JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
What the fuck does he have to be ready for? Getting driven to the races in a Bentley or grinning inanely while foreign childern caper in the dust in front of him?
He's got a staff of a hundred arse-lickers. They'll pump him full of SSRIs, wheel him out and he'll be fine. He's probably going to get to marry his mistress, who is already being soft-launched on us, so swings and roundabouts, etc.
I think William will be fine.
He clearly doesn't have his father or grandmother's work ethic, so will take more of a back seat, but will be fine with the set pieces.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
German style breakfasts are almost as disappointing as French ones. Truly, I have never had a great breakfast outside the English-speaking world.
They do outstanding breakfasts in Norway.
On my various travels I have had delicious breakfasts in many non-English speaking counties. I developed a taste for Roti Chennai or Dim Sum in Malaysia, Shan style noodles in Myanmar.
Idli with sambhar and chutney has got to be one of the best breakfasts in the world
The mild vegetable curries of Gujarat make a wonderful breakfast with fresh pressed juices and black tea
Dhokla is also originally from Gujarat, one of my favorite 'breakfast' snacks, hard to find in Germany. You can get it at Indian sweet shops in the UK.
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
I have a lot of time for Forbes, but the SNP would not want the support of people like me. I think she'd be a bad fit as leader, because of the way the SNP have positioned themselves as the most left wing of Scotland's big parties. If they moved rightwards, I think they'd lose much support.
They do not have the luxury of picking and choosing, they need every vote they can get. Salmond managed to keep left and right onboard. They need to purge the pygmies and get some intelligent people running the show and concentrate on their main purpose as opposed to all the weirdo identity/gender crap that no-one is interested in.
The latest survation large sample poll is poison to the tories.
Up from 19% to 21% lead to labour.
This is interesting. Even Telegraph readers favour Labour...
Look at the express
The Express that has painted the Tories from Johnson onwards as cartoon clowns? That Express?
You’re thinking of the Daily Star. The Express heralds every announcement or initiative farted out by the Sunak government as if it was the Magna Carta.
Could the Greens back Humza Yousaf after all? Lorna Slater on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland: “We could have that conversation again and, you know, nobody has reached out to us in any way to try and change our minds so we’ll have to see how events develop.”
Is that the sound of someone belatedly checking the cards they actually hold? I can understand the Greens being seriously narked, but they can't actually want an election, can they?
They won’t vote no confidence in the government just the leader so an election is very unlikely. Given today’s comments from Slater I suspect the Greens are going to change their minds on the vote . Aswell as that do they want to precipitate Forbes getting the FM post .
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
What the fuck does he have to be ready for? Getting driven to the races in a Bentley or grinning inanely while foreign childern caper in the dust in front of him?
He's got a staff of a hundred arse-lickers. They'll pump him full of SSRIs, wheel him out and he'll be fine. He's probably going to get to marry his mistress, who is already being soft-launched on us, so swings and roundabouts, etc.
I think William will be fine.
He clearly doesn't have his father or grandmother's work ethic, so will take more of a back seat, but will be fine with the set pieces.
It's a pity the King can't send people to the Tower. Dura Ace would be amongst the first on his list tobe locked up on bread and gruel
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
What the fuck does he have to be ready for? Getting driven to the races in a Bentley or grinning inanely while foreign childern caper in the dust in front of him?
He's got a staff of a hundred arse-lickers. They'll pump him full of SSRIs, wheel him out and he'll be fine. He's probably going to get to marry his mistress, who is already being soft-launched on us, so swings and roundabouts, etc.
I think William will be fine.
He clearly doesn't have his father or grandmother's work ethic, so will take more of a back seat, but will be fine with the set pieces.
It's a pity the King can't send people to the Tower. Dura Ace would be amongst the first on his list tobe locked up on bread and gruel
Can you imagine TSE's indignation at being put in something as French as an oubliette?
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
That’s fair enough but Forbes can’t run away from her public remarks . She may well say this is a personal matter and won’t effect how she governs but some people will feel judged by her comments .
You halfwit all politician's have their own views on subjects /topics. I see no whinging when it is an English Anglican, Hindu, muslim , etc. Bunch of bigoted arseholes just because she is Scottish.
I see you’ve started the day with your lovely warm welcoming tone ! I’m well aware that politicians have their own views , the problem is putting them out there . If Sunak said he was against abortion and same sex marriage do you think that might become an issue for him politically.
I suspect Chris Philp did actually know Congo and Rwanda are separate countries. His question was rhetorical.
The more arresting thing was he clearly had no idea of the dynamics of the long running conflict in Eastern DRC and the role of Rwandan troops and paramilitaries there. That was the whole point of the man’s question. Yet Philps along with his parliamentary party has just voted to make it law that Rwanda is safe.
The whole thing of passing a law on a factual matter still blows my mind. Think of the opportunities:
- The cleanliness of seawater bill - The integrity of the Fujitsu Horizon system bill - The veracity of seven bins bill - The London definitely is a crime ridden hellhole with no go areas and centre of the metropolitan elite including the Daily Star bill
“Safe” is a relative criteria not an absolute one.
Nowhere is “safe”. I could be hit by a bus in London. I could catch HIV from a vampire facial (WTF?) in LA.
Parliament has simply determined that - for the purposes of their asylum policy - that Rwanda is “safe enough”. That’s because the courts decided that it wasn’t “safe” according to the court’s criteria.
It’s easy to mock, but what they determined was entirely within their remit (not opining on the accuracy of their judgement)
"Safe" is subjective and can be counter intuitive. Subject any action to a risk assessment and varying degrees of hazard can be identified. The terms of reference are also important.
On the balance of probability most asylum seekers sent to Rwanda will not be gunned down for complaining about the nutritional value of their meals. Some might (again) but the majority won't. So on balance it is more safe than unsafe, but it is not without jeopardy.
Likewise swimming with very well fed and contented pet sharks is on the balance of probability safe but not without jeopardy. The Government could thus determine that swimming with sharks on balance is relatively "safe" because on the evidence available (i.e. of their choosing, and this is important) you are more likely to be not eaten than eaten by swimming with sharks.
I'm still amused by the "Sunak is 6ft 2in" bill.
That's factually flawed. In fact it's a lie. They couldn't get away with that. However the Sunak is a very, very tall man bill could work if someone of the height of say Warwick Davis is your term of reference.
I know some here strongly favour Scottish Independence - I respect your view but hope you now see how the SNP has blown it for the foreseeable future.
The SNP had one job - to grow support for Independence by showing voters they could do better than Westminster. A more attractive economy? Nope. Better education? Nope. Better taxation rates? Nope. Better laws for a better Scotland? Nope. They had all that Barnett formula subsidy per head but still blew it.
Yes. They could have built a 60-70% strong support for Independence on the back of making a success of Holyrood. Indeed, this appears to be the Sinn Fein strategy now that they have the role of First Minister at Stormont.
But Sturgeon was all political game-playing and wedge-seeking. In the tenth year after the referendum it looks a lot like a wasted decade.
What gets me that they proved that you can raise marginal tax rates and successfully boil the frog. People haven't rushed south and although there has been a small decrease in internal migration amongst the highest earners the SNP have gotten away with pulling an extra £400m out of the pockets of the burghers without them squeaking. It's what every left wing party loves to see. And they've done fuck all with it apart from throwing it at broken ferries.
Geography helps in that respect. Tax arbitrage exerts a force. Geographical friction acts as a brake.
The Southern uplands and the fact the borders are largely bereft of major settlements means if you’re living and working in Edinburgh and want to cut your tax bill you can’t just hop a few miles south on a fast road or the train and live in an English suburb.
Contrast with the various Swiss and Benelux borders where commuter arbitrage is easy.
For the first six months of my employment in Edinburgh in 1961 I took the train from Berwick to Edinburgh and return every day
Even in those days it was a good service
It’s 50 minutes to an hour, and Berwick’s basically escape to the country land. So if you want to move to a nice little coastal town and work from home or have a long commute it’s fine, but that’s only going to appeal to a small segment of those rich enough to worry about the tax differences.
By contrast you can literally live in the suburbs of Basel, Geneva, Lugano / Milan, Maastricht etc etc and get on a tram or bus or cycle to a different country. You can pay New Jersey tax and go one stop on the subway into Manhattan, or work in Copenhagen and live across the Oresund bridge in Sweden.
Options from Glasgow are even harder, to the point of being non-viable. So you either move family and job wholesale or stay put.
Eh what bollox, from Glasgow you can be in the highlands in less than 30 minutes, you can be on Ayrshire coast in under an hour.
The discussion was about being able to commute from “low tax” England to “high tax” Scotland, and the fact there’s not been an exodus.
Last time I checked the highlands aren’t yet a special economic zone with low personal taxes.
All bollox given the train fares alone would outstrip the tax savings and likely property be more expensive. Far more efficient to just stick more in your pension. PS: Moving to Ayrshire countryside would mean much more savings with bigger property at much lower prices.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
Its 25 years since I (briefly) worked in broadcasting. But even then both BBC Manchester and EMAP Radio had regularly updated obit packages ready to roll at a moment's notice. This is nothing new.
This is different. The updates reference the cancer killing him.
The King has cancer. Of course they are doing obit packages that talk about cancer. There will be alternatives about old age or "peacefully in his sleep".
The point about obits is that they need to appear to be current - the persona has died, what happened etc. So as the situation that person is in evolves, the obits evolve. They can't just leave them in stasis.
Indeed. A cure would be the occasion for yet another update, all with the dispassion of the news machine.
Only one specific kind and only mitigation, on that report, though.
Note the PII trial was in pretty sick patients who will have had compromised immune systems.
It will be a year or two before we have a better idea how effective the therapy is. Premature to call it a 'cure', though. (And the therapy is tailored to the individual's cancer, not the individual, to be a necessary pedant.)
