Teri's Sibs

Barbara, 1949

Teri, 1951

Ken, 1952

Marian, 1955

Steven, 1956

Patrick, 1957

Dorene, 1959

Shirley, 1961

Anita, 1963

John, 1964

Roberta, 1966

Jennifer, 1970

The Silent Corner - Dean Koontz

When I visit Teri in the nursing home, I often read to her. Her vision troubles have made it difficult for her to enjoy books on her own, and she deeply misses the joy of reading. She says my reading feels like listening to an audiobook, which she finds comforting and engaging. Sharing these stories together has become a special way to connect with something she loves. Recently, we finished Dean Koontz's The Silent Corner.

Dean Koontz’s The Silent Corner is a gripping thriller that introduces Jane Hawk, an FBI agent investigating her husband's suspicious suicide. As Jane uncovers a chilling pattern of other "voluntary" deaths, she stumbles upon a sinister organization using advanced mind-control technology. This discovery propels her into a high-stakes battle against extraordinary evil.

Jane Hawk is a compelling protagonist, blending intelligence, determination, and vulnerability. Her courage and resourcefulness make her relatable and admirable as she faces betrayals and deadly encounters. Koontz’s prose is dynamic and descriptive, creating vivid scenes and maintaining relentless pacing with short, punchy chapters that keep the tension high.

While the mind-control technology’s intricacies and philosophical implications might slow the pace for some readers, the story’s action and suspense outweigh these moments. The villains, though exaggerated, serve their purpose in creating a clear divide between good and evil.

As the first in a series, The Silent Corner effectively sets the stage for Jane Hawk’s ongoing battle while delivering a satisfying conclusion. Fans of fast-paced thrillers with strong female leads will find this book an engaging and exhilarating read, showcasing Koontz’s storytelling prowess.

 

And We Settled Down for a Long Winter's Nap...

 

My Mother's Wedding Dress

I ran across these when scrolling through my photos. This is my mother's wedding dress, worn on February 9, 1957, yellowed with age. 

 

Verity by Colleen Hoover

 

Verity by Colleen Hoover is a gripping psychological thriller with a twist of romance. The novel follows  a struggling writer who’s given the chance to finish a series of books by the famous but ailing author named Verity Crawford. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, Verity will not disappoint. The twists, dark atmosphere, and complex characters make it an unforgettable read. Just be prepared for some serious moral dilemmas—and don’t expect a comfortable conclusion.

A Haiku

Music plays softly
Crocheted threads weave through stillness
In peace I find strength

An Overview of Leading AI Systems

In the world of AI, there are a lot of tools out there. The leading AI systems are ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Gemini. Each of these comes from a different company and serves a unique purpose, but all of them are designed to make our lives easier in different ways.

ChatGPT, created by OpenAI, is a general-purpose AI that can do pretty much anything—answer questions, write essays, generate code, you name it. It’s like a jack-of-all-trades. Whether you're looking for a quick answer or need help brainstorming ideas, ChatGPT is there to lend a hand. Its ability to generate human-like text makes it useful for everything from customer support to content creation.

Then we have Claude, developed by Anthropic. Claude’s main selling point is safety and ethics. The team behind Claude has designed it to be more careful with the responses it gives, reducing harmful or biased output. It’s built with the idea that AI should align with human values, which makes it a great choice for high-stakes or sensitive environments where you want to be extra sure the AI stays on track.

Next up is Copilot, a collaboration between GitHub and OpenAI. If you're a developer, Copilot is a game-changer. Powered by OpenAI’s Codex model, it helps generate code, suggest improvements, and even debug. It’s like having a personal coding assistant that can autocomplete lines of code, saving developers tons of time. It works in a variety of languages, making it a go-to for anyone writing code.

Lastly, Gemini is Google’s latest offering from DeepMind. It’s designed to handle both text and images, making it a more advanced, multimodal AI. If you're looking for something that can analyze text, generate images, or do both at the same time, Gemini is the tool to turn to. Google is clearly aiming to push the envelope with this one, integrating it across their suite of tools for an all-in-one AI experience.

In short, while ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Gemini all offer powerful AI capabilities, each one brings something different to the table. Whether you're chatting, coding, or looking for something more advanced, there's an AI for you.

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?