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From Writing to AI: the Pattern Repeats
Feb 8, 2026 · original
When I was ten years old, we got our first computer. A month later, my dad dragged the entire family (my mom and brother were not the most enthusiastic) to a class at Radio Shack teaching how to use microcomputers. At the time, I understood why my mom wasn’t that excited: the computer was yet another gadget in the house. But today I find it fascinating. My mother went to Vassar in the 50s. She learned how to type — not a common skill at the time — but it opened doors. Her ability to communicate effectively led her to a career in adult education and later communications work with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). Today, the ability to use artificial intelligence, be it through Copilot or simply writing the right prompt, is becoming a critical skill. But is it really that novel? In the 1500s and 1600s, the printing press gradually made reading accessible beyond clergy and politi
When a Machine Cares
Jun 20, 2025 · original
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke (1962) I first used that quote when I was starting out in the tech industry. Back then, it was a way to illustrate just how fast and powerful computers had become. Querying large datasets in seconds felt magical—at least to those who didn’t build them. Today, we’re facing something even more extraordinary. Large Language Models (LLMs) can now carry on conversations that approach human-level fluency. Clarke’s quote applies again. And just as importantly, many researchers argue that LLMs meet—or at least brush up against—the criteria of the Turing Test. We tend to criticize LLMs for their “hallucinations,” their sometimes-confident inaccuracies. But let’s be honest: we also complain when our friends misremember facts or recount things inaccurately. This doesn’t excuse LLMs—it simply highlights that the
Towards Consciousness
Apr 9, 2025 · original
What if we’ve been measuring consciousness all wrong? Most discussions about artificial intelligence fixate on behavior. Can it speak like us? Pass the Turing Test? Simulate empathy? But looking the part isn’t the same as playing the role. And just because something acts like it understands doesn’t mean it does. What if consciousness isn’t about what something looks like or sounds like—but whether it notices, changes, and keeps going? That’s the heart of what I’ve been calling PET: the Pattern Existence Theory. It’s a way of thinking about consciousness that doesn’t rely on biology, language, or even emotions. It just asks one thing: Can this thing keep its own pattern alive? That might sound abstract, but it really boils down to a few simple questions any conscious being asks—over and over again: 1. What is this? 2. Does it matter to what I’m doing? 3. Does it change what I’ve done befo
Respect.
Jan 2, 2025 · original
Respect is something humans give to each other through personal connection. It’s the bond that forms when we recognize something—or someone—as significant, relatable, or worthy of care. This connection doesn’t have to be limited to people. There was an article recently that described the differing attitudes towards AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini (formerly Bard). Some people treat them like a standard search while others form a sort of personal relationship — being courteous, saying “please” and “thank you”. Occasionally, people share extra details unrelated to their question, like, ‘I’m going to a wedding. What flower goes well with a tuxedo?’ Does an AI “care” how you respond to it? Of course not — it reflects the patterns it’s trained on. Yet our interaction shapes how these tools evolve, and that influence is something we should take seriously. Most of us have all expresse
The Critical Role of Knowledge Transfer
Nov 6, 2022 · original
Sharing knowledge is paramount in the consulting world. Yet, there are instances when consultants either withhold information or mistakenly believe they know it all. This mindset can harm clients for various reasons: Undermining Client Staff: Consultants are there to assist, not overshadow. Intimidating client staff isn’t the goal. For instance, if someone hires a contractor to renovate a kitchen, the dynamic is different. But in consulting, cooperation and respect are essential. Avoiding the “One-Trick Pony” Label: No consultant can claim to know everything. By openly sharing knowledge and demonstrating a willingness to learn, consultants show versatility. Acknowledging that ideas can sprout from diverse sources is vital. Incomplete Delivery: Consider a new appliance without a user manual or a car sans its guidebook. Without proper knowledge transfer, consultants essentially leave a job
Using Agile
Jun 25, 2022 · original
