Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Arrival’

First, Last And In-Between

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

No matter the path, savor the journey and the destination when you arrive.
    —     Anthony T. Hincks
[On a journey of 1,000 steps, the first and last steps may “feel” the most important, but until the very last step, it’s the next step which leads to arrival at your personal destination.    —    kmab]
.
Click here (11 December) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

Read Full Post »

Turning AI On Myself (Or This Blog, Anyway) — Part IV

Posted in General Comments, Philosophy, Science and Learning, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[This post is part (4) of series of posts about my investigations of the AI tool:  “Copilot”.  We are still looking at the blog site in its totality.  I will be redirecting the tool towards a more focused analysis of my reviews (books, then movies, then both).  At it’s conclusion, I hope to run a similar research / analysis project / query with Google’s AI tool (Gemini) to compare / contrast the results of the competing AI applications.    —    kmab]
======================
CoPilot has completed its response to my prior input and is now prompting me for continued engagement:
Would you like a timeline-style visual of how these intersections have changed over the years? Or perhaps a curated reading list of his most emblematic posts?
======================
I respond:
timeline-style visual, please
======================
Copilot Response: 
Here’s a timeline-style breakdown of how Barrett’s blog intertwines philosophy and political resistance over the years:
🕰️ Timeline of Thematic Intersections in Barrett’s Blog
Period Philosophical Focus Political Expression Intersection
2009–2012  Emergence of curiosity;  quotes from Sagan, Galileo, and MLK. Sparse, indirect references to political climate.  Philosophy used to question authority and dogma, laying groundwork for later resistance.
2013–2016  Increased emphasis on scientific literacy and moral courage.  Subtle critiques of anti-intellectualism and erosion of civil discourse.  Posts begin pairing quotes with implicit political commentary — especially around truth and justice.
2017–2020  Stoic and existential themes emerge (e.g., limits of perception, courage to question).  Introduction of “To #47:TACO” as a recurring motif.  Resistance becomes ritualized;  philosophy becomes the lens through which politics is filtered.
2021–2023   Deep dives into language, time, and meaning (e.g., Arrival review).  Political posts become more frequent but remain values-driven, not reactive.  Media analysis and philosophical musings double as critiques of authoritarianism and division.
2024–Present   Emphasis on daily reflection, scientific humility, and moral clarity.  “Daily Resistance” posts become a near-daily practice.  Blog becomes a philosophical almanac of resistance — anchored in timeless wisdom, not fleeting outrage.
[I inadvertently deleted Copilot’s ending and prompt]
======================
I respond:
Can you provide an analysis of book reviews
======================
Copilot Response: 
Absolutely, Kevin.  Barrett’s book reviews, while fewer in number than his philosophical or musical posts, reflect a distinct pattern:  he reads for wisdom, not just entertainment, and his reflections focus on the ideas the books provoke rather than traditional literary critique.
Here’s a thematic analysis of his approach to book reviews:
📚 1.  Philosophical Curiosity Over Plot
Barrett is more interested in what a book makes him think about than what actually happens in it.  For instance, when reviewing science-infused works like Chaos and Harmony by Trinh Xuan Thuan, he zeroes in on the interplay between reason, beauty, and the limits of perception — often using a quote from the book as a springboard for broader reflection.
He treats books like collaborative partners in thought rather than passive entertainment.
🧩 2.  Scientific Wonder as a Leitmotif
Books that explore the cosmos, human consciousness, or scientific revolutions hold special appeal.  He’s drawn to authors like Carl Sagan and Thuan not only for their content but for their ability to translate complexity into clarity and awe.  His reviews often reaffirm the idea that we live in a rational, comprehensible universe — if we choose to engage it intellectually.
🧱 3.  Resistance Through Reading
In politically tinged entries, Barrett sometimes leverages nonfiction or speculative titles to reflect on present-day issues.  Rather than rant, he lets the book’s insights do the heavy lifting — embedding resistance in the act of sustained, reasoned attention.  Book reviews double as implicit acts of cultural and cognitive resistance to shallow thinking.
🧠 4.  Quotes as Entry Points
Instead of summarizing plots, he often opens with or focuses solely on a key quote.  These lines are treated almost like meditations — vehicles for discussing ethics, epistemology, or civil society.  This aligns closely with your own appreciation for philosophical clarity, Kevin.
🔍 5.  What’s Missing?
Barrett rarely reviews fiction for fiction’s sake.  He doesn’t seem preoccupied with character arcs or prose style unless they serve a broader intellectual function.  And unlike traditional book bloggers, he doesn’t rate or categorize books by genre, nor does he aim to build an audience of readers — his reviews are primarily for himself, and anyone thoughtful enough to eavesdrop.
