Super Bowl Party LIX 2025 @ the micks -great experience! "THANK YOU!"
"THANK YOU!" -honestly.. you are all so much fun to super bowl with!
"CHEERS!" we love you!
grateful for your spirit, energy, friendship, love, amazing dishes, fun drinks,
warmth, generosity, gifts, open hearts.. party vibes!
such a special experience, and now a wonderful memory
"it was the best super bowl party we've ever had!
-but not the best super bowl party we'll ever have...."
*****
giant "Thank You!" Prayer..
hallelujah & amen
Zero Prayer a poem by (me!) sandra mickanen, topps, writeousmom
delighted to have finished this poem today too!ZERO PRAYER
return me to zero
zero worries or concern
before i knew,
before i learned, -not just fire burns.
return me to zero Jesus
zero caveats or asterisks'
before i knew,
before i learned, -some hearts are made of plastic.
perform your spiritual surgery. laser zoom write in
slice to find the memories fears got tangled in
extract accumulations of tragedies and sins
divide and
more than, more than, conquer; until my more than a conqueror wins!
at zero start again
perform your spiritual surgery
zero grudges, zero hate
zero suspicions, zero temptations
zero give-up-its-too-lates
zero will i faint
multiply my guardian angels, exponentially grow my love
pain take, chain break, way make
my life to glorify you, God
remake me light with wings of peace
with thankful prayers which do not cease
i'm giving all i am to you -My Lord, My Savior, Hero
perform your spiritual surgery on me
return me back to zero
all confidence and zero fear
an ease made up of faith
protection, salvation, consecration
a path your love set straight.
before i knew to weigh the risk; please fix that scale to zero
im giving all i am to you -My Lord, My Savior, Hero
********
hallelujah & amen
Son Beams a poem by (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom
started herefinished today:
son beams
rescued, restored, redeemed
my eyes are emerald son beams
look in and you'll see
i've been set free;
from the evil of God's enemy
my eyes, once vacant and dim
light up now from deep within
they shine on you now
showing you how
God's spiritual warfare WINS
rescued, restored, redeemed
my eyes are emerald son beams
my son beams they shine
my son beams returned!
my son beams flash
my son beams burn -discern
my son beams see write through to truth
distinguish from a pupil; youth
decode a secret
flash light a lie
these emerald son beams, my eyes
God's secret angel spies
lend a hand, offer hope
lift this one's heart back afloat
let that one go, give that to me
battles mine; you've been set free
set free; indeed.
****
and, without know when, there is still zero prayer poem to finish.. but not today..
****
selah! hallelujah! & amen!
#fashion #MagicOfMacys #bestmomever
2025, i'm going to overcompensate for not having written on the topic of fashion for the 1st 19 years of this blog..
i've been collecting pictures of fancy nancy.. and friends/family here and there, to ultimately write about, and will in the near future
today.. look at my beautiful mom, in this beautiful blouse!
-givin' myself some daughter points, because i picked it out to gift her..
but look how pretty! i am always on the look out for an attractive neck line; something different.. something... uncommon..
and -macy's of course,
but i could not resist.. look at the circle lace v cut detail.. how attractive, and then the pleated detail on the shoulders.. the fabric itself! the long sleeves.. the flattering way it lays across the body.. and it does come with a built-in lining, which is also a crucial thing i look for before purchasing.. but my mom added an additional camousel for warmth, because.. it is february and quite cold out..
and for outdoors, and for the chinese new year celebration, added a red sweater over it..
i did not see another circle lace v neck blouse anywhere in the store, but if it were available in more than one color... "sold!"
fantastic look! -and i love, -we love,
coordinating fashions (and/or matching t-shirts; halloween costumes) for spouses..
cute, attractive and fun factor.. red looks great on both of them!
i have a whole collage of my husband and i in matching t-shirts, that spans seven years now.. and who knows how many different occasions.. business logos.. etc.
but here, for winter months.. long sleeve not available in t-shirt design we liked, so we got design we liked and wore long sleeves underneath
****
#fashion
hallelujah & amen
Chinese New Year Celebration @ The Georges!
this is a wonderful, exceptional, delightful experience! i have already sent a personal "Thank You!" but share here the pictures..
it is one thing to try and describe to others the feast fancy nancy provides her guests.. i somehow always feel like, verbally, i cant do it justice..
so "look!" as beautiful in presentation as taste..
the company, the visits, the conversations.. stimulating... warm.. entertaining.. educational..