The Scottish government would be the voice of a particular kind of largely-Glaswegian smugness: holier than thou, briskly intolerant of alternative views, and firmly of the view that if the people lacked the wisdom or vision to appreciate what was good for them the government would impose it upon them anyway. An eat-your-oat-milk-porridge kind of ministry certain of its own moral probity and powered by its own sanctimonious certainty.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
What the fuck does he have to be ready for? Getting driven to the races in a Bentley or grinning inanely while foreign childern caper in the dust in front of him?
He's got a staff of a hundred arse-lickers. They'll pump him full of SSRIs, wheel him out and he'll be fine. He's probably going to get to marry his mistress, who is already being soft-launched on us, so swings and roundabouts, etc.
I think William will be fine.
He clearly doesn't have his father or grandmother's work ethic, so will take more of a back seat, but will be fine with the set pieces.
It's a pity the King can't send people to the Tower. Dura Ace would be amongst the first on his list tobe locked up on bread and gruel
Can you imagine TSE's indignation at being put in something as French as an oubliette?
He'd have to take off those enormous shoes first.. oubliettes are v narrow iirc
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
I have a lot of time for Forbes, but the SNP would not want the support of people like me. I think she'd be a bad fit as leader, because of the way the SNP have positioned themselves as the most left wing of Scotland's big parties. If they moved rightwards, I think they'd lose much support.
The Scottish government would be the voice of a particular kind of largely-Glaswegian smugness: holier than thou, briskly intolerant of alternative views, and firmly of the view that if the people lacked the wisdom or vision to appreciate what was good for them the government would impose it upon them anyway. An eat-your-oat-milk-porridge kind of ministry certain of its own moral probity and powered by its own sanctimonious certainty.
"Feminism has left middle-aged women like me single, childless and depressed We were taught to prioritise our careers over marriage – and now we are paying for it Petronella Wyatt"
Are you sure it was feminism, rather than the affair with Boris Johnson?
Not sure, but was a bit shocked by the article, how disappointed she seems with life.
She certainly sounds quite depressed. I have some sympathy for her, but she came from a wealthy family, is well educated and has agency. That includes wasting her fertile years as the mistress of a notorious philanderer that paid for her abortion. She sounds more a doormat than a feminist.
Wyatt is coping with / recovering from 6 months of clinical depression. I'd suggest that talking about it and thinking about explanations are part of that process. I think she may be lashing out.
That another article in a couple of months may show a different, somewhat balancing, perspective.
She wrote an affecting and honest-sounding column about it here in the Mail 2 months ago, which is well worth a read: https://archive.ph/QvX8x
For a Daily Mail article, it is not at all Daily Mail.
I'm not going to attempt to comment on how much of a hammer blow the final realisation of having no children is to a single woman, or what is does to one's head. I do know all about how random onset of serious health conditions arrives in life like a blow from a poleaxe, and she has my sympathy.
I do think that part of this may be the dark side of a 'glamorous' London life amongst the set her family moved into when her father switched politics, and how an independent woman perhaps does not fit in there.
I'm tempted to read Marjorie Hillis, which has been on my shelves for some time.
Yes, that is an interesting piece. Despite her private GP and Psychiatrist it was turning up in crisis at the NHS that started on the road to recovery. The NHS isn't just for other people.
I think the NHS experience would be a punctuation mark - a sudden encounter with reality / metanoia. Going in an ambulance is like that; illusions get stripped away dramatically. To borrow a phrase .. castles built in the air just melt away.
Having read a little further, she has a lot of sympathy for me having seemingly been fucked over quite so ruthlessly by Johnson.
The long affair involving a promise of leaving his wife for her, and both an abortion and a miscarriage. Johnson is now - 20+ years later - ensconced with a new wife he married at the age that Wyatt was when this all happened, and three young children. For someone mentally going round in circles about regret over being childless, that may be very difficult indeed.
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
I have a lot of time for Forbes, but the SNP would not want the support of people like me. I think she'd be a bad fit as leader, because of the way the SNP have positioned themselves as the most left wing of Scotland's big parties. If they moved rightwards, I think they'd lose much support.
Surely you'd just see a reshuffling of the pack. Liberal/lefty indy supporters could transfer their affections to the Greens. People like Mhairi Black for instance.
Yuri Bezmenov was right 40 years ago, that it was a long-term project to destroy American and Western society, and that they were destined to achieve their goals at some point. https://bigthink.com/the-present/yuri-bezmenov/
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
What the fuck does he have to be ready for? Getting driven to the races in a Bentley or grinning inanely while foreign childern caper in the dust in front of him?
He's got a staff of a hundred arse-lickers. They'll pump him full of SSRIs, wheel him out and he'll be fine. He's probably going to get to marry his mistress, who is already being soft-launched on us, so swings and roundabouts, etc.
I think William will be fine.
He clearly doesn't have his father or grandmother's work ethic, so will take more of a back seat, but will be fine with the set pieces.
Who gives a F**k what the parasites do. They will continue grifting and pillaging as much loot as they can, make the Mafia look like amateurs.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
What the fuck does he have to be ready for? Getting driven to the races in a Bentley or grinning inanely while foreign childern caper in the dust in front of him?
He's got a staff of a hundred arse-lickers. They'll pump him full of SSRIs, wheel him out and he'll be fine. He's probably going to get to marry his mistress, who is already being soft-launched on us, so swings and roundabouts, etc.
I think William will be fine.
He clearly doesn't have his father or grandmother's work ethic, so will take more of a back seat, but will be fine with the set pieces.
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
That’s fair enough but Forbes can’t run away from her public remarks . She may well say this is a personal matter and won’t effect how she governs but some people will feel judged by her comments .
You halfwit all politician's have their own views on subjects /topics. I see no whinging when it is an English Anglican, Hindu, muslim , etc. Bunch of bigoted arseholes just because she is Scottish.
I see you’ve started the day with your lovely warm welcoming tone ! I’m well aware that politicians have their own views , the problem is putting them out there . If Sunak said he was against abortion and same sex marriage do you think that might become an issue for him politically.
She never said it like that though, she said she personally was not in favour but that was only her personal opinion and not one she would force in her political sphere. Fact she has some principles as opposed to your example of Sunak is much more important.
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
That’s fair enough but Forbes can’t run away from her public remarks . She may well say this is a personal matter and won’t effect how she governs but some people will feel judged by her comments .
You halfwit all politician's have their own views on subjects /topics. I see no whinging when it is an English Anglican, Hindu, muslim , etc. Bunch of bigoted arseholes just because she is Scottish.
I see you’ve started the day with your lovely warm welcoming tone ! I’m well aware that politicians have their own views , the problem is putting them out there . If Sunak said he was against abortion and same sex marriage do you think that might become an issue for him politically.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
What the fuck does he have to be ready for? Getting driven to the races in a Bentley or grinning inanely while foreign childern caper in the dust in front of him?
He's got a staff of a hundred arse-lickers. They'll pump him full of SSRIs, wheel him out and he'll be fine. He's probably going to get to marry his mistress, who is already being soft-launched on us, so swings and roundabouts, etc.
I think William will be fine.
He clearly doesn't have his father or grandmother's work ethic, so will take more of a back seat, but will be fine with the set pieces.
His father's work ethic?
I only just got up off the floor after reading that, cannot stop ;laughing.
I love Jodie Whittaker. Fabulous actor who has played some absolutely brilliant and spellbinding roles. It wasn't her being boring, it was Chibnall's writing.
Chibnall didn't write every episode and the character was developed with her input as well.
She was dull in the role. She's a charisma bypass. You're a fan of her, which is nice. I have only seen her in a few things. She has been okay in them. Not brilliant, but not poor. Soap actress really. Can't say I had seen much of her before she took on the role.
At the time there was also talk Michaela Coel was in line for the role. She would have been a far better choice IMHO.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
Its 25 years since I (briefly) worked in broadcasting. But even then both BBC Manchester and EMAP Radio had regularly updated obit packages ready to roll at a moment's notice. This is nothing new.
This is different. The updates reference the cancer killing him.
The King has cancer. Of course they are doing obit packages that talk about cancer. There will be alternatives about old age or "peacefully in his sleep".
The point about obits is that they need to appear to be current - the persona has died, what happened etc. So as the situation that person is in evolves, the obits evolve. They can't just leave them in stasis.
Indeed. A cure would be the occasion for yet another update, all with the dispassion of the news machine.
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
That’s fair enough but Forbes can’t run away from her public remarks . She may well say this is a personal matter and won’t effect how she governs but some people will feel judged by her comments .
You halfwit all politician's have their own views on subjects /topics. I see no whinging when it is an English Anglican, Hindu, muslim , etc. Bunch of bigoted arseholes just because she is Scottish.
I see you’ve started the day with your lovely warm welcoming tone ! I’m well aware that politicians have their own views , the problem is putting them out there . If Sunak said he was against abortion and same sex marriage do you think that might become an issue for him politically.
She never said it like that though, she said she personally was not in favour but that was only her personal opinion and not one she would force in her political sphere. Fact she has some principles as opposed to your example of Sunak is much more important.
I get that . But you know the score re politics. It will hurt her if she becomes FM .
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
I have a lot of time for Forbes, but the SNP would not want the support of people like me. I think she'd be a bad fit as leader, because of the way the SNP have positioned themselves as the most left wing of Scotland's big parties. If they moved rightwards, I think they'd lose much support.
Surely you'd just see a reshuffling of the pack. Liberal/lefty indy supporters could transfer their affections to the Greens. People like Mhairi Black for instance.
Black is like Sturgeon , she only has feelings for herself and wil l morph into whatever required to stay at the trough. Also the weirdo Greens have no interest in Independence.
I love Jodie Whittaker. Fabulous actor who has played some absolutely brilliant and spellbinding roles. It wasn't her being boring, it was Chibnall's writing.
Jodie Whittaker's Doctor had many failings. Chibnall's writing was one. The production team's cowardice and lack of faith in a female lead meant surrounding her with a whole posse which limited everyone's screen time, and remember that under Moffatt they'd been testing the water with a lady master and the whole River nonsense. Whittaker gabbled her lines which meant my continental Whovian friends struggled to understand, whereas they'd had no difficulty with Jodie in Broadchurch where she spoke normally. And as we've said, Chibnall.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
I suspect Chris Philp did actually know Congo and Rwanda are separate countries. His question was rhetorical.
