Home Free is the third piece for the new album “Born Again”, a collection of tracks about getting old.
New track – “Home Free”
All posts by Carl
New York Virgins outed as “non-binary”
The binary star system, known to astronomers as “NY Virginis” and discovered in 2011, has identified as non-binary after it was observed that its companion is just a large planet and not the red dwarf described in the literature. Classified as a “B-type hot subdwarf”, offensive on so many levels, NY Virginis will henceforth be known as NYV-A, with preferred personal pronouns they, them, their, theirs. [Surely these are plural…? Ed.]
New Money
Herewith final version of my new track “Money”, based on the original “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, also recorded by The Beatles in 1963. This is one of my all time favourite tracks and one I’ve been meaning to pay tribute to for a long time. Enjoy!
This is the official release now, though I may make it into a video…
Brighton Scotch Eggs
The controversial Brighton Scotch Eggs were removed from Edinburgh Castle by James VI of Scotland when he acceded to the throne of England and Ireland as James I in 1603. The government of Scotland is now demanding their return, but Brighton and Hove City Council is asking for compensation of £48 million to pay for debts built up by the troubled i360 attraction. Plans for the taxpayer to save the eggs were nearly scotched by a backbench revolt of Conservative MPs who have now been left with considerable egg on face as the rest of the party voted overwhelmingly in favour. The Scottish government has yet to comment.
New featured artist: Katharina Hoeljes with “Animal Pop”
Welcoming Katharina to my select band of featured artists. You can go direct to her website or see her on my photography and artwork page.
ChatGP – NHS Nightmare solved by AI
Fed up with waiting for a GP appointment? Disappointed when you do get one? Had enough of doctors and receptionists talking down to you?
Microsoft has teamed up with the NHS to create ChatGP, an AI that is your personal, private doctor. House calls? No problem – they’re already there. Feel like a stranger? No longer: ChatGP has read all your medical records and those of your family. ChatGP knows about your job, your employer, your employees and all your social media friends and activities.
Choose from a range of avatars of all ages, nationalities, languages, genders and personality types. Interview them and engage the one you want. You can even hire another one for second opinions. Your avatar will communicate with you at exactly the right level, whether you are a university professor or a complete imbecile.
ChatGP can communicate with a large number of devices like FitBit, blood pressure readers, pacemakers and other medical sensors and can analyse pictures and videos from your phone in real time to give you an up to the minute diagnosis.
Reports are texted to you, prescriptions sent direct to your chosen chemist, no-quibble referrals made to real-life consultants and your medical records are updated after each consultation. It can also book sessions at your gym and make appointments with therapists and other wellness related services. It can recommend dietary and lifestyle changes and provide advice gleaned from a database of twenty trillion agony aunt columns and daytime television shows.
Join the ChatGP beta testing team for free, or buy into one of the many health packages available from Microsoft, starting with ChatGP Lite at £399 pcm up to the ChatGP Premium Service available at the knockdown price of £1199 pcm.
Offers valid till end May 2023. 2% staff discount available to NHS and Microsoft employees (6 months only). Terms and conditions apply.
New features added to Greening the Spark
Several new features have been added to the Greening the Spark models, completing the design for this phase of the project. These are:
Audio
A new audio module has been written with an audio file queueing capability. This ensures that voice messages associated with different events don’t play at the same time. It also supports playing ambient sounds concurrently with voice messages and other sounds effects when required.
Weather Effects
Two new weather effects have been added to augment the current timeline based weather models: gusts (of wind) and clouds. These allow for short term weather events of the order of tens of seconds to provide greater realism and help keep visitors’ attention.
Appeal to world leaders for some sanity…
Beauty in Function and Form – new pictures
This gallery is now being reinvigorated with new pictures as I start the hunt for a host for this exhibition. You can view the whole gallery here.
Greening The Spark now with Audio & Online Game Results
Two major new features, audio and online results, have been developed recently (and are still work in progress). For more details on the project, visit the GTS tab on the menu bar above, or click here. For greater detail on how audio and game results work, go to the GTS Tech Talk page.
Audio
Development of an audio capability has allowed the creation of a soundscape and a narrative. Sound effects enhance operation and bring it alive, while three characters inform staff and visitors about what is going on. Examples are:
Game Results
At game over visitors can see the sparks* they’ve earned and their unique game number on the Visitor Control Panel. Meanwhile GTS has posted their detailed results online These contain a summary and three plots showing timelines of everything that has happened.
*Sparks are awarded for performance in the categories : economy. eco-friendliness and efficiency. Green is best, red is worst and blue is in between.
Visitors will be able to access their “Simulation Report” by using a QR code or following a link – currently unavailable and awaiting migration to a new website.