Review: Playing with Myself

Playing with Myself by Randy Rainbow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In this book Randy Rainbow shares how he became so culturally relevant. Through various anecdotes he lets the reader explore what it is like to go viral. In particular, Randy shares how people have tried to cancel him as antisemitic. Randy Rainbow is Jewish and a comedian.

He freely admits that some of his earliest material isn't the best out there. People seemed to forget that one of the core functions of comedy is to hold a mirror up to society. Many comedians adopt a persona, or shtick, as it was once called to garner some laughs. It doesn't always mean they agree with what they portray.

This book is about growth, the incomparable Babs, Bernadette Peters, and what happens when people are allowed to redeem themselves.

View all my reviews

Review: The Night Auction

The Night Auction by Lila Mary
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I was provided with an ARC PDF for review by the author. This book is currently a dnf for me. I will reconsider reading it after it's been published. I found there were some Grammar and syntax issues.

There is potential for a great story in here. It needs some heavy editing. I had a glance through the rest and found that the bulk of the story seems written in first person with third person use of names. Lots of telling, I tend to prefer more showing. I hope the author has a trusted editor.

View all my reviews

AI vs Algorithmic learning: What's the Difference?

     Lately everyone, and I mean everyone seems to be claiming to use AI. Are they, though? The short answer; no. Let's expand that.

    

    Above you see a poster for the movie AI: Artificial intelligence. The movie is about AI. The definition of AI is clear: AI is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, creativity and autonomy.

    That last bit about autonomy is key. Both in the film and in the definition. The last part means that once you build it you no longer have any control over what it does, or doesn't, do. This is why Asimov made his rules.

They are:

(1) Don't HARM HUMANS 

(2) OBEY HUMANS 

(3) Protect robots unless it conflicts with rules 1 or 2.

I am paraphrasing for conciseness. IF we think back to the definition of AI, it can learn and it has autonomy. This means it can decide to ignore it's programming. Basically Asimov's rules exist to try and nullify AI.

    Can today's technology do any of this? It CAN solve problems depending on complexity. IT CAN'T do any of the rest of the list. It can't think for you, it isn't creative, it can't decide things for you, and it doesn't have autonomy.

 

   Algorithmic learning, in the context of artificial intelligence, refers to the process where machines or algorithms learn from data to improve their performance on a specific task.

 

   So algorithmic learning is best illustrated in action by Alan Turing's ENIGMA machine used during World War II. This complex beast of a machine was programmed to try and crack codes used by nazis. The machine required a human to program it. 

 

   It ran day and night trying all possible combinations of letters and numbers to break this code. On it's own it may have taken decades to break the code, had someone not realized the same length grouping of letters was always at the bottom of each message. Once a human figured out those words. they could program ENIGMA to break the code every time it was changed.

    While algorithmic learning is the foundation of AI, it is not AI. Not by a long shot. Could you imagine what may have happened if ENIGMA had autonomy and the capacity for decisions. It may have refused to do it's job, started making up answers to spite its' bosses, or maybe even given bad Intel due to sympathising with nazis.

 

   It's a very good thing all it could do was solve a problem. Today's algorithms have complex capacity to solve what they are programmed to solve. That is not AI. Not yet.

Wildcard Wednesday: Independent Bookstore Day

    This Wildcard Wednesday is dedicated to Independent Bookstore Day! What is that you ask? It's an initiative designed to uplift independent bookstores.

    So, today April 26th, go forth and read! look up and enjoy your nearest independent bookstore. bookshop.org can help you on your way to greatness. They help indie shops in the US and UK to bridge the gap to provide online sales.

If you are, like me, hailing from Canada a quick online search on indiebookstores.ca will help you find your new favorite haunt.

The two I want to highlight are; Ebenezer's and Expressions of Time. The former provides access to a plethora of comics, collectibles, books, movies, CDs, toys, cards, video games and more! Expressions of Time has new and used books, crystals, jewelry both vintage and new, as well as bookmarks and trinkets.

Definitely worth the trip to the Okanagan. Expressions of Time is right near the beach too! Beach reads, anyone?

So, get out there and Enjoy Independent Bookstore Day!

Review: Graveyard Shift

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

If we were villains remains one of my favorite reads of the last several years. This novella, however, not my speed at all. I found the multiple POV a bit exhausting to deal with in such a short story.

View all my reviews

Review: The Antidote For Everything

The Antidote For Everything by Kimmery Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book deals with heavy themes. Suicide, discrimination, sexual harassment, and addiction.

Georgia is a urologist in the south. She is fiercely independent, a fact her bosses hate, and her best friend Jonah loves. When one of their careers is on the line Georgia struggles with making the right decisions...

This book while heavy is also a very compelling read. This is the author's second novel. It reads like the author has been writing about these characters for decades. The only thing that slowed me down at all was receiving another book on hold from the library. Kimmery Martin is definitely on my auto request list.

View all my reviews

Okanagan Entertainment

 

The Divya Sutra Plaza Hotel & Conference Center is the new home of the Winter Farmer's Market in Vernon, BC.

If you love getting farm fresh produce and artisanal products year round, it's the place to be. Until the End of October, weather permitting, the Vernon Farmer's Market will be held outdoors at the Kal Tire Place parking lot from 8AM -1PM Monday and Thursday. 

In addition, Saturdays from 9AM-2PM at the Divya Sutra parking lot, have been added to the remaining outdoor season. The Market moves all its days indoors at its new location beginning in November. Check out the Market at their socials on Instagram and on Facebook to keep up with any schedule and vendor announcements.

Also worth mentioning are the markets in other Okanagan communities:

Click here to learn more about all the markets on offer and their dates of operation.

As long you're in town take in a movie or intimate concert at The Towne theater. This venue has been a staple of the downtown core for decades. First as a dance hall, then as a cinema. In its latest iteration, the theater plays host to all manner of events. Upcoming is a concert featuring Darby Mills and PressPlay.

Borderlands: The Movie

 

Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Black (voicing Claptrap), Kevin Hart, Florian Munteanu (Krieg), and Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina.

If the core cast list hasn't already sold you on this epic video game inspired anti-heroes journey, I don't know what will. Saw This film today in theaters. See it in a theater. It really benefits from the big screen.

The acting is so good that I forget green screens and CGI were involved. Not gonna lie, the start of the movie is rough. So rough I almost bailed on it. But I paid money so I stuck it out. The final scenes were well worth the struggle to get there.

This movie will most likely appeal to any '90's kid that grew up on video games and comics. the biggest mistake was having Jack Black underutilized. It would have been better to let him be him but robotic.

So to recap: first 1/3 to 1/2 is a slog, final scene worth it, needs big screen.