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Back in 2019, I posted links to the fabulous Amalgamation Choir from Crete, led by Vasiliki Anastasiou. In particular, I loved Tis Trihas to Gefyri from Pontos in 9/8. (lyrics)

Recently I went to a concert by Phoebe Vlassis, who weaves at a loom and sings at the same time, with the rhythm of the loom in sync with the singing. At the end of the concert she raffles off the weaving she made during the concert. She opened with Tis Trihas to Gefyri, which I recognized immediately. I asked her about it after the concert, and she said it was the first song she tried combining with weaving.

Watch on YouTube

So I looked around for Amalgamation Choir, and it turns out they're still around! Here's a 20 min concert, posted in 2020.

Watch on YouTube

sonia

The Wonderful World of Artemis II Photos by Hank Green.

Meet Graham by Patricia Piccinini, a creepy and interestingly redesigned human being to better survive automobile crashes.

AI Cannot Self Improve and Math behind PROVES IT! by Dev Simsek.

The paper proves that under a diminishing supply of fresh, authentic data, this system converges to a fixed point – a degenerate distribution with low diversity and high bias. The technical term is model collapse, and it’s been observed empirically too. But now there’s a formal proof that it’s inevitable, not just a bad luck outcome.

To My Students by Brent A. Yorgey.

Care more about people, relationships, and justice than you do about profits, code, or productivity.

Above all, be motivated by love instead of fear.

Yorgey links to a thoughtful list of reasons for adopting Generative AI vegetarianism by Sean Boots which covers my position pretty well. (I am not a food vegetarian.)

Clinician Guide: Constellation of Chronic Medical Conditions Commonly Seen in Autistic & ADHD Adults by All Brains Belong VT, neuroinclusive healthcare & community.

This project seeks to improve Autistic and ADHD adults’ health. Autistic & ADHD adults commonly experience multiple chronic health conditions. These patients can encounter difficulty accessing needed care.

The seven programming ur-languages by Frederick J. Ross.

Finishing Things Dave Gauer. Thoughts about how to work on just one thing at a time.

The Bra-and-Girdle Maker That Fashioned the Impossible for NASA by Nicholas de Monchaux.

Who Killed the Florida Orange? by Alexander Sammon.

In 2003, the mighty Florida orange industry produced 242 million boxes of fruit, with 90 pounds of oranges per box, most of which went on to become orange juice. Now, not even 25 years later, the United States Department of Agriculture was forecasting a pitiful 12 million boxes of oranges, the least in more than 100 years, the worst year since last. A decline of more than 95 percent.

Impact of Climate Change on Cherry Blossom Flowering.

jesse_the_k

It’s been three weeks since Shadow’s freedom day, after eight weeks of crate rest to ensure no stray heartworms clogged up his blood supply.

I’d hoped that on 15 April he’d spurt out the back door and explore every blade of grass and clump of dirt in our back yard. Instead, he’s deliberately lowering his DEFCON level in response to gentle encouragement and constant treats.

Recent achievements:

Leaving his crate and curling up in his own bed at the foot of ours. (He loves his crate; we only close the door when we leave him in the house)
Responding to my Shadow, come! by moving to me and sitting within easy reach of my treat-filled fingers.
Walking on our nearby bike path, which offers humans of all ages, other dogs, bicycles, ebikes, emotos, skateboards, power scooters — in general a hell of a lot of stimulation.
Walking briskly without stopping to sniff, attached to my powerchair (MyGuy transfers the connection from his lead to mine after we’ve left the house, because the ramp exit is super narrow.)
Permitting me to scratch his butt while MyGuy fondles his ears.
Meeting two of the gentler neighborhod dogs — just nose to nose; hasn’t done the full tip-to-tail sniff
Very politely greeting visitors, sniffing their fingers and returning to his crate.

Slow but steady, in the correct direction.

redbird

I went to the dentist this afternoon, and they did some uncomfortable things as part of creating a new/replacement crown for one of my teeth (which had cavities under the old crown). I currently have a temporary crown, and will be getting the permanent replacement in three weeks; it will be ready sooner, but that's the next available appointment.

I was pleased to see that my Lyft driver, the dentist, and the dental assistant were all masked when I first saw them. I told the driver it was nice to see other people masking, and I tipped extra because of it.

When I checked in, the receptionist told me there would be a $750 copay. I told her that I had been told that the crown was fully covered, and asked her to check. A few minutes later, she confirmed that I wouldn't have to pay anything. I do not understand dental insurance, including this dental insurance, which is an add-on to my Medicare Advantage plan; I would have paid the $750 if I had to, but I'm glad I don't.

I'd been planning to stop and visit some lilac bushes on the way home, but it was raining, which made that less appealing, so I didn't. I did stop at Lizzy's on the way home, and now have a total of five unlabeled pints of ice cream: three today, because a broken freezer meant I had to get the clerk to hand-scoop the ice cream, plus the two from Tosci's. However, I have blank sticky adhesive labels, which should make this easy.

redbird

I saw Carmen (my PCP) this afternoon, in person. I couldn't remember why we'd scheduled this in person, but assumed we had a reason at the time, but when I asked, Carmen didn't know either.

She wrote the next Ritalin prescription; listened to my heart and lungs as long as I was there; and had me provide a urine sample for a once-a-year toxicology screening. In theory, that screening is to make sure that the patient is actually taking rather than selling their Schedule II drugs. The thing is, the standard/required test panel is for about a dozen things, not including Ritalin. There is a test for that, which she didn't order because the sample would have to go to a different lab, and she trusts that I'm taking the medication as prescribed.

I'm also supposed to schedule a mammogram.

It's a nice day, so I went to Tosci's afterwards, and now have a pint each of sweet cream and lime vanilla ice cream.

redbird

The timing of spring is being weird in the Boston area. The lilies of the valley have started to bloom, while some of the forsythia bushes still have a lot of bright yellow flowers.

We still have daffodils, the rhododendrons are being exuberant, and the violets have been looking good for a week or two.

I will look for lilacs sometime in the next few days. The most convenient would be to see what's in bloom along and near Mount Auburn Street near Ash Street, on my way home from the dentist on Wednesday. (I'm also considering a side trip to Sophia's Greek Pantry for good oregano, but stopping at Sevan Bakery or Arax would be more convenient.)

solarbird

May Day Participation Guide

One-day general strike, via Indivisible.

You in?

Posted via Solarbird{y|z|yz}, Collected.

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28	29	30

People who don't wish me any specific harm

More Greek music - Amalgamation Choir and Phoebe Vlassis

Links: Reality-based

Day 75: Shadow Brightens

Recent achievements:

dentist: crown

another pointless medical test

a slightly weird spring

May 1st General Strike

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