Observables #65

on deer hunting season, poignant conversation and bits of AI

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.

A book that follows the ebbing and flowing of a deep friendship set against the backdrop of the gaming industry. I wouldn't have expected to like this book so much given that I’m not a gamer—except for my brief sojourn with Oregon Trail in grades 4 and 5. I am so nostalgic for the “computer room” right now.

The guy walking toward me in camouflage snow gear. I’m cross country skiing and he’s…coming this way. I think maybe he’s going to say hello and we’re going to have a friendly chat out in the middle of the farm field. Not the best place for a chat. But not the worst. But there’s a sinister undertone to the whole thing.

“You’re disturbing the deer,” he says. “Also, I’m not sure my dad would like you being in the field. I’ll have to check. The skis on the crops, you know?”

“No,” I say, “I didn’t know that was a problem.”

“Well, snowmobiles are worse.”

“Oh.”

“But the deer, they heard the…commotion.”

“That was my daughter. We’re innocent.” (I don’t say the innocent part, but I think it.)

“Hm.”

You have no eyebrows. That’s what I keep thinking as he talks. I mean I don’t have eyebrows either, but I’m also not wearing camouflage gear.

“When is hunting season over?” I ask, hoping we can come to some sort of arrangement where I keep skiing and he gets to do his thing without putting a bullet in me.

“Dec 31. But then it’s crossbow season.

Of course it is.

I’m also watching this technology at work, wherein you input text and an AI image is generated. I write: ”Coco the cat with Van Gogh undertones licking her paws,” and this is what comes out:

You try it! Will your life be changed? No. Will you have ten seconds of pleasure in a world that is very very sad and hard? Perhaps.

Violet and Frankie in their conversational groove.

Maybe from one person’s perseptive—

Violet interrupts Frankie to help him sound out perspective. They try it out a couple of times in their mouths. Violet’s a year older and revels in her role as expert.

I’m weird. But from another perspective I’m normal.

And truly what is normal and what is weird.

Loophole!

Loophole!

The whole thing is beautiful. Their words. Their laughter. Violet gets up to get Frankie water. They’re eating Annie’s Noodles that they made together in the microwave. I feel all soft and warm watching them, and freeze this moment in my head for a time when I need comfort.

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