The more arresting thing was he clearly had no idea of the dynamics of the long running conflict in Eastern DRC and the role of Rwandan troops and paramilitaries there. That was the whole point of the man’s question. Yet Philps along with his parliamentary party has just voted to make it law that Rwanda is safe.
The whole thing of passing a law on a factual matter still blows my mind. Think of the opportunities:
- The cleanliness of seawater bill - The integrity of the Fujitsu Horizon system bill - The veracity of seven bins bill - The London definitely is a crime ridden hellhole with no go areas and centre of the metropolitan elite including the Daily Star bill
“Safe” is a relative criteria not an absolute one.
Nowhere is “safe”. I could be hit by a bus in London. I could catch HIV from a vampire facial (WTF?) in LA.
Parliament has simply determined that - for the purposes of their asylum policy - that Rwanda is “safe enough”. That’s because the courts decided that it wasn’t “safe” according to the court’s criteria.
It’s easy to mock, but what they determined was entirely within their remit (not opining on the accuracy of their judgement)
"Safe" is subjective and can be counter intuitive. Subject any action to a risk assessment and varying degrees of hazard can be identified. The terms of reference are also important.
On the balance of probability most asylum seekers sent to Rwanda will not be gunned down for complaining about the nutritional value of their meals. Some might (again) but the majority won't. So on balance it is more safe than unsafe, but it is not without jeopardy.
Likewise swimming with very well fed and contented pet sharks is on the balance of probability safe but not without jeopardy. The Government could thus determine that swimming with sharks on balance is relatively "safe" because on the evidence available (i.e. of their choosing, and this is important) you are more likely to be not eaten than eaten by swimming with sharks.
I'm still amused by the "Sunak is 6ft 2in" bill.
That's factually flawed. In fact it's a lie. They couldn't get away with that. However the Sunak is a very, very tall man bill could work if someone of the height of say Warwick Davis is your term of reference.
Just need to redefine the foot and inch, in the old mediaeval manner of using the royal body as the standard ell etc. The inch shall be 1/12 of the foot and 74 inches will be the height of the Prime Minister in his trainers.
Nobody sane uses them these days for anything important anyway.
Could the Greens back Humza Yousaf after all? Lorna Slater on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland: “We could have that conversation again and, you know, nobody has reached out to us in any way to try and change our minds so we’ll have to see how events develop.”
Is that the sound of someone belatedly checking the cards they actually hold? I can understand the Greens being seriously narked, but they can't actually want an election, can they?
They won’t vote no confidence in the government just the leader so an election is very unlikely. Given today’s comments from Slater I suspect the Greens are going to change their minds on the vote . Aswell as that do they want to precipitate Forbes getting the FM post .
Not far fetched to see Useless being stupid and getting thrashed and then the Tories and Labour horse trading as to which sock puppet they put up for FM. Any replacement needs vote of parliament to be crowned.
^ Al Jazeera blurs out most of the blood on the white horse, but at 0:19 you can see a small patch above its right leg that doesn't appear in the many clips published elsewhere that show it only from its left side.
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
That’s fair enough but Forbes can’t run away from her public remarks . She may well say this is a personal matter and won’t effect how she governs but some people will feel judged by her comments .
You halfwit all politician's have their own views on subjects /topics. I see no whinging when it is an English Anglican, Hindu, muslim , etc. Bunch of bigoted arseholes just because she is Scottish.
I see you’ve started the day with your lovely warm welcoming tone ! I’m well aware that politicians have their own views , the problem is putting them out there . If Sunak said he was against abortion and same sex marriage do you think that might become an issue for him politically.
She never said it like that though, she said she personally was not in favour but that was only her personal opinion and not one she would force in her political sphere. Fact she has some principles as opposed to your example of Sunak is much more important.
I get that . But you know the score re politics. It will hurt her if she becomes FM .
Well has Humza running muslim prayers from Bute House or promoting Gaza seen much rancour. I cannot see it being an issue personally. I think it would be well down the list of issues people are concerned about, way down. However you could be right , there are a lot of stupid people roaming the streets.
^ Al Jazeera blurs out most of the blood on the white horse, but at 0:19 you can see a small patch above its right leg that doesn't appear in the many clips published elsewhere that show it only from its left side.
These are military trained horses.
Which doesn't mean much - a bit of anti-noise training and practice at walking on tarmac.
They are pretty average nags, to be honest.
Police horses get lots of training and are very carefully picked. Also the riders get more than a 16 week Zero-To-Hero course.
It's a long, long time since war horses were trained - these days you get the RSPCA on your case for thinking about that loudly.
"Feminism has left middle-aged women like me single, childless and depressed We were taught to prioritise our careers over marriage – and now we are paying for it Petronella Wyatt"
Are you sure it was feminism, rather than the affair with Boris Johnson?
Not sure, but was a bit shocked by the article, how disappointed she seems with life.
She certainly sounds quite depressed. I have some sympathy for her, but she came from a wealthy family, is well educated and has agency. That includes wasting her fertile years as the mistress of a notorious philanderer that paid for her abortion. She sounds more a doormat than a feminist.
Wyatt is coping with / recovering from 6 months of clinical depression. I'd suggest that talking about it and thinking about explanations are part of that process. I think she may be lashing out.
That another article in a couple of months may show a different, somewhat balancing, perspective.
She wrote an affecting and honest-sounding column about it here in the Mail 2 months ago, which is well worth a read: https://archive.ph/QvX8x
For a Daily Mail article, it is not at all Daily Mail.
I'm not going to attempt to comment on how much of a hammer blow the final realisation of having no children is to a single woman, or what is does to one's head. I do know all about how random onset of serious health conditions arrives in life like a blow from a poleaxe, and she has my sympathy.
I do think that part of this may be the dark side of a 'glamorous' London life amongst the set her family moved into when her father switched politics, and how an independent woman perhaps does not fit in there.
I'm tempted to read Marjorie Hillis, which has been on my shelves for some time.
Yes, that is an interesting piece. Despite her private GP and Psychiatrist it was turning up in crisis at the NHS that started on the road to recovery. The NHS isn't just for other people.
I think the NHS experience would be a punctuation mark - a sudden encounter with reality / metanoia. Going in an ambulance is like that; illusions get stripped away dramatically. To borrow a phrase .. castles built in the air just melt away.
Having read a little further, she has a lot of sympathy for me having seemingly been fucked over quite so ruthlessly by Johnson.
The long affair involving a promise of leaving his wife for her, and both an abortion and a miscarriage. Johnson is now - 20+ years later - ensconced with a new wife he married at the age that Wyatt was when this all happened, and three young children. For someone mentally going round in circles about regret over being childless, that may be very difficult indeed.
Despite the disappearance of old taboos, it’s quite reasonable to call someone out as a pig, for the way they treat others in their personal lives.
Johnson is a pig, as indeed are a number of adulterous MP’s.
Hasn't been released in the UK yet, but I can heartily recommend "The Fall Guy" - two stars at the top of their game and more crazy chases than you could shake a traffic cop at. Classic popcorn movie. Stay for the credits for a surprise cameo.
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
That’s fair enough but Forbes can’t run away from her public remarks . She may well say this is a personal matter and won’t effect how she governs but some people will feel judged by her comments .
You halfwit all politician's have their own views on subjects /topics. I see no whinging when it is an English Anglican, Hindu, muslim , etc. Bunch of bigoted arseholes just because she is Scottish.
I see you’ve started the day with your lovely warm welcoming tone ! I’m well aware that politicians have their own views , the problem is putting them out there . If Sunak said he was against abortion and same sex marriage do you think that might become an issue for him politically.
She never said it like that though, she said she personally was not in favour but that was only her personal opinion and not one she would force in her political sphere. Fact she has some principles as opposed to your example of Sunak is much more important.
I get that . But you know the score re politics. It will hurt her if she becomes FM .
Well has Humza running muslim prayers from Bute House or promoting Gaza seen much rancour. I cannot see it being an issue personally. I think it would be well down the list of issues people are concerned about, way down. However you could be right , there are a lot of stupid people roaming the streets.
Be fair, though - a stupid Scotsman is worth 10 times more than a stupid Englishman any day of the week, as all doublewits are aware.
Yousafs only way to survive is to accept the list of demands from Salmond by way of Ash Regan.
We know people like to cling to power but really this surely would be too much to stomach and would allow the opposition parties to have a field day .
He really messed up today and has no one to blame but himself .
So the stage is set for Kate Forbes who ironically might cause more problems for the opposition , that’s if she can overcome her position on certain social issues .
I’m wondering whether the Tories are willing to accept this as an SNP recovery would dent Labour chances more than their own.
Forbes likely to become trickier longer term. I doubt she can completely change the SNP's positioning and case for independence quickly or cleanly enough for things to go well for them at any soon to be held elections. Labour in particular would be quite gleeful to see the tanks removed from their lawn after Salmond and Sturgeon parked them there for so long.
Westminster is irrelevant as the English will never give up their last colony willingly, she could start really sorting out for independence and easily get landslide in 2026 at Holyrood where it really counts.
I've no idea what's going on up there. I've previously suggested to Stuart when he posted here that rather than pursue the colonial angle, in his case with an anti-English slant, a better case for Scottish independence might be that most of the English just don't care.
In decades past, I knew whole groups of couples from London who'd honeymooned in Scotland, often Fort William, but cheap European travel has come at the expense of Scotland. That personal link is dying out and trips to the Edinburgh Festival do not replace it.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
German style breakfasts are almost as disappointing as French ones. Truly, I have never had a great breakfast outside the English-speaking world.
British hotel breakfasts are great. I would probably put Turkey no 1 then the British Isles including Ireland etc.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
Was Elizabeth ready in 1952? Or George VI in 1936? Or Victoria in 1837? Some of our greatest Monarchs were not remotely ready for Accession.
Monarchy is a lottery. We get the next in line, suitable or not.
