I’m a simple girl, but still partially feral…

Have a great weekend!
I’m a simple girl, but still partially feral…

Have a great weekend!
Instead of a word of the day, I thought I’d share what’s been on my mind and bothering me for a while…
I admit to not knowing much at all about machine learning. As someone with a Minor in Creative Writing, it seems like a travesty to rely on an inanimate computer program to interpret what my brain and my heart might think.
I chatted (talked human to human) with someone who used to work for a large company and they wanted her to use AI to create documents, mainly because it would save them money. When she pushed back and said that she didn’t feel comfortable with that decision and that she was an expert in this particular field, she was terminated. True story. She got a lucrative settlement, but still…the ramifications are kind of scary, don’t you agree?
Funnily enough, I used AI to query “what is Chat GPT?” Here’s what this inanimate, nonhuman responded:
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI that generates human-like text, code, and images in response to user prompts. Released on November 30, 2022, it uses large language models based on the generative pre-trained transformer architecture and runs on a freemium model.
What Does GPT Mean?
Key Capabilities
I know that Professor Angel Boy really really despises AI, and in general, teachers generally view AI-generated content with deep concern, fearing it hurts critical thinking and academic honesty, though opinions range from total bans to cautious integration. Most faculty focus heavily on detection, assignment redesign, and clear syllabus policies. I think that it’s a clear form of cheating to use AI and not spend hours reading books, researching, and using their own brains to THINK.
Don’t get me started on ChatBot…a computer program that simulates human conversation through text or voice. It helps users find information, answer questions, or complete tasks automatically.
Love him or hate him, but Bill Gates is also concerned about artificial intelligence because it is advancing at an unprecedented rate and threatens massive job displacement, security risks, and social upheaval without proper preparation or government plans.
Even Melinda Gates, whom I do respect, says she’s nervous about AI and warns that a lack of women and diverse voices in tech risks “baking bias” into AI systems.
At the end of the day, all of this non-human interaction makes me sad and I fear for the next generations. We need to think for ourselves, not rely on anyone or anything else.
Rant over.
I MacGyvered something and I’m really proud of myself.
One of my fiddle-leaf figs was out of control; it had grown almost to the ceiling and was leaning over. I thought I’d have to chop it off which I really hate to do, so I went to Lowes and looked for an eight foot stake.
I didn’t really like the looks of what they had to offer, but as I drove home, I had a brilliant idea. Since I’m a hoarder, I remembered that I had saved a few old curtain rods. Instead of tossing them out, I figured ONE DAY I’d find a use for them, and I did!
This one was the perfect size, narrow and black. It even telescoped out to just the right length; works perfectly, and although I might still have to eventually trim the tallest branch cos it’s looking a little leggy and not as full as my other ones, at least for now, I’ve saved this beautiful fiddle-leaf!

PS MacGyvered means to fix, build, or assemble something in an improvised or resourceful way using whatever random objects are at hand, based on the lead character of the 80s TV show, MacGyver.
Tip of the day: Don’t toss anything out because you never know when you’ll need it.
I don’t think I have many readers from my specific town, but if I do, and if you’re in District One, pleasepleaseplease vote for Nate Larson!
He went to high school with the Original Angel Boy, and he’s the first real breath of fresh air we’ve seen in a long time.
He’s way better than the christian therapist who was ordered by a judge NOT to refer to herself as “Dr.” because her PhD didn’t come from an accredited university, and she was being disingenuous and duplicitous by referring to herself as “doctor” (that’s my opinion). For reference, check out https://thecoastnews.com/court-rules-against-burkholder-after-challenge/
Her PhD is from a non accredited Christian university which only allows her to use her PhD within the auspices of her church and not as she has been doing-using it to confuse the public. Additionally, The Fair Political Practices Commission issued a warning to her for not disclosing all of her sources of income. Her husband is part of the building industry. https://enewspaper.sandiegouniontribune.com/…/article…
As far as I can tell, this woman has done NOTHING to improve life for any of us in our district. The few times I’ve actually called her for help, I got none. Zip. Nada.
