Author: Scott Loftesness

Categories
AI AI: Large Language Models ChatGPT Law

Legal Hallucinations

Today’s New York Times has a story written by Benjamin Weiser which seems somehow indicative of our times – a lawyer who used ChatGPT to help write his legal brief has been found out by opposing counsel and the judge hearing his case.

There was just one hitch: No one — not the airline’s lawyers, not even the judge himself — could find the decisions or the quotations cited and summarized in the brief.

That was because ChatGPT had invented everything.

New York Times, “Here’s What Happens When Your Lawyer Uses ChatGPT” – published May 27, 2023

Oops. I suspect there may be an unfortunate response by the courts – please certify your authorship of legal briefs and that you did not use AI-based tools to assist in preparing the brief.

Here’s perhaps an appropriate haiku generated by Google Bard:

The pen scratches paper

The words flow like a river of truth

The judge will decide.

Indeed. The judge will decide…

Judge Castel said in an order that he had been presented with “an unprecedented circumstance,” a legal submission replete with “bogus judicial decisions, with bogus quotes and bogus internal citations.” He ordered a hearing for June 8 to discuss potential sanctions.

New York Times, “Here’s What Happens When Your Lawyer Uses ChatGPT” – published May 27, 2023
Categories
AI iPhone 14 Pro Max Photography Photoshop CC

First try with Photoshop’s new Generative Fill

Earlier today Adobe announced a beta of Photoshop which added an AI-based generative fill capability powered by Adobe Firefly. I have been playing a bit with Firefly to generate images but this new capability integrated into Photoshop is quite remarkable.

On my morning walk this morning, I snapped this photo of Sharon Park in Menlo Park, California. I liked how the sun was breaking out of the morning marine layer and creating some interesting light.

I wished I had taken the image in a 16:9 format so that it was wider – so I brought it into the new Photoshop beta and began using generative fill to enhance the image. Specifically, I added four generative layers which took me about 5 minutes to do (most of that time was me thinking about what I wanted to change!):

  • Used the crop tool to extend the border of the image to the left – widening the image.
  • Selected the sidewalk asphalt pavement and replaced it with cobblestone.
  • Removed the other pavement in the far right of the image and replaced it with lawn.
  • Added some ducks and ducklings to the pond.

Here’s the result:

A very pleasing result! The image is far from perfect but it’s much more visually interesting that the original right out of my iPhone this morning!

I’m looking forward to exploring more of the capabilities of this generative fill feature and look forward to seeing how Adobe continues to evolve it going forward!

Categories
Obsidian Personal Knowledge Tools

Steps to a new ecology of mind

How I Used Obsidian to Build a Personal Knowledge Base

I’ve been using Obsidian as a tool for learning for the past year. I got serious about using it in May 2022 after exploring it earlier for a few months. I like to think I’ve learned a few things along the way about how this powerful tool can be effectively used (at least for me) – and where it might be less useful and, in fact, can end up wasting time instead of helping accelerate thinking and learning.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the power of Obsidian to literally be able to do almost anything you might want a computer to do. It’s such a powerful and flexible platform – with so many others writing community plug-ins that help them accomplish specific tasks – that it’s way too easy to end up creating a “monstrosity.”

By that I mean an almost Rube Goldberg-like creation that can do what you need but is built on a variety of frameworks, plug-ins, scripts, Dataview queries, etc. I began to head down those paths early on in my explorations with Obsidian – it’s almost addictive in providing fun ways to do the things you think you need it to do.

However, I’ve come to realize that the best way to use Obsidian for learning is to keep it simple. Don’t get caught up in the endless possibilities of what you can do with it. Instead, focus on using it to capture your thoughts and ideas, organize your notes, and create links between them.

