Tag Archives: #gmg1968

2304 – Sunday Digest: The Week in Review

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2304 – Sunday Digest: The Week in Review

Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, or months where you just didn’t feel like doing anything? Crawling out of bed seemed like an insurmountable task. It’s like there is a weight on your shoulders pinning you in place. That is the only way I can describe this week. It’s not stress or anxiety or anything like that, just the winter blahs!

It certainly doesn’t help when the first thing you have to do each morning is dig out from under another eight to ten centimetres (three to four inches) of snow. The snowbanks on the driveway are almost too high to throw snow over. Keep in mind that there was no snow on the ground at the beginning of the week. Just the dreary brown, grey and beige of mid-winter. I am so over this winter thing and ready for spring to SPRING!

It hasn’t all been bad. Despite the winter blahs I have been able to keep up with my exercise routine and although the scale looks the same I do feel and see some effects of the effort taking effect. That has to be a good thing, right?

Of course, my sloth has meant a certain neglect for my blog as well. Reading and writing have taken a back seat to vegetating on the couch and binging TV that I probably wouldn’t watch otherwise. A problem compounded by the fact that I end up staying up until one, two, and three in the morning and then waking up at seven again to get the rugrat ready for school. Certainly a subtle form of self-destructive behaviour.

It may not be the most exciting week in review but here goes…

Five Word Weekly Challenge

This week’s Five Word Weekly challenge response:

The Dream, a work of speculative fiction written by Paula at Light Motifs II that would make a great starting point for a longer story. I would like to see where the story takes Odwin.

More from Greg’s Blog…

Paper Free Blogging | Written for Blogging Insights prompt at Salted Caramel

10. Revenge: The Shadow Woman 2 | Part ten of the Revenge Series written for Sammi Scribbles Weekend Writing Prompt.

Around the Blogosphere…

Here are some other great blog posts I beamed to this week…

Terrible Poetry Contest – January Winner/Wrapup | Chel Owens | Poetry so terrible it’s good, like an Ed Wood film!

The Funny Farm | Bitchin’ Chickens | I’ve been wanting my own chicken coop for some time but space and my wife have put a damper on any such ventures so I’ve come to follow this blog to get my chicken fix. If only it came with fresh eggs each morning!

Prudential Tower – City Cliff | Vova Zinger’s Photoblog | Love the perspective in this photo.

At Last, The Destination | Rhyan Scorpio-Rhys at Madd Fictional | One of my favourite blogs. Rhyan writes some great fiction.

Next week…

Out of January and into the bleak mid-winter, let’s see if the groundhog brings us a February present. Here’s what to look for on Greg’s Blog this coming week…

Look for another Five Word Weekly on Monday and the launch of Four Line Fiction on Thursday. #GB4LF is a weekly photo prompt challenge and I hope everyone finds time to participate. In addition look for T-Shirt Wisdom (now moved to Wednesday) and Part 11 of the Revenge Series.

Have a great week,

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Rory’s Morning Dawdler (2023-01-29)

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London Fog Tea Latte

Imagine that it’s the afternoon again when I’m finally getting to the Morning Dawdler. I do have my Afternoon Tea – Earl Grey in hand though! No cucumber sandwiches and scones though. Here are my responses to Rory’s Morning Dawdler for January 29th.

Should we fear the arrival of more progressive AI [Artificial Intelligence] or embrace it?

Tara Winstead via Pexels

Fearing AI itself is pointless, it’s here and it is not going anywhere. We need to embrace it and push our political and business leaders to use the technology ethically. There is great potential for AI to solve many of the problems humans and our planet faces but we have to be the ones to make that happen. If the internet is any indication, we have a lot of work to do. The key technology of the last half of the 20th century should have ushered in a new era of enlightenment. Instead, it has become a vehicle for misinformation, scammers, trolls and some of the vilest pornography. IT has brought out some of the worst in us. Furthermore it has polarized us more than at any time in history. While we squabble over our difference the enemies of freedom (Countries like China, Russia, and Iran, or politicians like Trump or Erdoğan) exploit us and undermine democracies and our way of life.

