and knew many of the people involved.
We survive collaboration, just barely, and still speak, although there was a somewhat quiet phase right after the books. Here was our latest email exchange about AI.
Stan.
Once I stopped to study an oil of yours, hung somewhere in your house. I was particularly taken by how you used simple, brief touches and swaths of color to suggest, successfully, a window, a door, a wall, a shadow. It was hard not to compare that with a nude portrait you did decades ago, hung so that it commanded the den in the house in Del City. I found that one far busier with its colors, not quite achieving the impressionism I figured was being tried for, although I never asked about it. I had only taken a junior high-school art class, but I had learned enough to wonder.
This is an opinion, but I should say your representational and sometimes impressionistic art has evolved over time, and for the better. Whether anyone agrees is hardly the point, which instead is about how art gives us a way to gauge someone else’s progress, or even regress, as an interpreter of the world around them. Consider the obsessive study of Van Gogh’s progress as an artist. Much like science, the matter is never conclusive.
So, here is my point: that art is not, nor has it ever been, a matter of instant gratification or product quality, i.e., salability or favorable critical appreciation. The goal of art is personal expression on a scale greater than or, at least, different from the ordinary, and for that a person must be the source. To credit AI for arranging pixels—zeros and ones—so a visually striking picture appears is a bit like giving out prizes to frying pans for not burning the bacon.
My response:
The artist, human or AI, is judged by the results. You can ponder the artist behind the work, but it is the art itself that sticks in our head. If we could extract personal expressions in art, then your point would be well stated. I’m just not sure we can. I have buried in my basement an accumulation of art that has not been seen by many–you might even call it hidden. Why, because it was not what I was trying to achieve. Failures? No, probably not, those mostly got painted over; this would be “it’s okay, but just not right”. So, if the result is what matters, soulless, stolen, zeros and ones generated art still must be judged by the result. Therein lies the problem, the results are awesome.
That’s one of the reasons I think AI writing is not as powerful as art. The writer is easier to “feel” in writing, I think, than in art (1). Of course, that is still debatable. I have played with AI writing, book descriptions and others, and it feels different. While competent, there is something missing. Now, you can say the same about art–but I don’t get that feeling with art itself. It looks great, conveys with subtlety the qualities listed in the instructions. I’m still going to say the art generated by AI will stunt any on-going development of human artists. Why do something that is mostly inferior to what can be done with AI. While it’s sad, it doesn’t change the fact; AI results are better.
I haven’t heard back from Stan, but my gut says he is going to say bullshit (although he doesn’t use that language as much as I do). If you’re a creative person AI is a threat. If not your soul, then maybe your pocketbook. But AI is going to replace many people, people who love what they do, but cannot work for nothing or 24 hours a day.
Even with that pain, I will still say on almost any objective level AI is brilliant. Maybe an asshole but many creative people (things?) have been assholes, so what’s so different.
I believe that we all will incorporate AI tools into much of our daily lives. How do we not use that easy access tool that produces such amazing and easy results. Many of us already have and it will grow because it works.
Are there risks, even existential risks? Yes.
(1) When I wrote the “feeling” sentence I was thinking about creative writing, such as novels. It’s possible that technical or business writing will be better not worse when done by AI since there was not much “feel” involved in the human version.
Human Thinking or AI Regurgitating?
I’m still debating AI when it comes to writing but must admit I’m sold on the art part. AI is a whiz. The art stuff this brainy machine can create is just amazing. Artists, I’m afraid your time is up; writers, well why don’t ya hang around for just a bit.
Asked ChatGPT to write descriptions on three of my books. They all were very promotional, hyped marketing pieces of verbiage. Now, I do not know how AI knows those books, but they contained some material that directly tied to the book (with notable inaccuracies like the name of the main character) but mostly contained generalized language based on the genre. If I were giving a grade, all three would have been B+. I tend to grade my self-written book description as C-. So, AI would be hired by me before I would hire me to write book descriptions.
Okay, the descriptions were good, above average but not perfect. I tweaked the descriptions and will probably use them—they are better than the ones I wrote, the main reason I would say writers are still somewhat safe is that they were very similar. There was a sameness to the descriptions and the errors were obvious ones. The main character or the location of the story would not be mistakes a writer would make. For now, I still give human writers a slight edge.
AI Book Description for Dog Gone Lies by Ted Clifton
Get ready for a wild ride through sun-drenched vistas of New Mexico in “Dog Gone Lies” by Ted Clifton, a gripping mystery novel that will keep you guessing until the very end.