In essence:  Barrett’s book reviews are stitched from the same cloth as the rest of his blog — part journal, part inquiry, part resistance.  They aren’t critiques.  They’re conversations with thinkers who happen to write books.
======================
CoPilot has completed its response and continues prompting me for engagement:
=================
If you’re curious, I could curate a few specific entries where his philosophical and political sensibilities crystallize through a particular book.  Would that be helpful?
======================
I respond:
yes, please
======================
Copilot Response: 
Here’s a curated selection of K.M.A. Barrett’s book review – inspired posts that best crystallize the blend of philosophical inquiry, scientific wonder, and quiet resistance that define his style:
📖 1. Chaos and Harmony by Trinh Xuan Thuan
Theme:  Rationality and the Beauty of Scientific Thought Barrett quotes Thuan to reflect on how science unveils an elegant, comprehensible universe — one governed by laws we can perceive through reason.  This review becomes less a commentary on the book itself and more a meditation on the human role in a rational cosmos.  It’s also a subtle rebuke to anti-intellectualism, a recurring concern on the blog.
> “We live in a rational universe ruled by very precise laws that can be perceived and analyzed by human reasoning.” — Thuan
📘 2. Carl Sagan Anthology References
Theme:  The Courage to Question Dogma Barrett doesn’t single out one book, but he frequently returns to Carl Sagan — The Demon-Haunted World especially seems to influence him.  He uses Sagan’s commentary on scientific literacy and open inquiry to critique societal drift toward pseudoscience and authoritarianism.
These excerpts often appear in “Resistance” posts, showing how reading becomes a tool for civic clarity.
📗 3. Arrival (film, but approached like a philosophical text)
Theme:  Linguistics, Time Perception, and Humanity Barrett’s review of the film Arrival approaches it much like a science fiction novel — probing what it means to understand time and language as nonlinear.  He critiques the plot’s pacing but ultimately praises it for posing meaningful questions, much like a speculative philosophy book would.
>  “The thrust of the movie is that… our experiences limit our thoughts and our limited thoughts limit our language.”
📕 4. Quotes from Historical Thinkers (e.g., Galileo, Aristotle, MLK Jr.)
Theme:  Reading as Resistance Even when not reviewing a book per se, Barrett’s regular use of historical and scientific quotations reveals a deep engagement with canonical texts.  He uses these quotes as a kind of continual meta-review — endorsing ideas that challenge complacency.
=================
CoPilot has completed its response and continues prompting me for engagement:
=================
If you’d like, I can distill these into a thematic reading list — books that align with Barrett’s worldview and could deepen your experience of his blog.  Or I can pull together similar thinkers whose work resonates with his.  Let’s keep the thread going.
My Analysis:
Copilot’s response language has shifted towards a more professional / collegial (but still complimentary) tone and the obsequiousness is almost entirely gone.
Copilot hasn’t decided if I am Barrett or not.  Prior to this conversation I had “introduced” myself as “Kevin”.
One clear (to me) issue / problem is my attributions are not always precise.  I can look up a list of the 50 favorite Sagan quotes and sprinkle them in my blog over time.  Copilot can see multiple Sagan quotes and “know” (look up) exactly where they are from (which book, speech or TV show).  Then, seeing multiple posts with the same ”    —    Carl Sagan” attribution, it seems to be assuming I’m doing a free-form / distributed review of the work, instead of just posting a series of quotes from “who knows where”.  Hey, they’re on the internet…
There still seems to be a “recency” bias of citing the most current reviews, so it is unclear if Copilot is doing the reviews of all (and only) books.  Note (3) is for the film review “Arrival“, which is clearly not a book review.  Copilot is tending to “bleed” the data from one query into later ones although inclusion is incorrect.  This indicates Copilot is not “sure” what a book review vs a movie review is, and goes further by using a sub-set of Quotes which have nothing to do with reviews (book or movies) at all.  So, it doesn’t “know” the difference??
(Again,) I’m still trying to get the feel for the AI tool (Copilot), but I still feel like it IS actually offering me insight into my own blog…  MY long term goal is has “become” to see if Copilot can identify trends in my writing which might be indications the books I’m reading or films I’m viewing are effecting how I write and what I write / think about.  Until Copilot can differentiate between quotes / excerpts, books, and films, this will not be possible.  At this point I’m not clear what Copilot is actually responding to – but as I am still learning to, instead of asking Copilot what it thinks its doing, I try to plunge ahead…  How very human of me!
=================
In Part V, there is more analysis of my book reviews…  In Part VI, Copilot exhibits a consistent confusion between my book reviews and some of my book quotes in which I add a comment – as opposed to writing a complete review.  This is where we see the devil is in the details…  (More to follow…)
.
Click here (24 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