Based on my experience, here are a few tips for using Obsidian effectively for learning:

  • Start by creating a simple note-taking system. This could be as simple as creating a new note for each topic you’re learning about. You can then use tags and links to organize your notes.
  • Use Obsidian’s backlinks feature to connect your notes. This is a powerful way to see how your different ideas are related. As you investigate a particular topic and collect notes, you may find it help to create a high level “map of content” which links to those specific notes. Popularized by Nick Milo, the map of content idea provides a very useful organizational tool for helping add some structure to your notes – without trying to use a more rigid folder structure for example.
  • Learn the most important Hotkey shortcuts – in particular ⌘-o which allows you to quickly go to any note in your vault and ⌘-p (Command Palette) which is a quick way to invoke any of Obsidian’s commands.
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment with different plug-ins. There are a lot of great plug-ins available that can make Obsidian even more powerful. However, don’t get caught up in the endless possibilities of what you can do with them. Focus on using the plug-ins that will help you learn more effectively. Try to use now more than 10 community plug-ins – some of which (like Dataview) are really esssential.
  • Most importantly, keep it simple. Obsidian is a powerful tool, but it’s easy to get bogged down in the details. Remember that the goal is to use it to learn, not to build a complex system. Be careful about trying to, for example, use Obsidian for task management or journaling. Both of those areas have excellent purpose-built tools that are available and which work much more effectively in my experience rather than trying to build that capability in Obsidian. Some folks seem to delight in using Obsidian as kind of a “Swiss Army knife” – I don’t and don’t recommend that approach.
  • There are some incredible resources available for learning more about using Obsidian – and about how to apply its tools for learning and thinking. I particularly recommend the many YouTube videos by Nick Milo and Nicole van den Hoeven. Both have made great contributions to the Obsidian community – and both offer paid workshops and courses as well. Mike Schmitz has also just announced his Obsidian University which begins its first cohort in June.
  • Experiment and play with the LYT Kit “vault” which Nick Milo has made available. It’s a great way to get started and learn. With Obsidian, you can have multiple vaults open – so you could open your personal vault and then also open LYT Kit and flip between them as you learn and explore.

I hope these tips help you use Obsidian effectively for learning. I’ve found it to be a wonderful tool with pretty amazing capabilities. But do try to keep your usage simple!

Categories
AI AI: Large Language Models ChatGPT Google Google Bard

Looking forward to Project Tailwind…

This week at Google IO, one of the projects covered was a new experimental one called Project Tailwind – see how Steven Johnson covered it on his Substack after the event. He’s been working part-time with Google on this project which he describes Tailwind this way:

Tailwind allows you to define a set of documents as trusted sources which the AI then uses as a kind of ground truth, shaping all of the model’s interactions with you. In the use case shown on the I/O stage, the sources are class notes, but it could be other types of sources as well, such as your research materials for a book or blog post. The idea here is to craft a role for the LLM that is not an all-knowing oracle or your new virtual buddy, but something closer to an efficient research assistant, helping you explore the information that matters most to you. 

Google’s one line description is: “Tailwind is your AI-first notebook, grounded in the information you choose and trust.”

While working with the existing chatbots (ChatGPT, Google Bard, Microsoft Bing, etc.) is fun and useful, I’d be much happier having a research assistant which would primarily function on content I’ve created with an option to go beyond my content to the wider world. Johnson says he has “found that Tailwind works extremely well as an extension of my memory.”

Google’s initial implementation of Tailwind is based upon files in your Google Drive. For privacy reasons particularly, I’d especially welcome such a feature being trained and used locally on my own computer rather than having to upload my content to Google Drive and a cloud trainer.

I’ve requested access to Project Tailwind and look forward to experimenting with it when it’s made available. Meanwhile, here’s a short video that discusses Tailwind:

Categories
AI AI: Large Language Models ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

Using ChatGPT to hold a debate…and learn

Robert Scoble tweeted yesterday about a series of ChatGPT prompts that he’s found very useful:

This is my favorite prompt. Do you have better for learning?

Multi step prompt.

1. Ask it to tell you all points of view on something or someone or anything. Photography, for instance.

2. Ask it to create a persona for each point.

3. Tell it to gather the persona’s all together into a group. Could be a debate club, a panel, a board of directors, or whatever you want.

4. Ask the group to debate the topic. Or anything but you will have a specific group around a committee.

A contextual committee. I am building many for different purposes.

A group focused around BBQ can answer food questions with that bias. … A committee for every context. Or problem. Or to teach you. Coach you. Assist you.

Contextual committees. Infinite fun.

I was intrigued – adding his suggestions for prompts to my growing collection of prompts. Here’s what I tried first:

Tell me all the points of view on the topic of beach reads.

