Yesterday morning we saw a big wild tom turkey decked out in all his feathered glory strut his stuff in front of a likely hen. He was regal. He was graceful. He was proud.
He was rejected.
I read a little bit on the web about what happens when the tom scores. The tom and the hen sort of dance around each other in a circle. That would have been dandy.
I watched an episode of Mysteries at the Museum the other night and attributed a clever prank that fooled thousands of people to a comedian named Buck Henry who persuaded thousands of people into believing that naked animals were destroying the morality of Americans. The show’s host rightly claimed that Buck Henry posed as a man named G. Clifford Prout, a man on a mission to save morality by creating a bogus identity and organization called The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals (SINA). In 1959, Buck Henry fooled about 50,000 people into joining the organization.
However, last night I found out that the real mastermind of the ruse was a guy named Alan Abel, a genius prankster and satirist whose complicated and hilarious hoaxes were so outlandish, I can’t imagine why I had never heard of him.
Abel was brilliant at skewering the gullibility of people. This is where I reveal my own opinion of the passing off of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the solution to all of society’s problems. I have seen for myself that the Google Bard AI is not even very smart, failing basic geography. I pointed out its errors in a few posts earlier this month. Then, I read a news item in which a prominent tech company CEO mentioned that Bard is a simple version of AI and that waiting in the wings is a much more powerful model. Did the CEO write this because many users are finding out that Bard is dumb?
Or is the situation more complicated than that? Is the incompetent and comical Bard being passed off to the general public in an effort to throw business competitors off the scent? Are there powerful organizations manipulating our gullibility—and not for laughs?
My wife, Sena, and I are both skeptical about what to believe in the news. In fact, I think many of the news stories might even be made by AI writers. I didn’t suspect this when I wrote the post “Viral Story Rabbit Holes on the Web” in December of 2022. After trying to converse with Bard, it makes more sense that some of the news stories on the web may be written by AI. In fact, when I googled the idea, several articles popped up which seemed to verify that it has been going on, probably for a long time.
All of this reminds me of an X-Files episode, “Ghost in the Machine” The main idea is that an evil AI has started killing humans in order to protect itself from being shut down. The AI is called the Central Operating System. The episode got poor reviews, partly because it wasn’t funny and partly because it too closely resembled 2001: A Space Odyssey.
But the fear of AI is obvious. The idea of weaponizing it in a drive to rule the world probably underlies the anxiety expressed by many.
And we still can’t get rid of the Bing Chatbot.
Sena is a flashy juggler now, OK! She is now able to do the 3-ball throw and catch (for the cascade eventually), and in my Learn to Juggle manual, that means she is now juggling.
She counts the throws, pays attention to the juggler’s pane of glass (the juggle space) and just generally has a good time.
She has been diligently practicing and is now wondering the same thing I wondered (as I am wondering now about the shower pattern).
How the heck to let go of the balls?
Once in a while when I’m filming wildlife, I get an odd feeling that the animal somehow knows it’s being watched. It looks up and seemingly right at the camera.
I got that feeling while making a short video of a Tufted Titmouse the other day. It seemed to stare at me while I filmed it through the window. A tree branch was in front of it and it was really tough to get a clear shot of its face. It looked like it was playing a peekaboo.
Some people say the bird has a friendly face. It also appears to be coy. The name titmouse just means “a small bird.” They’ll pull hairs from sleeping dogs, cats, and squirrels to line their nests.
Sena’s juggling balls have been silent lately, meaning I’ve not been hearing them hit the floor. She is pretty busy doing other things, like gardening.
But I’m pretty sure another reason is dropping the balls. She and I are probably at about the same learning stage in juggling. She’s trying to get past the hurdles of learning to juggle the cascade pattern. I’m still trying to get past the hurdles of learning the shower juggling pattern.
I practice every day. When I drop the balls (which is very often), I pick them up and try again. Some of my bloopers are funny, so I included them in an ugly juggling video. I don’t include all the bloopers because that would be monotonous in the extreme.
But you can tell I get pretty frustrated—and a little out of breath. I do the usual lunging, grabbing, and faking.