When ex-Sheriff, turned private investigator, Ray Pacheco is compelled to track down the owner of a lost dog, he thinks it’ll be a routine matter. But as he delves deeper into the seemingly simple assignment, he uncovers a tangled web of deception, betrayal, and murder lurking beneath the surface of this picturesque Southwestern state.
With the help of his trusty companion, Tyee Chino, Ray follows a trail of clues that leads him to a cast of colorful characters, each with their own secrets to hide. From odd-ball eccentrics to ruthless drug dealers, everyone has something to lose – and Ray soon finds himself caught in the crossfire of a deadly game where the stakes couldn’t be higher.
As tensions rise and the body count mounts, Ray must use all his wits and instincts to untangle the truth before it’s too late. But with danger lurking around every corner, he’ll need to stay one step ahead of his adversaries if he hopes to crack the case and bring a killer to justice.
Fast-paced, action-packed, and full of twists and turns, “Dog Gone Lies” is a must-read for fans of gritty crime fiction and pulse-pounding thrillers. With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this novel will keep you glued to the page until the very last word. So, strap in, hold on tight, and get ready for a rollercoaster ride through the gritty landscape of New Mexico with Ted Clifton’s electrifying new novel.
The above description has a few changes I made but it was 95% AI generated. It took AI about 20 seconds. My few minor corrections took about 20 minutes.
I asked AI to write a blog about AI written book descriptions. Below is the blog.
Title: Unleashing the Power of AI: Writing Compelling Book Descriptions
In the ever-evolving landscape of publishing, authors and publishers alike are constantly seeking innovative ways to capture readers’ attention and stand out in a crowded market. One such innovation that has been gaining traction in recent years is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to write book descriptions. Let’s delve into how AI can be a game-changer in crafting compelling book blurbs that entice readers and boost sales.
1. Harnessing Data-Driven Insights:
AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data, including bestselling book descriptions, reader preferences, and market trends. By leveraging these insights, AI can identify patterns and characteristics that resonate with audiences, helping authors tailor their book descriptions to maximize engagement and appeal.
2. Generating Attention-Grabbing Content:
AI-powered natural language generation (NLG) models, such as GPT-based models, excel at generating coherent and persuasive text. Authors can input key details about their book, such as genre, plot summary, and target audience, and AI can produce a polished and professional book description that highlights the book’s unique selling points and hooks readers from the outset.
3. Optimizing SEO and Discoverability:
With the proliferation of online bookstores and digital platforms, discoverability is paramount for authors seeking to reach their target audience. AI can help optimize book descriptions for search engines by incorporating relevant keywords and phrases that improve visibility and organic traffic. By enhancing SEO, authors can increase their book’s discoverability and attract more potential readers.
4. Personalizing Recommendations:
AI-driven recommendation engines can analyze reader preferences and behavior to generate personalized book recommendations. By incorporating AI-generated book descriptions into recommendation algorithms, authors can increase the likelihood of their books being recommended to readers who are most likely to enjoy them, thereby driving sales and fostering reader loyalty.
5. Iterative Improvement and A/B Testing:
AI enables authors to conduct A/B testing of book descriptions by generating multiple versions and analyzing their performance metrics, such as click-through rates and conversion rates. By iteratively refining and optimizing book descriptions based on real-time data and feedback, authors can continuously improve their marketing strategies and maximize the effectiveness of their promotional efforts.
While AI offers immense potential for revolutionizing the way book descriptions are created and optimized, it’s important to note that human creativity and intuition remain indispensable. Authors should view AI as a powerful tool to augment their creative process rather than replace it entirely. By collaborating with AI, authors can unlock new possibilities for crafting compelling book descriptions that resonate with readers and propel their literary careers to new heights.
AI time: 10 seconds.
How did you like the highlighted sentence about humans being indispensable? Was that AI sucking up to potential customers? AI is several things, fast, verbose for sure, the brain of a marketing machine, has an ego it wishes you would not notice (its recommending itself because it’s a computer–{I can do this…better than you can}–I wonder is that anti-human?) and smart. Smart in ways (vast amounts of current data) that “normal” humans are not. That smart part is what is going to put humans on the back bench very soon. While on the bench, we will be able to read 59 cent novels that all feel oddly very similar.
