Writing our Destiny aka Andrew
LightNews LightNews
banner
planecrazy.bsky.social
Writing our Destiny aka Andrew
@planecrazy.bsky.social
550 followers 1.4K following 3.4K posts
A strange assortment of knowledge, caprice, and whims. Throw in steel pens and DnD, shake, strain and serve.
He/Him/Hey You
https://thesteelpen.com/
https://theesterbrookproject.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
planecrazy.bsky.social
This from one of the most enthusiastic proponents of AI who isn't actually trying to sell an AI system. The Hype is off the charts, and misleading.
I also saw a study on how people are actually using ChapGPT and twice as many are using it to look up facts (the worst use) as any other use case.
From Andrew Ng. From his deeplearning.ai site. "Even though LLMs can handle a much more general set of tasks than previous iterations of AI technology, compared to what humans can do, they are still highly specialized. They’re much better at working with text than other modalities, still require lots of custom engineering to get it the right context for a particular application, and we have few tools — and only inefficient ones — for getting our systems to learn from feedback and repeated exposure to a specific task (such as screening resumés for a particular role). AI has stark limitations, and despite rapid improvements, it will remain limited compared to humans for a long time. AI is amazing, but it has unfortunately been hyped up to be even more amazing than it is. A pernicious aspect of hype is that it often contains an element of truth, but not to the degree of the hype. This makes it difficult for nontechnical people to discern where the truth really is. Modern AI is a general purpose technology that is enabling many applications, but AI that can do any intellectual tasks that a human can (a popular definition for AGI) is still decades away or longer. This nuanced message that AI is general, but not that general, often is lost in the noise of today's media environment.
November 13, 2025 at 6:38 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Thanks. I'll try. The album is chock full of history. When I saw it I knew I had to rescue it and I've been trying, on and off, to reunite it with the family for 20 years.
A photo of a very early jet airplane flying very low over a road in what looks like an airbase in Korea. Willing dressed as an Air Police, the Army Air Force version of an MP. There is a written inscription around it written in white ink on the black paper of the photo album. Above it is written, "6154th Air Police "5th FIF. Taque Korea - 1950" then under it it says, "Mr. John Law" A certificate of the "Domain of the Golden Dragon" to show that he has passed the 180th Meridian. These were issued for soldiers heading to Asia by boat in a continuation of old naval traditions like when you crossed the equator. It's a very elaborate printed certificate with dragons, half-naked ladies, sea shells and star fish and chains on either side. Two photos. The one of the left is labeled "A Japanese Plane" and shows what looks like a fighter plane on the ground with the Japanese rising sun on the tail. On the right is a photo of a building, some cars and a chain link fence. It is labeled "Yakata Air Base, Japan."
November 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Wondering if you know of any organizations that can help me reunite this photo album I found at a garage sale (left in the house when owners moved in) with any surviving family? I've tried genealogical resources, but can't find anything. I'm caring for it but would love to return to his family.
A young Black man in military uniform posed standing with his hand in his pocket. A newspaper article about Willie L. Harris of Gary, Indiana telling how he had recently returned from Korea and his service in Korea, Japan and as special guard for General Earl Partridge in Korea. Willie posed sitting in a chair looking all snazzy with sunglasses on, a cane and peaked cap. The front of the photo album with the embossed "Photographs" that came on there augmented underneath with letters drawn or applied "by Willie L. Harris" and the remains of a pinup girl glued to the cover.
November 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
And, of course, the Chinese did it first.
2000-year-old jade burial suit.
A complete body covering made up of many small plaques made of jade and sewn together with red thread through each corner of each plaque.
November 10, 2025 at 10:19 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Found an interesting info-graphic from the Durham County Board of Elections that explains why, in our city politics, the decision is always "which flavor of Democratic candidate" rather than Democratic vs. Republican. This is one of the most Democratic cities in the country.
A pie chart of "Voters by Party" show that more than half of the registered voters are registered Democrats. The next largest group are Unaffiliated and Republicans are a very small segment, with libertarians a tiny little sliver, barely to be seen.
November 5, 2025 at 12:14 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Today is voting day. Do your civic duty, while we still can. Fortunately here in Durham is more about the flavor of Democrat. But still important.
Selfie showing my I Voted sticker
November 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
My wife’s new garden expansion is still blooming. It will be really nice when it grows in.
Photo of a corner garden with a rose bush down-center flanked by two rocks and some perennials in front, still small. A small path covered in pine needles arcs behind and separates the front, new bit, from the more established bed behind where you can still see roses with some blooms on them and a big old purple sage, a favorite of the bees, hummingbirds and pollinators of all kinds.
November 4, 2025 at 3:58 AM
planecrazy.bsky.social
There's been a company that's been making paper ones to hang on your wall since the 90s.