The monarchy was far less visible in 1952, let alone 1936 and 1837. And the newcomers had Churchill, Baldwin and Lord Melbourne to guide them. But, you are right, it is a total lottery. Now that it can't hide away, that matters a lot more than it did.
If William, for whatever reason, cannot cope as Monarch, to the extent that the survival of the institution is threatened, then Parliament will find someone who can.
The system is not a total lottery, and it hasn't been since at least 1688. Britain chooses its monarchs.
The options if William flops are neither obvious nor straightforward for Parliament to bring in.
Fortunately we have Harry as "Spare", but I cannot see the Palace flunkies accepting that.
To which the answer ought to be "tough". Flunkies are there to serve the institution, not the other way round. But there are plenty of situations where the flunkies are in control and run things for their benefit.
But a lot of people in the Palace and the media would have to swallow a lot of humble pie for Harry to return. Hard to see it happening, however grave the crisis.
We're getting into fantasy politics a bit, but say William refuses, and also does so on behalf of his line, and Harry does likewise, is Andrew next? That's a chilling prospect.
No as the Accession Council would refuse to approve Andrew. Most likely they would choose Edward or Anne instead.
However William has already spoken about what he will do as King so it is a theoretical question only. Plus if he didn't George would be King with maybe a Regent until he reached 18.
Meghan would also be straight back to the UK like a shot if she knew she could be Queen
I suspect Chris Philp did actually know Congo and Rwanda are separate countries. His question was rhetorical.
The more arresting thing was he clearly had no idea of the dynamics of the long running conflict in Eastern DRC and the role of Rwandan troops and paramilitaries there. That was the whole point of the man’s question. Yet Philps along with his parliamentary party has just voted to make it law that Rwanda is safe.
The whole thing of passing a law on a factual matter still blows my mind. Think of the opportunities:
- The cleanliness of seawater bill - The integrity of the Fujitsu Horizon system bill - The veracity of seven bins bill - The London definitely is a crime ridden hellhole with no go areas and centre of the metropolitan elite including the Daily Star bill
“Safe” is a relative criteria not an absolute one.
Nowhere is “safe”. I could be hit by a bus in London. I could catch HIV from a vampire facial (WTF?) in LA.
Parliament has simply determined that - for the purposes of their asylum policy - that Rwanda is “safe enough”. That’s because the courts decided that it wasn’t “safe” according to the court’s criteria.
It’s easy to mock, but what they determined was entirely within their remit (not opining on the accuracy of their judgement)
"Safe" is subjective and can be counter intuitive. Subject any action to a risk assessment and varying degrees of hazard can be identified. The terms of reference are also important.
On the balance of probability most asylum seekers sent to Rwanda will not be gunned down for complaining about the nutritional value of their meals. Some might (again) but the majority won't. So on balance it is more safe than unsafe, but it is not without jeopardy.
Likewise swimming with very well fed and contented pet sharks is on the balance of probability safe but not without jeopardy. The Government could thus determine that swimming with sharks on balance is relatively "safe" because on the evidence available (i.e. of their choosing, and this is important) you are more likely to be not eaten than eaten by swimming with sharks.
I'm still amused by the "Sunak is 6ft 2in" bill.
That's factually flawed. In fact it's a lie. They couldn't get away with that. However the Sunak is a very, very tall man bill could work if someone of the height of say Warwick Davis is your term of reference.
Just need to redefine the foot and inch, in the old mediaeval manner of using the royal body as the standard ell etc. The inch shall be 1/12 of the foot and 74 inches will be the height of the Prime Minister in his trainers.
Nobody sane uses them these days for anything important anyway.
"Feminism has left middle-aged women like me single, childless and depressed We were taught to prioritise our careers over marriage – and now we are paying for it Petronella Wyatt"
Are you sure it was feminism, rather than the affair with Boris Johnson?
Not sure, but was a bit shocked by the article, how disappointed she seems with life.
She certainly sounds quite depressed. I have some sympathy for her, but she came from a wealthy family, is well educated and has agency. That includes wasting her fertile years as the mistress of a notorious philanderer that paid for her abortion. She sounds more a doormat than a feminist.
Wyatt is coping with / recovering from 6 months of clinical depression. I'd suggest that talking about it and thinking about explanations are part of that process. I think she may be lashing out.
That another article in a couple of months may show a different, somewhat balancing, perspective.
She wrote an affecting and honest-sounding column about it here in the Mail 2 months ago, which is well worth a read: https://archive.ph/QvX8x
For a Daily Mail article, it is not at all Daily Mail.
I'm not going to attempt to comment on how much of a hammer blow the final realisation of having no children is to a single woman, or what is does to one's head. I do know all about how random onset of serious health conditions arrives in life like a blow from a poleaxe, and she has my sympathy.
I do think that part of this may be the dark side of a 'glamorous' London life amongst the set her family moved into when her father switched politics, and how an independent woman perhaps does not fit in there.
I'm tempted to read Marjorie Hillis, which has been on my shelves for some time.
Yes, that is an interesting piece. Despite her private GP and Psychiatrist it was turning up in crisis at the NHS that started on the road to recovery. The NHS isn't just for other people.
I think the NHS experience would be a punctuation mark - a sudden encounter with reality / metanoia. Going in an ambulance is like that; illusions get stripped away dramatically. To borrow a phrase .. castles built in the air just melt away.
Having read a little further, she has a lot of sympathy for me having seemingly been fucked over quite so ruthlessly by Johnson.
The long affair involving a promise of leaving his wife for her, and both an abortion and a miscarriage. Johnson is now - 20+ years later - ensconced with a new wife he married at the age that Wyatt was when this all happened, and three young children. For someone mentally going round in circles about regret over being childless, that may be very difficult indeed.
Despite the disappearance of old taboos, it’s quite reasonable to call someone out as a pig, for the way they treat others in their personal lives.
Johnson is a pig, as indeed are a number of adulterous MP’s.
That's grossly unfair and horribly cruel. To Large Whites, Old Spots and Saddlebacks.
Hasn't been released in the UK yet, but I can heartily recommend "The Fall Guy" - two stars at the top of their game and more crazy chases than you could shake a traffic cop at. Classic popcorn movie. Stay for the credits for a surprise cameo.
I suspect Chris Philp did actually know Congo and Rwanda are separate countries. His question was rhetorical.
The more arresting thing was he clearly had no idea of the dynamics of the long running conflict in Eastern DRC and the role of Rwandan troops and paramilitaries there. That was the whole point of the man’s question. Yet Philps along with his parliamentary party has just voted to make it law that Rwanda is safe.
The whole thing of passing a law on a factual matter still blows my mind. Think of the opportunities:
- The cleanliness of seawater bill - The integrity of the Fujitsu Horizon system bill - The veracity of seven bins bill - The London definitely is a crime ridden hellhole with no go areas and centre of the metropolitan elite including the Daily Star bill
“Safe” is a relative criteria not an absolute one.
Nowhere is “safe”. I could be hit by a bus in London. I could catch HIV from a vampire facial (WTF?) in LA.
Parliament has simply determined that - for the purposes of their asylum policy - that Rwanda is “safe enough”. That’s because the courts decided that it wasn’t “safe” according to the court’s criteria.
It’s easy to mock, but what they determined was entirely within their remit (not opining on the accuracy of their judgement)
"Safe" is subjective and can be counter intuitive. Subject any action to a risk assessment and varying degrees of hazard can be identified. The terms of reference are also important.
On the balance of probability most asylum seekers sent to Rwanda will not be gunned down for complaining about the nutritional value of their meals. Some might (again) but the majority won't. So on balance it is more safe than unsafe, but it is not without jeopardy.
Likewise swimming with very well fed and contented pet sharks is on the balance of probability safe but not without jeopardy. The Government could thus determine that swimming with sharks on balance is relatively "safe" because on the evidence available (i.e. of their choosing, and this is important) you are more likely to be not eaten than eaten by swimming with sharks.
I'm still amused by the "Sunak is 6ft 2in" bill.
That's factually flawed. In fact it's a lie. They couldn't get away with that. However the Sunak is a very, very tall man bill could work if someone of the height of say Warwick Davis is your term of reference.
Just need to redefine the foot and inch, in the old mediaeval manner of using the royal body as the standard ell etc. The inch shall be 1/12 of the foot and 74 inches will be the height of the Prime Minister in his trainers.
Nobody sane uses them these days for anything important anyway.
I made no claim about "facts" .
"factually", "lie" - but it's pointless to worry about facts anyway, as Parliament can define anything as anything these days, vide Rwanda. And, as we see right this moment on PB, the notion that the Sovereign is somehow divinely ordained to rule.
"Feminism has left middle-aged women like me single, childless and depressed We were taught to prioritise our careers over marriage – and now we are paying for it Petronella Wyatt"
Are you sure it was feminism, rather than the affair with Boris Johnson?
Not sure, but was a bit shocked by the article, how disappointed she seems with life.
She certainly sounds quite depressed. I have some sympathy for her, but she came from a wealthy family, is well educated and has agency. That includes wasting her fertile years as the mistress of a notorious philanderer that paid for her abortion. She sounds more a doormat than a feminist.
Wyatt is coping with / recovering from 6 months of clinical depression. I'd suggest that talking about it and thinking about explanations are part of that process. I think she may be lashing out.
That another article in a couple of months may show a different, somewhat balancing, perspective.
She wrote an affecting and honest-sounding column about it here in the Mail 2 months ago, which is well worth a read: https://archive.ph/QvX8x
For a Daily Mail article, it is not at all Daily Mail.
I'm not going to attempt to comment on how much of a hammer blow the final realisation of having no children is to a single woman, or what is does to one's head. I do know all about how random onset of serious health conditions arrives in life like a blow from a poleaxe, and she has my sympathy.
I do think that part of this may be the dark side of a 'glamorous' London life amongst the set her family moved into when her father switched politics, and how an independent woman perhaps does not fit in there.
I'm tempted to read Marjorie Hillis, which has been on my shelves for some time.
