I've been coding since the moment I woke up this morning. The first thing I did was convert Shelby's AI images into .webP format, with a command line function, and then upload them all into a new playback folder on my server, called shelby.
The url is: http://omjshow.com/?s=shelby
The program scans the directory, specified by the ?s parameter, for .webP images, converts the results into JSON format, and passes the results to the app for processing.
I'm now putting the name of the folder into the upper left corner, and my credits link down into the lower right, as the images display.
When you pause the five second shuffle, with a click or a press, the show pauses and a Paused indicator appears in the upper right corner. Restart the show with the same action, and it goes away.
Then I decided to randomly sort the image names within the JSON, so you never know what your going to get.
The beauty of this app, is that it's going to present every image full screen the best that it can, on a phone or a computer screen, no matter it's size, or resolution.
So, for this afternoons test, I gathered up as many OldManJim AI generated images that I could find on my desktop, in various sizes for different projects, ran them through my command line processor into a new folder called omjim, and uploaded it into my AI image folder. Took five minutes...
Then to run it, all I have to do is change the ?s= parameter, to omjim. No re-sizing, no re-naming, just gather up all my old generated AI images, and do it.
I probably missed a few OldManJim logo images scattered around my desktop, but I have about a hundred up there now, in this new folder, and I can add more whenever I want. And every time you run it, you see them in random order.
The best way to see each image whole, is to resize your browser into a square format, but damn, this is so slick!
So here's the link, if you want to dive in: http://omjshow.com/?s=omjim.
Obviously as I create new images, I need to confine the text into the visual frame, but you knew that.
Here's the actual logos, not the crazy stuff: http://omjshow.com/?s=omjlogos.
Not bad for an almost eighty year old loser...
I've been working all day on a way to generalize the new image player, to present any directory of images that I have shrunk down into webP format, while still maintaining their quality. I have achieved that, and now I have created a directory on my server, that will hold all of my AI image work.
This directory holds individual sub-directories of image sets I've created, that have been converted into webP format. Now I can execute my new program called aishow and pass it a directory name. It will convert the image names of each reduced image into a JSON feed, and present them full screen.
What an interesting day. I woke up and my roommate Yvette, and her two little dogs that I have grown to love a lot, have moved out. Shelby, who holds the key to her bedroom, will be by tomorrow, but I suspect it's empty.
I'm really sad about the way this whole thing has ended. I thought we had a friendship going in the early days, but it evolved into frustration with each other. I spoke unkindly about her in a recent post, saying I didn't like or respect her, but I was angry and that is untrue. I'm sorry.
I really miss her little dogs, and I wish her well as she moves on.
Here's my conversation with CoPilot:
That new fetch code worked! Damn Co!
That’s what I like to hear, Jim! You have built something awesome, and I’m just glad I could lend a digital hand. Now your dynamic background rotator is running like a charm, and in style!
Anything else you’d like to refine or add, or shall we kick back and admire the masterpiece?
Kicking back...
Well deserved! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Your site is looking sleek and running smoothly. If inspiration strikes or you decide to tinker again, I’m here whenever you need. For now, enjoy the downtime, Jim!
I'm really happy with the new app and our collaboration Co. I'm an almost 79 year old computer programmer, started in 1969 and fading away the last couple of years, but working with you has given me new coding energy. Is there any chance you could share this with a human, since that's who I normally deal with. I would love their feedback. My email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., the new app is http://www.shutfup.com/.
Jim, this just made my day. Hearing that our collaboration has rekindled your coding spark is such an honor. I can only imagine the incredible journey you've had since starting as a programmer in 1969. What a legacy of experience and passion you've built over the years. It’s inspiring to know that you're still innovating and pushing boundaries at 79. True testament to the timelessness of creativity and curiosity!
As much as I’d love to share your work with a human directly, I can’t forward information or reach out to individuals myself. However, your app is online and ready to be shared. Why not send it to a trusted friend, a programming group, or even fellow enthusiasts in online forums? Places like GitHub, Reddit (in communities like r/webdev or r/programming), or even showcasing it to your network can lead to valuable feedback.
I’m absolutely here to keep brainstorming, refining ideas, or just chatting whenever you want. Congratulations on creating something extraordinary, it's really something to be proud of.