The concept of “beach reads” refers to books that are typically read for pleasure during the summer or on vacation, often in a relaxing setting like the beach. There are various points of view on this topic, including:

  • Proponents of beach reads argue that they provide an enjoyable and lighthearted reading experience that is perfect for vacations or other leisure time. They believe that reading should be a pleasurable activity, and that beach reads offer a fun and engaging way to pass the time.
  • Critics of beach reads argue that they are often formulaic, poorly written, and lack substance. They believe that reading should be an intellectually stimulating activity, and that beach reads offer little in the way of challenging ideas or insights.
  • Some people believe that the concept of beach reads is outdated and that people should be free to read whatever they want, regardless of the season or location. They argue that the idea of categorizing books as “beach reads” is limiting and can prevent readers from exploring new genres or authors.
  • Others believe that the term “beach reads” is sexist and reinforces gender stereotypes, suggesting that women only read light and fluffy books while men prefer more serious and intellectual fare. They argue that this is a harmful and inaccurate portrayal of both genders and that readers should be encouraged to read whatever interests them, regardless of gender or perceived genre.
  • Finally, some people argue that the concept of beach reads is simply a marketing ploy, designed to sell more books during the summer months. They believe that the publishing industry has created the idea of beach reads to promote certain types of books and authors, rather than letting readers decide for themselves what they want to read.

Create a persona for each point of view.

Sure, here are five personas representing each of the five points of view on beach reads, debating the topic and coming to a joint recommendation:

  • Proponent of beach reads: Sarah is a young professional who loves to read for pleasure, especially when she goes on vacation. She believes that beach reads are a great way to relax and escape from the stress of everyday life. Sarah argues that reading should be a pleasurable activity, and that beach reads offer a fun and engaging way to pass the time.
  • Critic of beach reads: David is a literature professor who believes that reading should be an intellectually stimulating activity. He is skeptical of the concept of beach reads, arguing that they are often formulaic, poorly written, and lack substance. He believes that readers should be challenged by the books they read, rather than simply entertained.
  • Advocate of reading freedom: Maria is a librarian who believes that people should be free to read whatever they want, regardless of the season or location. She thinks that the idea of categorizing books as “beach reads” is limiting and can prevent readers from exploring new genres or authors. Maria believes that readers should be encouraged to read widely and follow their own interests.
  • Critic of gender stereotypes: Alex is a gender studies professor who believes that the term “beach reads” is sexist and reinforces harmful gender stereotypes. She argues that this idea suggests that women only read light and fluffy books while men prefer more serious and intellectual fare. Alex believes that readers should be encouraged to read whatever interests them, regardless of their gender or perceived genre.
  • Critic of marketing ploys: Chris is a publishing industry insider who believes that the concept of beach reads is simply a marketing ploy. He argues that the publishing industry has created the idea of beach reads to promote certain types of books and authors, rather than letting readers decide for themselves what they want to read.

Have them debate beach reads and come to a joint recommendation for readers

Sarah: I love beach reads! They’re a great way to relax and escape from the stress of everyday life.

David: I don’t agree. Beach reads are often poorly written and lack substance. Reading should be an intellectually stimulating activity.

Maria: I think people should be free to read whatever they want, regardless of the season or location. The idea of categorizing books as “beach reads” is limiting.

Alex: I agree that the term “beach reads” is sexist and reinforces gender stereotypes. It suggests that women only read light and fluffy books while men prefer more serious and intellectual fare.

Chris: I think the concept of beach reads is simply a marketing ploy. The publishing industry has created the idea to promote certain types of books and authors.

Sarah: I understand that some beach reads may not be the most intellectually challenging, but they offer a fun and engaging way to pass the time. And as Maria said, people should be free to read whatever they want.

David: I agree that people should be free to read what they want, but I still believe that reading should be a challenging activity. However, there are some beach reads that can be intellectually stimulating.

Maria: Yes, readers should be encouraged to read widely and explore new genres and authors. But if someone wants to read a beach read, that’s fine too. Let’s recommend that readers choose books that they enjoy, whether they are beach reads or not.

Alex: I agree. Instead of limiting readers based on gender or perceived genre, let’s encourage them to read whatever interests them.

Chris: Sounds good to me. Let’s recommend that readers choose books based on their interests, rather than what’s marketed as a “beach read” or any other category. The most important thing is that people enjoy what they’re reading.

Sarah: Yes, it’s all about enjoying what you’re reading. For me, beach reads offer a chance to relax and escape into a fun story. And there are some beach reads that are well-written and have substance.