How did we help one of our clients move from a traditional waterfall development process to agile ? Read on. In 2010, we began our journey with Agile in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), initiating with Microsoft’s Team Foundation Server (TFS). Emphasizing iterative development, projects adopted a hybrid model where each iteration was rigorously reviewed and required independent deployment to verify application robustness. This resonates with the “shipping is a feature” mentality. Iterative Breakdown: Initially, three-week iterations were employed, segmenting the quarterly release cycle. The first iteration revolved around new feature mockups and prior release bug fixes. The subsequent iterations focused on new feature development and refinement. Internally, iterations were divided further: backlog in the first week, development in the second, and testing in the third. Various
Virtual FoxFest 2022 Coming up
Jun 6, 2022 · original
In October 2022, Virtual FoxFest returns and if past events are any indication, there should be a lot of great sessions for FoxPro developers who want to ensure their skills are ready for what’s happening in the development world. From supporting legacy applications to moving existing applications into the web-based world, Tamar, Doug and Rick have always done an amazing job at this conference. But what makes the conference is the wide breadth of topics and that relies on you. You may not think you have something valuable to share but in my experience, there are very few developers who have not come across idiosyncrasies or paradigms that shift their way of thinking about specific problems. These are the things that developers tend to say “it’s a one-off” but you might be surprised. So share that knowledge with others. The VFF team will help ensure your content is valuable and it’s a gre
Brandon Savage: Hating Old Code Is a Sign Of Growth
Feb 18, 2022 · original
Hating old code is a sign of growth. Note: Brandon Savage is a PHP developer whose newsletter “Modernization Tips in under 100 words” holds a wealth of ideas for developers of all stripes. From time to time, I repeat some of these here, attributed to Brandon, of course. In late 2021 I took a hard look at some code I wrote back in 2013. I hated it. The design was all wrong, it didn’t follow best practices or good standards, and it was a mess. A product of its time, sure: there were no type hints, no return value definitions, and no Psalm annotations to process. But it was still ugly and I was embarrassed. Ever have this experience? Hear the good news: it’s normal , and perfectly fine. Writing code is a learning process, from day one to the day you stop doing it for good. You’re always growing, always improving. It’s like reading your writing from high school: you’re a better writer today
Virtual FoxFest 2021
Oct 17, 2021 · original
You can’t keep a good conference down. Virtual FoxFest is 1/3rd in, having started on October 14th. While you will be able to see some of the sessions online, there’s nothing quite like using the virtual session switcher available in The Hopin experience. It’s also staggered so you can choose which days you want to attend – October 14th, 20th and 26th. This is great if you can’t break away for a consecutive three days. I’ve gone through the sessions and I see five great sessions that I’m eager to check out. 1. A Decade of Thor (Rick Schummer) . Thor has been an extension for Visual FoxPro that many developers swear by, yet many don’t know even exists. Visual FoxPro’s built-in extensions are great but Jim Nelson’s Thor supercharges your IDE. I can’t believe it’s been ten years – so Rick’s session should be able to not just whet your appetite but give you all the reasons you should be usin
Canadian Heritage – Update, Improve and Excel
Oct 16, 2021 · original
Mr. MacNeill provided development and support for the latest versions of the Tax Credit Online System, also known as GCBO, starting in the fall of 2015 to its most recent version in 2021, delivering enhanced usability and client-side performance for online applications. Mr. MacNeill has been one of the lead architects behind the new web-based version for the system, using .NetCore API and Vue for a more responsive interface. Mr. MacNeill has acted as a representative of the PCH development group for both internal and external clients in a series of engagement meetings, helping the change management process. Mr. MacNeill assisted with the knowledge transfer for internal staff on the various CRM 2015 systems as they moved to the Dynamics 365 environment (GCCase). Mr MacNeill also configured and completed the development of the Dynamics interface with the Roedl Dynamics Adapter, allowing in

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