[As an aside, the Original Angel Boy, who IS the recipient of a YALE PhD, absolutely NEVER refers to himself like that and I’m the only one who does, mainly because I’m an obnoxiously proud mom and he’s humble, unassuming, and UNpretentious.]
Nate would be the best choice for our entire community. Even though it’s probably too late to save our little beachy town from looking like a sadder, poorer version of Orange County with rampant overdevelopment and hideous designs, somebody like Nate might actually be the voice we need to keep things from further deterioration and degradation.
Seriously, is there anyone that didn’t work with Leon Russell? (That’s obviously a rhetorical question.)
“Dream Baby” was recorded for Cher in October 1964 with Gene Page as the arranger and Sonny as producer.
It was done in typical Phil Spector “Wall of Sound” fashion at Gold Star Studios where Spector made all those great songs with the Ronettes and Crystals.
Sonny had the best available musicians brought in, that included Larry Knechtel, Tommy Tedesco, Jimm Bond, Steve Douglas and Leon Russell.
The song was released in late 1964 on Imperial Records with Cher using her name Cherilyn, then again in 1966 after Cher’s hit, “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).”
Here’s a fun video of the Wrecking Crew and Cher talking about Leon. According to Cher, Leon never said “boo” to anybody during recording sessions, except this one time…
I absolutely LOVE this!
Since I now refer to the grandkids as “The Ferals”, I need to join the club, too. It’s cool to be feral!

We were fooled again. Tropical Storm Rachel brought much needed rain, a bit less than two inches, but it wasn’t nearly the catastrophe that was predicted, which is great, but I feel slightly let down.
Curated from The Plantriarchy: “For humans growing wild — Feral Aesthetic,”
Southern California is once again in the path of a potentially serious weather event — Tropical Storm Rachel– or Ms Rachel as I refer to this elemental powerhouse.
Forecasts continue to fluctuate regarding the intensity of this storm: one minute we’re going to have a direct hit as it picks up strength and in the next minute, we’ll barely receive any rain at all. Currently, she’s approximately 546 miles from me.
North of me, ahead of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Rachel, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach are already experiencing flooding. In my town, the coastal flooding has completely taken away a beach parking lot.
I’m not worried about flooding where I live, but as always, I will be prepared just in case Mother Nature decides to surprise us with her fury. I remember a couple years ago when Hurricane Hilary was supposed to come close and it was hardly more impactful than a medium sized storm.
Do you know the other Rachel, better known as Ms. Rachel?
She’s an American children’s educator, YouTuber, and activist.
She created the YouTube series Ms. Rachel, which combines original songs and classic children’s music with a focus on early language development for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Ms. Rachel is amazing, even though my two Ferals are a bit older than her targeted demographic.
In response to Macklemore’s donation, in September, Ms. Rachel pledged one million dollars to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF).
“We have a moral obligation to use our privilege and platforms to protect our children and human rights.”
Like Mack Ms. Rachel walks the walk.
Macklemore’s 3-stop European Free Palestine Tour sold out immediately following its announcement. Proceeds from the tour will go to organizations supporting Palestine after the rapper was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour for his comments supporting Palestinians
“Art will always be a form of resistance,” Macklemore wrote in a post on Instagram.
We need more humans like Macklemore and Ms. Rachel. It would be super cool and super cute if they performed some songs together.
All of this is happening during the new moon in Libra on 10/10, also opening a portal that amplifies the energy of new beginnings, completion, and shifting out of old cycles. Along with Venus in retrograde, it’s a great time to manifest our heart’s desires.
I love Ms. Rachel because, like Mr. Rogers, she’s a real person and teaches important life skills:
Counting our blessings and creating a list of things to be thankful for has a real foundation in science and might even change the way our brains work, according to a brain-scanning study in NeuroImage.