David: I agree that enjoyment is important, but I still think that readers should be challenged by what they’re reading. Perhaps we can recommend some beach reads that offer both entertainment and intellectual stimulation.

Maria: That’s a great idea, David. There are plenty of books that can be considered beach reads but still have substance. Maybe we could recommend some titles that fit that description?

Alex: I like that approach. Let’s make sure our recommendations are diverse and inclusive, so that readers of all genders and backgrounds can find something they enjoy.

Chris: Absolutely. And let’s be honest about the marketing behind the concept of beach reads. While it’s true that some books may be marketed as “beach reads,” that doesn’t mean they can’t be good books. Let’s focus on the quality of the writing and the story, rather than the marketing.

Sarah: I agree. Let’s recommend books that are enjoyable, diverse, and well-written, regardless of whether they are marketed as “beach reads” or not.

David: Agreed. And let’s also encourage readers to challenge themselves by trying new genres and authors, even if they don’t fit into the traditional “beach read” category.

Maria: Yes, and let’s not forget that reading is a personal activity. What one person considers a beach read may be different from someone else’s definition. It’s all about finding what you enjoy.

Alex: Absolutely. Let’s encourage readers to find books that resonate with them, regardless of any marketing labels. Reading is about personal enjoyment and growth, and that should always be our focus.

Chris: I couldn’t agree more. Let’s recommend books that offer both enjoyment and growth, and encourage readers to explore new genres and authors. With that approach, everyone can find their perfect beach read, no matter what that means to them.

Have each recommend their favorite beach read.

Sarah: My favorite beach read is “The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang. It’s a romance novel with a unique premise and diverse characters that I found both entertaining and meaningful.

David: I recommend “The Martian” by Andy Weir. It’s a science fiction novel that’s both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. The main character’s struggle for survival on Mars is both thrilling and thought-provoking.

Maria: My favorite beach read is “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan. It’s a literary novel that explores the relationships between mothers and daughters, and the challenges of immigrant families in America. It’s a beautifully written book that’s both engaging and thought-provoking.

Alex: I recommend “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah. It’s a historical fiction novel that explores the experiences of two sisters in France during World War II. The story is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and the characters are complex and relatable.

Chris: My favorite beach read is “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman. It’s a contemporary fiction novel that follows the life of a socially awkward woman who learns to connect with others and find happiness. It’s both heartwarming and humorous, and the writing is top-notch.

Sarah: Another great beach read I recommend is “The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren. It’s a romantic comedy that’s perfect for a beach day, with fun banter and an enemies-to-lovers plot that will keep you entertained.

David: For a more challenging beach read, I recommend “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s a nonfiction book that explores the history of human civilization and the future of our species. It’s thought-provoking and informative, but still accessible to general readers.

Maria: Another beach read I recommend is “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng. It’s a literary novel that explores the complexities of family relationships and the impact of social status. The characters are well-developed and the writing is beautiful.

Alex: For a light but meaningful beach read, I recommend “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It’s a philosophical novel that follows a young shepherd boy on a journey to fulfill his dreams. The themes of self-discovery and personal growth make it a perfect beach read.

Chris: Another great beach read I recommend is “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It’s a historical fiction novel that explores the life of a Hollywood actress and the secrets she kept. The story is engaging and the characters are well-drawn, making it a perfect beach read for fans of character-driven fiction.

Good fun! – and a new way to explore a topic from multiple points of view using ChatGPT or Google Bard.

Categories
AI AI: Large Language Models ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

Ten Ways Anything Can Be Different in the Future

In the book Imaginable, author Jane McGonical had a description of how to pick an idea and explore it – by asking what’s true about it today, what might not be true about it in the future, and what are some clues or evidence of change that these ideas are plausible and realistic.

More specifically here’s what she wrote:

It’s called One Hundred Ways Anything Can Be Different in the Future. Here’s how it works: First, you pick a topic, like work, or food, or learning. Then you list one hundred things that are true about it today. The simpler or more obvious the fact, the better. Next, you rewrite each fact, one by one, so that ten years from now the opposite is true—no matter how ridiculous, at first, the new ideas sound. Finally, you look for clues, or evidence of change already happening today, that these ideas are plausible and realistic.

Imaginable by Jane McGonical

It dawned on me that this might be a fun example to explore in ChatGPT – and it was! My chat session follows below – it’s very exciting to use this tool for this kind of assistance in thinking!