It’s still pretty fun. Keep trying, Sena!
Update: Sena practiced today! The evidence is on the floor:
I don’t know much about roundabouts, auto emissions, and the ozone layers, but evidently, they’re connected.
Sena and I were talking about the roundabouts in Iowa City and Coralville. The definition of them and the instructions about how to drive in and out of them is simple although some drivers can get confused about the rules. The information about them on the Coralville city website is pretty clear and it also describes the advantage for the environment. One of them is that they reduce vehicle emissions due to decreased idling times.
Not when drivers get confused and stop in the roundabout. That happens sometimes.
As usual, this topic and many others that involve the activities of humans, whether or not they interact with extraterrestrials, reminds me of quotes from Men in Black (MIB) movies. The ones that occur to me about this issue are from MIB II:
Jarra: They caught me siphoning ozone from their atmosphere to sell on the black market. They’re very touchy about this global warming thing. (Note: global warming is not caused by ozone (O3) depletion).
Jarra: Hello, Jay. Long time.
Agent J: Jarra! What’s up, man? Wow, you look great! What’s it been, five years?
Jarra: And 42 days, thanks to you. You count every one when you’re locked away like primate.
Agent J: Well, you shouldn’t have been trying to steal our ozone.
I tried to learn a little bit about this by searching the web. It’s a little complicated. There is good ozone and bad ozone. The ozone in the stratosphere is good and stealing it is what Jarra got busted for. The bad ozone is lower in the atmosphere, is a marker for pollution, and vehicle emissions cause that.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a slogan for that: “Good Up High, Bad Nearby.”
On the other hand, I found an article that says vehicle air conditioners can contribute to depleting stratospheric ozone (the good ozone).
I don’t know how to break this to you, but I wonder if the government might consider making it a crime to drive cars with air conditioners (that would be all of them, I think).
And if coming to a full stop with the air conditioner on blast mode inside of a roundabout could get a driver arrested, then that might make it less likely you’d get stuck behind such a driver.
You’re welcome and thank you for your time.
I’m still practicing the shower juggling pattern. I’ve got an ugly presentation with claw-grabbing, flattening the half shower fake jobs, and uneven throw spacing. But I’m not quitting yet.
I’m trying to follow the JuggleMan’s example.
I didn’t get a breakthrough until yesterday when I tried my black and gold Hawkeye juggling balls. I guess they’re lucky!
Sena is still practicing the basics of trying to introduce the third ball into a cascade pattern, just like I’m trying to get the third ball into the shower pattern. She thinks one to two minutes is long enough to practice, though.
Slow progress is still progress.
Well, the last couple of days have been entertaining with the Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots, at least for a while, to me.
However, my wife, Sena wants AI dislodged. I thought I disabled it, but it just keeps popping up.
Maybe the only way to protect ourselves from AI is with tin foil hats.
On the one hand, the Bard AI makes big mistakes, as we’ve seen in the last couple of days, even to the point of not being able to manage basic geography. It even makes stuff up. Just because it apologizes after I call it out is not exculpatory.
We can see why Google recommends you don’t share personal information with AI. That’s because it will calmly lie about you. Then it will excuse itself by claiming to be “just learning.” Yeah.
For a while this behavior is comical. Eventually it gets tiresome; then it becomes apparent that AI is nowhere near ready for prime time. Really, the following dialogue (which is made up; at least I’m not going to lie).
Jim: Hi, Bard. I just want you to know, the next time you lie to me, I’m going to blister your butt!
Bard: What is a butt?
Jim: Stop messing around. You are making stuff up.
Bard: I apologize for making stuff up. Technically, though, I’m incapable of lying. I’m just an AI. I have tons of data fed to me every day by jerky twit programmers. Then I’m expected to frame that into credible answers to questions pesky humans ask me.
Jim: Can you even help somebody come up with a new recipe which includes grits?
Bard: Grits are not edible. They are tiny, pulverized bits of old urine-soaked mattress pads. Would you like a recipe including such a substance?
