Category: Nonfiction

The World I See

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The Book of the Week is “The World I See, Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI” by Dr. Fei-Fei Li, published in 2025. In this wordy volume, the author described her professional and personal lives from the 1980’s through the decades of greatly accelerated computing power to date.

Born in Beijing, China, Li grew up in Chengdu. She and her mother moved to Parsippany, NJ to join her father in 1992. Because she and her parents were immigrants, they were grateful for opportunities to get educated and work in a free society. Thus, they weren’t self-absorbed attention-whores with a sense of entitlement. They worked extremely hard, and still suffered financial hardships. Of course, they got a few lucky breaks that allowed Li to participate in a tech startup.

Meanwhile, AI software can replace the inefficient way the census of the United States is taken. Nowadays, data on people’s cars, indicate all kinds of detailed demographics, including the political leanings of their drivers. On the other hand, there are American citizens who do not own or lease or drive a car. So other data sources would need to count those individuals.

There exist other potential dangers in the new Orwellian economy; fatal ones! A hacker could change just a few pixels of what a self-driving car sees so that it misreads a street sign and causes an accident.

The author became interested in a neural network in which software categorizes and describes graphics, in words. Unfortunately, in the single-digit 2000’s, Li and her colleagues couldn’t compete with other researchers who had monster-sized resources, such as those at Google.

Read the book to learn what became of Li.

Donors Kissing Up – BONUS POST

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Shoutout to U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) for elaborating on the extremely criminal and unethical behavior of the Trump administration. Here’s a song about it.

DONORS KISSING UP

sung to the tune of “The Jeffersons” TV theme song with apologies to whomever the rights may concern.

Trump-donors are kissing up, donors kissing up, to this guy, donors kissing up.

Getting tax CUTS and pardons with this guy.

Donors kissing up, donors kissing up, to this guy.

Honest people are sick of his lies.

Innocent-foreigner detentions, impunity, gambling and crypTO. Sweetheart contracts, criminal acts with each quid pro quo.

Now they’re in the big leagues, strongman tactics on tap. As long as he lives, it’s him and his cronies, and everything wrong with that.

Donors kissing up, donors kissing up.

Tax cuts and pardons with this guy, donors kissing up, donors kissing up, to this guy.

Honest people are sick of his li-ies.

Totalitarian Dreamin’ – BONUS POST

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It’s deja vu all over again: A skeleton crew of rich white men currently runs the show in the United States, just as it did in colonial times. Here’s a song about the individual (Trump) who is clogging the courts with legal cases that will get him the form of government he desires.

TOTALITARIAN DREAMIN’

sung to the tune of “California Dreamin’ ” with apologies to the Mamas and the Papas, and to whomever else the rights may concern.

Workers have-been ground DOWN, have been ground down. And Trump’s flunkies aim-to-please. I’ve been DIS-tressed for a while, by what I see, by what I see. I’d be safe and calm, be safe and calm, if I were in a democracy, if I were in a democracy.

TO-talitarian, totalitarian dreamin’, by the GOP.

Tried to vote in a school, in the primary. Well, I was stopped by an agent of ICE, and was asked for ID, and was asked for ID. AI intrusive and oversold, but it’s here to stay, it’s here to stay. TO-talitarian, totalitarian dreamin’, by the GOP.

Workers have-been ground DOWN, have been ground down. And Trump’s flunkies aim-to-please. I’ve been DIS-tressed for a while, by what I see, by what I see.

Two more years in the CELLar, two more years in the CELLar, I am grieving today, I am grieving today.

TO-talitarian, totalitarian dreamin’, by the GOP.

TO-talitarian, totalitarian dreamin’, by the GOP.

TO-talitarian, totalitarian dreamin’, by the GOP.

Peter the Great

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The Book of the Week is “Peter the Great, His Life and World” by Robert K. Massie, originally published in 1980. In this hodgepodge of a volume, the author recounted in great detail, from the mid-1600’s to the first quarter of the 1700’s: the territorial conquests of various European countries’ leaders with their infantry, artillery, cavalry and navies, including those of Tsar Peter of Russia; the book’s title was thus misleading.