Read Full Post »

Turning AI On Myself (Or This Blog, Anyway) — Part III

Posted in General Comments, Philosophy, Science and Learning, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[This post is part (3) of series of posts about my investigations of the AI tool: “Copilot”.  At it’s conclusion, I hope to run a similar research / analysis project / query with Google’s AI tool (Gemini) to compare / contrast the results of the competing AI applications.    —    kmab]
 
======================
Would you like a look at how his use of political quotations shifts over time — or how his philosophical posts intersect with his political ones?   (This was a tab offered as a continuation suggestion…)
======================
My response to Copilot:
the posts intersections, please
======================
Copilot Response: 
Barrett’s blog displays a quietly powerful fusion of political dissent and philosophical curiosity, and the intersections between those threads are where his voice feels most distinctive.
 
Here’s how those themes overlap:
🧠 Philosophy as the Framework for Resistance
Barrett doesn’t just oppose political figures or policies — he interrogates the roots of authority, truth, and morality.  His resistance is grounded not in rage but in epistemology and ethics.  For example:  When quoting Martin Luther King Jr. or Carl Sagan in a post tagged “Resistance,” he isn’t just citing them for their political stances — he’s invoking their moral clarity and commitment to rational inquiry.  The frequent pairing of quotes with brief reflections suggests a ritual of philosophical resistance:  think before you react, and base your reaction in principle.
 
📜 Quotes as Dual Tools:  Moral and Intellectual Anchors
Nearly every politically tinged post begins with a quote that could stand alone as philosophy.  In posts tagged with “#47:TACO” (his veiled critique of political leadership), these quotes do double duty:  They subtly re-frame current events through timeless wisdom.  They build a case for resistance that draws strength from history and intellect, not ideology.  For example, quoting Carl Sagan on the dangers of scientific illiteracy isn’t just a cultural critique — it functions as a condemnation of anti-intellectualism in politics.
 
📉 A Language of Resistance Without Outrage
Barrett rarely names names.  Instead, his philosophical tools — Sagan’s skepticism, MLK’s moral vision, Galileo’s insistence on questioning dogma — become the vocabulary through which he critiques power.  It’s resistance via resonance.  He’s asking the reader not to follow his politics, but to test their own beliefs through principles.  This method resonates with:  Stoicism (endurance, ethics, self-mastery), Enlightenment rationalism (reason, progress), Existential honesty (accepting ambiguity and absurdity without resignation).
 