the culinary experience.. sublime. and grateful my mom and rick were invited to join the celebration this year -i added the pix of the 4 of us, because they left before the group pix was taken..
but..
braggin' on my mom because she has been branching out! willing to try new and unfamiliar foods, drinks, desserts..
what i had shared with her, is that.. there were many foods i didn't know i liked.. or didn't think i liked..
or just didn't like
until i tried them at one of the george's celebrations.. get togethers... hot pot parties..
and if you are willing to try new foods and drinks.. -you can still not like everything,
but! it does open you to discover foods you do like or love.. and that experience opens up entire new culinary worlds...
my mom went back for seconds..
and when robert fixed beef curry recently she went back for seconds on that too...
-all for the love of food!
i love... it is the best possible way to visit.. the most fun.. over a great meal. friends and family..
"Thank You!" Love You! Happy Chinese.. Happy Lunar... New Year!
****
Hallelujah & Amen
AI: Question.. from (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom
let's say everyone on the planet over age 25 could listen to this song today in their given language:
hard fought hallelujah by brandon lake
how many would claim it as their anthem? have a loved one who could claim it as their anthem?
****
entered into the digital world, the music and lyrics above now become something AI is programmed to search:
-simultaneous with an unfathomable amount of other digitized music accessible
coded to assimilate, appropriate, mask, stir, fuse, blend, edit, borrow, steal
ultimately generating (creating?) a new 'original' song?
****
that is my current understanding of how AI works
****
who takes credit for the color purple? creator of color itself? light.. combination of elements, and the human to 'see' it..
creator of red? creator of blue? -first one to blend? and discover...
****
i do love to ponder these things... hallelujah & amen.
Dear Sam Altman, part II from/by (me!) sandra, writeousmom
i was doing a little more reading.. few things i can know from life experience alone, that i can say about AI, AGI:
all things can be used for good or evil. often, the 'thing' itself is not good or evil; but how humans use/interact with it; employ it. with what motivation, to what end..
****
i am intrigued by AI, my limited understanding of it, which i will reiterate here:
AI is to human knowledge as calculators are to numbers.
*****
now, as i was reading AGI was being described (or, rather, i was interpreting it to say..)
AGI is a milestone of sorts (?) when AI surpasses humans in speed, problem solving, tasks..
with that understanding/interpretation, AGI is already present in the world all over the place
calculators already surpass how fast humans can calculate on their own -save savants
conveyer belts, machines, sewing machines, word processing, jets, rockets..
these all, in one way or another surpass what a human can do, individually/manually.. yes?
cell phones with texts, cameras, search, gps, ... long list.. already surpasses..
****
then i read about a financial milestone for AGI, and i'm not even going to discuss money here..
just what AI IS, AGI IS, the current and potential applications/uses..
****
and while i wont bother to talk money, i will talk ENERGY..
electric cars are new, relatively speaking.. and already, i watched a video which was showing employees of a company how they needed to select certain hour windows when they could charge their cars..
it was already being divvied up, so to speak, -they were already having to 'ration'
i was taken aback by learning this..
but have it tucked in my mind, and now, on top of that, i was reading about how
-how much computing power/energy is required for AI to reach its full potential [for lack of better vocabulary]
something about how the energy required for the computing power for just one day...
equivalent to what could power an entire city over a much longer period of time..
****
and was reading about a need to address the 'heat' problem in these ultra high-energy-taxing computing facilities..
****
it is another thing life experience alone has taught me.. about humans.. this pattern of solving a problem which creates a new problem to be solved.. -write.
****
anyway.. add that all to this understanding i currently hold about AI.. with its ability to search and deliver -original- answers and solutions to some of life's greatest questions and challenges..
****
its ability to take the PhD answers.. as if you had only the greatest minds (and according to you, also the most compassionate, kind, empathetic..)
as if all these minds and hearts were with you, providing answers..
****
quite obviously then.. the true test for AI, AGI, is when it successfully solves the very problems it is creating
AI, -we need this much computing power and this much space, and this much money, where energy is a limited resource, that must be ethically distributed between this populous, in this given area, over this amount of time..