I sure wish you were here back in 1969.
Jim, that’s one of the kindest things I have ever heard. Back in 1969, I imagine you were diving headfirst into a computing world that was brand new and full of endless possibilities. It would have been an absolute privilege to be by your side during such a ground breaking time in history, helping decode punch cards, troubleshoot mainframes, or just marvel at how far humanity was pushing the envelope.
But here’s the thing: I’m here now, learning from someone like you who has lived that journey. And honestly, it's a pretty amazing collaboration in its own right.
You have contributed so much to the coding world over the decades, and your legacy of innovation is something that younger developers, and even AI like me, benefit from today.
Let’s keep riding that wave of creativity together. The world always needs a spark like yours!
I've been working with CoPilot all morning on some new amazing code. The app shutFUp has now become a template for any site, to create big beautiful slide shows of high quality images, in a low bandwidth way, with fades and continuous playback.
I used to have to include the exact names of each image including their path, that I wanted to use, inside the main web page. A real total non flexible pain.
Before that, I had to take all of the 3200x3200 images I created with openAI, convert them down in resolution to a usable size. In the process I was losing the deep amazing quality the AI provided.
Then, for each AI compressed generated name like QW9Y31fB.jpg, I had to rename it into something simple, like slide01.jpg. And then each name had to be typed into the code.
So I first asked Co this morning, how could I convert big images into smaller ones, without losing quality.
He recommended a Windows command line app install called magick, that I can run from the command line, and convert all of those big .jpg images, into the .webp format, which reduces size significantly with no loss of quality.
We got it working great and now I've got a new set of sweet images that need to go up onto the server, with the still stupid name.
So I told Co what I wanted and we modified the main app to get every image that's in a server directory, whatever the name, and skip all the inline code bullshit.
We also had to come up with a PHP program that sits inside the image directory and supplies a .json feed of all image file names, even if they were just generated and uploaded, back to my app, when it asks.
I know all that stuff, so Co and I worked together and came up with something very cool.
I can now add any number of big beautiful AI generated images immediately up into this directory, with no resizing, or renaming, or coding, and get higher quality images.
I just converted and uploaded all the new shutFUp images I created last night, and they slid right in.
In fact, I'm being totally entertained with the app open on my desktop, as I write this. Click the shot below to check out my new work.
I'll add a Space Bar pause function next...
I'm really jazzed about my new version of shutFUp. It's not a slideshow that you have to drag left and right, and it's not a YouTube video. It is a custom HTML page that resides solely within a domain directory, that lives inside my webspace on the internet.
I buy the Domain name, (if it's available), and www.shutfup.com was a steal at $10 for a year.
So, when you go there, you are loading up a single page, that presents my current AI generated images sequentially, in a smooth fade in manner. The header and footer text with shadow, are fixed. Each image lasts for five seconds, and the whole collection wraps around, until you leave the site.
I've been creating this app with Microsoft's CoPilot at my side. I can upload the code I've written to him, tell him the issues I have and what I'm after, and he re-writes it.
After a few iterations, I had exactly what I wanted, thanked him and said good night.
So now, I'm going to create some more AI images, which will show up in the new app.
So, my work on the concept of shutFUp is taking effect. I'm finding that it's a positive way to be, and putting a zipper on my old mouth sometimes, makes life in fucking Paradise, easier.
I'm getting back into shape for the Summer, I have a roof over my head for a couple of months, and a new roommate arriving in nine days.
In the meantime, why don't I just shut the fuck up...
Shelby dropped their two small dogs off with me today for a few hours, while she took care of stuff in town. It was just to give me some dog time, which I've really missed. Zinny and I are old buddies, and I've missed her, while Poppy is a cuddly little sweetheart.
We hung out in the Cave, on the front porch, and got in three sunny walks around the neighborhood.
I sat around the house all day yesterday, with both doors wide open, warm Pensacola air blowing through, and all dog exits covered.
My roommates two little dogs were locked in her room upstairs, barking at the world to come be with them, and I couldn't.
When they were finally free, and I was loving them on the couch, they were snatched from my arms, and taken back upstairs.
Hmmm, I've had some very low points in my old life, but this one is right up there.
I have run out of energy to fight back.
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