Metallica, ChatGPT, Being Polite, Kvothe Plays the Eolian, Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe
If you aren't a Metallica fan now, you soon will be. I discuss ChatGPT as my new assistant, the art of being polite, how Kvothe makes the audience cry, and the perfect summer orzo salad.
I’m crossing my fingers that you’ll read a few of these posts from start to finish. In my humble opinion, they’re not only insightful but entertaining as well - this week has been exceptional for blogging.
Take my Metallica post, for example. I start with one of the world’s most iconic music concerts, then segue into a less glamorous memory: nearly getting roughed up by a thug back in middle school. Even if metal isn’t your thing, I think you’ll enjoy the story of me squirming while being shoved against a locker.
From there, you can dive into my ChatGPT post, where I marvel at the almost unbelievable capabilities of AI, lament the decline of politeness in society (assuming it ever truly existed), and share a memorable excerpt from my favorite book. Finally, I wrap things up with a recipe for an extraordinarily easy summer salad - light, fresh, and perfect for the season. Enjoy!
To visit a post to read in its entirety, simply click the photo that pertains to it or click the link I leave after my short description of it. Enjoy!
Metallica In Moscow – 1991
You may be devoted to the elegance of Beethoven and Mozart - and I respect that. But give me six minutes with the video in this post, and you might just find yourself converted into a Metallica fan. Perhaps even a passionate one. You’ll be in excellent company, as Metallica holds the crown as the most celebrated heavy metal band on Earth. After you’ve experienced the music and my commentary, settle in for the tale of my beloved old Iron Maiden t-shirt, and the unexpected trouble it stirred up.
P.S. – In the video, keep a close eye on the men in military uniforms. While their initial mission was surely to keep the peace, they somehow end up rocking out while perched on the shoulders of their comrades. Absolutely priceless.
Why ChatGPT is My New Blogging Assistant
I’ve been blogging for decades, but I’ve never had it this good. Recently, I discovered an uncannily effective tool that’s made my workflow nearly 1,000% more efficient. Gone are the long nights spent proofreading every paragraph, long or short. Gone are the jolts of realizing I’d made a spelling or grammatical mistake. Gone are the moments of staring at a blank page, wondering what to write - or worrying I might one day run out of ideas. I’m thrilled with my new assistant, and I urge you: if you’ve ever wondered what even a small fraction of AI could do for someone like me, read on. It’s downright astonishing.
The Art of Being Polite
This post began as a rant sparked by a specific incident, but it soon evolved into a broader reflection on the state of humanity. Every so often, I snap out of my comfortable slumber and see what so many of us have become - apathetic and, quite frankly, rude.
Yes, I was in a mood when I wrote this, but if you’ve ever read Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends & Influence People, you might find some of my observations surprisingly on point. The real question is: once you recognize these truths, what will you do with them? In this post, I explore my own answer to that.
Kvothe Plays for the Eolian
Patrick Rothfuss once wrote a book called The Name of the Wind, the first in a planned trilogy whose final volume, sadly, was never written. That lack of closure has pained me for far too long, but the first two books are as close to reading pure magic as I’ve ever experienced. Returning to them, time and again, has brought me comfort over the years. In terms of my literary adventures, I suppose this is as happy as I can hope to be.
Two chapters from the first book stand out above the rest. They capture a moment when the main character, Kvothe, plays his lute for a particular audience. I don’t have the skill to recreate the scene in my own words, so I’ve included it in full within my post. Give it a read and tell me what you think. Trust me, it’s that good.
Mediterranean Style Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe
I can imagine two perfect occasions for making a salad like this: first, when hosting a guest in your home; and second, when bringing a dish to someone else’s. In either case, this salad is elegant enough to impress just about anyone. It’s vibrant, colorful, and absolutely delicious. Best of all, it’s extraordinarily easy to prepare, which is why this orzo salad has been a go-to for Laura and me over the years. Click through to take a look, and let me know what you think. I have a feeling you’ll like what you see.