Yes, that is an interesting piece. Despite her private GP and Psychiatrist it was turning up in crisis at the NHS that started on the road to recovery. The NHS isn't just for other people.
I think the NHS experience would be a punctuation mark - a sudden encounter with reality / metanoia. Going in an ambulance is like that; illusions get stripped away dramatically. To borrow a phrase .. castles built in the air just melt away.
Having read a little further, she has a lot of sympathy for me having seemingly been fucked over quite so ruthlessly by Johnson.
The long affair involving a promise of leaving his wife for her, and both an abortion and a miscarriage. Johnson is now - 20+ years later - ensconced with a new wife he married at the age that Wyatt was when this all happened, and three young children. For someone mentally going round in circles about regret over being childless, that may be very difficult indeed.
Despite the disappearance of old taboos, it’s quite reasonable to call someone out as a pig, for the way they treat others in their personal lives.
Johnson is a pig, as indeed are a number of adulterous MP’s.
That's grossly unfair and horribly cruel. To Large Whites, Old Spots and Saddlebacks.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Certainly we did well on the economic front, and had the best music too, but the Milenials and Gen Z are OK. Many things have got better since I were their age. Not least the prospect of nuclear obliteration.
Hasn't been released in the UK yet, but I can heartily recommend "The Fall Guy" - two stars at the top of their game and more crazy chases than you could shake a traffic cop at. Classic popcorn movie. Stay for the credits for a surprise cameo.
The Scottish government would be the voice of a particular kind of largely-Glaswegian smugness: holier than thou, briskly intolerant of alternative views, and firmly of the view that if the people lacked the wisdom or vision to appreciate what was good for them the government would impose it upon them anyway. An eat-your-oat-milk-porridge kind of ministry certain of its own moral probity and powered by its own sanctimonious certainty.
I suspect Chris Philp did actually know Congo and Rwanda are separate countries. His question was rhetorical.
The more arresting thing was he clearly had no idea of the dynamics of the long running conflict in Eastern DRC and the role of Rwandan troops and paramilitaries there. That was the whole point of the man’s question. Yet Philps along with his parliamentary party has just voted to make it law that Rwanda is safe.
The whole thing of passing a law on a factual matter still blows my mind. Think of the opportunities:
- The cleanliness of seawater bill - The integrity of the Fujitsu Horizon system bill - The veracity of seven bins bill - The London definitely is a crime ridden hellhole with no go areas and centre of the metropolitan elite including the Daily Star bill
“Safe” is a relative criteria not an absolute one.
Nowhere is “safe”. I could be hit by a bus in London. I could catch HIV from a vampire facial (WTF?) in LA.
Parliament has simply determined that - for the purposes of their asylum policy - that Rwanda is “safe enough”. That’s because the courts decided that it wasn’t “safe” according to the court’s criteria.
It’s easy to mock, but what they determined was entirely within their remit (not opining on the accuracy of their judgement)
"Safe" is subjective and can be counter intuitive. Subject any action to a risk assessment and varying degrees of hazard can be identified. The terms of reference are also important.
On the balance of probability most asylum seekers sent to Rwanda will not be gunned down for complaining about the nutritional value of their meals. Some might (again) but the majority won't. So on balance it is more safe than unsafe, but it is not without jeopardy.
Likewise swimming with very well fed and contented pet sharks is on the balance of probability safe but not without jeopardy. The Government could thus determine that swimming with sharks on balance is relatively "safe" because on the evidence available (i.e. of their choosing, and this is important) you are more likely to be not eaten than eaten by swimming with sharks.
I'm still amused by the "Sunak is 6ft 2in" bill.
That's factually flawed. In fact it's a lie. They couldn't get away with that. However the Sunak is a very, very tall man bill could work if someone of the height of say Warwick Davis is your term of reference.
Just need to redefine the foot and inch, in the old mediaeval manner of using the royal body as the standard ell etc. The inch shall be 1/12 of the foot and 74 inches will be the height of the Prime Minister in his trainers.
Nobody sane uses them these days for anything important anyway.
The Scottish government would be the voice of a particular kind of largely-Glaswegian smugness: holier than thou, briskly intolerant of alternative views, and firmly of the view that if the people lacked the wisdom or vision to appreciate what was good for them the government would impose it upon them anyway. An eat-your-oat-milk-porridge kind of ministry certain of its own moral probity and powered by its own sanctimonious certainty.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
The biggest surprise over the last year has been how well the pro independence polling has held up inspite of all the SNP drama.
There appears to be a very deep-seated "if anything is wrong, its the fault of the union" mentality. Which sustains regardless of evidence or sanity.
Evidence is that the union has all the powers and England makes the decisions. What bit of that is hard to understand.
Just so we are clear - you are saying that decisions made in the Scottish Parliament by the Scottish government run by the Scottish National Party are where "England makes the decisions"?
So the Hate law was the English? The Deposit Return Scheme? Ferries? The Bute House Agreement?
"Feminism has left middle-aged women like me single, childless and depressed We were taught to prioritise our careers over marriage – and now we are paying for it Petronella Wyatt"
Are you sure it was feminism, rather than the affair with Boris Johnson?
Not sure, but was a bit shocked by the article, how disappointed she seems with life.
She certainly sounds quite depressed. I have some sympathy for her, but she came from a wealthy family, is well educated and has agency. That includes wasting her fertile years as the mistress of a notorious philanderer that paid for her abortion. She sounds more a doormat than a feminist.
Wyatt is coping with / recovering from 6 months of clinical depression. I'd suggest that talking about it and thinking about explanations are part of that process. I think she may be lashing out.
That another article in a couple of months may show a different, somewhat balancing, perspective.
She wrote an affecting and honest-sounding column about it here in the Mail 2 months ago, which is well worth a read: https://archive.ph/QvX8x
For a Daily Mail article, it is not at all Daily Mail.
I'm not going to attempt to comment on how much of a hammer blow the final realisation of having no children is to a single woman, or what is does to one's head. I do know all about how random onset of serious health conditions arrives in life like a blow from a poleaxe, and she has my sympathy.
I do think that part of this may be the dark side of a 'glamorous' London life amongst the set her family moved into when her father switched politics, and how an independent woman perhaps does not fit in there.
I'm tempted to read Marjorie Hillis, which has been on my shelves for some time.
Yes, that is an interesting piece. Despite her private GP and Psychiatrist it was turning up in crisis at the NHS that started on the road to recovery. The NHS isn't just for other people.
I think the NHS experience would be a punctuation mark - a sudden encounter with reality / metanoia. Going in an ambulance is like that; illusions get stripped away dramatically. To borrow a phrase .. castles built in the air just melt away.
Having read a little further, she has a lot of sympathy for me having seemingly been fucked over quite so ruthlessly by Johnson.
The long affair involving a promise of leaving his wife for her, and both an abortion and a miscarriage. Johnson is now - 20+ years later - ensconced with a new wife he married at the age that Wyatt was when this all happened, and three young children. For someone mentally going round in circles about regret over being childless, that may be very difficult indeed.
Despite the disappearance of old taboos, it’s quite reasonable to call someone out as a pig, for the way they treat others in their personal lives.
Johnson is a pig, as indeed are a number of adulterous MP’s.
The carnage that Johnson leaves in his wake, but he never looks in the rear view mirror.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
AI is just another economic revolution that is going to cause huge amounts of economic growth and massive disruption to the labour market.
I have decided that it will just be like the Highland Clearances - we'll all end up as fishermen or emigrate to Canada.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
It's been obvious from the moment the Palace went public with the diagnosis that he is very seriously ill.
His cancer was discovered when he was having treatment for his enlarged prostate so everyone assumed that meant it was caught at an early stage, but that isn't necessarily so.
If it had been caught at an early stage the first line of treatment would have been an operation to remove the malignancy (the surgical route is ALWAYS the primary treatment route with cancer if and when possible)
The fact they discovered the cancer incidentally and he is then having chemo (or radiotherapy, or both) suggests the cancer was non-operable at the point it was discovered (NOTE: the exception would be in the case of blood cancers such as lymphoma or leukemia)
My guess is that King Charles has a very serious cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, which is infamous for not giving any symptoms until so advanced its non-operable and only showed up in routine blood tests when he had his procedure on his prostate.
Even at the point it was noticed in his bloods it had probably already seeded to his liver, unfortunately.
Hopefully the treatment he is getting will give him some quality time with his loved ones and make him as comfortable as possible.
(Speaking purely in the capacity of a cancer survivor since 2022)
I think this a likely analysis. Straight to non-surgical treatment means either lymphoma/leukemia or advanced disease. Lymphoma could be an incidental finding, leukemia more likely to be picked up on routine bloods. A further possibility would be bladder cancer operated on at the time of the prostate op.
Keeping the funeral plans updated seems a wise precaution. A long reign into his nineties looks unlikely.
The reports from outside the UK are pancreatic cancer. No idea if accurate. Updating the funeral plans is wise in any event with a new monarch in his 70's but that doesn't preclude an increased focus owing to the diagnosis.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
He is almost twenty years older than his grandmother was when she became monarch and about the same age as the PM.
In medieval and Tudor times monarchs regularly took the throne in childhood or their teens or twenties. They were effectively absolute monarchs not a constitutional monarch like he will be
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
What do you do when the next President abolishes democracy, and won't tax the assets of the wealthy ?
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
Was Elizabeth ready in 1952? Or George VI in 1936? Or Victoria in 1837? Some of our greatest Monarchs were not remotely ready for Accession.
Monarchy is a lottery. We get the next in line, suitable or not.
The monarchy was far less visible in 1952, let alone 1936 and 1837. And the newcomers had Churchill, Baldwin and Lord Melbourne to guide them. But, you are right, it is a total lottery. Now that it can't hide away, that matters a lot more than it did.
If William, for whatever reason, cannot cope as Monarch, to the extent that the survival of the institution is threatened, then Parliament will find someone who can.
The system is not a total lottery, and it hasn't been since at least 1688. Britain chooses its monarchs.
The options if William flops are neither obvious nor straightforward for Parliament to bring in.
