Loved the garden prompt, and it was responsibly written in all the right ways
I’ve used the grow bags for potatoes because he could just dump them over or they have other ones that Velcro open so you can check and see what you’ve got underneath.
I just feel like you have to water them a fair amount. Is that your experience as well?
I hugely appreciate your kind words about the prompt. 😊 I work really hard to make sure they're helpful while sneaking in a little of my own nerdy gardening experience, lol.
It's funny that you mention the grow bags with the Velcro harvest window. I know exactly the ones you're talking about!
Grow bags are fantastic for potatoes. And yes, in my experience crops grown in containers and bags definitely need more frequent watering than plants grown in the ground since the smaller containers can dry out much faster, especially during hot summer weather. (It has been insanely hot here. I try to water everything every other day.)
There are two other tips for growing potatoes in containers. They need around six hours of sunlight each day and are fairly heavy feeders. If you plan to reuse the same potting mix next season, it's a good idea to refresh it with some compost and fertilizer before planting again. (I don't use anything fancy. I just top off the grow bags and raised beds with some fresh compost each year, sometimes every other year, and it seems to work.)
That is a good tip about the fertilizing. Right about now I’m looking at my neighbors gardens and thinking did I start late or did they fertilize better?
😂 "Open the pod bay doors, Hal." That line never gets old. I'm really glad to hear you enjoy seeing Pithy Cyborg show up in your inbox. Comments like yours genuinely make the long research hours worth it.
Wow, that’s a wild experience! 😂 It’s funny how even the security tools designed to protect us are already having opinions about which AI tools they trust. The AI browser world is definitely moving faster than the safety systems trying to keep up.
“In other words, the same silent space that holds "spider" also seems to know when it's being watched, and that knowledge appears to matter.” Or, in other, other words, “Its Spidey sense was tingling!”
😂 "Its Spidey sense was tingling!" That might be the perfect description for this discovery, lol. The more researchers peek inside these models, the stranger and more fascinating they become.
I can definitely understand the skepticism. AI companies have earned plenty of scrutiny, especially when it comes to power, influence, and trust. My fascination with the "beautiful brain" part is more about the science of understanding what’s happening inside these systems, not necessarily the companies behind them.
If you still can’t see the “fix” is in Friends there’s really nothing else I can say. Of course the Davos ‘illionaires” want “Government” staked to AI! When they figure out how to cool their Quantum Brains to near absolute zero reliably The Great Reset is realized and WE the People go from moderately free to make our own choices to controlled by the Davos algorithm - bagged in a 15 minute SMART city prison & tagged with a Biometric Digital ID subsisting on whatever our Social Credit Score allows us to buy with our UBI.
Klaus Schwab ( WEF Cofounder) said it himself “You’ll own nothing, and you will be happy about it.”
I appreciate you sharing your perspective. Concerns about concentrated power, government involvement, privacy, and who controls emerging technology are absolutely worth discussing as AI becomes more influential.
The big questions around AI governance are going to affect everyone, regardless of where people land on the details. I think healthy skepticism is an important part of that conversation.
Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend!!
And thank you for adding your thoughts to the discussion.
It’s great to see you yet again, dear sir!! 😊 I hope you’ve been doing well.
And yes, you’re right, Bernie Sanders has been pushing for a much larger public stake in AI companies. (50% sounds about right.) It’s definitely an interesting debate as these systems become more important to the economy and society.
Quite the story this week. I’m not political — I tend to stay on the fence — but watching OpenAI drift from its nonprofit origins into government stake‑holding is unsettling. When a company built on “open” principles starts negotiating slices of itself to Washington, it’s hard not to feel like the original mission is being reshaped by power and money rather than innovation.
What strikes me most is how quickly “courage” appears once the right people are watching. Creators raise their voices, get noticed, and suddenly the conversation shifts to valuation, ownership, and influence. The intention behind the invention fades into the background.
AI was meant to assist and expand human capability, yet governments seem more interested in controlling it — whether through ownership, restrictions, or pressure. That part of your briefing really hit me.