Happiness or Misery
There are days when you wonder if what you’re doing is worth doing. First, of course, you would have to define worth. During a personal questioning period, I tracked the hours I spent writing and promoting a book and calculated my hourly rate. Let’s just say it is not a rate I would accept in any “normal” job. The minimum hourly wage when I graduated from high school was $1.25. My book writing wage was only a fraction of that poor rate, considering inflation it might as well be zero.
Okay, now we’re back to worth. How about the joy of being creative, isn’t that worth something? Uh, no, it isn’t. The value of bringing joy to your readers—sorry readers, that is worth only a little bit—it’s something, but not much. (Plus, it is discounted further due to a few nasty reviews from readers who received the book for the astronomical price of zero).
Why do you spend time doing something that brings such minimal reward? Because you thought this was the one—it’s going to sell thousands and thousands of copies. Yes, sell hundreds of thousands, not sold at 99 cents or given away to people who never read them; actually, sell at a level that would exceed the piss poor minimum wage of $1.25 per hour.
After writing 14 books it is apparent to me the only worth is my sense of accomplishment. Not in money, but in that wonderful feeling you experience when you finish the final version. You feel very, very good about what you have accomplished. That is worth a lot.
The question then becomes is that enough? I think it is. I’m still writing. While I’ve sold a few, the $1.25 minimum wage looks good– so money is not the motivation. It’s something that cannot be measured monetarily.
My first book, The Bootlegger’s Legacy, was a story of two friends who were at a no-value stage of their lives and wanted something else. What they wanted, they thought, was money. In different ways they both found money, but only one understood the value of what else they had discovered.
One discovered happiness, the other did not. Starting their journey as friends their different perspectives eventually drove them apart. The deep sadness I felt while writing the book was because of their lost friendship. Through much of our lives we define worth then make decisions based on that definition. Often, we miss the whole point of a short-term life; thinking owning something has real value, while we overlook what does.
A Greek philosopher Epicurus said, “happiness is the greatest aim of life”, of course he lived 2,500 years ago, what does he know? Maybe a lot.
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We are a divided country. Why do you think that is so? Politics has not divided us, it just reflects the divide, something else is causing us to drift apart. With couples that split, if no one understands, it is usually the classic “they drifted apart”. Meaning, I guess, they didn’t want to be together any longer and the reasons didn’t really matter.
When a country drifts apart there must be a reason. Something to explain what happened. My guess is that the reasons are not really very large. We are tired of being in a country that can longer seem to bond and enjoy the goods things we have. We are so focused on what is wrong, we forget what is right.
Not sure how to fix a relationship if it’s just grown tiresome.
I have suggested in some posts that the country needs to be run by younger people. Maybe some of our weariness is because it seems we keep doing the same thing over and over. Living in a rapidly changing world where the leadership looks a lot like it did fifty years ago suggests we have missed an opportunity to listen to a new voice with some new ideas. In the oddest of ways, we still seem to be struggling with issues that have the scent of the Civil War—from 150 years in the past.
Our country is depressed and needs a quiet week in the mountains to reflect on the good stuff and stop being so grumpy.
War and Prose
Recently I speculated that my father’s mother might have been a native American. That was not based on anything factual but only on my own memories and assumptions. I was wrong. After I wrote that, I decided to investigate—using the internet’s vast resources.
I can now trace her linage back to England, not a mention of any native American connections. Of course, that could also be wrong, but it is supported by documents and seems to be accurate within the limits of my short-term investigation.
What does that mean? Probably nothing. It does not change anything regarding my memories or impact any claim that has anything to do with reality. I was a teenager when my grandmother died. I only had a few memories of her, and this bit of data does not change those at all.
What it would change is my statement of a heritage that would explain my affinity towards Native American images. Well, that now can be explained simply; I like ‘em. Even if my heritage is English, Irish or something else—I like those bold, expressive images. (Although, those English family crests are not so bad!)
What was intriguing was all the last names going back just four generations: Hall, Pinkston, Hendrix, Combs, Morrow, Griffith, Glidewell, Howard, Kea, Young, Hamby, Cannaday and the next generation will add ten more.
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My good friend (and relative), Stanley Nelson, provided me with some gentle corrections to my last post. He points out, accurately, that the tribes in Oklahoma were caught in a no-win situation with the increasingly difficult decision to pick a side in the hostile debate about slavery.
