Denim Blunders, Reflections and General Nonsense.

[Cold Summer]

Because "AI" is utopian marketing fluff for large language modeling and (thankfully) not an actual artificial intelligence, and I have a very low opinion of the whole thing in general.

After I wrote that post, it occurred to me that someone might also respond that such an idea isn't new and 20 years ago you could photoshop your fades to cheat at a denim competition/general clout for posting pictures online, which is quite true, but the difficulty of doing this (especially convincingly) is a lot higher than telling ChatGPT to Enhance The Fades.

Actually now I'm wondering if there have been any documented cases of somebody being found out for faking/photoshopping fades, whether for a contest or anything else. I can't remember hearing of that happening, but perhaps I missed it.

[julian-wolf]

I think the use of “filters” (in the modern, Instagrammy sense) to enhance fades has been prevalent in contexts like the Indigo Invitational for a slew of years now, and that takes a lot less effort than something like Photoshop 

[ATWM]

Contrast enhancement looks to be quite common last time I checked - which admittedly was some years ago. 
 

As for Ai being all marketing fluff, agree there’s a hype machine reminiscent of the crypto/NFT boom. It’s gross.

but LLMs are also rapidly changing many things in a lot of fields. To personalize it, if AI helps in leading to more specialized and targeted treatments that can eliminate the rest of my son’s brain tumor - which is possible - I will absolutely sing its praises. It was already modern tech development that played a large role in why he’s still alive today. Or if it leads to something similar for someone else, same thing. And it very well may. 

AI generative imagery is also based on the theft of artists from everywhere is rapidly leading to an internet full of even shittier (and nonsensical) ads while killing many parts of the photography industry, where I started my career and still participate some.
 

So my feelings are complicated but if I had to choose I’d take advances in healthcare which are real and which techno detractors have not yet answered to in a satisfactory way. 

For an anti Kingsnorthian sort of take I think it’s worth a read. Personally sort of fall in between this writer who is too high on it and Kingsnorth who writes with the same sort of comprehensive blinders he had when he was an environmental writer. Though I’m still a fan. 
 https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-peculiar-persistence-of-the-ai

 

[JDelage]

On 7/31/2025 at 6:36 AM, nick682 said:

The de minimis exemption is now ending next month for the US. Get your jeans ordered from Japan before August 29th

Ah, thank you. I was just wondering about that.

[buler]

File this under reflections. Home recovering from surgery and I realize how often we take for granted how nice it is to just be "normal". I would love to be able to just normally go to the bathroom, shower, or put on a pair of jeans right now. I will try to remember this when I return to normal.

[MJF9]

@buler hope your recovery passes smoothly matey! 

[buler]

Thanks @MJF9! Hope to be added to the list of cancer survivors.

 

I guess I'll make this a PSA (public service announcement) on the PSA (prostrate specific antigen). All men should know (eventually) about their PSA level. It is a possible indicator of prostate cancer. If your general physician doesn't do an annual test for this in your blood labs, have them add it. While it's not a 100% fool proof test, if it is rising (hence the annual check to keep tabs) and you also have other symptoms (which can be very vague) then an MRI may be warranted. My story is no drug use, no smoking, low alcohol use and only one person with cancer in my family background. But the symptoms can be very little things that add up over time and you may pass them off as "I'm getting older". Pay attention to your urinary function and your sexual function and give all details (even minor) to your doctor. It can add up to an aggressive tumor in your prostrate, which can also spread cancer to other regions (luckily, mine did not).

I'm just putting this out there because it may help even one of you catch things early!!  Stay healthy and listen to your body.

 

Cheers

Edited yesterday at 04:23 PM by buler

[ATWM]

@buler good post. A family member of mine (sounds like) just had a similar surgery last month. They are doing fine right now, but the first week or two seemed like it sucked. Thankfully the prognosis is good, but in part because of checking their PSA as you note. Hope your recovery is quick and smooth and indeed, things being normal is a sort of amazing that’s easy to overlook. 

[MJF9]

@buler thanks for sharing and the advice.  Shocking how these things just come out of nowhere.  I’d never heard of tracking the trend on the PSA score – appreciate the tip.

A mate of a mate, who I know, recently had prostrate C.  He had zero symptoms.  He did a test (PSA and the dreaded rubber glove) because his brother came down with it so he got worried.  He also caught it early, had the treatment and is in recovery.

Best wishes – looking forward to your next ‘normal’ WAYWT in due course!

Edited yesterday at 07:53 PM by MJF9

[Maynard Friedman]

Hi @buler, sorry to hear about your diagnosis but it sounds like the medical intervention went well. Here’s to a thorough recovery and I hope the next time you mention PSA, it’s in this context

[buler]

@atwm, thanks! Glad your family member is doing fine. Yes, the initial recovery sucks, mainly due to the catheter. If you've never had one, count yourself lucky. I also had a hernia that was fixed (got a buy one get one free), so my recovery is a little more painful and restrictions are longer.

@MJF9, yep the dreaded rubber glove test. Which has been skipped at some of my annual physicals. My advice don't skip it! Ask for it if they aren't going to do it. They did detect a "nodule" during mine which was a cancerous tumor (found by followup MRIs). My doctor recommended the PSA check starting at age 55 or so for me. I had just switched to him. It increased each year (big warning sign). I think everyone should include it in their bloodwork, along with other things that can be tested (google all of the blood tests that can be done). Typically, at least in my area, that annual physical covers a "general" battery of tests on your blood. Including your PSA and testosterone level should be added at the least. If you baseline those now and test each year, it can help as an indicator of health changes.

@Maynard Friedman thanks! Because my cancer didn't spread beyond the tumor, I have a great chance of being cancer free going forward. I'll have to order up some Studio D's from PSA for a WAYWT,