Euan Semple's Blog, page 7

!!??!!

Normally Siri is very good at understanding my instructions, but “buy baked beans” has gone horribly wrong…

Now there’s an idea…

Thinking about the uncanny realism of the AI generated presenters on Channel 1, then thinking about how many people’s only interactions with their managers these days are on zoom, and putting two and two together…

Where will it all end?

First watch this video from Channel 1 news. At least as far as the blonde presenter explaining what’s happening…

And then read this article by Bruce Schneier

Are British light sleepers different from other light sleepers…?

Will power

By exercising sufficient willpower Alby managed to get the fire lit.

Fighting the good fight

For various reasons I walked away from most of the “social media” monster that our online conversations were turned into. When I see my good friend Doc Searls continuing to fight the good fight I feel guilty that I turned my back.

A grand day out

Set off this morning towards Scafell from my campsite in Eskdale in heavy rain and gusting wind. Only got about half way up but had great fun and even saw some views when the clouds lifted.

Just a thing…

Sure, Connie our campervan is just a thing. But it is a thing that has had increasing meaning for us over two years that we have owned her. She has enabled wonderful holidays, countless day trips, and provided me with a safe haven when I was looking after my dad.

Friday night was my last night in Connie, and Saturday was my last long drive (600 miles at the end of a 3500 mile trip round France and Spain).

We are hopefully taking possession of a new van, from Sussex Campervans, on Friday. When the two of us are sleeping in the van we could do with just a little more space. It’s the right thing to do.

But to be honest I was a bit tearful on the way up through France. I felt guilty, like I was abandoning Connie.

Isn’t that ridiculous.

It’s just a thing…

Ouch!

I’m on the way down through France to meet Penny who is flying to Alicante. We will spend a week on the Spanish coast. She will then fly back, and I’ll drive home.

But the reason for this post is that I had a bit of an adventure in The Pyrenees yesterday. About half way into a hike I heard someone calling. It turned out to be a shepherd calling to the massive Pyrenean Mountain Dog that was fast approaching me. It barked around me for a bit and, being used to dogs, I wasn’t too bothered. But then the tone of the barking changed and the next thing I know she had sunk her teeth into my calf muscle. I mean sunk in. I felt them sinking in as if in slow motion!

The dog then backed off but I stayed strangely calm as I waited while Milan the shepherd ran down to me. Not much point in panicking. He was so upset and so kind, driving me back and forward to pharmacies and doctors.

Needed six stitches on the wounds. Rabies hasn’t been seen in France for years and only specialist units deal with it and then usually for people returning from elsewhere. It was a working dog, not a rabid stray so I’ll be fine.

Sitting waiting for a tetanus shot as I write this.

What an adventure!

Alby is contemplating a life at sea.