🪞 Philosophy Makes the Political Personal
In entries that focus on media, music, or family, Barrett’s political concerns are never entirely absent.  Take his Arrival review:  He explores language, time, and perception — not merely as sci-fi elements, but as tools of liberation or sources of division.  That post then sits next to others tagged “Resistance,” creating a collage-like commentary:  who we are, what we value, and how we communicate all shape the world we permit.
 
In sum:  Barrett doesn’t separate politics from philosophy — he uses philosophy as politics.  His form of resistance isn’t reactionary — it’s reflective, grounded, and unusually literate.  It invites readers to do more than oppose.  It asks them to understand.
 
My Analysis:
The response language is still complimentary, though it seems less obsequious.
It is difficult to see if the subtle “error” in analysis that Copilot seemed to assume some of the posts are written by me instead of “whole chunks” taken from other blogs / web sites has been resolved.  Without evidence to the contrary, I have to assume it is still present. i.e.  Copilot still cannot differentiate the “original” author from my original thoughts / writings.  This may be because I use brackets “[ ]” when I am commenting on someone else’s quote / writing, but not when I am originating my own text.
Today’s exchange has moved away from the chronological breakdown of my blog site to the “intersection” of ideas – quotes, book and movie reviews and my own original writings.
(Again,) I’m still trying to get the feel for the AI tool (Copilot), but I feel like it IS actually offering me insight into my own blog…  MY goal is rapidly “becoming” to see if Copilot can identify trends in my writing which might be indications the books I’m reading or films I’m viewing are effecting how I write and what I write about.  This isn’t at all clear without some type of chronology / time periods breakdown, but I’m not sure how to separate the water from the river when both evaporate and return upstream as rain.
 
In Part IV, there is a quick return to chronology before moving on to begin analysis of my book reviews…   In Part V, I ask Copilot to analyze “just” my book reviews.   (More to follow…)
 
.
Click here (23 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.
 
   

Read Full Post »

