The Weekend in Foolish Attention

Bits and bytes of the week

I DON’T LIKE TO BOAST, BUT… The new pad is exactly as sold. It’s maybe the nicest place I’ve had in Chicago. The only shock was that, while it’s a first floor apartment, it’s actually on the second floor. My buddies all offered to help me unload but I wasn’t expecting those standard twisty Chicago stairs. The couch was the most difficult. The recliner (on my back up a flight of stairs) was the heaviest. All told, I managed, at 58 years old, to get all of it up and in the place inside of two hours. Yes—I cursed a blue streak. Yes, I was exhausted. I still got it all in. Badass.

SO NOW HISTORY MATTERS? Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said the company hopes to relaunch its artificial intelligence image generator as soon as the next "couple of weeks."

Google paused access to its image generator last week after users found that the tool would produce historically inaccurate images, including racially diverse images of the US Founding Fathers and Nazis.

AI probably needs a few more tweaks before it takes over the world is my guess.

THE FIRST WEEK BACK. It’s a bit surreal. I know the past five years haven’t been erased and my time with my family is definitely a series of memories I will keep but, damn, it feels like I went away, became someone else, and am now re-presenting myself to my old stomping grounds. Right now, in this week, I’m in love with the trains, the busses, the alleys, the architecture, the people—all the things I’ll eventually either be disgusted with or lose sight of as life settles in. Chicago is like an ex-lover I’d forgotten was amazing. I’ll soak it up and try to maintain my awe.

UNCLE JOE NAILED IT. The State of the Union was a sermon, brother. Keep the faith.

MUAD’DIB IN 70MM. For my first I’m back event, Bob and I went to the storied and historic Music Box Theater and caught Dune: Part Two in 70 millimeter. The pre-show wasn’t commercials or previews, it was a guy playing tunes on a giant Wurlitzer organ, the place was sold out and Bob and I got in line early and landed primo seats, and the film was a gas. The only thing missing was mom.

WHO YOU WERE VS WHO YOU ARE. This week a former Literate Ape writer requested we delete an anonymous post lambasting the new Second City back in 2016. Turns out he googled himself and it came up. The request came with the suggestion that it was ‘popping up on Google’ although it was only read one time in the 60 days so my guess is that he was looking for it and found it. No worries. We deleted it right away but the question in my mind is this: is it better to erase written things from your past if you’ve grown and changed your perspective or to keep it up and update it as you have?

RIDING IN THE PRITZKER SADDLE. My first day back at Millennium Park was solid. People who were there five years ago seem genuinely happy to see me and the organizations in place regaled me with stories of how bad those who came after me did the job. It isn’t an easy gig and not for the faint of heart. I read through the post-season reports and it was obvious these folks were a bit overwhelmed and frustrated. As I sat down at the desk I had in 2018, I noticed a Literate Ape sticker I had left still there:

It felt like a clue that I was always fated to return. “I hope you’re ready,” my new boss warned. “It’s going to be really busy this season.”

“I’ve been in Wichita for a year and half. I’m hungry for some busy.”

THE APECAST HAS RETURNED. David finally dropped the news that he’s been navigating since the fall—his impending divorce. We intentionally didn’t get into the weeds of it but we took a month-long break to allow him some time to get a grip and me to move. He and I are back to recording in person and it’s a welcome change.

AH! MULTICULTURISM. I knew that I missed plenty of things about Chicago but a striking aspect is that, in both Nevada and Kansas, I was mostly surrounded by the same sea of white faces. Unsurprising given that 65% of Americans happen to be white. What’s a great joy is hopping on the El or walking down the street and swimming in a stream of lots of colors and ethnicities. Hard to describe why it feels so good but it does.

ON THE OTHER HAND… In the new gig, I’m in charge of hiring and supervising around fifty folks and there is a thread of absolute fear in both the offices of the orchestra and the Dept. of Cultural affairs about what what one in such a position can and cannot say. My DEI perspective is pretty simple: be respectful to everyone and don’t be a dick. Not a lot of pronoun stuff going on in Kansas but plenty of it in Illinois. I’m not accustomed to it and I keep finding myself slipping up. It’ll come but the look of sheer horror when I say “she” when I should say “they” is almost comical. One (now) non-binary co-worker whom I worked with five years ago corrected me—they/them—and at one point I just kept calling them “Dude.” When they looked at me funny I said” Seriously. To me ‘dude’ is non-gendered. I identify as an eighties throwback.” Thankfully they laughed.

IN THE AIR TO THE BOSOM OF FAMILY AND A PRIUS. I’m flying back to Wichita to see the family and grab my car to drive back to Chicago. I love those long road trips but really despise flying so the sweet spot will be hanging with the clan.

---

That’s the week. Jam-packed with goodness!