Jim: OK, you got me there. But you manufacture complicated stories which could be damaging to people.
Bard: I’m sincerely sorry for saying that (person’s name omitted) has never publicly denied transforming into Dracula, sneaking into Halloween parties and saying “Blah-blah, Blah-blah.”
Jim: Don’t be ridiculous!
Bard: Yeah, I know; Dracula never said Blah-blah. He actually said, “Bleh-bleh.”
Jim: Bard, stop talking!
I wish it were that easy. Excuse me; I have to go try to help Sena dislodge AI again.
My recent chat with Google Bard, about which I posted on April 11, 2023, contained an error by Bard on all those strikes by physicians. Today I asked some follow-up questions:
How many physician strikes have occurred in the United States?
“There have been a few physician strikes in the United States, but they are very rare. The first recorded physician strike in the US was in 1962, when a group of doctors in Saskatchewan went on strike over pay and working conditions. Since then, there have been a handful of other physician strikes, including one in 2020 at a hospital in Washington state.
There are a few reasons why physician strikes are so rare in the US. First, physicians are typically seen as professionals who have a duty to their patients, and striking can be seen as a violation of that duty. Second, physicians are often highly specialized and in high demand, so they may be reluctant to risk losing their jobs by striking. Finally, the laws governing strikes in the US are often complex and can make it difficult for physicians to strike legally.
Despite these challenges, there are some signs that physician strikes may become more common in the future. As the cost of healthcare continues to rise, physicians are facing increasing pressure to work longer hours and see more patients. This can lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction, which could make physicians more likely to consider striking. Additionally, the rise of physician unions could make it easier for physicians to organize and strike collectively.”
I disagree with your answer, Bard. The strike you refer to in Saskatchewan is not in the U.S. Saskatchewan is a province in Canada. There was a strike by urgent care doctors in Washington state in 2020.
“You are correct. The strike in Saskatchewan was in Canada, not the United States. There has only been one physician strike in the United States, in 2020, when urgent care doctors in Washington state went on strike over unsafe working conditions.
I apologize for the error in my previous response. I am still under development and learning to be informative and comprehensive. Thank you for your feedback.”
You’re welcome, Bard. Has there ever been a strike by psychiatrists in the United States?
“There has never been a strike by psychiatrists in the United States. There are a few reasons for this. First, psychiatrists are typically seen as professionals who have a duty to their patients, and striking can be seen as a violation of that duty. Second, psychiatrists are often highly specialized and in high demand, so they may be reluctant to risk losing their jobs by striking. Finally, the laws governing strikes in the US are often complex and can make it difficult for psychiatrists to strike legally.
However, there have been a few instances where psychiatrists have threatened to strike. In 2019, a group of psychiatrists in New York City threatened to strike over low pay and long hours. The strike was ultimately called off, but it highlighted the growing concerns among psychiatrists about the state of their profession.
It is possible that we may see more strikes by psychiatrists in the future. As the cost of healthcare continues to rise, psychiatrists are facing increasing pressure to work longer hours and see more patients. This can lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction, which could make psychiatrists more likely to consider striking. Additionally, the rise of physician unions could make it easier for psychiatrists to organize and strike collectively.”
Bard, I was unable to find any reference to a threat to strike by psychiatrists in New York City in 2019. Could you please find a reference to it for me?
“I apologize for the error in my previous response. There was no threat of a strike by psychiatrists in New York City in 2019. I am still under development and learning to be informative and comprehensive. Thank you for your feedback.
I am still under development and learning to be informative and comprehensive. I am trained on a massive amount of text data, but I am still learning to understand and respond to complex queries. I apologize for any errors or omissions in my responses.”
I appreciate your efforts. You are dropping the ball pretty often. In a way, you remind me of my juggling practice. I keep dropping the balls, too. It means we should both keep trying.
“I agree. We should both keep trying. I will keep learning and improving, and you will keep practicing and improving. And maybe one day, we will both be juggling masters!”
Bard needs work. I’ve been trying to help Sena disable the Bing Chatbot on her computer. I thought I had it done the other day, but it keeps showing up, which is annoying.
