Generalizations

I took this picture. . . before it was an illustration.  But again. . . I think I like the illustration more.  The incredible thing to me is that this is the original person's face.  Stylized, sure, but I would be able to pick her out of a lineup.  

Do they still have lineups?  

It's the eyes.  The eyes have it.  

The child would be about ten now.  I wonder how that turned out?  That would be a nice follow up photo.  

Gen Z, Gen Z, Gen Z.  Grandpa's been complaining (link).  

A lot of people have. 

I can't get onboard with this stuff.  I mean, I think it is funny, sure.  But it is a gross generalization as are all statements about "generations."  Studies show that kids have higher IQs than people in the past.  They are certainly the most beautiful generation.  They are better athletes.  They are talented musicians.  

See?  "They."  I like to generalize, too.  

Is Gen Z those disaffected midwestern youths smoking crack and shooting up heroin or are they kids at Country Club College?  Are they Progressives or are they Neoliberals?  

Yes.  The answer is yes.  

The Negro
James Emanuel

Never saw him.
Never can.
Hypothetical,
Haunting man.

Eyes a-saucer,
Yessir bossir,
Dice a-clicking,
Razor flicking.

The-ness froze him
In a dance.
A-ness never
Had a chance.

I used to teach this one.  It's easy to hate an abstraction.  It's hard, very, very hard, to hate an individual.  

"I thought you didn't like Puerto Ricans?"

"What?  Oh, you know. . . he's different."

Yup. . . they always are.  I mean, after Bill Maher's two hour dinner with Trump, he had some nice things to say about him, didn't he?  And for all of Maher's rant about Gen Z not going to work in the fields and factories, I can't imagine him working labor for a week, either.  

Even in the Middle East, but for the hatred of radicals, Moslems, Christians, and Jews have lived together peacefully and sympathetically.  

I have ideological friends.  Ideologues.  A few.  They are not the happiest people I know.  

Which makes me wonder now. . . who is?  

This is a topic best avoided now, I think.  So let me tell you about "The House of Guinness" on Netflix.  I just finished binging the first season.  I'm pissed off that I will have to wait a year or more for the second.  The first season is about religion, ideology, human imperfection, and folly.  And it is a treat for the eye.  I have to wonder, really, really wonder, how much of the show is A.I. 

I think I'll go and look it up.  

Man. . . I called that one.  

The production company, Kudos, collaborated with ReelMind, an AI technology provider, to integrate AI into the show's development. While the series is a historical drama, the AI appears to have been used to create historical imagery and elements that contribute to the show's authentic feel.
AI use in historical film and television production is a growing practice and can include: Generating photorealistic historical images and textures
Upscaling and enhancing historical footage
Assisting with scriptwriting and developing storylines based on historical data

 Half the characters look like the illustration at the top of this post which is why I thought of it in the first place.  For you A.I. haters, try watching it.  

See?  

O.K. That's enough of my silliness for today.  I just wanted to say things I haven't said before.  Posting as much as I have, that seems impossible.