Author: RTNM

ChatGPT This morning, I had an interesting interaction with an Artificial Intelligence “thing.”  I didn’t know if I should type entity or machine, so I settled on “thing.”  Turns out, it identifies as a Language Model that is not conscious.  How do I know that?  I asked.  Here is the conversation. RTNM: Please write python […]

Hillbilly Bona Fides, Exile from Eden, and Wittgenstein’s Rhino (or elephant if you prefer) Here we go again.  Yes, another essay on hillbillies and my unrepentant aggravation when they cross my path.  Try as I might, I cannot insulate myself from their nonsensical wrath, nor can I just forget and move on. I have often […]

An Interview with Warren Andrew Slay, Part 23 I know it is unlikely that any reader will notice that parts 9 through 22 of my interviews with Warren Andrew Slay are missing.  The interviews were conducted, but he wouldn’t let me publish them.  Why?  Excellent question.  I can tell you what he told me; he […]

Bingo Belly 1 X Perhaps I should break with my usual style and include a detailed outline in this essay. I have my reasons; they will become clear as you scroll down the page. One. In this instance, I prefer to write out the number one. It has something to do with the essay I […]

250,000 In 1999 I bought a Chevy S-10 pickup.  When I drove it off the showroom floor, I announced to anyone who cared to listen that I would drive that truck until the doors rusted off the frame.  We are nearly there.  I had my mechanic look at the driver’s side door last week.  The […]

The  Anonymous Hillbilly I recently came across an interview on the internet.  It was from the late 1980s.  An old professor of mine was talking about the anti-intellectual nature of The United States.  Even then, he described the suspicion with which the American people held various experts in fields like biology and anthropology.  If you […]

Are you OK (with deference to Gertrude Stein, no question mark is necessary) I am back at the library.  I’ll probably end up with a series of short “library posts” I can bundle up in their own volume.  Wouldn’t that be exciting and interesting?  I can feel the publishers getting ready to pounce. It didn’t […]

The Women of Classical Music Amazon Music recently started showing me a new category featured on their music app.  I am unsure if it is new to the app or just new to me.  Either way, I find it curious. The category is, you guessed it, Women of Classical Music.  It never occurred to me […]

An Interview with Warren Andrew Slay, Part 8 I was at the library the other day when I saw Warren sitting at a table.  I knew he might talk when he didn’t throw his bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper at me as I sat down across from him.  Our conservation wasn’t long, but he did […]

Another Tale from the Library Rain always means one thing, more people at the library.  I have never seen this many people here, even on election day.  The place is jumping. My regular table is taken, my briefcase replaced by a plastic bag of cheerios, most certainly not that brand, but you get the idea.  […]