On the ethical use of LLMs
The ethics of LLM use can be reduced to “don’t use it and not expect to get found out”
I wrote a 500-word short story and it needs a trigger warning
For real. Don’t read it. But if you do, here goes.
What’s in a pronoun?
While on holiday last year, a travel companion asked a question at dinner about kids these days and pronouns, that I wish I’d answered better. This is that answer. — Why do you wear clothes? Why do you wear those clothes? Is is out of habit? Have you ever wondered why you behave the wayContinue reading What’s in a pronoun?
Batman is a cop
Ah, superheroes. For many years my favourite superhero was the yellow spandex one from X-Men, even before Hugh Jackman put on that bodysuit. It was also underpants-and-cape guy for a while, but it turns out I was just crushing on Christopher Reeve. And then there’s Batman, the epitome of “not really a superhero but cosplaysContinue reading Batman is a cop
On the novel coronavirus and critical thought
[Originally posted on Twitter] When news first started spreading of a novel coronavirus I was admittedly unconcerned because I heard it was no worse than ‘flu. Of course I did some research, listened to professionals, and came to the conclusion that my lack of concern was wrong. Critical thinking works, kids. You’re allowed to be wrongContinue reading On the novel coronavirus and critical thought
This whole post is a giant trigger warning
What you’re about to read is the story of the second worst day of my life (my father’s death was the worst). I have waited almost thirty years to tell it, and consider it my greatest shame. I am sharing it for two reasons. Firstly, I’ve needed to get this weight off my shoulders forContinue reading This whole post is a giant trigger warning
Twenty-five years
(This post contains profanity.) Speaking of time in fractions of a century seems more dramatic than just saying “twenty-five years”. It’s been a quarter of a century since the last Father’s Day I celebrated. In ten days from now, my father will have been dead for a quarter of a century. About a year agoContinue reading Twenty-five years
On writing
Yesterday I responded to a blog post by my friend Jason, who (prolific writer that he is) has responded in kind less than a day later. I don’t want to dismiss the lengthy post in which he makes some interesting observations, but I have thoughts about the last line: Randolph says I’m a writer. 18,767Continue reading On writing
What makes a writer?
My friend Jason Irwin, whom I’ve never met in real life, is one of the most prolific writers I know personally. One can expect a blog post from him every day. I honestly don’t know how he does it. Yesterday I spent seven hours working on the next SQL Server book for Microsoft Press, andContinue reading What makes a writer?
Yes, Mary Poppins is racist, but not because of “coal-blackened faces”
This is the most ridiculous headline I’ve read today, and I’ve been awake a bunch of hours already. Twitter Disputes Claim That ‘Mary Poppins’ Is Racist Because Of Characters’ Coal-Blackened Faces This is in reference to an article written in the New York Times this week by Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, an American professor who lectures onContinue reading Yes, Mary Poppins is racist, but not because of “coal-blackened faces”