AI learning algorithms are a large contributor to the problem. The reason the chasm between left and right is so large is because AI has eliminated the middle ground. Everything AI feeds us tries to push us to the fringes. When someone tells you they’ve never heard about issue X there is a good chance they haven’t because the algorithm may have never presented it to them. Meanwhile, your feed is filled with content on issue X leaving you flabbergasted and suspicious that the other person could be unaware. It’s hard to have civil discourse when you find it impossible to trust the other person. Sadly all it takes is a few clicks for the AI’s algorithm to start pushing you one way or the other. Sometimes even innocuously. You watch a comedian do his shtick on gun control then your feed is flooded with gun control posts. You click on a couple of the links and your feed begins to populate with more radical posts, and so on and so on… Before you know it the other point of view becomes too far removed from the algorithm’s parameters to ever show up in your feed. Your personalized feed tells you that those other issues or positions must be on the fringes because you never see them and we end up isolated in our own little boxes.

Michael Steinberg via Pexels

Even scarier, the Google’s, Apple’s and Meta’s of the world aren’t even sure how the algorithms work. They have taken on a life of their own but none of the AI players care because the algorithms keep lining their pockets with gold. AI will be what we let it become. If there is anyone to fear it is ourselves.

What is your proudest accomplishment? [Having children not included] 

Surviving the crazy shit I did in my youth! I look back now and wonder how I’m still alive.

Are/Were you the youngest, middle, oldest or only child?

I was the oldest of three and the only boy. We didn’t always get along but I lucked out. Both my sister are great people. I wonder if they’d say the same about me?

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10. Revenge: The Shadow Woman 2

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10. Revenge: The Shadow Woman 2

As darkness fell away and the chamber’s light exposed her, it became evident this was no ordinary woman. Hair as red as fire framed her florid face. Green eyes revealing glimpses of anger and sadness as she peered back at the beast. She was adept at shielding those emotions, but It could reach into her soul.

She moved gracefully, despite an underlying fear. Where others burst forth stammering loquaciously, her approach was careful, reserved.

The beast would listen, but it wouldn’t matter. It was already bound to her.

The Revenge Series

<< 9. Revenge: The Shadow Woman 1

11. Revenge: The Bonding >>

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2303 – Sunday Digest: The Week in Review

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2303 – Sunday Digest: The Week in Review

Mother Earth’s processes ebb and flow over long periods of time – centuries, millennia, eons. Man on the other hand does not have that kind of time or patience. We are nothing more than a cosmic blip. As such we have developed ways to speed up those natural processes for our own exploitive gain. It represents many of the problems we have created when it comes to pollution, plundering the planetès resources, and global warming.

It has also allowed us to unlock the beauty of the planet, often hidden in plain sight. This week my son and I began a passive science project. For Christmas, he received a STEM certified National Geographic mini rock tumbler. The kit included several different types of very plain (I wish I’d have taken a photo) looking rocks. My son put the rocks into the tumbler along with one of the grit packets provided and water into the tumbler drum. We then placed the drumontop the tumbler base and let the spinning begin. The first step would take five days of spinning with us stopping taking a look after day one and again after day three. He was so excited to see the changes along the way.

At the end of the fifth day the rock edges had been smoothed considerably and the stones were beginning to show their colours. After he played with them for a while the stones along with the second packet of grit and clean water all went back into the drum for a six to eight day tumble. Each phase, four in all will continue to smooth and polish the stones. I am amazed at how it has held his interest as he asks about his tumbling stones every day.

As for the blog itself, I’ve introduced a new header image but I think it needs tweaking. Not sure it’s effective on mobile. If anyone could let me know what they think or how it looks on the mobile experience it would be greatly appreciated.

Let’s take a look at the week in review…

Five Word Weekly Challenge

There were three responses to this week’s Five Word Weekly challenge:

Bramble in Six, Paula at Light Motifs II blogging lament that incorporated the word justice.

