Halloween in AI?

Happy Saturday morning, a couple of more days and I’ll have to switch over to a morning Nespresso coffee – in Austin no less. Visiting with Kirstin and the lads. Yes, she has a full schedule of fix-em-do’s (a couple possibly offering a bit more of a challenge – a very small hole in a ceramic sink being one such item). Back to the Nespresso, Kirstin does no coffee, Vince bought this machine and now it sits patiently waiting for my visits. I’ll recommend both the machine and the quality of the coffee. Plus, I’m in love with its ‘whirring’ sound while in production mode.

I should also point out that I’ll try to log a post on The Ramblings next Saturday, but uncertain of my connectivity. We’ll see. First, try to finish up my travel packing – always doable but more difficult than I presumed.

Stoppage – without getting too graphic, earlier this week our toilet stopped up (no photos). A little trick I happened on did wonders. I poured a couple of buckets of very hot, soapy, water into the bowl and quickly only had some suds remaining. Resulting in a clear, and CLEAN passage. You’re welcome, and all this for no charge.

Halloween prep – Here the neighborhoods are already complete with a myriad of seasonal yard decorations; from cute to downright spooky.

I find that the audio more than the visual makes Halloween be Halloween. Then, there was a time – pre television – where radio would fit that bill. In fact, there was a time when families would gather after dinner to listen to a variety of horror episodes. Kids and parents, dimly lit room, often a fireplace already lit, when over a scratchy loudspeaker would come the sounds of a door squeak, a footstep on an empty street, or stillness with a manic laugh in the distance. Enough to make the hair on your neck stand on
end.

This following is a 1951 broadcast of the NBC Mystery Theater. It’s a radio presentation of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”. Feel free to grab someone’s hand as you surround yourself with Poe’s Halloween gift – pure Horror!

From the Quotation room – Per ABC news (January 2024) after 3 years, more than 460 people are still being held as political prisoners. In the meantime, not one (as in 0) is in prison because of what was revealed at the Epstein trial – equal justice at its finest. A couple of weeks ago I re-introduced Dana Carvey’s SNL character; the Church Lady. Here is how the Church Lady would have reflected on that bit of trivia: “Well, isn’t that special? How con-VEEN-ient!”

The Best and the Worst – We are truly a “tale of two cities”.  One of this towns most beloved (as in can do no wrong) characters was Pete Rose – as in he of Baseball fame.

There is also a sizeable group who are wholeheartedly in sync with him being banned for life from getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Earlier this month Pete Rose, “Charlie Hustle” with 4256 hits, died. Since then, more Rose ‘merch’ and number 14 Jerseys than any other Reds item sold this season.

I came across this delightful old-time editorial page cartoon by Jim Borgman (also draws the Zits cartoon) from the Cincinnati Enquirer and it pretty well sums it all up.

Screenshot

A.I. – Brother Pieter will be minimally active for a few weeks, i.e. no exercise including riding his beloved ‘recumbent’ bike. As is typical in our ‘circle’ of family and friends we must keep on plugging along. Pieter does have his radio show so I suspect that will keep on going. But it’s the next item that had me sit up and take note, it’s is his getting started with A.I. (Artificial Intelligence).

For a time, Pieter has written poetry and performed at “Poetry SLAMS”. He resurfaced one of these poems and began playing with “AI Music Generator”.

Here are the opening lines to his poem: Talk To Me Baby

Talk to me baby
I’m tired of my voice
Talk to me baby
My thoughts have no choice

Eventually he settled on a style produced and ‘sung’ by the the Artificial Intelligence Generator. Have a listen to the voice, the musical style, and the sound and tempo: As the original output text states; “A soulful male voice melody exploring themes of love, desire, and introspection through heartfelt lyrics”.

Created by AI Music Generator

Here you go. Personally, I was blown away with the result:

Now I’ll spend some more time trying to capture my tickets into my mobile wallet. I managed to get 4 seats for next Saturday’s Major Soccer League game in Austin (FC Austin against the Colorado Rapids). I’m taking my gang in Austin to their very first big-league soccer match. Should be loads of fun.

Anyway, I have the seats. These purchased through StubHub. Somewhere during the purchase/download process I ended up (without noticing) being on the Seat Geek app. So now I can see all the purchase detail. But neither site will display the necessary QR codes. Add to that, the venue will only accept entry using a mobile ticket, NO screen capture and NO paper tickets accepted. As you can see, the clock is ticking! Not sweating yet, but I’ll get there.

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Ohio is now well into the Presidential voting fray (voting here started October 8). America’s Voting Season is underway (whatever happened to Voting Day?). As an aside, Marcia and I voted at our Board of Elections on the 9th. Here is the Bonus Question: Which one item numbered below  cost Al Gore the Presidential election in 2000?

1) “Reproductive Rights”
2) “A ’Green’ hard line”
3) “The gun vote”
4) “Swift Boat controversy”
5) “A photo op that Tanked”
6) “A misprinted news photo”
7) “Watery ‘Monkey’ business”