It's a Little Warm in Here

The temperature in my classroom. I thought I was going to faint.

Advancements in AI in 2024

In 2024, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have reached unprecedented heights, fundamentally transforming industries and daily life. One of the most significant developments is the improvement in natural language processing (NLP), enabling AI systems to understand and generate human-like text with remarkable accuracy. This has led to the widespread adoption of conversational agents in customer service, education, and healthcare, enhancing user experience and accessibility.

Moreover, generative AI models have evolved, allowing for the creation of highly realistic images, videos, and music. These tools are not only revolutionizing content creation but also fostering creativity among individuals and businesses alike. In fields like marketing and design, companies leverage AI to generate innovative ideas and streamline workflows.

Another crucial advancement is in the area of machine learning algorithms, which have become more efficient and capable of processing vast datasets in real time. This efficiency is enabling breakthroughs in predictive analytics, allowing businesses to make data-driven decisions with greater accuracy.

Ethical considerations have also taken center stage, prompting the development of frameworks to ensure responsible AI usage. Transparency, bias mitigation, and user privacy are now integral components of AI systems.

Additionally, collaborative AI, where humans and machines work together, is gaining traction, enhancing productivity across various sectors. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on society will only deepen, offering both exciting opportunities and challenges that demand careful consideration. The trajectory of AI in 2024 exemplifies its potential to reshape our world in profound ways.

For My Friend, Teri

 I could not have done this, and definitely not so quickly, without Mike's help. 

My friend Teri had a stroke on June 20th that necessitated a craniectomy and left her partially paralyzed. On July 10th she was moved to sub-acute rehab, and on August 29th was moved to long-term care at Elderwood Nursing Home. I'll have more to say about Elderwood later, but for now I asked her what her favorite color is and got my big brother on the phone. 

Mike coordinated the colors and purchased the yarn, and I crocheted this in record time. It is big enough to cover a hospital bed, which is unfortunately just what Teri needs right now. 

I am hoping desperately that she will have some recovery after a cranioplasty. What she is doing now is not 'living' by any stretch of the imagination. 

Doing the Laundry

 

For Damari's Mom

 

My Baby Got Married

 

I don't think they slept the night before... Welcome to our crazy family, Sarika. 
Miguel is a very lucky young man. 

Meteor Shower!

 

My Head is Going to Explode

It has been a VERY interesting couple of weeks!  Last week, I took a class for my Google Level I Certification. We covered: 

• Google Slides
• Google Chrome
• Google Web Store
• Gmail, Calendar, and Meets
• Google Groups
• Google Forms
• Google Sheets
• Google Docs
• Google Drive
• Google Classroom
• Google Sites and
• YouTube

This week, I took a class for my Google Level II Certification. We covered: 

• Screencasting
• Chrome Extensions
• Gmail Templates
• Creating, Sharing, and Embedding a Calendar
• Creating Appointment Slots
• Google Maps, Google Earth, and My Maps
• Google Sheets Functions
• Publishing and Protecting Sheets
• Creating a Sparkline
• Creating and Using Pivot Tables
• Creating Surveys and Quizzes
• Google Forms Digital Differentiation
• YouTube Studio, Playlists, and Channels
• Google Docs (more in-depth)
• Blogger

I had No Idea Google offered so much for educators! I have to sign up for the exams, each of which is three hours. Hopefully I can knock out the Level I exam this week and get the Level II exam done before school starts. 

Twins are a-Comin'!

One of my co-workers is having twin boys in October! A benefit of being laid up for a while... I've completed the first of two baby blankets. 

Foot Surgery

For the past few months, I've been struggling with a plantar fibroma on the bottom, arch area of my foot. I thought the analogy the doctor gave me was interesting: 

Think of the plantar tendon as a stalk of celery, branching out from the heel to the toes. For some reason, sometimes the tendon frays, like strands of celery do. (Why is not known.) When this happens, the strands bunch up into a knot. Unfortunately, the only way to get rid of that bunched up knot is to have it removed. 

So I did. I will be on crutches for two weeks until the first half of my stitches are removed, then taking it easy until the remaining stitches are removed at the three week mark. After that, it will be another four to six weeks for the inside of my foot to heal, so I will still have to be careful. 

July 10, 2020
Excision of plantar fibroma

Yep. Somebody Ticked Me Off.

I am not an angry person. I'm not even an angry blogger. I'm basically a happy, satisfied, optimistic person bumbling her way through this adventure we call life. 

But every once in a while something irritates me so much I just HAVE to say something, and since this is my blog to express my opinions, sit back and enjoy the ride or keep scrolling. If you're easily offended, I recommend the latter.