As the morning arrives penned by Sadje at Keep It Alive. A tale of computer woes that could derail a detectives efforts to apprehend a cyber criminal.

In the Dark – Ending? a tension filled piece from Writer Ravenclaw.

All are excellent reads and I highly recommend you take a look.

Escape Plan | Written for Chel Owen’s Terrible Poetry Contest.

Wouldn’t You Say? A WTF Reply. | Written in response to Cyranny’s Cove WTF? eyelash vending machine post.

9. Revenge: The Shadow Woman 1 | Part nine of the Revenge Series written for Sammi Scribbles Weekend Writing Prompt.

KABOOM! | Sorry just wish Putin would find folly from a 10 story building!

Around the Blogosphere

Here are some other great blog posts I click on this week…

The Waterfall | Joanne the Geek

What’s It All About? | ladysighs

No Energy | Fandango at This, That and the Other
Fandango found himself in the hospital this week. Hhere’s hoping the hip responds and it gets easier as the days pass

Next week…

We shall see, I am trying to update my WordPress theme but I am so damned concerned it will eff everything up. Some of the new themes look like they have advantages that make blogging quicker and simpler and less labour intensive but only once I’ve figured out how they work. We shall see.

Look for this week’s Five Word Weekly on Monday and hopefully Part 10 of the Revenge Series. Beyond that its a crap shoot at best!

Have a great week.
Greg

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Escape Plan

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Escape Plan

Earth ֍ Mother ֍ Stick ‘em up! ֍ Gim’me all you got! ֍ Take, take, take, without a thought. ֍ Hands off the entire lot, it’s bloody well mine! ֍ I don’t care, leave it scorched, barren and beyond repair. ֍ In my rocketship, I’ll climb, leaving Mother Earth behind — Ciao suckas!!!

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Wouldn’t You Say? A WTF Reply.

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Greg Glazebrook @ GMGCreative

You are bang on the money Cyranny, who would ever consider using a vending machine for such things…

Who me? What? Come on, you don’t think I’d lower myself to vending machine eyelashes. Don’t be ridiculous, these babies are all natural darling!!!

I hate to say it Cyranny but the world has gotten so shallow there ain’t nobody drowning no more!

To check out Cyranny’s original WTF? post click here or on the vending machine image above. If you are wondering, this response post does include my sexy eyes and a lot of work on Photoshop to get my vending machine lashes to fit just perfect!

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9. Revenge: The Shadow Woman 1

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9. Revenge: The Shadow Woman 1

Lilith fretted. She was comfortable skirting the periphery. Biding her time and studying the beast. Plotting how to best secure its loyalty. She needed it to support her primary mission.

Years had faded since she last saw him but not her memories. His captivating charm, the lost hours and waking up disoriented. His voice mocking as she stumbled dazed and half-naked into the corridor.

He was the real predator, worse than this unholy beast. Still, she clung to her script, leaving the dark recesses unprepared could prove severely disastrous.

“Show yourself,” the beast snarled. Slowly the shadow woman emerged.

The Revenge Series

<< 8. Revenge: This Skin

10. Revenge: The Shadow Woman 2 >>

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KABOOM!

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I read an interesting article about those meddlesome Ukrainians spoiling Putin’s plans for world domination. It was titled ‘Ukrainians anger Putin by learning to shoot down Russian missiles and drones.’

The Daily Digest

Mr. Putin, do you know what angers Ukrainians?

You and your military invading their sovereign lands, bombing and burning their cities and towns to the ground, levelling entire communities, pillaging agriculture stores and destroying countless families by murdering their loved ones and burying them in mass unmarked graves like livestock.

If your drones and missiles are so precious maybe you should keep them out of Ukraine. Better yet, set a playdate with your generals and the oligarchy. You can play with all your toys together at a big Kremlin milieu. If Ukraine and the rest of the world get lucky it will turn out to be one explosive party!