It brings us a little closer to understanding why these exercises have these effects. The results suggest that even months after a simple, short gratitude writing task, people’s brains are still wired to feel extra thankful.
The implication is that gratitude tasks work, at least in part, because they have a self-perpetuating nature: The more you practice gratitude, the more attuned you are to it and the more you can enjoy its psychological benefits.
Feeling grateful is very good for you.
Time and again, studies have shown that performing simple gratitude exercises, like keeping a gratitude diary or writing letters of thanks, can bring a range of benefits, such as feelings of increased well-being and reduced depression, that often lingers well after the exercises are finished.
Changing our neural pathways of any old tapes we run of self loathing and lack of self worth and depression with replacement thoughts of being valuable, of deserving love and respect aren’t new ideas but they’re new to ME.
I’m grateful to all of you who read and follow my blog.
What are YOU grateful for today?
bulgariastories.com/2015/11/2612/ for JFK image
This is my legacy: broken bones, shingles, split-open legs, crazy fevers, and now I have a new one to add to the list: MRSA or staph infection in my finger.
I’m not exactly sure how I cut my finger or how it got infected, which is strange since I have high standards of hygiene, so I guess I’ll never know.
It’s already morphed into cellulitis, and while I don’t have the telltale red streaks of blood poisoning traveling up my arm YET, it’s SERIOUS.
AND EXTREMELY PAINFUL.
My finger is swollen to twice its normal size and is filled with really disgusting purulence and suppuration (look it up).
At first I followed all of the home treatment methods: soak in warm epsom salts, elevate to relieve the throbbing discomfort, and bandage with over-the-counter topical antibiotics, but at some point, I realized this wasn’t helping and I needed a medical professional, so I went to urgent care.
The doc told me I got there before I needed IV antibiotics and before it damaged the tendons in my finger, which is definitely where it was headed.
Cellulitis in a finger is a serious bacterial infection that can rapidly worsen and damage the tight compartments of the hand, requiring prompt medical treatment with antibiotics.
Why Finger Cellulitis is Dangerous:
Now I’m taking a hefty dose of Keflex for the bacterial infection, along with Mupirocin ointment directly on the open wound which is now repulsively draining.
Oral antibiotics and I do not agree with each other, but I’m willing to overlook the headaches and digestive issues because I don’t want to lose a finger or a hand, or have the infection travel to my heart or brain. I need all of my brain cells; I don’t have many to spare.
I have another appointment with the doc tomorrow to see if it’s improved and whether or not it’ll need to be excised and drained. ICK.
Weather update: Still hot, but there’s a bit of cloud cover. and that helps.
PS What’s up with WordPress tags? I’m not sure I like the changes, do you?
Yesterday around noon, my car registered the temperature at 106 degrees.
SoCal is definitely suffering from another record breaking heatwave, but at least it’s more of a Santa Ana type event with lower humidity and moderate winds. As always, I try to find the silver lining.
It’s been unbearably hot to be outside for more than a few minutes, but it cools off a bit at night, so it’s tolerable. Barely.
The daytime dry heat is draining everything my body keeps producing as a result of this hellish rhinovirus, which is great, but now it’s decided to morph into a sinus infection, so I can add headache and sinus pressure to my list of complaints.
I’m up extra early to get things done before it’s too hot to go outside without exhibiting signs of heatstroke. The garden is parched; watering really makes no difference, and I’ve just accepted that this isn’t a great year for my plants. I’ll wait for the Super El Nino which is supposed to start this winter, when we’ll finally get some measurable sky water.
We have about another week of this super hot weather until there’s some relief.
I don’t know how many times I have to read another public service announcement about not leaving kids or pets in the car when it’s this hot (or anytime, actually). Even more egregious are the warnings about hiking with your dogs in this extreme heat. Are people really this clueless? (That’s a rhetorical question, obviously.)