despair.com/collections/...
"motivational poster" that shows Blind Justice holding scales. Underneath it says: "Fairness. By the time justice is done, injustice has usually gotten away with everything it wanted to." "motivational poster" Picture of French fries in a fast food container. Under it says, "Potential. Not everyone gets to be an astronaut when they grow up"
November 2, 2025 at 11:43 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
During WWII some Austrian soldiers were taken prisoner and ended up in North Carolina. One of them learned how to cook Lexington style BBQ (vinegar based), and brought it back when he was sent home. For a long time there was a Carolina BBQ restaurant in the tiny town of Hallstatt, Austria.
An almost-painfully picturesque Austrian village hugging the small amount of land between a lake and mountains.
November 2, 2025 at 2:02 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Fun with new candles. My wife was in the hospital until yesterday so we didn’t get to do much more than get home in time to pass out candy, so tonight I made our traditional Halloween meal of chili and cornbread. And we used our new candles.
Two candle sticks the each look like a pile of golden skulls The same two pile of skulls candles but they’ve been burning and the wax, which is dark, scarlet and very flowy is dripping down the side
November 2, 2025 at 12:36 AM
planecrazy.bsky.social
My second favorite of his Halloween costumes. This was his idea. And that's a Press pass in the hat band.
Young kid dressed in a vest, shirt and tie, holding a notebook and pencil. On his head is a fedora with a piece of paper tucked into the hat band that says "Press Pass" He's looking at the camera with his pencil poised to take down whatever you're saying.
November 1, 2025 at 12:49 AM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Details.
Viking costume showing a shield strapped across his back. Front view of the viking costume, sword raised.
November 1, 2025 at 12:48 AM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Going through photos "from this date."
So, which kid had a mother who makes costumes for her ballets? (Hint, it's my son)
c. 2009
four kids in Halloween costumes. Two are in costumes from The Incredibles. One is in a Batman costume. And one is in a homemade Viking costume with fuzzy vest, long tunic and belt, brown pants with straps crisscrossed up the legs. And a sword and horned helmet.
November 1, 2025 at 12:44 AM
planecrazy.bsky.social
You know a "kids" movie is a phenomenon when the military social media gets in on the act. The South Korean Army's Instagram account posted this.

K-Pop Tank Hunters?
The word "Golden" at the top, then underneath are three military vehicles, including a tank, with the eyes, mouth and hair of the three members of Huntrix from K-Pop Demon Hunters drawn on them.
October 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
My laugh-a-minute ancestors.
Very old photo of and old man with a long, white beard sitting in a wicker chair. Standing beside him is an older woman in a severe black dress.
October 22, 2025 at 2:33 AM
planecrazy.bsky.social
I was this close 🤏 to sailing on The Rose across the Atlantic. I was very active in the Patrick O’Brian community back before the Rose was bought for the M&C movie. They had one last cruise to UK and back and offered a few seats to the “Lissuns” on the old POB listserve.
A screenshot showing the beautiful sailing ship now called HMS Surprise, but formerly known as HMS Rose, a 1970 replica of the original, a 24 gun frigate from the late 1700s. Next to the photo of the ship under sail on the water, is a description that says what it is, that it was used in the movie Master and Commander and is on display at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
October 22, 2025 at 12:55 AM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Another one from @theonion.com theonion.com/how-to-join-...

First five steps for their guide on How to Join Ice.
STEP 1 Be born with something just…missing STEP 2 Try deporting a few neighbors without the constitutional authority to do so, to see if it’s for you STEP 3 Unlearn any secondary languages you may know STEP 4 If filling out the application form presents a challenge, candidates may instead demonstrate how hard they can punch a dog STEP 5 Undergo background check confirming at least one prior arrest for a violent crime
October 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Have you heard of the book "By Hand and Eye"?
lostartpress.com/products/by-...

Also check out their exercise book By Hound and Eye that shows you, with just compass, straightedge and pencil, how to build pretty much anything. lostartpress.com/collections/...