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2302 – Sunday Digest: The Week in Review

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2302 – Sunday Digest: The Week in Review

Welcome to the inaugural Greg’s Blog Sunday Digest. Think of it as a wrap-up post for the week that was. I hope to make it a weekly feature that will include the week as I saw it play out. I hope to include some of my blogging highlights, any featured posts from Greg’s Blog challenges (currently Five Word Weekly but there will be more challenges to come), and some links to interesting posts I have found as I’ve clicked my way around the blogosphere.

It’s hard to believe but we are already through the second week of 2023. It has been a quiet week on the blog front. Work and home life have taken precedence over my creative pursuits. It happens that way sometimes. Along with a minimum of published content this week, I must admit I haven’t done much viewing or reading of my favourite blogs either.

I must admit I hate when that happens because there is so much great content out there. I will try to do my best and catch up but with all the great content out there it is hard.

Earlier in the week I published a post about becoming more healthy. I promised to not turn this into a health-nut blog but I will provide brief updates here. I hope the small updates will help keep me on track. I have started a new light workout routine that I am happy to report I did manage to complete all week. No results yet of course, I’ve actually gained a couple of pounds, discouraging but it is early days in this process.

Let’s take a look at the week in review…

Five Word Weekly Challenge

There were two excellent responses to this week’s Five Word Weekly challenge:

In My Solitude was written by Sadje at Keep It Alive. It is a beautiful poem of reflection incorporating all five of this week’s prompt words.

Exhuming Amy is a chilling vampire tinged tale of grief penned by Joanne the Geek inspired by the prompt word exhume.

Both are excellent reads and I highly recommend you take a look.

More from this week…

Quantum Hearts | Written for Fandango’s Story Starter #80 (#fss)

I’m a Fat Guy

Around the Blogosphere

Here are some other great blog posts I click on this week…

Silhouette of trees without leaves | Vova Zinger’s Photoblog

Doughnut Versus Donut | Fandango at This, That, and the Other
I must admit I began to wade in on doughnuts myself but ran out of time and never finished the post. I will say this, if you from Canada, Tim Horton’s is the place. I mean they drove Dunkin’ out of business and only one Krispy Crème location has survived up here.  

The Streets Were Deserted | Sunra Rainz

Hullo, Rabbit! | Chel Owens
The rabbit apocalypse is upon us!

Provocative | Paula at Light Motifs II
The start of a HARElequin romance novel.

Next week…

This week might be sparse again. It is my Monday to Friday week at the office which will make finding time for blogging difficult. I do hope to get back into a normal rhythm again soon.

Look for this week’s Five Word Weekly on Monday and T-Shirt Wisdom Tuesday, on well, in case you missed it TUESDAY!

Have a great week.
Greg

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Quantum Hearts

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Image: Unknown | Graphic Design: Greg Glazebrook @ GMGCreative.

Quantum Hearts

Barely aware of the universe swirling around me. I am seized in the glow of such exquisitely simple beauty. Forever fixed to her coordinates, attuned to the pull of every movement. Entangled across time and in this space where everything else that ever existed falls away. Strawberry strands set against radiant bands of light, broken only by a wrinkle in the fabric of a warm smile. Every moment catalogued in the dark matter recesses of my mind. Always twenty-seven to the right and six steps behind. Never closer and still light years away.

In the night she waits for me. Playing on hazy celluloid loops projected on the horizons behind my shuttered eyes. Her vibrations bristle against the imaginary strings raised along the surface of my skin. There is no escape from the sickly sweet atmosphere that consumes us. Our bodies pulled by gravity, crashing against each other until we lay shattered in a heap.

Still, I wake alone. Our wavelengths continually overlapping as our lives run parallel to each other. I remain six steps behind, hoping that on a premonition you glance back and notice me but like the particle-wave duality of the sub-atomic, our worlds will never touch.

My dream of a life together with you has faded and I realize my love for you is unrequited. I knew the only thing left to do was blink from existence.

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