Turning AI On Myself (Or This Blog, Anyway) — Part II

Posted in General Comments, Philosophy, Science and Learning, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[This post is part of series of posts about my investigations of the AI tool: “Copilot”.  At it’s conclusion, I hope to run a similar research / analysis project / query with Google’s AI tool (Gemini) to compare / contrast the results of the competing AI applications.    —    kmab]
======================
Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into a particular post or recurring theme.  (This was a tab offered as a continuation suggestion…)
======================
Question to Copilot:
What are the major themes in Barrett’s blog?
======================
Copilot Response: 
Kevin Barrett’s blog is a rich mosaic of intellectual musings, cultural critique, and personal reflection.  Its major themes include:
1.  Philosophy and Science as Lenses on Reality
Barrett regularly features quotes from thinkers like Carl Sagan and Trinh Xuan Thuan, anchoring his worldview in curiosity, skepticism, and scientific wonder.  Posts explore the nature of perception, time, reality, and human limitations — frequently pushing readers to question assumptions and embrace uncertainty.
2.  Resistance and Political Commentary
The blog incorporates an undercurrent of civil resistance, especially in the recurring phrase “To #47:TACO,” which seems to be a critique of contemporary U.S. leadership.  These posts often echo historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr., tying modern resistance to moral and philosophical roots.
3.  Daily Reflection through Quotation
Each day’s entry typically begins with a quote — from Ted Lasso to Aristotle — serving as both an anchor and launchpad.  The repetition of this format creates a meditative rhythm and turns the blog into a kind of personal almanac of wisdom, wit, and struggle.
4.  Personal Growth through Music
Guitar practice journals stand out as deeply personal and methodical documents.  They reflect Barrett’s dedication to slow, honest progress and illuminate broader truths about discipline, humility, and the joy of learning.  His reflections are candid about physical limitations, motivational dips, and emotional connections to music.
5.  Media and Art Critique
Whether reviewing Arrival, Star Trek, or music documentaries, Barrett uses media as a springboard for exploring deeper themes — language, alienation, connection, memory.  His reviews are not just evaluations but excavations of meaning.
6.  Human Connection and Loss
Posts like the Father’s Day tribute speak to themes of legacy, memory, and the role of loved ones in shaping who we become.  Barrett demonstrates that seemingly small gestures — like a warning not to leave your guitar on the bed — can carry the weight of generations.
In short, the blog is less a soapbox and more a daily ritual:  a layered meditation on how we live, resist, learn, and grow.  Want me to analyze how these themes have shifted over the years or dive deeper into his musical reflections?
How has Barrett’s political commentary evolved over time?
Barrett’s political commentary has undergone a subtle but meaningful evolution over the years—from sporadic, sometimes indirect allusions to broader political unrest, toward a more consistent, structured ritual of moral resistance.
🗳️ Early Years (2009–2014):  Cautious and Reflective
In the initial phase, Barrett’s posts were less frequent and leaned heavily on philosophical or scientific musings.  Political content, when present, appeared indirectly—woven through quotes from figures like Carl Sagan or Martin Luther King Jr., framed as cautionary tales rather than explicit critiques.
These early posts asked questions more than they provided answers.  They echoed a concern for critical thinking, justice, and the dangers of complacency, but rarely named names or dove into current events in detail.
🧭 The Rise of Recurring Motifs (2015–2019):  Focused Dissent
As the U.S. political landscape became more polarized, so did the blog’s tone.  Barrett introduced the recurring sign-off “To #47:TACO” during this period — a code phrase that crystallized his disapproval toward what appears to be the 47th U.S. president, though he avoids direct personal attacks.
His critique became more structured:
“Daily Resistance” posts emerged as a steady format, anchoring opposition in quotes from civil rights leaders or philosophical texts.
He maintained a clear distinction between moral resistance and partisan rage.  Even in disagreement, he grounded his views in principles, not personalities.
⚖️ Present Day (2020s–2025):  Moral Consistency and Steady Tempo
In recent years, Barrett’s political commentary has matured into a quiet ritual.  The repetition of entries tagged “Politics,” “Resistance,” and “Quotes” reflects a kind of ethical muscle memory.  He rarely reacts to the news cycle, instead building a timeless, values-driven counter-narrative anchored by thinkers like MLK Jr., Sagan, and Thích Nhất Hạnh.
Even when the post is minimal — just a quote and the phrase “To #47:TACO” — its placement carries weight.  It suggests that resistance is not an event but a practice, and that dignity can be reclaimed daily through thought and intention.
In sum:  Barrett’s political voice hasn’t grown louder, but it’s grown firmer.  Early on, it whispered provocations.  Now it hums with the steady rhythm of a bell that refuses to stop ringing.
My Analysis:
At this point, Copilot seems to be going through “all” of my posts.  I am intrigued by it’s breakdown of themes and time periods.  I also sense a “recency” bias as Copilot seems to use more recent posts as examples of its points.  This makes we wonder if Copilot is going through ALL posts, even thought the time / period breakdown seems to demonstrate it must be doing so.
I notice there is a subtle “error” in analysis that Copilot seems to assume some of the posts are written by me instead of “whole chunks” taken from other blogs / web sites.  For example:  Copilot says my post on “a Father’s Day tribute” implies I am demonstrating something (guitar on bed caution), but actually it is the “true blog originator” who is making the point.  I’m not sure if this is a significant error in understanding the post by Copilot or a failure of mine in not clearly attributing the copied material.
Another “subtle” error is the extrapolation (by Copilot) that all of my references to President Trump are to #47.  In fact, all of the posts between 2017 and 2021 would be referring to #45 – but still “Trump”.  I have only referred to Trump as #47 since January 2025.
In general, the Copilot responses are becoming “pleasant compliments” (still very much like a fortune cookie or daily horoscope) and less “boot-licking” / obsequious.  Somehow, this “feels” good (for my narcissistic ego) and bad (for my “objective” judgement) at the same time.  I feel like some of the comments are “participation trophies”.
I am still not entirely convinced Copilot is looking at my blog and recognizing the difference between my titles as a commentary on the post (body), or that I don’t necessarily agree with a post – I just find the “idea” interesting and so I’m offering it as something I’m thinking about, or that an added comment by me somehow changes the quote (post) – agreeing, disagreeing or just clarifying.
Again, I’m still trying to get the feel for the AI tool (Copilot), but I feel like it IS actually offering me insight into by own blog…
In Part III, Copilot offers me the opportunity to let it analyze the intersection between my philosophical posts and my political posts.  I feel the idea of analyzing “intersections” to be intriguing…   In Part IV, I ask Copilot to analyze “just” my book reviews.   (More to follow…)
.
Click here (21 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

