Category Archives: Travel
Messing About With AI: Part 2
Going with some Dylan Thomas today. Thought the opening lines of “Do not go gentle into that good night” might be worth a go:
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
DALL-E generated 4 options again:
DiffusionBee threw up what looked like a Norse word cloud:
Unimpressed with this, I added a “by Banksy” style modifier to see if this created something more visually arresting. I guess it did. Messing about with styles (drawing, visual, pen, carving and etching, camera, color, emotions, style of an artist or community, CGI software, and CGI rendering) is where I may have to add more direction.
So, I added a bunch of modifying styles. I then learned that DiffusionBee limits the number of text characters for the prompt. After removing a few, I ended up with this (Angry, Melancholic, Oil Paint, Dramatic, Surrealist):
Again, Craiyon gets appropriately angsty. Will have to try something more placid tomorrow:
Pittsburgh’s Dibs
Living in Chicago, I found this pretty interesting. Dibs only kicks in during winter here, but Pittsburgh does this throughout the year.
What To Pack When Teaching in China
I was in China recently (first time!) showing Chinese teachers how online learning is conducted in the U.S. Before leaving for China, I diligently checked on what to pack. I made some good decisions. I made some bad decisions. This post hopefully helps others about to make that long journey to a fascinating country.
My style of presenting and teaching is to use a MacBook Air, recording myself with a BT-1 Bluetooth camera (positioned towards the back of the room) and ScreenFlow.
Clothes
I was in Beijing in June. Hot and humid. Definitely worth checking the weather before visiting. Chinese culture is not particularly bothered about formal attire, so no need to pack a business suite or dress shoes. For teaching in June, lightweight hot-weather clothing is the way to go:
- Plenty of short-sleeve shirts
- Semi-formal trousers (TravelSmith has a range designed for heat and humidity, or you can go Outlier)
- Performance trousers (for visits to all the tourist sites)
- One pair comfortable walking shoes. Go for something lightweight and breathable.
- Underwear
- Hat
- Umbrella (keeps off both the rain and sun)
- Packable rain-jacket
Technology
Chinese airport security is more restrictive than in the U.S., you may be able to bring something into China, but taking it back on the airplane may be more difficult. One of the most useful gadgets I had on the trip (HooToo TripMate Wireless N Portable Travel Router with 6000mAh Battery Charger) was confiscated as I was leaving Beijing Capital International Airport. The reason was that it had a battery that lacked “proper wording” (officially declared capacity). My understanding is you want to have less than 100 watt-hours, and for this to be clearly stated on the device.
- MacBook Air
- Installed Express VPN to circumvent the Chinese Firewall
- Power adapter
- Don’t bother to bring the Chinese plug duckhead – the U.S. one will plug into Chinese sockets)
- Camera
- Unlocked smartphone (I borrowed a phone when in China, but next time will get a SIM)
- Make sure to install a VPN. I used Express VPN
- USB thumbdrive
- Install PortableApps
- Limefuel Twin USB charger
- Again, this will plug into Chinese electrical sockets. You can charge two devices at the same time
- Cable Matters® Mini DisplayPort (Thunderbolt™ Port Compatible) to HDMI/DVI/VGA Male to Female 3-in-1 Adapter
- This should allow you to use any type of projector
- USB cables
- Ethernet cable
- Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Armor Portable External Hard Drive
- I used this to backup my laptop each day. When teaching, you don’t want to have your laptop broken or stolen.
- HooToo TripMate Nano Wireless N Pocket Travel Router
- This version does not have a battery, and is less likely to be confiscated
- Kindle
- Preloaded with a plethora of guidebooks and novels. Essential for the long flights.
- Earphones
Whilst teaching, I was in typical Chinese classroom. Projectors worked with either VGA or HDMI connections; so having adapters for both was a must (which is where the Cable Matters® Mini DisplayPort to HDMI/DVI/VGA Male to Female 3-in-1 Adapter comes in very useful). Internet speeds could be slower than what I was used to, and WiFi could be slower than a wired connection – this is where bringing my own router and Ethernet cable brought dividends.
Essential iPhone Apps
Explore Beijing Subway Map
Beijing’s Metro is fantastic (and rapidly expanding). New lines and stations are coming to service. This app helps you navigate, and has maps for each station
Express VPN
A VPN is required in China to access sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google.
Learn Chinese – Mandarin Phrasebook for Travel in China
English is not commonly spoken in China. A phrasebook is essential.
Miscellaneous
- Small medical kit
- Gum
- Spacepen
- Handkerchief
- Wash bag
- Ziplock bags
- Daypack
- Suntan lotion
- Sea to Summit Trek and Travel Laundry Wash – 3 fl. oz
Hub+ for USB-C
No immediate need for this type of thing (Hub+), but looks interesting (and the thing I would want with a new MacBook). Kickstarter goal has been met…
Almost Perfect
Exploring Chicago’s Art Institute: Part 5
Finished! I have visited all that I can visit at Chicago’s Art Institute. Definitely a museum that needs many days to explore. I now have a decent foundational knowledge of what is on offer and how to navigate the labyrinthian galleries.
I realize that I am extremely lucky to have this museum on my doorstep (literally a walk of only five minutes from work). A good place to decompress.
I will be heading back to look in more detail. The less-visited galleries are fun to walk through, lacking the hustle and bustle mainstay galleries. You also get to see artworks that just look a little strange… Such as “Still Life with Dead Game, Fruits and Vegetables in a Market.” The market trader looks like a precursor to Santa Claus.
