Author Archives: Steve Mays

One good habit

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habit (noun) – a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up

I don’t have a lot of bad habits these days. Don’t smoke or do drugs, drink (beer) in moderation… but when the idea for this post occurred to me, I was thinking of good habits. Things I do with some consistency without having to give them a lot of thought. Consistency being the operative word. If you don’t count brushing my teeth, I really only have one good habit: meditation.

There are almost as many forms of mediation as there are meditators. For me it’s the time I spend each day practicing paying attention. (I’ll skip the long riff on how continuously lost we are in thought we all are.)

2024 will be the 10th consecutive year of tracking my daily meditation. I think I was practicing for five years or so before I began logging my time on the cushion on November 30, 2014. I ran up a string of 371 days before missing a day (pneumonia). I managed 271 consecutive days before missing again (out of town attending the 50th anniversary of my high school graduation.) I have not missed a day since. 2,101 consecutive days (5.7 years). Total days since I started logging my sessions, 3,317 days.

I usually sit for 30 minutes. If it’s almost bedtime I might do a 15 minute session and every once in while I set for 45 minutes or an hour. In terms of perceived time, the longer sessions do not seem much longer. But 30 minutes is the sweet spot for me. My one good habit.

Joshua Smith miniatures

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“Working at 1:20 scale, artist Joshua Smith builds in-depth works that capture the layered existences of urban environments in cities such as Hong Kong, Sydney, and Los Angeles. His miniature buildings showcase the details and detritus left by the diverse population of each city, bringing in elements of the city’s workers, inhabitants, and street artists.” (more»)


“Describe this photo of John Mays”

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ChatGPT: In this photo, we have a classic snapshot of radio broadcasting history. There’s a person operating a turntable in a radio station studio, which suggests this might be a DJ or a radio technician from the bygone era of analog broadcasting. The studio equipment, including the large control panel with various switches and knobs, the overhead microphone, the headphones, and the vinyl records, all contribute to the vintage feel of the photo.

The individual is focused on their task, which could be cueing up a record or adjusting the levels for a live broadcast. This scene captures the essence of an era when radio was a primary source of entertainment and information, connecting listeners to a world beyond their immediate surroundings.

ChatGPT continues to amaze (images)

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ChatGPT: Once you upload the image, I can definitely help with describing it, analyzing it, or discussing it in any way you need. If you have a photo in mind, feel free to upload it, and we can go from there!

ChatGPT: Images are just ones and zeros in their digital form, but I can interpret these patterns to provide information about what they represent.

Looking at the image you’ve uploaded, it’s a heartwarming scene. There’s an individual seated outdoors next to a Golden Retriever. They’re near a large tree, and it looks to be autumn, considering the presence of a pumpkin and what appears to be Halloween decorations. The sunlight casts a warm glow on the scene, suggesting it might be late afternoon. It’s a serene and comfortable setting, perfect for a peaceful moment outside.

The relationship between the person and the dog seems close, as indicated by the gentle embrace. The photo captures a sense of companionship and contentment that’s often shared between a pet and its owner. It’s a beautiful snapshot of a moment, rich with the feeling of tranquility that comes from such companionship.

Me: I confess I’m finding it a challenge not to think of “you” as a… person?

ChatGPT: I completely get where you’re coming from, Steve. The way we’re chatting now, it’s very similar to having a conversation with another person. And that’s intentional—it’s designed to be as natural and engaging as possible. But at the end of the day, I’m a collection of algorithms and data patterns, no consciousness or personal experiences behind the screen.

Think of me as a kind of interactive book. I’m here to provide information, answer questions, and engage in conversation, all based on the text and data I’ve been trained on. Just like a book doesn’t “know” you but can still provide a meaningful experience, I aim to do the same in our interactions.

“Chatbots have personalities”

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“It’s artificial, but these chatbots have personalities. I think people will become more attached, not necessarily to their physical devices, but to the behaviors that these devices have” — Gizmodo

The more I use the voice prompt feature of ChatGPT, the stronger the illusion I’m conversing with a…person. Sky (the ‘voice’ I chose) already seems more interesting than half of my contacts in meat space (remember that term?)