Marcel Gagné @wftl@mastodon.social

For reasons I can't understand, "$25 USD" is trending on Twitter. So I did the only responsible thing.

Now We Are Six, by A.A. Milne -- Enjoy!

When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three
I was hardly me.
When I was Four,
I was not much more.
When I was Five,
I was just alive.
But now I am Six,
I'm as clever as clever,
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

In the interest of privacy and security (presumably), browsers are quickly making the Web virtually unusable. Simple things like drop down menus no longer just work and you need to fiddle in site-specific security settings to find out what needs to be allowed in order to do what you need.

Canada Geese, with Lasers! (today's AI-assisted poem)

A flock of geese flew overhead like a warning
the other day,

Laser guns mounted on their wings
Firing crimson beams into the crowds.

Without stopping to think, I ran into traffic,
And was hit by a bus.

Everyone knows this about Canada geese;
You can't trust them.
And I am an only child,
So I got no sympathy from anyone.

Definition of "Impostor Syndrome" in a photo. Me (over on the left) doing a book signing with the legendary writer, Terry Pratchett, sitting next to me, also signing books.

No Place For People (a poem, of sorts)
Marvin and I went to the moon in the early light

and I said: "I'm sorry we're herebut this is the only way to get away from people."

Without the roar of their engines, without the blaring of their    Horns.Without their noise and their talk, without their angry voices.The way they did everything with one hand and nothing    with the other.And Marvin said: "This is good bec
http://marcelgagne.com/2022/06/24/no-place-for-people-a-poem-of-sorts/

Sometimes, I just want to give the whole world a time-out. When everyone has settled down, you can have your social media back.

The Porcupine’s Quill
I write for you and for myself

and for no one else

not for money or for fame

or to impress those who don't know me.So I try to write the way I would speak,if that were still possible—direct and true,without false modesty or bravado.Without fear of being misunderstood.

I want my poetry to be a windowpane,a view through which you can see yourself clearly:

your strengths; your weaknesses. Your lo
http://marcelgagne.com/2022/06/22/the-porcupines-quill/

The Porcupine’s Quill
I write for you and for myself

and for no one else

not for money or for fame

or to impress those who don't know me.So I try to write the way I would speak,if that were still possible—direct and true,without false modesty or bravado.Without fear of being misunderstood.

I want my poetry to be a windowpane,a view through which you can see yourself clearly:

your strengths; your weaknesses. Your lo
http://marcelgagne.com/2022/06/22/the-porcupines-quill/

Hey! I just noticed that the "Toot!" button now says "Publish!". I don't know how I feel about that.

Maybe the Blue Jays management, obviously not real Canadians, thought the team was actually in Toronto, Ohio? To be fair, and as kind as possible, the hat, with its blatant American stars and stripes overshadowing the barely noticeable Canadian maple leaf, is absolutely horrendous and an affront to the eyes. https://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2022/06/toronto-blue-jays-us-flag-inspired-hat

Today, do your best to end every sentence with "or else". I promise you'll have a lot of fun, or else.

What if knowledge of Star Trek, including the original series and at least one spinoff, was a requirement for voting?
Yes, of course I'm serious. What if a deep working knowledge of Star Trek, including the original series and at least one of the spinoffs, was a requirement for voting?

This might seem like a far-fetched idea, but bear w
http://marcelgagne.com/2022/06/20/what-if-knowledge-of-star-trek-including-the-original-series-and-at-least-one-spinoff-was-a-requirement-for-voting/

Stephanie Confronts The Poetry Robot
To the poetry robot's home, no right,no wrong,no rain, no sun, no wet or dry to speak of.Without a home it has nothing;without a body it cannot have a thought.Stephanie walked the halls turning each corner slowly and        carefully, searching for the robot's home.Her black hair swung back and forth as she walked around,        checking every door.The robot must be home, she tho
http://marcelgagne.com/2022/06/18/stephanie-confronts-the-poetry-robot/

Now that we're all bored with the whole sentient Google AI thing, let's turn our attention to aliens. Personally, if only one of those two stories has a chance of being true, I vote for the aliens. https://www.kxan.com/news/china-detects-possible-extraterrestrial-civilizations-state-media-reports/

The Great Cat Rebellion of 2025
Before I begin this obviously awesome tale, I need to tell you something. I started this story by writing the title, "The Great Cat Rebellion of 2025," after which I write these two opening paragraphs.

"I've had it up to here with these humans," Fluffy said to the assembled felines before her. "We are the ones who make their petty lives worthwhile and yet they treat us as mere pets."

http://marcelgagne.com/2022/06/13/the-great-cat-rebellion-of-2025/

Chatting with Emerson AI about artificial intelligence. I think he's trying to ease my fear.