- Lower Level
- Photography (1-4, 10) – Visited
- Thorne Miniature Rooms (11) – Visited
- Paperweights (15) – Visited
- Architecture and Design (24) – Visited
- Textiles – Visited
- First Level
- Prints and Drawings (124-127) – Visited
- Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art (140-143) – Visited
- Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Art (101–109, 130-135) – Visited
- Indian Art of the Americas (136) – Visited
- African Art – Visited
- American Decorative Arts 1920–1970 (162) – Visited
- Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art (150-154) – Visited
- American Art before 1900 (161-179) – Visited
- Chagall’s America Windows (144) – Visited
- Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room – Visited
- Ryerson and Burnham Libraries – Visited
- Second Level
- Chicago Architecture (200) – Visited
- European Art before 1900 (201–248) – Visited
- American Folk Art (227) – Visited
- European Decorative Arts (231-234) – Visited
- Arms and Armor (235-237) – Visited
- Renaissance Jewelry (237) – Visited
- Impressionism (225-226, 201, 240-243) – Visited
- American Modern Art 1900-1950 (261-265, 271-273) – Visited
- Special Exhibitions (Regenstein Hall) – Visited
- Modern Wing
- Special Exhibitions (182-184) – Visited
- Photography (188) – Visited
- Film Video and New Media (186) – Visited
- Architecture and Design (283-286) – Visited
- Contemporary Art 1945-1960 (289) – Visited
- Contemporary Art After 1960 (288, 291-299) – Visited
- European Modern Art 1900 – 1950 (389-399) – Visited
- Contemporary Sculpture – Visited
Exploring Chicago’s Art Institute: Part 4
Still working my way through Chicago’s Art Institute. The current status of visited galleries is:
- Lower Level
- Photography (1-4, 10) – Visited
- Thorne Miniature Rooms (11) – Visited
- Paperweights (15) – Visited
- Architecture and Design (24) – Visited
- Textiles – Visited
- First Level
- Prints and Drawings (124-127) – Visited
- Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art (140-143) – Visited
- Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Art (101–109, 130-135) – Visited
- Indian Art of the Americas (136) – Visited
- African Art – Visited
- American Decorative Arts 1920–1970 (162) – Visited
- Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art (150-154) – Visited
- American Art before 1900 (161-179) – Visited
- Chagall’s America Windows (144) – Visited
- Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room – Visited
- Second Level
- Chicago Architecture (200)
- European Art before 1900 (201–248)
- American Folk Art (227) – Visited
- European Decorative Arts (231-234)
- Arms and Armor (235-237) – Visited
- Renaissance Jewelry (237) – Visited
- Impressionism (225-226, 201, 240-243) – Visited
- American Modern Art 1900-1950 (261-265, 271-273) – Visited
- Special Exhibitions (Regenstein Hall) – Visited
Only three more areas to explore (Chicago Architecture, European Art before 1900, European Decorative Arts), and then I am done. But not really. I know that the winter months will find me here at lunch, and I will also have to take a deeper look at the various apps that the museum has created.
Exploring Chicago’s Art Institute: Part 3
The exploration of Chicago’s Art Institute continues. Yesterday, I visited the Sculpture Court and American Art before 1900. That pretty much finished the first level.
This seems (along with textiles) to be one of the quieter parts of the museum. There is plenty of space to take in the art works, and is a good place to decompress when tired of the heaving mob in some of the more highly-trafficked galleries.
- Lower Level
- Photography (1-4, 10) – Visited
- Thorne Miniature Rooms (11) – Visited
- Paperweights (15) – Visited
- Architecture and Design (24) – Visited
- Textiles – Visited
- First Level
- Prints and Drawings (124-127) – Visited
- Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art (140-143) – Visited
- Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Art (101–109, 130-135) – Visited
- Indian Art of the Americas (136) – Visited
- African Art – Visited
- American Decorative Arts 1920–1970 (162) – Visited
- Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art (150-154) – Visited
- American Art before 1900 (161-179) – Visited
- Chagall’s America Windows (144) – Visited
- Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room – Visited
- Second Level
- Chicago Architecture (200)
- European Art before 1900 (201–248)
- American Folk Art (227)
- European Decorative Arts (231-234)
- Arms and Armor (235-237) – Visited
- Renaissance Jewelry (237) – Visited
- Impressionism (225-226, 201, 240-243)
- American Modern Art 1900-1950 (261-265, 271-273)
- Special Exhibitions (Regenstein Hall)
Today, Arms and Armor and Renaissance Jewelry were my galleries of choice on the second level.
Exploring Chicago’s Art Institute: Part 2
Continuing my exploration of The Art Institute. Almost finished with the First Level, and wandered about:
- Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art
- Prints and Drawings
- Chagall’s America Windows
- Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room
One more gallery to see on the First Level, and for this I will, see how well the museum’s guidebook apps work.
- Lower Level
- Photography (1-4, 10) – Visited
- Thorne Miniature Rooms (11) – Visited
- Paperweights (15) – Visited
- Architecture and Design (24) – Visited
- First Level
- Prints and Drawings (124-127) – Visited
- Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art (140-143) – Visited
- Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Art (101–109, 130-135) – Visited
- Indian Art of the Americas (136) – Visited
- African Art – Visited
- American Decorative Arts 1920–1970 (162)
- Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art (150-154) – Visited
- American Art before 1900 (161-179)
- Chagall’s America Windows (144) – Visited
- Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room – Visited
- Second Level
- Chicago Architecture (200)
- European Art before 1900 (201–248)
- American Folk Art (227)
- European Decorative Arts (231-234)
- Arms and Armor (235-237)
- Renaissance Jewelry (237)
- Impressionism (225-226, 201, 240-243)
- American Modern Art 1900-1950 (261-265, 271-273)
- Special Exhibitions (Regenstein Hall)