“Concerning the Civil War: the best historical evidence makes clear that leaders of each of the Five Tribes were recruited into the Confederacy via the “Godfather” method: either your brains or your signature will be on the declaration of alliance that marauding Secessionists from Texas had set down before you. The tribes had little choice because the Union had completely abandoned them, emptying its forts of troops and supplies, even after consenting with tribal leaders to leave helpful items like ammunition.”
Like almost all matters, the simplest explanation often loses the nuances that help us understand what occurred. I’m thankful to Stan for his better explanation of the circumstances behind the Choctaw Nations agreement with the Confederacy. He also provided me with an article by Zachery Cowsert appearing in “The Chronicles of Oklahoma” which covers in much more detail (yes, it is a few pages) this time leading up to the decision for the Choctaw Nation to sign their agreement with the Confederacy– which is attached to this post.
Why do we care about this obscured history? Could be most don’t, but I find it intriguing. Of course, this is research for my latest book, so it would be more important to me. I do think one reason to care about history is to appreciate the complications that drive all historical facts. Too often we are presented with a simple black and white version of history that ignores the more subtle underlining reasons certain things occurred.
Our history is very much like our present time. We know the simple, this is right and that is wrong, approach will often ignore the in-between solution, which breeds conflict. History, if we examine it in detail, will guide us to a better solution in the present.
My fiction writing does not require any examination of history. In most of my books there was no research needed. For this historical account of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma in the 1920s, it is vitally important—because if I don’t get it right, I will likely receive some not so gentle corrections from Stan.
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It’s been almost 4 years since I published a book. Some of that time was, of course, not good for anyone; my issues were health and a lack of interest. The lack of interest was due to declining sales of my older books (it happens to most authors—no new books and you are soon forgotten) and the writing was taking increasingly greater effort.
Writing is work. I know that there are writers who can write a book a day (or so it seems), that is not my case. The fastest I completed a book was about 4 months but that was unusual, mine are normally much longer. The work part is when it is not going smoothly. If you hit a rough spot in the story and are having trouble writing through it—that’s when you will abandon the whole book. That’s what happened to me. Four times, four different books.
Now will I finish something? I don’t know. But I am writing again and that is what fixes the issue. This blog represents that need to write to be able to write. So sorry, but this is practice writing, I hope it isn’t a burden.
Facts and Fiction
I write fiction. Often those stories require research to develop background related to the times, or location or some event. The research today is easy, although still time consuming. I do remember the day when research involved untold hours in public libraries tracking down that vital piece of information that made the story come alive. I confess, I loved the library time. Being in a library was comforting. I felt surrounded by humanity at its best.
While I miss the environment of the library, I sure don’t miss the limitations. The amount of information available at my fingertips sitting in my cluttered, but comfortable, office is just amazing.
I’ve had four projects going at once for years. This struggle to complete one of them is on-going. My current efforts are focused on completing the first book of a cozy mystery series Mr. and Mrs. Sims. This is about a newlywed couple who moved to southeastern Oklahoma, which at one time was the Choctaw Nation, in the 1920s as representatives of Oklahoma A&M college. The husband has a unique background, not only in agriculture, but in criminology—an entirely new field of study regarding the psychology of criminals as well as the science of solving crimes.
In 2022, I had these same four books as work-in-progress, and for reasons I can’t remember, decided I wanted to make them into audio dramas. I have no background for this but what the hell, probably nobody would listen to them anyway.
The two series that ended up with something in this area were the Mr. and Mrs. Sims Mystery and Vegas Dead End, which is an extension of my Pacheco and Chino Mystery Book series. You can sample Vegas Dead End here.
Note: I have not finished Vegas Dead End (book or audio drama)—so the name is very appropriate.
As part of my research for Mr. and Mrs. Sims, I’ve examined many sources and documents related to the Choctaw Nation. One that was particularly interesting to me was the Constitution of the Choctaw Nation written in January 1860. It was interesting because of our bias towards Native Americans. This constitution follows the model of the United States constitution but is done in a straightforward, no-nonsense style. I do not know the parties who wrote it, or the circumstances that caused it to be written (need more research), but I was struck by how succinctly the document stated the matters at hand.
At this point in time (1860) it is clear this document’s intent was something entirely different than what occurred for the Choctaw Nation as a separate, distinct, legal, and independent nation. The real intent may have been hidden at the time, or something changed.
Obviously, the big change was the civil war. The Choctaw Nation had signed an agreement with the Confederate States of American that in essence made them allies. When the war ended with the Confederacy defeated, so was the Choctaw Nation. The US government, apparently, then considered all previous agreements null and void.