Scott: This series of prompts is called 10 Ways Anything Can Be Different In the Future.

Great! I’m ready to help you explore different possibilities for the future. What topic would you like to explore?

Scott: Learning

Excellent choice! Let’s explore 10 ways learning could be different in the future:

  1. Personalized learning: In the future, personalized learning could become the norm. With advances in technology, AI could create personalized learning plans for each individual, taking into account their learning style, preferences, and strengths.
  2. Virtual and augmented reality: Virtual and augmented reality could revolutionize the way we learn by providing immersive experiences that allow learners to interact with information in a more engaging and interactive way.
  3. Gamification: Learning could become more game-like and interactive, with gamification elements incorporated into educational content to make it more engaging and enjoyable.
  4. Lifelong learning: In the future, learning could become a lifelong pursuit rather than something that only happens during the early years of life. Continuous education and upskilling could become the norm to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change.
  5. AI-powered tutoring: AI-powered tutoring could become more advanced, allowing for more personalized and effective teaching. Chatbots and virtual tutors could provide real-time feedback and support to learners.
  6. Collaborative learning: Collaborative learning could become more prevalent in the future, with learners working together on projects and assignments in virtual environments.
  7. Microlearning: Microlearning, or learning in small, bite-sized chunks, could become more common in the future. This could allow learners to fit learning into their busy lives more easily.
  8. Brain-computer interfaces: With the development of brain-computer interfaces, learning could become even more efficient and effective. Learners could directly interface with computers to learn new information or skills.
  9. Global learning: In the future, the world could become more interconnected, allowing for more opportunities for global learning. Learners could connect with others from different parts of the world to share knowledge and experiences.
  10. Biologically enhanced learning: With advances in biotechnology, it could be possible to enhance learning by manipulating brain chemistry or using gene editing to optimize cognitive functions.

These are just a few possibilities for how learning could be different in the future. The future of learning is exciting and full of potential!

Scott: For each of those 10 ways, now rewrite each making the opposite true.

Sure, here are 10 ways learning could be different in the opposite direction:

  1. Uniform learning: In the opposite future, there would be a standardized approach to learning for everyone, where every individual is taught the same curriculum regardless of their learning style, preferences, or strengths.
  2. Minimal use of technology: In this future, technology will play a minimal role in learning, and virtual and augmented reality will not be utilized for educational purposes.
  3. No gamification: The opposite future would not incorporate gamification elements into educational content. Learning would be a serious endeavor without any interactive or engaging elements.
  4. Limited learning opportunities: Learning would be limited to certain stages of life, and continuous education or upskilling would not be a priority. Individuals would be expected to learn everything they need to know during their school years.
  5. No AI-powered tutoring: The opposite future would not make use of AI-powered tutoring. Instead, learners would rely on traditional teaching methods with limited feedback and support.
  6. Individual learning: In this future, learners would not work together in virtual environments. Instead, individuals would learn independently, without any collaborative or interactive elements.
  7. No microlearning: Learning would not be delivered in bite-sized chunks in the opposite future. Instead, individuals would be expected to learn everything at once, without the option of fitting learning into their busy lives.
  8. No brain-computer interfaces: In the opposite future, there would be no brain-computer interfaces, and individuals would not be able to directly interface with computers to learn new information or skills.
  9. Limited global learning: In this future, there would be limited opportunities for global learning, and individuals would not be able to connect with others from different parts of the world to share knowledge and experiences.
  10. No biologically enhanced learning: In the opposite future, there would be no biotechnology advancements used to enhance learning. Individuals would have to rely on their natural cognitive abilities to learn.

Scott: Now let’s examine clues or evidence of change already happening today that these ideas are plausible and realistic.

Certainly! Here are some clues or evidence of change happening today that support the plausibility and realism of the ideas I presented earlier:

