I took this picture almost a month ago but I'm pretty sure I never blogged it, so here you go! This is Buckingham Mansions, an apartment block around the corner from our flat, on a rare sunny winter day. I loved the light and shadow. We're supposed to have sunshine today too, and colder temperatures though still above freezing.
I spent most of yesterday switching out displays in the library. We're putting one up involving an annual science reading project by the 10th grade, in which the kids recommend (or not) science-related books they were supposed to have read over Winter Break. It was a lot of work and of course the cynical side of me wonders how many of the recommendations were written by Chat GPT. At least I only have to pin them to a bulletin board, and not grade them!
I shouldn't be so suspicious, but it's the result of my reporting background. As we were always taught, "If your mother says she loves you, check it out."
Remember the architecture/planning fail that I wrote about on Jan. 19? The ugly barriers erected on the sloping sidewalk in front of Five Guys? Well, some signs have gone up indicating they were placed there by Camden Council and directing people with questions to call a hotline or write an e-mail address for "complaints." I wrote yesterday, not so much to complain as to say, "What's the objective here? How long are these barriers going to stay and what's the ultimate fix?"
I don't really expect an answer but I'm curious to see if I'll get one. This is the kind of thing that, back in my day as a reporter, would have produced a story in the local paper telling people what the heck is going on. Nowadays, with local media on life support, people are left to speculate online -- which is how we wind up with Q-Anon and lizard people.
Me, I will just continue to idly wonder and display my mystification on this blog.
The winter sun lighting up the facade of Buckingham Mansions against the sapphire blue sky is great!
ReplyDeleteYou are right about checking things out and not taking everything for granted or as truth. Social Media have a lot to answer for, and I am not sure if the bad doesn't outweigh the benefits.
I'm not sure either. I think the bad could be easily mitigated by turning off the algorithms that feed us information. If we were left to view only the information we seek out, it might keep a lot of people away from more extreme content.
DeleteThe building itself is photogenic
ReplyDeleteThere are several of these large "mansion blocks" in my neighborhood. They're pretty from the outside but I'm not sure what the apartments look like.
DeleteOur local papers were Murdoch owned but they were quite good at covering local matters, including local councils. We have online independent media sources but it is not the same as a local paper.
ReplyDeleteCan you pick out Chat GPT writing? I've noticed one blogger whose English isn't perfect is now using it, and while the results are good, I miss his real imperfect English writing, and it does come across as being unnatural.
I've occasionally had a commenter on my blog who I've strongly suspected is using AI.
DeleteThis has me thinking: Did my mother ever say she loved me? Beautiful light on Buckingham Mansions. I enjoy following your mystification.
ReplyDeleteMine never said it either!
DeleteRegarding the footpath questions, perhaps you should change the title of this blog to "Rebel Without A Cause".
ReplyDeleteI have a cause! Several of them, actually! They're just trivial in the grand scheme of things.
DeleteI had an interesting little side-trip into conspiracy theories, so thank you for that. 😀
ReplyDeleteHa! I hope it was fun and amusing. :)
DeleteLizard people? What is wrong with people? I suppose humans have always been so, but they now have a much wider audience.
ReplyDeleteIt is remarkable how one really crazy person on the web can influence so many others. I think a lot of people are very susceptible for whatever reason.
DeleteHere in Lansing, our local daily is so bad no one buys or subscribes. You can get the obits for free and that's about all that's worth looking at. An free independent weekly covers council issues, candidates, arts, so much better. That's great, but there's something wrong with it overall. When going through the basement I found old issues of the paper my mom had saved. They were thick and deep with information on local events, issues, everything. I miss that. And that is a GORGEOUS photo with the lighting.
ReplyDeleteI know -- I miss those big local papers too. (Like the ones I used to work at.) It's funny -- I always thought national media would be what suffered, while local papers prospered. Everyone needs local news, right? Well, apparently not. Now all news is national and no one pays attention to their local communities.
DeleteLove the sunrise picture; bodes well for a new day!
ReplyDeleteThere is a What's Happening in Camden Facebook here page that would likely post about those barriers and then people just offer up whatever excuse or reason pops into their heads.