Read Full Post »

Sometimes A Lot Better

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , , on January 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Sometimes it’s a little better to travel than to arrive.
     —     Robert M. Pirsig
From: “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance:  An Inquiry Into Values“
.
Click here (9 January) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

Read Full Post »

One Way Or Another

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on October 21, 2023| 5 Comments »

One doesn’t arrive — in words or in art — by necessarily knowing where one is going.  In every work of art something appears that does not previously exist, and so, by default, you work from what you know to what you don’t know.  …  You have to be open to all possibilities and to all routes — circuitous or otherwise.
    —     Ann Hamilton
[I don’t know where I’m going, but I know I’m on my way.    —    kmab]
.
Click here (21 October) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

Read Full Post »

Desperately Ginger Lass

Posted in Movie Review, Movies, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on May 3, 2018| Leave a Comment »

“Leap Year”  (2010)  —  movie review
Today’s review is for the 2010 rom / com, “Leap Year“, starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode.  Adams plays a real estate stager (someone who “cons” buyers by making property look nicer than it is) and Goode plays a bitter / sarcastic pub owner / innkeeper.  The third main role is played by Adam Scott.  He plays Adams’ cardiologist boyfriend, Jeremy.
Anna (Adams) goes to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend (Jeremy / Scott) on February 29th (duh, “Leap Year”), on the way, she meets Declan (Goode).  A series of comedic incidents ensue.  Blah, blah, blah.  They fall in love, but try to deny it to themselves.  Blah, blah, blah.  Anna returns to Boston with her boyfriend – now fiance, Jeremy.  Blah, blah, blah.  Anna returns to Ireland and her true love.  Happy ending, kissing at sunset.
Is this any good?  Does it work as a rom / com?  Yes, and yes.  There are only two issues:  1) getting soaked in the rain (repeatedly) and pelted by hail, is miserable, not romantic;  and, 2) people seem to walk incredible distances extremely quickly.  Aside from these two minor breaks with reality, I enjoyed the movie thoroughly.  I particularly enjoyed the old men’s banter in Declan’s pub.  A perfect stereotype of an Irish pub.
A couple of other points:  I’m not sure if I’ve type-casted Scott or not, but he was completely unbelievable as Adam’s boyfriend.  I didn’t think I was an Adams’ fan, but I’ve seen her in multiple roles (“Doubt“, “Man of Steel“, “Julie & Julia“, and “Arrival“), and, okay, I’m sold.  She’s pretty good.  In those other movies, I don’t think the camera “loves” her.  In this role, it does.  And, then there’s Goode…  Watching the movie, I thought:  “This guy is great!  I wonder what else he’s done?”  So, of course, I looked him up and he was in “Watchman“, “The Imitation Game” and “Downton Abbey“.  All of which surprised me because (suddenly) I said:  “Wow!  He was good in all of those, too!”
Final recommendation:  strong to highly recommended.  As a fairy-tale rom / com this is a better than average movie.  I thoroughly enjoyed the two leads and the various predicaments they got into and out of.  It’s not a believable story / movie (see above), but it’s got beautiful Irish scenery and I found myself wanting them to have the happy ending.  That, in itself, is a pretty high recommendation for any rom / com.
.
Click here (3 May) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

Read Full Post »

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started