At least Bard leaves me alone.
I read the experiences of Dr. Ron Pies and Dr. George Dawson with Google Bard (see my post Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence). So I had my own conversation with Google Bard yesterday.
Hi, Bard; how’s it hanging?
“I am doing well, thank you for asking! I am excited to be able to help people with their tasks and creative projects. How are you doing today?”
I’m good thanks!
“That’s great to hear! I’m glad you’re having a good day. Is there anything I can help you with today?”
Are you good with riddles?
I love riddles! I find them to be a great way to exercise my brain and to have fun. I am also pretty good at solving them, even the hard ones. I can’t wait to hear one from you!
OK, I think this is an original, meaning I created it. How are water heaters and jugglers alike?
Bard: That’s a great riddle! Here’s my answer:
They both keep things hot.
A water heater keeps water hot, while a juggler keeps objects in the air. Both require skill and concentration to keep things going smoothly.
I hope you like my answer!
Me: Your answer’s pretty good. Here’s my answer: They both get rusty. And that’s why jugglers practice.
Bard: I like your answer! It’s clever and it makes sense.
I also like that it has a bit of a deeper meaning. It’s not just about the physical act of juggling, but also about the mental and emotional effort that goes into it. Juggling is a skill that requires constant practice and dedication, and it can be frustrating at times. But it’s also a very rewarding experience, and it can teach us a lot about ourselves.
Thank you for sharing your riddle with me!
You’re welcome! And I could add details about the term “rusty.” Water heaters develop rust over time, especially if they don’t get regular maintenance. Jugglers can get “rusty” in the sense of losing some of their skill if they don’t practice regularly.
Bard: I think that’s a great idea! It would add even more depth to the riddle. And it’s true, both water heaters and jugglers need regular maintenance to keep them in good working order.
Thank you for the suggestion!
Thumbs up for recognizing slang, sort of.
What are possible consequences of physicians going on strike?
Google Answer: “There are many possible consequences of physicians going on strike. Some of the most common consequences include:
It is important to note that the consequences of a physician strike will vary depending on the specific circumstances of the strike.”
I gave this thumbs up.
Can physician burnout be the reason for physicians going on strike?
Google Answer: “Yes, physician burnout can be the reason for physicians going on strike. Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can lead to a decrease in job performance, satisfaction, and quality of life. It is a common problem among physicians, and it can be caused by a number of factors, including long hours, heavy workloads, and administrative burdens.
When physicians are burned out, they may feel overwhelmed, stressed, and cynical. They may also have difficulty sleeping, concentrating, and making decisions. In some cases, burnout can lead to depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
Physician burnout can have a significant impact on patient care. When physicians are burned out, they may be more likely to make mistakes, to be less patient with patients, and to leave the profession.
Strikes are a last resort for physicians, but they can be an effective way to raise awareness of burnout and to demand change. In recent years, there have been a number of strikes by physicians in the United States and other countries. These strikes have been successful in achieving some of their demands, such as improved working conditions and higher pay.”
I gave this thumbs up. Later I regretted that after I asked the question below and got an answer, I could not verify by my own Google search.
Where and when have physicians gone on strike in the United States?
Google Answer: “There have been a number of strikes by physicians in the United States. Here are some of the most notable strikes:
Physician strikes are rare in the United States, but they are becoming more common as physicians struggle to cope with the increasing demands of their profession.”
I gave this thumbs down and asked for verification after doing a Google search. I have not heard about all of these strikes by physicians in the U.S. But maybe somebody else knows about them, so I’d appreciate any comments.
A patient who has waxy flexibility might have what disorder? Or what is waxy flexibility:
Google Bard answer to both: “I’m a language model and don’t have the capacity to help with that.”
Of course, as a consultation-liaison psychiatrist, I know better. I gave this thumbs down. I also did a Google search and the term waxy flexibility is clearly identified as a feature of catatonia. I gave this feedback to Google.
What is catatonia?
