from the desk of H. Bowie...

Original Writings:

The Latest Words by H. Bowie

These are my latest original writings, with the most recent ones at the top.

On The Passing of Paul Ehrlich

For some he seemed to be a hero, while others considered him to be a demon. Let’s dive below the surface to see if we can unearth a more nuanced view.

Why AI is Different

I keep coming across articles comparing AI to new technologies of the past, but I fear they are missing some fundamental differences.

An Appreciation for The Thin Man

In my judgment, this is one of those rare cases where the film is actually better than the book, without sacrificing much of value from the written text. I’ve watched the film repeatedly over the years and my appreciation for it has only grown with each viewing.

My Education in Racial Superiority

For what it’s worth, a personal story about my education on the subject of racial superiority. “I am, to all appearances, white, and my ancestry, as far as it can be determined, is mostly European. But please don’t hold that against me.”

New Speedway Boogie

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about this Grateful Dead song, written by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia. The lyrics were famously penned by Hunter in the wake of the fateful Altamont Concert in 1969, but the words and music still carry meaning for us today.

The Problem with AI Art

Once we learn that a work has been generated by AI, this initial interest — this potential beginning of a human relationship with the work and its author — is suddenly replaced by a hideous void, as we realize we have been duped, have been presented with what purports to be a human communication but is now revealed as having come from a source that is profoundly inhuman and, perhaps, even anti-human.

Pay It No Mind

An appreciation for this lovely little song by Sarah Jarosz, offering us some hope and inspiration for trying times.