Test Pattern

Hello World, Well, to say that there is no joy in Mudville would certainly be understating the case to a large degree, and which I don't mind saying, does not take the sting out of it by any means. After clawing their way to a 3-2 lead in the playoff series, the plucky Yankees lost the last 2 games, one might say in decisive fashion, and were eliminated by the Astros, alas. The World Series started in Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, at a record-setting 103 sweltering degrees at game time, the first time in baseball history that triple digit temperatures had been recorded for the somewhat inaptly named Fall Classic. There was no relief in sight for Game 2, and the way things are going in California lately, this might be the only time in the major leagues that games are postponed due to fire. So far the series is knotted up at one game apiece, and whether the clubs prefer to leave the heat wave of Los Angeles, for hurricane-ravaged Houston over the next 3 games, remains to be seen. And I have to believe that somewhere, James Taylor is having a big laugh. (His decidedly non-baseball-related lyrics of “I've seen fire, and I've seen rain” seem oddly and geographically appropriate under the circumstances.) Another casualty of the pinstripe predicament was long-time manager Joe Girardi, who was summarily given the boot by the front office, after leading the Bombers to a respectable 910-710 record and a World Series title over the course of his 10-year stint in the Bronx. Of course, if the management isn't happy with that level of competence, there’s another out-of-work figure these days on the New York sports scene, and that’s the Knicks’ (very much not sorely missed) Phil Jackson, who could bring his ill-conceived triangle offense to The House That Ruth Built, and try his luck there. (Note to Yankees GM Brian Cashman: ONLY KIDDING!!!) Also losing a job recently was Terry Collins of the hapless Mets, whose earnest efforts and dogged determination could not translate to success on the field, no matter how hard he tried. Now, it’s true that the under-performing Mets have stymied the managerial talents of stout-hearted men for over 50 years, and I can't say that I envy the next in line to pick up the proverbial gauntlet and give it the old college try, as they say. But personally, I only hope that Mets GM Sandy Alderson doesn't have Phil Jackson’s phone number, and I’m not just whistling Dixie, believe me. Speaking of whistling Dixie, never one to let a technological conundrum pass him by, we get the following test case from Bill: ============================ So -- here's today's experiment. They've re-tweaked Siri twice since then, so I figured I'd see if my kvetches still held true. I opened the Notes app, chose the microphone button and started reading from here: https://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/dixie.html And this is the result: Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton old times there are not forgotten look away look away look away Dixieland and Dixieland what I was born early on a frustrating morning look away look away look away Dixieland I wish I was in Dixie hooray hooray in Dixieland I'll take my stand to live and die in Dixie away away away down south in Dixie away away away down south in Dixie all Mrs. Mary will leave the weaver Willem was a gay deceivers look away look away look away Dixieland but when he put his arm around her he smiled fierce is a 40 pounder look away look away look away Dixieland his face was sharp as a butchers cleaver but that did not seem to grieve her look away look away look away Dixieland or Mrs. acted the foolish card and tied for a man that broke her heart look away look away look away Dixieland Pretty good, actually. But then I said, "You know, that's not really Siri doing it. Let's try her. I said "Hey Siri [ding!] New note." "What would you like the note to say?" and here is the sadly shortcominged result. Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton old times there are not forgotten look away look away look away Dixieland dixie land war I was born ================================= Well, that first one really had me there, right up until the part about "he smiled fierce is a 40 pounder," and I can certainly see where that would be "early on a frustrating morning," for anybody, I dare say. For her turn at bat and taking a swing at the folk standard, SIRI seemed her usual abrupt self, and obviously had no patience with the rustic charms of Daniel Decatur Emmett and his wandering look away look away look away lyrics, by cracky. Now, it must be said that Bill has altered the SIRI function on his phone, so that she sounds like a very cultured British lady, and it can't help but make you wonder if one of the options was a gracious Southern belle instead, if she might be a lot more receptive to this whole Dixieland idea in the first place, honey child. Meanwhile on the local scene, last week all of us in our little sylvan enclave received a message from our social committee about a pumpkin carving event taking place on Sunday afternoon, to which everyone was invited to bring their pumpkins and tools and join in the fun. One of the new neighbors (whose name I recognize, but not someone I know personally) sent the following response: =========================== Sorry, Just got called for hospital emergency, will not make it later today Jake =========================== I was surprised to see by the signature in his email, that this ostensibly pumpkin-hating individual was no less than the Deputy Chief Surgeon for the New York City Police Department, of all things, which certainly casts a whole new light on his declining of the invitation, one might say on impeccable grounds. Naturally, I wrote back to him, calling his priorities into question in some rather strong language. (It's possible the expression "Jeepers!" may have been invoked, on top of it all.) For his part, he seemed to have appreciated the absurdity of the situation when he sent me back a smiley face by way of reply. Soon after that, our neighborhood association leadership sent out a message about Energize New Rochelle, a program whereby residents can avail themselves of free home energy assessments, to improve energy efficiency, lower their energy costs, and increase the comfort and value of their homes. I felt it was incumbent on me to set the record straight: ========================= Actually, our drafty old Victorian white elephant has long since been heating up the wide outdoors for as long as I've been here, so this whole neighborhood should be warmer for everyone else! From us at #181 (teeth chattering) ========================== They also sent me back the appropriately amusing emojis, to let me know that our selfless contributions to the neighborhood climate did not go unappreciated, so that was gratifying in its own way. At least I'm already doing better than Terry Collins and Joe Girardi, at least in the appreciation category, not to mention all Mrs. Mary and her suitor with the face like a butcher's cleaver, look away look away look away. Say, who let Phil Jackson in here? Elle