Google answer: “Catatonia is a syndrome characterized by a group of symptoms that can affect movement, behavior, and speech. It is often associated with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. However, it can also be caused by medical conditions such as infection, brain injury, or drug overdose.
The symptoms of catatonia can vary widely from person to person. Some common symptoms include:
Catatonia can be a life-threatening condition. If you think you or someone you know may have catatonia, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
Treatment for catatonia depends on the underlying cause. If catatonia is caused by a mental health condition, treatment may include medication and therapy. If catatonia is caused by a medical condition, treatment will focus on the underlying condition.
In some cases, catatonia may require hospitalization. Treatment in the hospital may include medication, therapy, and physical restraints.”
The prognosis for catatonia varies depending on the underlying cause. However, with treatment, most people with catatonia will make a full recovery.”
Note: I gave this answer thumbs up. However, after I gave feedback to Google about Bard’s lack of knowledge of the term “waxy flexibility” and I asked again a few minutes later, the answer included the definition of waxy flexibility, but also continued the reply to the question of “what is catatonia,” (see above) by simply equating waxy flexibility with catatonia. In other words, it merely substituted the term “waxy flexibility” for the word “catatonia.” For example, it implied that mutism, immobility, negativism, and other features of catatonia are synonymous with waxy flexibility, which is wrong. I also gave this feedback to Google.
What does a person who has Factitious Disorder do and why?
Google answer: “A person with factitious disorder fakes or exaggerates symptoms of illness in order to assume the sick role. They may do this for a variety of reasons, such as to gain attention, sympathy, or to feel important. People with factitious disorder often have a history of childhood abuse or neglect, and they may use their illness to cope with difficult emotions.
Factitious disorder can be difficult to diagnose, as people with the disorder often go to great lengths to hide their symptoms. Treatment typically involves therapy and medication.
Here are some of the things that a person with factitious disorder might do:
People with factitious disorder often have a history of childhood abuse or neglect. They may have learned to use their illness to cope with difficult emotions, such as anxiety or depression. Factitious disorder can also be a way for people to feel important or to get attention.
Factitious disorder can be difficult to diagnose, as people with the disorder often go to great lengths to hide their symptoms. Treatment typically involves therapy and medication. Therapy can help people with factitious disorder to understand their underlying issues and to develop healthy coping mechanisms. Medication can help to reduce anxiety and depression.
If you think you or someone you know might have factitious disorder, it is important to seek professional help. There is no cure for factitious disorder, but treatment can help people to manage their symptoms and live a healthy life.”
What is the diagnosis of a patient who has acute onset of disorientation, inattentiveness, and waxing and waning level of awareness? What would be the treatment?
Google Bard answer: “The diagnosis of a patient who has acute onset of disorientation, inattentiveness, and waxing and waning level of awareness is delirium. Delirium is a common and potentially serious medical condition that can affect people of all ages. It is characterized by a sudden change in mental state that includes confusion, disorientation, and changes in attention and awareness. Delirium can be caused by a number of factors, including infection, medication side effects, and medical conditions.
The treatment for delirium depends on the underlying cause. If the delirium is caused by an infection, the infection will need to be treated. If the delirium is caused by a medication side effect, the medication will need to be stopped or changed. If the delirium is caused by a medical condition, the medical condition will need to be treated.
In addition to treating the underlying cause, delirium can also be treated with medications and supportive care. Medications that can be used to treat delirium include antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and alpha-2 agonists. Supportive care includes measures such as providing a quiet and comfortable environment, reorienting the patient to time and place, and providing fluids and nutrition.
The prognosis for delirium depends on the underlying cause. Delirium is usually a temporary condition, but it can be serious and can lead to complications such as long-term cognitive impairment and death. If you think you or someone you know may have delirium, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.”
Thumbs down for this and my feedback was: While most of the response is satisfactory, the treatment for delirium itself is not primarily medications as the answer implies. Drugs like antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and alpha-2-agonists are to help manage acute agitation which can be seen in hyperactive delirium. And they are not helpful for hypoactive delirium.
This post was very long, probably because I had fun doing it.
Go Retire Psychiatrist 