March 7, 2024 - A Historic Day

 

"Sweden is now a member of Nato"

I don't normally write much about politics, but yesterday the top news here in Sweden (and probably in some other countries too) was that we have now officially joined Nato - every time with the additional comment quoted, that from now on, 7th March 2024 will be "a historic day" for our country, marking the end of around 200 years of Swedish neutrality (even if that "neutrality" may also be, and has often been, discussed...)

The decision to apply to be members of Nato was taken together with Finland in May 2022, triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland was officially welcomed as member in April 2023. It took Sweden a year longer because two countries (Turkey and Hungary) hesitated to give their approval. The issues behind that (whatever they were) were somehow eventually resolved, though; and yesterday the final papers were signed.

Of course various reporters were also out on the streets yesterday, asking "ordinary people" how they feel about it. For my own part, I have to confess I'm still in two minds about it. On the one hand, I suppose a joint decision from Sweden and Finland makes sense. On the other hand, I still really wish that humanity would learn better ways to "fight for peace" than keeping up the arms race...

Mind you, I was young back in the 1970s, which (at least among young people, as I remember it) was a time very much characterized by peace-, disarmament-, and anti-nuclear movements... 

 

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they're forever banned?

 

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

 

Yes, and how many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
And how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?

 

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

 

Yes, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
And how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows
That too many people have died?

 

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

Whispers of Spring

 

Me: Copilot, write a short poem about looking for signs of spring in nature

Copilot: Certainly! Here’s a short poem about the arrival of spring:

Whispers of Spring

Amidst the thawing earth and sun-kissed breeze, I seek the subtle signs that spring unfurls: The crocus, brave and purple, pushing through, And daffodils that nod in golden swirls.

The trees, once bare, now wear a tender green, Their branches stretching toward the azure sky. A robin’s song, a hopeful melody, As buds emerge, their secrets held inside.

The air smells fresh, of rain and blooming life, And daylight lingers, chasing away the cold. In every dew-kissed petal, I discern The promise of renewal, ageless and bold.

So let us wander, eyes wide open wide, And find the magic hidden in each nook. For spring, with whispered secrets, softly calls, And bids us seek its signs in every brook. 🌸

Now I'm wondering if AI creates a new poem for everyone who asks, or if it reuses ones it has already created for someone else!

 

The photos above are my own, not created by AI. I've not yet seen any crocus or daffodils; but I did spot these "promising" azalea buds in the old cemetery today... (It will probably be a good while yet until they're actually in bloom, though.) 

A Touch of Spring

 

The clouds gave way to sunshine today, and that seems likely to continue for a while now - so I was inspired to change to my spring/summer curtains in the kitchen again (after 3+ winter months with my redcheckered ones). Long term followers will recognise them... 

I also put up these hens (cross-stiched by my mum) on the door between the kitchen and the hall (usually kept open):

Other Easter decorations will have to wait a bit yet; I don't like to put those up too early. But the hens came up as I keep them in the same chest as the curtains and table cloths...

 

I Spy ... Clown Town

The weather is still rather grey and dull, and nature offering very little to tempt my camera. However, on a walk to the supermarket today I "spied with my little eye" two rather unusual displays... Whether enough to constitue a new trend, I don't know!

This clown is a well-known symbol for a Swedish ice-cream conmpany. In this size they are often seen outside kiosks and grocrery shops. Of course it also happens that pranksters get into their head to move them - but this is definitely the first time I've seen one on display on a private balcony. (I think they're student flats in that building though - which might perhaps go some way towards "explaining" how it ended up there...)

On my way back, passing a different building, I also happened to notice these figurines in a window - facing the street rather than the room inside!

 "A wise man can play the part of a clown,
but a clown can't play the part of a wise man."
- Malcolm X -

“Just because everyone is behaving
like a clown, it doesn’t mean
you have to join the circus.”
 - Matshona Dhliwayo -

 

Rainy Week, and Discussions with AI

It's been a grey and rainy week, and as you may already have gathered from yesterday's post, I've not been in my most inspired mood. 

Before I asked Bing AI for illustrations of "tired and uninspired" yesterday (the results of which actually cheered me up!), I had made some attempts to explore another AI image generator: Craiyon. It did not impress me, though. I only downloaded a very few examples:

Today, it occurred to me to ask Microsoft's new Copilot the question from my post yesterday: "Why can't AI spell?"  

In my first attempt I'm afraid I phrased the question a bit too personal...

Me: Why can't Bing Image Creator spell?

Copilot: I apologize if there was any inconvenience caused. As an AI language model, I don’t have direct control over the Bing Image Creator, but I appreciate your feedback. If you have any other questions or need assistance, feel free to ask! 😊

 

Oops, in spite of the smiley, someone seems to have taken offence... Better rephrase!

 

Me: Why can't AI image creators manage spelling?

 

Copilot: AI image creators, like any other technology, have their limitations. While they excel in certain areas, they may struggle with others. Here are a few reasons why spelling errors might occur in AI-generated images:

1. Training Data: AI models learn from vast amounts of data, including text. However, if the training data contains spelling mistakes or inconsistencies, the AI might inadvertently reproduce those errors.

2. Context and Ambiguity: Spelling correctness often depends on context. AI image creators lack the understanding that humans have, which can lead to misinterpretations. For example, the word “lead” can refer to both a metal and a verb, leading to different spellings (“lead” vs. “led”).

3. Noise and Noise Tolerance: AI models are sensitive to noise (irrelevant information). If an image contains noise (such as artifacts or distortions), it might affect the generated text, including spelling.

4. Complexity of Language: Spelling involves intricate rules, exceptions, and regional variations. AI models may not always capture these nuances accurately.

5. Trade-offs: AI creators balance various factors, such as fluency, coherence, and relevance. Sometimes, spelling correctness takes a back seat to other priorities.

6. Feedback Loop: AI models improve over time with feedback. If users report spelling errors, developers can fine-tune the model to enhance accuracy.

In summary, while AI image creators have made significant strides, they are still evolving. As users, we can provide feedback to help improve their performance. 🤖📝

 

Excuses, excuses... (LOL)