Fortunately we have Harry as "Spare", but I cannot see the Palace flunkies accepting that.
To which the answer ought to be "tough". Flunkies are there to serve the institution, not the other way round. But there are plenty of situations where the flunkies are in control and run things for their benefit.
But a lot of people in the Palace and the media would have to swallow a lot of humble pie for Harry to return. Hard to see it happening, however grave the crisis.
We're getting into fantasy politics a bit, but say William refuses, and also does so on behalf of his line, and Harry does likewise, is Andrew next? That's a chilling prospect.
Parliament would choose Edward or Anne over Andrew. Both of them would be at least okay. The question mark is over whether their respective children would adjust.
I’m a bit confused re the Kings cancer . Wouldn’t he have been regularly screened so any cancer would have been caught early ?
Screening is not possible for all cancers (as far as I know) and some that are aggressive can arise relatively quickly - how often do you intend to scan? And by what method? Routine colonoscopy every few years is useful for bowel cancer, mammograms for breast (mainly, but not exclusively for women) and cervical smears too. Keeping an eye on moles is useful for melanoma. If its pancreatic then I am not aware of a routine screen that would show it other than PET scanning enhanced with contrast agents. I'm not sure that peripheral/routine bloods would show anything.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
You're going to need a lot of robots to tax then.
What happens if they're all based in other countries.
You wait YEARS for an emergency Cabinet meeting to come along, and then there's a bunch of them all at once...
I'm old enough to remember when a sex scandal bringing down a Government wasn't about gender.
Similarly, you can wait years for a new sovereign. And then suddenly….
Jeez the royal family suddenly looks very small. Harry needs to shape up
This is not idle speculation. The foreign press is sounding the alarum over our king - and they are quite often correct. This makes me sad, I rather like KCIII, I agree with him entirely about architecture. I wish he could design every new build in the country
I hope it’s all wrong and he’ll be apples but hmmmmmmmm
I like him a lot more now he is King. I don't think he is a particularly intelligent chap (FOAF stories of tutoring him from long ago) but his instincts seem mostly correct. And as King he can exert influence that he could not as PoW. I wish him well and hope he has many years. He waited long enough for the gig.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Certainly we did well on the economic front, and had the best music too, but the Milenials and Gen Z are OK. Many things have got better since I were their age. Not least the prospect of nuclear obliteration.
= And I don't think going for Forbes is the answer for the SNP
Going for a reactionary god-botherer would be the final nail in the coffin. Also the forehead. It's like a cinema screen.
I think Forbes is more nuanced than that.
I think the way Farron was harassed out of his leadership reflects poorly on our country. The same scrutiny of belief is not applied to non-Christian politicians.
The essence of Liberalism is that we have private views and beliefs but do not force them on others. I think both Farron and Forbes take this approach. Being an Evangelical Christian FM is no more problem than being a Muslim or Hindu one.
That’s fair enough but Forbes can’t run away from her public remarks . She may well say this is a personal matter and won’t effect how she governs but some people will feel judged by her comments .
You halfwit all politician's have their own views on subjects /topics. I see no whinging when it is an English Anglican, Hindu, muslim , etc. Bunch of bigoted arseholes just because she is Scottish.
I see you’ve started the day with your lovely warm welcoming tone ! I’m well aware that politicians have their own views , the problem is putting them out there . If Sunak said he was against abortion and same sex marriage do you think that might become an issue for him politically.
She never said it like that though, she said she personally was not in favour but that was only her personal opinion and not one she would force in her political sphere. Fact she has some principles as opposed to your example of Sunak is much more important.
I get that . But you know the score re politics. It will hurt her if she becomes FM .
Well has Humza running muslim prayers from Bute House or promoting Gaza seen much rancour. I cannot see it being an issue personally. I think it would be well down the list of issues people are concerned about, way down. However you could be right , there are a lot of stupid people roaming the streets.
Be fair, though - a stupid Scotsman is worth 10 times more than a stupid Englishman any day of the week, as all doublewits are aware.
Hasn't been released in the UK yet, but I can heartily recommend "The Fall Guy" - two stars at the top of their game and more crazy chases than you could shake a traffic cop at. Classic popcorn movie. Stay for the credits for a surprise cameo.
The biggest surprise over the last year has been how well the pro independence polling has held up inspite of all the SNP drama.
There appears to be a very deep-seated "if anything is wrong, its the fault of the union" mentality. Which sustains regardless of evidence or sanity.
Evidence is that the union has all the powers and England makes the decisions. What bit of that is hard to understand.
Just so we are clear - you are saying that decisions made in the Scottish Parliament by the Scottish government run by the Scottish National Party are where "England makes the decisions"?
So the Hate law was the English? The Deposit Return Scheme? Ferries? The Bute House Agreement?
I am talking about the real powers , not those demented clowns local pecadilo's. Fact is that almost all relevant powers of Government are held by Westminster and anyone who pretends otherwise is lying. Not to say these clowns cannot cause trouble and local chaos, waste what money they do get etc.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
AI will be a boon to productivity and the challenge is to ensure the benefits do not go the Few at the expense of the Many. This will require intelligent enlightened interventionist governments in power around the world. So there's nothing to worry about.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
He is almost twenty years older than his grandmother was when she became monarch and about the same age as the PM.
In medieval and Tudor times monarchs regularly took the throne in childhood or their teens or twenties. They were effectively absolute monarchs not a constitutional monarch like he will be
Also being monarch is a "God bestowed duty". You start at the role as soon as the King/Queen Dies and arry on until your own death. How old you actually are is irrelevant.
I love Jodie Whittaker. Fabulous actor who has played some absolutely brilliant and spellbinding roles. It wasn't her being boring, it was Chibnall's writing.
Tend to agree. Chibnall wrote terrible stories and committed the cardinal sin for Dr Who of having too many companions. Having the Doctor plus three others worked the slow paced era of the 1960's, but not in 45 minute , fast paced 2020's Dr Who. Plus all the companions seemed to become mini-doctors - able to do things far beyond what they should have been able to do. The role of the companion is to place the audience in the story, not to be the hero (aside of great moments, such as Catherine Tate's companion realising the colony had been their only a few weeks and that the eternal war was less than a month old (the Doctor's Daughter). Whittaker is a fine actor and was playing the role that was (badly) created for her.
Yousafs only way to survive is to accept the list of demands from Salmond by way of Ash Regan.
We know people like to cling to power but really this surely would be too much to stomach and would allow the opposition parties to have a field day .
He really messed up today and has no one to blame but himself .
So the stage is set for Kate Forbes who ironically might cause more problems for the opposition , that’s if she can overcome her position on certain social issues .
I’m wondering whether the Tories are willing to accept this as an SNP recovery would dent Labour chances more than their own.
Forbes likely to become trickier longer term. I doubt she can completely change the SNP's positioning and case for independence quickly or cleanly enough for things to go well for them at any soon to be held elections. Labour in particular would be quite gleeful to see the tanks removed from their lawn after Salmond and Sturgeon parked them there for so long.
Westminster is irrelevant as the English will never give up their last colony willingly, she could start really sorting out for independence and easily get landslide in 2026 at Holyrood where it really counts.
I've no idea what's going on up there. I've previously suggested to Stuart when he posted here that rather than pursue the colonial angle, in his case with an anti-English slant, a better case for Scottish independence might be that most of the English just don't care.
In decades past, I knew whole groups of couples from London who'd honeymooned in Scotland, often Fort William, but cheap European travel has come at the expense of Scotland. That personal link is dying out and trips to the Edinburgh Festival do not replace it.
Impossible to ignore the colonial angle given England decides what Scotland gets, easier to dismiss from down south I grant you. I am not anti-English but am anti England ruling Scotland, huge difference. Majority are the same.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
Its 25 years since I (briefly) worked in broadcasting. But even then both BBC Manchester and EMAP Radio had regularly updated obit packages ready to roll at a moment's notice. This is nothing new.
This is different. The updates reference the cancer killing him.
The King has cancer. Of course they are doing obit packages that talk about cancer. There will be alternatives about old age or "peacefully in his sleep".
The point about obits is that they need to appear to be current - the persona has died, what happened etc. So as the situation that person is in evolves, the obits evolve. They can't just leave them in stasis.
Indeed. A cure would be the occasion for yet another update, all with the dispassion of the news machine.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
AI will be a boon to productivity and the challenge is to ensure the benefits do not go the Few at the expense of the Many. This will require intelligent enlightened interventionist governments in power around the world. So there's nothing to worry about.
As opposed to the world of Judge Dredd, with 90% unemployment.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Certainly we did well on the economic front, and had the best music too, but the Milenials and Gen Z are OK. Many things have got better since I were their age. Not least the prospect of nuclear obliteration.
The early boomers had it better for music (British invasion and seventies rock), but it was fairly easy to tap into the later stages of that genere. We definitely had the short straw when it comes to politics: Strikes, Winter of discontent followed by a decade of Thatcher. What was great for our generation was the comedy, which seemed to explode once Not the nine O'clock news started.
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
He is almost twenty years older than his grandmother was when she became monarch and about the same age as the PM.
In medieval and Tudor times monarchs regularly took the throne in childhood or their teens or twenties. They were effectively absolute monarchs not a constitutional monarch like he will be
Also being monarch is a "God bestowed duty". You start at the role as soon as the King/Queen Dies and arry on until your own death. How old you actually are is irrelevant.
Well, that might be the issue. Does William have faith in God? Or is his sense of duty more at the level of it being something he's always been told he must do?
When Pa and Grandma are no longer around to disappoint, how important will that duty feel to him?
Harry decided there were things more important than duty. William might decide the same. Who can tell?
I’m a bit confused re the Kings cancer . Wouldn’t he have been regularly screened so any cancer would have been caught early ?
Screening is not possible for all cancers (as far as I know) and some that are aggressive can arise relatively quickly - how often do you intend to scan? And by what method? Routine colonoscopy every few years is useful for bowel cancer, mammograms for breast (mainly, but not exclusively for women) and cervical smears too. Keeping an eye on moles is useful for melanoma. If its pancreatic then I am not aware of a routine screen that would show it other than PET scanning enhanced with contrast agents. I'm not sure that peripheral/routine bloods would show anything.