"Artisan Geometry" is so cool.
“By Hound & Eye: A Plain & Easy Guide to Designing Furniture with no Further Trouble” is a workbook, an illustrated cartoon journey through the world of pre-industrial design geometry. It stars Journeyman and his pizza-loving dog, Snidely, as they untangle the realm of points, segments, arcs and the three-dimensional world using nothing more than a compass, straightedge and pencil. After each new idea is introduced, you are shown how to perform the exercise yourself right in the workbook. You can perform all the exercises in an afternoon. And even though you have been steeped in geometry for years, we are certain you will experience several eye-opening moments while performing the exercises. This book connects geometry to furniture design in a way that no other book has. And the exercises ensure the lessons will make it from the page and into your fingers. Reading about it is one thing. Doing it is another (like woodworking). “By Hand & Eye” is a deep dive into the world of history, architecture and design. And the authors have emerged with armloads of pearls for readers. Instead of serving up a list of formulas with magical names (i.e. the Golden Section, the Rule of Thirds) that will transform the mundane into perfection, George R. Walker and Jim Tolpin show how much of the world is governed by simple proportions, noting how ratios such as 1:2; 3:5 and 4:5 were ubiquitous in the designs of pre-industrial artisans. And the tool that helps us explore this world, then as now, are dividers. The key to good design is to master these basic “notes” – much like learning to sing “do, re, mi.” How to do this is the subject of the first three-quarters of the book. It offers exercises, examples and encouragement in opening your inner eye, propping it up with toothpicks and learning the simple geometry that will help you improve your design.
October 20, 2025 at 11:56 AM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Share your best #mist photo 🙂
Here's one of mine.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Western NC, in the spring.
A two-lane road right at a curve. On both sides of the road are trees, mostly bare. The road is empty and the whole scene is filled with misty fog. The photo is also in black and white.
October 20, 2025 at 12:53 AM
planecrazy.bsky.social
The only downside
A two-part image. On the top is Rumi from K-Pop Demon Hunters singing. On the bottom images from the movie with people looking distraught and holding their ears. (it's from the scene where Huntrix is trying to slide down a plastic slide in their leather outfits and it makes a horrible noise). So, Rumi singing on top, people covering their ears and looking distressed on the bottom. The caption says, "When I sing along"
October 19, 2025 at 12:22 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
It is a sign of the community being touched by his Noodley Appendage! It's a miracle! Pilgrimage anyone.
October 19, 2025 at 12:08 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
This thread made me chuckle. I've "seen her" twice. Once when I was 14 on a school trip, and you could get closer (1978), and about 14 years ago. That time the most interesting thing in the room were the other people. You can tell it was a while ago by the lack of cell phones as cameras.
A photograph showing a room full of people all trying to take a picture at something out of frame on the right. Behind them the wall contains other paintings showing that it's in a museum. The point of the photo is all of the people struggling, holding up cameras and smart phones trying to get a photograph of a tiny postage-stamp at the other end of a very large room. I found it more interesting to take a photo of the people taking photos because you cannot get a good photo of the actual painting.
October 19, 2025 at 12:02 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Coming into the hospital for my wife’s infusion at way-too-early in the morning today. A clear and cool pre-dawn.
Photo of predawn just lighting the horizon. You can see a tiny sliver of a moon in the dark sky. In the mid-ground is the UNC (University of North Carolina) water tower and some buildings.
October 17, 2025 at 1:51 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
It’s gorgeous, 74, blue sky, and still. So I’m recovering from the day with an old fashioned on the patio. This is when North Carolina is at its finest.
Photo shows a patio table with a mostly drunk cocktail, and a pair of feet up on a chair. There are gardens and greenery in the background.
October 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM
planecrazy.bsky.social
Hey, @adroitlyabsurd.bsky.social , if you can get to Ann Arbor, MI tomorrow, I have something for you to do.

events.umich.edu/event/139919
The Edmund Fitzgerald Investigations Ric Mixter, Documentary Filmmaker and Historian The Edmund Fitzgerald is the largest and certainly most famous shipwreck in Great Lakes history. Lost in a monstrous storm in 1975, its entire crew of twenty-nine simply vanished into the waves and were later immortalized in a song by Gordon Lightfoot. Shipwreck historian Ric Mixter is one of only a handful of people who have visited the wreck personally, and will share the results of his decades of research, including rarely seen footage of the ship and interviews with former crew, providing new insights into what caused the disaster. Refreshments will be provided.
October 15, 2025 at 2:14 PM