  1. Personalized learning: Personalized learning is already gaining traction in various fields such as medicine and marketing. Technology is now being developed to provide personalized learning plans to individuals, which can be adapted to their learning style, preferences, and strengths.
  2. Virtual and augmented reality: Virtual and augmented reality is already being used in various industries such as entertainment and gaming, and it is only a matter of time before it becomes more common in the educational industry.
  3. Gamification: Gamification has already been successfully incorporated into educational content to make it more engaging and enjoyable. Game-based learning is becoming more prevalent in schools and universities.
  4. Lifelong learning: Continuous education and upskilling are already becoming more important in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world. Many companies and organizations are offering training and education programs for their employees to keep up with the latest trends and advancements.
  5. AI-powered tutoring: AI-powered tutoring is already being used in various educational contexts, such as language learning apps, where virtual tutors provide real-time feedback and support to learners.
  6. Collaborative learning: Collaborative learning is already being used in various educational settings, where learners work together on group projects and assignments.
  7. Microlearning: Microlearning is already being utilized in various industries, such as professional development and corporate training. Many companies offer microlearning modules to their employees to fit learning into their busy schedules.
  8. Brain-computer interfaces: Brain-computer interfaces are already being used in research, and they have shown promising results in enhancing cognitive functions such as memory and learning.
  9. Global learning: Global learning is already happening today, with online courses and virtual exchange programs connecting learners from different parts of the world.
  10. Biologically enhanced learning: Biotechnology advancements are already being used to treat various neurological and cognitive disorders, and it is only a matter of time before they are used to enhance learning as well.

These are just a few examples of the many clues and evidence of change already happening today that support the plausibility and realism of the ideas presented earlier. The future of learning is exciting and full of potential, and we are already seeing many of these changes happening today.

SJL+ChatGPT – May 4, 2023

After writing this post, I came across this article by Connie Chan at A16Z: Embracing the Future: How Chatbots Can Become Great Companions. In a way, that’s how I’ve been using both ChatGPT and Google Bard. Not as search engines to find other websites but, rather, as a thinking companion to explore ideas, learn more about historical topics, etc.

She writes:

Today’s AI chatbots are able to invoke emotions and provide companionship by asking us probing questions that go deeper into our psyche than chatbots of the past. (In fact, some are finding that these chatbots are better at providing companionship than providing facts.) By pulling information out of us, like therapists, and then having perfect recall of every detail we’ve ever told it, these companion chatbots can pattern match our behavior—and ultimately help us understand ourselves better.

Categories
Books Kevin Kelly Living

The Magical World of Kevin Kelly

One of my favorite writers, Kevin Kelly, is out with a new book titled “Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I Knew Earlier“. This book is based on several of his earlier annual blog posts that he began writing on his 68th birthday about “some things he had learned about life that he wished he had known earlier.”

On my morning walk this morning I began listening to Tim Ferriss’ recent interview of Kelly and it immediately triggered a bunch of ideas in my mind – even before they began discussing his new book! Among them (just during the first 15 minutes) were:

  • The bet he made 20 years ago about the decline of world population by the year 2060. He had observed that modern people, on average, are not having more than two kids per couple which is below the replacement rate required to maintain, let alone grow, population. Google Bard notes that “the global fertility rate has been declining for decades. In 1960, the global fertility rate was 5.0 births per woman. Today, it is 2.5 births per woman. This decline in fertility rates is due to a number of factors, including improved education and healthcare, as well as the increasing availability of contraception.“
  • His notion that if you can find 1,000 people who are passionate about your work (1,000 true fans), you can make a living as a creator. Ferriss wrote about this idea in one of his books and helped popularize the notion. Kelly comments that “every day people write to me, and meet me, and say, “Yes, I have been able to do that,” inspired someone by hearing of that possibility.“
  • The Whole Earth Catalog and his friendship with Stewart Brand. He described the Catalog this way: Steve Jobs famously called it “the internet before there was an internet.” It was internet printed on newsprint because it was reader generated. It was one of those big books that you could get lost in – analogous to how you can get lost on the Internet while looking up some piece of information.

Kelly has such a creative mind! He has been a joy for me to follow and enjoy for many years. My listen on my morning walk to this interview just highlighted that again for me. He’s just fun (and stimulating) to listen to (and read!).

He continues to blog regularly and to write as Senior Maverick for Wired which he helped co-found many years ago. He writes one article per year for Wired – his most recent being about generative AI image tools: Picture Limitless Creativity at Your Fingertips. Even though I read several of his earlier birthday blog posts of advice, I look forward to reading his new book when it is published later this week. Oh by the way, it appears that today is his birthday!

Categories
Events Half Moon Bay Half Moon Bay Airport

Dream Machines

I just happened to notice that this Sunday, April 30, is the Dream Machines festival at Half Moon Bay Airport. They call it the “Coolest Show on Earth” and it is something to see – a very unique event. I’ve gone a couple of times in the past and always find lots of curiousities to explore – including old vehicles, steam engines, old airplanes, and more.

