As the twinkling lights of Christmas fade and the echoes of holiday cheer dissolve into the crisp air of January 2026, we shrews find ourselves at a familiar crossroads.
Caro Todd, ormai la nostra strada è stata segnata. Qualche rara volta rimpiango l'ignoranza in cui eravamo. È un po' come aver voluto inghiottire la pillola rossa ma desiderare un bistecca. Faccio così passare una giornata tranquilla (senza far turbinare pensieri), ma poi resto lì, allerta, informata per quel che posso, cercando di non farmi prendere dall'ansia. Tanti tanti cari auguri per un buon nuovo anno di serenità a tutti noi
Altre tanto... l'unica cosa che mi tranquillizza è la Natura.. stanotte c'era una luna enorme che brillava tra gli alberi nudi ed illuminava un cielo minaccioso di nuvole nere pesanti... infatti, stamattina nevica 🙄
And thank you for the illustration - we are somewhat deprived of charm, humour, beauty and so many life-enhancing elements and your pic reminds us! xxx
Fight on Shrews!! I love it Todd, fantastic beginning to the new year! Wishing you all the best in '26, whatever that means - I hope it lands at your door. And whatever you do - don't stop writing!! ps... love that picture today, I'm taking a screen shot and keeping that one!
Thank you...that image was AI-created, so not sure how you feel about AI! I have a love/hate relationship with it, like most technology. But AI art thing is particularly galling to me...oh well...
Todd I too loved your AI Art posted today but am having a tuff time accepting using it in my photography. I am very much into technology but am resisting learning AI for now. I can see how many people are not really knowing when it’s AI and I feel sorry for them and I don’t like thinking one day maybe I won’t be able to know the difference.
And who knows it’s possible we are all being fooled now.
I probably will give in eventually but for now I am fighting it.
I stick by the belief that the heart knows. The one undeniable criterion of art is that humans make it. If they don't, it doesn't touch the soul. I don't think the five human senses can necessarily discern that (although up until recently the senses COULD discern human art from machine art). But even if the senses cannot, the heart can. It may not sense it right way, but life consuming only AI art will eventually wither away...IMHO
RESIST... this is how technology wins, becoming the master and we its slaves. When something new appears, we try it out for curiosity, fun, whatever; but the more people use the new gadget, the more it becomes embedded, eventually leaving us with no choice... we ALL need to resist AI... as Jung says: 'change starts with the individual'
I agree with this 100% in theory...but what if you said this during the advent of motor vehicles replacing horses (or walking) or said it when the technology of blood transfusions replaced simply dying, or when phones replaced telegraph...big topic here, and I don't have the answers (sometimes I say, "yeah! To hell with cars, phones, blood transfusions!! Live the way we were designed to live!!!--then other times I say, "no, if we create technology, it is also God's creation)....I don't know what to say. I do believe technology replacing human art, however, is a no win situation...no win.
I partially agree with you Todd... however, with every new-fangled idea, I think of Illich, whose writings, among other things, encompassed: 'just because we can do something doesn't necessarily mean we should do it' - and I personally believe AI is a step too far, depriving us of human creativity in thought, word and deeds, such as art and music. Our present-day technology (is it God's creation or the devil's work?) might be amazing, but slowly but surely (now galloping) it is robbing us of our humanity; we are not machines to be enhanced, we are reasoning spiritual beings, part of the Universe and Nature... or maybe I'm just a Luddite at heart 😊
I can't argue with your views, and I wouldn't want to—I essentially agree. But in my opinion, this problem can only be solved from the bottom up, not from the top down. A top-down approach would mean trying to ban it or pass laws against it once the technology exists. A bottom-up approach, on the other hand, means building strong personal character throughout our lives so that we instinctively choose restraint: just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.
I have always liked to at least try new things but this time I am pushing hard against it because AI seems to be so corrupt, invasive and evil. Like a simple fun game pulling you in. I don’t like how it can manipulate everything and confuse life more than it needs to be. For these past few years it seems as tho our world was upside down so surreal without AI. I am going to be very careful what I get into.
I totally agree, I have the same love/hate thing going on, but like all technology - I am learning to play with the art and have fun with some of it, I just acknowledge that's what it is if I share it. I mean really - could you make such a great image without it? Maybe... if you spent hours and hours on it.....Also, because we are shrews, and smarter than most, I'm pretty sure we all know AI when we see it. :-))
Todd, I love this simple yet profound message. Christmas and New Year's provide us the pause we all need to be as normal as we can be. I wish the sentiments could last all year but I am no fool. Everything government, tech, medical, media should all be viewed with shrew eyes. Happy New Year everyone and may we be Blessed with Health, Happiness, and Love every day.
By the way when I saw the picture preceding the article I laughed out loud. I just love it! :)
So happy you like the pic! Once in a while I ask AI to do some sort of shrew pic (I did one for Christmas as well) and I am again and again astounded AI has NO idea what a shrew is! It never gets it right…always painting a rat, or some other “not shrew’ rodent….I am perplexed…I have to coach it again and again…”longer nose!! A snout!!!” And upload pictures of Elephant Shrews…STILL misses it!!! It’s a conspiracy !!!!
Happy new year
Caro Todd, ormai la nostra strada è stata segnata. Qualche rara volta rimpiango l'ignoranza in cui eravamo. È un po' come aver voluto inghiottire la pillola rossa ma desiderare un bistecca. Faccio così passare una giornata tranquilla (senza far turbinare pensieri), ma poi resto lì, allerta, informata per quel che posso, cercando di non farmi prendere dall'ansia. Tanti tanti cari auguri per un buon nuovo anno di serenità a tutti noi
Altre tanto... l'unica cosa che mi tranquillizza è la Natura.. stanotte c'era una luna enorme che brillava tra gli alberi nudi ed illuminava un cielo minaccioso di nuvole nere pesanti... infatti, stamattina nevica 🙄
Love it!
