#WindsdayWonders: 2024/05/22 -- A Maytime Florilegium! :)

 

WINDSDAY WONDERS

Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo)

Editorial Associate: S. A. Sonnenschein

Vol. 3, No. 29: May 22, 2024

 

Maytime Miscellanies

Episode #3: A Maytime Florilegium

 

Editor’s Note

                This week, we are pleased to present a garland of poetry and prose on various topics of interest, with choice selections from our own talented writing staff! 😊

 

“Our Family”

By Bailey Tarnhelm, Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: Dedicated by the author to all her wonderful cousins!

 

United by blood and spirit,

Bound by love and trust,

A tapestry of laughter and shared dreams,

Through light and dark,

We weave a legacy,

Of kinship and purpose,

Ever connected,

And forever intertwined.

 

“A Rainbow of Harmony”

By Rylee Carmichael, Staff Writer

 

Colors from a rainbow light up the skies,

A palette of vibrant hues, a feast for the eyes,

A harmony of shades that dance across the sky,

Each hue a note in nature's symphony.

 

With love and hope as its guiding light,

Rainbows shine in the darkest of nights,

A reminder of love's endless might,

Hope's everlasting glimmer like a bright star on a night.

 

“Artificial Intelligence: An Introduction”

By Sadie Lamprecht, Staff Writer

                Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way in recent years, and its applications are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in our daily lives. From personal assistants like Siri and Alexa to self-driving cars and sophisticated data analysis tools, AI has the potential to transform many industries and sectors of society.

                While AI has great potential, it also raises important ethical and societal considerations. For example, we must ensure that AI is developed and deployed in an equitable and fair manner, without perpetuating historical biases and discrimination. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact of AI on jobs and society, and we must ensure that we are prepared for the societal changes that are likely to arise.

                Another important consideration is the issue of transparency and explainability. As AI becomes more complex and powerful, it's important that we understand how these systems make decisions and how they work, especially when they are used in high-stakes situations such as healthcare, criminal justice, and national security.

                There are also concerns about the ethical implications of AI when it comes to data privacy and security. We must be mindful of how data is collected, stored, and used in AI systems, and ensure that it is done in an ethical and responsible manner. This includes ensuring that user data is protected and that AI systems are designed to respect privacy.

            Finally, it's important to consider the potential impact of AI on our values and ethics, such as empathy, compassion, and social responsibility. For example, we must ensure that AI systems are designed to support, rather than undermine, these human values, and that they are used to promote the common good and human dignity, rather than solely for economic gain or power.

                In conclusion, AI has incredible potential to benefit humanity, but we must also carefully consider the ethical and societal implications of its development and use. It is important that we engage in ongoing reflection, dialogue, and education about AI, to ensure that it is used responsibly and for the betterment of society as a whole.

 

Here we see Josie Kincaid, author of the following poem (her first published work!), while she is enjoying her favorite pastime (reading!). (Image Credit: The Editor)

 

“A World Within Worlds”

By Josie Kincaid, Staff Writer

Words we read, pages we turn,

A secret garden, a new land to learn.

Tales untold, stories to keep,

In print and in life, lessons we seek.

Thoughts unspoken, voices to hear,

In the pages of books, a world so near.

 

“Hermes Trismegistus: A Journey to Knowledge”

A Poem and a Parable

By Allison Stockett, Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: Hermes Trismegistus was a legendary Egyptian sage who supposedly flourished in prehistoric times. Writings attributed to him began to circulate in Greek during the first three centuries CE, and these formed the basis for the Hermetic Tradition in Western esotericism.

 

Hermes, Thrice-Great,

Wise beyond measure,

God of language,

Medicine, and knowledge.

Keeper of sacred texts,

Guide to the soul on its journey,

Inspiration,

And light in the darkness.

 

Hermes, Thrice-Great,

Wise beyond measure,

Blessed is the soul that treads

In the footsteps of the wise one.

 

                Once upon a time there was a man who was thirsty for knowledge. He sought to journey to the very source of all wisdom. Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain where Hermes Trismegistus lived, the man looked up at the top of the mountain and saw the wisest man in the world standing there. "Oh, great Hermes Trismegistus," the man exclaimed, "I have traveled far and wide to meet you."

                Hermes Trismegistus, the wise one, turned to the man and said, "Knowledge is a journey itself. There is no end destination to true wisdom. Each and every step on the path of knowledge is another step closer to discovering the deepest mysteries of the universe." The man was amazed by Hermes Trismegistus's words and was filled with awe and reverence for the great sage. He thanked him graciously and began his journey back down the mountain, a new person, with an expanded understanding of the beauty and wonder of the world around him.

 

Corpus Hermeticum: first Latin edition, by Marsilio Ficino, 1471, at the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica, Amsterdam. (Image Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

 

Weekly Words of Wisdom

By Skylar Sonnenschein, Editorial Associate

                Today's advice comes from the 2nd century CE Greek Stoic, Epictetus:

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react. You are in control of your mind, not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength.”

So today, when things don't go your way, try to remember that you can't control what happens, only your reaction to what happens.

 

Stoic Proverb of the Week

Contributed by Amy Kendrick, Staff Writer

                Here's one of my favorites from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus:

"It is what it is."

Amy’s Commentary:

This proverb reflects the Stoic idea that we should accept reality as it is, rather than wishing for it to be different. By recognizing and accepting that we cannot control everything in life, we can focus on what we can control: our own attitudes and actions. This approach can lead to greater peace and contentment.