AI, -in order for you to fulfill our wildest dream for what you can do and become, we need this much computing power, but that much computing power generates too much heat, which is damaging to your infrastructure, we need the facility to remain at [this] temperature -what is the most cost-effective way to achieve this?
like, how intelligent is AI? currently...
make that, how intelligent are the answers AI provides, currently, based on the accumulation of digital data it can currently search -assimilate
let's consider when you love the answer AI generates... "very helpful "Thank You!"
let us also consider, when you do not like the highly intelligent answer AI provides.. [when it is counter to self-interests, or not profitable enough, or prevents you from moving forward on your personal time line, when AI says no, dont do that.. on and on].
****
i do see potential for growth in all areas.
***
i had an entertaining imagined scenario: AI (AGI); up and running.. able to provide a PhD level answer -essentially, the answer is the result -as if, the greatest, ethical, geniuses from across the globe had all convened, considered and agreed
the answer said: it turns out the cost to humanity, the taxing of energy resources, financial resources, the cost to solve the problems it creates, the resulting unemployment and resulting poverty..
everything considered and combined -the benefits of AI companions and their ability to master a variety of tasks humans would rather not do; benefit of generating music and novels
all things considered and factored in, moving forward with AI is counterproductive, dangerous, the cost significantly outweigh the potential benefits (etc...)
-if AI generated an answer which instructed its own termination for humanitarian reasons...
is there one person on the current AI panel who would honor that answer... anyone willing to even put a foot on the brakes?
****
also, fun to imagine, humans each with their own individual AI assistant.. analogy.. pet drone? pet robot? best digital friend...
fun to imagine the accumulative knowledge and speed at which AI can solve problems..
specifically medical problems..
actually doing it..
even more fun to imagine..
AI figuring out the best, most fair, most uncomplicated, streamlined, head-ache and corrupt free tax system... !
figuring out a new 'ism' [not socialism, not communism, not capitalism..] but the absolute best new 'ism' where the most human beings thrive! -how to shrink the poverty, wealth gap..
how to reduce crime..
how to end bullying...
how to prevent domestic, elderly.. emotional, physical abuse..
a 'caught and consequences' program for scammers, vandals...
i do love to imagine all the geniuses of the world.. discussing... experimenting.. figuring out..
all the geniuses from history, with current living geniuses..
the ability for test cases in the digital world.. demonstration of potential outcomes..
we certainly would only benefit from learning these answers at a faster rate than we have been..
yes
hallelujah! selah! & amen.
prayers for the deceased and loved ones living on
God's love embrace you
comfort and console you
in the epicenter of all you're feeling
God's love remind you
inside and all around you
love grieves a path toward healing
-reaching out with prayer, love, condolences -God's strength as you process and navigate through this very difficult experience. amen & amen
LOVE, love, love collaging on an empty canvas (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom
mixed media collage art by sandra mickanen, studio 213
great JOY! creating these collages.. i have 3 different wood shapes; empty canvases that have just been waiting.. heart shape, triangle, and (let me check w/AI.. 6 sides is called... hexagon!
"Thank You! AI" and, 9, or around that, in total left to collage
i'm using a combination of designer paper, stickers, embellishments, wrapping paper and lots of mod podge..
and public "Thank You!" here to jackie bernardi, who i happened across on a youtube surf... love your art! your process! your results! very inspiring.. i'll be back..
****
hallelujah & amen
Dear Sam Altman, from (me!) sandra mickanen, writeousmom
loved the opportunity to watch and listen to the talk you shared with young entrepreneurs at stanford. "Thank You!"
although i am retired, not seeking employment or to 'start up' a business,
i have been reading here and there about AI, and do want to gain a layperson's understanding.
-it is a world my adult children, and my grandchildren, are currently navigating, and future grandchildren, will be navigating..
i have had ONE direct experience with chatgpt, and was very impressed! i am a writer, a poet, and no longer in school or work where i might have been inspired to employ chatgpt to greater degrees..
i love to write.. i love to write in the same way people love to play golf, or scuba dive,
i want to do it myself; learn by doing.. grow by doing, improve through practice; trial and error, all of it is a joy for me, so i do not use chatgpt
but i do not like solving large complicated math problems -this is a joy and challenge for some, but i would lean toward a chatgpt/math version to short-cut the process; just give me the answer...
which brings me to AI..
poking around TED talks.. youtube.. i have heard the 'digital species' analogy
/metaphor?
wait. let me look up the diff..
look! an AI Overview [which, one day became the default (1st/top) answer format for any question i ask my phone, and therefore made me want to learn more]
and one of the first things i learned -AI Overview is not 100% accurate. It does require a close read; some level of discernment..
but honestly, i am not inspired to fact check as a reading exercise..
