In this week’s newsletter, I write about how Dolly Parton was not just one of the biggest influencers on earth, she was the role model that Christians didn’t know they needed. In my weekly recap, I wrote about Dr Dre’s reality check about AI and creators, reducing AI energy usage, Bill Gates’ foreboding letter, me moderating a journalism panel, the random ways I use to teach data verification, and my views on our SG fertility rate.
Weekly Recap
Dr Dre: “I don’t see it (AI) as a threat. I think the only people that see it as a threat are the people who have trouble creating.” Well said, bro.
How to reduce energy usage when using Gen AI.
Bill Gates’ letter about AI’s impact is both frightening and hopeful.
I moderated the panel at the Asian Journalism Fellowship Public Forum held at WKWSCI. I dared to raise the iffy question – where’s the money in journalism? There is, more than ever, but you’ll have to watch the video to find out.
The random things I do to teach my students about the importance of data verification
Meta has never been at the forefront of consumer Gen AI but their new Muse Image model is impressive and affordable. Well, at least for making deepfakes.
Google’s Omni 1.1 has improved on coherence, I created a collage of three kiddy-style videos with it.
Really weird marketing by OpenAI that didn’t work. Only 26k people so far have watched this YouTube video to announce unlimited free chats.
Generate instant AI videos from product page links – what could go wrong?
My thoughts on the latest government efforts to raise Singapore’s fertility rate.
And why I stopped cycling on Singapore roads. It’s just not safe, people!
Sunday Essay
I would bet that Dolly Parton was the biggest influencer in the world. I mean, when she died earlier this week, so many people around the world paid tribute to her. They wrote and spoke about was her talent, her intelligence, her philanthropy, her songs, and generally, her GOODNESS.
How many YouTubers, TikTokers, and Instagrammers trying to clock up their follower counts today would ever get that kind of send-off? Dolly was a global figure long before the Internet existed. In part due to her self-proclaimed ridiculous look (big wig, big bosom, big rhinestones), but for some reason, people like me never thought twice about it because we really enjoyed her songs.
And she was always funny. Earlier this year, I remember watching her 80th birthday video where she said, “Oh Lord, I’ve outlived so many plastic surgeons!”
On my wardrobe door, every day I see this card which I took time to design on Canva and print it out on 4R photo paper because I love her quote so much: “Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.”
You know, the only other quotes that I have put up around my house are Bible quotes and a few others like “Amor fati”, “Wenn schon, denn schon” (Go look them up, Google is on your phone!) but Dolly’s quote always shouts at me before I select my work clothes for the day. Her quote is why I always giggle to myself inside – I know who I am and I love confounding those who don’t.
I didn’t hear any prominent preacher say so, but I tell you that Dolly was one of the greatest Christians of our time. She was as innocent as a dove (please listen to “Coat of Many Colors”) but as shrewd as a snake, just as Jesus instructed us to be.
Through her Imagination Library, she gave out 300 million free books to encourage people to read and to improve their chances in life. What an idea! Isn’t that better than just saying “I give you my thoughts and prayers that life will be better for you”?
She also helped to save millions of people – She donated $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in April 2020 to help fund the critical early stages of coronavirus research and the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
She became an idol to gays and lesbians, and she never turned them away. Because the Bible says we must love people first. Here was Dolly looking like the biggest drag queen on Earth, yet we all knew she believed in Jesus and that she wanted to do good for others. Is that not a great way to spread the good news?
If you are young and had never heard of Dolly until her death this week, do check out her songs and all the wisdom embedded within the lyrics. My favourite is “9 to 5” and I only just discovered that the typewriter sounds were those of her acrylic fingernails tapping on a table. Wow!
Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’
Barely gettin’ by, it’s all takin’ and no givin’
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it
9 to 5, for service and devotion
You would think that I would deserve a fair promotion
Want to move ahead, but the boss won’t seem to let me