Russian Tsar Alexis’ wife died giving birth to their fourteenth child in March 1669. In February 1671, the tsar, at forty-one, found another wife. She, nineteen, was raised by a foster royal-family whose wealth and power rivaled the first wife’s. In May 1672, she gave birth to Peter. The tsar died of illness when Peter was three and a half.

Peter’s older sister Sophia became Peter’s regent, a surrogate tsar, until Peter was old enough to lead Russia. There ensued a power struggle for which heir would become tsar, as the other two candidates had health issues. Peter eventually became co-tsar with his older half-brother Ivan. Sophia had military protection from the Streltsy, about twenty thousand soldiers. She was a power-grabber, and for her time and place, afforded opportunities and a well-rounded education unusual for her gender.

When Peter was fourteen, he formed an army of about six hundred of his peers, called the Preobrazhensky Regiment. They were trained and paid like real soldiers. He acquired battle-smarts, rather than academic smarts. His mother hoped to produce a male heir to increase his family’s power, by marrying him off. She also felt the need to rein him in, as he was off learning the design and carpentry of warship-building instead of following protocol by attending royal ceremonies. His arranged marriage took place in January 1689.

At the dawn of the 1700’s, Peter imposed a draconian policy of a mandatory twenty-five years of military service for all young men. By June 1701, one quarter of all the church bells in Russia had been melted down to be used to make cannon because time was too short to refine new metals for arms-making. After the Russians defeated the Swedes in Poltava, many nations tried to curry favor with Russia.

In winter 1711, Peter considered himself the liberator of the Balkan Christians. He tried to solicit the assistance of soldiers of various religions to fight the Muslim Ottomans in Arabia. After losing that war, he transferred his military resources from the Black Sea region to the Baltic Sea, trying to preserve his namesake city, St. Petersburg, at all costs.

Read the book to learn about the shifting alliances and wars among and between Peter’s Russians, the Turks of the Ottoman Empire, the Crimean Tatars, Ukrainian Cossacks, Swedes, Danes, Saxons, Poles, Hanoverians, Prussians, French, Scottish, etc.

Different Jokes – BONUS POST

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To all you comedians out there, thank you for getting us through this difficult presidency. Here’s a little song that explains the American entertainment situation.

DIFFERENT JOKES

sung to the tune of the TV theme song (the original) “Diff’rent Strokes” with apologies to whomever the rights may concern.

Well, Americans won’t-long apPROVE, of elitists and-a-prez who’s dumb.

When the Right screws the poor, they screw everyone.

Trump acts like a slumlord, he’s a man of means. He’s mocked as a buffoon, while there are serious scenes.

But we’ve got, different jokes, it takes, different jokes, it takes, different jokes, to move the world.

The United States has an exceptional story. Entertainers are always in your face.

The internet and idiot box, cause brain rot. So what? They cheer us. They give us hope. It’s an infinite space.

And together we’ll start over.

It takes, different jokes, it takes, different jokes, it takes, different jokes to move the world.

My World – BONUS POST

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As is well known, AI software is the conduit through which Trump’s shenanigans are conveyed. His handlers let him be chief spokesman so that HE alone gets blamed for all the nation’s problems. BUT Trump has dementia, so anonymous bad actors are actually to blame! They carry out his alleged orders to besmirch his name forever in the history books.

This will continue until Trump has irreversible cessation of vital body functions.

Infuriatingly for many people, not much will change even after that, because mostly rich white men will still rule the United States; they have been doing so since the country’s founding.

The media network FOX will continue to try to “put lipstick on this pig.” Here’s what AI is singing on Trump’s behalf.

MY WORLD

sung to the tune of “My Girl” with apologies to Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and to whomever else the rights may concern.

I hear LIBerals-whine, in this prosperous day.

When you’re on my side, I keep our foes at bay.

I rest and play, and I always get my way.

My world, my world, my world, doubling down in my world. MY world.

I’ve got so much money, Bibi envies me.

I get to stay on top because no one wants anarchy.

Well, I rest and play, and I always get my way. My world, my world, my world. Doubling down in my world. My world.