Lots of research going on in blood biomarker screening for cancers, though.
Very early detection & immunotherapy is the ideal - but as you suggest, that's some ways off. Probably too late for Leon and me, but not for our kids.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
You're going to need a lot of robots to tax then.
What happens if they're all based in other countries.
A lot of government revenue, most of it in fact, comes from labour income one way or another. Capital income tends to be hard to tax. And most AIs will claim domicile in the US, China or some low tax jurisdiction. The fact that most technological change in recent years is in the shape of zero marginal cost computing activity that is delivered free to the end user already poses huge challenges to the tax authorities. AI is just a continuation, and an acceleration, of that trend. An economy without physical stuff, without workers, and with the capital based overseas, is not one that lends itself to tax and spend. UBI will be a challenge.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/business-68893655 ...Angela van den Bogerd was right at the centre of this scandal but you wouldn’t have got that impression if you’d listened to her evidence yesterday.
She distanced herself from the big decisions being made.
For instance, when Post Office IT specialist Simon Baker sketched out a plan to sack independent investigators Second Sight - who were getting to the truth - van den Bogerd told the inquiry she’d no idea this was the strategy, despite having worked with Baker for more than a year.
"Can you tell us what you did do?" asked Jason Beer KC, one of the inquiry's counsel.
Today, we’re likely to hear more about her personal involvement with sub-postmaster and postmistresses.
Martin Griffiths took his own life in 2013 after being hounded for £100,000 worth of losses, which didn’t exist, at his Ellesmere Port branch.
Van den Bogerd is accused of pressuring his widow, Gina, to accept what Second Sight investigator Ron Warmington described as a "pistol to the head" deal, valid for one day only along with a gagging clause to prevent her from speaking about his case...
I suspect Chris Philp did actually know Congo and Rwanda are separate countries. His question was rhetorical.
The more arresting thing was he clearly had no idea of the dynamics of the long running conflict in Eastern DRC and the role of Rwandan troops and paramilitaries there. That was the whole point of the man’s question. Yet Philps along with his parliamentary party has just voted to make it law that Rwanda is safe.
The whole thing of passing a law on a factual matter still blows my mind. Think of the opportunities:
- The cleanliness of seawater bill - The integrity of the Fujitsu Horizon system bill - The veracity of seven bins bill - The London definitely is a crime ridden hellhole with no go areas and centre of the metropolitan elite including the Daily Star bill
“Safe” is a relative criteria not an absolute one.
Nowhere is “safe”. I could be hit by a bus in London. I could catch HIV from a vampire facial (WTF?) in LA.
Parliament has simply determined that - for the purposes of their asylum policy - that Rwanda is “safe enough”. That’s because the courts decided that it wasn’t “safe” according to the court’s criteria.
It’s easy to mock, but what they determined was entirely within their remit (not opining on the accuracy of their judgement)
"Safe" is subjective and can be counter intuitive. Subject any action to a risk assessment and varying degrees of hazard can be identified. The terms of reference are also important.
On the balance of probability most asylum seekers sent to Rwanda will not be gunned down for complaining about the nutritional value of their meals. Some might (again) but the majority won't. So on balance it is more safe than unsafe, but it is not without jeopardy.
Likewise swimming with very well fed and contented pet sharks is on the balance of probability safe but not without jeopardy. The Government could thus determine that swimming with sharks on balance is relatively "safe" because on the evidence available (i.e. of their choosing, and this is important) you are more likely to be not eaten than eaten by swimming with sharks.
I'm still amused by the "Sunak is 6ft 2in" bill.
That's factually flawed. In fact it's a lie. They couldn't get away with that. However the Sunak is a very, very tall man bill could work if someone of the height of say Warwick Davis is your term of reference.
Just need to redefine the foot and inch, in the old mediaeval manner of using the royal body as the standard ell etc. The inch shall be 1/12 of the foot and 74 inches will be the height of the Prime Minister in his trainers.
Nobody sane uses them these days for anything important anyway.
I made no claim about "facts" .
"factually", "lie" - but it's pointless to worry about facts anyway, as Parliament can define anything as anything these days, vide Rwanda. And, as we see right this moment on PB, the notion that the Sovereign is somehow divinely ordained to rule.
I suppose everybody has noted this before, but it's only just occurred to me that 'using the royal body as the standard' explains why we call a measuring stick a 'ruler'.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
You're going to need a lot of robots to tax then.
What happens if they're all based in other countries.
A lot of government revenue, most of it in fact, comes from labour income one way or another. Capital income tends to be hard to tax. And most AIs will claim domicile in the US, China or some low tax jurisdiction. The fact that most technological change in recent years is in the shape of zero marginal cost computing activity that is delivered free to the end user already poses huge challenges to the tax authorities. AI is just a continuation, and an acceleration, of that trend. An economy without physical stuff, without workers, and with the capital based overseas, is not one that lends itself to tax and spend. UBI will be a challenge.
The only things left to tax would be consumption and property.
Doesn’t he normally? I would have expected, since he’s going to be responsible for the report, that he’d be there 90% at least. Of course ‘responsible’ means something different when one is dealing with the Post Office!
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Certainly we did well on the economic front, and had the best music too, but the Milenials and Gen Z are OK. Many things have got better since I were their age. Not least the prospect of nuclear obliteration.
"Not least the prospect of nuclear obliteration"
Errrrr
You were asking about Breton souvenirs upthread. Have you seen the Henriot pottery in Quimper?
JUST IN - King Charles’ funeral plans reportedly being updated regularly after cancer diagnosis: ‘He is really very unwell’ - NY Post
A couple of weeks ago I heard (and Popbitch confirmed) that all the major papers/broadcasters in the UK were updating their obituaries for King Charles III.
Even as a cold hearted republican this news made me sad, doubly so for Prince William who must be going every circle of hell with his father and wife both battling cancer.
William does not give the impression of being even remotely ready to be King. He needs his Dad to hold on for a few more years.
He is almost twenty years older than his grandmother was when she became monarch and about the same age as the PM.
In medieval and Tudor times monarchs regularly took the throne in childhood or their teens or twenties. They were effectively absolute monarchs not a constitutional monarch like he will be
Also being monarch is a "God bestowed duty". You start at the role as soon as the King/Queen Dies and arry on until your own death. How old you actually are is irrelevant.
Well, that might be the issue. Does William have faith in God? Or is his sense of duty more at the level of it being something he's always been told he must do?
When Pa and Grandma are no longer around to disappoint, how important will that duty feel to him?
Harry decided there were things more important than duty. William might decide the same. Who can tell?
Catherine will be severely disappointed not to be Queen!
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
You're going to need a lot of robots to tax then.
What happens if they're all based in other countries.
A lot of government revenue, most of it in fact, comes from labour income one way or another. Capital income tends to be hard to tax. And most AIs will claim domicile in the US, China or some low tax jurisdiction. The fact that most technological change in recent years is in the shape of zero marginal cost computing activity that is delivered free to the end user already poses huge challenges to the tax authorities. AI is just a continuation, and an acceleration, of that trend. An economy without physical stuff, without workers, and with the capital based overseas, is not one that lends itself to tax and spend. UBI will be a challenge.
The only things left to tax would be consumption and property.
Quite hard to tax property if the owners are as broke as everyone else.
I love Jodie Whittaker. Fabulous actor who has played some absolutely brilliant and spellbinding roles. It wasn't her being boring, it was Chibnall's writing.
Jodie Whittaker's Doctor had many failings. Chibnall's writing was one. The production team's cowardice and lack of faith in a female lead meant surrounding her with a whole posse which limited everyone's screen time, and remember that under Moffatt they'd been testing the water with a lady master and the whole River nonsense. Whittaker gabbled her lines which meant my continental Whovian friends struggled to understand, whereas they'd had no difficulty with Jodie in Broadchurch where she spoke normally. And as we've said, Chibnall.
But when she was on her own, with Yaz, it was no better either.
When Davison's Doctor was shorn of Adric the character and the dynamics really improved.
In this case it didn't. It was just more of the same. She was trying to be quirky and idiosynchratic and just came over as contrived.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
Do people understand how good written/literary AI is now? I just asked Claude 3 Opus this question. Its a new conversation so its memory starts entirely blank
“Good morning Claude I hope you’re good. I’m a writer called Leon and I’m doing a travel piece in Brittany. Right now I’m off to the Crozon peninsula. What should I do there?”
2 seconds later:
“Good morning Leon! The Crozon peninsula in Brittany is a beautiful area with plenty of things to see and do. Here are some suggestions for your travel piece:
Visit the stunning beaches: The peninsula is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Morgat, Île Vierge, and La Palue. These offer great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
Explore the cliffs and coves: The rugged coastline is dotted with impressive cliffs and hidden coves. Some notable spots include Cap de la Chèvre, Pointe de Dinan, and Pointe de Penhir.
Hike the coastal paths: The GR34 hiking trail, also known as the "Sentier des Douaniers," runs along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscapes.
Discover the medieval town of Camaret-sur-Mer: This charming port town features a 17th-century fortified tower, Vauban's Tower, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town also has a lovely harbor and several good restaurants.
Visit the Crozon Prehistoric Museum: This museum showcases the region's rich archaeological heritage, with exhibits on prehistoric tools, jewelry, and megalithic monuments.
Explore the Crozon Caves: The peninsula is home to several impressive sea caves, such as the Grotte de l'Autel and the Grotte du Korriganm, which can be visited by boat.
Sample the local cuisine: Brittany is famous for its seafood, so be sure to try some local specialties like oysters, mussels, and the famous "kouign amann" pastry.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The Crozon peninsula has a lot to offer, and you're sure to find plenty of inspiration for your travel piece!”
I mean, wow. That’s crisp clever and creditably well informed. That’s pro guide book level writing - bespoke for you — produced to order in 2 seconds.
Like I said. It's Travel hacks that need to worry.
