I return from a weeklong vacation in Hawaii. I realized that I believe this to be my first actual, paid vacation. I had never before accrued PTO or at least never stayed at a place long enough to use it like this. But that's the one and only perk of joining corporate America. So it goes.
For someone like me, as in, for someone who is fascinated by the relationship of man and nature, Hawaii is a perfect place to explore and learn about this relationship. The highlights of my trip all revolve around eating flowers and fruits and plants I had never heard of before, as well as being in water and sunshine.
I have always been intrigued by the relationship between inside and outside space in Hawaii, and how different it is than any other place I’ve lived. I assume this relationship is similar to that in other places in the world, but for my case this is where I have seen it. I am accustomed to this great barrier that separates inside and outside, particularly here in Seattle. For over half the year it is colder than I would like it to be outside. This barrier exists between my warm inside space and this cold outside space. I have to put my jacket and gloves on in order to face the outside elements.
But in a place where inside and outside remains pleasant, you can bridge this separation. And it feels natural, almost as if humans are meant to not have these separate spaces, inside and out.
The relationship, or perhaps feeling, vibe, etc. that I am talking about is different than that of those rich people houses. You know the ones I am talking about. Those are pretty rad and do help bridge this gap, but not in the right ways.
For a moment let us think of our ancestors. Let us consider just how many men and women came before you. Within 20 generations, that is over a million people that preceded you. How many of those million plus people lived in proper homes, or apartments, or dwellings with fiberglass insulation? This means that within your DNA, your mind and your soul desires to exist outside, alongside nature. That is why often times we describe a feeling of relief or relaxation when spending extended periods in nature.
Anyway here is some fun facts about Hawaii I learned. I think the history of Hawaii is fascinating because it is essential "in America" but also was untouched by white people until recently (relative).
10 of the 14 possible climates of the world are found in Hawaii.
Parts of Kauai receive up to 600 inches of rain a year. More than anywhere else in the world.
Hawaii is the most isolated population center in the world.
Captain cook brought sauerkraut with him on his voyage to Hawaii.
There are 12 letters in the Hawaiian language
The Polynesians watched birds traveling east and that is how they learned their were islands.
I learned some other stuff I thought was interesting but I cant find sources. People seem to be not be able to agree on things.
It's easy to speak in absolutes. It's easy to think and believe in absolutes. My new years resolution is to think less in absolute terms, and instead not live in a state of doom and gloom because I believe AI is going to take over the world and kill everyone. I am not saying that isn't a valid possibility, but one is one normal guy like me going to do about it. Nothing but sit and fear.
For the first time in my life I get a first person glimpse into what corporate America is like. I do not work for a corporation, and don't really life a life of paperwork and bureaucracy, but this is certainly the closest I have, and hopefully ever will, been to corporate America. I must attend meetings and "retreats" and hour long workshops on how to set goals. I find myself really thinking of the major themes of transcendentalism. Corporate America and goal setting workshops is a perfect example of how we have created these "solutions" that really just cause more problems. What really does a goal setting workshop accomplish. Do these workshops really keep my company from going extinct, will echos of these workshops be found after the soft rains come?
Probably not.
If one uses AI, to any degree, and it is known by all that one uses AI, the line between generative and original work will undoubtably become blurred. If someone uses Ai in a project or even in an email, it becomes more difficult to distinguish between the two, and the validity could (trying here to not speak in absolutes) forever be questioned. I understand the usefulness and can be seen as a tool humans use and not a threat to the future of humanity.
I hate writing about this topic. I have not read an original thought on the subject in years. My thoughts and yours all have been spoken before. When I think I have an interesting idea about AI or tech or anything these days, I have to remind myself that this has all been spoken before, and there's not real reason to write or stress about it.
This reminds me of an old roommate of mine. I really dislike this person, but what really stood out to me, even to this day, is the fact that I have heard him say "I really don't understand why people like Keeping up with the Kardashian's." That's the whole fucking point of it. (For the record I like the show, to a degree) Everyone already knows that. Everyone already thinks that. 5 other annoying guys like you have said that in this exact minute in the same damn city.
But at the end of the day no one's arguments or thoughts on the subject even matter, since we all end up as dust. My issue with other people having issues, they don't matter. But we might as well talk about it. All we have is time.
There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground, And swallows circling with their shimmering sound; And frogs in the pools singing at night, And wild plum trees in tremulous white; Robins will wear their feathery fire, Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire; And not one will know of the war, not one Will care at last when it is done. Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree, If mankind perished utterly; And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn Would scarcely know that we were gone.
This year is going to be a big year for Bradbury, and specifically this piece. When I first read "There Will Come Soft Rains" I wanted it to mean something more to me. Not that I think the piece lacks meaning. I just figured it would evoke more emotion of me, but it is a work of prose demonstrating the effects of mutually assured destruction and the like.
If you have yet to read this short story by Bradbury, it tells of a very small snippet of what life after a major nuclear worldwide event. He tells of a futuristic house, with breakfast automatically being made for you and heated beds, and at the original publishing, what seemed to be a possible future.
What I mean when I say that I thought this would mean more to me is that I expected that there would be some really deep meaning that would explain this major battle I have been waging on inside my mind. But it didn't. It was just a story about nuclear war. The meaning was deep, but not in the way I expected. It is so easy for me, and from what I read online, for others to attempt to apply any and all meaning to life. It is almost as if we are all in one big search for meaning.
But I am no longer looking for meaning. I am just looking for a good time.