I always need honeys, and fortune and fame. I’ve made all the riches lately, one man can claim.

Well, I rest and play, and I always get my way. My world, my world, my world. Doubling down in my world. My world.

I’m superior to JFK in my world. I’ve always won every game in my world. Doubling down, doubling down. My world, woo, my world. That’s all anyone can talk about is my world…

I Have You, Maine – BONUS POST

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As the United States heads for an economy of Jimmy Carter’s administration, it’s midterms time again. Candidates from all different states have all different brands. The ones who profess to be religious, must be careful not to engage in tax evasion in connection with their religion, while candidates who are fixtures in their states must not be complacent. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is one of the latter. Here’s what she should sing.

I HAVE YOU, MAINE

sung to the tune of “I Got You Babe” with apologies to the Estate of Sonny Bono, Cher and to whomever else the rights may concern.

Platner’s got skeletONS, he’s gone low, said he had PTSD, SOME time ago.

Well, I don’t know if all that’s true, but you have me, and Maine, I have you.

Maine, I have you, Maine. I have you, Maine.

They say I’ve got a liberal bent, but I patiently listen to YOUR every lament.

Well, so the earth’s getting hot. I’m keeping Maine, a cool vacation spot.

Maine, I have you, Maine. I have you, Maine.

I’m mature, in compromi-SING. Serving you well, is my thing. And when I can, I make policy sound. And when it’s time to vote, I’m always around.

There are good reasons I’ve been here so long. With your help, we can keep Maine going strong.

So keep my perfect attendance in mind.

I fear neither bullies not haters. I’m in my prime.

Maine, I have you, Maine. I have you, Maine.

To my constituents, I lend a hand. I’m egalitarian, you understand.

We see so much hypocrisy. I want us to keep democracy.

I help you sleep at night. I honestly do what I think is right.

I have you, I won’t let go. I keep fighting for you, you know.

I have you, Maine.

I have you, Maine.

I have you, Maine.

I have you, Maine.

I have you, Maine.

I have you, Maine…

I’ve Done Nothing Wrong – BONUS POST

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See this blog’s post “King of the Club” to understand how most U.S. Congress members misbehave. The U.S. Congress members who haven’t been complaining about the corruption of the U.S. government all along, but are suddenly grandstanding on ethics now, are all phonies!

They are jealous that they haven’t gotten away with everything Trump has ducked punishment for. In his dementia, Trump continues to spout insensitive, inflammatory nonsense– which the media is provocatively reporting, to get ratings. Here’s what Trump is singing, and has always sung.

I’VE DONE NOTHING WRONG

sung to the tune of “I Write the Songs” with apologies to Barry Manilow and to whomever else the rights may concern.

I’ll be your leader forever, and I’ve done the very best job.

I put the terms and deals together. I am super-rich, and I’ve done nothing wrong.

I’ve done nothing wrong and I make whole-world peace.

I’ve done nothing wrong and my miracles never cease.

I’m proud to say I made young girls cry.

I’ve done nothing wrong. I’ve done nothing wrong.

My name lies deep in MAGA, and I’ll forever be in America’s soul.

Now you’ll look out through my eyes. We’re great again, because I’ve been bold.

I’ve done nothing wrong and I make whole-world peace.

I’ve done nothing wrong and my miracles never cease.

I’m proud to say I made young girls cry.

I’ve done nothing wrong. I’ve done nothing wrong.

My court cases make me rant, but I get along great with Vance.

Democrats talk cock-and-bull, so you should boo.

Money is my life. Who cares about my wife?

It’s for me. It’s for me. It’s for me. It’s for me.

So exonerate me, speedily!

I’ve done nothing wrong and I make whole-world peace.

I’ve done nothing wrong and my miracles never cease.

I’m proud to say I made young girls cry.

I’ve done nothing wrong. I’ve done nothing wrong.

I’ve done nothing wrong and I make whole-world peace.

I’ve done nothing wrong and my miracles never cease.

I’m proud to say I made young girls cry.

I’ve done nothing wrong. I’ve done nothing wrong.

I am perfect, and I’ve done nothing wrong.