#506

As is, I suppose, traditional at this stage in the life of things, it is time to print some clarifications, adjustments, and modulations on prior positions after writing several posts in an emotive state unbecoming of the site's masthead.

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To be penetratingly simple and clear: if it pleases you to generate artefacts on an LLM, if it helps you do tasks, if its use removes barriers that were a legitimate hindrance, and even if you're a lazy piece of shit who is literally laughing at me and flipping me the bird, use AI however you want, for whatever you want to use it. No part of that affects me in the slightest, near as I can tell, and I did not mean to attach moral significance to the choice. What I wanted to communicate was merely that it seems to me that this allegedly liberatory project is a scam, not on me, not really on society or power or capital or anything, but on the user. Like, I don't see how it helps you and I can definitely see how it harms and robs you. Also I have sampled a broad range of comics and art produced on LLMs by a variety of individuals and indeed I cannot see how you are not simply stealing labor in order to waste time. Sorry. Gotta call it as I see it--but again, who cares, don't stop on my account, prove me wrong.

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Truly I have no business ever talking about politics in the moment. Just because it doesn't stop any other mouth-breather doesn't mean I have to make the same mistake. It's nothing personal. It is not my duty nor is this blog a truly suitable record of anything except the hideous contortions of my ego.

The truth is I don't know what is good or bad or how anything will shake out. The truth is I don't know jack or shit about fuck or dick, actually. Don't count on me if you know how to count. I keep forgetting that this is so and going through this shit again and again, but dammit, may it please take hold this time.

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A cleanser for the palate! A shot of something resinous and 120-proof to cut through our system. 

Yes! Yes! Lists! The true purpose of Factually Pointless. Have a dash of them! A salting! A peppering! A smorgasboard! A variety platter! 

Alright okay. Ok cool. Here we go.

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One of the clearest signs that something is fundamentally at issue in the core of my being is that I read much fewer honest-to-god physical books. There's always ups and downs in how many books I get through based on the influx of other media and the tides and vicissitudes of life, but the last long while has been particularly not-much and very other-stuff heavy. Still, even though I have not managed to complete O. Wilson's excellent Consilience, I have started and finished a few other books, and a veritable pile of comics. Follows an account of all such as I am able to dredge from the memory. Hasn't been that long since I hitcha with the lists, but somehow I do get through things.

books I have started and not finished in addition to Consilience

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, Edwin A. Abbott

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl, reread, aloud to Ezra as a pastime especially before bed or driving someplace

books I have managed to start and finish since they're fewer than a hundred pages long and filled with illustrations

George's Marvelous Medicine, Roald Dahl, reread for maybe the seventieth time (Roald Dahl childhood 100, Roald Dahl teenager and adult 100, all the stuff, every scrap and bit a person can find, I have read it multiple times)

Solutions and Other Problems, Allie Brosh (wow this is one of the funniest persons ever to have drawn breath and shown their work. Also profoundly courageous, or, persistent, which hits the same)

Who knows how many Star Wars books I forgot to put into the record, honestly, what a buffoon

print comics, usually from the library

completed:

The Last Delivery, Evan Dahm (genius)

Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M. Schulz, Francesco Matteuzzi and Luca Debus

Where I'm Coming From: Selected Strips 1991-2005, Barbara Brandon-Croft

Batman: White Knight, Sean Murphy

Batman vol. 1: The Court of Owls, Scott Snyder

Miles Morales Spider-Man vol. 1: Trial by Spider, Cody Ziglar

same category, forgotten from last summer:

Social Fiction, Chantal Motellier

Special Exits: A Graphic Memoir, Joyce Farmer

comics in progress:

This Is How I Disappear, Mirion Malle

webcomics I have read from start to finish, caught up on, or revisited from long ago lately--who knows which! Me, but I really don't wanna type all that shit out right now. I want to be done with this so I can shove my unemployed ass into the bed and raise digital pocket monsters.

Kill Six Billion Demons, Abbadon

Bobbins/Solver/Steeple, John Allison

Sam and Fuzzy, Sam Logan

Dumbing of Age, David Willis

Yellow Brick Ramble, Daisy McGuire

Dresden Codak, A. Senna Diaz

Elephant Town, Danielle Corsetto

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OK! Okay okay all right now woo woo wooooo

--JL