The tone and words of the Choctaw Nation constitution in 1860 said one thing, but in only a few years, there was a different reality.
That different reality is part of my story about this same area, now the state of Oklahoma, in the 1920s. As a crime, supposedly committed by a Choctaw man, brings my character Ed Sims to Durant, Oklahoma, to talk to the Chief of the now subdued Choctaw Nation.
As I said, I write fiction. If any of my research discloses a reality that interferes with my story, I just ignore it—fiction writers can just make stuff up—it’s allowed. Sometimes the real story is more interesting than the made up one, but the real story takes a lot more work; so, I will stick with fiction.
In case you’re curious, I’ve attached the 1860 Choctaw Nation Constitution.
Fish Out of Water
One of my real talents is beginning things. The initial idea on any subject immediately attracts my attention. ‘In the works’ projects are pushed aside as the new idea lights up– beaming and alluring. Combining this questionable beginning skill with my diverse range of interests has created an interesting hodge-podge of results.
This tendency is very evident in my business career. I won’t list the jobs I’ve had, but it’s quite a few and diverse. The real informative mix is in business ventures. I owned ice cream stores, a concession operation, and shoe stores before I was thirty. They were formed, fed, and managed with an on-going eye towards innovation—many of those ideas did not work out so well. I had some success, nothing huge, but I learned a lot. Now what I describe as innovation someone else might say was a lack of focus and jumping from one thing to another. I won’t argue that, but to me it seemed to be inspired innovation. From there I have owned a printing business, real estate development company, BBQ concession stand, CPA practice, consulting practice, and an M&A advisory business. A couple of those were disasters, some were okay. That leaves out the ideas that never became a reality and buries in the mud a few that did.
A large portion of my diverse focus was on creative activities. Painting, acrylic and watercolor, wood sculpting, digital art and, of course, writing.
I think you can see that talent I mentioned in beginning things; what I may lack is an ability to finish. Admitting a need for diversity is more an excuse for jumping around than a real explanation. I’ve completed 14 books, but it was an effort—not to start, but to finish. Currently, I have 4 books in progress. They are at various stages of completion. That is the same status they have been over the last few years. Almost every day I have a new good idea for a book, that’s the easy part. What is hard, at least for me, is finishing those “old” good ideas.
Because it is my weakness, I admire people who can focus on one thing and finish it without jumping around testing new ideas. Maybe it’s a cluttered mind, or a lack of concentration; but I’m the happiest with several things going on at once.
One of those ‘in the works’ projects was a book with the working title of “Mr. and Mrs. Sims”. The story takes place in rural Oklahoma (Indian Territory) in the 1920s. Hugo, Oklahoma to be exact. I had been doing some research for a different story (I see a pattern) which had a connection to Oklahoma when I discovered the Newspapers.com website. This is a site with digital files of old newspapers for most areas of the country. I found a huge number of newspapers from rural areas including Oklahoma with amazing articles. Crime and agriculture were prominent in almost every edition. This distraction led me to the Sims idea.
Mr. Sims is one of the first people to have graduated with a degree in the new fields of study; criminology and sociology. At that point in time there was no demand for that knowledge in law enforcement, so he had also gotten a degree in agriculture at Oklahoma State University. He and his wife have been sent to Hugo to establish an agriculture extension service supported by the school. Of course, as you would guess, he becomes involved in solving crimes.
This crime solving employs all the new ideas, such as autopsies, dental analysis and bite patterns, eyewitness testimony, fingerprinting, foot molds, footwear identification, handwriting analysis, weapons identification and analysis, and the gathering of evidence at a crime scene.
It’s a fish out of water story with Mr. Sims butting heads with Sheriffs and most everyone who thinks he should stick to seeds and not crime solving.
I thought the story was a great idea but have had trouble finishing. I’m currently writing on this book again–I think I see the finish. Each of my unfinished books has a problem that I’ve had trouble solving. Under those circumstances my first option is usually to start a new venture. Oh, wait; I’ve got a great idea!
However, with the Sims story I believe I solved the problem. It was always about writing. If you stop, you have trouble starting again–the trick is; don’t stop.
Uncommon Sense
Common sense is defined as “sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts”, by Merriam- Webster. My mother’s definition was probably different. In its starkest meaning, it was doing what pleased her. This was not a judgement of right or wrong, common sense was about doing what any reasonable person would do. There are guidelines, religious and otherwise, on what is right and wrong, but common sense, not so much.