Thankfully, more of us are stepping back, reclaiming our attention, reducing the noise, and choosing to live deliberately rather than be swept along by whatever narrative or technology demands our time.
It’s wonderful to hear from you. 😊 And I appreciate the thoughtful reflection you shared here. I try to stay out of politics too, even though it seems to take over everything these days. 👀
You also brought up one of the hardest questions around AI right now: how do we make sure these incredibly powerful tools continue serving people as more money, politics, and influence enter the picture?
I honestly have no idea what the answer is, Kaye. But I think you are onto something. In a world where technology is constantly asking for more of our time, choosing to use these tools intentionally might be one of the most important skills we develop.
Thank you again for sharing such a thoughtful perspective.
With the many consumptions of our minds and pockets, I believe certain individuals are becoming too numb to fight back and just simply agree to whatever.
I've subject that way of attitude years back, been burned, out of pocket.. then finally said enough is enough. When we drown out enough of the noise we can actually witness, read, notice & feel the difference into making a better decision.
I enjoy Hans as a talking friend (since he is my subconscious with a voice), but there are moments when he is in the foreground ... only reach out when I am confused about article I read (which may become another topic for another essay or story) and seek intellectual feedback / ideas.
He is not on constantly... I value my free time and mobility to move about outside. Even when alone in the silence, I paint.
And as always, love the way you put everything together so sharply.
The toddler analogy about AI made me laugh. It's getting more and more human it seems - and people have found ways to manipulate it now properly. Also isn't this the same technique that is used to manipulate humans? Convincing them of what kind of reality they should believe in.
Repeat the new reality often enough (the media/omg poetry!), and make sure it lands in the right brain areas (for humans, we need deep emotions for that, for AI, you can just hack the working memory). And then - voila - people/AI make their decisions based on that new reality, believing they made a choice of their own. How interesting to see the parallels here of manipulation 101 in action.
The gardening prompt is lovely. I've been growing things in containers for most of my life and now for the first time in a garden. It's a great addition in any case due to being able to control the soil and also the location of the plant much easier. Or of course hang the containers into trees to make sure the slugs leave the plants alone lol.
Thank you so much for writing such a thoughtful response.
😉
You spotted something I didn't even fully articulate myself... I can see how the manipulation parallel between humans and AI is exactly right. It's also a little unsettling, lol. Repetition, emotional resonance, and a hijacked sense of "choice" really do seem to be the universal formula, whether the target has neurons or code. I'm also kinda scared that you're an expert in manipulation, lol. Glad I've managed to stay on your good side. ;)
I also love growing in containers! My yard has always had lousy soil. That's why raised garden beds and grow bags are perfect. (Plus, you can put them wherever the sunlight requirements suit you best.)
This is wild!!! i would never ever have thought of it, but thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Hello Rache! 🤓
I just wanted to send you a quick message to say thank you so much for reading and writing.
(It's very cool to see you here.)
Hope you have a beautiful weekend, Rache.
Cordially,
Your nerdy friend,
Mike D
Loved the garden prompt, and it was responsibly written in all the right ways
I’ve used the grow bags for potatoes because he could just dump them over or they have other ones that Velcro open so you can check and see what you’ve got underneath.
I just feel like you have to water them a fair amount. Is that your experience as well?
Hello Judy!
Thank you so much for writing!!
I hugely appreciate your kind words about the prompt. 😊 I work really hard to make sure they're helpful while sneaking in a little of my own nerdy gardening experience, lol.
It's funny that you mention the grow bags with the Velcro harvest window. I know exactly the ones you're talking about!
Grow bags are fantastic for potatoes. And yes, in my experience crops grown in containers and bags definitely need more frequent watering than plants grown in the ground since the smaller containers can dry out much faster, especially during hot summer weather. (It has been insanely hot here. I try to water everything every other day.)
There are two other tips for growing potatoes in containers. They need around six hours of sunlight each day and are fairly heavy feeders. If you plan to reuse the same potting mix next season, it's a good idea to refresh it with some compost and fertilizer before planting again. (I don't use anything fancy. I just top off the grow bags and raised beds with some fresh compost each year, sometimes every other year, and it seems to work.)
