November 19, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
As a sometime knitter and pattern designer, I thought this story about a neural network learning to knit (or not!) both funny and telling.
SkyKnit: How an AI Took Over an Adult Knitting Community
Prodded by a knitter on the knitting forum Ravelry, Shane trained a type of neural network on a series of over 500 sets of knitting instructions. Then, she generated new instructions, which members of the Ravelry community have actually attempted to knit.
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Shane nicknamed the whole effort “Project Hilarious Disaster.” The community called it SkyKnit.
It’s been a few years since this project started (the article is from 2018) and I’m sure AI has progressed since then. Still funny!
Full disclosure: I have been known to visit Ravelry. It’s an excellent resource, most of the time!
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Posted in Other | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, AI, creativity, knitting | Leave a Comment »
November 18, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
I wrote a drabble yesterday but decided not to share it. Why not? Because it’s dark and it’s sad. I like to keep things largely upbeat here, for my readers and for myself.
That doesn’t mean I’m all unicorns and rainbows, obviously, but I want you to come away from this site feeling at least a little hopeful. I try to focus on the future, and I hope that it’s a good one.
Sometimes that means facing down darkness, and I’ve done that before even in a 100-word format. Not this time, though, so I’ll keep it in my files for now.
Still, progress is progress, and I’m happy to be writing!
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Posted in Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, drabble, Fiction, Writers, writing | Leave a Comment »
November 17, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
“There are enough negative forces in this world—don’t let the pessimistic voice that lives inside you get away with that stuff, too. That voice is NOT a good roommate.”
― Felicia Day
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Posted in Other, Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, think positive, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »
November 16, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
We Earthlings are in the middle of the Leonid meteor shower. It takes place this year from November 6th through the 30th, but will peak overnight tonight. Even better, the moon is only 9% full, so the only competition will be from human light sources.
Leonid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2025
The Leonid meteor shower is back! Leonid meteors are already flying. The peak is on the morning of November 17.
Love this animation!
Meteor Showers 2025 – 2026 – American Meteor Society
So tonight, if you find yourself in a place with clear skies, look up.
The Universe is saying hello.
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Posted in Science! | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, astronomy, inspiration, meteor shower, space | Leave a Comment »
November 15, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
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Posted in Other, Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »
November 14, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
Wouldn’t it be nice if on your worst days, someone could remind you of who you are on your best days? How the people who love you see you, always.
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Posted in Other | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, bad days can get better too, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »
November 13, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
Happy Kindness Day! Not that you should limit kindness to just one day, but a little reminder can be useful. And knowing that people around you are more predisposed to be kind today?
That’s a good thing, and it’s catching!
If you’re going to be kind to another human, today is the day to do it!
Some hardhearted souls may even question whether small acts of kindness really matter. Spoiler alert: They do!
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“And here’s the beautiful part: When someone receives kindness, they don’t just feel better, they become better.”
The bonus is that a little kindness is good for both the recipient and the giver. Win win!
How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
— William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice
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Posted in Holidays, Other | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, inspiration, kindness, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »
November 12, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
“It was never the right time or it was always the right time, depending on how you looked at it.”
— Ann Patchett, Bel Canto
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Posted in Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, think positive, Thoughts, Writers, writing | Leave a Comment »
November 11, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
We held two memorials this weekend, both opportunities to come together around happy memories and shared stories. It also got me thinking (in a positive way!) about what comes after—not in terms of heaven (or that other place) but how to live and the world you leave behind.
Today is also Veterans Day in the US and Remembrance Day in Canada, an ideal time to think about those who came before and what they did for their world, and ours.
Given that, this quote seemed like a good fit for today.
Decide what you would like your obituary to say and live the life to deserve it.
— Warren Buffett
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Posted in Other | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, inspiration, live well, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »
November 10, 2025 by J.R. Johnson
“To become the shadow to defeat the shadow only extends the shadow’s reach and its reign. In one of the great ironies of our international moment, it appears that many of the people who’ve read “The Lord of the Rings” the most understand it the least. They perceive an emergency – a world in crisis – and grasp for the ring.
But Tolkien’s message is profoundly different. You must demonstrate courage to defend against evil, but to defeat it, you cannot rely on your own strength. It is to the “light and high beauty” that we must turn, even when we cannot see a way through.”
— David French
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Posted in Other, Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, #BeFrodo, conviction, courage, ethics, J.R.R. Tolkien, morality, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »
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