Tag Archives: communication

PROMPT: Lesson

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Daily writing prompt
What’s a lesson you’ve learned recently that shifted your perspective?
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Just because a message has merit does not mean there is benefit in its delivery. For example, telling a person who is on fire and mad with itching not to scratch or telling a person to not be a jackass when their core nature is jackass. Saying such things will not nudge the state of the world and can only release the puff of hot air that creates chaos — like Edward Lorenz’s proverbial butterfly in Brazil that causes a tornado in Texas.

BOOK: “AI for Good” by Josh Tyrangiel

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AI for Good: How Real People Are Using Artificial Intelligence to Fix Things That MatterAI for Good: How Real People Are Using Artificial Intelligence to Fix Things That Matter by Josh Tyrangiel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Publisher Site – Simon & Schuster

— Out Now —

There’re a lot of books out about artificial intelligence (AI) these days. There are how-to manuals. There are books about the making of billionaires on the back of AI-centric business models. There are books that consider how AI will destroy the human economy (and possibly humanity as we know it.) Josh Tyrangiel’s book seeks to carve out a niche by taking a positive view towards AI but focusing not so much on how it produces more billionaire tech executives, but rather on how it can help fix persistent social problems in education, healthcare, governance, and human communication and connectedness. Of course, this isn’t a completely separate topic from business use of AI (e.g. healthcare is one of the biggest businesses in America [which is no doubt emblematic of America’s unrelentingly shitty healthcare;]) however, these are areas that each feature their own unique challenges, problems for which the lessons of the business sector, broadly, are often of limited value.

I found this book to be illuminating. It introduced several fascinating characters from various domains. Among the most intriguing discussions were those with a short-lived DOGE employee and one with a Hoosier high school principal. It was also interesting to learn about the evolution of AI language translators.

If you are interested in how AI is being applied beyond hardcore business uses like supply chain optimization and computer programming, you may want to give this book a look.

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PROMPT: Topics

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Daily writing prompt
What topics do you like to discuss?
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Anything but myself. Unfortunately, that seems to be the main mode of social discourse in the world. People mostly want to hear enough about me that they feel justified in telling me more about them. I’m an ideas guy: philosophy, science, literature, technology, economy, international affairs, etc. (Also, travel, but that only works with travelers — a tiny segment of the population.)

PROMPT: Communicate Online

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Daily writing prompt
In what ways do you communicate online?
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Like everyone, with a great deal less civility.

Also, with the recognition that no one is trapped by societal convention, so one must be concise, or no one will take it in.

Also, I end sentences with prepositions more.

PROMPT: Friend

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What quality do you value most in a friend?

The ability to converse intelligently on a wide range of subjects.

PROMPT: Emojis

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Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite emojis?
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As might be expected of a device that only exists to facilitate lazy, I don’t have impassioned feelings about any emoji, but I do use the “thumbs up” more than all others combined, so I guess it would be fair to say that’s it. “Thumbs up” is very versatile, and if one is being so lazy as to use an emoji for communication, one might as well go all out an add ambiguity to the mix. “Thumbs up” just says, I have some kind of feeling between indifferent and ecstatic about what you’ve just said.

“Yes, I have a thousand tongues” by Stephen Crane [w/ Audio]

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Yes, I have a thousand tongues,
 And nine and ninety-nine lie.
 Though I strive to use the one,
 It will make no melody at my will,
 But is dead in my mouth.

The Writing on the Wall [Free Verse]

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I see the writing on the wall,
 and find it untrustworthy
 because of all the stories
 of valiant warriors 
 framed for treason
 with forged poems 
 scrawled on tavern walls. 

And of the virtuous men
 who did write rancorous poems,
 but did so while blackout drunk.

And I wonder whether the words 
 I am seeing are forged or written
 under the influence
 of intoxicants, 
 or -- possibly -- they are the truth.

But I cannot read them,
 so I find them irrelevant,
 though they may convey
 crucial information,
 such as:
 - the existence of a vampire infestation, or
 - the presence of cholera in the town well.

So, I can see the writing on the wall,
 but I find it neither trustworthy
 nor relevant --
 (though my life may depend 
 on its contents.)

PROMPT: Online Communication

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Bloganuary writing prompt
In what ways do you communicate online?
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Snarkily, sincerely… all sorts of ways, really.

BOOKS: The NEW Comedy Bible by Judy Carter

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The NEW Comedy Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing Stand-Up ComedyThe NEW Comedy Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing Stand-Up Comedy by Judy Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazon.in Page

As the title suggests, this is a soup-to-nuts exploration of building a standup comedy act. While the bulk of the book discusses how to build jokes that work in a comedy club setting, it also gives helpful tips on relevant issues such as stage fright, hecklers, bombing and bomb recovery, set arrangement, and editing material. It offers many insights that may seem counterintuitive to a neophyte reader.

In writing, there is a common distinction made between “plotters” and “pantsers” (as in “by the seat of one’s pants.”) Plotters do a lot of research and outline everything thoroughly before beginning to write (as most people understand the writing process.) Pantsers like to get right into the typing and are willing to have a much messier process in exchange for greater feelings of spontaneity and surprise. A similar distinction seems to exist in standup comedy. Jerry Seinfeld might be the posterchild for the comedic plotter, writing and rewriting jokes on paper and having an already finely honed collection of jokes when he goes into the comedy club to revise through audience feedback. Other comedians seem to like to work by riffing and editing material on the fly. My point is: this book will definitely appeal most to plotters. That said, I think it has a lot of useful information that will save pantsers a great deal of trouble, but I suspect those with intense pantser proclivities will be skeptical of such a step-by-step approach.

The book is set up as a workbook woven into an instructional guide. That is, it has exercises throughout. It also presents a lot of jokes and partial bits by headlining comics to help the reader see how successful comics apply the principles in question.

I enjoyed reading this book and found it helpful. I thought that many of the exercises were quite helpful in triggering joke ideas. If you are looking for a book that deals in both joke writing and comedic delivery, I’d highly recommend this book.

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