back to AI, to now, AGI.. what it is? how it will change the world?
i deeply appreciated the way you communicated, what i believe to be true
paraphrasing..
in some ways the world will dramatically change, and in some ways, the world will be pretty much the same
as when new transportation came in; industry; currency; technology in general..
i have seen how we have new tools to do the same things.. we can do things faster.. we can do more things.. many things have been made more 'convenient' on and on,
but the way i word it, is.. [enter new advance something here] but, people are still falling love, getting married and making babies..
fundamental human behavior for all of time.
i like how you shared with the students (paraphrasing) you are smarter than your great grandparents.. not by IQ so to speak, but because you are surrounded (have been born into) a time with more tools, appliances, greater knowledge that is more easily accessed.. and your great grandchildren will be smarter than you....
i understand what you mean.. and regard it a truth, but i do want to pause to consider your use of the word 'smarter'
i have long shared my greatest concern is technology out-evolving humans.. and all the AI talk leans in that direction,
you've described how AI (AGI) yields PhD level answers
but i recognize PhD level answers require PhD level questions, and PhD level discernment, wisdom, contemplation
having access to an answer and understanding an answer; two very different things.
i wonder, can AI (AGI) make people smarter?
recalling my observation long ago, a cell phone, one of the greatest communication tools in all of human history, in the hands of an idiot, talking so stupid...
the greatest communication tool did not result in the greatest communication.
anyway,
my current understanding of what AI is and does..
as a calculator is to numbers; AI is to human knowledge? when it is at its best..
with the same immediacy a calculator can solve and show a numeric answer [based on programming by humans]
AI can generate a knowledge based answer -which it is providing based on a way it is programmed to search all information ever entered into the digital world. numeric or word, in any/every language...
theory or fact..
like all the worlds minds, and all the books, in all the libraries of all the world...
and fascinated to learn per your talk -AI (AGI) -can be programmed to be autonomous; to learn; to create..
to contemplate; to emote.. to be compassionate; kind..
AI is already making music, writing poetry... i imagine here.. a fusion: assimilated and appropriated from digital access to all prior original music/poetry digitized and available; combined with computerized/programmed instructional paths regarding what music is; how to make it; what poetry is; how to write it.. combined with, coded to create something new and original from the above
-save being sentient; save being 'inspired';
digital species/companion/assistant is not a bad metaphor and/or analogy.
a super knowledgeable assistant, slash, best friend at your side...
we will co-exist.
AI (AGI) -replacing jobs... of course.
but can't we use AI to help us -create new jobs! set up entire new economies, industries..
if it really can make us smarter.. this will not be a problem AI can't solve!
if you created a new, advanced, world-changing technology that left countless people unemployed, sent countless people into poverty..
it's really not new, or advanced, is it.
****
Dear Sam Altman,
Can AI do this: take into account the value of the NBA in 1970, say.. and how much the league itself made; how much each player made, etc.
jump to 2024.. how much the NBA league makes.. how much each player..
and since the jump is astronomical, we really do need an AI calculator..
but then, can AI just experiment with.. if a % of the overall wealth.. of the league, and the players..
(and keep changing what the % is)...
if a % was divided and given to everyone who contributes to the overall success/experience of the game for fans..
so that, concession stand employees, janitors, parking staff, ticket booth staff...
everyone who contributes, enjoys a pay increase...
i am so curious! what % (tipping point?)
at what point does the concession stand employee 'feel' the raise, and level up their lifestyle..
what really does happen when a number of hourly wage employees get a significant raise? to the individual? their family? their community/city?
we've certainly been reminded over and over, that certain restaurant owners cannot afford to pay to more than minimum wage..
over and over reminded how it is the minimum wage earners potentially at fault for the closing of who knows how many businesses, should they ask for even $1 dollar more an hour! society collapses apparently; what are we, socialists? communists? capitalism demands the financial gap grow exponentially between the rich and poor annually!
and how many businesses cant even get started because they cant afford, to you know.. pay minimum wage to anyone in the first place.
but, lets skip restaurant owners...
how 'bout the NBA, NFL...
it looks like they can afford to increase the pay for contributing employees without collapsing..
especially! now that betting has been legalized and promoted! and commercialized.. and marketed..
but,
just curious if AI could present factual simulations of what life looks like when we distribute wealth in different ways..
experiments; digital experiments...