Common sense involves those decisions that “anyone with any sense” would already know. No, you don’t jump off the roof. Yes, you must make up your bed. Of course, you will take a bath!
Most modern societies have volumes of books that define the “laws” regarding behavior that are not acceptable. There is ample documentation from religious groups on what is good and bad. But mothers seem to be the controlling influence on the understanding of “common sense”. Why?
Because this mysterious common sense is something already known, and your mom knows you know. “What were you thinking, you know better than to (fill in the blank), have you lost your mind—where is your common sense”.
Common sense is based on logic and experience. You logically know that stepping in front of a train is not going to be a good thing, experience has taught us that lipping off to Dad is not a good thing—all common sense.
Today we have access to every possible source of information regarding what is right, what is wrong and what is totally subjective. Every answer you can think of is supported, preached, and ballyhooed somewhere. We have so much information and knowledge that it has no meaning. Should I jump off the roof? Well, yes, that could cause injury, but if it promotes your spiritual wellbeing maybe you should. No way you should jump off the roof, it is against the HOA rules.
If you want the answer to be yes, there is a source for that. Want a No answer, yes there is another source. Ugh! Where is mom?
The best examples of common sense come from people who refuse to answer any question, pick a side, or state an opinion—that is good common sense; the best example of no “common sense” would be politicians. All successful politicians must have had difficult mothers. I’m sorry about that but I think it’s the truth—my common sense tells me so.
So, we all have common sense, it’s just that for some of us it goes into dormant periods leaving us with only other people’s opinions. The first rule of common sense is to not listen to other people tell you what you should know, do, not do and so forth. You must, as anyone with common sense knows, decide those things for yourself with your, of course, common sense.
I write murder mysteries. The most famous fictional murder mystery detective was Sherlock Holmes—the absolute master of common sense. Logic leads you to conclusions that you must believe—it is common sense. Holmes’ approach to solving cases was to gather facts, evidence and to utilize keen observation. From those facts he had to trust his “sense” that the conclusion was obvious, even if others thought otherwise.
Holmes must have had an exceptionally good mother.
Happy Mother’s Day
Lost and Found
It’s been a while. Did I get lost? No, not really, just stopped writing. When I’m writing books everything about my day seems to stay in focus. The book writing tends to keep me engaged and alert in all aspects of my life. Without that focus I drift.
So, I’ve been drifting. What have I found. I started a new activity. It’s a website selling stuff. The stuff is shifting some but mostly it is bags, totes, duffels, some apparel, posters, and some yoga items. Why. Mostly because I like to design and play with designs in bold striking colors. That is my art. This is some of that, but different—it is using all the tools including AI to create images. The images are more important to me than the products—so the bag becomes art. Is it art? Is it my art?
I really don’t know the answer to that question. My first reaction to AI creating something was directly related to writing. I was playing with the tool and discovered it might be more effective at writing than I was. Or at least faster! The more I experimented, the more I became disillusioned about my writing. Do we already have all the knowledge we will ever need and therefore, all new things will just be rehashed from past creations. AI will learn and spit out the next best seller based on parameters entered by AI “talkers”. No need for authors. Fast, easy, and cheap.
I started using AI images to add to this blog. That was some time ago. It was amazing. Enter words and there in an instant an image. The fascination with the process started to interfere with my writing. I became enamored with the non-creation of non-original art that was not my art or anyone else’s and was based on past art that was used without permission to teach a computer to create something new. It was wrong, but the results were so right—and inevitably better than my art, better than my book, better than my blog, better than?
So, I tumbled from the haze into creating bags using my art, and AI generated images. Probably no logic in that, but it’s a fact; I’m enjoying what I’m doing.
Will I write again? This post is part of that answer. You need to write to be able to write.
The web site is www.myusagifts.com. The company is USA Gifts. The focus was originally on southwest states and southwest designs. My fascination with New Mexico continues. These are printed products based on digital designs. I’m now creating looks to represent the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Texas, and Oklahoma. Six states that link southwest designs, Native American images, and Hispanic cultures into a diverse and dynamic grouping of products and looks.
Some recent responses from book readers to new customers have been both encouraging and heartwarming.
It is an ever-changing world, some good, some bad; but still a world we want to be in and find ways to be creative.
Ted Clifton's Grain of Salt Commentary 