I had an unusual teaching experience this past week. Instead of the entire class on the screen, the format was a Zoom webinar. So I taught for two hours seeing only myself without images of the students or even hearing their voices. What I did was open the chat window and encourage the students to ask questions, comment, and respond when I aske …
It's nice to walk into a restaurant and have a rapport with the staff. La Parma on Roslyn Rd, is such a place. A solid southern Italian restaurant where Jerard, the owners son, works and Rollie is the operations guy. It's our go-to spot after the Sparks program, where the ambiance, the genuine connections, and the authentic southern Italian cu …
Is that it? I can't help but wonder if the sparse snowfall we've experienced is all we're getting this season. Climate patterns are shifting, and with them, our expectations of seasonal norms. Only time will tell. I may have to move to Buffalo.
We are in the midst of the lightning fast changes in Artificial intelligence. Right now I can type a simple sentence into only AI video apps such as invideo.ai and in a few minutes, it creates a 2 minute video. As an example I just created this video about Gotham starting at 7:15Am this morning. It took 10 minutes for the software to create and pr …
Valentine's Day is around the corner...start getting your cards, flowers, and chocolates orders in :-) I thought it was initially started by Hallmark or a flower company but actually there are several stories how this began. According to the most famous, Saint Valentine was executed for secretly marrying couples to spare husbands from war, defyin …
This hasn’t happened in 3 years…my nuclear family is getting together. To facilitate this, flights must be arranged and coordinated, hotel rooms booked, and activities planned. Lest I forget, COVID tests and an abundance of caution taken prior to the weekend. To have everyone in one room is worth the work. I’ll have to make sure my phone is ch …
Is it better to be an optimist or a realist in life? Is the glass half full or half empty? Being an optimist is like wearing rose-colored glasses finding joy in the bleakest situations, transforming obstacles into stepping stones. On the other side, realists walk with their feet firmly planted on the pragmatic ground, ensuring decisions are wel …
A new AI app I found in the new GPT store (everything seems new:) called Cartoonize Yourself will turn your photos into Pixar-style illustrations. Always enjoying trying new things, I uploaded the following picture; After about 20 seconds produced this... Looks just like me doesn't it? (Love the full head of hair :)
My Mom is 93 with dementia living in an assisted living center. My Sister and I visit together on Saturdays. About three months ago I started bringing her a Boston Cream donut. She ate it with such vigor I started bringing two. The first time I brought two she ate both but the second and third time, no-go. I figured she may have gottent tired of …
One of the unique benefits of using Zoom for meetings is that anybody can connect with you from anywhere. This past week I was on Zoom investigating a new piece of software. The sales person I was talking with was located in New Zealand. As she was describing her life and the country, I realized that this would make my bucket list (which is very sh …
As tradition dictates, I now enter the world of pontification, prognostication, conjecture, hunches, and outright guessing. Since 2007 my total record is 25 for 51 (I'm batting .490) If you'd like to see the year by year breakdown click here. So here are my predictions for 2024 (drum roll please, I'm going out on a limb with 6) • A signif …
Even in these times of turmoil - wars, polarization, and negative outbursts the "Christmas" spirit apparently still lives. And I'm happy it does. While in a coffee shop the other day, I started a conversation with a person who was awaiting their double cappa latte with a twist. We both shared pleasantries and a couple of laughs enjoying the good fe …
For better or worse, AI is now part of our daily life, transforming the way we live, work, and interact. It's not just a futuristic concept from Star Trek anymore; AI is here to stay. Smart assistants like Alexa and Google Home, powered by AI, are essentially revolutionizing home automation. They control our lights, play our favorite music, and e …
Making people laugh is a unique joy, a magical connection that feels so good. Whether on stage with a microphone or in everyday conversations, making people laugh is an art and a gift. Laughter is a universal language that dissolves barriers and can create bonds for a lifetime. A very funny comedian, Gabriel Iglesias, has named his tour "Unity …
Every year, I try to buy just the right amount of firewood for the winter. I go to my vendor's websites, see what's available, and at what price. This year prices are down. Maybe it's a result of more trees having been felled and/or less people are buying. I take this into account as well as anticipate the expected severity of the winter. The …
It's Saturday...and anything goes.