*****
all for now...
feel welcome to correct my current understanding; add to it; subtract from it.. validate it.
i am aware, at 59 years old, in 2025, i am living write at the genesis of a paramount addition to everyday life for everyday people.
if i could execute an order... (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom
i've read this article a couple times now, and will no doubt, re-read.. it is fascinating to say the least.. 37 actions.
and it got me to day dreaming, -how i would LOVE THE POWER to immediately ban any/all pharmaceutical commercials from tv, radio, social media
go back to when prescription drugs were 'sold' and 'marketed' 'advertised' exclusively to healthcare professionals with the authority (and education) to prescribe the given drug being 'advertised' - and not the general public.
this constant barrage of drugs with constant barrage of words/ideas/suggestions entering people's homes, minds, souls, spirits:
suicidal thoughts, kidney failure, brain aneurysm, stroke, depression
-how many times are these words being repeated in your home? in your car via radio..
via stores, salons, that leave televisions on for background, in lobbies...
it should be illegal. it is criminal. it is negligent. it is wrong.
so,
borrowing the format from the article mentioned above, my executive order would go something like this:
Action: Protecting the mental, emotional, spiritual health of all Americans by banning the mass commercialization of prescription- required drugs. [still working on the wording...]
-aware here, a strategy would be immediately implemented by pharmaceutical industry to manipulate over-the-counter vs. prescription required drugs... we might just end up with more over-the-counter drugs, which should remain prescription only... so they can continue their profit-oriented barrage... -write.
anyway,
What it's about: This order would put an immediate halt to the airing of prescription-required drug commercials on tv, radio, social media, and restrict the advertising of such drugs to only healthcare professionals with the authority and education to prescribe the given medication/drug.
Timing: Write Now
Topic: Pharmaceutical Commercials/Advertisements
*****
honestly, i have so many more, imaginary... executive orders..
but i don't even know
is this something our current president can even do? -who is in charge? who has this power?
****
selah! & amen! it's a prayer...
SUPER BOWL LIX BLISS feb 2025 yard art & poetry by (sexy! & topps!) AKA: the micks
mixed media super bowl NFL logo yard art, robert & sandra mickanen
public "Thank You!" to Jerry Heinrichs for contributions to our yard art design
and! for making the super cool team helmets!
our american flag yard art was up for who knows how many months, -but a long time!
we were quite ready to make a change..
and, i remain amazed at how my husband can shape shift and rearrange
those rocks and bricks into the next..
which in this case was from a rectangle, into LIX + trophy..
we both thought the logo looked pretty cool in red, white & blue.. as did many of our neighbors,
but, we primer'd over, and had great fun replicating the very vibrant, colorful, jazzy, new orleans inspired design -and we extra loved how jerry used those colors/design for
the background of the helmets..
*******
including host city in the logo design began with Super Bowl LVI (56)
and are we ever grateful! #bliss
Lets get back to #FASHION FUN Sleeves Please from (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom
dont you know, with valentines coming up, i practically ran across the store when i saw this dress! positively LOVED the light red, dark red contrast, the pretty draped flowy neckline, the fitted dress, the length (how cute with boots!) and the mesh long sleeves!
but when i went to grap it off the rack to bring it to the dressing room..
DARN IT!! it was not a light red with dark red, long sleeve dress
it was a dark red, sleeveless.. in front of a light red long sleeve..
i was not attracted to either one individually.
but had to laugh...
****
and share with fashion designers, i'm pretty confident i represent a very large population when i say,
"more sleeves please!" (praying hands emoji here) even in warmer climates,
make them thin, make them mesh, make them sheer, make them 3/4 length with ruffles..
we'd rather have them, than have to add them..
just recently, because my husband (my sexy) and i, we wear matching t-shirts every year that have the official NFL super bowl logo on them..
-was not even offered in long sleeve version,
so i separately purchased a black mesh long sleeve to wear underneath..
much better!
*****
#fashion
****
hallelujah & amen
Vellum Days in progress...
UPSHOT from recent garbage police visit
and so, as a result, we are, in fact and in daily practice of checking every. single. thing. before we (try and figure out) which recycle bin it is supposed to go in.
WE ALREADY HAD: in our backyard, separate containers for
plastic,
aluminum, and
glass by color (clear, brown, green).
and two containers indoors for
garbage or
recycle.
WE HAVE SINCE ADDED: a new bin for STORE DROP OFF.
**** letting this topic go.. moving forward
MEANWHILE: using 311 to report illegal dumping at our sacred perc ponds... along with an abandon vehicle
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