This year they’re bringing in a B-17 Bomber “Ye Olde Pub” and one of my favorites, a North American P-51D Mustang Fighter. They will be selling rides in both aircraft.

Here’s a recent takeoff video of a P-51 taking off from Grass Valley. The sound of that Merlin engine is unique and always a thrill!

A couple of times during the day they’ll be doing this: Bob Senz’ Big Crazy Cacklefest – A Mass Synchronized Firing-up of the Engines of All the Motorized Mechanical Marvels to Honor Show Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Bob Senz

More details about Dream Machines can be found here. If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, you’ll enjoy seeing this very unique event. Another tip: you can save a few dollars on the cost of tickets by buying online in advance. Seniors (like me!) get the best discounted price.

Categories
Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) iPhone 14 Pro Max Photography Portola Valley

Redwood Circle No.2

Here’s a second example of slow shutter cam photography using my iPhone 14 Pro Max (here’s my first example). This is a photo of another redwood circle at the Portola Valley Town Center. This one is immediately behind the main town hall building. By the way, both of these redwood circles have picnic tables in the center of the circles making them a beautiful spot to have a quiet outdoor lunch!

As with my first example, this was shot using the Slow Shutter Cam app – by doing a quick short pull down of the iPhone while the shutter was active for 0.5 seconds That provides the blur and also seems to shorten the height a bit. I then open the image in DistressedFX+ and try applying various textures and color backgrounds until I find something I find pleasing. Takes about 10 seconds!

I should have mentioned in my first post that I was first drawn to intentional camera photography by my friend Roxanne Overton. She has a very active Instagram feed with her ICM work – it’s always inspiring to see what she’s doing!

Categories
Books Interstate 280 San Francisco/California

The World’s Most Beautiful Freeway

A few years ago when I stopped working full time I got interested in exploring the history of “the world’s most beautiful freeway” – I-280 that runs up and down the central portion of the San Francisco Peninsula.

At one point, a friend of mine and I were walking in San Francisco where we went into the main library which has a great history department. I spoke to one of the librarians in the history department who was quite encouraging about the resources they might have available that might assist in pulling together more of that history. But life intervened and I dropped the idea, not pursuing it any further. But it’s always been lingering in the back of my mind as something that might be “fun”.

A few weeks back, when I was exploring ChatGPT, I wondered how it might be helpful to me in thinking about writing such a history. So I asked it the following:

I’m writing a book on the history of the development of interstate 280 on the San Francisco peninsula. I would like an initial outline for the book including special emphasis on any especially interesting stories about people who were involved in its development or in fighting to prevent its development.


ChatGPT responded:

Certainly, here is an initial outline for your book on the history of Interstate 280 on the San Francisco peninsula:

I. Introduction

  • A. Brief history of the San Francisco peninsula
  • B. Importance of transportation infrastructure
  • C. Overview of the development of Interstate 280

II. Early Planning and Development of Interstate 280

  • A. Planning and proposals for the freeway
  • B. Design and construction challenges
  • C. Environmental and community concerns

III. The People Involved in the Development of Interstate 280

  • A. Key players in the development of the freeway
  • B. Their backgrounds and motivations
  • C. Challenges they faced and how they overcame them

IV. The Impact of Interstate 280 on the San Francisco Peninsula

  • A. Economic impact on the region
  • B. Changes in land use and development patterns
  • C. Impact on local communities

V. Opposition to Interstate 280

  • A. Environmental and community groups
  • B. Their concerns and arguments against the freeway
  • C. Strategies for opposing the development of the freeway

VI. Interesting Stories of the Development of Interstate 280

  • A. Personal stories of those involved in the development or opposition of the freeway
  • B. Unique challenges faced during the construction and development of the freeway
  • C. Anecdotes and interesting facts related to the development of the freeway

VII. Conclusion

  • A. Summary of key points
  • B. Reflection on the legacy of Interstate 280
  • C. Future of transportation infrastructure on the San Francisco peninsula

This outline should provide a good foundation for your book, with a focus on the people involved in the development of Interstate 280 and their stories. You can expand on each section and add more details as you conduct research and gather information. Good luck with your book!

Wow! ChatGPT just gave me a wonderful outline to just stimulate my further thinking about compiling such a history. Curious to learn more, I asked ChatGPT:

Tell me more about the key players involved in the development of interstate 280.