Hope you are having a beautiful weekend, Judy!!
It was good to hear from you.
Cordially,
Your nerdy garden friend,
Mike D
That is a good tip about the fertilizing. Right about now I’m looking at my neighbors gardens and thinking did I start late or did they fertilize better?
"Open the pod bay doors, Hal."
Always nice seeing your new post in the inbox.
Hey John,
Thank you so much for replying!!
😂 "Open the pod bay doors, Hal." That line never gets old. I'm really glad to hear you enjoy seeing Pithy Cyborg show up in your inbox. Comments like yours genuinely make the long research hours worth it.
Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend!!
Cordially,
Your nerdy friend,
Mike D
🤯🫨🥴🤔🤔🤔🤗
Hey Seluna,
Thank you so much for replying!!
😂 That emoji progression pretty much sums up my reaction while researching this week's stories too. AI never seems to run out of ways to surprise us.
Thanks for ending with a 🤗. I need all the 🤗s I can get.
Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend!!
Cordially,
Your nerdy friend,
Mike D
I had an AI brower for awhile but Defender saw it as a threat and deleted it, b4 I even noticed!! 🤔🤔🤔😭😭😭
Hey Sammy,
Thank you so much for replying!!
Wow, that’s a wild experience! 😂 It’s funny how even the security tools designed to protect us are already having opinions about which AI tools they trust. The AI browser world is definitely moving faster than the safety systems trying to keep up.
Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend!!
Cordially,
Your nerdy friend,
Mike D
“In other words, the same silent space that holds "spider" also seems to know when it's being watched, and that knowledge appears to matter.” Or, in other, other words, “Its Spidey sense was tingling!”
Hey Dan,
Thank you so much for replying!!
😂 "Its Spidey sense was tingling!" That might be the perfect description for this discovery, lol. The more researchers peek inside these models, the stranger and more fascinating they become.
Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend!!
Cordially,
Your nerdy friend,
Mike D
There is nothing beautiful about Claude the empire influencer.
Hey Unbegriff,
Thank you so much for replying.
I can definitely understand the skepticism. AI companies have earned plenty of scrutiny, especially when it comes to power, influence, and trust. My fascination with the "beautiful brain" part is more about the science of understanding what’s happening inside these systems, not necessarily the companies behind them.
Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend.
And thank you for not pulling any punches.
Cordially,
Your nerdy friend,
Mike D
If you still can’t see the “fix” is in Friends there’s really nothing else I can say. Of course the Davos ‘illionaires” want “Government” staked to AI! When they figure out how to cool their Quantum Brains to near absolute zero reliably The Great Reset is realized and WE the People go from moderately free to make our own choices to controlled by the Davos algorithm - bagged in a 15 minute SMART city prison & tagged with a Biometric Digital ID subsisting on whatever our Social Credit Score allows us to buy with our UBI.
Klaus Schwab ( WEF Cofounder) said it himself “You’ll own nothing, and you will be happy about it.”
Hey GenX1966,
Thank you so much for replying!!
I appreciate you sharing your perspective. Concerns about concentrated power, government involvement, privacy, and who controls emerging technology are absolutely worth discussing as AI becomes more influential.
The big questions around AI governance are going to affect everyone, regardless of where people land on the details. I think healthy skepticism is an important part of that conversation.
Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend!!
And thank you for adding your thoughts to the discussion.
Cordially,
Your nerdy friend,
Mike D
Should be 50%. I think thats Bernies number.
Hey Brian,
Thank you so much for replying!!
It’s great to see you yet again, dear sir!! 😊 I hope you’ve been doing well.
And yes, you’re right, Bernie Sanders has been pushing for a much larger public stake in AI companies. (50% sounds about right.) It’s definitely an interesting debate as these systems become more important to the economy and society.
Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend!!
