In my role as a blogger for Witlingo, I get to delve into the world of voice-first technology; smart speakers, apps (called skills) for smart speakers, and the AI voices for the big companies. Those include Siri, Bixby, Cortana, and others. And when I say delve, I mean concentrate as if someone has put me in control of a space shuttle without instruction!
…Kids’ Manners and Artificial Intelligence Read More »
Does it ever feel like the noise is too much? Not the actual noise, the noise made by social media.
…The original version of this Father’s Day video of a Dad and his son having a conversation, racked up 35 million views.
…90 Adorable Seconds Read More »
That’s an ancient photo of me on a barge in Lake Ontario, emceeing the Symphony of Fire fireworks contest. At that moment, I was looking for a cue from the producer and swallowing a pound of bugs.
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Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve certainly made my share, and some still haunt me to this day. Why oh why did I think David Duchovny’s surname was pronounced do-SHOVE-knee?
…Five Big News Writing Mistakes Read More »
When I was a teenager, I dated a guy who was overly concerned about my health and well-being. One day, I casually mentioned using baby powder and he lost his mind! He practically begged me to stop using it. It turns out that he had a point, albeit a small one.
…Sunscreen – The New Talc Read More »
I don’t remember how I came to know about Barn Sanctuary in Chelsea, Michigan, but even though I’m a meat eater, I’m a fan of what they do. When I first followed them on Twitter, their fan base was in the hundreds. Now they’re closing in on 30,000 followers.
…Skipping the Sanctuary Read More »
A film-maker recently approached me with a request to have me voice a character for them. The budget was “just for fun”! People have tried to get me to work for free before, but I’d never seen “fun” as a payment term.
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A group of us had a lively discussion at a Markham hotel bar last night about the differences between tolerance and acceptance. It’s an important distinction, especially now, during Pride month.
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We’re not sure who’s Thelma and who’s Louise, but Erin Davis is back in Ontario for some book-related events and I’m going to ride shotgun!
…Thelma and Louise Take the GTA Read More »
“Alexa, please write a blog post about yourself for me?”
…Smartie Smart-Speaker Pants Read More »
Freelancing means working for a lot of different people. Some are one-offs, some are repeat customers. It’s always exciting when someone hires you for the first time.
…Writing for Lifestyle Read More »
On Friday night, I attended an invitation-only Celebration of Life. It was unusual, and a first for me, because the life we were celebrating isn’t over. The honoree was there, at the YOU (Youth Opportunities Unlimited) Cafe in downtown London.
…For the longest time, I thought I was Gen X. It was a shock to discover, a long time ago, that I actually belong to the tail end of the Baby Boomer generation. It didn’t make sense to me because my parents weren’t old enough to have served in a war. That’s where the “boom” came from; soldiers coming home from war, going forth and multiplying.
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Most Americans have no idea that their local news sources are in trouble. Pew Research found that 7 out of 10 respondents believed their local newspaper was doing “very well or somewhat well financially”. I haven’t found a similar survey in Canada. But it’s likely – or at least possible – that the results would be somewhat similar.
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One of the best parts about my new, freelancing life is that I can take a couple of minutes to expand my mind. Who’s going to tell me that I can’t watch a five-minute video or read a long-form article? My boss says it’s fine!
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This came to my email last weekend. My initial reaction was disgust. Who is this guy and what gives him the right? But I investigated.
…Writing Wheat and Chaff Read More »