Ha! That's the problem with social media. Lots of speculation but very little real information.
DeleteIt always irks me to see miles and miles of interstate reduced to one lane traffic with not a single person in sight working. Sometimes I think it is a ploy to create job security by trying to appear busy when in fact, they are back at headquarters enjoying hot coffee and donuts.
ReplyDeleteI don't get that either, though I think manual laborers who are on site and appear to be "standing around" are in fact often working. You can't do physical work continuously without taking short rest breaks, especially in the hot sun on a roadway.
DeleteDo some Bloggers use AI to generate their blog posts?? How bizarre. What is the point of blogging if you are not actually writing the thing yourself!
ReplyDeleteHa! I know! Is there any money in this?! I sure haven't seen any!
DeleteI am interested if you get a reply to the email. I am reading a book my Doctor recommended called The Joy of Movement, and in it is mentioned the story of Melbourne where they decided to give each tree an email address so people could report any problems they noticed with the tree. Instead people wrote to the trees, love letters etc. Jean in Winnipeg
ReplyDeleteHa! That's awesome. It's great that people would send love letters to a tree. Humans connect with favorite trees on a very deep level.
DeleteWas that early morning light or late evening light on the Buckingham Mansions? It is golden, no matter which.
ReplyDeleteYou never know- you may get a response to your email but in actual fact, they probably don't know yet what they're going to do there or how long it will take.
It was evening light, as I was on my way home from the National Portrait Gallery a couple of weeks ago. I suspect you're right about the barriers. I bet they're still trying to figure it out.
DeleteI think it is quite an issue for teachers these days with students cheating by using answers from Chat GPT.
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice photo of that building - you do like your shadows, Steve!
I wrote an email to the NYT complaining about misleading their readers in the article about the Colombia immigrant plane issue. I don't imagine I will hear back.
If there's an option to leave a comment directly on the article, I think that's a better way to go. The writers and editors definitely watch those comments. But it's good you spoke up one way or another!
DeleteI love the experienced voice saying supposed to have read rather than just read! I imagine teachers can easily spot the fakes.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think they can. Teachers know their students' "voices" and can tell when a piece of writing doesn't match.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see if you get an answer about those barriers.
ReplyDeleteThe light in your top photo is beautiful. That looks like a very nice apartment building.
It is quite nice, and probably pretty expensive. I've never been inside it.
DeleteEnjoy Your Weekend There Mr Crank - That Capture Of The Building Totally Rocks But The Middle Of The Night Olga Girl Takes The Cake For Sure - Strong There Brother Man
ReplyDeleteCheers
Olga always steals the show. :)
DeleteOh , the good old days when there wasn't very appropriate things to copy on the internet. I think displays are important to give kids recognition for THEIR work.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. The more we get kids involved in library displays, the more attention they'll pay to them.
DeleteI would not want to be a teacher or manager having to deal with the possibility of AI work. It was bad enough when students could just find prewritten things on the internet to use. Honestly, I see more downsides to ups when it comes to AI.
ReplyDeleteI do too. I don't understand the enthusiasm for it. It seems more dangerous than helpful.
DeleteGorgeous golden light in the Buckingham Mansions photo!
ReplyDeleteIt really was the "golden hour"!
DeleteI've never used AI and see no advantage to it for me. I would have to proofread and then tweak it, so it wouldn't save me any time. It would take away the joy I feel in writing.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I don't get the appeal. But I guess there are people for whom writing holds no joy, and maybe in their case it comes in handy.
DeleteYou got a great shot of the light. Investigative reporting, keep it up, we need to find out what Camden Council is doing her, but also, the Russians . . .
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I will EVER be able to explain the Russians!
DeleteThat's good advice given to journalists, about their mother's love! My favorite was "It's easier to beg forgiveness than to ask for permission."
ReplyDeleteDidn't you ever hear that, back in your journalism days? It was a common expression in newsrooms in my day.
DeleteBuckingham Mansions make a very lovely photo.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good angle with good light and shadow!
Delete