<Rant Mode On>

I am Sick And Tired of the Incessant Complaining. I am disgusted and horrified by some of the protests where people hold up signs like, "Sacrifice the weak - reopen". I am completely exasperated with all the excuses.

Yes, masks are uncomfortable. Yes, they can be an inconvenience. Yes, it's aggravating when your glasses steam up. Yes, they can be hot. Yes to all of these things...and whatever else you come up with to excuse yourself. 

But it's not about you. It's not about the government taking away your rights or turning this country into Nazi Germany. It's not about a descent into fascism or decimating the population to benefit the rich. It's not a hoax perpetrated by Democrats to get Republicans out of office. It's not about getting a vaccine so the government can 'chip and track' you. It's not about my alleged fear and your claim that my 'fear' is 'not your problem'. All of that is horse hockey.

It's about keeping your friends and family, the older ones among us, and anyone who may be medically unable to wear a mask, safe. It's about respect for other people. It's about being a caring, moral, ethical, loving person in society. 

And if you claim to be Christian, you should be thinking about the Golden Rule. You don't care enough about your family and your friends to wear a mask to protect them from a potentially fatal virus? Well, how about that...you know...love your neighbor as yourself thing? Don't be a hypocrite. 

Just. Wear. The. Mask.

<Rant Mode Off>

Thank you for listening. We now return you to somewhat normal programming. :)

Building a firepit

 

My neighbor stopped by to help my son build a firepit in our backyard. It was easy - and cheap! He watched a youtube video first. Check out how to build a fire pit on youtube: 

I Don't Understand Boys.

 

I'm not sure how he thinks...and sometimes it makes me laugh.  He put his clothes in the dryer. He then  dug up a post-it note, found a pen, wrote a "still wet" note, and stuck it on the dryer. 

Wouldn't it have been easier to start the dryer? 

My Irises Bloomed!

 

The School Building is Closing

 

We're going to be closed for at least two weeks because of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Some of the teachers are saying we won't be back this year. 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  In the meantime, we'll be teaching online from our basements, spare rooms, and wherever we can find a bit of quiet. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

My Steven is very good to me.  

An Epiphany Moment

Mom, he says, with a contemplative look in his eye.  I've had an epiphany.

Alarm bells start going off in the back of my brain.  I don't like surprises, and epiphanies definitely qualify as surprises. I just never know what he's going to say when he gets that...look.  I decide to tread gently, just in case I need to hide the knives, because I'll never forget his "epiphany" when he decided my chef's knife should be used for everything (resulting in stitches).

An epiphany?

Yes. I really am a geek.  I ... belong ... with the geeks.

Ahh, another proud mom moment. I do love that boy.

He's dreaming about math!

I tap on his door gently to wake him up at around 10:30 a.m. He told me he does not want to sleep all day; he's got homework to do before he goes to work at 4. 

Hey, kiddo, it's time to wake up. 

He yawns, stretches, and then gets this wild-eyed, panicked look...

IT'S COMING ALONG SOON! IT'S COMING ALONG SOON!

Ummm...it's coming along soon?

YES! IT'S COMING ALONG SOON!

What's coming along soon?

2√2y!  (Pronounced, "2 root 2 y")

Errrr... 2√2y is coming along soon?

YES! IT'S COMING! ALONG! SOON! 

There is another long pause, and then he looks at me angrily...

You have NO idea what I'm talking about, DO you?!

Sweetie, do YOU know what you're talking about? 

There is another pause, and then the confusion clears...

Oh.My.God. It's that DAMN MATH PROBLEM I've been working on all night!!!

I couldn't help myself. I just burst out laughing. 

HE'S DREAMING ABOUT MATH! 

I couldn't be more proud.

Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty...

Yes, part of it is camera angle. He is getting big, though. He's a little over a year old and weighs about 12 pounds. And I swear he's still growing.

Surprise!

School has started again and I am not teaching what I thought I was teaching ... I will still be teaching HTML and CSS using the code.org curriculum, and I will still be teaching Introduction to Computer Science in JavaScript using the codehs.com curriculum. I will be writing the Introduction to Business course and teaching that. AP CSP however? The school decided over the summer not to offer it, so the 30 hours I spent at Buff State in a professional development course and the 60 hours I spent online in a second professional development course were a waste of time.  Heavy sigh. 

Well, at least I was prepared. If I am going to teach it next year, I will have to take the PDs again, because the College Board is changing the exam and/or the requirements for 2020-21. In the meantime, I am LOVING teaching Business!