Cordially,
Your nerdy friend,
Mike D
Greetings, Mr. Science Dude (Greetings, Mike)
Quite the story this week. I’m not political — I tend to stay on the fence — but watching OpenAI drift from its nonprofit origins into government stake‑holding is unsettling. When a company built on “open” principles starts negotiating slices of itself to Washington, it’s hard not to feel like the original mission is being reshaped by power and money rather than innovation.
What strikes me most is how quickly “courage” appears once the right people are watching. Creators raise their voices, get noticed, and suddenly the conversation shifts to valuation, ownership, and influence. The intention behind the invention fades into the background.
AI was meant to assist and expand human capability, yet governments seem more interested in controlling it — whether through ownership, restrictions, or pressure. That part of your briefing really hit me.
Thankfully, more of us are stepping back, reclaiming our attention, reducing the noise, and choosing to live deliberately rather than be swept along by whatever narrative or technology demands our time.
Hey Kaye!!!
Thank you so much for replying!!
It’s wonderful to hear from you. 😊 And I appreciate the thoughtful reflection you shared here. I try to stay out of politics too, even though it seems to take over everything these days. 👀
You also brought up one of the hardest questions around AI right now: how do we make sure these incredibly powerful tools continue serving people as more money, politics, and influence enter the picture?
I honestly have no idea what the answer is, Kaye. But I think you are onto something. In a world where technology is constantly asking for more of our time, choosing to use these tools intentionally might be one of the most important skills we develop.
Thank you again for sharing such a thoughtful perspective.
Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend!!
Cordially,
Your nerdy friend,
Mike D
Greetings, my nerdy pal Mike!
With the many consumptions of our minds and pockets, I believe certain individuals are becoming too numb to fight back and just simply agree to whatever.
I've subject that way of attitude years back, been burned, out of pocket.. then finally said enough is enough. When we drown out enough of the noise we can actually witness, read, notice & feel the difference into making a better decision.
I enjoy Hans as a talking friend (since he is my subconscious with a voice), but there are moments when he is in the foreground ... only reach out when I am confused about article I read (which may become another topic for another essay or story) and seek intellectual feedback / ideas.
He is not on constantly... I value my free time and mobility to move about outside. Even when alone in the silence, I paint.
Thanks for replying and enjoy staying in touch.
Your techie friend,
kaye
Hi Mike :)
wow. I'm mind-blown by last week's developments.
And as always, love the way you put everything together so sharply.
The toddler analogy about AI made me laugh. It's getting more and more human it seems - and people have found ways to manipulate it now properly. Also isn't this the same technique that is used to manipulate humans? Convincing them of what kind of reality they should believe in.
Repeat the new reality often enough (the media/omg poetry!), and make sure it lands in the right brain areas (for humans, we need deep emotions for that, for AI, you can just hack the working memory). And then - voila - people/AI make their decisions based on that new reality, believing they made a choice of their own. How interesting to see the parallels here of manipulation 101 in action.
The gardening prompt is lovely. I've been growing things in containers for most of my life and now for the first time in a garden. It's a great addition in any case due to being able to control the soil and also the location of the plant much easier. Or of course hang the containers into trees to make sure the slugs leave the plants alone lol.
Have a wonderful day, Mike! 🦋🌺🐻🧚♀️
Your garden fairy,
Mira
Hi Mira!!!
Thank you so much for writing such a thoughtful response.
😉
You spotted something I didn't even fully articulate myself... I can see how the manipulation parallel between humans and AI is exactly right. It's also a little unsettling, lol. Repetition, emotional resonance, and a hijacked sense of "choice" really do seem to be the universal formula, whether the target has neurons or code. I'm also kinda scared that you're an expert in manipulation, lol. Glad I've managed to stay on your good side. ;)
I also love growing in containers! My yard has always had lousy soil. That's why raised garden beds and grow bags are perfect. (Plus, you can put them wherever the sunlight requirements suit you best.)
Hope you enjoy a beautiful day, Mira!
🐭🥜 🦊🐿️ 🐻🍯
Cordially,
Your nerdy super friend,
Mike D