from the desk of H. Bowie...

Original Writings:

The Latest Words by H. Bowie

These are my latest original writings, with the most recent ones at the top.

Pay It No Mind

An appreciation for this lovely little song by Sarah Jarosz, offering us some hope and inspiration for trying times.

Trump 2.0: Some Insights and Observations

A lot is being said about Trump 2.0 on an hourly basis, but most of the viewpoints expressed seem to be the same ones over and over. But I think there are some interesting (and perhaps useful) patterns that are not being talked about much. And so I talk about them. Right here.

Please, Can We Just Have Fewer Children?

I often feel like I’m living some weird Sci-Fi reality in which part of our social consciousness is completely severed from another. In one half of our brains, we read articles complaining that the end of civilization is nigh because people in many countries (including mine, the US) are having too few children. “Why aren’t people having more babies?”, these articles ask. “What is wrong with them? What is going on?” But then, seemingly in another entirely separate part of our consciousness, we see articles talking about looming environmental catastrophe and the ever-increasing costs of simply living, let alone bearing and raising children.

The Era of Destructive Tech is Upon Us

I wrote an essay a few years ago that asked the question: Have We Passed The Point of Maximum Useful Tech? In it I defined a series of distinct models of computer usage that have emerged over the last several decades. We’ve reached the point, though, at which I need to amend it by adding a new model that is becoming more prevalent. I am forced to call it “The Destructive Model.” It is characterized by ever-higher demands for processing power without producing any significant benefits for humanity. This sort of destructive tech consists primarily of new forms of so-called “artificial intelligence,” along with cryptocurrency.

Remembering Hank

I still remember the first time we laid eyes on Hank. It was a sunny day in May, and we met him and his current owner in a park somewhere nearby, on neutral territory. And then, when we saw Hank, I quickly realized the gravity of the decision we were about to make. Because Hank was tail-waggingly perfect. So there was no question of passing on him, and holding out for a better dog. Because I couldn’t imagine what a better dog would look like.

It Takes All Kinds

Seems a pity that this timeworn expression is not heard much anymore: “It takes all kinds.” Could express appreciation or grudging tolerance. Either seems vastly preferable to most of what we hear today about others who are different from us.

Thoughts on AI: Apple and Otherwise

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about AI, and Apple’s AI problems in particular, and I have some potentially useful, and perhaps even original, thoughts on these subjects. Amidst all the fascination about the amazing things that AI can do, I think many of us tend to lose sight of some of the essential characteristics of this relatively new technology.