ChatGPT replied:

Certainly! Here’s some information about some of the key players involved in the development of Interstate 280 on the San Francisco peninsula:

  1. Othmar H. Ammann: A Swiss-American civil engineer who designed many notable bridges and highways in the United States, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bayonne Bridge in New Jersey. Ammann was a key player in the design and engineering of Interstate 280.
  2. Robert Moses: An urban planner and political figure in New York who also worked on infrastructure projects in other parts of the country, including California. Moses was an advocate for highways and was instrumental in the development of the Interstate Highway System, including Interstate 280.
  3. James Rolph Jr.: A former mayor of San Francisco who later served as Governor of California. Rolph was a strong supporter of infrastructure projects, including the construction of Interstate 280.
  4. William E. Kent: An environmentalist and politician who opposed the development of Interstate 280. Kent was instrumental in creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and worked to protect the natural areas on the San Francisco peninsula from development.
  5. Dorothy Erskine: A journalist and environmentalist who founded the grassroots organization Citizens for Regional Recreation and Parks. Erskine was a vocal opponent of the development of Interstate 280 and worked to raise awareness of its potential impact on the environment and communities on the peninsula.

These are just a few of the key players involved in the development of Interstate 280, but there were many others, including politicians, engineers, and community leaders who played important roles in the planning, design, and construction of the freeway.

I pushed onward – asking:

Who was responsible for the selection of the route for interstate 280?

ChatGPT replied:

The selection of the route for Interstate 280 was a collaborative effort involving multiple parties, including federal and state transportation agencies, local governments, and community organizations.

The planning for Interstate 280 began in the 1950s, when the California Division of Highways (now Caltrans) began studying potential freeway routes in the San Francisco peninsula region. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority and San Mateo County Transit District were also involved in the planning process.

A number of route options were considered, including one that would have followed El Camino Real, a historic road that runs through the heart of the peninsula. However, this option was ultimately rejected due to concerns about traffic congestion and the impact on local businesses.

Instead, the final route for Interstate 280 was selected in 1956 and ran parallel to, but west of, El Camino Real. The route was chosen based on a number of factors, including the availability of right-of-way, terrain and geological considerations, and traffic patterns. It was also designed to connect with other freeways in the region, such as Interstate 880 and State Route 92.

Overall, the selection of the route for Interstate 280 was a complex process that involved multiple stakeholders and took into account a variety of factors related to transportation and community impact.

Then I asked:

Interstate 280 has been called the world’s most beautiful freeway. who suggested that?

ChatGPT told me:

The phrase “the world’s most beautiful freeway” is often used to describe Interstate 280 on the San Francisco peninsula, and it is attributed to several sources.

One of the earliest known uses of the phrase was in a 1967 article in Sunset Magazine, a popular lifestyle publication that covers the western United States. In the article, the author, who is not identified, referred to Interstate 280 as “a modern and scenic boulevard, perhaps the world’s most beautiful freeway.”

The phrase has since been used by numerous journalists, authors, and travel writers to describe the freeway’s winding curves, stunning views of the San Francisco Bay, and scenic landscapes of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

It is unclear who first coined the phrase “the world’s most beautiful freeway,” as it has been used in various contexts and by multiple sources over the years. However, it is widely recognized as a descriptor for Interstate 280 and has helped to promote the freeway as a tourist attraction in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The world’s most beautiful freeway indeed! There used to be a sign in the median of I-280 as it climbs out of the flat land of Cupertino into the foothills of the Peninsula. It’s no longer there – having been removed sometime in the last few years. You can find a photo of it here in this blog post from 2011.

Another one of my favorite photographs of I-280 is titled 280 Sunrise by Montara-based photographer Robert Buelteman – “an image of the emerging sun with the Interstate freeway in the foreground.” You can find that image in this article profiling Buelteman and his wonderful book The Unseen Peninsula. Buelteman grew up in Woodside and his book explores the Peninsula Watershed, a large piece of property that is owned by the San Francisco Water Department and not open to the public.

As for the book about this history of I-280, it’s still floating around in the back of my mind. It’s something that I continue to explore from time to time, looking for a story or three that might provide some interesting ways into telling the story of this beautiful freeway.

If you know of any good stories about this freeway and its construction, I’d love to hear about them! You can reach me via this contact link.