Artificial Intelligence, Mickey Donahue Irish Scramble, corn and cobwebs

A COLUMN By Chuck Wiser, I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels

Prefix: In the writing of this Wrambling no one was harmed or injured upon investigating Artificial Intelligence. My initial exposure to what was still a fledgling technical component of, or a whole field of, “technocracy,” was named Artificial Intelligence. Since it had not yet gained the momentum that is now taking over, it was covered in my Alfred State College Bachelor of Engineering Technology course in Automated Manufacturing.

Full disclosure, at this juncture, borderline “old fashioned” I am not yet a big fan of its widespread gains of popularity. There is no questioning its power, potential, and impact on all of our lives, whether recognized or not.

What is “Artificial Intelligence”? The term “artificial intelligence” was first defined in a proposal by computer scientist John McCarthy for the 1956 Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence. McCarthy defined it as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines”. Its evolution has been rather slow over the first few decades since its early introduction but is now hitting its stride as engineers and scientists now exploit its tremendous power, acceptance and intrusion into our rather sedate lives. The coverage in my course was introductory and only touched the surface of its capabilities.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the field of creating computer systems that can perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and perception. It encompasses a range of techniques, from programmed algorithms to complex learning systems like machine learning and deep learning, and it allows machines to analyze data, make decisions, and even generate new content. AI is often distinguished from traditional computing by its ability to learn from experience and adapt to new data without constant human oversight.

My primary reluctance for the inclusion of AI in my life is its lack of the human elements of emotions like “feeling,” or sensing, or interpreting the nuances of anything and everything that we, as humans do. It’s judgements and decisions are based on its memory bank content and what has been programmed into it. It’s responses to questions and “orders” are built into the reams of data stored in its memory banks.

In my teaching days I used to say that “I felt that Artificial Intelligence was how and what politicians were evolved from.”

The evolution from my Tandy 1000 to the current fight to avoid CoPilot wasn’t always voluntary. As my introduction to teaching fed and nourished my computer usage I was forced to accept more and more exposure. I have managed to avoid the Microsoft challenge from the competing MacIntosh software line but in doing so I am leashed to the programs, and thus software updates necessary to maintain the “currency required” by their changes.

Microsoft Word forces updates in the form of Windows version upgrades. Excel spreadsheet use is a co-conspirator as it is a necessary component if you are doing anything with tables, or lists or charts. As I continue my significant computer usage I am being forced toward the Copilot introduction and/or updates to incorporate that.

Having paused this writing after that topic and taking Thursday night “technically off” it has now morphed into Friday morning as I pick up where I left off at 1:47 AM. I can still complete this and submit it to owner/editor Andrew Harris under the blanket of Thursday night. It is unlikely that he is sleeplessly waiting for this edition.

This next Wramble is motivated by a recent thought process triggered by one of our offspring having written something to me wherein they addressed me appropriately as “Dad.” That is a three-letter word that I never got to use growing up. Mom was just as good, or maybe even better as that was all I had. I am proud to wear that title now, and proud of those who put me in that position.

This past weekend I participated in the Mickey Donahue Irish Scramble held at the Bath Country Club. That is my all-time favorite golf tourney made so by the Mickey Donahue offspring. I have come to know most of them, and they put on one fabulous golf tournament after another raising funds for many different organizations over the 19 years of its existence. I was in hopes of having received the “Outcomes” data in time to make its way into this writing and had intended to make sure this Wrambling made it into the Hornell Sun as that is closer to where the Donahue family resides. My team wasn’t as fortunate as years past as we had a running history of winning, or at least placing in the top three, with our successes. My teammates Gary Robbins and his son Chase and I were teamed with Chases’ new wife Laura. Although we didn’t place this year we certainly had a good time and are appreciative of the Donahue family for letting us be a part of them every year. Next year will be the 20th consecutive year and we have been advised to “hold our hats” as the 20th celebration is going to be held, and celebrated, in a significant way.

Once again, I would like to give a shout out to Bob’s Market located just south of the Wellsville cemetery on Rte. 19. We just finished preparing and freezing a bushel of their sweet corn for our enjoyment over the winter months to follow. I’m not sure just how many dozens of ears go into making up a bushel, but the way they packed that bushel basket, it had ears sticking out and up to the extent that I could just barely lift the basket. If you want just one ear, a dozen, or more, you had better get it soon as the corn season is rapidly drawing to a close. Corn isn’t the only product they have so stop by and check them out.

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Keeping on with the theme of vegetables, I have had another source of my favorite vegetables this year, and in this instance that is cucumbers. A few years ago, we ran across a “Straight Eight” variety of cucumbers that were advertised as being nearly seedless and extra-long. We transplanted a couple into a garden box that we placed on our rear deck. True to their advertised word, they were over a foot long and grew up onto the roof adjacent to our deck. Having the freedom to grow to that height the cucumbers were straight and taste-wise were the best we have ever had to that point.

We have grown them every year since but growing them at ground level, gravity doesn’t keep them growing straight so they curl up somewhat. Our source of the cucumbers also has some excellent corn for sale at very reasonable prices.

As I sit here writing/typing my sweet tooth kicked in and I just extracted a few “spiced mint Howe” jelly drops from their bag and I guess this late night/early morning snack will give me the energy to make the dash to the end of this Wrambling.

Writing about corn on the cob reminds me of another topic I meant to address and that is “cobwebs.” It baffles me as to why, or how, I can walk across our deck and go down the stairs out to my truck sitting in the driveway without encountering a cobweb. But when I make the return trip I walk into a cobweb, unseen, at a height such as to cling to me across my forehead. I had just moments earlier walked through there unmolested. Where on earth did that cobweb come from on the return trip. Having a cobweb in your face, and on your balding head makes you wipe at it and wipe at it for several minutes.

My Grammar Groan today comes from two words that sound like they should be opposites, but are not. It would seem that Inclusive and Exclusive should be opposites and that to me would be conclusive. I guess that means I have “clusivitis”

Since I’ve been eating and writing about corn, I guess a “corny” conclusion would be appropriate.

 In my youth, just a few years ago, there used to be a little ditty sung as 🎶Old McDonald had a farm, Eee-eye, Eee-eye Oh, And on his farm he had corn too, Eee-eye, Eee-eye Oh Oh…time to quit.

It has been a pleasure sharing these thoughts with you despite them being a little corny. If you have any comments, questions or concerns please feel free to send me an email at IM.Wiserdad@gmail.com

Heads up local farmers!!