Ahaha. Et voila
However they won’t. For realz. We will weirdly endure because readers will demand the authentic - a robot can’t say “I had this cocktail”. But they will take every job beneath the actual writer on the ground: guidebooks, brochures, travel ad copy, a lot of editing. An ecosystem will be hammered
This will happen to every cognitive job. Everything. Every legal office, accountants, bank, academe, design, many of the arts, admin, managers, advertising, all the middle class jobs - the proles will have the last laugh
As for medicine you’re probably like me. A hands on doctor with patient skills will be amongst the last to go. A ton of the staff that back you up will disappear
And now I shall cease my AI prattle because @TSE dislikes it. Fair enough. Also it’s time for breakfast which has significantly improved in French hotels - they now offer German style breakfast as well: cold cuts and cheeses, which I like. And the coffee is better
A bientot
There will be some readers that demand the authentic, many others will not care. They'll just want to know where to go. So, as with most things there'll be a high end niche for travel writers. For the rest, if there is a job at all it will be desk bound, turning the AI stuff you found in three seconds into 800 word articles with tourism board photos to illustrate. Until AI can do that as well.
A long time ago I worked for Hello magazine in Madrid. It was typeset and printed there in the late 1980s by Hola - the Spanish company that owned it - before being trucked up for sale in the UK. My job was to pass the pages and to fill in certain gaps. Among these were the TV reviews. Of course, we were in Spain so did not see the UK TV. We just made it all up. No-one noticed or, if they did, no-one cared! Welcome to AI journalism.
Yes, exactly. The authentic handmade journalism will become aspirational and expensive and much prized. So someone like me with a distinct style aimed at quite affluent travelers could actually thrive (sorry, @foxy) but the poor bloody infantry of writing - the copywriters, guide book writers, text book writers, many subeditors, many editors - gone in a few short years
I am so glad I am out of it all. The late Boomer/Early Gen X demographic is the most blessed there has ever have been. The combination of the breadth and the depth of the opportunities we had and a world that was comparatively stable is not coming again for a very long time.
I was in a little Breton town the other day, feeling exultant after a lovely free oyster lunch, as the sun dappled on the Odet river, and I thought: Ooh I want a souvenir - I now have an enormous number of souvenirs simply because. They’re fun to use/admire when I’m not travelling - each one infused with a memory
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
If AI takes those jobs without replacing them then a UBI funded by a robot tax is inevitable and no government would ever get elected without backing a Universal Basic Income
You're going to need a lot of robots to tax then.
What happens if they're all based in other countries.
A lot of government revenue, most of it in fact, comes from labour income one way or another. Capital income tends to be hard to tax. And most AIs will claim domicile in the US, China or some low tax jurisdiction. The fact that most technological change in recent years is in the shape of zero marginal cost computing activity that is delivered free to the end user already poses huge challenges to the tax authorities. AI is just a continuation, and an acceleration, of that trend. An economy without physical stuff, without workers, and with the capital based overseas, is not one that lends itself to tax and spend. UBI will be a challenge.
If the AIs are as powerful as expected then in the first instance, why will their owners accept democracy?
And shortly afterwards, why will the AI accept their owners?
Comments
He clearly doesn't have his father or grandmother's work ethic, so will take more of a back seat, but will be fine with the set pieces.
PS: Moving to Ayrshire countryside would mean much more savings with bigger property at much lower prices.
It will be a year or two before we have a better idea how effective the therapy is. Premature to call it a 'cure', though. (And the therapy is tailored to the individual's cancer, not the individual, to be a necessary pedant.)
https://unherd.com/2024/04/the-mythical-masculinity-of-donald-trump/?tl_inbound=1&tl_groups[0]=18743&tl_period_type=3&utm_source=UnHerd+Today&utm_campaign=ea15dd1dcc-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_04_24_10_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_79fd0df946-ea15dd1dcc-[LIST_EMAIL_ID]
Having read a little further, she has a lot of sympathy for me having seemingly been fucked over quite so ruthlessly by Johnson.
The long affair involving a promise of leaving his wife for her, and both an abortion and a miscarriage. Johnson is now - 20+ years later - ensconced with a new wife he married at the age that Wyatt was when this all happened, and three young children. For someone mentally going round in circles about regret over being childless, that may be very difficult indeed.
https://bigthink.com/the-present/yuri-bezmenov/
She was dull in the role. She's a charisma bypass. You're a fan of her, which is nice. I have only seen her in a few things. She has been okay in them. Not brilliant, but not poor. Soap actress really. Can't say I had seen much of her before she took on the role.
At the time there was also talk Michaela Coel was in line for the role. She would have been a far better choice IMHO.
Also the weirdo Greens have no interest in Independence.
Usually I buy something either consumable or actually useful. This time I decided: pottery. I need a small sided dish for my laksa chili sauce dip
So I began looking in local souvenir shops (there are plenty in Bretagne). But everywhere was either Chinese tat or expensive Chinese tat - all the pottery was obviously machine made
At this point I became obsessed with buying an authentic handmade piece of pottery. I wanted the human touch. I still want it, haven’t found my souvenir yet
AI will take 80%+ of cognitive job including the arts. But we will always seek out the human - indeed I believe we will prize it more and pay more - because it is human. The skilled artisans will actually prosper. So I’ll be fine - in case you were worried
It’s everyone else - including my daughters, our kids - that I worry about
Nobody sane uses them these days for anything important anyway.
Any replacement needs vote of parliament to be crowned.
^ Al Jazeera blurs out most of the blood on the white horse, but at 0:19 you can see a small patch above its right leg that doesn't appear in the many clips published elsewhere that show it only from its left side.
These are military trained horses.
However you could be right , there are a lot of stupid people roaming the streets.
He now brings to mind another old, vulnerable Don:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCdXiOssbM0
They are pretty average nags, to be honest.
Police horses get lots of training and are very carefully picked. Also the riders get more than a 16 week Zero-To-Hero course.
It's a long, long time since war horses were trained - these days you get the RSPCA on your case for thinking about that loudly.
Johnson is a pig, as indeed are a number of adulterous MP’s.
https://youtu.be/j7jPnwVGdZ8?si=5qaAIKxj4M4WQxhe
In decades past, I knew whole groups of couples from London who'd honeymooned in Scotland, often Fort William, but cheap European travel has come at the expense of Scotland. That personal link is dying out and trips to the Edinburgh Festival do not replace it.
However William has already spoken about what he will do as King so it is a theoretical question only. Plus if he didn't George would be King with maybe a Regent until he reached 18.
Meghan would also be straight back to the UK like a shot if she knew she could be Queen
(And with one bound ... he was free.)
Would it be a Six Million Dollar cameo?
Quite a mix down here - I've bumped into Robertson, Davidson, Yousaf, Starmer (pavement parker) and Lorna Slater.
34" waist
16" collar
17" monitor
26" bicycle wheel
So the Hate law was the English? The Deposit Return Scheme? Ferries? The Bute House Agreement?
I have decided that it will just be like the Highland Clearances - we'll all end up as fishermen or emigrate to Canada.
In medieval and Tudor times monarchs regularly took the throne in childhood or their teens or twenties. They were effectively absolute monarchs not a constitutional monarch like he will be
What happens if they're all based in other countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhwYjrKDFOk
Errrrr
Scottish Govt sources adamant Humza Yousaf is going to fight on and do what he can to persuade MSPs to back him in vote next week.
Expect to hear that argument from him at some point today.
Fact is that almost all relevant powers of Government are held by Westminster and anyone who pretends otherwise is lying.
Not to say these clowns cannot cause trouble and local chaos, waste what money they do get etc.
When Pa and Grandma are no longer around to disappoint, how important will that duty feel to him?
Harry decided there were things more important than duty. William might decide the same. Who can tell?
Very early detection & immunotherapy is the ideal - but as you suggest, that's some ways off. Probably too late for Leon and me, but not for our kids.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/business-68893655
...Angela van den Bogerd was right at the centre of this scandal but you wouldn’t have got that impression if you’d listened to her evidence yesterday.
She distanced herself from the big decisions being made.
For instance, when Post Office IT specialist Simon Baker sketched out a plan to sack independent investigators Second Sight - who were getting to the truth - van den Bogerd told the inquiry she’d no idea this was the strategy, despite having worked with Baker for more than a year.
"Can you tell us what you did do?" asked Jason Beer KC, one of the inquiry's counsel.
Today, we’re likely to hear more about her personal involvement with sub-postmaster and postmistresses.
Martin Griffiths took his own life in 2013 after being hounded for £100,000 worth of losses, which didn’t exist, at his Ellesmere Port branch.
Van den Bogerd is accused of pressuring his widow, Gina, to accept what Second Sight investigator Ron Warmington described as a "pistol to the head" deal, valid for one day only along with a gagging clause to prevent her from speaking about his case...
I'm lo-key fascinated by photos of bands where one hasn't fully committed to the image - anyone got anything better than the The Exploited 1990?
https://twitter.com/BillyReevesOK/status/1782782246056857663
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/biden-closes-gap-in-presidential-poll-as-rival-trump-is-stuck-in-court/ar-AA1nFFuY?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=81345f54c893439298a6e9b37d01819a&ei=4
"It found that Mr Biden is ahead of Mr Trump by 287 Electoral College votes to 251, but has only a narrow margin in key swing states including Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin."
Of course ‘responsible’ means something different when one is dealing with the Post Office!
https://www.henriot-quimper.com
Very popular with Americans, apparently. Not sure I'd want to stack the kitchen with it as some do, but an egg cup or coaster might suit.
When Davison's Doctor was shorn of Adric the character and the dynamics really improved.
In this case it didn't. It was just more of the same. She was trying to be quirky and idiosynchratic and just came over as contrived.
Interesting analysis here from the Telegraph.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/fiery-rhetoric-actually-cautious-why-iran-needs-israel-defence-in-depth/vi-AA1nHaTs?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=3bb5fda0eb794a12de7743599b318990&ei=11
And shortly afterwards, why will the AI accept their owners?