Happy Shrew Year!
Perfect!
Heck yeah! Do we really have a choice? Nope. Shrews are as tenacious as we are shrewd.
Thank you, Todd.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful New Year.
And thank you for the illustration - we are somewhat deprived of charm, humour, beauty and so many life-enhancing elements and your pic reminds us! xxx
Shrews are indeed odd creatures…
Some more than others! xxx
Good shrew picture. Linking as usual @ https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
Thanks for the encouragement and I love the picture! Made me smile! Thanks for all you do, Todd, and I hope you keep it up!
Thank you so much Peggy…
Happy New Year, Todd to you and yours! It is indeed a very interesting and challenging time to be alive
Yes, may we all live in interesting times…
Fight on Shrews!! I love it Todd, fantastic beginning to the new year! Wishing you all the best in '26, whatever that means - I hope it lands at your door. And whatever you do - don't stop writing!! ps... love that picture today, I'm taking a screen shot and keeping that one!
Thank you...that image was AI-created, so not sure how you feel about AI! I have a love/hate relationship with it, like most technology. But AI art thing is particularly galling to me...oh well...
Todd I too loved your AI Art posted today but am having a tuff time accepting using it in my photography. I am very much into technology but am resisting learning AI for now. I can see how many people are not really knowing when it’s AI and I feel sorry for them and I don’t like thinking one day maybe I won’t be able to know the difference.
And who knows it’s possible we are all being fooled now.
I probably will give in eventually but for now I am fighting it.
Great article to start the new year.
I stick by the belief that the heart knows. The one undeniable criterion of art is that humans make it. If they don't, it doesn't touch the soul. I don't think the five human senses can necessarily discern that (although up until recently the senses COULD discern human art from machine art). But even if the senses cannot, the heart can. It may not sense it right way, but life consuming only AI art will eventually wither away...IMHO
RESIST... this is how technology wins, becoming the master and we its slaves. When something new appears, we try it out for curiosity, fun, whatever; but the more people use the new gadget, the more it becomes embedded, eventually leaving us with no choice... we ALL need to resist AI... as Jung says: 'change starts with the individual'
I agree with this 100% in theory...but what if you said this during the advent of motor vehicles replacing horses (or walking) or said it when the technology of blood transfusions replaced simply dying, or when phones replaced telegraph...big topic here, and I don't have the answers (sometimes I say, "yeah! To hell with cars, phones, blood transfusions!! Live the way we were designed to live!!!--then other times I say, "no, if we create technology, it is also God's creation)....I don't know what to say. I do believe technology replacing human art, however, is a no win situation...no win.
I partially agree with you Todd... however, with every new-fangled idea, I think of Illich, whose writings, among other things, encompassed: 'just because we can do something doesn't necessarily mean we should do it' - and I personally believe AI is a step too far, depriving us of human creativity in thought, word and deeds, such as art and music. Our present-day technology (is it God's creation or the devil's work?) might be amazing, but slowly but surely (now galloping) it is robbing us of our humanity; we are not machines to be enhanced, we are reasoning spiritual beings, part of the Universe and Nature... or maybe I'm just a Luddite at heart 😊
I can't argue with your views, and I wouldn't want to—I essentially agree. But in my opinion, this problem can only be solved from the bottom up, not from the top down. A top-down approach would mean trying to ban it or pass laws against it once the technology exists. A bottom-up approach, on the other hand, means building strong personal character throughout our lives so that we instinctively choose restraint: just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.
I agree we should resist.
I have always liked to at least try new things but this time I am pushing hard against it because AI seems to be so corrupt, invasive and evil. Like a simple fun game pulling you in. I don’t like how it can manipulate everything and confuse life more than it needs to be. For these past few years it seems as tho our world was upside down so surreal without AI. I am going to be very careful what I get into.
I definitely believe we need to resist going unconscious...
I totally agree, I have the same love/hate thing going on, but like all technology - I am learning to play with the art and have fun with some of it, I just acknowledge that's what it is if I share it. I mean really - could you make such a great image without it? Maybe... if you spent hours and hours on it.....Also, because we are shrews, and smarter than most, I'm pretty sure we all know AI when we see it. :-))
Todd, I love this simple yet profound message. Christmas and New Year's provide us the pause we all need to be as normal as we can be. I wish the sentiments could last all year but I am no fool. Everything government, tech, medical, media should all be viewed with shrew eyes. Happy New Year everyone and may we be Blessed with Health, Happiness, and Love every day.
By the way when I saw the picture preceding the article I laughed out loud. I just love it! :)
So happy you like the pic! Once in a while I ask AI to do some sort of shrew pic (I did one for Christmas as well) and I am again and again astounded AI has NO idea what a shrew is! It never gets it right…always painting a rat, or some other “not shrew’ rodent….I am perplexed…I have to coach it again and again…”longer nose!! A snout!!!” And upload pictures of Elephant Shrews…STILL misses it!!! It’s a conspiracy !!!!
This one is a keeper for sure! :) I have not used AI and wouldn't have a clue how to go about it.
Have a wonderful first day of this new year!
I believe that no matter how difficult it is, the fight must continue. It is on us, the people, that changes depend, I believe that.
Yes, in some way it does…even if only in intention.
“Any fool can make a rule. And any fool will mind it.”
- Henry David Thoreau