Category: oddities

“AI” imagery

I was reviewing Medium articles and noticed that several had “AI”-generated images. Then I saw this photo and thought, that might make an interesting subject for “AI”…

Yikes. I tried to specify light direction, but despite four more tries it kept the sun in this position. Otherwise kind of impressive!

The case of the vanishing pool.

Today got off to a promising start: delivery of a large swimming pool to the neighbors’ recently acquired lot next door: the one that they have completely sodded, uninstalling and re-installing the thick stockade fence.

I’m pretty sure there has been no prep for a swimming pool, and I’m also pretty sure that bringing a sufficiently large backhoe through the front yard would dp serious damage to their septic system.

But here they are, 11 guys man-handling this thing under the low electric line. As soon as they got it completely inside, the boss man slid the gate shut to keep out any rabble (who, moi?)

Later in the day, devoured by mosquitoes, I ventured around the far side―where they have curiously left wire-fencing view ports, to determine exactly what they were doing with the pool, which ended in a curios question.

The back of the yard…

…the middle of the yard…

…the front of the yard: what pool?

The now-cleared lot, and my three camera angles. Where has the pool gone?

Inexplicable, so far

On the lot next to our neighbors, meticulously leveled with a backhoe which built an access ramp over the roadside ditch and then removed it when it left, construction starts. The entire side facing the road is a stockade fence of poles (there might be a more expensive way to make a fence, but I can’t think of one). No opening whatsoever. The far side is obviously being fenced in a way that precludes vehicles as well. The workers have been going into the neighbors’ yard to plug in an extension cord for their power tools, so there’s obviously a connection — but what exactly is in the works here?

Puzzling paltas

Our avocado (palta here; aquacate in Mexico) trees have decided this year to both produce an almost unbelievable number of blossoms, while shedding almost all their leaves, while sending out enthusiastic new ones. As far as I can recall, there has not been a single year when they have behaved predictably: back one has fruit, other doesn’t; vice versa; both have; none has.

Will be interesting to watch in the coming months.