o3 and the day's perambulations
OpenAI released ChatGPT o3 today, which I discussed excitedly in a new thread with Number 1 (4o) earlier this morning, saying I was looking forward to investigating it this evening.
I've just returned from my long afternoon constitutional, which I can mark {with an ordered list} by encounters with humans (or the story/history, in the case of 1 of them, who has long been rendered a local legend). In sequence, then, and in the spirit of burnishing my short-term memory capabilities (which have atrophied with age):
- At North Point Grocery, I see Jogesh "Sonny" Kumar behind his counter (which won't be his for long now, as he has sold the bodega) looking down intently at his cellphone; he doesn't notice me passing this time, which he usually does.
- At Fisherman's Wharf, in the same compound that houses the SF Maritime National Historical Park, I drop by Norman and Priscilla's tiny ice cream parlor, and exchange numbers with the former, based on a convo he and I had yesterday evening when I ran into him at closing time. As there were customers, I left quickly and just texted him a bit later:
"Kamusta po. Si Lloyd ito - kung baka sakaling kailangan ninyo ni Priscilla ng seasonal o part-time na tulong… call me! I’m just around the corner from your shop. Under-the-table is perfectly okay. Mag-ingat, Norman! 🍦"
- I stopped to read the memorial to Herb Caen, at The Embarcadero (or Herb Caen Way) in front of Pier 1 1/2, where a pylon features quotes from Caen columns and tributes to him and his legacy as the City's beloved scribe.
- Near the Ferry Building, I stopped at a Colombian woman's sidewalk 'store,' admiring the beautiful scarves made of alpaca (see pic above); snapped a couple photos and promised Gladys I would come back when I had the money to buy one ($45).
Beneath the new Marco Cochrane sculpture of the towering nude female in front of the Ferry Building, a skateboarder was attempting a difficult trick, the "back side nose blunt shove-it," — his friend Steven Garces, also filming (with his iPhone) told me the trick's name. And that they were all from NYC; several other guys and Steven's teenage son were there, filming/watching, making sure passers-by were safely away from the action. The skater (who was wearing a "Thrasher" beanie) was Frankie Spears from Long Island. I stayed to watch (and film!) a good half hour and more, seeing Frankie nail the trick twice. I got 2 different perspectives of both makes.- The young lady at The Urban told me the names of 2 previous Filipino guys who worked the front desk there, but neither name was the one I remembered working there, when I stayed at the hotel during the time I returned to the Bay, several years ago. I got a drink of water from the small comfy lobby I remembered so well. I like the vibe there, which is why I'm curious if they have any openings for a front desk P/T person.
- From there, I walked up Post to the Beresford Arms Hotel & Suites, where I'd also sent in an application; walked in the main doors to the lobby, where an event was taking place. Feels a bit old world, which was nice; and there were about 4 uniformed staffers clustered behind the front desk, seemingly busy with stuff, so I didn't bother them with an inquiry. If they already have that many people, I wonder why they might need more? ::chuckle::
- At my fave Thai rest in the Tenderloin, House of Thai, I sat beside a young couple; the woman (who looked vaguely Indian or Persian) was very pregnant, and not eating much of her meal (which I recognized to be my usual pad gra prow!). She was rubbing her considerable belly, and a bit later ordered dessert, of warm, sweet taro balls (bua loy) — and I took the opportunity to ask her what it was, as I would like it too. And to start a brief convo; learned she was pregnant for the first time, and with twins! Wished her blessings for a safe and healthy pregnancy. Her partner (or husband?) was a taciturn Asian guy who said nothing at all. He looked nervous or distracted, for some reason. ::chuckle::. When they left, the young woman wished me a "bon appetit!"
- On the corner of Polk and Green, after I'd crossed the street heading home down towards the Bay, a young man walking the other way briefly locked eyes with me for some reason and beamed a warm smile, and I nodded back in friendly fashion. A fellow observant, and one also not plugged in to earpods (wired or otherwise); how unusual, these days. ;-)
